NEW YORK -- Celebrity Cruises is putting authentic elements of the
past into what it promises will be one of the most innovative ships
of the future.
Celebrity will introduce its newest ship, the 1,950-passenger
Millennium, next June with a specialty dining room equipped with
decorative wood paneling from the White Star Line's R.M.S. Olympic,
which was built in 1911 as a sister ship to the ill-fated
Titanic.
The rare wood paneling slated to adorn Millennium's 134-seat
Olympic restaurant once graced the a la carte dining room of the
historic transatlantic ship, and was discovered in a private
English residence in 1974 and recently sold at auction by
Sotheby's.
The paneling, ornamented with gold in a Louis XVI style, will be
the featured element of Millennium's Olympic dining room, which
also will include a "demonstration" galley and a dine-in wine
cellar.
The venue "offers our guests the opportunity to experience the
elegance and romance of one of the great turn-of-the-century
transatlantic liners," said Rick Sasso, Celebrity's president.
The $350 million Millennium, currently under construction at
France's Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, is scheduled to begin
service on June 17 with a series of European cruises through
October, after which the ship will offer alternating eastern and
western Caribbean sailings from Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
In addition to its traditional elements, Millennium will also
include several features that are new to leisure cruising.
Among these are two glass elevator towers that face the ocean, a
pair of penthouse suites measuring 3,000 square feet each
(including verandas), and a 25,000-square-foot "AquaSpa"
facility.
Celebrity officials say the penthouse staterooms and the spa
facility will be the largest of their kind at sea.
Celebrity also has extended its exclusive contract with French
chef and restaurateur Michel Roux, who has directed Celebrity's
acclaimed on-board cuisine since the line's inception in 1989.
At 85,000 gross registered tons, Millennium will be the largest
class of Celebrity vessel, and the first in a series four such
ships planned to premiere through 2002.
Eighty percent of the ship's 975 staterooms will feature ocean
views, and 74% of the oceanview staterooms will be equipped with
private verandas.
Also, 26 of Millennium's staterooms will be wheelchair
accessible.
The ship's public rooms will include three individual dining
areas: the Millennium Dining Room, which seats 1,224; the Olympic
Dining Room; and the Lido Cafe, a casual, buffet-style dining
venue.
Other facilities will include the Platinum Club, which features
martini and champagne drinks and caviars; Michael's Club,
Celebrity's signature cigar bar; the Extreme Sports Club, a sports
bar; a glass-enclosed observation lounge and a music library
featuring 1,500 music CD's and several private listening
stations.