FOR CELEBRITY CRUISE LINES, IT'S 'TO INFINITY ... AND BEYOND!'.

Byline: Richard Irwin Staff Writer

First, there were four-story atriums and miniature golf courses. Then came ice-skating rinks and rock-climbing walls.

The next trend for cruise ships?

Celebrity Cruise Lines thinks it has the answer. Its newest ship, Infinity, features more green (as in garden) than any ship afloat, including a towering glass conservatory with magnolia trees and a therapy pool in a courtyard setting. It even has ``grass''-covered deck areas.

The Infinity is the second ship in Celebrity's Millennium class. The 91,000-ton ship is 964 feet long and 105 feet wide, and features 11 passenger decks that can house 1,950 people.

Like most new cruise ships, the Infinity, which is cruising Alaska this summer, is a bright, clean ship with acres of glass. But this ship is unique because of its garden design, which definitely brings the out-of-doors out onto the sea - if that makes sense.

One of its most notable features is the Conservatory, a small sitting area with real magnolia trees (albeit adorned with silk flowers) and bouquets. The towering glass room on the top deck offers a quiet respite from busy shipboard activities.

Adding to the ``green scene'' is the AquaSpa area. Here, a large therapy pool surrounded by potted trees and plants welcomes guests with saunalike temperatures under a huge glass roof.

The ship's spa, in fact, takes up a quarter of one deck. A port- to-starboard row of treadmills look out over a small faux grass-covered deck and the blue sea.

But it's the mud baths, steam rooms and relaxation chambers that really add spark to this spa. One of the most intriguing is the Etruscan Chamber, in which a couple may retire to soothe each other with fragrant oils and mud packs.

Of course, dining is an essential element of any cruise experience, and this ship seems prepared to hold up its end.

The buffet line at the Oceanview Cafe, for example, has four starting points - important for a facility that has seating for up to 754 guests.

The cafe has a small outdoor seating area, where a passenger can look out over the ship's wake. It also has a grill area inside where guests can have items cooked to order.

The ship's main dining room, the Trellis Restaurant, seats 1,170 on two levels. Finished in a French garden theme, it features lyrical vine patterns on window murals.

The Infinity also offers the SS United States specialty restaurant. This alternative dining room features the original glass paneling from the ocean liner that gained fame when it recorded the fastest trans-Atlantic crossing ever. This restaurant seats 134 diners and has an open galley, allowing guests to watch the preparation of their gourmet meals.

Other features of the ship:

Michael's Club, a retreat for cigar smokers. It feels like an exclusive private club. I enjoyed the atmosphere until the thick billowing smoke forced me to leave.

The Celebrity Theater, the cruise line's first five-deck performance hall. The theater seats 900 in a classic, circular design patterned after traditional theaters. Unfortunately, the show I saw began with some kind of ``Lion King'' knockoff, which seemed baffling. I never did figure out the symbolism, but when the cast shifted into some arias, the abilities of the singers and dancers shone through.

The Rendezvous Lounge, which offers late-night entertainment. The dance floor is flanked by a champagne bar on one side and a martini bar. Another night spot is Constellations, located (naturally) on the top deck. A skylight over the dance floor affords a view of the starry sky above.

The Fun Factory is strictly for kids. From 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, this children's center offers programs for kids ages 3 to 12 - and, obviously, relief for their parents. The center includes a puzzle wall, movie room, an arts-and-crafts room and computer room. Teen-agers have their own video studio, where they can produce shows that are broadcast throughout the ship.

Other features of the ship include Fortunes Casino, which has an Egyptian theme; an Internet cafe that features 18 work stations; a music library with 1,500 different selections at individual listening stations and a two-story library has books in several languages in addition to English.

If shopping is your thing, the Infinity boasts a considerable retail complex - more than 14,000 square feet in all, in a European-style promenade that includes boutiques, an art gallery and several signature shops.

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Should one grow weary of the casino, cigar lounge or 900-seat theater on the cruise ship Infinity, the bucolic charms of the on-board conservatory - complete with magnolia trees - await.