Wilson Butler Lodge (now WBA) designed the Theaters, Grand Foyers and circulation spaces for Celebrity's new Millennium Class ships - Millennium, the class' flagship, and its sister ship Infinity.

WBA introduced a new concept for the entry and main vertical circulation sequence. Rather than the traditional full-height atrium that organizes the main circulation on many ships, the designers divided the space into a series of smaller atria connected by a bank of external panoramic elevators. These elevators are enclosed in prismatic glass louvers that catch the daylight and reflect it into the heart of the ship.

The Grand Foyer, a three-deck high space centered around a backlit onyx staircase, serves as the focal point of the ship. The first deck of this space, the main point of embarkation, houses most of the guest service desks. The openings on the upper decks are ringed by Online, an internet lounge and by Cova Cafe Milano, a branded Italian coffee bar. The height of the space is accentuated by columns wrapped with sheer fabric curtains and top-lit with lighting banks that change from bright white to deep gold to reflect the time of the day.

The spaces above are organized into a series of two-deck high public spaces that include Notes, a CD listening library, Words, an international library, and a sports bar, Extreme. Extreme sits at the top of the ship and is rendered in a palette of glass, steel and fabrics and intense colors. By day, the visual focus is on the sunlit pool seen through the bar's glass walls, by night a guest's focus is drawn to videos of sports programming.

Celebrity Theater, Millennium and Infinity
Cova Cafe and Tea Room, Millennium and Infinity
"Extreme" Sports Bar, Millennium and Infinity
"Notes" Music Room, Millennium and Infinity
"Online" Cyber Cafe, Millennium and Infinity
Magnolia Garden Emilio Robba Conservatory, Infinity

arts / entertainment

cruise ships / hospitality

ShipPax Magazine Outstanding Cruise Lounge of 2000