jsmariner

I loved the chilled pea soup - figured there would only be a few little bits of lump crab meat, but there was a lot of lump crab hiding in the bottom of the bowl. Favorite dessert was the white chocolate macadamia.

They've got multiple colors and patterns, but it does take a bit of searching to find the matches sometimes.

Here's the link to the thread with the pictures attached. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2948958-2nd-attempt-trip-review-equinox-june-24-july-2/

I have another thread with the title *2nd Attempt* Trip Review - Equinox (June 24 - July 2). The pictures are all there. We purchased our outfits through Amazon. The matching shirts come in both men's and women's styles if you care to go that route. I just happened to prefer the matching wraparound skirts. I think most people call them a pareo or sarong, but in my mother's culture they are called tapis.

Yes, as Altamar said, it was a shore excursion through the cruise line and I also remember getting around 2 hours at the beach. Because it was a cruise tour, the resort had a section on the beach cordoned off for us with canopies and loungers. I would estimate it was about 70% in the shade.

SHIP NAME Equinox CABIN # 9252 DECK # (3-14) 9 CATEGORY: 7-12, 1A-1C, 2A-2D, A1-A2, C1-C3, CS, FV, PS, RF, RS, S1-S2, SG, SV I1 (Prime Inside) LOCATION ON SHIP: Port (left), Starboard (right), Bow (front), Stern (back) or Inside and Forward, Midship (between the forward and aft elevators), or Aft (For example: Port-Midship, Bow-Forward or Inside-Aft) Inside, Starboard Passageway, Midship BED NEAR (Bath, Balcony, Window, N/A) N/A QUIET? (Yes/No/Usually) Yes BALCONY VIEW (Good, Great, Obstructed?) N/A BALCONY SIZE (Standard, Oversized, Other) N/A WIND A PROBLEM? (Yes/No/Sometimes) N/A SOOT A PROBLEM? (Yes/No/Sometimes) N/A PROBLEMS/COMMENTS (Explain all Noise (including crew door issues), Wind and Soot Problems here, plus all comments and information regarding things like connecting or accessible cabins) This is a very quiet inside cabin near the Card Room. Being located on Deck 9 made it very quick and convenient to get anywhere either above or below. There was ample storage space in the room and bathroom for our needs. There was no sofa, but two upholstered chairs instead. PICTURES (Attach pictures in your review) DATE OF CRUISE AND "REVOLUTION" COMMENTS June 2023 - This cabin had been revolutionized with the new grey and blue color scheme.

We notified guest services via email (special_needs@celebrity.com) prior to the cruise. The extension cord and distilled water were already sitting in the corner of the room when we got there to drop off our carry-ons. Our room steward offered to tape down the extension cord, but we brought along hook magnets and strung it across the ceiling from the vanity to the bedside table. We found that worked out well as it made it easier for our steward to clean and vacuum and none of us had to worry about tripping over it.

Thanks for the compliments on our attire. Part of the fun of pre-cruise preparation is selecting the clothes. I'm lucky that DH's is really laid back and usually happy with anything I set out for him. He chose the navy formal gown I wore on lobster night, though, and said that's the best dress purchase he's ever made.

It is a waterproof phone holder. I was paranoid, too, so I tested it out in the sink at home with some folded-up paper towels inside. They came out dry after a couple of hours and they worked for us at the beach. The plastic is clear on both sides so you're supposed to be able to use your touch screen and take photos in and under water. DH got his to work, but I could not. He's more adept with tech than I am, though. It's nice that it floats even with the weight of the phone. We felt it was a worthwhile purchase. These happen to be the ones we bought on Amazon.

The MDR was very nice for lunch. It's so under-utilized that only a quarter section of the seating was ever in use whenever we were there. Service was quick, so you can be in and out as fast as you please and be on with your day. The main downside would be the hassle of changing in and out of daywear if you love lounging at the pool all day. Neither of us like being in the sun too much so we found other things to do around the ship in the morning. We liked the shaded areas of the Lawn Club and the promenade on deck 5. Then we waited until after lunch to go to the Solarium or pool.

DH read the review and corrected me on one point - the Coast Guard vessels are jet-powered. He chuckled and said, "Honey, rockets are something else entirely. You made me sound like an idiot" Oops!

Disembarkation Day - Sunday, July 2 We were already docked in Port Everglades by the time we awoke in the morning and grabbed a quick breakfast in OVC. Our flight didn't depart from FLL until 5:30 PM, so we decided on an everglades shore excursion for an airboat ride. There was a food truck at the park and we got some gator tail bites for a snack. We'd had alligator once at a restaurant back home, years ago, and it was just as we remembered. All in all, pretty good. Then we were dropped off at the airport. Thankfully, both our flights operated on time and our luggage made it back with us. DH's hot glass fish survived the trip in one piece, too. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary with many memories made. We're hoping it won't be another 25 years before we get the chance to cruise again.

Fourth Sea Day - Saturday, July 1 Then it was time to get ready for dinner for the last time this cruise. Our final dinner menu: DH got his new favorite - escargot - one last time. I tried the Caesar salad and got the French onion soup one last time (and it did have plenty of onions). DH wasn't inspired by anything on the menu, yet again, but was thinking about the butternut farrotto based on the description. I urged him to go for it and if it wasn't to his liking, we could go up to Oceanview Cafe afterward for something else. He actually liked it quite a lot. I tried a bite and it was great. The duck prosciutto was so good. It was my turn for the sirloin steak. I ordered it medium and thought that it was quite good. We got the sauteed tilapia to share and I know it gets a bad rap, but I'm one-half Asian so I regularly prepare it for our family at home. I never would have thought to pair it with a tomato-based sauce and it was very good. Our final dessert menu: DH got creme brulee again with strawberry ice cream. I chose the sacher torte which was very good. The cannoli I shared with DH, however, was disappointing as I expected a nice lemon flavor in the ricotta but couldn't taste it at all. It was time to bid farewell to our waiter, Walter from the Philippines, and his assistant, Tarsis from Brazil. They took such good care of us and always provided timely service. When they figured out DH was an iced tea drinker, they had it ready for him every night. Dinner was a pleasant affair every evening. We'd set our checked bag outside the cabin door prior to dinner and it had been whisked away. Our carry-on bags were packed for the morning except for a few essentials. There was nothing else to do and it was too early to turn in. We took the bottle of brut from our room attendant, Len, out onto the aft and enjoyed the ship's wake for the last time.

Fourth Sea Day - Saturday, July 1 DH decided he would join me for a morning walk on our final day. I wasn't sure he'd actually get up when it came down to it, but he did and we were on the track by 5:30 AM. Got to see one last pretty sunrise at sea and another cruise ship on the horizon. Opted for the Oceanview Cafe for breakfast over Silhouette. I got a made-to-order poached egg over smoked salmon, some corned beef hash, and a Belgian waffle with orange marmalade and whipped cream. Got a pic of the various types of tea available, as well. The pool was packed to the gills and fully exposed to the sun, so we took the opportunity to begin packing our bags. We stopped briefly to attend the Exclusive Handcrafted Clock Auction in the Grand Foyer at 10:30 AM. The ship's engineers had worked with clock makers to make a couple of designs from pieces of the engine that had been swapped out. Apparently, this was the very first time they were doing this auction and the proceeds were going to the crew welfare fund. DH wouldn't bid, but he wanted a chance to admire the clocks and see how much they'd go for. The first clock was made from a bearing and sold for $900. The second clock was made from a gear and sold for $1300. Following the auction, we participated in the final ballroom dance class offered in the Grand Foyer - merengue with the members of the production cast. I'd danced some merengue at Silent Disco the night before and it was fun to get to do it one more time. Afterward, we swung by Cafe al Bacio for a couple of IGLU frappes and DH got a slice of orange cake. Then it was back to the room to finish packing. DH wanted to go to OVC one last time so I indulged him and skipped the last lunch offered in Silhouette. I went a little more carb-heavy than I probably should have and got three garlic knots, a slice of Thai chicken pizza, and a grilled chicken salad panini. I think the whipped mousse was passion fruit (it wasn't labeled). Then there was a Nanaimo bar cake in honor of Canada Day, a pistachio cake, and a gluten-free strawberry cake. I only nibbled at them and didn't finish any. We went out to the Mast Grill for one final plate of fries. I like to dip mine in malt vinegar. After that, we peeked at the pool and it was nearly a ghost town. I suppose everyone was getting in one last pool day while we packed, so we could enjoy the pool in relative quiet while they packed. It was now late afternoon, as well, so the pool wasn't in the direct sun anymore. DH got in and was pleased that it was nice and deep, while I enjoyed one last French Caribbean from the Pool Bar. Then I got in only to realize the depth was over my head. So I swam for a bit and treaded water alongside DH until I finally tired out. Sitting on the ledge was good enough for me.

Third Sea Day - Friday, June 30 (Evening Chic Night) We dressed to the nines for evening again as that's just our style but weren't bothered by what anyone else chose to wear. Hey, we're all on vacation. You do you! I did see a couple of men sporting tuxedos and one awesome kilt. We finally broke open our anniversary bottle of Fre and drank a few glasses that night while we prepped for dinner. Then we took the last of it with us to Cafe al Bacio for a little pre-dinner treat. DH had an lemon tartlet and an exotic fruit cake. I took a little bite and it tasted like papaya to me. I chose a slice of mango cake and my customary fruit tart. Then it was up on deck to catch a quick glimpse of the sunset before heading down to dinner. It's lobster night, y'all! I ordered another peach sangria in the restaurant but couldn't taste any of the peach. The next night I would order it from the bartenders at Passport who knew how to get it right. DH's starters were the shrimp cocktail and the creamy salmon rillette to share which we both thought was very good. I got the chilled pea soup and I cannot even begin to describe how good it was. That lump crab meat was the best and there was a lot of it! The kale salad was very good, as well. We each got our own lobster tail and then one plate of roasted leg of lamb to share. We had no complaints. It was a delicious meal. Dessert menu: We both got the baked Alaska and reminisced about our honeymoon cruise. There isn't much special about baked Alaska, when you think about it. It was really all about the presentation. Back in the day, all the waiters and assistants paraded through the dining room with flaming baked Alaskas held high while we twirled our napkins in the air to some upbeat music. Then they brought out pre-sliced portions to the table. That being said, it was still a tasty dessert. We also got the citrus roulade to share and DH declared that to be far better than the baked Alaska. Silent Disco was going on in the Sky Lounge. This time it wasn't nearly as crowded and I finally got my chance to dance as much as my heart desired. The green channel was 80's hits, the red channel was Latin beats, and the blue channel was current hits. We switched back and forth through all of the genres and even got to dance one tango together which shocked me as it's not very popular anymore. I was thrilled and it was the most fun evening of the cruise for me, hands down! There was quite the storm that night and, while we were dancing, got to witness some pretty big flashes of lighting through the Sky Lounge windows. When we returned to the cabin for the night, our room steward, Len, had left a couple of gifts.