LIVE from Celebrity Infinity: Best of Greece August 17, 2024

[love2crews.]

August 17, 2024 (Part 4)

 

We headed to Tuscan Grille for dinner.  Our reservation was at 6pm, but we checked in a bit early.  We were the 1st ones to check in and were the only ones waiting for a good 10 mins.  Then another couple came and checked in.  A min or two later, another party walked in and the Maître d’ sat the 3rd party immediately.  A little upsetting, but we didn’t say anything.  There are bigger issues in this world!

 

 

We were sat at a lovely table by the water.  Our sever was Moyo and he was amazing!  He recommended several dishes and was super helpful, friendly and knowledgeable.  He cut fresh basil table side and then poured olive oil and vinegar to dip the bread in.  I’ve never seen anyone do the fresh basil like this and we all agreed it was a really nice touch.

 

 

Now, I’m trying to figure out how to write this without sounding too negative.  Let me preface, we are big foodies-some might say food snobs.  Unfortunately, did not enjoy a majority of the food here.  Our mom ordered the Caesar and it was the exact one she had “made to order” at Oceanview buffet for lunch.  My chicken in my chicken parmesan had a very weird consistency.  The steaks were reminiscent of grocery store steaks (very thin and my sister grills very comparable-if not better-steaks at home).  My sister even ordered the “special” porterhouse steak that comes with an up charge (we thought this was included since the seafood towers on Edge class at Raw on 5 are included, but the steak was not).  The pasta is made fresh to order and you can even see them making it.  However, it did not taste like it was freshly made pasta. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did not leave hungry, but I do not foresee us coming back here.  If we hadn’t had specialty dining included, I would have been a little upset to spend $55 per person plus gratuity on this meal.

 

I hate to “complain” and it really pains me to write this, but I also want to keep this review honest.  Are we glad we tried it? Of course.  Will we be coming back?  Probably not.

Edited August 18 by love2crews.

[hcat]

46 minutes ago, love2crews. said:

 

They are not part of the celebration package.  It took me about 4 months of back and forth emails to make the arrangement happen, lol.  

 

I really wish they offered more flower arrangement options.  I’m sure many guests would order them!

I used to order 3 or 4 per cruise.. They just make the room come alive!

The Cap Club staff send me a lovely surprise arranfement  after I mentioned  my big b day last yr.. 

 

Enjoy the bouquet..it is stunning.. clip stems and they will last longer.

[love2crews.]

2 minutes ago, hcat said:

I used to order 3 or 4 per cruise.. They just make the room come alive!

The Cap Club staff send me a lovely surprise arranfement  after I mentioned  my big b day last yr.. 

 

Enjoy the bouquet..it is stunning.. clip stems and they will last longer.

Sounds lovely!  And I hope you had a great birthday cruise!! 🙂

 

They did a great job making sure the flowers will last!  I was shocked at how nice they made it!

 

[hcat]

Sorry Tuscan disappointed.. We enjoy sharing the meatball app. Chacuterie, soup and I like the  regular salad . All very filling!

 

.On  Silhouette, .We will pick entrees very carefully based upon your review!

[love2crews.]

Piraeus Hotel: Gallery Suites & Residences

 

We stayed here for 2 nights.  It’s about a 10 minute drive to the cruise port and a block away from the Main Street that runs along the water (lots of shops and cafes here).

 

We booked the “superior” rooms since they said we could have the rooms next to or across from each other.  We ended up being across from each other.  One room had 2 twin beds and the other had 1 king bed.  The beds were comfy and the rooms were very clean.  Being that this is also a residence, they also had a very nice fridge, a stovetop, and a “kitchen” sink.  Our rooms did not have a balcony, but I believe other room types do.

 

There are not any steps to get up to the hotel and there IS an elevator, not big, but they do have one.  They also have air conditioning and they are really good about answering questions and making sure you are comfortable.  They gave us a converter and also gave us an override to make the room cooler.  

 

The bathrooms got really stuffy/foggy very quickly when taking a shower.  There isn’t any ventilation in there.

 

Although this is a newer hotel, they had old fashion keys to lock/unlock the doors.

 

Our room also had a QR code for room service.  It almost looked like they had a neighboring cafe make the food, but they had TONS of options and at very reasonable pricing.

 

Important to note: they have a sister property directly across the street.  We accidentally went here first and tried to check in, but quickly learned our reservation was at the sister property across the street.  Oops!

 

The rooms are very basic, but this is a great option if you want to be near the port.  It was also a block away from the train station.

 

Great location and clean rooms.  A good option for those wanting to stay in Piraeus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 18 by love2crews.

[love2crews.]

15 minutes ago, hcat said:

Sorry Tuscan disappointed.. We enjoy sharing the meatball app. Chacuterie, soup and I like the  regular salad . All very filling!

 

.On  Silhouette, .We will pick entrees very carefully based upon your review!

 

The meatballs sound great!  Perhaps our food was just a fluke.  It was embarkation day and I know the staff are crazy, so maybe the food quality was slacking because it was such a chaotic day. 🫠

[hcat]

38 minutes ago, love2crews. said:

Sounds lovely!  And I hope you had a great birthday cruise!! 🙂

 

They did a great job making sure the flowers will last!  I was shocked at how nice they made it!

 

so lovely.. and in vials to last longer!

 

here's  my cake, regular Cap Club flowers and the surorise bouquet.. with a lovely handwriiten sentiment..

Just an extra touch from Celebrity which I appreciated!

 

 

 

 

Edited August 18 by hcat

[Lena11033]

2 hours ago, love2crews. said:

LHR announces gates 1 hour prior to departure.  So if you depart at 11:00, the gate will be announced at 10:00

 

I don't know if that's all of the airport because I recently went through Heathrow and when I checked in 3 hours in advance I knew my gate.

[love2crews.]

2 hours ago, hcat said:

so lovely.. and in vials to last longer!

 

here's  my cake, regular Cap Club flowers and the surorise bouquet.. with a lovely handwriiten sentiment..

Just an extra touch from Celebrity which I appreciated!

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a lovely bouquet!!!  They did a great job!  And I love how they gave you a handwritten card!  They really are so thoughtful!  🙂 

[love2crews.]

1 hour ago, Lena11033 said:

 

I don't know if that's all of the airport because I recently went through Heathrow and when I checked in 3 hours in advance I knew my gate.

 

Ooh!  This is interesting!  Maybe it’s just British Airways then?  I did think it was weird that they only give one hour, but since we had the same experience at Stansted earlier this year, I just figured it was standard protocol for London airports.

 

Now I’m really curious.  Has anyone else following along had a recent layover/connection at LHR?  What was your experience?

[love2crews.]

Celebrity Infinity Penthouse Suite: 6147 

 

The room has 1 bedroom and 2 full bathrooms.  We had the bed split into 2 twins and our room steward, Rochelle, is doing an amazing job making the sofa into a bed every night.  

 

Although there is a little wear and tear since the ship is older, everything is in great shape (for the most part).  The air conditioning works great and there is plenty of storage space (too much actually, we have 5 closets, lol).  However, there is a shortage of shelves/drawers.

 

There are also very few plugs, but we had anticipated this.  There aren’t any outlets next to the bed, so we’re charging our phones at night with a battery.

 

Another thing to note, and this is for all aft rooms, is that we can really smell the gasoline when they’re refueling the ship.  

 

Overall, the room is great and Regine our butler is fantastic!  She and Rochelle (room attendant) are quick to replace any towels, are always making sure the fridge is stocked, and amazing at noticing every little detail/habit and so they can anticipate our needs/requests.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 18 by love2crews.

[love2crews.]

Here are a few essentials we’ve been bringing to help stay cool and feeling well:

 

-wide brim sun hats

-neck fans (bladeless so they don’t get tangled in our hair)

-sunscreen

-Magic Molecule (great travel essential that works for practically everything)

-ginger chews (in case of sea sickness.  “Gem Gem” brand is our favorite)

-SPF umbrellas (fold up super small, like the size of your phone)

 

 

Edited August 18 by love2crews.

[love2crews.]

August 18, 2024: Santorini (Part 1)

 

We started the day with room service.  Everything was delicious and we all really enjoyed it!

 

We were scheduled to arrive in Santorini at 8am.  At about 8:05 I called Michael’s Club and asked if the tenders had started-they did.  So we headed down there to take advantage of the priority tender service.  Regina (Retreat Concierge) escorted us to the next tender.  We were one of the last ones on so we didn’t have to wait.  For reference, this was the tender line 8:11.

 

 

The tender ride was about 10 minutes from the ship to Fira (Old Port).  We had taken Dramamine with our breakfast again “just in case” and I’m glad we did.  That tender ride was CHOPPY!!!  The entire tender was “ooh-ing” and “ah-ing” as we teetered from side to side.  What a way to start the day!  LOL

 

 

We stepped foot on Santorini around 8:30am.  There were very few people-quite drastic from the photos/videos I have seen.  We found the nearest restroom-public and free of charge directly to the left of the cable car entrance.  But no toilet paper or paper towels.  Just something to note. 

 

The cable car had precisely 0 people in line at 8:33 . By 8:49, a line appeared out of nowhere and we couldn’t even see the end of it.  Every minute matters!!!  Our tour guide told us the cable car takes 38 people up and 38 people down every 10 minutes.  There are 4 cable cars in each direction, so 8 total.

 

 

 

Now here’s where it gets interesting and I can hopefully provide helpful info for your future port stops in Santorini.  In an attempt to avoid the cable car, stairs, and donkeys, I had prearranged a water taxi to take us from Fira (old port) to Ammoudi Bay.  This was done through Santorini Yachting Club.  I can’t tell you how many people just tried to jump in our water taxi.  Well worth it.

 

 

This was another super choppy ride.  The boat had both an indoor and outdoor area.  The outdoor area was soaking wet.  We had waves splashing against the windows and we definitely felt the movement.  But that’s ok, the lack of heat made up for it.  The highest heat we experienced all day was 80.  We were thrilled!

 

 

Captain Hlias dropped us at Ammoudi in about 20 mins time.  I had also prearranged a private tour with Santorini Road Trips.  Nicholas was our guide and he had sent me his location so we knew exactly where to find him.  No trekking up the hill like you have to do with cruise line excursions, no hiking up the (easier than Fira, but still difficult) steps, no donkeys.  We had to go up about 15 steps and he had the car on (and AC going).

 

This was a “regular” SUV car.  I admit I forgot to take a photo since it wasn’t as exciting as the other mini buses we have had, but he always had the AC blasting and also brought us cold waters.

 

Our first stop was the famous blue domed churches.  We got there about 9:30 and there was already a short line.  Thinking these were the travelers staying on the island since I know we made it there before the cruise guests.  There were only about 5 people in front of us, but we probably waited 10-15 minutes for our turn.

 

 

 

 

 

From there, we headed to Imerovigli to a very scenic lookout.  We also stopped for some freddo cappuccinos which were very very good.  The restaurant let us use their bathroom as well.  Bonus!

 

 

 

Then we stopped by another blue church found in Fira.  A great lookout spot.  This is the only place we went where the wind was so bad that our dresses were blowing a lot.  We had brought some adhesive magnets and stuck them on the hem at the bottom of our dresses.  This worked really well and when other dresses were blowing, ours were perfect.

 

 

 

We also tried to stop by a grocery store, but it was closed because it’s Sunday.  There was a little shop next to it, so we made a quick detour there.  Definitely a shop for locals since they had school supplies and things of that sort.  The souvenirs were reasonably priced (probably because mostly locals).

 

Then, Nicholas took us to the highest point in Santorini.  WOW!  This was definitely pretty high, but it afforded us with panoramic views and a map-like presentation of the island.  We saw the airport, Oia, Fira, Pyrgos, and more!

 

Our last stop on the way back to Ammoudi was to take a quick picture with the windmills.  Nicholas also showed us the grapevines and explained how they make a basket with the branches to protect the grapes from the wind.  He found some pumice stone as well.

 

 

The total tour time was 3 hours and we ended back at Ammoudi.  Again, only about 15 steps away from the water.  He was a fantastic guide who quickly figured us out and made sure we were comfortable and enjoyed the tour.  He was an excellent photographer as well.  If you book with Santorini Road Trips, make sure you request Nicholas!

 

Edited August 18 by love2crews.

[love2crews.]

August 18, 2024: Santorini (Part 2)

 

After Nicholas dropped us back at Ammoudi, we headed to Ammoudi Fish Tavern for lunch.  We had a 1:00 reservation, but they took us early without any issues.  

 

I had made a reservation online, which requires a 10 euro booking fee per person.  This is credited back to your bill at the restaurant.  I had also emailed the restaurant beforehand to book a (highly coveted) table by the water.  They had told me there was a 150 euro minimum per person for a table by the water.  I hadn’t seen anything about this minimum anywhere, so I was a little doubtful. Anyways, the server tried to seat us at a table in the middle of the dining area, but I politely told him we had reserved a table by the water.  His reply was that’s what everyone wants, but they cannot guarantee it.  Long story short, I showed him my email chain from the restaurant saying the table by the water was confirmed and soon enough, we were at a beautiful table beside the water.

 

 

 

Do I know this is a tourist trap?  Absolutely. But I also know this is iconic Santorini and thought it was an experience worth having. Our food was wonderful and everything was absolutely delicious.  We tried the sun dried octopus (of course) and it was so fresh and flavorful.  It just melted in your mouth.  We also tried the catch of the day caught just a few hours before landing on our plates.  The server called the fish “tsaousi” and said it is a cousin of red snapper.  Very, very good, especially with the olive oil and lemon they drizzle over it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know what they never mentioned?  The minimum.  We did not meet the minimum (we still had plenty of food, too much to even finish) and they did not bat an eye.

 

So if you want to book a table by the water and they try to scare you off with a minimum, you may be pleasantly surprised and not have to order the entire menu to meet the minimum!  I’d still be prepared for it though. 

 

An interesting thing I learned in my research is that Sunset Ammoudi only has tables for 2 next to the water.  If you have 3 or more people and want a table by the water, you’ll need to go to Ammoudi Fish Tavern.

Edited August 18 by love2crews.

[love2crews.]

August 18, 2024: Santorini (Part 3)

 

After finishing our delicious lunch, it was 2:30pm and time for our water taxi back to Fira.  Captain Hlias was waiting for us and we were back to Fira in about 25 mins.  

 

There was a relatively short line for the tenders and cruise director Kelly was handing out cold towels to everyone.  A very nice touch!  There was also ice water and water with fruit slices.  

 

 

This tender was different than the one we had taken earlier in the morning.  It had an indoor and outdoor area so we opted to be outside where it was less stuffy on the choppy waters. 

 

 

We were back on the ship at 3:10 and then it was time for an afternoon snack.  Deck 5 here we come!

 

The first stop was Cafe Al Bacio for some more iced coffee.  And how convenient that the Gelateria is right across from Al Bacio!  My mom and sister had gelato and sorbet, and I decided to get creative.  I got a waffle cone from the Gelataria and then went up to Oceanview and filled it with vanilla soft serve.  YUM!!!

 

 

 

Edited August 18 by love2crews.

[hcat]

wow.. looks like a great touring day..

Different from the usual tour routine.. dramamine a must!

 

How did you like the Octopus? I have only had it in soup..Italian style.  Catch of the day looked great..

 

your suite is beautiful... hope you get to enjoy all.it offers!

[love2crews.]

August 18, 2024: Santorini (Part 4)

 

Dinner was room service!  We had a couple things from Trellis (main dining room) that looked good and a few things from the Retreat room service menu.  

 

Ordering was super easy (in the past we haven’t been able to order room service so quickly and easily) and the food came in 30ish minutes.

 

Regine brought everything over when it was ready.  Our favorites were the crab cake and fried curry potatoes (didn’t seem fried, seemed boiled, but delicious nonetheless).  The club was not what we’re accustomed to and the orzo tasted more like spaghetti and tomato sauce. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Soon after dinner, we were leaving Santorini and what a view!  Between the sunset, the full moon, and the twinkling lights of the island, it was like we were picked up and placed in a movie set!  The photos do not do it justice, but it was magical!

 

 

 

An incredible way to end such an amazing day!

 

 

Edited August 18 by love2crews.

[love2crews.]

9 minutes ago, hcat said:

wow.. looks like a great touring day..

Different from the usual tour routine.. dramamine a must!

 

How did you like the Octopus? I have only had it in soup..Italian style.  Catch of the day looked great..

 

your suite is beautiful... hope you get to enjoy all.it offers!

 

Dramamine to the rescue! 😅

 

Octopus was delicious!  I’m understanding they massage the octopus on a rock and then hang to dry.  This gives it the melt in your mouth consistency.

 

Flavor wise, not too fishy but wonderful octopus flavor.  Very simple ingredients so you can really taste the fish.  The char adds a nice flavor and of course the olive oil is amazing here, so it really takes it up a notch!

[love2crews.]

OK!  Finally all caught up!

 

Tomorrow is Mykonos which will be one of our relaxing days.  We have nothing planned (with is extremely unusual for us) so we’ll see where spontaneity takes us!

 

Any recs, please share!  Food, activities, sights, photo spots-whatever it is, we want to know! 😊

[hcat]

2 minutes ago, love2crews. said:

OK!  Finally all caught up!

 

Tomorrow is Mykonos which will be one of our relaxing days.  We have nothing planned (with is extremely unusual for us) so we’ll see where spontaneity takes us!

 

Any recs, please share!  Food, activities, sights, photo spots-whatever it is, we want to know! 😊

we loved the little alley ways, speaking with the friendly shop keepers &  seeing the resident cats.  Spent a fortune shopping for jewelry, clothes and unique items!

[KDLKCruiser]

Hello

Great review!!! A question for a first time cruiser in Europe for myself and wife doing the same itinerary. Being a Canadian and wife a US citizen, are there any visa requirements to board the ship in Greece and to do a one day visit in Turkey?. Passports and express pass on line check in are up to date. 

Thanks and enjoy the cruise

Kevin

[Ex-Airbalancer]

37 minutes ago, KDLKCruiser said:

Hello

Great review!!! A question for a first time cruiser in Europe for myself and wife doing the same itinerary. Being a Canadian and wife a US citizen, are there any visa requirements to board the ship in Greece and to do a one day visit in Turkey?. Passports and express pass on line check in are up to date. 

Thanks and enjoy the cruise

Kevin

Never had a problem with a Canadian passport 

only thing to check is if the EU finally starts with ETIAS which is now May 2025 😁

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/etias/

[Traveling Fools]

20 hours ago, love2crews. said:

Sunset Ammoudi

 

Thanks for the tip!  Just made a 1 0'Clock reservation for the 21sr of Sept

[Cruising Cindy Lou]

Thanks for all the updates.  It looks like you all are having a fabulous time. 

[Judyrem]

On 8/18/2024 at 10:10 AM, hcat said:

Sorry Tuscan disappointed.. We enjoy sharing the meatball app. Chacuterie, soup and I like the  regular salad . All very filling!

 

.On  Silhouette, .We will pick entrees very carefully based upon your review!

I was looking at the Tuna Romanesco?  I so want to love this restaurant, boo.🥲

 

On 8/18/2024 at 10:10 AM, hcat said:

Sorry Tuscan disappointed.. We enjoy sharing the meatball app. Chacuterie, soup and I like the  regular salad . All very filling!

 

.On  Silhouette, .We will pick entrees very carefully based upon your review!