Century

New-look Century features bold makeover

Ship Review by Michael Coleman, May 2008

A beloved vessel, plying the worlds oceans since 1995, has been transformed thanks to an ambitious multi-million dollar makeover.

Celebrity Centurys $55 million refurbishment includes a host of onboard enhancements including the addition of 314 private verandas – a first for an existing cruise ship.

www.flickr.com Cruise News Weekly’s Celebrity Century photoset

Look for 14 new Sky Suites and 174 new Concierge Class staterooms complete with fresh-cut flowers, a luxurious pillow menu, upgraded bathroom amenities and even personalized stationery.

Suites feature new carpeting, wall coverings, windows, textiles and light fixtures. Each suite also is equipped with new phones, 26-inch LCD TVs, DVD players, wireless Internet access, new accessories and new veranda furniture.

Ocean-view and inside staterooms, meanwhile, are now equipped with new flat-screen TVs, wireless Internet access, new carpet, textiles, windows, lighting fixtures and art. The bathrooms have new vanities and enhanced lighting, stylish surface-mounted sink basins and fixtures, curved-rod shower curtains, and renewed architectural surfaces.

If you haven’t been able to sleep soundly on land look for Century to make you feel rested and invigorated at sea thanks to a new bedding program featuring premium mattresses, 100 percent Egyptian cotton linens, duvets, Euro pillows, colorful bed throws and pillow shams.

The ship has even unveiled a new specialty restaurant: Murano, inspired by Celebrity’s longtime culinary and wine consultant, Master Chef Michel Roux, and decorated with the glass of the Italian island for which its name is derived. Book early. Tableside cooking, carving and flambe stations make the reservations-only locale a big hit with passengers.

Century’s two-level Grand Restaurant has also been refurbished to complement other shipboard dining venues: Century’s Ocean Grill, Sunset Bar and Cova Cafe. At night, the cafe transforms into a romantic, lamp-lit wine bar with live music. A 76-seat, self-serve Sushi Bar, open daily at 5 p.m., may be the ships ultimate guilty pleasure.

Century’s AquaSpa facilities were also overhauled. Look for 10 new sea-view treatment rooms; new locker rooms with lounge seating; a new beauty salon with enhanced manicure and pedicure bars; a teeth-whitening station; a new Persian Garden with Turkish steam room; three tropical showers; both infrared and Finnish saunas; Celebrity’s first barber shop and a new, 54-seat Spa Cafe serving light, healthy cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The line designed a new space for onboard Internet access and computer training courses and look for an art gallery among a number of trendy boutiques on “The Boulevard.

Each onboard club and lounge has also been refurbished including the Crystal Lounge, Michael’s Club jazz/piano bar, Rendezvous Lounge and Hemispheres observation lounge and disco. The ship also boasts the first ice bar concept at sea within its Martini Bar.

Teen travelers also have a lounge to call their own – Century’s new “X-Treme” teen lounge and video arcade. The space includes a dance floor, video arcade, juice bar, jukebox, and karaoke, along with computers offering Internet access.

Through December the ship will feature a host of European itineraries roundtrip from Amsterdam before resuming popular four-and five-night western Caribbean sailings from Miami in 2009.