Writer Matt Hannafin sailed on Celebrity's newly renovated
Horizon. His report follows:
ABOARD THE HORIZON -- Celebrity Cruises, which makes much of
having "the youngest, most modern fleet" in the industry, recently
acknowledged the passage of time by giving its oldest ship, the
1990 Horizon, a rejuvenating face-lift.
The
result? A more pleasing look for an already pleasing ship.
Before the makeover, the Horizon was saddled with a few
leftovers of pre-1990s interior design and lacked the kind of
innovative spa facilities and intimate clubs that have become
signature elements of Celebrity's newer ships.
The vessel's bright new AquaSpa is perched on the topmost deck,
beside the gym. Though smaller than those aboard the newer Century,
Galaxy and Mercury, and lacking those vessels' Thalassotherapy
pool, it offers many of the same treatments and programs.
In addition to massages, facials and manicures, passengers can
indulge in the Turkish-style Seraglio mud/steambath (known as
"rasul" aboard Celebrity's other ships) or undergo Ionithermie
treatment, in which mudpacks and electrodes detoxify the body and
encourage inch loss off the waistline.
The Horizon's gym area has been updated with equipment, though
its floor space is still so limited that aerobics classes must be
held elsewhere.
Plans call for the room to grow eight to 12 feet in April 2000
by enclosing deck space that once held the ship's whirlpool, now
removed to compensate for the spa's additional weight.
The most startling transformation in the Horizon's redesign is
the replacement of the ship's dark, little-used disco with three
separate spaces: the Michael's Club cigar bar, a new library and a
card room.
Celebrity introduced the Michael's Club concept aboard Century,
Galaxy and Mercury. Like its predecessors, the club aboard Horizon
is a cozy, refined space furnished in classic steamship style.
It features leather sofas, high-backed chairs and a faux
fireplace with lifelike glowing, crackling logs. Both the windowed
library and card room continue this design motif.
The library is particularly pleasing, with high-backed chairs,
personal stereos that allow guests to privately enjoy music or
audio books, and two computers. The two rooms can be combined to
accommodate conferences or private parties.
Amidship, the Rendez-Vous Lounge received a minor makeover that
enlarged its dance floor. Rather than acting as a de-facto disco,
the room more often hosts black-tie ballroom dancing.
The old library space has been divided into a boutique and art
gallery, while the old card room has become an intimate, high-style
martini bar, seating only 26.
Fact Sheet: Cigars, martinis
Ship: Horizon.
Company: Celebrity Cruises.
Year built: 1990.
Size: 46,811 gross registered tons.
Passengers: 1,354.
Itineraries: From October to mid-April, Horizon sails 10- and
11-night itineraries roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., calling
at St. Thomas, Barbados and either St. Maarten, St. Lucia and
Antigua, or Curacao, La Guaira, Grenada and Martinique. In the
summer, the ship sails seven-night Bermuda itineraries, roundtrip
from New York.
Phone: (800) 327-6700.
Web: www.celebrity-cruises.com.