When the Celebrity Millennium debuted in 2000, she launched a new class of ships for Celebrity — somewhat larger than her sister ships and with many of the same facilities, but even more spacious and with contemporary refinements sure to please maturing baby boomers. These included the line’s largest spa, a unique specialty restaurant with a dine-in wine cellar, a large boutique of designer fashions, a music
library, floral conservatories with full-service florists, and huge suites. The Millennium, the first of four sister ships, also enabled Celebrity to expand its cruise horizons.
These ships are powered by environmentally friendly gas-turbine engines, which reduce exhaust emissions by up to 90% and lower noise and vibration levels considerably. The way these ships glide out of port is reminiscent of the smooth sailing aboard steam-driven classic liners from the past. The only vibration noticed was in the aft section when
the Azipod propulsion system was altering the ship’s course. That same propulsion system allows the ships to cruise at 24 knots, enabling them to sail to more destinations in shorter time. They are also able to transit
the Panama Canal. Changes in the exterior design — a lean, chiseled profile with a new stack design and hull striping —make the group look like the faster ships that they are.
The interiors, created by some of the same design teams that worked on other Celebrity ships, are the line’s most sophisticated and elegant to date. They have something of a back-to-the-future decor, blending the glamour and grandeur of turn-of-the-19th-century luxury liners with the amenities and state-of-the-art technology that passengers in the new millennium expect. The ships also boast Celebrity’s signature features: museum-quality contemporary art collections, an enormous AquaSpa, COVA Café, Michael’s Club piano bar, martini and Champagne bars, and cuisine by Michel Roux.
Passengers are introduced to the Millennium via the Grand Foyer, which has a translucent, backlit onyx staircase. Opposite the shore excursion desk is a bank of four glass elevators — the first external-facing ones ever built on a cruise ship — that capture panoramic views as they
rise. One passenger, enjoying her elevator ride with Amsterdam views, said, “It was almost as good as a shore excursion.” Next to the elevators, a paneled wall of wood and metallic vinyl rises from the entry to the top of the ship through a series of atriums.
Celebrity ConciergeClass is an enhanced level of accommodations with upgraded amenities and priority services with the notion that little extras make a big difference. The amenities include a bottle of chilled Champagne on arrival, fresh flowers and fruit, afternoon canapés, a leather key holder, personalized stationery, an oversized tote bag, and an umbrella to use during the cruise. In 2005, the number of cabins in ConciergeClass was more than doubled from 100 to 228. Sleeping comfort is enhanced with pillow-top mattresses; lush duvets; pillow selections (such as goose down, Isotonic, and others) and a new room-service breakfast menu. In the bathroom, Concierge-Class passengers find oversized Egyptian cotton towels, Frette bathrobes, two hair dryers, a Hansgrohe shower head, and a selection of fine toiletries. On the veranda, they have a table for alfresco dining, cushioned chairs, and high-powered binoculars. Priority service gives them priority luggage delivery, dining time and seating preferences, shoe-shine service, VIP invitations to exclusive shipboard events, priority shore excursion bookings, early embarkation and debarkation privileges, and a one-touch phone button direct to a ConciergeClass desk representative.
Unique to the ships are their floral conservatories and the silk floral displays by Emilio Robba of Paris, renowned for his silk floral artistry. The floral conservatories—the first at sea—provide an attractive botanical environment, ideal for romantic occasions and reflective moments.
Designed by Robba, they combine natural flora with his silk creations. The floral boutiques are operated by full-time florists who produce flower arrangements and corsages for passengers and hold classes in flower arranging several times a week. Following the facility’s success on Infinity, a small conservatory and boutique were added to Millennium,
replacing the little-used teen center. On the three newer ships, larger conservatories replaced Millennium’s sports bar. The Millennium-class ships also have Online@Celebrity Cruises Internet cafe, a computer training and education program, Acupuncture at Sea, and meetings space with a business center.
Unofficial Guide © 2009
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