Celebrity Infinity Review

The 91,000-ton, 2,070-passenger Celebrity Infinity debuted in 2001 as the second ship in Celebrity Cruises' four-vessel Millennium-class series. Like near-identical sister ships Celebrity Millennium (2000), Celebrity Summit (2001) and Celebrity Constellation (2002), Infinity debuted with a bevy of once-novel features, including a two-story library, a retro ocean liner-themed alternative restaurant and a lovely bank of seaview glass elevators. These days, however, the Millennium quadruplets have been surpassed in size, amenities and technical innovation by Celebrity's grass-covered, partially solar powered Solstice-class ships.

To that end, Celebrity has invested heavily in refurbishing the series. Following a November 2011 dry-dock in the Bahamas, Celebrity Infinity emerged with a slew of Solstice-class dining venues, including Qsine (interactive comfort food), Blu (Mediterranean spa cuisine) and Bistro on 5 (creperie), a new iLounge computer lab, new balconies, as well as more than 100 new or redesigned spa cabins. (The ship also got more crowded -- 60 new cabins were added, bringing the double occupancy from 1,950 up to 2,070.)

Much has changed for the ship in the form of decor and onboard features, but Constellation's most visible alterations focus on the Deck 4 and 5 social hub, which forms a two-floor, shiplong link between the main dining room (aft) and theater (forward). The focus here is on casual food and drink options. The old Martini Bar has been replaced with a new version, a glowing green pod with a shaved ice-topped bar and juggling bartenders. Cellar Masters, a wine venue with self-service dispensary system, has replaced the original, staid Champagne Bar. Bistro on Five, a for-fee creperie that was a surprise hit on Solstice (and on Equinox, Eclipse, Silhouette and Reflection, the ships that followed), has been added to Deck 5. Infinity's old coffee bar has been redone, and the line has added a gelataria.

Despite these significant alterations, the ship still retains much of what has made it a fan favorite, stylistically, for more than a decade. The whimsical art, use of natural woods and lots of glass, especially in the stunning Solarium, have always lent Celebrity Infinity and its sisters an elegant, contemporary air. Those touches remains. So too does the high passenger-to-crew ratio, which has earned the line high marks for service. And at 2,070 passengers -- compared to 2,850 on the Solstice-class vessels -- those looking for a more intimate Celebrity experience will do well to consider the "mid-sized" Millennium class.

Celebrity Infinity passengers tend to be sophisticated, well-traveled adults in the 45 to 65 age range, and indeed, the Celebrity experience is ideal for the "baby boom" generation. Most of the passengers are North American, with Britain and other European countries represented.

The two levels of dress on Infinity are smart-casual and formal. Four- to six-night cruises have one formal night; seven- to eleven-night cruises have two; and Twelve- to fifteen-night cruises feature three. Infinity's passengers typically dress for the occasion, which means you'll see a fair share of suits and tuxedos on men, and cocktail dresses and gowns on women. T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps and poolwear are not allowed in the main restaurant or specialty restaurants at any time. Shorts and flip-flops are not allowed in the evening hours.

Celebrity Cruises is increasing its suggested gratuity by 50 cents per passenger/per day beginning on all bookings made on or after April 29 for all cruises that begin on or after the same day. The new suggested gratuity will be $12.00 per person/per day, if you're in a standard cabin; $12.50 per person/per day, if you're in a Concierge Class or AquaClass; and $15.50 per person/per day, for passengers in suites.

Next: Celebrity Infinity Cabins

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