Virgin Voyages
Brilliant Lady
- Cruises
- 36
- From
- $357
Ship comparison
Brilliant Lady vs Celebrity Ascent
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Ascent
- Cruises
- 39
- From
- $1,099
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Brilliant Lady is a large Virgin Voyages ship carrying 2,770 passengers, in service since 2025. Celebrity Ascent is a large Celebrity Cruises ship carrying 3,260 passengers, in service since 2023.
Choose Brilliant Lady if you want a lower starting fare or more of a party: it outscores Celebrity Ascent for party (9.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $357 (vs $1,099).
Choose Celebrity Ascent if you want a more family-friendly ship, a better-rated spa and gym or better-rated dining: it outscores Brilliant Lady for family friendly (5.0 vs 1.0), spa & fitness (9.0 vs 8.0) and dining (9.0 vs 8.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Brilliant Lady | Celebrity Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Virgin Voyages | Celebrity Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2025 (better) | 2023 |
| Gross tonnage | 110,000 | 140,597 |
| Passengers | 2,770 | 3,260 |
| Crew | 1,150 | 1,400 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.4 | 2.3 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 39.7 | 43.1 (better) |
| Decks | 15 | 16 |
| Length | 912 ft | 1,073 ft |
| Beam | 135 ft | 128 ft |
| Speed | 23 mph | 25 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 9 / 10 | 10 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 36 | 39 |
| Upcoming sailings | 71 | 71 |
| Cruise lengths | 3–17 nights | 10–14 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $357 (better) | $1,099 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Brilliant Lady leads on 1 of the ten, Celebrity Ascent on 5, with 4 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Virgin Voyages
Brilliant Lady
Brilliant Lady is Virgin Voyages’ fourth “Lady Ship” — an adults‑only (age 18+) cruise ship built for travelers who want the energy of a boutique hotel, the food-and-nightlife density of a great city weekend, and the convenience of a ship where you never need to dress up unless you feel like it.
Sailing now
36 cruises on sale, from $357.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Ascent
The 3,260-passenger Celebrity Ascent, which debuted in December 2023, continues the groundbreaking design and cutting-edge spaces seen in Celebrity Cruises's Edge class.
Sailing now
39 cruises on sale, from $1,099.
Questions
Brilliant Lady or Celebrity Ascent?
Which is bigger, Brilliant Lady or Celebrity Ascent?
Celebrity Ascent is bigger at 140,597 gross tons, against 110,000 gross tons for Brilliant Lady. Brilliant Lady carries 2,770 passengers and Celebrity Ascent carries 3,260.
Which ship is newer, Brilliant Lady or Celebrity Ascent?
Brilliant Lady is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2025 against 2023 for Celebrity Ascent.
Which has more space per passenger?
Celebrity Ascent, with 43.1 gross tons per passenger against 39.7 on Brilliant Lady. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Celebrity Ascent, with one crew member for every 2.3 passengers against one for every 2.4 on Brilliant Lady.
Which is better for families?
Celebrity Ascent scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 5.0 out of 10, against 1.0 for Brilliant Lady.
Still deciding?
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