Overall Score
| BERLITZ'S RATING |
| |
Possible |
Achieved |
| |
| Ship |
500 |
427 |
| Accommodation |
200 |
177 |
| Food |
400 |
310 |
| Service |
400 |
317 |
| Entertainment |
100 |
72 |
| Cruise |
400 |
312 |
| |
This ship’s exterior profile is quite well balanced despite its squared-off stern, and carries the distinctive Celebrity Cruises’ “X” funnel (“X” being the Greek letter “C” – for Chandris, the former owning company, before Royal Caribbean purchased it). With a high passenger space ratio for such a large ship, there is no real sense of crowding, passenger flow is very good, and the high crew/passenger ratio provides a sound basis for good passenger service.
There is a good amount of open deck space, a three-quarter, two-level teak wood promenade deck, and a wrap-around jogging track atop the ship. The interior decor is elegant and understated, and the ship absorbs passengers really well. A small, dedicated cinema doubles as a conference and meeting center with the latest audio-visual technology. The atrium is calm and refreshing, not glitzy.
The former cigar club (Michael’s Club) has been converted into a piano lounge; this triangular-shaped room, a favorite watering hole, has large comfortable chairs and the feel of a real gentlemen’s club. Those who like gambling will find a large casino tightly packed with slot machines and gaming tables.
Children and teens are well catered for, too. X-Treme, within the Kid’s Fun Factory area, is a new hangout for teens. Children’s counselors are aboard for every cruise.
Outstanding are the 500 pieces of art that adorn the ship – a $3.8 million art collection that includes many Warhol favorites and fascinating contemporary sculptures (look for the colored violins on Deck Seven). The “Century Collection” includes a comprehensive survey of the most important artists and the major developments in art since the 1960s, and embraces Abstract Expressionism, Pop, Conceptualism, Minimalism and Neo-Expressionism.
Overall, this is a fine vessel for a big-ship cruise vacation, but instances of wear and tear and sloppy maintenance show in some areas, although general cleanliness is excellent. Gratifyingly, there are few annoying announcements. Gratuities are charged to your onboard account daily, and a 15% gratuity is added to all bar and wine accounts. The onboard currency is the US dollar.
Embarkation and disembarkation remain weak links in the Celebrity Cruises operation, and the cruise staff is unpolished and has little finesse. Standing in line for embarkation, disembarkation, shore tenders and for self-serve buffet meals is an inevitable aspect of cruising aboard all large ships. The interactive TV system is frustrating to use, and the larger suites have three remotes for TV/audio equipment (one would be better).
In 2006, Celebrity Century underwent a $55 million make-over that added 314 balconies, 14 new “Sky Suites” and 10 other cabins. The self-serve buffet area was expanded; an “Acupuncture at Sea” facility has been added, as has Murano – a specialty extra-charge restaurant, more shop space, an art gallery for art auctions, more internet-connect computers plus ship-wide wi-fi, and a neat ice-walled bar that is part of the Martini Bar. In short, the refit makes the ship more like the larger Millennium-class ships.
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2010
Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008
