Celebrity Constellation is a new star of the sea

Celebrity Cruises introduced the Constellation, the fourth of its Millennium-class ships, to North America in November.

The 91,000-ton ships carry 1,950 passengers, so you won’t feel crowded around the pool.

All Millennium ships have lots of marble, rich leathers, wood paneling and glass elevators looking to the sea. But designers have brightened the look on the Constellation. Woods are lighter. There are pastels in the public rooms. A two-deck translucent stairway from the lobby gives the feel of a luxury hotel and is a pleasant change from the usual 10-deck open atrium of most of the newer ships. The public areas show some delicate changes: The Conservatory has fresh flowers and authentic-looking silk arrangements.

As on other Millennium-class ships, the late-night cabaret and dance club, Reflections, has a flying saucer over the bar and tables that face aft through a clear wall to the sea. Michael’s Club is still the plush small room for cigar smokers, with a bar serving port and brandy.

Two two-deck rooms are Words, a library with comfortable chairs and new books, and Notes, where you can put on earphones, activate a computer and choose from hundreds of CDs, from hip-hop to classical.

There are plenty of watering holes, among them a champagne and caviar bar, the Martini Bar, which serves classic ones, Gibsons and variations that are undrinkable if you are 40 or older, and the Cova Caffe with espresso and cappuccino at $2.75. There’s also a nearby pastry shop.

Food has always been an outstanding feature of Celebrity ships, and Constellation is no different. Chef Michel Roux, who has earned three Michelin stars, oversees the cuisine aboard the line’s ships. On an upper deck the Seaside Cafe and Grill, which is open for breakfast, lunch and casual dining from 6 to 10 p.m., has four buffet areas with salads, hot dishes, a carvery and desserts. It also serves pizzas until 1 a.m. The San Marco Restaurant has a grand stairway and a three-deck window that faces the sea. Menus change daily, and the quality and service are consistent with the line’s reputation.

Each Millennium-class ship has an alternative restaurant, and on the Constellation, Ocean Liners has the ambience of a classic ship with photos and paintings of great past vessels. A window at one end gives diners a view into the galley. The menu is a cut above the fare in the San Marco, with entrees of sea bass and rack of lamb and a tableside presentation of steak Diane. To dine here passengers must pay $25 each, and the men must wear jackets and ties.

Cabins are well appointed with lots of mirrors and wood paneling and plenty of drawer and closet space. They range from 170-square-foot windowless inside and veranda suites measuring 170 to 538 square feet, including the veranda, to a penthouse suite measuring 1,432 square feet with a 1,098-square-foot veranda with whirlpool, wet bar and lounge chairs.

The Constellation has abundant space for sunning and swimming: a large open deck with two large pools and four whirlpools, and a smaller solarium pool and two whirlpools with a sliding dome roof and large wooden chaises. The solarium is a quieter, more tranquil place to swim because it is one of the underused areas on the ship.

Not so for the adjacent Aqua Spa and Gym. The treadmills face a windowed wall looking out to sea. The spa has a broad menu of treatments.

The Constellation is making seven-night round-trip sailings in the Caribbean this winter. A transatlantic sailing on April 26 will usher in summer cruises in Scandinavia, Russia, the British Isles, Norway and the Mediterranean.

Brochure per diems range from $239 to $2,099 per person. Early booking offers up to a 40% discount.

For more information: (800) CELEBRITY (235-3274), www.celebritycruises.com.