HeinBloed Blog: CELEBRITY INFINITY, March 15-25, 2024 - Greece, Cyprus and Turkey - One of the best of 119 cruises ever...

[HeinBloed]

Let me start with the blog:

 

It was one of the most beautiful trips I've been able to experience so far:

 

CELEBRITY INFINITY: Piraeus - Thessaloniki - Kusadasi - Limmassol - Rhodes - Heraklion - Piraeus

 

With the post-program to Trikala - Meteora and Thessaloniki.

 

Except for a few little things, everything was fine. The price-performance ratio was perfect.

Celebrity is love at second sight.

 

But it starts in Frankfurt two days before embarkation:

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-0a-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

 

[HeinBloed]

What a bummer: CELEBRITY INFINITY is already in the port, and I can't get to her because the port is closed.

 

Finally, the following day, we will have the brand new SUN PRINCESS and CELEBRITY INFINITY.

 

We met two friends we have known since 2016 from our trip to Asia on the DIAMOND PRINCESS.

 

Together, we go on a ferry to sail past the cruise ships up close and eat delicious food: everything fresh from the fish market.

 

We do what is best in the evening in Greece: continue eating delicious food! One more night, and then it's finally embarkation!

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-0b-auf-dem-weg-zuron-way-to.html

 

 

 

[HeinBloed]

It's finally starting. Embarkation: we are on board at 11:00 hrs.

 

We are positively surprised. She's fresh out of the dry dock but already older. In 2014, we were on CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM. I remember the hardware: a damp cabin, non-working air conditioning, and coughing. This time, we are well prepared.

 

We like it. For the first evening, we took advantage of the offer: We ate at the Tuscan Grille, and I even went to bed with my rib-eye steak.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-01-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

 

[HeinBloed]

Since we can't get to Israel, I'm pleased about the replacement program in Thessaloniki.

 

It's a great city — especially for foodies — and very special when you are guided so professionally by the head of the tour guide herself, Anastasia.

 

We like it more and more on board: what doesn't fit is made to fit. That is precisely how I would like it best. We get to know great crew members.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-02-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

 

 

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The 2nd day in Thessaloniki. We continue at 14:00 hrs, but we still have the morning to explore the city:

 

Bruno's Coffee - the hotel where we will be back in ten days - the beautiful St. Theodora Church - the White Tower and the waterfront - a lovely walk.

 

On board, we continue with the first Evening Chic evening, which includes a great show in the theater. Then, I get to know the Captain. Another perfect day comes to an end.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-03-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

 

 

[HeinBloed]

We're going to Kusadasi - for the third time - we've already been to Ephesus.

So we want cherry blossoms, but it's too early for that; instead, we see lots of beautiful peach and nectarine blossoms.

We learn that Turkey has become really expensive, not just for shopping but also for services.

Very nice: we can explore our former RYNDAM again. She's right next to us.

Everything is fine on board, including the restaurant, Café al Bacio, and the security checkpoint. We have a great crew on board!
 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-04-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

 

 

 

[HeinBloed]

Finally, a day at sea. Time to relax. It's time to drink coffee.

 

Time to try something new: The seafood pop-up at Tuscan Grille.

 

Great on stage: James Lee Humphreys - The day goes by quickly. If it weren't for the long flight, I would go on a transatlantic crossing.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/seetagday-at-sea-05-auf-deron-celebrity.html

 

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Our first time in Cyprus: off to the mountains in a jeep.

 

We learned a lot about the Cyprus conflict and its history from Konstantinos.

 

The trip is beautifully green and colorful because there are flowers everywhere.

 

We can now also learn first-hand the situation with olives and olive oil in the Mediterranean region.

 

In the evening, the “real thing” is at Le Petit Chef: filet mignon and lobster.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-06-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

 

 

[HeinBloed]

Unfortunately, it's already the last day at sea.

 

Three shows: An Incredible Sunset - the 2nd Production Show, Star Factory, and the gala dinner.

 

Tomorrow, back to Greece: Heraklion on Crete.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/seetagday-at-sea-07-auf-deron-celebrity.html

 

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We were initially in Rhodes and not in Heraklion.

 

We've been here three times but have never been to Lindos before. We caught the perfect day for this visit.

 

Otherwise, we're back at Tuscan Grille. What's the height of perfection? I don't know how to describe it.

 

Does the trip have to be over so soon? I completely lost my sense of place and time.

 

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The last port of call on the way back to Piraeus: Heraklion on Crete.

 

It's hard to believe how quickly the time has passed.

 

The last time, we were introduced to the Palace of Knossos, and this time, we booked it again together with a tour guide.

 

The circle is then closed in the Archaeological Museum. Once again, delicious food under supervision.

 

Another high-energy show follows — I would almost say the best show in 119 trips — I even watched it 1 1/2 times.

 

It's the last supper on board, and they really want to celebrate my birthday, even though it's only in three days. But why not? Happy crew, happy trip, happy guest: what more could you want?

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-09-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

 

 

 

[HeinBloed]

Back in Piraeus, but still the end of the trip.

 

Prepare plan B for the national holiday if the city center is impassable.

 

We went through Chinatown and Plaka to the Acropolis Museum, and here we were guided so well that we would like to go to the Acropolis again with guidance.

 

It hurts that it's supposed to end tomorrow.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-10-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

 

 

[HeinBloed]

Unfortunately, it's time to say goodbye. After the trip on CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM 2014, I wouldn't say I liked Celebrity. I realized that a different ship, a different crew, a different route, and a society of hate can become a society of love. You can't conclude one trip about another trip, let alone about company.
 

Only some things are perfect. There has never been a trip that was 100% perfect. But the ratio plus to minus felt like 98:2.

When I disembarked, a surprise awaited me at security.

We continue to Trikala, the Christmas town in Greece. But it's the end of March, and it's still beautiful and the starting point for a highlight of our trip. It would even have been possible on this trip as part of the cruise: leave the ship again after embarking in Piraeus, go to Trikala, then on to Thessaloniki, and back to the ship here.

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-11-auf-deron-celebrity-infinity.html

 

[HeinBloed]

My 58th birthday begins with a tour to Kalambaka, where six monasteries stand on the mountains of Meteora. A week before our trip, James Bond 007 "For Your Eyes Only" was shown - that was pure anticipation!

 

If flies were already on the move, I would catch them with my open mouth. It's hard to close your mouth.

 

We continue to Thessaloniki to celebrate my birthday there: unfortunately, not with a few selected crew members, but with six cruisers on board who we know from Germany or from our trips together.

 

We had a very nice evening with Greek food and hospitality. Since the crew members couldn't come, I found a way to involve them somehow. Because they also managed to surprise me on my birthday.

 

A lovely day comes to an end.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-12-nach-derafter-celebrity.html

 

 

[HeinBloed]

Unfortunately, we have to go home. We got to know a country from many different perspectives. We would be happy to come back more often.

 

There is a follow-up at home: olive oil - gifts from crew members - and, above all, the news from the following trip.

 

I'm booked on CELEBRITY APEX, but it'll be CELEBRITY INFINITY again instead. If you can still beat 98:2, you can pay more and get more, but the price-performance ratio was fantastic. I want to experience that again.

 

Next month, we're going to a direct competitor - but he's downsized a lot. So far, I've (almost) always liked it better than Celebrity, but the market is dynamic. Once good doesn't always mean good. Once bad doesn't always mean bad. Everyone goes up and down. And these curves cross each other. And depending on what is important to you, the lines are sometimes steeper, higher, etc. Therefore, that is my verdict for my trip. And the trip was great.

 

https://heinbloed-x.blogspot.com/2024/03/tagday-13-nach-derafter-celebrity.html