A cold cell is a detention area that Cylons use on prisoners they capture. The Cylon cold cell is cylindrical with room for only one person. It is used to inflict discomfort for their organic prisoners, so as to weaken their resolve, but the cold is not enough to kill or freeze the subject.
Cadet Cree was placed in such a cell after being shot down on Arcta (The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I).