This month, we’re thrilled to tell you about Captain’s Club member Lauren Baker, and how her first Celebrity experience was back-to-back sailings spanning South America and Europe.

After a successful career in IT, and planning diligently for an early retirement so she could travel the world, Lauren was able to put her plan into action in January 2023. “I now travel full-time with no physical address, and everything I own is in a backpack and carry on suitcase,” she said. She began her new life with a stay in Argentina for a few months. It was there that she saw Celebrity Infinity® was sailing from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro, followed by a transatlantic cruise to Portugal. The dates and itineraries were perfect, so she booked the twin sailings and set out on her 22-night adventure.

This amazing voyage took Lauren from one exotic destination to the next, and with so many new places to explore, Lauren knew the best way to experience it all was to book a Celebrity excursion in each port. “Each location offered excursions that I was interested in, and they were all fantastic,” she said. Highlights included a taste of Punta del Este where she visited a winery, drinking caipirinhas on Gonzaga Beach in Santos, eating African chocolate ice cream at a local store in Salvador, and going to the top of Corcovado Mountain in Rio to see the Christ the Redeemer statue. Yet, one of her favorite excursions happened right on the ship. During the transatlantic crossing, she booked a Behind the Scenes tour of Celebrity Infinity. Lauren was able to explore the inner workings of the ship, from the kitchens to the engine rooms. The onboard excursion ended with a tour of the bridge. “We were able to ask as many questions as we wanted,” she said. “Seriously, even the laundry room was interesting; I highly recommend that everyone take this tour.”

Her vacation was made even better by the warm hospitality she received from the crew. “Celebrity definitely goes above and beyond with their customers’ cruising experience,” she said. “The captain was so much fun. He was very engaging doing presentations in the theater and playing guitar on stage.”

When Lauren wasn’t off the ship, she had a great time going to gym classes, watching movies under the stars, playing trivia, doing archery, and more. She also discovered quickly that the Celebrity app was her best friend. “It was very helpful for planning daily activities,” she shared.
As for the unique experience a transatlantic sailing offers, Lauren gave it a resounding endorsement. “It was so relaxed. I read a couple of books from the onboard library, indulged in spa treatments, was upgraded to a balcony room free of charge, and participated in a crossing the equator ceremony,” she told us. “We did a dance line to kiss a giant fish, then had a synchronized swimming contest with Odysseus and mermaids—it was so much fun.”

“These cruises were how I celebrated and kicked off my new phase of life,” Lauren told us. “Cruising is a fantastic way to see new places and meet new people, and I am very fortunate to be able to see the world, especially at my age.” So, how will Lauren follow-up this amazing adventure? She’s already looking at going on a Mediterranean cruise with us to Israel, Egypt, and Morocco, as well as a voyage to Antarctica and Patagonia. As if that’s not enough, she’s also planning on cruising aboard our ground-breaking Edge® Series ships, “regardless of the itinerary.”

This is the way to do an early retirement, and we couldn’t be happier for Lauren. We’re thrilled to play such a big part in this next phase of her exciting life, and we can’t wait to explore the world together.