Celebrity's
"New" Century
Sails Into the Millennium
by
Linda Coffman
Miami, Nov. 2006 —
Gone are the banks of Sony televisions that appeared somewhat
techno-futuristic in 1995 when Century entered the Celebrity
fleet. Also missing is the spa's thallasotherapy pool. In their
place, Celebrity's Century has a cleaner, sleeker, more
refined appearance since her recent revitalization.
 |
|
ConciergeClass
Stateroom |
Cabins
with Class
One of the most popular amenities on today's ships is balcony
accommodations and Century, with only 49, was woefully behind
the times. No more! In just five weeks, a whopping 314 balconies
were added—a record
for an existing cruise ship—along
with the addition of ten new staterooms (from inside to verandah
categories) and fourteen new suites.
More
staterooms were added to the ConciergeClass category and all
accommodations feature Celebrity's new bedding program with premium
mattresses, Egyptian cotton linens, comfy duvets, and a plethora of
pillows. All have spiffy flat-screen televisions, silky drapes, and
wireless Internet access. New bathroom vanities are topped with chic
basin-style sinks and the curved shower rods insure that you won't
be dancing with a clinging curtain. Balcony dining is a treat with a
proper height table and chairs.
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|
Murano |
Delightful
Dining Options
The brand
new "Murano" specialty restaurant is literally a gem at
the heart of Century. The artistry of renowned chef Michel
Roux is front and center, carried out by Celebrity's chefs in the
galley and tableside. Roux has created a Menu Exceptionnel, a
six-course dégustation of his signature dishes which you can choose
(for an additional cover charge of $100) or you may select a four
course meal from the ŕ la carte menu ($30 cover charge). Beneath
the glow of exquisite Murano glass chandeliers handcrafted in Venice,
and with a harpist playing softly in the background, it's a dining
experience in the style of Celebrity's Millennium-class vessels and one you'll long remember.
Nestled
in an alcove adjacent to the AquaSpa is another new dining venue,
the AquaSpa Café where the emphasis is on light and healthy dishes.
A pre-dinner favorite is the Sushi Café, located in the aft section
of the Casual Dining Boulevard (buffet restaurant), reflecting an
Asian decor. "Casual"
is the operative word for Island Café, a portion of the
buffet restaurant open for dinner. Reservations are recommended, as
is a $2 per person gratuity. While the dress code for dinner there
is casual, the suggested evening dress code prevails in all other
areas of the ship, so plan accordingly.
Putting
the Aqua Back in AquaSpa
Just as
some passengers may bemoan the missing thallasotherapy pool—as
Celebrity's President Dan Hanrahan explains, they are maintenance
headaches—others
will welcome the addition of the Persian Garden with its Turkish
steam room, infrared and Finnish saunas, trio of tropical showers,
and serene relaxation area. The cost for a day of bliss is a mere $15.
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|
Icy
Martini Bar-top |
A
Really ICY Bar
Crisp and
cool, the stark white and stainless steel decor of Century's
Martini Bar heats up with ever-changing colored lights. The bar
itself freezes to an ice cold surface, but you won't need a parka to
partake in one of the three dozen or so signature Martinis on the
menu. It's such a hot spot that they could have doubled the size.
The white leather and faux-fur seats are the most sought-after on
board.
Another
welcome addition is the aft-facing Sunset Bar beneath a sail-type
canopy where tapas and appetizers are available with cocktails at
sunset (naturally).
"X-Club"
Youth Programs
Young
passengers haven't been overlooked in the rejuvenation process on Century.
A spiffy and sophisticated "X-Treme" teenage lounge and
adjacent video arcade is now located alongside the Hemisphere Lounge
and shares some of its great sea views.
To
enhance their programs for younger children, Celebrity has partnered
with LeapFrog SchoolHouse™ to provide engaging learning tools that
are also fun. In addition to making a
variety of their popular products available onboard, LeapFrog
SchoolHouse has worked with Celebrity in the creation of six
exclusive educational modules for children ages 3 through 9.
What
Hasn't Changed
With
"new" areas and amenities blending seamlessly into
existing spaces, Century preserves the signature features
Celebrity passengers have come to expect. Michael's Club retains its
cozy club-like atmosphere, Cova Café is the place to see and be
seen over a cup of coffee or tea, and the Grand Restaurant still has one of the grandest
staircases at sea.
Her
rich woods gleam and she sparkles throughout. Century is
certainly ready for her close-up... which will be seen in a new
Travel Channel cruising program set to air in spring 2007.
Century is
the only premium cruise ship offering four- and five-night Caribbean
cruises from the Port of Miami, the cruise capital of the world.
Photos © Linda
Coffman
Murano Restaurant © Celebrity Cruises
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