Icebergs and penguins |
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Reviewed By: Lord, London on 1st Mar 2010
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| Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises |
Times cruised before: 1-2 |
| Cruise Ship: Infinity |
Sailed:
February,
2010 |
| Destination:
Antarctica
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Age: 56-65 |
| Cabin: Suite |
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Celebrity Infinity to South America, the Falklands and the Antarctic.
This was a spectacular cruise with amazing scenery. We boarded in Buenos Aires and the first port of call was the Falklands where, following advice from previous reviewers, we booked a tour with local naturalist Patrick Watts to see the king penguins at Volunteer Point. This was half the price of the equivalent Celebrity tour and was excellent. Our guide was amine of information about Falklands life and the war.
From here we headed for the Antarctic where we spent two days cruising the Grenache Straits and Paradise Bay in absolute silence, spotting seals, penguins, dolphins and whales. Finally we visited Tierra del Fuego and Montevideo before disembarking at Buenos Aires again. The only disappointment was Montevideo which is a bit of a dump. Otherwise the whole trip was exceptional.
This is a long cruise with a lot of sea days, which was one of the reasons we opted for a large ship with its facilities and entertainment as opposed to an expedition boat which would have taken us deeper into the Antarctic.
Celebrity Infinity is a big boat with good facilities. Events included quizzes, talks, shows, dance classes etc. Additionally there were a gym, spa, shops, pools, cafes, an internet room and casino. The boat absorbs its 2,000-plus passengers well. The main Oceanview cafe did get crowded at lunchtime so we aimed to get in before the 1pm rush. Evening meals were in the Trellis Restaurant with fixed seating and waiter service. Food overall was good with plenty of choice, though passengers who had cruised with Celebrity before said it was not as good as previously.
Our stateroom was a Sky Suite which was well worth the extra money. It was a spacious room with a big bathroom, a balcony and butler and steward service. We also visited a Celebrity Suite which was much bigger but had a large bay window rather than a balcony. Given the nature of the cruise we felt a balcony was essential.
Our only criticism was the cost of extras on board, particularly drinks. Wine prices were on a par with top London restaurants. The $90 bottle was run of the mill. An unframed photograph was $20. Our only comparison is with the Cunard Queen Victoria and we felt Celebrity was more expensive. At times it felt as if we were in the clutches of a big money-making machine.
Otherwise the cruise was good value and all arrangements went smoothly. Boarding and disembarking were smooth. Service was faultless and the ship was clean, tidy and well maintained. We were also very fortunate with the weather which was sunny and clear, giving us fabulous views of the matchless scenery. All in all the holiday of a lifetime.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| Trellis Restaurant | | Entertainment | n/a |
| | Shore Excursions | |
| Best was the Falklands. Montevideo was the least interesting. | | Staff | |
| Our butler, Robert, was excellent. Nothing was too much trouble. | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities | |
| Yes | | Cabins | |
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.jpg_thumb.jpg "Santorini sunset")
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