Celebrity Cruises to refurbish Century, offer Mediterranean cruises

Celebrity Cruise Line will completely refurbish the Celebrity in 2006. Century will emerge with 314 new verandas, more ConciergeClass category staterooms, a new specialty restaurant, and amenities that typify the line's Millennium-class fleet. The contract with Fincantieri involves Century's major structural modifications, new verandas and associated stateroom interiors, new staterooms on deck 12, and regular drydock work. Other interior outfitting contractors also will handle portions of the work.

A new specialty restaurant will present a menu designed by Celebrity's longtime culinary and wine consultant, Master Chef Michel Roux. The venue will follow the style of Celebrity's "Olympic," "SS United States," "Normandie" and "Ocean Liners" restaurants, which presented the industry's first tableside cooking, carving and flambe. The "Casual Dining Boulevard" on the lido deck will be expanded to include a Sushi Cafe, and made-to-order Pasta and Pizza Bar, along with buffet breakfasts, themed lunches, and dinner service with a casual dress code. Fans of light, healthy cuisine will find what they're seeking in a new Spa Cafe.

For evening cocktails, a sophisticated new Martini Bar will offer more than 30 versions of the popular drink, while outside on the aft deck, a new bandstand and bar complete with tapas carts will offer a romantic setting at sunset, complete with live music.

Century's "Fun Factory" children's area will be expanded, with a new teen room added to offer new activities geared exclusively toward that age group.

Following its revitalization, Celebrity's "new" Century will set sail on a series of 12-night Baltic and 10- and 11-night Mediterranean cruises.