Jump to content

Back from Equinox July 30 cruise - Western - first time Celebrity


TACMS
 Share

Recommended Posts

Little late for posting. Have never done a review before, but since I have been a loyal/frequent cruiser of RCCL and this was my first on Celebrity, I thought it may be welcomed. Our cruise on the Equinox sailed from Miami. We went to Key West, sea day, Costa Maya, Cozemel, Grand Caymen, Sea day, back home

 

Background..... I am a diamond on RCCL, so status of Elite carried over (which was nice). Have also sailed on Carnival 3x, Princess 1x and Holland 1x (many years ago). I'm sailed with my mom (mobility issues - and over 100 cruises - diamond plus) and family members who are diamond plus RCCL. We decided on Celebrity because...1) I have never been on; 2) mom has mobility issues and 3) price/perks.

 

We have sailed many times on RCCL - Freedom of the Seas, so in my mind, I am comparing to that type/size of ship...

 

The ship/room (Equinox) was fantastic! Layout and getting around great, even with a walker for mom. Love the size of the ship! We had a wheelchair Concierge room (1026). Room was great. Mom uses a walker and can't stand for long. So room had enough space for her walker. Bathroom was good/with chair in shower. I had no real problem in room as a non-handicapped person. Only mention would be shower and curtain flooding floor of bathroom. You just need to put extra towels down to stop. No big thing....

.."

I'll try to touch areas where we went...

 

Solarium Pool - found this beautiful. Never 'over crowded'. Only mention would be.... With it being enclosed, you will not get sun/suntan. Was air conditioned, which I thought would bother me when getting out of pool - it didn't. Pool water was refreshing, and I was NOT cold getting out once I toweled off.

 

Aqua Cafe - food was good, but limited. They did have nice choices (limited) for breakfast and lunch each day, but it was the same each day also. So could get old if you were to do every day. Chicken salad was the best, as were the bread sticks. Actually most things were great, just same each day.....

 

DO NOT MISS/PASS - the SUNSET BAR - this place is great! At the aft of the ship....one deck above the ocean view cafe. At the very back of ship. Great location. One side smoking, one not. Bathrooms right there. Bar within feet (and bartenders great and entertaining!). Tables and chairs to bring food and/or to play cards/games.... Was very good with my mom in walker. Brings me to.....

 

 

Public areas around ship..... They are great. But have to mention..my only concern/criticism.... There are not enough chairs/tables for those people that cannot lay out or sit in very low chairs/lounge chairs. All pools have many lounge chairs - but no where to SIT in a chair. Lounges/Sky Lounge have many LOW chairs. And I mean low! It is hard for someone that CANNOT sit low down in a low chair in a public area. I am saying this from a frequent RCCL cruser, where along ALL pool areas there are tables and chairs. Just a concern/observation.....and something that I feel matters.

 

 

SHOWS- those that I saw were fantastic! Whether it was a guest (comedian) or house band. My only thought /concern was there was NOT enough choice to do do at night. I guess coming from RCCCL there are choices (Schooner bar/other venues) all at the same time. On the Equinox it was what was showing as far as entertainment, and then the show.....just not a choice. Don't get me wrong....entertainment was great....but not a choice of it.

 

 

Dining.- we had main dining - early seating. The staff we had was fantastic. Loved the fact they had a wine steward and bar attended (which we don't get on RCCL any more). Food was for the most great! Had a dish or two we (four of us) didn't care for. But they were so accommodating - they brought is something else.

 

 

PORTS - have been to all of them except Costa Maya...got off there. It was nice...built for the cruise ships. But it was so hot. Didn't spend much time... But would definitely get off again.

 

 

Food/specialty....loved the Cafe Bacco - Also the Elite breakfast at the Tuscan grill for the views, the MAST GRILL was a nice e place to have a burger/frankfurer and fries/etc with NO CHARGE

 

KEY WEST - have been there many times....this time we had an unplanned overnight because of weather.... Didn't bother us...but many on the ship were upset because the casino was not opened. Had to spend the night in port, but no one could get off. No big deal for us.

 

Lastly, we enjoyed many bars including the martini bar and the atrium music,

 

Can't think of much more... Just ask and I will answer any questions. But basicaly it was a great cruise.. Would I do it again? Yes knowing it was more of a laid back cruise. We wanted a change from the 'bigger'ships' where you have to plan it all in advance.....this was it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We will be experiencing Celebrity for the first time on this same ship and itinerary. Your insights will be helpful. Thanks for taking the time to write this. It makes me want to go now. (unfortunately, we have a 10 month wait still :eek:)

 

~Brian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for your review. We are getting ready to sail on the Equinox for the second time later this month!

 

I have a question and I think you would probably be able to give me a good answer. I found a cruise on RCCL that has the ABC islands at a time of year both hubby and I are able to take vacation. However we have never cruised RCCL, this is the Enchantment of the Seas ship. DH loves to spend a lot of time in the cabin and on the balcony. I love how Celebrity ships rarely feel crowded and participating in activities.

 

I know this is totally subjective but in your opinion do you think we should go for it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for your review. We are getting ready to sail on the Equinox for the second time later this month!

 

I have a question and I think you would probably be able to give me a good answer. I found a cruise on RCCL that has the ABC islands at a time of year both hubby and I are able to take vacation. However we have never cruised RCCL, this is the Enchantment of the Seas ship. DH loves to spend a lot of time in the cabin and on the balcony. I love how Celebrity ships rarely feel crowded and participating in activities.

 

I know this is totally subjective but in your opinion do you think we should go for it?

 

I have been on the Enchantment when it first came out AND after they stretched it. It is a beautiful ship. Love their solarium. And pool deck/bars. Lots of. Nice features on it. It is older in comparison to Equinox. Size? I guess Enchantment is a bit smaller... I personally WOULD go on it if you want a smaller ship. When is the Enchantment sailing to the ABC islands? I can't find it on RCL website. I see the Freedom and Adventure....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been on the Enchantment when it first came out AND after they stretched it. It is a beautiful ship. Love their solarium. And pool deck/bars. Lots of. Nice features on it. It is older in comparison to Equinox. Size? I guess Enchantment is a bit smaller... I personally WOULD go on it if you want a smaller ship. When is the Enchantment sailing to the ABC islands? I can't find it on RCL website. I see the Freedom and Adventure....

 

:o:confused: It's not it is the Navigator of the Seas....I was having a moment...........so if you all could reflect on your responses keeping in mind...I really, really need a vacation...2 weeks from today cannot come soon enough.

 

I am sorry about the misinformation.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:o:confused: It's not it is the Navigator of the Seas....I was having a moment...........so if you all could reflect on your responses keeping in mind...I really, really need a vacation...2 weeks from today cannot come soon enough.

 

I am sorry about the misinformation.

 

Lol...I haven't been on the Navigator, but have been on the sister ship, the Mariner. Great ship! Loved it and lots to do....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

We are sailing on Equinox in December and we are also Diamond on RCCL (Elite on X). Can you tell me more about the Elite breakfast in Tuscan Grille? Thanks for the review. We are getting excited, we're almost under 100 days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Little late for posting. Have never done a review before, but since I have been a loyal/frequent cruiser of RCCL and this was my first on Celebrity, I thought it may be welcomed. Our cruise on the Equinox sailed from Miami. We went to Key West, sea day, Costa Maya, Cozemel, Grand Caymen, Sea day, back home

 

Background..... I am a diamond on RCCL, so status of Elite carried over (which was nice). Have also sailed on Carnival 3x, Princess 1x and Holland 1x (many years ago). I'm sailed with my mom (mobility issues - and over 100 cruises - diamond plus) and family members who are diamond plus RCCL. We decided on Celebrity because...1) I have never been on; 2) mom has mobility issues and 3) price/perks.

 

We have sailed many times on RCCL - Freedom of the Seas, so in my mind, I am comparing to that type/size of ship...

 

The ship/room (Equinox) was fantastic! Layout and getting around great, even with a walker for mom. Love the size of the ship! We had a wheelchair Concierge room (1026). Room was great. Mom uses a walker and can't stand for long. So room had enough space for her walker. Bathroom was good/with chair in shower. I had no real problem in room as a non-handicapped person. Only mention would be shower and curtain flooding floor of bathroom. You just need to put extra towels down to stop. No big thing....

.."

I'll try to touch areas where we went...

 

Solarium Pool - found this beautiful. Never 'over crowded'. Only mention would be.... With it being enclosed, you will not get sun/suntan. Was air conditioned, which I thought would bother me when getting out of pool - it didn't. Pool water was refreshing, and I was NOT cold getting out once I toweled off.

 

Aqua Cafe - food was good, but limited. They did have nice choices (limited) for breakfast and lunch each day, but it was the same each day also. So could get old if you were to do every day. Chicken salad was the best, as were the bread sticks. Actually most things were great, just same each day.....

 

DO NOT MISS/PASS - the SUNSET BAR - this place is great! At the aft of the ship....one deck above the ocean view cafe. At the very back of ship. Great location. One side smoking, one not. Bathrooms right there. Bar within feet (and bartenders great and entertaining!). Tables and chairs to bring food and/or to play cards/games.... Was very good with my mom in walker. Brings me to.....

 

 

Public areas around ship..... They are great. But have to mention..my only concern/criticism.... There are not enough chairs/tables for those people that cannot lay out or sit in very low chairs/lounge chairs. All pools have many lounge chairs - but no where to SIT in a chair. Lounges/Sky Lounge have many LOW chairs. And I mean low! It is hard for someone that CANNOT sit low down in a low chair in a public area. I am saying this from a frequent RCCL cruser, where along ALL pool areas there are tables and chairs. Just a concern/observation.....and something that I feel matters.

 

 

SHOWS- those that I saw were fantastic! Whether it was a guest (comedian) or house band. My only thought /concern was there was NOT enough choice to do do at night. I guess coming from RCCCL there are choices (Schooner bar/other venues) all at the same time. On the Equinox it was what was showing as far as entertainment, and then the show.....just not a choice. Don't get me wrong....entertainment was great....but not a choice of it.

 

 

Dining.- we had main dining - early seating. The staff we had was fantastic. Loved the fact they had a wine steward and bar attended (which we don't get on RCCL any more). Food was for the most great! Had a dish or two we (four of us) didn't care for. But they were so accommodating - they brought is something else.

 

 

PORTS - have been to all of them except Costa Maya...got off there. It was nice...built for the cruise ships. But it was so hot. Didn't spend much time... But would definitely get off again.

 

 

Food/specialty....loved the Cafe Bacco - Also the Elite breakfast at the Tuscan grill for the views, the MAST GRILL was a nice e place to have a burger/frankfurer and fries/etc with NO CHARGE

 

KEY WEST - have been there many times....this time we had an unplanned overnight because of weather.... Didn't bother us...but many on the ship were upset because the casino was not opened. Had to spend the night in port, but no one could get off. No big deal for us.

 

Lastly, we enjoyed many bars including the martini bar and the atrium music,

 

Can't think of much more... Just ask and I will answer any questions. But basicaly it was a great cruise.. Would I do it again? Yes knowing it was more of a laid back cruise. We wanted a change from the 'bigger'ships' where you have to plan it all in advance.....this was it.

 

Nice rundown. I was on the very same cruise, and it was fantastic. And while lamenting about the decline in Celebrity is a common meme around here, every time I mentioned that this was our very first cruise, the universal reaction from experienced cruisers was that we had set the bar very high by starting with Celebrity.

 

As new cruisers we are trying out different lines. We have a Christmas market river cruise booked with Viking, and an MSC Med cruise booked a year from now. But Celebrity will be a hard act to top, and I have a feeling that now that we are hooked on cruising, a return to Celebrity will be in our not too distant future.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking back on my review, I realized I did leave out a lot of stuff...but touched on some of the important things.

 

Would like to add to it....

 

When we booked, they were running a special at the time of booking. Two out of four perks (classic drink package/$150 PER PERSON credit/internet time/gratuities included). We chose the drink pkg and $150 room credit. ($150 covered gratuities and money left over for spending).

 

The classic package was fine for us. I paid $1.18 extra for a Blue Moon one time, and extra for a $3(?) for a chocolate martini. Both were on the premium package - paid difference plus 18%. No bid deal for us.

 

I had a massage on a port day. I have had only one other massage on a ship (RCCL) and BOTH were fantastic. (I have had many on land). The massage was a 50 minute regular/basic one. Was very relaxing. No pressure to buy products, she just showed me and I said I would think about it. No big thing.

 

We did have breakfast in the Tuscan Grill (offered for Elite). It was a beautiful view. Breakfast was served, not buffet. To me, there wasn't a great choice of offerings. Bagel and fruit was the norm, since I don't care lox, etc. No cereal or eggs on the menu or meats. But fun going for the aft view.

 

Did use the free internet time offered for Elite since I had to get in touch with family (mom re injured her arm). Internet was fast, no problem signing in etc.

 

My brother-in-law used part of his room credit towards the Persian Garden weekly pass. ($99 plus 18%). WELL WORTH IT. He loved the sauna and steam and showers. Gym time in included for everybody (no need to pay extra if that is all you want). He liked the fact on Freedom Class, it was included. But he enjoyed this more.

 

We were in the Conceirge Class. Reason was all the handicapped balcony veranda rooms were booked. Only difference in a Veranda and Conceirge class room are the perks. Honestly, I don't think I would pay extra for this. Yes we had a bottle of sparkling wine (never opened it), fruit/canapés each nights. Some were ok, others, not ok. Nothing great. Yes we had the heavy robes, but honestly I like the waffle ones better (especially in the hot weather). We did get an 'upgraded' tote bag, nice, but worth the money? And also the lunch on day one (boarding), but we didn't use, since we were with others in a regular cabin AND only three items on menu.

 

We drove from Melbourne to Miami on Sunday am . Checked in at 10:30 and were on board by 11:00. Buffet was not crowed at all. Actually ship didn't feel crowed either.

 

One item to add..... Celebrity has seminars throughout the week for Apple/Mac users. I attend one for the iPhone/iPad and did get some good tips. Even learned and relearned things. Only ran about an hour, worth going...

 

Hope I covered more things that you may be interested in. Feel guilty with all RCCL cruises I never did a review. But thought this was one to do, as a first time Celebrity, coming from RCCL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks TACMS, loved your review. You had mentioned that when you booked, you received two out of the four perks. Do you remember what month of the year you booked? We're about to book Equinox and might wait a month or two if they might offer two perks. I think Celebrity offers that around the same time of the year each year, but for the life of me can't remember when that is. Of course they may raise the price in order for us to get that extra "free perk", but we may give it a try. Or just book and then cancel and rebook if the two perk offer is better down the road.

 

Our last Royal cruise was on Enchantment right after it was stretched (wow, about 10 years ago?), and enjoyed it. We're trying a Freedom class this year since it's a driveable port (Liberty out of Galveston), but can't see it topping the Celebrity Solstice class ships (I hate the announcements all day long on the other lines). I wish Celebrity would try Galveston or New Orleans as a home port, at least for a few months of the year.

 

Thx!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks TACMS, loved your review. You had mentioned that when you booked, you received two out of the four perks. Do you remember what month of the year you booked? We're about to book Equinox and might wait a month or two if they might offer two perks. I think Celebrity offers that around the same time of the year each year, but for the life of me can't remember when that is. Of course they may raise the price in order for us to get that extra "free perk", but we may give it a try. Or just book and then cancel and rebook if the two perk offer is better down the road.

 

Our last Royal cruise was on Enchantment right after it was stretched (wow, about 10 years ago?), and enjoyed it. We're trying a Freedom class this year since it's a driveable port (Liberty out of Galveston), but can't see it topping the Celebrity Solstice class ships (I hate the announcements all day long on the other lines). I wish Celebrity would try Galveston or New Orleans as a home port, at least for a few months of the year.

 

Thx!

 

 

Can't say for sure, but I think we booked around March. I know the special of 'pick two'ran for a while (month or so). Did notice after special was over, the price did drop a bit, but perks weren't offered. The free beverage package was a very good deal (over $400 giveaway). Even with small decrease in price, if you bought the package, price would have been higher than what we paid.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the update. I will have to look for those classes. I do not have an ipad but my sister does and has no idea how to use it and I am not much help. Are there showers in the gym to use for free?

 

My brother in law believes there were three showers in the men's locker room (basic shower), not the tropical ones that are in the Persian Garden area.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...