Excellent review of 10 best and 10 worse. Going on the Infinity in May similar itinerary. Found this useful. Also been in the sister ship Summit and the rooms were refurbished on that ship, which I loved!!!!!!! So it’s a bit disappointing that they did not refurbish the rooms. I agree with your overall assessment. Love the medium size ship, nothing bigger than 3K passengers.
Enjoy your South Africa trip, We were there in September and did Victoria falls first, We moved on to a Kruger safari, Durban (Umhlanga) and picked up a car in Port Elizabeth to dive the garden route. Addo elephant park which was incredible. Then Knysna, Mossel Bay, Hermanus, Cape Town and finally Johannesburg . We stayed in some gorgeous accommodation with fantastic views. Had truly fabulous holiday. I hope you both have as good a time as we did.
Hey guys, thanks for all the good info! I just got back from a week on the celebrity ascent. Of course it was fabulous! I am actually going on the infinity March 28 and would like to know more about the ports and things you did at some of them… I cruise a lot and don’t care too much about doing lots of excursions… Which ports can I just get off the ship and walk around without too much hassle…I’m sure the infinity can’t compare to the edge class ships, but the price was incredible!
Here is the details of the trips we did on the Infinity Athens - Greece Airport Pick up to Athens Hotel (Viator) 2 nights - Lekka Hotel - Junior Suite with King Size bed and breakfast Late Afternoon/Evening: Take a stroll through the charming Plaka neighbourhood. This area is known for its winding streets, colourful buildings, and charming cafes. Day 2 Morning: Start the day off with a visit to the iconic Acropolis. This ancient citadel is home to the Parthenon, one of the most famous landmarks in Athens. Acropolis skip the lines ticket (Viator) Afternoon: After the Acropolis, head to the Monastiraki Flea Market (open Sundays only). This bustling market is a great place to pick up souvenirs and try some local street food.. Day 3 Private transfer from Central Athens to Piraeus Cruise Port (Viator) Athens (Piraeus) - Greece Depart 5:00 PM
Napflion - Greece 7:00 AM To 7:00 PM Wander the old town built on a hilly peninsula and topped by a castle. Start in Syntagma Square and wander through the cobblestone streets, narrow pathways and pedestrianised areas. There are pretty balconies to ‘oooh’ and ‘ahh’ at, and colourful Bougainvillaea draped across the neo-classical buildings to photograph. Around every corner, there are cafes, tavernas, and high-end shops to beckon you. Architecture-wise, there are two Turkish mosques, as well as other historical buildings and monuments (including one that housed the first Greek parliament). Nafplio’s old town very much has the feel of one of the islands.
Istanbul - Turkey Arrive 7:00 AM Get a T1 tram from Tophane to Sultanahmet (appx 10min walk to tram stop from cruise terminal - costs 15TL (£0.50 each way - takes 15mins each way) Hagia Sophia (active mosque no entry allowed 1hr before and 30 mins after prayer - prepare for long waits though!!!) Or Blue Mosque - free entry (active mosque no entry allowed 1hr before and 30 mins after prayer) Or Grand Bazar Optional - Hammam (oldest Hammam in Turkey 1584) - luxury style hammam 1470TRY (£60pp) Hammam - Sultan Hammam & Massage Package - EUR75 (£65pp) The Hammams are close to Grand Bazaar so all in the same area
Istanbul - Turkey Depart 8:00 PM Morning Bosphorus boat trip (Viator) (optional - appx £42.47pp) Take tram T1 from Tophane (appx 10min walk from the cruise terminal) to Kabatas - takes 15min cost 10TRY (appx 50p each way) or 20-25min walk
Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Turkey 8:00 AM To 6:00 PM Best known for: The ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world. Kusadasi: Ephesus Shore Excursion with Skip-the-Line Entry (Viator) Meet just outside the cruise pier Finishes 4.5-5hrs later - afternoon free to explore Kusadasi or chill on the ship.
Santorini - Greece 8:00 AM To 10:00 PM Ferry and bus to Oia and Fira (book/Pay locally at appx EUR30 - this was last year's rate so maybe slightly higher this year)
Rhodes - Greece 10:00 AM To 7:00 PM Explore the Old Town of Rhodes, including the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes and the Street of the Knights, and finish by relaxing with a dessert/ice cream at one of the Mandraki Harbour cafes. Appx 15-20min walk from Mandraki harbour to the cruise port Mykonos - Greece 8:00 AM To 7:00 PM The cruise port is about a 30-minute walk but there is no real sidewalk or you can take the Sea Bus EUR2pp each way from the cruise port to Mykonos Town (Old Port)
Athens (Piraeus) - Greece Arrive 5:00 AM Port to Airport Transfer (Viator)
TOTAL LAND PRICES (Not inclusive of Cruise or airfare) Athens Airport Pick up: Booked at £38.84 per couple (£19.42 per person) Athens Hotel: Booked at EUR334 (£283) per couple (£141.5 per person). Athens Acropolis: Booked at £64.50 per couple (£32.25 per person) Athens Hotel to Port Transfer: Booked at £39.64 per couple (£19.82 per person). Istanbul Boat Trip: Approximately £42.47 per person - optional. Kusadasi Ephesus Tour: Booked at £128.20 per couple (£64.10 per person) Santorini Ferry/Bus Oia & Fira: Approximately EUR30 per person - book/pay locally. Grand Total: £277.09 per person excluding the Istanbul & Santorini excursion
Thanks for your video and opinions. We are going on Infinity in Nov. 2025. We've been on Millennium and enjoyed the ship. We've also done Beyond and Apex. Loved them and all the classes have their pros and cons. I like your videos.
Yes, by all means tell Celebrity of outstanding crew. I think the rust on the ship is unacceptable. The Millennium and Solstice cabins and other areas of the ship were modernized. Some things I like, some I don't. So, I'm not sure Celebrity is going to sell off the ship to another line. Millennium is the oldest ship and Solstice is the 3rd of the series, Infinity the 2nd. I like the Solstice ships. Edge class is not for me at all. It's not size more than the public area decor and type. Coming from the Century class, there were fewer lounges on the bigger, newer Millennium and I always found that disappointing about them. Still, they give you the nice promenade deck, Rendezvous lounge and they've retrofitted some areas from the Solstice onto them. Overall it sounds like you enjoyed the Infinity.
Agree with much of what you say. We loved Infinity and also Apex. Both good in their own way but very different (we like smaller ships) but the Infinity is definitely looking old!
Here are the details (if you send me an email to hello@jamesandrob.com) I can send you all the links: Athens - Greece Airport Pick up to Athens Hotel (Viator) 2 nights - Lekka Hotel - Junior Suite with King Size bed and breakfast Late Afternoon/Evening: Take a stroll through the charming Plaka neighbourhood. This area is known for its winding streets, colourful buildings, and charming cafes. Day 2 Morning: Start the day off with a visit to the iconic Acropolis. This ancient citadel is home to the Parthenon, one of the most famous landmarks in Athens. Acropolis skip the lines ticket (Viator) Afternoon: After the Acropolis, head to the Monastiraki Flea Market (open Sundays only). This bustling market is a great place to pick up souvenirs and try some local street food.. Day 3 Private transfer from Central Athens to Piraeus Cruise Port (Viator) Athens (Piraeus) - Greece Depart 5:00 PM
Napflion - Greece 7:00 AM To 7:00 PM Wander the old town built on a hilly peninsula and topped by a castle. Start in Syntagma Square and wander through the cobblestone streets, narrow pathways and pedestrianised areas. There are pretty balconies to ‘oooh’ and ‘ahh’ at, and colourful Bougainvillaea draped across the neo-classical buildings to photograph. Around every corner, there are cafes, tavernas, and high-end shops to beckon you. Architecture-wise, there are two Turkish mosques, as well as other historical buildings and monuments (including one that housed the first Greek parliament). Nafplio’s old town very much has the feel of one of the islands.
Istanbul - Turkey Arrive 7:00 AM Get a T1 tram from Tophane to Sultanahmet (appx 10min walk to tram stop from cruise terminal - costs 15TL (£0.50 each way - takes 15mins each way) Hagia Sophia (active mosque no entry allowed 1hr before and 30 mins after prayer - prepare for long waits though!!!) Or Blue Mosque - free entry (active mosque no entry allowed 1hr before and 30 mins after prayer) Or Grand Bazar Optional - Hammam (oldest Hammam in Turkey 1584) - luxury style hammam 1470TRY (£60pp) Hammam - Sultan Hammam & Massage Package - EUR75 (£65pp) The Hammams are close to Grand Bazaar so all in the same area
Istanbul - Turkey Depart 8:00 PM Morning Bosphorus boat trip (Viator) (optional - appx £42.47pp) Take tram T1 from Tophane (appx 10min walk from the cruise terminal) to Kabatas - takes 15min cost 10TRY (appx 50p each way) or 20-25min walk
Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Turkey 8:00 AM To 6:00 PM Best known for: The ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world. Kusadasi: Ephesus Shore Excursion with Skip-the-Line Entry (Viator) Meet just outside the cruise pier Finishes 4.5-5hrs later - afternoon free to explore Kusadasi or chill on the ship.
Santorini - Greece 8:00 AM To 10:00 PM Ferry and bus to Oia and Fira (book/Pay locally at appx EUR30 - this was last year's rate so maybe slightly higher this year)
Rhodes - Greece 10:00 AM To 7:00 PM Explore the Old Town of Rhodes, including the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes and the Street of the Knights, and finish by relaxing with a dessert/ice cream at one of the Mandraki Harbour cafes. Appx 15-20min walk from Mandraki harbour to the cruise port Mykonos - Greece 8:00 AM To 7:00 PM The cruise port is about a 30-minute walk but there is no real sidewalk or you can take the Sea Bus EUR2pp each way from the cruise port to Mykonos Town (Old Port)
Athens (Piraeus) - Greece Arrive 5:00 AM Port to Airport Transfer (Viator) TOTAL LAND PRICES (Not inclusive of Cruise or airfare) Athens Airport Pick up: Booked at £38.84 per couple (£19.42 per person) Athens Hotel: Booked at EUR334 (£283) per couple (£141.5 per person). Athens Acropolis: Booked at £64.50 per couple (£32.25 per person) Athens Hotel to Port Transfer: Booked at £39.64 per couple (£19.82 per person). Istanbul Boat Trip: Approximately £42.47 per person - optional. Kusadasi Ephesus Tour: Booked at £128.20 per couple (£64.10 per person) Santorini Ferry/Bus Oia & Fira: Approximately EUR30 per person - book/pay locally. Grand Total: £277.09 per person excluding the Istanbul & Santorini excursion
Hi guys found your video really interesting Going on same ship and itinerary in September next year. Been on 3 celebrity edge class and doing another in August was worried about the differing opinions of The Infinity. What excursions can you recommend for the ports? Thanks
Exciting!! Our other vlogs about this cruise show what excursions we went on (including links) . Definitely check out GetYourGuide and Viator for excursions (1/2 the piece of booking via Celebrity). James had all the links to our excursions if you want them.
Thank you, good information and I fully agree with the gin and tonic issue, I the cheap club tonic they use on the classic package is shocking bad, I asked for fevertree and was charged £7 each time. I will not be purchasing classic again. £1200 and can’t get a decent drink
Do you prefer the smaller older ships or the newer ones? Leave a comment, we'd love to hear from you.
Excellent review of 10 best and 10 worse. Going on the Infinity in May similar itinerary. Found this useful. Also been in the sister ship Summit and the rooms were refurbished on that ship, which I loved!!!!!!! So it’s a bit disappointing that they did not refurbish the rooms. I agree with your overall assessment. Love the medium size ship, nothing bigger than 3K passengers.
Thanks guys, enjoyed your series and it will help us on our similar trip in April!
Fantastic. That’s why we do this channel
Enjoy your South Africa trip, We were there in September and did Victoria falls first, We moved on to a Kruger safari, Durban (Umhlanga) and picked up a car in Port Elizabeth to dive the garden route. Addo elephant park which was incredible. Then Knysna, Mossel Bay, Hermanus, Cape Town and finally Johannesburg . We stayed in some gorgeous accommodation with fantastic views. Had truly fabulous holiday. I hope you both have as good a time as we did.
Thank you. It’s our 10th anniversary of our first trip so we are doing the garden route again. And of course, we will be vlogging the whole trip.
Hey guys, thanks for all the good info! I just got back from a week on the celebrity ascent. Of course it was fabulous! I am actually going on the infinity March 28 and would like to know more about the ports and things you did at some of them… I cruise a lot and don’t care too much about doing lots of excursions… Which ports can I just get off the ship and walk around without too much hassle…I’m sure the infinity can’t compare to the edge class ships, but the price was incredible!
Here is the details of the trips we did on the Infinity
Athens - Greece
Airport Pick up to Athens Hotel (Viator)
2 nights - Lekka Hotel - Junior Suite with King Size bed and breakfast
Late Afternoon/Evening: Take a stroll through the charming Plaka neighbourhood. This area is known for its winding streets, colourful buildings, and charming cafes.
Day 2
Morning: Start the day off with a visit to the iconic Acropolis. This ancient citadel is home to the Parthenon, one of the most famous landmarks in Athens.
Acropolis skip the lines ticket (Viator)
Afternoon: After the Acropolis, head to the Monastiraki Flea Market (open Sundays only). This bustling market is a great place to pick up souvenirs and try some local street food..
Day 3
Private transfer from Central Athens to Piraeus Cruise Port (Viator)
Athens (Piraeus) - Greece
Depart 5:00 PM
Napflion - Greece
7:00 AM To 7:00 PM
Wander the old town built on a hilly peninsula and topped by a castle. Start in Syntagma Square and wander through the cobblestone streets, narrow pathways and pedestrianised areas. There are pretty balconies to ‘oooh’ and ‘ahh’ at, and colourful Bougainvillaea draped across the neo-classical buildings to photograph. Around every corner, there are cafes, tavernas, and high-end shops to beckon you. Architecture-wise, there are two Turkish mosques, as well as other historical buildings and monuments (including one that housed the first Greek parliament). Nafplio’s old town very much has the feel of one of the islands.
Istanbul - Turkey
Arrive 7:00 AM
Get a T1 tram from Tophane to Sultanahmet (appx 10min walk to tram stop from cruise terminal - costs 15TL (£0.50 each way - takes 15mins each way)
Hagia Sophia (active mosque no entry allowed 1hr before and 30 mins after prayer - prepare for long waits though!!!)
Or
Blue Mosque - free entry (active mosque no entry allowed 1hr before and 30 mins after prayer)
Or
Grand Bazar
Optional -
Hammam (oldest Hammam in Turkey 1584) - luxury style hammam 1470TRY (£60pp)
Hammam - Sultan Hammam & Massage Package - EUR75 (£65pp)
The Hammams are close to Grand Bazaar so all in the same area
Istanbul - Turkey
Depart 8:00 PM
Morning Bosphorus boat trip (Viator) (optional - appx £42.47pp)
Take tram T1 from Tophane (appx 10min walk from the cruise terminal) to Kabatas - takes 15min cost 10TRY (appx 50p each way) or 20-25min walk
Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Turkey
8:00 AM To 6:00 PM
Best known for: The ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world.
Kusadasi: Ephesus Shore Excursion with Skip-the-Line Entry (Viator)
Meet just outside the cruise pier
Finishes 4.5-5hrs later - afternoon free to explore Kusadasi or chill on the ship.
Santorini - Greece
8:00 AM To 10:00 PM
Ferry and bus to Oia and Fira (book/Pay locally at appx EUR30 - this was last year's rate so maybe slightly higher this year)
Rhodes - Greece
10:00 AM To 7:00 PM
Explore the Old Town of Rhodes, including the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes and the Street of the Knights, and finish by relaxing with a dessert/ice cream at one of the Mandraki Harbour cafes.
Appx 15-20min walk from Mandraki harbour to the cruise port
Mykonos - Greece
8:00 AM To 7:00 PM
The cruise port is about a 30-minute walk but there is no real sidewalk or you can take the Sea Bus EUR2pp each way from the cruise port to Mykonos Town (Old Port)
Athens (Piraeus) - Greece
Arrive 5:00 AM
Port to Airport Transfer (Viator)
TOTAL LAND PRICES (Not inclusive of Cruise or airfare)
Athens Airport Pick up: Booked at £38.84 per couple (£19.42 per person)
Athens Hotel: Booked at EUR334 (£283) per couple (£141.5 per person).
Athens Acropolis: Booked at £64.50 per couple (£32.25 per person)
Athens Hotel to Port Transfer: Booked at £39.64 per couple (£19.82 per person).
Istanbul Boat Trip: Approximately £42.47 per person - optional.
Kusadasi Ephesus Tour: Booked at £128.20 per couple (£64.10 per person)
Santorini Ferry/Bus Oia & Fira: Approximately EUR30 per person - book/pay locally.
Grand Total: £277.09 per person excluding the Istanbul & Santorini excursion
@ thanks sooo much for all these details! Much appreciated!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Thanks for your video and opinions. We are going on Infinity in Nov. 2025. We've been on Millennium and enjoyed the ship. We've also done Beyond and Apex. Loved them and all the classes have their pros and cons. I like your videos.
Thank you. We love Celebrity too!
Yes, by all means tell Celebrity of outstanding crew. I think the rust on the ship is unacceptable. The Millennium and Solstice cabins and other areas of the ship were modernized. Some things I like, some I don't. So, I'm not sure Celebrity is going to sell off the ship to another line. Millennium is the oldest ship and Solstice is the 3rd of the series, Infinity the 2nd.
I like the Solstice ships. Edge class is not for me at all. It's not size more than the public area decor and type. Coming from the Century class, there were fewer lounges on the bigger, newer Millennium and I always found that disappointing about them. Still, they give you the nice promenade deck, Rendezvous lounge and they've retrofitted some areas from the Solstice onto them.
Overall it sounds like you enjoyed the Infinity.
Agree with much of what you say. We loved Infinity and also Apex. Both good in their own way but very different (we like smaller ships) but the Infinity is definitely looking old!
Can you share the private tour company(ies) you used? Taking this cruise 8/2025
Here are the details (if you send me an email to hello@jamesandrob.com) I can send you all the links:
Athens - Greece
Airport Pick up to Athens Hotel (Viator)
2 nights - Lekka Hotel - Junior Suite with King Size bed and breakfast
Late Afternoon/Evening: Take a stroll through the charming Plaka neighbourhood. This area is known for its winding streets, colourful buildings, and charming cafes.
Day 2
Morning: Start the day off with a visit to the iconic Acropolis. This ancient citadel is home to the Parthenon, one of the most famous landmarks in Athens.
Acropolis skip the lines ticket (Viator)
Afternoon: After the Acropolis, head to the Monastiraki Flea Market (open Sundays only). This bustling market is a great place to pick up souvenirs and try some local street food..
Day 3
Private transfer from Central Athens to Piraeus Cruise Port (Viator)
Athens (Piraeus) - Greece
Depart 5:00 PM
Napflion - Greece
7:00 AM To 7:00 PM
Wander the old town built on a hilly peninsula and topped by a castle. Start in Syntagma Square and wander through the cobblestone streets, narrow pathways and pedestrianised areas. There are pretty balconies to ‘oooh’ and ‘ahh’ at, and colourful Bougainvillaea draped across the neo-classical buildings to photograph. Around every corner, there are cafes, tavernas, and high-end shops to beckon you. Architecture-wise, there are two Turkish mosques, as well as other historical buildings and monuments (including one that housed the first Greek parliament). Nafplio’s old town very much has the feel of one of the islands.
Istanbul - Turkey
Arrive 7:00 AM
Get a T1 tram from Tophane to Sultanahmet (appx 10min walk to tram stop from cruise terminal - costs 15TL (£0.50 each way - takes 15mins each way)
Hagia Sophia (active mosque no entry allowed 1hr before and 30 mins after prayer - prepare for long waits though!!!)
Or
Blue Mosque - free entry (active mosque no entry allowed 1hr before and 30 mins after prayer)
Or
Grand Bazar
Optional -
Hammam (oldest Hammam in Turkey 1584) - luxury style hammam 1470TRY (£60pp)
Hammam - Sultan Hammam & Massage Package - EUR75 (£65pp)
The Hammams are close to Grand Bazaar so all in the same area
Istanbul - Turkey
Depart 8:00 PM
Morning Bosphorus boat trip (Viator) (optional - appx £42.47pp)
Take tram T1 from Tophane (appx 10min walk from the cruise terminal) to Kabatas - takes 15min cost 10TRY (appx 50p each way) or 20-25min walk
Ephesus (Kusadasi) - Turkey
8:00 AM To 6:00 PM
Best known for: The ancient city of Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world.
Kusadasi: Ephesus Shore Excursion with Skip-the-Line Entry (Viator)
Meet just outside the cruise pier
Finishes 4.5-5hrs later - afternoon free to explore Kusadasi or chill on the ship.
Santorini - Greece
8:00 AM To 10:00 PM
Ferry and bus to Oia and Fira (book/Pay locally at appx EUR30 - this was last year's rate so maybe slightly higher this year)
Rhodes - Greece
10:00 AM To 7:00 PM
Explore the Old Town of Rhodes, including the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes and the Street of the Knights, and finish by relaxing with a dessert/ice cream at one of the Mandraki Harbour cafes.
Appx 15-20min walk from Mandraki harbour to the cruise port
Mykonos - Greece
8:00 AM To 7:00 PM
The cruise port is about a 30-minute walk but there is no real sidewalk or you can take the Sea Bus EUR2pp each way from the cruise port to Mykonos Town (Old Port)
Athens (Piraeus) - Greece
Arrive 5:00 AM
Port to Airport Transfer (Viator)
TOTAL LAND PRICES (Not inclusive of Cruise or airfare)
Athens Airport Pick up: Booked at £38.84 per couple (£19.42 per person)
Athens Hotel: Booked at EUR334 (£283) per couple (£141.5 per person).
Athens Acropolis: Booked at £64.50 per couple (£32.25 per person)
Athens Hotel to Port Transfer: Booked at £39.64 per couple (£19.82 per person).
Istanbul Boat Trip: Approximately £42.47 per person - optional.
Kusadasi Ephesus Tour: Booked at £128.20 per couple (£64.10 per person)
Santorini Ferry/Bus Oia & Fira: Approximately EUR30 per person - book/pay locally.
Grand Total: £277.09 per person excluding the Istanbul & Santorini excursion
Hi guys found your video really interesting
Going on same ship and itinerary in September next year.
Been on 3 celebrity edge class and doing another in August was worried about the differing opinions of The Infinity.
What excursions can you recommend for the ports?
Thanks
Exciting!! Our other vlogs about this cruise show what excursions we went on (including links) . Definitely check out GetYourGuide and Viator for excursions (1/2 the piece of booking via Celebrity). James had all the links to our excursions if you want them.
Thank you, good information and I fully agree with the gin and tonic issue, I the cheap club tonic they use on the classic package is shocking bad, I asked for fevertree and was charged £7 each time. I will not be purchasing classic again. £1200 and can’t get a decent drink
Wow that’s shocking!
I love the enrichment talks, but totally bad timing and location for sea slugs talk.
It was! I felt bad for the poor person giving the talk... In another place & time it would've been a great talk to go and see..