A new story as Infinity announces cruises from Harwich and beyond

With annual UK passenger numbers nudging the 100,000 mark, Celebrity Cruises have announced that it will have a second ship sailing from Britain next year. The 11-year-old Celebrity Infinity, carrying 2,200 passengers, will be based in Harwich during summer 2013, embarking on voyages to Norway, Iceland, and around the British Isles.
Celebrity president Dan Hanrahan, in London last night to launch the company’s new partnership with wine specialists Vinopolis, announced that the ship would arrive in May 2013 for a season lasting until October. It is expected to include a range of 10, 11, and 12-night voyages to the fjords and south to European wine-growing regions.
“UK holidaymakers are incredibly supportive of Celebrity Cruises and this is demonstrated by Celebrity Eclipse achieving the highest customer satisfaction ratings of all our ships” says Hanrahan. “Our decision to base Celebrity Infinity in Harwich affirms our belief in the strength of the UK business and is in direct response to increased demand for more Celebrity Cruises holiday experiences.”
Bookings will open next month when full details of Celebrity’s 2013 summer deployment are announced.
Built in 2001, Infinity was upgraded in December to incorporate facilities found on newer ships like Eclipse – which has been based in Southampton each summer since 2010. The £90 million enhancements to the Millennium-class fleet included the provision of spa cabins and the introduction of new restaurants and bars.
On October 13 this year, Celebrity Constellation will embark on a wine-themed cruise to France, Spain and Portugal, co-hosted by TV’s Oz Clarke and Vinopolis’s resident expert Tom Forrest. Ports of call during the wine harvest include Le Havre, Le Verdon-sur-Mer, Bilbao and Vigo in Spain, and Porto. Shore excursions include visits to vineyards in the Bordeaux and Rioja regions.
Clarke said: ” I can’t wait to take my passion for wine to the high seas. Not only am I looking forward to learning more about the impressive wine selections, bars and restaurants from Celebrity Cruises, I’m also keen to talk to fine food and wine fans, share my knowledge and bring to life some of the Vinopolis experience whilst having a great time onboard the ship. The chance to sail between some of Europe’s best known wine regions, relaxing with a glass in hand, is just too good to turn down.”
In addition to the Oz Clarke hosted sailing there will be wine-themed cruises departing from Southampton on September 7 and 19, October 1 and 25, and November 6 and 18.