Celebrity Infinity is stuck in Kuşadası, Turkey, after suffering a power outage that left the ship without air conditioning and delayed meals.
The 90,040 gross-ton vessel was scheduled to depart Kuşadası on July 7, continuing on to Mykonos on July 8. However, an alleged electrical fire forced the ship to remain docked overnight while crews assessed the damage and ensured everything was working properly.
"Today, July 8th, while most guests (including myself) were ashore there was [a] small electrical fire onboard Celebrity Cruise’s Infinity while docked in Kusadasi, Turkey," shared one passenger to the r/celebritycruises Reddit thread.
"It was a total blackout for a few hours...No power meant no communications, power to rooms, AC, Delayed Shows, Delayed Meals (kitchens literally went into a near total standstill), and obviously disappointed guests. It was a very hot day in Turkey today as well, so that added to the pressure."
Another post revealed that overnight testing uncovered further issues, bringing the voyage to a standstill for a second day.
"[The Captain] has confirmed we will be in Kusadasi overnight again and that we will also only be able to leave, at the earliest, at 8pm tomorrow (July 9). Apparently overnight testing revealed there are more underlying issues which lead to the sudden power outage, and that means more specialist teams and equipment need to be flown in," jesuiscraycray wrote.
As of July 8 at 5:05pm EST (around midnight local time), CruiseMapper shows Celebrity Infinity docked in Kuşadası, Turkey, whereas Windstar Cruises' Wind Star has departed on schedule.
Celebrity Cruises has not confirmed exactly what is wrong with the engine or what has caused the issue, but a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson did issue a brief statement to Cruise Hive:
"Our team is addressing a technical issue. We have communicated with our guests directly."
Celebrity Infinity itinerary changes
Due to the extended stay in Turkey, Celebrity Infinity will miss its scheduled stop in Kavala, Greece. As such, guests onboard the ship received a letter outlining the compensation details.
"Today, we are welcoming specialists onboard to assess our current systems...As a result, we will remain docked in Kusadasi overnight, and, unfortunately, will no longer be visiting Kavala, Greece. This decision has been made with the utmost consideration for your safety and comfort," the letter reads.
To make up for the missed port, Celebrity Cruises is providing each stateroom with a refundable onboard credit. The amount varies based on the cabin category:
- Inside and Outside: $200 USD
- Balconies: $300 USD
- Concierge and AquaClass: $400 USD
- Deluxe Suites: $600 USD
- 3rd and 4th passengers in each stateroom will receive an extra $50 USD per person
"Our shore excursions team will automatically refund any pre-paid Celebrity Cruises shore excursions booked in Kavala in the form of an Onboard Credit to your SeaPass account," the notice continues. Any unused onboard credits will be automatically reimbursed to the card on file after the voyage.
Supposedly, Celebrity is replacing the last sea day on July 11 with a visit to Mykonos, so guests don't have to miss out on one of the most anticipated ports on the itinerary. However, this is subject to change.
Celebrity Infinity is expected to arrive in Athens (Piraeus), Greece, as scheduled for disembarkation on the 12th.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
