Celebrity Millennium Cruise Discount And Cruise Review

Overview
A trendsetter when it was launched in 2000, Millennium has made waves with such "firsts" at sea as glass-walled exterior elevators, a super spa and a music library. The first of a new class of vessel -- faster and larger, but still able to sail through the Panama Canal -- she represents a new chapter for Celebrity.

Among other firsts that Millennium has clocked for Celebrity include incorporation of a gas propulsion technology that reduces emissions, noise and vibrations and enables it to cruise at 24 knots. The advantage? The ship can reach more destinations in less time. Another innovation on Millennium's technology side has been somewhat less successful. The first ship ever to use a "mermaid pod propulsion system," Millennium, along with siblings Infinity, Summit and Constellation, has suffered from repeated breakdowns of the unit -- and resulted in cruise cancellations. Celebrity Cruises has taken the relatively unusual step of filing a $300 million lawsuit against the mermaid pod creators. In the meantime, the company has assured travelers that the breakdowns represent no safety hazard and will continue to offer generous compensation to passengers whose cruises are cancelled or interrupted as a result of the balky system.

Ultimately, this ship, true exponent of the good life at sea, is a good choice for a broad range of cruise travelers, from families to couples. Genuine highlights include the cuisine of a Michelin-starred chef, understated yet elegant public rooms, museum-quality art, top-notch entertainment and lavish suites.

Public Rooms
The Grand Foyer has a translucent, backlit onyx staircase and 11-deck glass-walled exterior elevators that offer ocean views as they whisk passengers from one deck to another. The Cova Cafe, just off the atrium, hits the spot after an afternoon of touring with its delicious cappuccinos and chocolates and delightful music by a harpist. The Rendezvous Lounge on Promenade Deck is the preferred place for pre-dinner cocktails. It has quiet niches and deep, comfortable seating, music for dancing by a duo and leads to the lower level of the Metropolitan Restaurant. One deck above is the Platinum Club, elegant in grays and plum. It houses Celebrity's Martini Bar and Champagne Bar with a caviar display -and overlooks the Rendezvous' dance floor/stage. Extreme Sports, Celebrity's first-ever sports lounge, features sports-themed art and big-screen televisions. Intimate spaces include The Tower, a lounging area with comfortable wicker furniture for just three, sea views and a conservatory ambience. Online@CelebrityCruises is the line's first Internet Cafe with 18 individual stations; the basic fee is 95 cents a minute. There is no self-service launderette (laundry and dry-cleaning available for a fee).

Dining
If the panoramic views aft of the two-seating, two-level Metropolitan Restaurant and its opulent decor in 1940s style with geometric motifs in blues, reds and gold does not capture your attention, the cuisine of Master Chef Michel Roux will -it's delicious. Lean and light selections are offered; special diets are available (request at least 15 days before sailing). Well-spaced tables for six, eight and 10 -and four each for two and four are featured. The service, by a European-trained staff, is attentive. A quintet entertains. The creme de la creme afloat is The Olympic, a 134-seat alternative restaurant (fee is $30 per person) with Edwardian decor highlighted by the original paneling from the premier restaurant on the classic liner Olympic, sister of the Titanic. It offers a demonstration kitchen, dine-in wine cellar and tableside cooking of such dishes as Caesar salad, steak Diane and crepes Suzette. Reserve early! The outdoor-indoor Ocean Cafe offers buffet-style breakfasts and lunches and the no-fee Ocean Grill offers casual dinners of steaks, rotisserie chicken and salmon with waiter service -great on port days. Other food treats include Elegant Tea, and themed buffets or Gourmet Bites (tempura, mini-empanadas, etc.) at midnight. Complimentary 24-hour room service includes sandwiches, boxed gourmet pizzas, salads and desserts (guests can also order from dining room menus during meal hours). This area could use improvement during the inaugural: two orders arrived with wrong items.

Cabins
Of nine types of staterooms and suites a fine choice is an Ocean View Stateroom (categories 4-8). At 170 sq. ft., these cabins offer panoramic windows, sitting areas with sofa beds and two convertible beds. Eighty percent of the accommodations have ocean-views; 74 percent of those with verandas. A veranda is great (in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean -in northern Europe, it may be too cold). Balconied cabins include a Premium Ocean View Stateroom with Veranda (categories 1A-1C) measuring 191 sq. ft. with 41 sq. ft. veranda, sliding glass doors, sitting area with sofa bed and two convertible beds. Other balcony cabins include Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom with Veranda (categories 2A-2C; 170 sq. ft. with 38 sq. ft. veranda) and Large Ocean-View Stateroom with Veranda (category 3; 271 sq. ft. with 242 sq. ft. veranda). Four kinds of suites include palatial Penthouses (1,432 sq. ft. with 1,098 sq. ft. veranda), Royal Suites (538 sq. ft. plus 195 sq. ft. veranda), Celebrity Suites (467 sq. ft. with floor-to-ceiling windows) and Sky Suites (251 sq. ft. plus 57 sq. ft. veranda). Suites boast butler service. However, if your budget allows for only modest accommodations, Inside Staterooms (categories 9-12) aren't too shabby: a roomy 170 sq. ft., with similar layout as the Ocean View Staterooms, but windowless. All cabins offer attractive decor, interactive television, mini-bar, safe, voice mail and hairdryer.

Fitness and Recreation
The Riviera on Resort Deck is a hedonistic spot with two pools, four whirlpools, two bars, outdoor grill, bandstand, dance floor, sun shop, and access to the Ocean Cafe & Grill. Arguably the best spa afloat, the 25,000 sq. ft. Elemis AquaSpa offers a free hydropool in a glass-domed conservatory setting. Facilities include 16 treatment rooms (for hot stone and other first-at-sea therapies), sauna, steam, a cafe serving truly delicious light cuisine, an ocean-view gym incorporating an aerobics section and 50 pieces of cardiovascular and resistance equipment including free weights, eight exercise bikes, two rowers, six steppers, and 14 treadmills. Walkers will not find a traditional wrap-around deck circling the entire ship --the Metropolitan Restaurant's lower level takes up the aft section of Promenade Deck. Other facilities include a jogging track, volleyball, basketball, paddle tennis, and golf simulator. Celebrity has enhanced its daytime recreational programs to include enrichment lectures and folkloric groups from ashore. Computer clinics are available for $59 an hour.

Entertainment
Options include Broadway-style revues, variety and an interactive game show in the Greek-style (complete with faux torches), three-level, banquette-seating Celebrity Theater with excellent sightlines; first-run movies; CDs in Notes music library; disco in Cosmos, a night-cap in one of the lounges. Extreme Sports is popular and so is the Belle Epoch-themed Fortunes Casino featuring 228 slots and 13 tables for blackjack, roulette, Caribbean Stud Poker and dice. While in sightseeing-intensive Europe many passengers turned in early -likely more guests will enjoy more nightlife in the Caribbean.

Fellow Passengers
On longer voyages in Europe, the average age is in the 60s. Guests are mostly upper-middle class and middle-class Americans, many well traveled and some first-timers. On seven-night sailings in the Caribbean, Millennium will probably attract a younger roster (mostly couples in their 40s and 50s and some families and singles).

Gratuity
Per person, per day recommendations are $3.50 to waiter, $2 to busboy, 75 cents to restaurant manager, $3.50 to cabin steward, $3.50 to butler (suites only) and 50 cents to chief housekeeper.

Family
There are free, supervised activities for four age groups: 3-6, 7-9, 10-12 and 13-17. All participants 3-10 must be signed-in/out to the Fun Factory club by a parent/guardian presenting a Celebrity signature card to verify parentage. Each child wears a wristband for identification. Parents' Night Out is on formal nights with free babysitting and counselors taking the children to a pizza party. Limited private babysitting is $8 per hour per family (maximum two children). Make arrangements onboard through Guest Relations or Stateroom Services. Group babysitting for children ages 3-12 from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. is $3 per hour for one child, $5 per hour for two or more children from the same family. Teenagers have their own club.

Dress Code
Resort-type clothes for daytime onboard and conservative clothing for tours that include stops at churches in Europe. For northern Europe sailings, bring a jacket, sweaters, raincoat/umbrella. For the Caribbean, pack resort-wear, two bathing suits, cover-up, sun block. There are two formal nights on seven-day sailings, three on longer voyages. Half the men wear dark suits instead of tuxedoes for dinner.