Celebrity Cruise Line
Millennium Cruise Review
Mediterannean-40 days

Leon J. Makasjian, J.D.

We had the luck to take 3 back to back segments on the Millennium: Two Mediterranean cruises and a transatlantic cruise, a total of 40 days.

Celebrity cruise line is truly a premium line with extraordinary flair. Of course the Millennium is the pinnacle. 40 days and nights on that ship spoils you beyond compare.

First, the layout of the ship is excellent. At 91,000 tons, it's truly huge. Yet, masterful design provides an open floor plan which makes it easy to get by without being lost. Also, everywhere you look, the ship is decorated with marble, wood, and glass- truly beautiful. The grand foyer makes a great impression.

The rooms are roomy and provide great ocean views even without a balcony- Modern, elegant and spacious. The concierge class offers near amenities of a suite without the price tag; daily caviar, fruits and floor towels near your bed that greet you with specially embroidered greetings for day and night. One inconvenience: no self service laundry areas, which is problem for people who stay many segments.

Although we hate gambling, the casino is a work of art as are the main lounges, not to mention the internet center with striking ocean views.

We found the main dining to be excellent with great soups, salads, entrees and desserts all topped with first rate service.

The Lido is a incredible haven- not only it is huge, it offers an incredible variety of the best quality foods from sushi to almost anything you can imagine. It also never felt crowded. The staff service, as usual, excellent.

The spa called Aqua-Spa may be the best on the seven seas. An entire area is dedicated to the spa; a huge therapy warm pool with jets leads you to the main spa. All imaginable services are offered: a gym, sauna rooms, not to mention a Persian garden where, for a nominal fee, you enter a paradise of mosaic bathed walls of three different different steam rooms. We enjoyed this for many days- a unique sensory experience. The Aqua-Spa topper was an entire buffet of low calorie delicious meals served all day. A spa beyond compare worthy of a ship beyond compare.

The shows of the ship were the best I have seen on land or sea. First, the showroom is three stories with faux torches lit giving an out of this world experience. We repeated seeing the cast production shows over four times without being bored! "Fantasea" as well as "Phantom of the Opera and "Les Miserables" productions were incredibly well made. Performers performed virtuoso music skills. Unique performances of Clarice and Dominique offered mind boggling movements throughout the showroom. A laser show to Aram Khatchadurians Saber dance was futuristic and very musical. How often can one view the same show many times? Rarely, unless they are the shows of Celebrity's Millennium. Bravo!

From port to starboard and forward to aft, Celebrity's GTS Millennium is extraordinary. 40 days is a long time to get to know every facet of the ship and the staff. In fact, the ship can well be the destination. I have not even talked about the beautiful ports of call and the excellent shore excursions. If one wants a classy cruise with a modern flair with world class service, take a celebrity cruise especially onboard the Millennium class ships; also(Constellation, Infinity, Summit). It is not surprising that these ships are now top of the class in a Conde Naste Traveler magazine top ship survey with scores nearly matching offerings from Regent and Crystal cruise lines leaving Cunards new mega ships very far behind.

In fact, we were so impressed with the ship, we booked another cruise with the Constellation in 2005 a Baltic and a Transatlantic (26 days). All my remarks remain identical for the Constellation as well. Another extra offering was the Cirque the Soleil, a unique experience at at a lounge and now in the showroom. The same world class dining and service applied this time to the charm of Northern European ports.

Europe is a destination beyond any; Celebrity Cruises has nearly mastered the art of fine cruising to these one of a kind destinations. Quite an incredible accomplishment!

If you have questions about these ships, e-mail me anytime. Happy cruising!