Celebrity Ascent Dining Guide: What’s Included and What’s Worth the Splurge

Dining on Celebrity Ascent ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the trip. Before sailing, we assumed we’d end up booking multiple specialty restaurants to really enjoy the experience. In reality, the included dining was so varied and consistently good that we rarely felt the need to spend extra.

Between the four main dining rooms, the Oceanview buffet, and several casual spots around the ship, there was more than enough variety to keep things interesting over 10 nights on our Southern Caribbean itinerary. We did try two specialty restaurants to see if they were worth the upcharge, and the results were mixed.

In this guide, we’re breaking down how dining on Celebrity Ascent works, what’s included, what the drink packages cover, and whether specialty dining is worth the extra cost.

The Main Dining Experience

Unlike traditional ships with one massive dining hall, Celebrity Ascent features four distinct main dining rooms: Cosmopolitan, Tuscan, Normandie, and Cyprus. This really added to the upscale feel of the ship. Each restaurant has its own theme and a few exclusive menu items, but they all share a core list of “Celebrity Classics” like the escargot and crème brûlée that we found ourselves ordering almost every night.

• Tuscan: This was obviously the Italian option. The standout for us was the branzino, which was perfectly cooked and one of the best dishes we had on the ship.
• Cosmopolitan: This feels like a polished New York-style restaurant and is the easiest “go-to” if you want something familiar but elevated.
• Normandie: This is a French option. Normandie is also where we had the only real miss of the trip, a cod dish that was dense and overly fishy. That said, the service team handled it exactly right. They took it away immediately and brought out a new dish with no issue.
• Cyprus: Cyprus rounded things out nicely with lighter, Mediterranean-style options.

Tuscan and Cosmopolitan were our personal favorites. One thing we kept coming back to at all the spots was the bread basket and herbed dips. Honestly, they were too good. Expect to put on some pounds!

Smart Tip: Make reservations in the app as early as possible. We found it difficult to walk up and get a table for six between 6:00 PM and 8:00 PM.

Oceanview Café for the Win

If you think “buffet” means average cruise food, Oceanview Café will change your mind. This was easily the most impressive buffet we’ve ever experienced. The layout is beautiful and easy to navigate with a variety of cuisines from around the globe. You’ll find everything from Indian curries and Mexican dishes to Greek specialties and Italian, plus a seafood station and impressive dessert spread. And the options rotate, so it doesn’t feel repetitive over a longer sailing.

The seafood stood out the most for us. One afternoon they had a full shrimp fest with fresh, well-prepared prawns that rivaled any restaurant.

Pro Tip: Head to the back for the pizza station. They’re making it fresh, and it’s one of the best casual lunches on a sea day. The quality here is so high that Oceanview Café would be enough if it were the only dining option on the ship.

Specialty Dining: The Hit and the Miss

We tried two specialty dining experiences to see if they were worth paying extra.

Le Petit Chef: ($37 + gratuity): We got a great price on arrival, and it was a total hit. The “little chef” is projected onto your plate and walks you through each course. We weren’t sure if the table projection concept would feel too gimmicky, but it worked. It’s interactive, fun, and well done – and not just for kids.

We were a group of couples in our 40s and 50s and everyone enjoyed it. The food itself was also fantastic for both the standard and pescatarian menus – but we recommend doing the main menu because it syncs with the story. At $88 extra for two (including the gratuity) on the first night, this felt like a great value for both the experience and the meal.

Raw on 5: ($40 + gratuity): This one didn’t land for us. We love sushi and make a point to try it everywhere we travel, so we were really looking forward to this.

First, the pricing was a bit confusing, and the $40 option is a limited multi-course menu. Second, the portions were small, and the rolls leaned heavily on sauces instead of letting the fish stand out.

Other options, like the chilled platter, were much more expensive at $85 plus tip. After the automatic gratuity, we paid close to $100 extra for two people, and it just didn’t compare to the included options.

Additional Options: We also looked at the higher-end specialty restaurants like Fine Cut Steakhouse and the Magic Carpet dinners, but once you’re looking at $120+ per person with tip, it adds up quickly. For us, it was hard to justify spending $240 to $300 on one meal when the included dining was already good.

Our honest opinion: You don’t need it. The included dining on Celebrity Ascent is enjoyable enough that you can eat well every day without spending extra. If you want to add one experience, Le Petit Chef is worth it. Beyond that, we’d save our money.

The Best Part: There was zero pressure to upgrade. The options are there, but you don’t feel like you’re missing out if you skip them.

Quick Bites: Mast Grill, Spa Café, and Beyond

When you’re not sitting down for a full meal, there are a few excellent casual options.

• Mast Grill: This is your poolside burger and hot dog spot. There’s usually a line on sea days, but it moves quickly. The seating area is small and a bit hectic, so we’d grab food and head elsewhere. The burgers are good, not amazing, but it’s an easy option by the pool.
• Spa Café: This became part of my sea-day routine. After a walk on the outdoor track and time in the gym, I’d stop here for a fresh beet or kale juice and something light like a veggie wrap or tuna salad. It’s quieter than the buffet and a great option if you want something healthier.
• Eden Café: We stopped here for a light snack one afternoon after an excursion. It’s a nice, quieter option for salads and sandwiches, but we preferred Spa Café for daytime food. Eden really shines more in the evening for drinks and live music.

The Drink Package

We opted for the Premium Drink Package, and for us, it was absolutely worth it. Drinks onboard add up quickly. A martini or a glass of Whispering Angel rosé are $19 plus gratuity. The Classic package covers up to $12, so anything above that means you’re paying the difference plus 20%.

Between:

• morning lattes at Café al Bacio
• cocktails in the evening at Eden
• time at the Martini Bar

… it added up fast, and the premium package made it easy. We also used it for lattes at the café and even at the buffet, which were part of the premium package. We also added the 20% tip before the cruise, so it was nice to know that everything was already covered.

Pro Tip: The minibar and bottled water in your room are not included. Grab bottled water from a bar or Café al Bacio before heading back to your room. There also aren’t many refill stations, and even the infused water in the fitness center had a sign saying it wasn’t meant to refill bottles. I wish there were more water stations.

Logistics for Room Service

For early port days, we used the included continental room service, and this made the trip feel more relaxed. We had coffee, yogurt, fresh fruit, and a croissant on the Infinite Veranda while pulling into port – which is a great way to start the day.

Continental breakfast is fully included with no delivery fee. If you want a hot breakfast, there’s a $9.95 charge plus gratuity. We didn’t feel the need. On other mornings when we slept in, we kept it simple with a latte and pastry from Café al Bacio on the 5th floor.

Our Verdict

Dining on Celebrity Ascent ended up being really impressive. And there are even more options than what we mentioned here (we also liked the sports bar on the 5th floor). There’s a lot of variety, the quality is consistently good, and it never felt repetitive over 10 nights.

Specialty dining can be fun to mix in, but it’s not necessary. Overall, Celebrity Ascent has the right balance with good food, plenty of options, and no pressure to upgrade. That’s what really made it work for us.

Have you traveled on the Celebrity Ascent? What options did you like most? Least? Let us know in the comments – and be sure to give us a like and subscribe if you enjoyed this post.