Please Advise - Making Our Century Cruise Memorable

[Cosmos]

Hi! This is my first ever post to a message board. My last cruise was Sun Princess, Alaska, 1980.

 

I am taking our young adult daughters on a 4-night cruise on the Century in late March. We're celebrating a couple of special occasions.

 

I am hoping you can share with me your favorite Century onboard experiences. I've read a lot about Murano and Aquaspa. Now I'm looking for insight into the more sublte experiences, such as your favorite place to enjoy a quiet cocktail, the best vantage point on the ship to view the sunset, and where the best spot is to find unoccupied deck chairs to soak up the sun and enjoy the view. We have our shore excursions worked out, and now I want to be sure we're prepared to make the best of our at-sea days.

 

Thanks in advance for any insights and favorite experiences you wish to share with us.

[TeaBag]

We loved the corner seats in the front of the Hemisphere lounge during the day. A great quiet place to read a book or just gaze at the water going by. We didn't have any trouble locating lounges around the pool on either of the 2 sea days. This is a great place to people watch, listen to the excellent band or see some of the water games in progress. We loved the cold towels on the last day which was quite hot. The Cova cafe has wonderful pastries and croissants and this was a nice place to sit in the evenings when the Baltic quartet was playing.;)

[Host Anne]

Cosmos ~ first, welcome to Cruise Critic and your first post! We hope you'll be with us for a long time and get lots of great ideas for your upcoming cruise on Century.

 

We just got off Century last week and we had a terrific time. You asked for things to make your cruise memorable and I know you are already aware of Muranos but I have to reinforce that it was the most memorable evening of our trip. From the service to the food, we had a great time and only wished we could have gone back.

 

To answer your other questions -- we usually met up with friends at the Martini Bar for drinks before dinner. Not really "secluded", but a really fun area with lights that change color - very modern feel. If you want a more intimate place, I'd suggest Michael's Club right next door. It is a very pretty enclosed room and never crowded. It would be a good place for a quiet cocktail. I think Hemisphere may be another good choice for a quiet cocktail early in the evening. It's the disco later at night.

 

The sunset vantage point (we are sunset freaks so I look for one EVERY night) depends where you are (in what direction you are sailing). Here are some areas I'd suggest - the back of the ship on deck 11 beyond the Islands Buffet. Nice bar our here, too. At the very front of the ship on deck 12. Very quiet at sunset. From your balcony (if you have one and you are facing west). Some of our favorite sunsets are from our balcony. The Promenade deck is probably the best public area for sunsets. It's a little less windy than the upper decks and it is usually very quiet.

 

Unoccupied deck chairs....if you aren't up early on sea days (at least this was the case on our cruise), you'll probably need to venture up to deck 12, fore or aft. We did find chairs here mid-day but it is rather windy (evidenced by the fact that they tire the chairs up there to the railings (you can untie them, though). The Promenade is a great spot to grab a chair any time of day - but no sun.

 

Keep asking questions....I'm sure you'll get lots of responses.

 

Welcome again to Cruise Critic and I hope you have a fantastic cruise!

[BettyInToronto]

We sailed the Century Dec 11-16 and loved it. We could never find a lounge chair near the pool and then finally gave up when we found a nice quiet place on Deck 6 Starboard side for non-smoking.

[slotaddict]

Forget the suble experiences, I have one thing to say

W A F F L E S :D

Make sure you try them.:)

[dkjretired]

but I always liked the main dining room on the Century. All the wood in that room makes it look real classy. Just a very nice room. I certainly hope that wasn't changed on the redo.

 

Slot:

Wish me luck, be in AC until Friday for my birthday...

[Andy]

but I always liked the main dining room on the Century. All the wood in that room makes it look real classy. Just a very nice room. I certainly hope that wasn't changed on the redo.

 

 

Hi Don !

 

You will be happy to hear that the Dining Room was virtually untouched. I believe the only change was some new carpeting.

 

One more thing.... Happy Birthday !

[XatSea]

Hi! My last cruise was Sun Princess, Alaska, 1980.

27 years between cruises...

What was your first experience like?

Century provides a wonderful cruise experience. We like her so much we are cruising in her for a B2B2B in January, and a Transatlantic in April.

The best viewing and baking in the sun will be on the Sports Deck.

If you enjoy music as well as a cocktail, the Rendezvous and the Crystal room offers live groups that are very good. The Cova also offers specialty coffees after dinner as well as live music.

 

Don't forget to check out the deck plans:

https://secure.celebritycruises.com/plancruise/ships/ship.do;jsessionid=0000SoA4_ujLQO3T6kHWdV7aAgA:1028etq20?shipCode=CN

[dkjretired]

Hi Don !

 

You will be happy to hear that the Dining Room was virtually untouched. I believe the only change was some new carpeting.

 

One more thing.... Happy Birthday !

 

Thanks Andy, feel old last year in my 50s.

[slotaddict]

but I always liked the main dining room on the Century. All the wood in that room makes it look real classy. Just a very nice room. I certainly hope that wasn't changed on the redo.

 

Slot:

Wish me luck, be in AC until Friday for my birthday...

 

You got it. What casino are you going to? I have been trying my luck at Ceasars, been there the past several trips. Won on every trip but the last. Can;t win them all I guess.:D

Oh yeah and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cosmos]

Thanks, everybody for the great tips. My daughters and I are very excited and will continue to monitor Cruise Critic to soak up as much information as possible. Xcellent asked me about my last cruise experience on the Sun Princess in 1980... It was a cruise with my grandmother on the inland waters of Alaska. I remember amazing excursions such as white water rafting and riding on a narrow gauge railway. I remember great food, fancier than I'd ever imagined. I remember the Sun Princess being small enough to sidle up to glaciers. I was about the age of my daughters right now, and I remember feeling very, very young compared to the other passengers.

 

My first cruise was in 1974, also with my grandmother, and before my senior year in college. We cruised on a small, elegant ship down the Rhine River between Rotterdam and Basel, Switzerland. Stops included Heidleburg, Germany and Strasbourg, France. To see the vineyards and castles was breathtaking. I'll never forget passing the haunting rock, Lorelai.

 

I was very fortunate to have those experiences with my grandmother. I look forward to getting a glimpse of the Western Caribbean with my daughters. (Maybe next year I can get my husband to join me on a longer cruise.)

 

Thanks again, everyone, for sharing your experiences with me.