Infinity Sails Again June 25th

[MrCoachRentz]

So I've been getting some updates for some cruisers that are currently on the ship.  Comments are about some things that are "challenging" but that they are improving rapidly.  Seems the worst is the dinner service taking a while to complete.  

[12cruise2]

2 hours ago, gordylad said:

I think it would have been better getting the ship ready with everything working and a full crew rather than to have customers experiencing all these issues and then to provide negative trip reports. Doesn’t make sense I mean it was out of action for many months so another while shouldn’t have made a difference. 

This ship was not out of action for several months, except to paying passengers.  It was the Celebrity crew quarantine/isolation ship.

[cruising sister]

Yes it was the quarantine ship for Celebrity and Royal but the crew has not been working a “cruise” until this one. They are getting better each day and will only improve once they get in sync. They are improving the ocean view cafe by moving stations for better flow etc. They obviously spruced up common areas but cabins were in use with sick crew. I am sure not all and probably not suites.  According to my source the last sick crew they accepted was 2 weeks before our cruise.

 

As far as crew shortages it is fleet wide. Multiple reasons for this all coming at once. I see crew trying hard but have lots to learn. MDR seems to be suffering the most.   Everyone wants to make this work so I only see this getting better. 

[FlorenceItaly]

It is still unclear whether the non-suite cabins have been freshened up.  IMO, they were in badly need of it before the shut down.

[BigAl94]

6 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

It is still unclear whether the non-suite cabins have been freshened up.  IMO, they were in badly need of it before the shut down.

Soft furnishings only, carpet, curtains, bedding. All furniture and bathrooms the same.

[FlorenceItaly]

1 minute ago, BigAl94 said:

Soft furnishings only, carpet, curtains, bedding. All furniture and bathrooms the same.

VERY happy to hear this.  It was in dire need!

[NutsAboutGolf]

1 hour ago, Tyler414 said:

Must be HORRIBLE to get off the ship after only being on it for 16 hours.

 

I heard of this tune in the past, get off the cruise ship ASAP, request a refund from X and if denied do a credit card charge back.

 

Yet the other thing is if a passenger is truly upset, it's probably best for them to get off the ship anyways

[puffycloudz]

What am I missing? I'm on the upcoming sailing on July 2 and I understand it's a dated ship with a really fun itinerary. I know I paid less for a dated ship so I'm not expecting the latest and greatest. To me, as long as the food is good, drinks are cold, and I get to partake on the excursions I like how can you have a bad time? The cabin is just for resting up for the next adventure 🙂

 

[cruising sister]

Go with that great attitude and you will be fine. For those on this sailing who had no AC, room smell so bad they were moved several times and took 3 hours plus to be served in the MDR thank for helping to work out the kinks for your cruise. I feel for them and luckily  I only experienced minor issues. If you don’t speak up with what is broken in your cabin it will never get fixed for the next guests in the room. 
 

Things will  improve with each sailing as they have improved with each day on this cruise. If you asked me today,  I would say no to future Infinity cruises before dry dock. But, if the right deal comes around I may be swayed to sail on her again. 

[ricflyer]

1 hour ago, puffycloudz said:

What am I missing? I'm on the upcoming sailing on July 2 and I understand it's a dated ship with a really fun itinerary. I know I paid less for a dated ship so I'm not expecting the latest and greatest. To me, as long as the food is good, drinks are cold, and I get to partake on the excursions I like how can you have a bad time? The cabin is just for resting up for the next adventure 🙂

 

I am on the July 2 sailing and agree!! Its was cheap for me (Just over $800 pp for Aqua) I want to have some good food and just relax on the ocean. The room is just for sleeping. 

[seacruise9]

3 hours ago, puffycloudz said:

What am I missing? I'm on the upcoming sailing on July 2 and I understand it's a dated ship with a really fun itinerary. I know I paid less for a dated ship so I'm not expecting the latest and greatest. To me, as long as the food is good, drinks are cold, and I get to partake on the excursions I like how can you have a bad time? The cabin is just for resting up for the next adventure 🙂

 

Hi, 

 

I have the same attitude. It is unfortunate that some people are experiencing problems on the current cruise, but I am hoping that the issues soon will be resolved. I am booked on the Sep. 3 sailing of the Celebrity Infinity. I am taking this cruise solo and was able to get an incredible price on an AquaClass stateroom. Although the ship may be dated, I am looking forward to the cruise and dining in Blu for a week.

 

Chuck

[seacruise9]

10 hours ago, CDJcruiser said:

I am very interested in learning more about both the Bimini port stop and the Puerto Plata one.  I am booked on this itinerary later this summer.
 

When in Bimini with Crystal last summer, there was a tram from the ship that made a few stops around Resorts World and the beach.  Did this happen for the Celebrity ship?  Also, there has not been an options online to book a day pass at the Resorts World Beach Club, only an excursion to Paradise Beach.  Was that offered as an option on your Celebrity Cruise?  Doesn’t the tram stop at Paradise Beach as well?

 

I have never been to Puerto Plata and am wondering if it is safe to go out on your own or if we need to book an excursion.  Most of the excursions that I am interested in include long bus ride (which I am not interested in).  I saw the beach break and have looked at the falls.

 

Thank you for any information you can share.

Hi,

 

I visited Bimini on the Celebrity Reflection in late Feb. 2022. This was my first visit to this port. Prior to the cruise, I booked a shore excursion that featured a boat ride. My excursion was canceled and I purchased the day pass to the Resorts World Bimini Beach Club aboard the ship for $40 (I honestly don't remember if it was available for purchase prior to the cruise). I road the tram to the Beach Club with the beautiful beach and two large pools (it was very nice). They gave us wrist bands to wear prior to boarding the tram. We could stay as long as we wanted. 

 

I am booked on the Celebrity Infinity for the cruise departing on Sep. 3, 2022. There is an excursion in Bimini to Paradise Beach (which apparently is a public beach near the Beach Club), but there currently is no option to purchase the day pass to the Beach Club. I purchased the excursion to Paradise Beach, but I will change my booking if the pass to the Beach Club becomes available. 

 

It has been a very long time since I have been to Puerto Plata (I visited this port during a cruise in 1976 when I was a child). For what it's worth, I have booked the "Explore Puerto Plata and Cable Car" excursion. This looks interesting to me. 

 

Chuck

[Cap_D]

On 6/26/2022 at 2:46 PM, IDL said:

I am on the cruise in Aqua class on deck 9.  My expectation was after 2.5 years I dry dock that the cabins would be made ready for passenger occupation this cruise but sadly not the case.  As mentioned the a/c is not cooling adequately, our veranda door was off the track, the garbage bin in the bathroom (strangely the only one in the cabin) is broken, the cabin steward informed us he does not empty the mini bar (day two and still waiting).   Registered complaints with cabin steward and called guest relations to no avail.  Ended up going to guest relations last night at 11 PM to get cabin issues address and they sent repair men (oh and by the way we were out of the cabin from 5 PM- 10:30 PM last night and the room steward had not even made the cabin up- bed not made, morning towels still on the floor, etc.).  We have cruised on Celebrity many times but not since the pandemic.  It will be an one and done on the Infinity for me- ship is ready to be retired.   Booked on Oceana next summer on the Vista out of London which I will start looking fwd to as the Infinity experience is lacking for me.  

These issues are inexcusable regardless of what the ship had been doing for the past 2.5 years.  It also begs the question do they not have any quality assurance program?  No a/c for the past 2.5 years?  What type of operation are they running here?  No one should settle for this type of experience even if its a cruise ship, staffing or whatever justification anyone else here has provided.  

[Cap_D]

On 6/26/2022 at 3:39 PM, 12cruise2 said:

The Infinity served as the covid isolation ship for crew the last few months.   They would bring a tender next to the Equinox and any other Celebrity ship in Fort Lauderdale on days when they were in port and transfer sick/recovered crew members on/off the ship.   I'm sure that's why the a/c is not working correctly--they had it turned way down so as to not pass recirculating air from one cabin to another.  We ran into the same a/c, or lack thereof, problem on another brand of cruise line last month as it turned out we were in cabins that had been used for passenger isolation for a previous, quite long cruise.  Sounds like the Infinity is not ready for cruising in a lot of ways.  So disappointing.  Shows that these cruise lines do not have the cash flow to do what is needed seems to me but desperate to start cash flow. 

This isn't a function of cash flow, it is mismanagement.  Whoever is in charge should be fired if they can't get the a/c to work and put paying customers in the room.  

[Germancruiser]

Thanks for all those great pictures. I am booked on Infinity in October. Millenium- Class ships are still my favorite X-ships- even though they are now over 20 years in service!

I sailed Infinity twice and I don´t expect all the bells and whistles of a brand new ship. I had that at the Maiden Voyage of Apex last June.

Wonderful cruise but I don´t like that class of ships AT ALL.

I hope they have all in hand in October. What I expect of X- is a spotless clean ship. I am quite prepared for a few signs of wear and tear!

[MrCoachRentz]

30 minutes ago, Germancruiser said:

Thanks for all those great pictures. I am booked on Infinity in October. Millenium- Class ships are still my favorite X-ships- even though they are now over 20 years in service!

I sailed Infinity twice and I don´t expect all the bells and whistles of a brand new ship. I had that at the Maiden Voyage of Apex last June.

Wonderful cruise but I don´t like that class of ships AT ALL.

I hope they have all in hand in October. What I expect of X- is a spotless clean ship. I am quite prepared for a few signs of wear and tear!

I love that class ship also.  

[crimsonbird]

Do you know how many guests on board?  How is the food in the MDR?  Anyone eaten in the specialty restaurants?  Are people wearing masks in elevators and such?  Any info will be appreciated.   

[Germancruiser]

The then brand new Millenium was my very first X- ship back in 2001. Switching to X from RCCL. From X then to Cunard and latley to MSC- YC- with the occasional X cruise thrown in. LOL.

RCCL and a few years later X started a tendency to drift into the directon of Party- Boats- AND that I can not stand.

Those atriums both on Solstice Class and now even more so with the new Edge Class are horrible. Loud, noisy- the once nice an lovely Martini Bar went down the drain - one can not hear oneself think so loud did they get.

I may sound like a party pooper but I don´t see the need for the captain standing on the bar and making a show with the bar waiters.

Edited June 29, 2022 by Germancruiser

[abbydancer2003]

Thanks for this.  We're on the Infinity in March 2023, and I'm a bit nervous.  We were on the Summit on her 3rd or 4th cruise in 2021, and it was amazing.  I know the Infinity hasn't been revolutionized, but hopefully things will be better when we go.

[cruising sister]

8 hours ago, crimsonbird said:

Do you know how many guests on board?  How is the food in the MDR?  Anyone eaten in the specialty restaurants?  Are people wearing masks in elevators and such?  Any info will be appreciated.   

Guest count 1725. I have not eaten in specialty restaurants. We are wearing masks but only about 1% are. We have been thanked by many of the crew and officers for wearing them. Remember they were the Covid ship so they may have a different perspective on masks.  
Guests are friendly and I see they are getting a little happier as issues are being resolved. We came out of Luminae at 6:45 last night and the line for select dining was much much shorter.  A couple more cruises under her belt and I think things will be better. You can’t change the aesthetics until dry dock but service can improve. 

[hcat]

On 6/26/2022 at 1:00 PM, cruising sister said:

Update on the AC, there seems to be a problem in lots of areas. There are kinks to be worked out for sure.  Our room is tolerable but definitely not cool. We will ask for a fan for tonight. I will take pics of casino when it opens up. 

On our last infinity cruise...obviously pre Covid, we had an AQ Cabin.  The ac system in the cabin and along our hallway was not working for a goid portion of the cruise,  Repair person came promptly (and often)  but it  was never really fixed.  He was taking used parts from elsewhere.???  Older ship..old systems.

  ( we also sailed on her shortly before that and had no issues..hit or miss, luck of the draw!)

 

On the dysfunctional  a/c  sailing , we had mildew in our bthrm ( aggravated by lack of a/c),   but thankfully our toilet flushed okay and the shower did not back up...others on our deck were not that lucky.,,hallway fans were run non stop  to dry carpets.

 

Hope your AC improves but this ship needs systemic updates beyond cosmetic  refresh...   hope you can enjoy your cruise..

[IDL]

15 minutes ago, cruising sister said:

Guest count 1725. I have not eaten in specialty restaurants. We are wearing masks but only about 1% are. We have been thanked by many of the crew and officers for wearing them. Remember they were the Covid ship so they may have a different perspective on masks.  
Guests are friendly and I see they are getting a little happier as issues are being resolved. We came out of Luminae at 6:45 last night and the line for select dining was much much shorter.  A couple more cruises under her belt and I think things will be better. You can’t change the aesthetics until dry dock but service can improve. 

Agree very few passengers are masking on crowded elevators, bars, theater,  etc.  It will not surprising that there may be a number of Covid cases as a result but that is the personal choice we all make daily.  

[cosmo1027]

Has their been any progress on a/c issues in the cabins? Are there certain decks or areas more affected? We are scheduled to be on deck 9 AQ class next week and wondering if those staterooms are impacted. 
 

Thank you to all that have taken time from your vacation to post updates from the cruise this week.

[MrCoachRentz]

22 minutes ago, cosmo1027 said:

Has their been any progress on a/c issues in the cabins? Are there certain decks or areas more affected? We are scheduled to be on deck 9 AQ class next week and wondering if those staterooms are impacted. 
 

Thank you to all that have taken time from your vacation to post updates from the cruise this week.

I wonder if some of these "a/c issues" have more to do with American's needing more a/c than most other people around the World and not necessarily anything mechanical.  If you've ever traveled to Europe you know what I mean lol.  

 

Some things you can do in your stateroom to help the a/c.. 1) when you get in your cabin on embarkation day, don't go onto the Veranda.  Leave the door locked.  2) close the curtains.  On embarkation day, the stewards are cleaning the rooms and leaving the doors open to work as well as they usually leave the curtains open so that when you walk into your cabin, it isn't dark.

[cosmo1027]

7 minutes ago, MrCoachRentz said:

I wonder if some of these "a/c issues" have more to do with American's needing more a/c than most other people around the World and not necessarily anything mechanical.  If you've ever traveled to Europe you know what I mean lol.  

 

Some things you can do in your stateroom to help the a/c.. 1) when you get in your cabin on embarkation day, don't go onto the Veranda.  Leave the door locked.  2) close the curtains.  On embarkation day, the stewards are cleaning the rooms and leaving the doors open to work as well as they usually leave the curtains open so that when you walk into your cabin, it isn't dark.

These are helpful tips for day 1. However, my impression is that there were particular cabins that were having a/c issues. I am curious what the status is now midweek from those currently sailing.