Celebrity Cruise Line has been busy “Solsticizing” it’s ships. “What’s that?” you ask. It’s M-class of ships, which includes the Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium, and the Celebrity Summit have all received updates to reflect the cruise line’s newer class of ships, the Solstice class. I recently had an opportunity to tour the Celebrity Infinity while she was in port in Fort Lauderdale. With an inaugural date of sailing of March 3, 2001, the Celebrity Infinity can accommodate 2,170 passengers and thanks the its recent renovations, she is extending to passengers some of the best that Celebrity Cruises has made available on its newer ships.
This is what Celebrity has to say about the Celebrity Infinity:
Welcome aboard Celebrity Infinity® with her new, “Solsticized” sense of style and excitement. Relax in her spa-inspired AquaClass® accommodations featuring exclusive access to Blu, our delicious Mediterranean focused “clean cuisine” restaurant. Keep in touch at the hip CelebrityiLounge where you can participate in the iLearn enrichment series or pick up the latest high-tech wonder from the first Apple® Reseller at Sea. Enjoy sweet or savory crepes at Bistro on Five. And get ready to have a uniquely unordinary dinner at the innovative Qsine® specialty restaurant, where you order from an iPad®. Finish with a chilled Peartini at the ice-topped Martini Bar. Celebrity Infinity will make the most of your precious vacation days. Ready to be impressed? Fantastic.
Whether you want to lay out by the pool or take a quick dip in it, the pool area is an inviting area to go and simply relax.
With an abundance of comfy deck chairs and loungers, the main pool is flanked by two hot tubs and two outdoor showers.
I was able to tour an AquaClass cabin, which is essentially a balcony cabin with AquaClass amenities. Approximately 195 square feet with a 62 square foot veranda, having a cabin in this area means you will have full access to many of the Aqua Spa amenities including daily delivery of bottled water and tea, exclusive access to the Blu, the specialty dining restaurant for AquaClass guests that offers “clean cuisine”, an upgraded room service menu, complimentary access to the Persian Garden Aromatherapy diffuser, pillow menu, additional bathroom amenities including shower gel, facial spray and lip balm, Plush Frette bathrobes, slippers, oversized 100% cotton bath towels, and on-demand wellness programming including meditation and yoga.
I’m a huge fan of martinis, be it the traditional martini that makes you stand up at attention because it is a true martini with gin and vermouth or perhaps a girly drink that just so happens to be served up in a martini glass. The bartenders on Celebrity in the Martini Bar are true entertainers and enjoy mixing up their concoctions to a captive audience. The oval shaped bar has an ice top that sets the tone for this ultra cool hang out. Adjacent to the Martini Bar is Crush, which serves up class and rare vodkas and a portfolio of fine caviars.
Maybe a martini isn’t your style. Then head on over to Cellar Masters, the ship’s very own wine bar inspired by the vineyards of Napa Valley. You don’t have to commit to an entire bottle either with “the state-of-the-art Enomatic® wine-by-the-glass dispensing system. With a simple swipe of your SeaPass card, it will pour your choice directly from the bottle in a 1-ounce, 2.5-ounce or 5-ounce portion. The Sommeliers will guide you in the use of the Enomatic® system and offer further insight into the fine art of wine selection, an integral part of an epicurean lifestyle.”
After running around the ship, we were treated to a seated lunch in the two deck Trellis Restaurant. Situated at the aft of the ship, the Trellis Restaurant provides a main dining experience one might expect on a cruise. From small tables for two to large tables for groups of diners, you can enjoy your meal while piano music plays softly in the background.
I loved the interesting window treatment over the windows, which I am guessing would have been opened had we been at sea.
Our lunch started with a Chilled Shrimp Louis, which I passed on and then a Cream of Wild Forest Mushroom Soup. As the main entrees were either a Herb Crusted Haddock Filet or a Filet Mignon, I opted for the Baby Spinach and Trevisio Salad that was served as the salad course for my entree minus the blue cheese crumbles and bacon. As Celebrity Cruise Line is a premium cruise line, you can expect a higher level of service and better meal options than perhaps the contemporary cruise lines.
As we were departing the ship, the specialty restaurants had an area set up to display their menus and some of the food options available. I couldn’t resist taking a few pictures of the food from Qsine, especially after our wonderful experience on the Celebrity Eclipse earlier this year.
What would a meal be without dessert? Qsine serves up one of their desserts, “The Cupcake Affair,” with all the fixings so you can make them any way you please. Qsine makes you rethink everything about a meal from how you order to what you eat to the whole idea of meals by courses.
With the new additions thanks its recent Solsticization, the Celebrity Infinity may be a little older than her new counterparts, but she still has more than enough to offer guests when they come onboard. Sailing out of South America until April 2013, where she will then cross through the Panama Canal, complete a transatlantic cruise, and then she will settle into her Norwegian Fjords cruises and British Isle cruises before returning to South America in November of 2013. If you are looking for a little variety and perhaps you’re tired of the same Caribbean ports, why not consider a cruise on the Celebrity Infinity?
Looks great…I am liking the amenities in the spa room. Also, how cute are those “sushi pops”? And I am dying to try the wasabi stuff on the side.
Wait til you see my next post – my son had the sushi lollipops and loved them. The wasabi on the side is I guess like a wasabi mayonnaise, not too strong, but still has the wasabi taste.