39august

I just read on google that Carnival now only requires covid tests for cruises over 16 nights, but this also requires boosters. Is this correct?

Our favorite FLL hotel is not available Jan. 1 so looking for a place not TOO expensive with food nearby as we will have no car.

Celebrity does NOT require both in the same cabin to buy the same, or any, drink package.

Are you sailing from terminal 25 at Port Everglades? If so, you can handle it with the personnel in the Retreat lounge at the pier if you arrive before say 11ish. That is where Retreat guests wait to board. Otherwise, I'm sure such a small amount can be handled when you are on board.

Stay away from the more forward cabins on the starboard side of deck 11 as they will be under the treadmills in the gym. Noisy.

Jazzbo, Are there eating places within walking distance of Tru in Dania Beach? I have considered booking it, but will not have a car.

No set time for second sailing. YOu will get information on going ashore during your meeting before the last day of the first cruise.

We found the woman lead singer to be too shrill. The music selections were older pop and rock, so fine with me. I think there was a little country thrown in as well. Not something I couldn't stand, but I've heard bands on X that I much preferred over this one.

As of now, and I think Sept. 25, no test required for vaxed pax if cruise is 9 days or less from any US or Europe port. Even if required, it is unmonitored self test.

In Luminae this is also true, again, within reason. We regularly get wines with dinner that are over that price point, but not sky's the limit.

It is so easy to take a taxi to any of the beach clubs south of the pier. I would never pay for a ship beach excursion there.

I saw this a while ago when looking to book Sky suites. Now all the most forward each side on deck 12, which are the quietest, are Aqua Sky Suites and cost more than the more aftward on each side which tend to have more noise. I expect no change in decor in any category as Equinox was partially "revolutionized" just before the covid shut down.

If you have refundable OBC from your TA, you can either let it go back to your card, or get the cash from guest services on the final day of any cruise.

No.

Also the Aqua Spa Cafe is available to all pax, not just Aqua class. It is open for breakfast and lunch with lighter, healthier foods. I love the various salads at lunch; grains,, spinach, udon noodle, salmon, etc. It isl on deck 12 near the spa inside the solarium.

Can you please find out how long Eddie will be on Equinox? I enjoyed Pete's Windsor presentation and appreciated that he was at the debarkation and saying goodbye to guests. But I really enjoy Eddie's presentations.

Our butlers have been able to give us one or two bottles of Decoy Cab. or other such higher end wines at no charge. Just let them know what you would like to receive and that you know there is no guarantee. I ask for either a shrimp cocktail or fruit and cheese plate very evening for late night snack.

Don't remember captain's name.

See Ferry Watcher's answer above. That covers it for our recent Equinox cruise. And there is notation on the booster question that the booster is not required.

We were not tested for our Sept 26 and Oct. 6 b2b on Equinox. But, at this time, some ships are doing the testing if a certain "threshold" of cases on board is met, or as others have said, if the destination requires. I certainly hope that RCI group follows the other lines and drops all testing unless required by the destination country. Our next b2b is in January from FLL to the Caribbean. I am hopeful that there will be no testing required.

Jelayne, to answer your question about my Equinox recent cruise, the ship was near capacity at around 2650 passengers.

Arizona, I generally agree with your posts. However, I have to point out that the staffing shortages do not appear to be on all ships. I have read several live reviews that have said service was great. Our very recent Equinox cruise could not have had better service any where we were on the ship. We do not go to the Martini bar, so I can't vouch for that area. Sometimes I had to wait a few minutes to order at the WCB, but with the fine interaction with the bartenders there, it was certainly worth the short wait. So this must be a Beyond specific problem.

Don't let the above comment about "real balconies" turn you off of Celebrity. All the S and M class ships have real balconies. It is only the new Edge class ships that do not have real balconies. We are Pinnacle on RCI. After one cruise on Celebrity we will never go back. But, we are older, with no children with whom to cruise. Celebrity service, food and ambiance are way above RCI for us.

We were on this and the following cruise and noted that there were no closed off areas on deck 3 or 6. I checked that out early the first cruise. Glad to see you were allowed to stay in your cabin. I was so glad there was no testing for b2bs and even happier that crew were allowed to get rid of masks for the Oct. 6 cruise. Nearly every cruise I have taken in the past 15 years, I or my husband, or both of us, have experienced some sort of cold or bronchial symptoms after debarking the cruise. Germs are everywhere and we need to get on with life and cruising.

Yes, Vinod was still in Luminae. We found that he will be on board when we return in January. Several of the servers there will be back at that time. Then, alas, some of the other great guys will be gone. When are you sailing in Jan? We board Jan. 2 for another 10-9 night back to back.