Celebrity Infinity or Cunard Queen Victoria for Panama Canal full transit cruise?

[jocelysue]

We are booked on Celbrity Infinity (balcony cabin) next April for full transit Panama Canal (California to Florida) cruise. However, the Queen victoria is also scheduled for the full transit at approximately the same time.

Celebrity offers more shore excursions, most of them in Mexico; Cunard spends 5 days at sea. We would most likely enjoy both options equally as we have visited Mexico frequently.

We would appreciate receiving comments on size of cabins (balcony, not suite);bathroom accoutrements; quality and variety of food (we are foodies who enjoy fixed meals at 2nd sitting, very little al fresco, no hamburgers, etc);guest speakers; shows. We don't gamble so the Casino is of no interest to us. We enjoy string quartets and nice music as listeners, not dancers. With our Celebrity booking we receive the beverage package. However we have heard that we can bring all the wine we want aboard Cunard.

There may be a $500 pp difference in the pricing , Cunard being more expensive. Is the difference worth it?

All insight greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Scrapnana]

The ships are about the same size. The Infinity is about 9 years older than QV. I have not been on Infinity but on Constellation which is in the same class - the bathroom has a small shower but many complain about the small showers on QV so I think they are likely pretty much the same. The staterooms on QV are slightly larger than on Infinity.

 

Cunard is noted for their speakers.

 

You can bring wine onboard Cunard.

 

A couple of videos you may want to watch to get a feel for each ship.

[Keith1010]

I would read reviews about each ship to try to make the decision.

 

Remember that Cunard has a class system with three different restaurants depending on which type of accommodation you have chosen. Cunard is a bit more formal. I am not knocking this but just want you to know.

 

Keith

[smeyer418]

I would read reviews about each ship to try to make the decision.

 

Remember that Cunard has a class system with three different restaurants depending on which type of accommodation you have chosen. Cunard is a bit more formal. I am not knocking this but just want you to know.

 

Keith

 

 

I personally found the food aboard Celebrity better than Cunard. But food is highly subjective. I agree with your comments about the difference in formality. Cunard tends to be the most formal of all cruise lines I have been on. I like the Cunard ships they tend to feel less crowded. The speakers aboard the Infinity around South America were excellent.

[greatam]

Just a suggestion

 

Infinity has FV cabins which are supposed to be reserved for families of 4 or 5. BUT on 2 week cruises, there are very few families, so they are sold to anyone.

 

For the extra $500, you may be able get one of the FV cabins (they book up very fast, particularly the corners). The FV CORNER cabins are super special. The balconies are HUGE. You can see 180 degrees off the stern and also down the side of the ship towards the bow. SUPER viewing.

 

We transited the Canal in cabin 9197. Plenty of room for EIGHT people on our balcony. We had the steward bring extra chairs and loungers, ordered lots of room service food and everyone brought a bottle of champagne. One of the most fantastic days I have ever had at sea. Attached is a picture showing 7 out of the eight at a full size table with plenty of room behind us for 4 full size loungers.

 

While I love Cunard cruises, a lot of people do not like them because of the formality. You won't find a lot of people slopping around in shorts, t shirts and flip flops-"country club" clothes are more the norm. And you WILL NOT go into the dining rooms not properly dressed. I remember one crossing-some big time East Coast mucky muck CEO thought he could show up for dinner in the Grills in jeans and a blazer with a black turtleneck. Probably cost more than all the clothes everyone wore at our table. He was NOT allowed in. The maitre' d was FIRM. Sorry, sir, you will have to change. We didn't see him or his party for the rest of the cruise. Guess they did room service.

[jocelysue]

Thanks ever so much for your answers.:) However I notice that I did not make my question clear enough.:( Although we know about Cunard’s formality, which we love, we wonder if Celebrity does have some nice formal evenings. We have consulted their site but haven’t been able to find comparisons nor reviews concerning these two lines.

We would be in Britannia class on Cunard so would, naturally, have to use the dining room assigned to us. What we’ really appreciate info about is the staterooms themselves and the balconies.We have a “sweet sixteen” balcony on Infinity.Since DH has some mobility problems he likes to sit out on the balcony and watch the sea go by. He also really enjoys lectures by guest speakers.This will most likely be our last cruise because of his rapidly failing health but transiting the Panama Canal is on his bucket list. We’ve already done the Antarctic route so he wants to cross from the Pacific to the Atlantic both ways.

We are also looking into which of these ships has a covered pool so that he can still swim in unclement or windy eather. Afternoon tea is also one of our favourite activities and listening to classical or semi-classical quartets.

I really appreciate your comments about the food on Cunard vs Celebrity. True, food preferences are subjective but DH & I appreciate French & European (but not British style) food. The more exotic, the more interesting. Also, DH eats very slowly so we always request a table for 2 so as not to perturb other guests. Quality of service is uppermost (we’re good tippers) who enjoy the atmosphere of a well-set table. The Lido is out because standing in a buffet line is too difficult for DH. He does enjoy late night & theme buffets though because he can sit down and soak up the atmosphere while I get him his goodies. So which line offers theme buffets ?

 

Also which line offers more varied entertainment? Neither of us enjoys comedians very much but love live entertainment. Also good movies and trivia get togethers.

That’s why we’re looking for tips on the pros and cons of both lines and appreciate your help. I've offered this type of info for persons who were undecide between Princess & Hal trying to be as objective as possible. For example, HAL offers full baths in most staterowhich Princess does not unless in Junior Suites and up. HAL also has sofa in every category rincess. However balcony cabins are much more expensiveon HAL than on Princess & usually the entertainmet shows on Princess are more vibrant and Broadway style.

So I,m looking for a good Samaritan to offer similar style info to help us choose and am deeply grateful.:)