Massive upgrades to Millennium / May 2009 drydock info

[florisdekort]

Hello from Millennium... Here's some exciting news from this afternoon's Senior Officer's Cocktail Party...

 

During the 3 week drydock scheduled for May 2009, some interesting changes/upgrades will be made to Millennium:

 

- A second speciality restaurant will be added (!), no information was given about what type of food it will serve

- Cova Cafe will be replaced by Cafe al Bacio (similar to Solstice), serving Italian ice cream in addition to speciality coffees

- The buffet on deck 10 will be completely changed into a "Solstice style" set-up, with various islands as opposed to the current line set-up

- Carpets will be replaced, and the colour schemes will apparantly change too such that carpets "don't look worn so quickly" (whatever that means)

- All staterooms will get flat screen tv's (!)

- Deck 11 will be resurfaced

 

And some minor stuff... The May 22 Alaska cruise is the first sailing for the "new Millennium".

 

Cheers -

Floris

[nothriver]

Thanks for the updates! We sail 6/19.

 

Quick Millie question, if you don't mind, since you are there OP? My mother wants to know if there is still a "dance band" for ballroom type dancing. She said last time they sailed Celebrity there was a 3 piece band every night that they really enjoyed.

[cruisin'mama]

We'll be on the June 5th sailing. I hope they still have the wonderful pastries that the Cova had!

 

I hope they come out with more info on the 2nd specialty restaurant so we can decide if we want to make reservations for it in advance. We already know which day we want to go the the Olympic.

 

Since this is my friends first cruise on Celebrity, looks like Millenium will really shine for her! I can't wait.

[rolfecms]

I'm guessing the new 2nd specialty restaurant will be located on the plaza deck where the cinema and conference rooms are now situated. This area is next to the Olympic's kitchen and the remaining part of this space is non-revenue so this makes it the perfect choice, IMHO.

 

http://www.celebritycruises.com/plancruise/ships/deck.do;jsessionid=0000q95RIDoj9nI-yxdriUErIus:12hdebdrn?shipCode=ML&deckCode=PL&sailDate=1081017

[marcmarc2]

And shall we guess now it's going to be called Murano's? ;)

 

I really like the M-Class ships, it's nice they're refreshing Millie. I hope they get around to doing all four in the class.

[wolfganghowell]

Very interesting. I wondered about the location too once I saw this. I would guess it will be a Murano's or a Tuscan Grille. I'm wondering if a Murano's is too similar in style to Olympic. We are excited to get back on Millie and extra excited now that she is getting a "facelift" for us. :)

[dkjretired]

Just keep in mind that Celebrity's on board rumor mill has never been very accurate. I appreciate as always Florisdekort's post but I usually wait for the press release to see what will really happen...

[rolfecms]

Very interesting. I wondered about the location too once I saw this. I would guess it will be a Murano's or a Tuscan Grille. I'm wondering if a Murano's is too similar in style to Olympic. We are excited to get back on Millie and extra excited now that she is getting a "facelift" for us. :)

 

I would agree that the 2nd restaurant will probably not be Muranos because that would compete with the Olympic rather than be a complementary specialty restaurant. Something like Tuscan Grill makes more sense from this perspective.

[Rouge Wave]

Massive upgrades to Millennium / May 2009 drydock info

Cheers -

Floris

 

I hope so, that ship sorely needs a refurbishment. Very disapointed in her condition. Yep, I got pics of what I speak of, will post on webshots soon.

[darrencantwait]

Thanks for the post, Floris! We can always count on you. I'm so happy that they are keeping these wonderful M-class ships "relevant" to the greater X community. I personally enjoyed every minute on her last October.

[Island Flower]

Yippee!

 

We can't wait to be the first ones on!

 

My only worry is the new carpet smell... but that's why we have all that grand, lovely deck space, isn't it?

:D

[marinearchit]

Sounds like they are really planning to take some of Solstice's ammenities fleetwide. Hopefully, though, they will allow Millenium to retain the true X livery.

I would imagine that Murano is probably too similar to Olympic. When it was added to Century, it was bascially the same restaurant, just not using the naming scheme of the M-class ships' restaurants.

 

Maybe they will be adding AquaClass to the Millie (I doubt converting some cabins would be a complicated change) and the 2nd restaurant will be Blu? It seems highly likely to me. What does everybody else think?

 

I also think it's likely that her new carpets will be similar to the more modern carpet designs seen on Solstice. Maybe even some of the color schemes and furnishings will be changed to a more Solstice-type design in order to give the fleet a more unified feel once the 5 Solstice ships are in service.

[rolfecms]

Maybe they will be adding AquaClass to the Millie (I doubt converting some cabins would be a complicated change) and the 2nd restaurant will be Blu? It seems highly likely to me. What does everybody else think?

 

I think AQ and Blu are too new a concept yet to roll out fleetwide and besides the M-class ships are not big enough to create another cabin class to support a Blu-type restaurant. This is all about increasing the revenue from as many pax as possible, so that would mean a specialty restaurant open to all cabin classes.

[rolfecms]

Just keep in mind that Celebrity's on board rumor mill has never been very accurate. I appreciate as always Florisdekort's post but I usually wait for the press release to see what will really happen...

 

Don: Rumor mill or no, the push for all the cruiselines now is to increase revenue as much as possible. Given this fianancial requirement any larger refurbishments done to the exisiting =X= fleet will certainly concentrate on such a goal. From this perspective it just makes sense that it would be another specialty restaurant open to all pax. And that non-revenue space next to the Olympic does not currently contribute anything to =X='s bottom line.

[dkjretired]

Don: Rumor mill or no, the push for all the cruiselines now is to increase revenue as much as possible. Given this fianancial requirement any larger refurbishments done to the exisiting =X= fleet will certainly concentrate on such a goal. From this perspective it just makes sense that it would be another specialty restaurant open to all pax. And that non-revenue space next to the Olympic does not currently contribute anything to =X='s bottom line.

 

I agree, only pointing that in the past we have on numerous occasions been told by high ranking officers that things would be done and they weren't.

[Starry Nights]

I would agree that the 2nd restaurant will probably not be Muranos because that would compete with the Olympic rather than be a complementary specialty restaurant. Something like Tuscan Grill makes more sense from this perspective.

 

My guess, also, is that the second restaurant will be more like the Tuscan Grille, or Chops on RCCL.. That is one way to provide the better quality beef, etc. that some people want, with an accompanying upcharge. People who are happy with what the main dining room offers do not have to pay the increased price.

 

This is fine with me--I think it's a reasonable solution to the increasing costs that the cruise line has to bear, but we will no doubt have to endure some moaning about nickel-and-diming, here on these boards.

 

I am really thrilled about the changes they are making to the Millennium, which is a ship I really loved. I just hope they choose more attractive carpet than they used on Solstice. And I hope they can afford to replace the drapes and sofas in the staterooms, as many of them have really seen better days. Although I loved our cruise on the Millennium--the staff was terrific, the food was great--I would never have stayed in a hotel room that had drapery and upholstery fabric that was as worn and sad as I saw in some staterooms.

[jshli]

According to the Celebrity website, there is a 2 week lapse (not 3 as suggested by the officers) between the Millenium disembarkment in Vancouver on May 8th and next cruise in Vancouver on May 22nd. Is 2 weeks adaquate time to open up another specialty restaurant as well as replace carpeting etc? I hope it is, as I am also planning a cruise on the Millenium and would appreciate it being refurbished before my cruise.

[Tony UK]

All this has made me wonder what is planned for Infinity on her dry dock in October / November - has anyone any knowledge on this?

 

Angie

[bububr]

X is becoming more and more like RCL.....Especially with the new buffet set up.

 

I'm not knocking the "upgrades", but.........

 

Personally I'd like to see the casino reconfigured as it is VERY cramped and has a bad flow to it. Also if they could upgrade the T-pool a bit since it doesn't compare with the T-pools of Merc. or Galaxy.

 

IMHO

 

Dave:eek:

[Lois R]

All this has made me wonder what is planned for Infinity on her dry dock in October / November - has anyone any knowledge on this?

 

Angie

 

Hi Angie:) I see you are on the 4 night cruise in December

on Infinity. We have a roll call started for it~ please come say hello:)

I guess we will find what they did to her after we board the

ship:)

[bububr]

Hope alls well with you!

 

Loved the pics on your review!

 

Dave:eek:

[Lois R]

Hi Dave:) thanks.

[hcat]

Sounds like a nice plan if it is true-- wonder if they will still show films? if so , where?

Maybe they'll go for the Asian Bistro since the sushi area is such a big favorite...

 

Happy to know they will continue with M class since it is a perfect size..I am fearing that mecury will be sold off--that'd be a shame~!

[Tony UK]

Lois

I'll pop in soon. We are doing a back to back on Infinity to Valparaiso. Just cant wait.......

Angie

[c-legs]

All this has made me wonder what is planned for Infinity on her dry dock in October / November - has anyone any knowledge on this?

 

Angie

Good evening,Angie

The core of her drydock tasks is the installation of her auxilliary diesel generator ( all other 3 '' M '' class have had theirs already), a major job. There is the obligatory list of hard goods renewal/ revitalisation/repair/upgrades...and a much needed scrub/paint job...And the pods apparatus will get a good going over,:: even if there have not been ''major'' malfunctions since Spring '07,, there continues to be ''ongoing investigations'' into the tendencies....

BUT I doubt there is anything major , a la ''Century'' or ''Millenium''

We just got off her in SanFransisco; she's in good shape for an 8 year old vessel.

Cheers

:)