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Celebrity Infinity to Panama Canal. |
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Reviewed By: Griffiths, Peterborough on 5th Jun 2009
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| Cruise Line: Celebrity Cruises |
Times cruised before: 6-10 |
| Cruise Ship: Infinity |
Sailed:
April,
2009 |
| Destination: Panama Canal |
Age: 65+ |
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Yes, even though we are over 65, it WAS our honeymoon! Not that it made any practical difference - we were invited to a Honeymoon Reception which was just a photo opportunity - at $20 - to have our picture taken yet again! We flew to Miami with BA: this was OK and our tales of their comparative geneerosity with in flight alcohol made US based passengers agog -they got a free Diet Coke or similar. This being a Fort Lauderdale- San Francisco voyage, most US passengers flew one or both ways.
Te ship was spotlessly clean, the service immaculate, the prices horrendous @ $1.43=one pound sterling. My new wife liked a glass of Sancerre with her dinner - it cost $10 + 15% compulsory tip = about £8 for a 125ml glass. Phew!
In fairness, after a few nights, the sommelier suggested that we buy a bottle which he named and produced faithfully eacg night, which redcuced the cost marginally to about £7 per small glass...The food was good, but not exceptonal by cruise standards. The ser4vice was immaculate.
Due to Swine Flu, we were unable to land at any Mexican port, so we had to spend four days at sea steaming from Costa Rica to San Diege, which, with Catalina Island, ws hastily substituted for the unavailable Mexican ports. This was a cause of some distress to many fellow passengers, but was OK by us, although the efforts to pprovide diversion during the days at sea were not impressive. Can you imagine P and O, or Cunard offering adfternoon tea with tea-bags?
The entertainmaent was so-so. Some tables, like ours, seated ten. which is roo much, although we had a good ethnic mix - 4 Americans, 2 Canadians. 2 Aussies and ourselves, The company was hugely enjoyable, although we had difficulty hearing the folks at the far end of the table.
The main raison d'etre for the cruise, the Panama Canal, was fabulous.
i'd been with Celebrity once before, on my own, on a Transatlantic trip, where I played a lot of Bridge. That was in 2007 on the Galaxy. whre the food was better as were the diversions - but then, they knew in advan ce that they would be at sea for days!
Final conclusions? A bit disappointed with cost of everythyind, only partrially due to the then abysmal exchange rate, good, but not outstanding food, impeccable service. Casino very popular - to walk through it hearing its cacophony of different electronic sounds was, for us, something to be avoided!
Would I use Celebrity again? Not if P and O, Cunard, Princess offered the itinerary.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| | Entertainment |  |
| The String Quartet and the Vocal Group | | Shore Excursions |  |
| Only took one, which was a half day tour of San Francisco @ $60-odd per head. Satisfactory but far too dear. | | Staff |  |
| ll staff were extremely poitr and efficient. No exceptions. | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities | |
| Not very much to do - especially on the long 4 days at sea period, but cannot lay blame for this as it was totally ubexpected. | | Cabins | |
| | Overall Rating | |
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