Infinity pod problem

Celebrity Cruises announced cancellation of yet another cruise, this one a 10-night Alaska voyage a month from now on the cruise ship ?Infinity?, as a result of a new variant of the pod problems that have plagued its Millennium-class ships.

Celebrity said problems with the electrical system of one of the ship’s two propulsion pods has forced reduction of the ship’s maximum cruising speed from 22 to 19 knots.

The pod problem hasn’t had much of an impact on Infinity’s current Alaskan itineraries, but the reduction in cruising speed would become an issue this winter when the ship is scheduled to be in Latin America.

Thus, Celebrity announced that when Infinity concludes its 10-night West Coast / Alaska cruise on September 13th, it will go into dry dock in Victoria, British Columbia, for replacement of the pod.

The electrical problem presents a new twist since the pod problems that have bedevilled Celebrity’s four Millennium-class ships, forcing repeated visits to dry-docks, have largely been associated with bearing wear. Celebrity expects ?Infinity? to return to service on 24 September when it will sail on a repositioning cruise from San Francisco through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale.