By Roy Witman

Celebrity Cruises, known throughout the industry for their luxurious accommodations and premiere service, has announced plans to renovate several ships in their fleet. Starting in April, Celebrity Cruises will begin incorporating Solstice Class characteristics into the ten-year-old Millennium Class ships. Celebrity Constellation will be the first ship of its class to undergo a facelift. The renovations for all four ships will be completed in 2012, with Celebrity Millennium being the last scheduled. Celebrity expects to spend approximately $200 million to complete the project.

Luxurious Clubs and Restaurants

One stand-out feature of Solstice Class ships is the gourmet dining experience. Restaurants such as the Tuscan Grille and Bistro on Five will begin serving world-class cuisine aboard the Millennium Class ships when the renovations are complete. The Tuscan Grille is a favorite among Solstice cruisers and offers the finest in Italian wines, scrumptious steak, and a variety of other mouth-watering cuisines.

The Enomatic offers an Italian-style wine bar where guests can select and serve their favorite wines at the touch of a button. For martini connoisseurs, top-shelf vodkas are available in the Martini Bar, where ice-filled tables keep bottles at the perfect temperature. Quiet elegance and sophistication is the standard aboard Solstice Class ships, and this vision will soon be replicated across the Celebrity Cruises fleet.

Updated Staterooms and Suites

Solstice Class ships feature the modern, elegant styling favored by the line's clientele. As part of the renovation plans, the Millennium Class ships will be redesigned to more closely resemble their popular sisters. Color schemes will be updated throughout the public spaces, granting them a look and feel in keeping with the newer ships.

Fully remodeled suites and staterooms will feature new carpet, upholstery, bedding and furniture, along with the addition of flat-screen TVs. The contemporary styling and attention to detail will rival the finest European hotels in their beauty and class. The grand style and spacious accommodations that Celebrity Cruises patrons have come to expect will remain a key feature of the newly remodeled ships.

Enhanced Onboard Experience

Celebrity Cruises is renowned for providing exceptional, personal service and a cruising experience that is unmatched in the industry. That continues to be the line's primary goal. The revitalization of their fleet is only part of the new "Designed for You" campaign, intended to build brand consistency and enhance customer satisfaction. The "Designed for You" philosophy includes the Celebrity Life onboard program, which offers discerning cruisers yet another level of refinement not seen elsewhere in the industry.

Celebrity Cruises strives to deliver an extraordinary cruising experience "at an intelligent price." That commitment to excellence can be seen in the scope of this ambitious project. By continuing to upgrade their fleet, Celebrity is reinforcing its position as a leader in the luxury cruise game.