At 90,090 tons, The Infinity, a Celebrity Cruise Ship, is one of the largest ships
sailing to Alaska--but she carries only 1,950 passengers, making for a
spacious home away from away. Powered by an environmentally-friendly gas
turbine system and azipod propulsion, Infinity glides in and out of port
smoothly. The only vibration to be felt was in the aft section, when the
azipods were altering course.
Hubbard Glacier Click for pic.
Infinity is a good choice for Alaska: Because it's a very "open" ship with
lots of glass, passengers never feel closed-in, and are never far from a view
of the passing scenery outside. A bank of panoramic elevators offers
exceptional views as you move from deck to deck. You won't miss a thing while
you dine, since the Trellis Dining Room has excellent views of the outside,
and the Oceanview Cafe is glassed in on both sides. (Don't miss the windows
in the floor, which give you a view down 10 decks to the sea.) The
Constellation Lounge, high up on Sunrise Deck 11, is the official observation
lounge. It offers spectacular views from walls of windows surrounding it on
three sides. Acres of deck space provide plenty of outdoor viewing areas as
well, especially appreciated by passengers during their day at Hubbard
Glacier. Another plus for Alaska cruising is the indoor pool at the ship's
AquaSpa, where you can enjoy a swim even in inclement weather.
When whales, dolphins or bears are sighted, the on-board naturalist makes an
announcement so passengers can make their way to the proper side of the ship
to see them. The naturalist also gives lectures during the cruise and
describes scenic areas as the ship sails through them. An informative
description and history of Hubbard Glacier and the Grenville Channel were
most appreciated by passengers.
Juneau from Mt. Roberts Click for pic.
The Inside Passage is a series of deep channels, bays and fjords lying inside
a chain of coastal islands off British Columbia and Alaska. The passage is
protected from the rough seas of the North Pacific. Infinity, like many of
today's huge cruise ships, sails "outside" part of the way, then enters the
Inside Passage and sails along one of its most impressive parts: the
Grenville Channel, which lies between Pitt Island and the British Columbia
mainland and is only a fifth of a mile wide at its narrowest point. The area
is characterized by dramatic scenery along the entire route with thick
forests, cascading waterfalls and granite cliffs that soar hundreds of feet
above the sea. Fishing boats, sea birds, seals, migrating whales, eagles and
bears can be seen along the way.
Skagway viewed from Infinity Click for pic.
The week's highlight, however, is the morning spent at Hubbard Glacier. As
the ship approaches slowly through Yukatat Bay to Disenchantment Bay,
passengers prepare for the upcoming view of the longest tidewater glacier in
North America. The area is so vast, with mountains towering behind, it's hard
to grasp that this wall of ice is actually six miles wide and stretches for
76 miles to its source on the slopes of Mount Logan in the Yukon. Infinity
sails up to Hubbard, then turns and makes her way alongside the wall of ice.
Turning again, she sails back along the glacier before heading out of the
bay. Most passengers are out on deck for this experience, and Infinity offers
a variety of heights and angles to view Hubbard. The naturalist alerts
passengers to areas about to break off the glacier's wall. The creaking and
loud roar as a huge chunk of ice "calves" into the bay is as unforgettable as
the visual scene.
Ports in Alaska for Infinity are the capital city of Juneau; the historic
gold rush town of Skagway; and Ketchikan, home of the largest fishing fleet
in Alaska. There are plenty of shore excursion options, ranging from dog
sledding to flying over a glacier, hiking and cycling, gold panning or taking
the scenic White Pass train trip to the Yukon border. Of course, you are also
free to head off on your own to explore these Alaskan settlements.
Infinity Click for pic.
Infinity is a state-of the-art vessel that combines modern elegance with
high-tech features and a warm ambience. The ship is decorated throughout with
the floral artistry of Emilio Robba of Paris, adding color and flair to
public areas. The back-lit onyx staircase in the Grand Foyer is stunning. A
music library, full service florist and floral conservatory are other unusual
features on this vessel, which entered service for Celebrity Cruises in March
of 2001.
The Inside Passage on Infinity is a rejuvenating cruise experience, a chance
to get away from it all in pristine wilderness enhanced by an exquisite ship,
fine dining and attentive service.
