Celebrity Horizon Redisign Finished!
Ray Goldenberg
This is the press release that describes the refurbishments on the
Horizon. I hope you find it of interest. If you have missed any of
my news' postings, they can be found on my web site.
Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com
Miami Dec. 8
Celebrity Cruises has completed the redesign of nine major public
areas aboard its
1,354-guest Horizon to incorporate signature elements of Celebrity's
Century-class vessels. Guests aboard the 46,811-ton
Horizon can now enjoy an intimate Martini Bar; a trendy cigar bar
called Michael's Club; COVA Cafe with its famous coffee
and chocolate; and an innovative AquaSpa(SM) facility.
The $4.5 million in enhancements began in October during dry dock in
Newport News, Va.
``The refurbishment of Horizon in 1998 and Zenith in 1999 (planned for
October) clearly shows Celebrity's commitment to
enhancing our guests' onboard experience,'' said Richard Sasso,
president, Celebrity Cruises. ``These trend-setting signature
lounges and facilities have become the essence of a Celebrity cruise
vacation.''
AquaSpa and Fitness Area
Located on the Sun Deck (Deck 12), the Fantasia bar was gutted to
steel and redesigned to form Horizon's new AquaSpa
facility. The AquaSpa, designed by the Syntax Group of London, houses
a beauty salon, five treatment rooms (three wet
treatment rooms and two dry treatment rooms), a Seraglio treatment
room, fitness and aerobics area, and separate changing
rooms for men and women. The wall finishes in the salon and spa area
were designed with warm terracotta tones and
stainless steel bands. The floor consists of metallic purple, slate
and copper plank tiles.
Many of the AquaSpa treatments and special spa facilities are drawn
from Middle Eastern, Asian, and European spa
practices that use sea and fresh mineral water to detoxify and refresh
both mind and body. An exclusive Celebrity treatment is
the Seraglio Bath, similar to Galaxy, Mercury and Century's Rasul,
which includes a seaweed soap shower, medicinal earth
pack, herbal and sea salt steam bath and aromatic massage.
Grand Entrance
Located on the Fantasy Deck (Deck 8), the Gemini Disco was gutted to
steel and redesigned to form a Grand Entrance area,
Michael's Club, the Card Room and Library. The new entry area includes
an Alabaster and bronze chandelier, plank
wood-flooring with a custom-designed area rug, and multi-colored
marble compass in the center.
Michael's Club
Celebrity Cruises created the concept of cigar clubs at sea and
continues this popular tradition onboard Horizon. The intimate
ambiance of Michael's Club allows cigar connoisseurs to relax in
high-back armchairs and leather sofas and savor
hand-rolled cigars and fine aperitifs and cognacs.
Designed by Patricia Hayes and Associates, the exclusive cigar club,
seating 32, mirrors a typical British Gentlemen's Club
in traditional decor. The club features cherry wood-lined walls and a
mixture of eclectic furniture, including wine-colored
leather chairs, bar stools and sofas; an emerald-green marble bar top;
high-back chairs in old-gold, burgundy, beige and
emerald-green fabric; writing desk and chair in Neo-classic design;
wrought-iron cocktail tables; and a fireplace trimmed in
emerald-green marble. The fireplace has a state-of-the-art system that
creates special sound and light effects to resemble a
log fire burning. This atmosphere of Michael's Club creates an air of
sophistication and luxury ideally suited for reading,
conversing and relaxing.
Card Room and Library
The Card Room and Library are located on the port side of Deck 8. The
Card Room and Library are multi-functional, and
when combined the rooms can be used as a conference facility or for
private parties, seating 70 people. In the Library,
custom-designed cabinetry houses a wide variety of books and
electronic equipment for audio/visual presentations. The
Business Center, also located in the Library, includes two personal
computers and two printers for guest use.
The same traditional decor as described in Michael's Club has been
added to this space. Next to the high-back chairs in the
Library are individual wall units that contain audio equipment for
guests to listen with headsets to audio books and music. In
the Card Room, traditional chairs are designed with mahogany wood
frames and wine-colored leather seats. The
custom-designed card tables have pedestal bases and flip tops with
felt on one side for gaming purposes.
COVA Cafe
Celebrity Cruises has an exclusive agreement with Pasticceria
Confetteria COVA, the historic Milan-based coffeehouse.
Horizon's new COVA Cafe, originally the Plaza Bar on Deck 8, was
redressed and redesigned to seat 95 guests and to feature
COVA's signature coffee blend, making the finest cappuccino, espresso,
and macchiato; a variety of teas; COVA champagne
and wine; as well as liqueurs and chocolates. An artist was
commissioned to add a faux finish to the walls, resembling
old-world stone and live flowering plants. A copper-brass espresso
coffee machine, located on top of the back bar counter,
is the focal point of the area. In addition, a separate display area
and sales counter were added for guests to purchase a
selection of COVA chocolate and champagne.
Rendez-Vous Lounge
The Rendez-Vous Lounge underwent refurbishment by adding a new wood
floor with light and dark wood inlays in a
compass design and rope border. The existing bandstand was moved
forward, which expanded the size of the dance floor.
The window wall was redesigned with new window treatments, mirrors and
wall sconces.
Galaxy Deck (Deck 7)
The Card Room and Library, formerly located in the Rendez-Vous Lounge
area on the Galaxy Deck (Deck 7), were
completely redesigned to create a new Martini Bar, Art Gallery and
Boutique.
Martini Bar
The Martini Bar, seating 26, is an intimate atmosphere, where guests
can choose among 26 different martinis from the Classic
Gin Martini and the Chocolate Kiss to Le French Martini and the very
hot Cajun. Its design elements are reminiscent of Art
Deco, including the blue and green glass-top bar, which incorporates
fiber-optic lights on a color wheel that change colors as
the wheel rotates. Color tones in the Martini Bar include copper,
beige, hunter green and mint green. The Martini Bar
combines beechwood and mint-green leather cocktail chairs with green
marble-based cocktail tables, custom- designed wall
sconces in copper tones, and a perforated metal wave structure,
located on the back bar wall.
Art Gallery
The Art Gallery, located next to the Martini Bar, was created to
showcase works of art for sale by artists such as Peter Max
and David Schluss.
Boutique
The Celebrity Boutique, located next to the Art Gallery, features
upscale personal accessories from well-known designers.
Celebrity Cruises is a premium cruise brand, which operates five ships
-- Century, Galaxy, Horizon, Mercury and Zenith -- in
Alaska, Bermuda, the Caribbean and the Panama Canal. Celebrity is
building two new 85,000-ton vessels, named Project
Millennium, for delivery in 2000 and 2001. The company is owned by
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which also operates
Royal Caribbean International.