Not to be missed itinerary
Celebrity Infinity Cruise Review to Coastal - West Coast
Contributor Level:
Cruise Director
Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 10
Helpful Votes: 521
7 Night Pacific Coastal Southbound (Vancouver To Los Angeles)
Sail date: September 17, 2017
Ship: Celebrity Infinity
Cabin type: Oceanview
Cabin number: 2105
Traveled as: Singles/Friends
Reviewed: 7 years ago
Review summary
I wanted to do this itinerary for a long time and I was not disappointed. I would consider doing the reverse from San Diego ending in Vancouver simply because British Columbia has so much to offer. But the US ports of Seattle and Monterey also have many beautiful scenic things to do. If this is on your bucket list, check it off and make your reservation (but not before I do...I want a cabin on the reverse cruise :) )Embarkation
Embarkation in Vancouver, as a US Citizen, includes the Customs process. If you have not done this between Canada and the U.S. recently, it includes using a automated machine that scans your passport and includes taking a photo...Put on your lipstick on ladies...It's very unflattering. Other than the distance one must walk from the front of the boarding facility to the ship (close to 3/4 of a mile, literally), the process itself was very easy.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
Celebrity is known for its culinary opportunities and this cruise did not disappoint. From the mimosa upon boarding to the lobster and beef wellington night in the MDR, there was nothing but good things to say about the food. One special evening celebrated in Tuscan proved to be another great dining experience. Not be missed is burrata caprese appetizer. The Oceanview Cafe had many offerings. Another bonus is having the make your own pasta bar open in the late afternoon tea time when returning from your excursions.
Onboard Activities
In a port heavy itinerary, onboard activities were seemingly after 10 p.m. at night (the silent disco was fun -- an event where everyone wears their own set of headphones and dances to one's own beat) and the full moon party. During the day, though, unless you are enjoying one of Celebrity's behind the curtain looks at how all of the food is prepared or how laundry is handled, there's not a lot going on during port days.
Entertainment
This ship had plenty of music ALL the time. Entertainers on board included Mr. H., the Bryan James Band and Passion Duo. My traveling companion and I made sure we were present when they were playing. Having late dining (8:30) it was nice to be entertained during those pre-dinner hours. Talent galore here. The evening shows were laden with some musical talent. Lou Gazzara performed one evening and then had a packed house encore show on the sea day. He is really talented with a wide range of musical interests. David Guidice performed a Billy Joel tribute show...that man pounded the ivories and had everyone singing along. The wonderist, Chris Funk, from America's Got Talent, had everyone wishing they could figure it out. The broadway type shows were average as the male singers in the show were not as strong as the females although EVERYONE participated in the dancing part which was a little different.
Children's Programs
Did not utilize
Service and Staff
My number one reason for coming back to Celebrity is the first class service from the crew. They truly appear to be glad you're on board and work hard to make sure that every detail of your day is carefree. Our room steward, Chico, was great. Our MDR server, Heston and his assistant, Diana, made sure we left the dining room completely satisfied. Every crew member you meet in the hallway looks you in the eye and says hello. My traveling companion who had only cruised with Carnival recently acknowledged the difference on the very first day. It's just a classier cruise line.
Ship Quality
Fearful of being in an oceanview stateroom when I normally travel in balcony Aqua Class or Concierge, I quickly learned I had nothing to worry about. Our travel agent had put us port side and I was able to sit in the window sill and watch the shoreline and read a book. The room was very clean and the bathroom was a little larger than some (no shower curtain touching me while I showered). The layout of the ship is extremely easy to navigate as long as you learn aft/stern/port/starboard quickly. There are seating areas throughout the ship to sit and read or play cards and or just have drinks and conversations. The dance floors were spacious and multiple venues offered entertainment in the evenings. The MDR is either entered on 4th or 5th floor - a little confusing the first night -- depending upon your table location. You will see complaints littered about the sites regarding the age of the Infinity. I've recently cruised on the S class ships and there is NOTHING wrong with the Infinity.
Cabin / Stateroom
The cabin located mid-ship on port side allows a great view (heading south) of the shore lines of the U.S. The picture window allows almost a window seat like area where you can climb up and sit and purvey the wonder. Very clean and they changed the sheets 2x during the trip without asking. Room steward, Chico, was always handy. Note: you must ask for an ice bucket now but they bring it upon request and it is always full of ice.
Ship tip
As I've stated above, I was a little nervous about the Infinity because of the some of the reviews I've read about poor food, rusty, worn areas, etc. While this is definitely not an S-Class ship, it has its own elegance, is easy to navigate and was a wonderful way to spend 7 days. I'd go again without question.
Thumbs up
0
Ports of call
Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia
Vancouver is one embarkation port that must include some time prior to embarkation to explore. There is much to see, whether you take a ferry or float plane to Victoria, ride a bike thru Stanley park, visit Whistler on a day trip or just enjoy the plentiful and tasty restaurants in the area.
We took an excursion with Shutter Tours that was to Snoqualmie Falls and included a City tour as well. We met a Pike's Market, an easy walk from the ship terminal. Great tour at about 1/3 the price of what was offered similarly by the Ship. Check it out.
The ship excursion that we took was a little disappointing as I am not much of a shopper, We visited Cannon Beach and Sea Side. Other than breathtaking beaches, there is not much going on in these towns during the fall months. It also left no time to explore Astoria itself which is a slight walk away from port.
We took the ship excursion to Muir Woods and Sausalito. The tour guide Len was excellent. He allowed an unscheduled stop to allow some of us to get off the bus before returning to port so we wouldn't have to walk back to Fisherman's Wharf. Muir Woods was awe inspiring when you think about the size and age of the trees. Very easy to navigate (wood walkway over most of the trail). Wish we had had more time to hike to the ocean. Sausalito was a pretty viewpoint for the Oakland bridge and San Francisco. I am not much of a shopper so this part was not so grand. Tour left plenty of time to explore San Francisco once you return.
We took a ship excursion to the Aquarium and the Carmel Mission. Both were entertaining. There is plenty of time to explore the Aquarium and the town of Monterey before boaring the bus and heading to the Mission. The drive to the mission is so scenic and the rugged shoreline you are traveling alongside is truly beautiful. We saw whales in the Bay which added to the fun.
We took the trolley that provided a 90 minute overview of the City including a Mission, some of the famous hotels, and some landmarks. It was $22 and tickets could be purchased a short walk from the end of the pier. We found the ship excursions to be hugely expensive here. There are wineries with tasting opportunities in town so don't feel like you necessarily have to spend the big bucks to go to the winery if tasting is what you are interested in.
Disembarkation
Very simple disembarkation. We had group 4 due to our flight time. Took an Uber from the airport (taxi line was a 40 minute wait and we were group 4) for $70 and arrived 2 hours ahead of our scheduled flight time. Uber was more than the published taxi price of $59 but we didn't have to tip (we did anyway because it was SO EASY) and we didn't have to wait. Worth the $11 to me.
Traveler Photos
