New to Celebrity - just a few questions for Equinox sailing in January from Miami.

1) Does the buffet have a designated "kids" section for food.

2) I've read they have Free ice cream - Is this in the buffet or by the pool?

3) If we purchase a drink package before we board, do they add Florida Sales tax on top of the price+18%?

4) Are the shampoo/conditioner provided in little bottles like hotels or a bigger container hanging on the wall in the shower? We have an inside cabin on deck 8.

5) Do they make a lot of announcements on port days for excursion meeting locations?

6) What size bottles of water do they provide as people leave the ship for ports? - Classic non alcoholic package supposedly includes water.

7) Do they give Galley tours? If so cost?

8) Is OBC purchased through Celebrity website refundable or use it or lose it?

9) Anything special done for sail away by the pool/top decks?

10) Roughly when do the activities end at night? Been on some ships it's been dead by 11pm, while others have been jumping past 1am.

11) Ship leaves at 3:30. If we are at the check in desk at 1:35 what time might we be on the ship if everything goes smoothly?

1. No

2. Buffet for sure

3. Purchase from home.... no sales tax added

4. Little bottles, if you run out, just ask for more

5. No

6. Varies

7. Yes, no charge

8. Sizes vary

9. Weather depending, yes,

10. Could be 11, could be later if others are enthusiastic

11. You will be among the last to board and should get right in board.

1) Does the buffet have a designated "kids" section for food.

 

 

 

2) I've read they have Free ice cream - Is this in the buffet or by the pool?

 

 

 

3) If we purchase a drink package before we board, do they add Florida Sales tax on top of the price+18%?

 

 

 

4) Are the shampoo/conditioner provided in little bottles like hotels or a bigger container hanging on the wall in the shower? We have an inside cabin on deck 8.

 

 

 

5) Do they make a lot of announcements on port days for excursion meeting locations?

 

 

 

6) What size bottles of water do they provide as people leave the ship for ports? - Classic non alcoholic package supposedly includes water.

 

 

 

7) Do they give Galley tours? If so cost?

 

 

 

8) Is OBC purchased through Celebrity website refundable or use it or lose it?

 

 

 

9) Anything special done for sail away by the pool/top decks?

 

 

 

10) Roughly when do the activities end at night? Been on some ships it's been dead by 11pm, while others have been jumping past 1am.

 

 

 

11) Ship leaves at 3:30. If we are at the check in desk at 1:35 what time might we be on the ship if everything goes smoothly?

On our Equinox cruise last week things were hopping until 2:00

We had a fun party atmosphere all week!

We always make our own sailaway party with CC roll calls, so can't speak to sailaway Deck. We had at least 80-100 at our sailaway at the back of the ship, maybe more.

Regular size bottles leaving port, 16 oz

Individual shampoos, conditioner, body lotion and body gel and soap bars.

5. If you purchase ship excursions the meeting place and time are printed on the tickets. No announcements.

11. By 1:30 the initial crowds are thinning and rooms are opened. So I'd figure you'll be boarding by 2.

1) Does the buffet have a designated "kids" section for food. Not really separate but there are stations in the buffet that will appeal to kids. They have pizza, serviced pasta station, serviced sandwich making area, desert station, serviced ice cream station, fruit, hamburgers, etc.

 

2) I've read they have Free ice cream - Is this in the buffet or by the pool? Free ice cream is in the buffet area. Hours might be limited.

 

3) If we purchase a drink package before we board, do they add Florida Sales tax on top of the price+18%? No sales taxes on the packages but you will be charged if you buy a drink without the package while still in port.

 

4) Are the shampoo/conditioner provided in little bottles like hotels or a bigger container hanging on the wall in the shower? We have an inside cabin on deck 8. I've always had little tubes and bar soap but haven't been in an inside cabin lately so not sure if it is different. I don't think it would be, though.

 

5) Do they make a lot of announcements on port days for excursion meeting locations? No announcements made throughout the ship. If you are tendering, you will probably meet in the theater and go as a group from there. They do make announcements in the theater. Otherwise, you will probably just meet on the pier and there will be a lot of reps there holding signs that indicate the area for your tour to meet. You will be taken to a boat or bus from there as a group.

 

6) What size bottles of water do they provide as people leave the ship for ports? - Classic non alcoholic package supposedly includes water. Small bottles (12-16 oz.) of crystal geyser or similar brand....and yes, they are included in your package.

 

7) Do they give Galley tours? If so cost? Yes they offer these and there is no charge. They usually have 2 or 3 groups tour and from what I've seen, they are all on the same day ... usually a port day in the morning hours.

 

8) Is OBC purchased through Celebrity website refundable or use it or lose it? OBC from Celebrity is usually non-refundable as it is given as a perk or discounted. However, if you've purchased it dollar for dollar, I have read it is refundable. Your folio, which can be obtained at the guest services desk, there will be a code next to your onboard credit (OBR = refundable) (OBN = non-refundable). They will automatically use your non-refundable credit first.

 

9) Anything special done for sail away by the pool/top decks? If not raining, they will usually have a band and engage the passengers in dancing and contests up by the pool for sail away. In cases of the inclement weather, I've seen them move the party to the Grand Foyer in the past.

 

10) Roughly when do the activities end at night? Been on some ships it's been dead by 11pm, while others have been jumping past 1am. They do have some nights where everything seems to wrap up before midnight but they will usually have a band or a soloist in one of the bars / lounges, possibly a dance party up in one of the larger lounges and the casino oftentimes hosts raffles and games after the late show. One of the smaller rooms may even have a comedy show.

 

11) Ship leaves at 3:30. If we are at the check in desk at 1:35 what time might we be on the ship if everything goes smoothly?

On our last cruise, our daughter purchases some OBC for us as a gift and it was refundable. But we used it all anyway!

Sailing in January too, appreciate the questions and answers.

Great ice-cream, they have 8-10 different flavors plus toppings. Your choice of cone or dish.

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there is usually only 1 announcement per day... if it is a port day there will probably be one additional one telling you when the gangplanks are ready for leaving the ship and another one when you are about to get underway.

if you purchase OBC it is fully refundable. Only gift OBC from Celebrity is non-refundable. When you charge something on your seapass the system is programmed to use non-refundable OBC before any refundable OBC...

Steve