MIAMI, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Celebrity Cruises has made a giant leap toward transforming a century into a millennium in just five weeks. The line has signed with Fincantieri in Palermo, Italy, to handle the significant revitalization of its 77,713-ton Century cruise ship in 2006.

The approximately $55-million makeover designed to incorporate on Century a variety of Celebrity's most popular Millennium-class attributes marks the line's most extensive refurbishment to-date, and the first time the company has worked directly with Fincantieri. The Century project will be the largest cruise ship modification to-date for the Palermo yard.

Century will emerge on June 2, 2006, from a five-week drydock period at Fincantieri with 314 new verandas, 14 new suites, 10 new staterooms ranging from inside to veranda category, an expanded number of ConciergeClass category staterooms, a new specialty restaurant, and a series of features and amenities that typify the line's acclaimed Millennium-class fleet. The contract with Fincantieri involves Century's major structural modifications, new verandas and associated stateroom interiors, new staterooms on deck 12, and regular drydock work. Other interior outfitting contractors also will handle portions of the work.

"This is an absolutely phenomenal project," said Celebrity's President Dan Hanrahan. "Century already is an incredible ship, ranked among the top 10 in the world. Our goal now is to align the ship even more with our Millennium- class ships, to offer every Celebrity guest a consistently extraordinary experience across the fleet."

Fincantieri's Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Bono said, "We are most pleased to have acquired this order from Celebrity Cruises. This further strengthens the growth strategy which Fincantieri has identified in the business area of ship repairs, refurbishments and conversions aimed at providing ship owners with a full range of services, and able to accompany the vessel throughout its entire working life with the maintenance of high quality standards."

Among the highlights of Celebrity's "new" Century are: New Culinary Delights

A new specialty restaurant will present the elegant dining experience praised by guests on Celebrity's four Millennium-class ships, with a menu designed by Celebrity's longtime culinary and wine consultant, Master Chef Michel Roux. The venue, yet to be themed, will follow the style of Celebrity's "Olympic," "SS United States," "Normandie" and "Ocean Liners" restaurants, which presented the industry's first tableside cooking, carving and flambe

The "Casual Dining Boulevard" on the lido deck will be expanded to include a Sushi Cafe, made-to-order Pasta and Pizza Bar, and small ice cream parlor, along with buffet breakfasts, themed lunches, and dinner service with a casual dress code.

Fans of light, healthy spa cuisine will find what they're seeking in a new Spa Cafe inspired by the venue of the same name on Celebrity's Millennium- class ships.

For evening cocktails, a sophisticated new Martini Bar will offer Celebrity's famed menu of more than 30 versions of the popular libation, while outside on the aft deck, a new bandstand and bar complete with tapas carts will offer the ultimate setting for romantic sailaways at sunset, complete with live music.

Enhanced Enrichment Opportunities

"High Seas Computing" will find a home in a newly dedicated space offering Internet access and courses ranging from basic computer use to web site creation to digital photography.

As on the Millennium-class fleet, Century's new art gallery will join the array of trendy boutiques in "The Boulevard," allowing art aficionados to purchase one-of-a-kind works.

Century's "Fun Factory" children's area will be expanded, with a new teen room added to offer a variety of new activities geared exclusively toward that age group.

Celebrity's exclusive "Acupuncture at Sea" program will have a permanent home on Century as it does on the four Millennium-class ships, offering guests acupuncture treatments, therapies and enrichment lectures by licensed doctors of Oriental Medicine.

Century's AquaSpa operated by the elite Elemis Ltd. will be expanded significantly to allow for a number of new features yet to be announced.

Enticing Itineraries

Following its revitalization, Celebrity's "new" Century will set sail on a series of 12-night Baltic and 10- and 11-night Mediterranean sailings, a 13-night "Best of Europe" voyage, and a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise.

Century also will be one of the first Celebrity ships to offer short cruises from the cruise capital of the world, the Port of Miami, beginning in November 2006. The ship will present four- and five-night roundtrip Caribbean cruises through April 2007, offering travelers with more limited vacation time the opportunity to experience what the award-winning Celebrity brand has to offer.

Celebrity Cruises offers a comfortably sophisticated, upscale cruise experience with highly personalized service, authentic five-star dining, and extraordinary attention to detail. Its nine ships and the line's service, cuisine and spas consistently dominate top travelers' surveys. Celebrity sails in Alaska, Bermuda, California, the Caribbean, Europe, the Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, the Panama Canal and South America. For more information, call your travel agent, dial 1-800-437-3111, or visit the Celebrity web site at http://www.celebrity.com/ .

CONTACT: Elizabeth Jakeway, Celebrity Cruises, +1-305-539-6127, or
ejakeway@celebrity.com

Web site: http://www.celebrity.com/