Celebrity Millennium Review 2026: Is This Older Celebrity Ship Worth Booking?
Celebrity Millennium is a classic, older Celebrity ship — and at 26 years old, she’s currently the oldest ship in Celebrity’s fleet. That alone makes some cruisers nervous. Older ship? Older cabins? Rusty corners? A cruise that feels past its best?
So we booked a 12-night Asia itinerary, sailing from Benoa (Bali) through Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, ending in Singapore, to find out what cruising on Millennium is really like today — and whether choosing an older ship is a smart way to cruise Celebrity for less… or a mistake.
This Celebrity Millennium review is based on our 12-night sailing visiting Lombok, Bali, Penang, Port Klang, Thailand, and Langkawi, before ending in Singapore.
We paid for this cruise ourselves; Celebrity did not know we would be reviewing it.
Watch our experience on the Celebrity Millennium
Is Celebrity Millennium Worth Booking? (TL;DR)
Good if you want:
A smaller ship with a calmer feel
More interesting itineraries and ports (Millennium can access ports larger ships can’t)
Plenty of public space, lounges, and seating — more than many newer ships
A more adult onboard vibe (our sailing skewed older, with very few kids)
Think twice if:
You’re looking for lots of onboard activities
You want the newest, flashiest entertainment
You prefer bright, ultra-modern Edge-class ships — Millennium feels darker and more traditional
You need fully seamless accessibility (some lifts require crew assistance)
You want maximum dining variety rather than fewer, stronger venues
Our quick verdict: Celebrity Millennium surprised us — in a good way. Yes, you can spot her age in some outdoor areas and certain corridors, but inside she’s in strong shape, the food was consistently excellent, and the experience never felt like a “budget” version of Celebrity. If you want a quieter, more classic-style Celebrity cruise with great dining, Millennium is easy to recommend.
What Is Celebrity Millennium Like?
The biggest surprise onboard Celebrity Millennium is how good she looks for her age, especially indoors.
The ship smelled good (a big win for any older ship)
Carpets and interiors looked fresh and well maintained
The overall vibe is darker and more traditional than Edge-class, but also more comfortable
If you’re used to Celebrity’s newer ships, Millennium feels like a different flavour of the brand — less minimalist and glossy, more classic cruise ship with warm lighting and proper lounge spaces.
The atrium is smaller than on newer ships, and some areas (especially stairwells and elevator zones) show their age — but overall, the ship is far from rundown.
Bars, Lounges, and Public Space
One thing older ships often do better than newer ones: space. Millennium has a lot of it.
There were always places to sit, relax, or watch the sea go by, and the ship never felt crowded on our sailing. We were told there were around 1,300 guests onboard on a ship that can hold roughly 2,200 — and you really feel that extra breathing room.
This is one of Millennium’s biggest strengths.
Entertainment and Theatre
Celebrity Millennium has a surprisingly large theatre for a ship of this size, comparable to theatres on much newer ships.
We loved the old-school detail of cocktail tables between seats — something you rarely see now.
Solid production shows (not as polished as Edge-class and clearly older in style, but enjoyable)
Plenty of live music around the ship
A standout feature: a live orchestra accompanying the shows
Entertainment skewed older overall, especially with visiting acts, but for an older ship it exceeded expectations.
Daytime actives lacked but this was not a concern with so much time in port.
For those who like the casino, it’s large for the size of ship.
Pool Decks and Spa
Outside is where Millennium’s age is most visible.
Wear and tear
Some rusting
Older finishes that can’t be fully disguised
That said, Celebrity clearly puts effort into upkeep, and we regularly saw crew cleaning and maintaining outdoor areas.
Main Pool Deck
Two pools
Four hot tubs
Several nearby bars
For the ship’s size, the pool deck works well and never felt chaotic.
Retreat Sun Deck (Important Notes)
This is just for those staying in the Retreat Suites.
Hot tub only — no pool
Located at the very front of the ship and awkward to access
No bar, but crew circulate to take food and drink orders
Loungers and cushions looked tired, stained, and worn
This area would benefit hugely from a simple refresh.
Spa and Gym
The gym on Celebrity Millennium is large, well equipped, and in a fantastic location right at the front of the ship, with big forward-facing windows. It’s a great space to work out at sea and never felt overcrowded during our sailing.
Spa treatments are available, although we didn’t try any on this cruise.
The Thermal Suite, however, was underwhelming. It consists mainly of heated rooms, with no cold room or proper contrast facilities, and during our visit some areas didn’t seem to be operating particularly well. For the extra charge, we expected more.
It’s also worth noting that there is a thalassotherapy pool in the adults-only Solarium that is free to use, as well as a complimentary sauna in the changing rooms. Given those inclusions, we wouldn’t recommend paying extra for the Thermal Suite on this ship.
Cabins on Celebrity Millennium
Celebrity Millennium offers a wide range of cabin categories, from Inside and Ocean View staterooms to Balcony cabins, AquaClass, and full Retreat suites.
Overall, cabins feel more refreshed than you might expect on a ship of this age, particularly in categories that were updated during the refurbishment. Layouts are practical, storage is generous, and air conditioning throughout the ship was excellent — something that really matters on warm Asia itineraries.
That said, some corridors and surrounding areas do show their age more than the cabins themselves, so first impressions can vary depending on deck and location.
We’ll be publishing a separate, detailed cabin review covering the Retreat suites, AquaClass, and other stateroom categories in depth — including layout, storage, bathrooms, and whether we think they’re worth the upgrade.
Food and Dining on Celebrity Millennium
Food was one of the strongest parts of this cruise.
The key takeaway: Millennium does not feel like it gets a downgraded dining experience because of its age.
Luminae (Retreat Dining)
We ate in Luminae most of the time and found it consistently excellent. One major plus is that you can order from Luminae, Blu, and the main dining room menu.
Kale salad, branzino, butternut squash pasta
Tofu and butternut squash soups
Crab cake, guinea hen, short ribs, teriyaki salmon
Squash lasagna, feta & watermelon salad, French onion soup
Desserts including hazelnut cake, fruit crumble, and dark chocolate options
The Luminae team were exceptional — among the best dining teams we’ve had on any cruise.
Blu
Blu offered lighter, fresher, healthier options and was a welcome change.
Main Dining Room
The menu was smaller than on newer ships, but food quality was high and everything arrived hot and well presented.
Buffet
Self-service (not our preference)
Plenty of seating and natural light
Food quality was good but less impressive than Edge-class
Complimentary drinks available (coffee, tea, juices, water)
Mast Grill
Classic poolside food: burgers, hot dogs, and fries.
Café al Bacio and Gelateria
Decent coffee
Plenty of seating
Sweet treats and savoury snacks included
Gelateria is an additional cost.
This felt like a real hub of the ship.
Service and Crew
Service across the ship was consistently good, with the Luminae dining team standing out.
The smaller ship size also meant crew quickly began recognising guests, adding to the relaxed onboard feel.
Passenger Mix and Atmosphere
Mostly Brits, Australians, and North Americans
Generally older crowd (roughly 60s–70s)
Very few children
The result was a calm, grown-up, relaxed atmosphere throughout the cruise.
Accessibility Notes
Celebrity has retrofitted accessibility features, but this is still an older ship.
Some lifts in certain areas can’t be operated independently and require crew assistance, which may be frustrating for guests with mobility needs.
Value and What We Paid
We paid around $7,500 total for two of us in a Retreat suite on this 12-night cruise.
Luminae dining
Retreat lounge and sun deck access
Priority boarding
Wi-Fi streaming package (each)
Premium drinks package
This worked out to roughly $600 per night for two, which we considered strong value for the itinerary and inclusions.
Who Celebrity Millennium Is Best For
Cruisers who want Celebrity quality without brand-new-ship prices
Those who prefer classic cruising with more lounge space
Guests who care about food and dining quality
Travellers wanting a quieter, more adult onboard experience
Who Should Think Carefully Before Booking
Guests who only enjoy ultra-modern Edge-class ships
Those bothered by visible age outdoors
Cruisers expecting flawless suite-only spaces
Guests needing fully independent accessibility throughout the ship
Final Verdict: Is Celebrity Millennium Worth Booking?
Celebrity Millennium proves that an older ship doesn’t have to feel old in a bad way.
Yes, you’ll see her age in outdoor areas and certain corridors. But inside, the refurbishment holds up well, the ship is comfortable, and — most importantly — the food and service deliver at the level we expect from Celebrity.
If you want a quieter, more traditional Celebrity cruise with excellent dining and plenty of space, Millennium is a very solid choice.
