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Carnival Dream vs Celebrity Ascent
The Carnival Dream was built in 2009. It's 14 years older than the Ascent, which was built in 2023. The Celebrity Ascent features many of the new additions seen on the Celebrity Beyond including more outdoor space, a more grand central atrium, and an improved Rooftop Garden.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Dream is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,004 feet long and 122 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. Compared to the Celebrity Ascent, the Dream is 9% smaller in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Carnival Dream holds 12% more passengers than the Ascent based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Dream has less space per person compared to the Ascent.
| Carnival Dream | Celebrity Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Dream | Edge |
| Gross Tonnage | 128,000 | 140,600 |
| Length | 1,004 | 1,073 |
| Beam/Width | 122 | 128 |
| Passenger Decks | 14 | 17 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,646 | 3,260 |
| Crew | 1,367 | 1,416 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.7 | 2.3 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 35 | 43 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Dream has 19 different dining options like Guy's Burger Joint, Carnival Deli, and Seafood Shack. Of those options, 14 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 5 options have an additional fee.
The Ascent has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Rooftop Garden Grill, Oceanview Cafe, and Le Petit Chef and Family. 8 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 11 have an additional fee.
The Carnival Dream has about the same number of dining options as the Celebrity Ascent.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Dream might be a better choice then the Ascent. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Carnival Dream | Celebrity Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 19 | 19 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 14 | 8 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 5 | 11 |
| % of Included Options | 74% | 42% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Dream serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew, although the selection can vary by ship. The Ascent serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Dream and the Ascent below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The Carnival Dream has a total of 2 pools and 8 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.
Celebrity Ascent has more pools than the Dream and fewer hot tubs. There are more exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Ascent. If you don't mind paying for exclusive access to areas in order to have less crowds, this might be a better choice.
| Carnival Dream | Celebrity Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 2 | 5 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 3 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 0 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | 0 | 1 |
| Total Hot Tubs | 8 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 6 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive | 0 | 2 |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Dream, 69% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Ascent, only 67% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Carnival Dream | Celebrity Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Only Relaxation Area | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✓ | ✗ |
| Basketball | ✓ | ✓ |
| Beyond the Podium Talk Series | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bingo | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comedy Club | ✓ | ✗ |
| Dr Seuss Breakfast | ✓ | ✗ |
| Eden Entertainment Space | ✗ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mini golf | ✓ | ✗ |
| Outdoor movies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Rooftop Garden | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shows - musical review | ✗ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✗ | ✓ |
| Splash park | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water slides | ✓ | ✗ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Carnival is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Celebrity, on the other hand, is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Carnival Dream | Celebrity Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $16.00 | $18.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $3.00 | $4.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.75 See drink menus | $8.00 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $83 - $88 Learn more | $65 - $95 |
| Internet Plan | $18.70 to $23.80 per device per day | $19 to $30 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
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