CRUISE LINES

Celebrity Cruises celebrates 'new' Century
08/06/2006
Today, May 30, 2006 marks the beginning of a new century for Celebrity Cruises, as the line's Century sets sail following a $55-million makeover that began just five weeks ago.
Designed to incorporate a variety of Celebrity's most popular Millennium-class attributes, the revitalization of Century is the line's most extensive refurbishment to-date, and the largest cruise ship modification completed by Fincantieri's Palermo, Italy, shipyard.
A total of 314 new verandas have been added to the ship - a first, for an existing cruise ship - along with 14 new suites, 10 new staterooms ranging from inside to veranda categories, an expanded number of ConciergeClass category staterooms, a new specialty restaurant, an expanded AquaSpa, and a series of features and amenities that typify the line's acclaimed Millennium-class fleet.
"This initiative is nothing short of miraculous, technically and otherwise - particularly the veranda program," said Celebrity's President Dan Hanrahan. "Think of what it takes to thoroughly renovate a home, then consider what it took to do what we did onboard a 70,000-ton ship...in just five weeks. It's extraordinary."
NEW CULINARY DELIGHTS
Among Century's multiple new attributes is a specialty restaurant, quite literally, featuring a heart of glass. The new "Murano" specialty restaurant in the center of the ship sparkles with magnificent chandeliers handcrafted of Murano glass, named for the island of Murano near Venice, Italy, where glass-blowing has been a fine art and tradition since the 13th century.
Celebrity's longtime culinary and wine consultant, renowned Master Chef Michel Roux, designed the menu for Murano, with the cuisine and service following the celebrated style of Celebrity's Millennium-class specialty restaurants, which presented the industry's first tableside cooking, carving and flambé.
Century's dramatic, two-level "Grand Restaurant" has been entirely refurbished, retaining the glamour and sophistication that made it so popular prior to the revitalization, and maintaining the quality of service and impeccable culinary standards that have won the line extensive praise every year under the deft direction of Chef Roux and Celebrity's culinary team.
Among the many other dining options onboard Century is a 76-seat Sushi Bar - Celebrity's first designed specifically to reflect the popular regional cuisine - with a casual Asian atmosphere, and a collection of thematic artifacts and artwork.
Surrounded by glass walls offering magnificent ocean views, Century's Ocean Grill offers an alternative dining area with an upscale ambience, where guests can select cuisine ranging from steaks, chops, salads, antipastos and desserts from a fixed menu.
Opposite the Ocean Grill, guests will find fresh, made-to-order omelettes and crepes each morning, and an endless array of pizzas and made-to-order pastas every afternoon and evening. For the sweet tooth in everyone, just around the corner, there is a station offering a tantalizing array of homemade ice creams and sorbets.
Pairing refreshing sea air with panoramic views, Century's outdoor Sunset Bar features a full-service bar where guests can enjoy an assortment of fresh tapas and appetizers with cocktails and other beverages.
A Celebrity favorite across the fleet, Cova Café, the seagoing version of the stylish coffeehouse in the fashion district of Milan, Italy, serves fresh pastries and cookies to complement its coffees, teas, and other beverages every day, while at night, the space transforms to a romantic, lamp-lit wine bar, with live music.