Celebrity Infinity - Panama Canal April / May 2017

[cariduro1948]

Booked for a 15 night westbound Panama Canal tour on Infinity on May 2. How is the state room in the Concierge 9 deck? Also, gather from other posts that Tuscan is the place to "eat"? Are "formal" nights really formal on this ship?

[waverider5]

We are booked for the Infinity cruise on April 17th from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale. Looking forward to hearing from others on this cruise as to plans

for excursions at the various ports.

Edited January 26, 2017 by waverider5

[FlorenceItaly]

We are booked for the Infinity cruise on April 17th from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale. Looking forward to hearing from others on this cruise as to plans

for excursions at the various ports.

 

Here is the link to your Roll Call to find others on your same sailing.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2140323

[Orca1945]

Mary an ed, hi, my wife and I will be onboard on April 17, let's try an get together.

John an Colleen

[catrtxpt]

Two of us are taking the April 17 cruise (leaving San Diego, debark in Ft. Lauderdale) through the Panama Canal. Never been there before. Looking for advice from previous passengers regarding shore excursions (the ones posted seem very expensive for what you get and don't really seem that interesting), ship amenities, etc. We've sailed Celebrity before and are booked in Aqua class. We live in SoCal. Hope to hear from you.

[TLCOhio]

A Panama Canal full transit is on our bucket-list but due to work commitments we're forced to look at a April / May time frame and at first glance Celebrity Infinity (either East-West or vice-versa) fits the bill. Reviews of both ship and cruise here are a bit of curate's egg tbh (guess it's all about personal opinions!) so thought I'd ask the questions here both about the cruise itinerary and ship, and any thoughts on Celebrity vs. Princess (not to bothered about cabins - we're more sleep, shower and... people), more interested in thoughts about restaurants, buffet, entertainment.

 

Appreciate your posting. We look forward to seeing the Panama Canal "up close and personal" during our early March sailing. We will be on the Island Princess, sailing Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. Departing Feb. 28. It will also be our first visit to Colombia, Central America, etc. We have previously done two sailings on the Celebrity Solstice and we are excited to be trying Princess for the first time.

 

Picked up last week from the library and am getting ready today to finish reading the David McCullough book titled "Path Between the Seas". Fascinating!!! It's really a very special history in the context of the shrinking world at that time as railroads and canal were being built, etc. And, the health and weather conditions there were really challenging. Love reading more about what an accomplishment was this project and all related historic and engineering aspects.

 

Below are some graphics showing the cover of this book, a picture of its author and then three different visuals from that period of the construction and its early use. Great to be learning so much more about this period of time and what it took to make it all happen.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 47,325 views for these postings.

 

 

From the Bing website's visual library, here are some pictures of the book cover, the author and three samples of the canal construction and its early use. Looking forward in early March to seeing it all "in person", "up close and personal", etc.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cruise Raider]

I wouldn't worry one little bit about the Infinity!! We've sailed on her several times and always had an awesome experience. We've sailed in inside, oceanview, balcony and the family veranda and all were fabulous.

 

Also, the canal trip is super. I highly recommend it to any and everyone. We've done both full transit and an excursion to the viewing platform of the canal during a stop in Colon, Panama ... never a partial transit, though. Either way, it is a marvel, that's for sure!

 

BTW ... we are also elite on Princess and much prefer Celebrity, although a bit older than you.

[cariduro1948]

This (Panama Canal Infinity May 02) will be our first time on Infinity. We were actually on the maiden voyage for the Millennium when she first sailed in the eastern Mediterranean. This South America/Central America itinerary is enticing. Having lived in the Canal Zone (Panama), we are quite familiar with the Panama portion of the tours. We actually were in Panama for a wedding and transited the locks from Gatun to Miraflores in 2010 as one of the "wedding events" for guests. Nice!!! We will probably take the Panama City tour...not much to see in Colon. The tree top canopy ride is awesome too. If you decide to go to Panama city, try and get a driver to take you to the Amador causeway restaurants...beautiful view of the city, and great food at any one of the restaurants located there. By the way, after reading multiple reviews, our sense is that although Infinity is "aging", one needs to approach cruises with an open mind. Show adaptability and flexibility. Our goal is to enjoy ourselves, relax, and have fun!!

[hcat]

Appreciate your posting. We look forward to seeing the Panama Canal "up close and personal" during our early March sailing. We will be on the Island Princess, sailing Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. Departing Feb. 28. It will also be our first visit to Colombia, Central America, etc. We have previously done two sailings on the Celebrity Solstice and we are excited to be trying Princess for the first time.

 

Picked up last week from the library and am getting ready today to finish reading the David McCullough book titled "Path Between the Seas". Fascinating!!! It's really a very special history in the context of the shrinking world at that time as railroads and canal were being built, etc. And, the health and weather conditions there were really challenging. Love reading more about what an accomplishment was this project and all related historic and engineering aspects.

 

Below are some graphics showing the cover of this book, a picture of its author and then three different visuals from that period of the construction and its early use. Great to be learning so much more about this period of time and what it took to make it all happen.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

From our Jan. 25-Feb. 20, 2015, Amazon River-Caribbean combo sailing over 26 days that started in Barbados, here is the link below to that live/blog. Lots of great visuals from this amazing Brazil river and these various Caribbean Islands (Dutch ABC's, St. Barts, Dominica, Grenada, etc.) that we experienced. Check it out at:

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2157696

Now at 47,325 views for these postings.

 

 

From the Bing website's visual library, here are some pictures of the book cover, the author and three samples of the canal construction and its early use. Looking forward in early March to seeing it all "in person", "up close and personal", etc.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The book is a MUST read for anyone seriously wanting to appreciate the history of the P C...Long read but truly fascinating without much "opinion"

[Turtles06]

The book is a MUST read for anyone seriously wanting to appreciate the history of the P C...Long read but truly fascinating without much "opinion"

 

 

Having just returned from our first transit of the Canal (16 nights on the NCL Jewel), I totally agree. McCullough's The Path Between the Seas is a must-read before a first transit. It really makes you appreciate even more the incredible challenges that France and America faced and the enormity of the accomplishment in getting the Canal built.

 

BTW, in case it's helpful, my review (with photos) of our Panama Canal cruise is here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2456255

[luv2cruisecats]

My wife and I did the Panama Canal in March of 2015 Valparasio Chile to South Florida in an AQ room deck 11. It was the Infinity and we loved the ship and also eating in Blu. It is amazing to be on a ship that is 106 feet wide going through a 110 foot wide lock and essentially the transit takes all day from one side to the other!!

 

I do recall the captain stating that cruise ships pay a fixed per person assumed fee always at total capacity (including crew) regardless of actual number on board and was maybe around $100,000 for our Infinity transit. A larger container ship will pay around $240,000 for transit. Consider these numbers very approximate since I did not take notes but it is very expensive and these are close.

 

Everyone needs to do this transit at some point since it is fascinating especially when viewing the enormous number of commercial ships awaiting their turn at both ends (some sit for days). Cruise ships get slots that allow the passage to be done in daylight hours.

[flossiem]

Heading over from New Zealand to sail on our bucket lost Panama Canal cruise leaving San Diego April 17th, first time sailing Celebrity, does Celebrity have theme nights? If so does anyone know what they are for this cruise as we like to join in the fun! Also we have four nights in San Diego before the cruise and four nights in Fort Lauderdale after, any suggestions on must see/do experiences would be appreciated. We were hoping to experience a baseball game but alas the team is out of town for the time we are there.

[BillB48]

Heading over from New Zealand to sail on our bucket lost Panama Canal cruise leaving San Diego April 17th, first time sailing Celebrity, does Celebrity have theme nights? If so does anyone know what they are for this cruise as we like to join in the fun! Also we have four nights in San Diego before the cruise and four nights in Fort Lauderdale after, any suggestions on must see/do experiences would be appreciated. We were hoping to experience a baseball game but alas the team is out of town for the time we are there.

 

Check you roll call, possibly meet up with some fellow cruisers...

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2140323

[h & m]

Heading over from New Zealand to sail on our bucket lost Panama Canal cruise leaving San Diego April 17th, first time sailing Celebrity, does Celebrity have theme nights? If so does anyone know what they are for this cruise as we like to join in the fun! Also we have four nights in San Diego before the cruise and four nights in Fort Lauderdale after, any suggestions on must see/do experiences would be appreciated. We were hoping to experience a baseball game but alas the team is out of town for the time we are there.

 

hi there

 

We are on the same cruise as you, also have 4 nights in San Diego, and 3 after in Ft Lauderdale.

Just travelling from a little further than you !

 

 

I agree with BillB48's suggestion, Check you roll call, possibly meet up with some fellow cruisers...

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2140323

 

We have a very friendly roll call, lots of information there to share

 

Hilary :)