Germancruiser

I just read the post with topic, that nobody wrote an Infinity- Review lately. So here it goes. What I will write now, may be considered a homage to the Millenium Class of ships and here of the Infinity, which we debarked 10 days ago. I sailed all Celebrity ships , except Reflection, Equinox, Edge and Beyond. When I found a 7 day cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale and saw that the Infinity doing so I just booked this Western Caribbean Itinerary. Ideal- I always had a soft spot for this class of ships – Millenium being my first X- ship ever- just when she debuted. My last X- cruise was in 2021 the Maiden Voyage of Apex. ( Not “my” ship) I purposely don´t go into the ports of call- since they are well known. This was my 3rd time on board Infinity ( after 2007 and 2012) so I was curious to see how se appeared now- in her 21. Year of Service! She got no refit, due to Covid even the colouring was not changed as of yet. Boarding and Embarkation went flawless- much much better then in pre Covid – times. As is the custom now the cabin cards were waiting for us, when we arrived at our cabin about 30 minutes after leaving the hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. The cabin and in fact the whole ship where spotless. Cleaning and keeping up the cleanliness where constantly maintained. The overall experience was just as it was when sailed her more than 10 years ago. Yes, there is a bit rust on the outside, when you look up from you balcony. But that’s about all can say for seeing wear and tear. New bedding, new lounge chairs on the open decks. The service impeccable- the quality of food in all restaurants we dined in- just up to X´s reputation of former years- big improvement here. ( a slight – kind of downfall – was to notice foodwise in the last year – pre Covid) There have been also cutbacks – as I expected. On the buffets lot´s and lot´s of turkey- chicken- no longer 6 variations of yoghurt- just one big bowl of blueberry yoghurt ( must have been on sale, LOL) ! That was not a problem at all for us- but one could recognize those little cutbacks. What I found out as the week progressed- why so like and prefer the Millenium Class of ships compared to the Solstice and now Edge Class. The cosy feeling- a ship not to small and not to big. A real promenade deck with lounge chairs. With almost every twist and turn one can look out to sea- and is – therefore - kind of connected with the sea- for me the whole purpose of traveling by ship. The shear elegance and style of those ships. When M- Class debuted each had their own kind of “ Charme”- yet personality, each their own styled Speciality Restaurant- The Olympic, the United States, the Ocean Liner and the Normandie Restaurant. Each their own nod to the golden times of ocean traveling. Of course there is no rockclimbing wall, not water slide- the list could go on and on. So, as long as they are around ( with X) I will try to stick to the Milli- Class for the time being!

I just a week off the Infinity. Really liked the cruise. Also E+- so some experience with X. I really can only say cudos for the service and the crew. The OP is experienced - so he knows very well when a ship is understaffed- or more- he can '" feel" it! Beyond sounds very very understaffed for the Transatlantic. What I recognized though is that they cut corners whereever they can. Meet- lot´s and lot´s of chicken, turkey- at least at the buffet. I remember very well the wide varity of joghurts - now only own Bowl of Blueberry Joghurt. Nothing that would ruin my cruise- but it was quite obvious. Infinity is in great great shape for a ship of 20+ years. Very very well maintained. But that is a story for another topic.

Hehe- so I have still hope for my Infinity voyage next week. LOL.

So did i get that right- no more Elite hours in the Sky Lounge on board M- and S- Class ships?

Bigelow- are they out of whats left of their minds? Oh my Celebrity you are going cheaper and cheaper each year. They can built all the fancy ships they like- no longer the right cruise line for me it seems- and not just because of Bigelow. Modern Luxury- my word... !

Ah okay- now i know- thanks a lot Cruiz Bug!

It has been a while since I sailed RCI- what is or what are Cheers with an Officer? Never heard of it? Thx.

Those IV- cabins with a big- I admit though- a very big window that can be opend, never appealed to me. I refuse to call them balcony cabins. So I choose a SV for the Maiden Voyage of Apex. Wonderful cabin choice- and the only one I would book on board their new class of ships. Since M Class ships are my favorite and as long as they are around, which might be not for much longer- I stick to them.

l love to watch the sequence dances on board Cuanrd ships. Esp. the Mayfair foxtrott, Rumba one and the Chaterin Walz. So classy and very very british- even the names. LOL.

Count me in- nothing better than beeing in a force ten on board QM2- experienced that on two TA´s on board the Mary! One feels safe and sound in such great ship during a storm.

It is either Princess Anne or the Queen Consort who will name the new Cunarder. There have been discussions about the name of the new ship. Some mentioned that if the Queen passes before the ship is ready to sail- it may be called Queen Camilla- since both the original Queen Mary and Queen Elisabeth were named after Queen Consorts. Both royal Ladys would deserve to stand as namesake for the new ship.

It seems they changed the requierments as of Sept. 5th- but I will sure check before hand- and might even test anyway- just to be on the safe side! Thanks Tere, !

Thank you for your answers- yes I am indeed fully vaccinated- boostered even- waiting for the 4th shot. So we seem not to need a test prior cruising.

Thank you so much for that wonderful review with those awesome pictures. I am boarding Infinity on October 8th. So it was especially interessting for me. Millenium Class ships are still my favorite ships of X. So I will cruise them as long we have the chance to so as i fear they are in the twillight of her time with Celebrity! Tere- did you have to show a negative test before boarding? I am not quite sure if they still requiere it. Thank you very much indeed!

I sailed on Apex´Maiden Voyage and agree with most of the points the OP states- loud music, no connection - or at least to less connection with the Sea. Eden is a wonderful Idea- but the decor- the 70s gone very wrong!- well each his own i suppose. The wire incident is very unfortunate, I agree. But one should keep in mind- real people- humans are responsible- and humans make misstakes! Those things should not - but they do happen! The reaction to that I found overly drama drama drama!

I agree- the Dining Time is fixed- that I appreciate- but they could have a bit more accomodating- even with a ship sailing not at full capacity. I don´t know about the attitude of the OP, though. I nice smile would have helped a bit. Also I have to say- the service I got outside of the Yacht Club was also very friendly and efficent!

Just a week since I am back from the Seaview-your report confirms what I thought when walking the ship. If MSC - then Yacht Club. What you report is outragious- unbelievable almost- what where they thinking? My YC experience was wonderful - as the last time one Seaside. YC or not- what you experienced should not happen - that is not the kind of service one is used from cruise ships- no matter in what part of the ship one sails. The salespeople with Spa offers and Speciality Dinning options walked the YC Pool Deck from time to time- but in a very very discret manner!

Friends ended their TA this morning in Brooklyn. According to them, there must have been lot´s and lot´s of Covid Cases on board. They are both fine. Right from the beginnung in Hamburg ( 22.June) there where Masks to be worn at all times when walking inside the ship. They haven been not tested on board. They told me they had a wonderful voyage and where quite sad to leave the wonderful QM2.

I agree a back to back crossing is always a great idea- and the idea to use two weeks of getting spoiled on the wonderful QM2 sounds great to me for a bit of a recovery time. I have done it twice, without the need for recovery - only to relax and I will do it again next year. I find the calmness and the stressless time, looking out to the sea- which you can do on board QM2 without even going outdoors is soothing, relaxing- yes even healing! With every twist and turn you can see the SEA when sailing the Mary- which is why i don´t like to those ships where many lounges are wihtout a view.

A Sunset Veranda is the only cabin I would book on the Edge Class. Don´t care for the Infinity Staterooms with a window that can be opend- or not. They are in no way balcony cabins.

That is exactly what I am doing- hamrag- not going back! Thank you carlmm- that´s what I thought- a nice sit down cafe is not a faire neither is it a food truck. One expects that on both- of course!

I just came back from a wonderful cruise in the med on board the nice MSC Seaview. My YC experience was as wonderful as my first voyage on the Seaside- also in YC. Anyway- missed to try the crepes at the Venchi Chololate Bar last year, so I thought I might try one of those famous crepes. On the first try I learned that the Creperie is only open until 10pm- okay- I could have gotten that information from programm. Next day - I ordered my crepe - very nice and extremly friendly staff there. As the foodie that I am a eagerly awaited my Crepe. Then it came- and my chin dropped almost to my knees. A yummy looking Crepe, nicely prepared, appeared. SERVED ON A CHEAP PAPER PLATE AND WITH IN A IN PLASTIC WRAPPED KNIFE AND FORK! I was speachless- in this time and age- really? For around 12 dollars- and no propper dishes? NOT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PLASTIC WASTE! The fork broke after two bites. Well, one has hands - right? To my shear delight there was an extremly thin paper towel attached to the nice plastic cuttlery. I am not sure that is a left over from the pandemic, but who ever is in charge should think that over. Terrible! I mentioned this to one of the YC Butlers- he shruged and said how the different YC is compared to the other part of the ship! IMO that has nothing to do with YC - serving those crepes one has to pay for in such a cheap and environment unfriendly way is unacceptable!

Flight problems are all over the world this year. For European cruises, flying out of Germany - I flew in right on the day of the cruise - which worked. I would not dream doing so these days in the - hm one can not really say - post pandemic world. Even if the flight is just an hour- I fly in a day earlier and have a nice relaxed embarkation day. For my cruise in October out of Fort Lauderdale I fly in five days prior- but that has more to do with a few days relax time in Ft. Lauderdale. I appreciate that not everybody can afford to do so.

The then brand new Millenium was my very first X- ship back in 2001. Switching to X from RCCL. From X then to Cunard and latley to MSC- YC- with the occasional X cruise thrown in. LOL. RCCL and a few years later X started a tendency to drift into the directon of Party- Boats- AND that I can not stand. Those atriums both on Solstice Class and now even more so with the new Edge Class are horrible. Loud, noisy- the once nice an lovely Martini Bar went down the drain - one can not hear oneself think so loud did they get. I may sound like a party pooper but I don´t see the need for the captain standing on the bar and making a show with the bar waiters.

Thanks for all those great pictures. I am booked on Infinity in October. Millenium- Class ships are still my favorite X-ships- even though they are now over 20 years in service! I sailed Infinity twice and I don´t expect all the bells and whistles of a brand new ship. I had that at the Maiden Voyage of Apex last June. Wonderful cruise but I don´t like that class of ships AT ALL. I hope they have all in hand in October. What I expect of X- is a spotless clean ship. I am quite prepared for a few signs of wear and tear!