CELEBRITY was founded in 1989by the Chandris Group, which had been part of the passenger shipping industry since the earlier 1950s when it was involved in carrying emigrants. While the line had been operating cruises since the late 1970s, it launched Celebrity Cruises with the goal of providing an upscale cruise experience at a price that would be within reach. Like the Chandris Line ships, Celebrity’s vessels would sport a Greek chi, or upper case ‘X’, as the company’s logo on their funnels. In 1989, the fledgling line placed an order with Papenburg-based Meyer Werft for a new ship to be named Horizon. A sister ship, Zenith, would enter service in 1992. Together, they would operate summer cruises to Bermuda and winter voyages to the Caribbean.

By the following year, Celebrity had developed a loyal following of customers attracted to their exemplary onboard service and cuisine, which was developed by 3-star Michelin master chef Michel Roux; so much so, that the line took the opportunity to expand. On 30 March 1993, John Chandris, chairman of the Chandris Group, announced that Celebrity had placed an order with Meyer Werft for a newbuild to be delivered in late 1995. With options for two additional vessels, the ship would be the largest and most ambitious newbuild ever undertaken by Celebrity. Moreover, she would offer features and amenities that simply weren’t on the radar for most competing lines, but which would quickly be adopted following their success. Together, the three vessels would cost the line nearly US$1 billion. Unlike other cruise lines, which typically favoured a single designer to design the interior spaces of their vessels, Celebrity would employ several different designers and design teams in the planning and construction of Century.

Why She Matters: The largest ship constructed for Celebrity Cruises, Century became a near-instant hit when she entered service just five days before Christmas 1995. On the outside, her angular appearance and offset black-and-white colour scheme made her look as if LEGO had unleashed its designers on something much larger than boxed toys. But underneath her sharp exterior was a world of glamour and elegance that would continue to shape and define the line for years to come.

At the top of the ‘notable features’ list was Century’s massive, 20,000sq ft Grand Restaurant. Capable of seating 1,080 guests at each of two sittings, this magnificent, two-storey dining room was unlike anything that had been fitted aboard a cruise ship in recent memory. Located aft on both Promenade and Plaza decks, guests entered by way of a sweeping staircase that allowed access to both levels. At the aftermost-end of the dining room, a spectacular wall of glass rose from floor-to-ceiling and spanned nearly the entire beam of the ship, providing diners with breathtaking views of Century’s wake. While support columns were undoubtedly a requirement in this overheight room, Celebrity treated these with wood-style veneer and topped them with gold accents, giving the room a truly ‘grand’ feel. It was the product of Birch Coffey Design Associates.

Also noteworthy aboard Century was her 10,053sq ft AquaSpa, located forward on Resort Deck. At a time when shipboard spas tended to consist of little more than a few massage treatment rooms and a small hair salon, the AquaSpa was positively massive. It also featured an unusual amenity: a thalassotherapy pool. Similar in size to a small swimming pool but heated like a hot tub, the thalassotherapy pool featured hydrotherapy jets meant to massage muscles and joints while soothing the skin in the bubbling seawater. Designer Malcolm MacDonald, in conjunction with London-based spa operator Steiner, incorporated Japanese motifs throughout the AquaSpa and its thalassotherapy area, while plenty of oversize windows let in natural light to create a soothing space by day or night.

Builder:	Meyer Werft
Length:	815 feet
Breadth:	105 feet
Passengers:	1,750
Gross tonnage:	70,606

Another example of Celebrity’s focus on its premium product was evident in the Crystal Room, a gorgeous lounge capable of seating 332 guests and which was designed by Birch Coffey. But rather than just being a standard lounge designed to showcase a variety of evening entertainment, the Crystal Room emphasised small pockets of chairs and tables located on varying levels over a single-level floor. In doing so, it had succeeded in creating a secondary entertainment venue that felt like a small 1920s nightclub. It was an ingenious design that would continue to find its way on all of Celebrity’s ships.