Celebrity Infinity Returns After Nine-Day Drydock in Marseille

Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Infinity has returned to guest operations after completing a scheduled nine-day drydock at the Chantier Naval de Marseille in France.

Marseille drydock focused on maintenance, technical work, and certification

The 2001-built Millennium-class ship underwent routine maintenance and technical upgrades during the shipyard period, along with certification, survey, and other related work. No official statement from Celebrity Cruises was included in available reports.

Celebrity Infinity is also nearing a service milestone, as the ship is set to complete 25 years of operations in 2026.

Return sailing departs Barcelona for the Canary Islands and Morocco

The ship resumed service on January 11 with a 10-night roundtrip cruise from Barcelona to the Canary Islands and Morocco. Reported ports of call on the itinerary include Casablanca, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Cadiz, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, with the sailing scheduled to call at five destinations across Spain, Morocco, and the Canary Islands.

The voyage continues Celebrity Infinity’s Europe-based schedule, which has been year-round since 2023.

February repositioning sets up longer cruises from Piraeus

In early February, Celebrity Infinity is scheduled to reposition to the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean, including an “open-jaw” itinerary that ends in Piraeus. The move positions the vessel for a series of longer cruises homeporting from Greece.

Starting February 16, the 2,170-guest ship is scheduled to sail an 11-night roundtrip itinerary from Piraeus that visits seven destinations. Planned calls include Limassol, Antalya, Nafplion, Heraklion, and Rhodes, as Celebrity Infinity begins a run of 10- and 11-night cruises that also include itineraries to Cyprus and Turkey.

Next Celebrity Cruises shipyard project: Celebrity Solstice modernization

Celebrity Infinity’s shipyard period comes as Celebrity Cruises prepares additional refurbishment work elsewhere in the fleet. Celebrity Solstice, built in 2008, is slated to enter drydock later this month for a larger modernization project tied to a $250 million initiative covering shipyard work across other ships in the Solstice class.

The planned updates include new restaurant venues, redesigned outdoor spaces, and updated entertainment offerings, and the project is expected to add stateroom capacity. Cruise Industry News estimates Celebrity Solstice will return to service in March with 54 additional cabins and suites.

Shipyard activity elsewhere includes inspections, upgrades, and conversions

Celebrity’s work in Marseille is part of a broader stretch of shipyard activity across multiple brands, ranging from mandatory inspections to major conversions.

• Costa Cruises’ Costa Toscana, an LNG-powered vessel, is scheduled for its first mandatory drydock in late January, including class inspections and additional maintenance ahead of continued Western Mediterranean operations.
• Marella Cruises has docked Marella Explorer 2 for work expected to last until early February. The ship was previously built for Celebrity Cruises as the Century and entered service in 1995.
• Margaritaville at Sea Paradise is undergoing enhancements at the Grand Bahama Shipyard, including the addition of a modern buffet area.
• The Ideal, formerly the Costa Magica, is set to emerge from an extensive conversion project to debut for Tianjin Oriental International Cruise Line. The 2,720-passenger ship is scheduled to enter its first revenue service since 2019, with an introduction to the Chinese market planned for mid-February.

With Celebrity Infinity back in service from Barcelona and a longer Eastern Mediterranean schedule beginning in mid-February, Celebrity’s next near-term fleet milestone will be the start of Celebrity Solstice’s modernization drydock later this month and its expected March return to operations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When did Celebrity Infinity return to service after drydock?

Celebrity Infinity resumed guest operations on January 11 after completing its scheduled drydock in Marseille, France.

How long was Celebrity Infinity in drydock and what work was completed?

The ship spent nine days at the Chantier Naval de Marseille for technical work and routine maintenance, along with certification and survey activities.

Where is Celebrity Infinity sailing after returning to service?

After a 10-night roundtrip cruise from Barcelona to the Canary Islands and Morocco, the ship is scheduled to reposition to the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean in early February. Roundtrip sailings from Piraeus are set to begin on February 16 with an 11-night itinerary calling in ports that include Limassol, Antalya, Nafplion, Heraklion, and Rhodes.

What changes can guests expect on Celebrity Solstice after its refurbishment?

Celebrity Solstice is slated to receive a larger modernization that includes new restaurant venues, redesigned outdoor spaces, and updated entertainment offerings. The project is part of a $250 million initiative and is expected to add 54 cabins and suites, with a return to service estimated for March.

Which other vessels are undergoing drydock or major shipyard work?

Other projects mentioned include Costa Toscana’s first mandatory drydock in late January, work on Marella Explorer 2 through early February, enhancements to Margaritaville at Sea Paradise at the Grand Bahama Shipyard, and an extensive conversion of the Ideal ahead of its planned mid-February introduction to the Chinese market.