Photos by Bing Parel
For some people, the thought of being cooped up in a ship with nothing to see but the vast cerulean waters is perhaps something that is not appealing. Unless of course one is onboard the Celebrity Millennium, a luxury cruise liner whose facilities make one think of a grand floating hotel.
We were fortunate to be among the few invited by Royal Caribbean Cruises to take a tour of the Celebrity Millennium when it briefly called at the Port of Manila last January 26.
“Mabuhay, and welcome to the Celebrity Millennium. Magandang bansa ang Pilipinas,” greets its new captain Nikolas Christodoulakis, much to the laughter of our group. A native of Crete, Captain Nikolas says he has been with Royal Caribbean for 23 years, and has come across thousands of Filipinos who work with the company as well. At the time, there were about 284 Filipinos in the 952-member crew of the ship, taking care of the 2,200 guests on board.
As many as 2,500 guests can be accommodated by the Millennium (considered a mid-range ship since Royal Caribbean also has other classes like the Solstice class that can accommodate 3,500 passengers and more), says hotel director Srdjan Cetkovic, a Serbian whose career with Celebrity Cruises started some 10 years ago.
One of the reasons why Royal Caribbean has become a byword in the industry is the fact that it always tries to innovate and modernize to enhance the experience of the passengers, Srdjan adds.
For instance, the wide range of cuisines offered from the various restaurants located in the different decks of the 294-m French built cruise liner, among them the suite class Luminae that offers modern and eclectic cuisine with a different menu every day, and the “uniquely unordinary” QSine whose upside down decors can make for a good ice breaker. Even the casual dining area offers a bevy of options that suits varying tastes and preferences. But if you just want coffee and waffles, head to Café Al Bacio & Gelateria for a delightful cup of Lavazza and some freshly baked desserts.
It was also interesting to see passengers lounging on the deck by the Thalassotherapy pool area with “sea water” that has beneficial effects on the skin. What followed was a whirlwind tour of the boutiques and shops, with brands like Bulgari, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Clinic, Tag Heuer, Longines, Armani, Versace, Le Vian® Chocolate Diamonds and many others.
Then there’s the Celebrity iLounge which we were told is the first authorized Apple store specialist at sea – with MacBook Pros, iPhones, iPads and other Apple products available for purchase. Best of all, they are tax free and duty free. And if there are smart gadgets on board, it follows that there is WiFi – with the cruise liner offering various data packages so that you can still stay connected even when you are literally in the middle of the sea.
When we came across the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, I suddenly felt like sprawling on the floor so someone could carry me inside and give me a taste of the rejuvenating treatments on offer. The more active among our group however were curious to try out the equipment in the gym which unfortunately was not open during our tour.
We laughed at seeing the karaoke lounge where guests can perform – and we can just imagine the Filipino passengers (there were 300 of them all based overseas at the time) singing to their hearts’ desire. But entertainment is not confined to the lounge as the ship also has a theater where Broadway plays are staged. We were informed that down the line, Royal Caribbean will put up its own theater group to mount plays onboard its various luxury liners.
We also peeked inside the Casino (“It’s closed when we are docked,” our gracious guide said) and stopped by the Crush martini bar whose ice-topped display area caught our attention. Then it was off to Cellar Masters, with its Enomatic machine that allows guests to sample different types of wine and select which one suits their taste buds and preference.
All too soon, the tour was coming to an end – with everyone in agreement that a day indeed is not enough to enjoy the luxurious facilities and amenities of Celebrity Millennium – a first-in-class cruise liner that bears the iconic “X” to connote the mark of modern luxury that it has become known for in the industry. But while the excellent facilities and amenities on board can rival some of the best offered by top hotels, what differentiates Celebrity Millennium – and all other cruise liners by Royal Caribbean Cruises – are its crew, majority of whom are Filipino, who give their best effort to make guests feel at home even when they are practically in the middle of the sea.
For cruise destinations, schedules and other information, visit www.celebritycruises.com.