Live review with pics, Equinox, Oct 27, TA Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale.

[cl.klink]

The best part of being on this ship is being in A ship. The sight and sound of a massive ocean of water is special. It is a rarity in the Universe, I seem to recall from an astronomy class I took in college. Most known planets have no flowing liquid. We have a ton. Amazing what it does. Anyone who's ever had a basement flooded by rain or a burst water heater can testify to how much havoc even that much water creates. It just blows my mind to think, then, that more than that volume of water is in front of me in just one of these tiny little swells I see this morning as I sit on my deck and watch the sunrise over the Atlantic. If there were a vertical road from here to the ocean floor and I drove my car at 60 mph down it, I'd still need more than 3 minutes to get down there. This mammoth of a ship just glides along at 18 knots slinking over the water like a carelessly thrown silk sweater sliding off a bed. And the water it displaces makes pleasing little waves that look and sound like waves on a beach.

 

 

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[cl.klink]

My wife had to buy 4 things; she got some scarfs and some things for the kids. Did not cost much.

 

 

 

- Joel

 

 

She also won a raffle at the art auction last night and got a serilithograph, "Budding Heart," by Dominic Pangborn.

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Ok, some more review-y stuff.

 

We have had an Aqua balcony stateroom, midship, port side.

 

We are highest deck and not on then "hump" that has rooms more laterally located, meaning that an overhang that holds up the deck above is is the ceiling on our deck and extends out several feet more. Much has been written about this matter on CC. Being under the overhang has not been a big problem, I think. It provides shade which has been nice. Yes, I can hear chairs moving or clickety clack of feet, but only when I'm on the deck, and not often. View is slightly restricted skyward, but tolerate it. Would like better without it for star gazing, I'll admit, though can go up one level to public spaces for that. Deck with two adjustable chairs, plus footstools, and a nice small table.

 

Lots of storage under bed, in large space over-hanging the bed, in drawers of counter / desk, in closets next to bed (and these have an added shelf at top and a folding rack mid level that comes down to hold a suitcase), and in bathroom.

 

Bed has been very comfortable.

 

Love the shower in this room with rainfall type head above and horizontal body jets along the side.

 

We have been brought fruit (apples, oranges, pears, grapes) and flavored iced tea daily, plus two water bottles and an ice bucket daily. Canapés in afternoons have been brought if we are in the room. Fridge is supplied with various types of drinks for purchase. Safe large enough for laptops, jewelry, more.

 

Everything clean and in good working order and has looked nice.

 

That said, a regular balcony room would have been just fine, very similar, I think. Acqua gets you the shower head, fruit, canapés, free 2 bottles of water a day, footrests. For me, I'd have most missed the shower and footstools.

 

Pics to follow.

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Deck and overhang

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Deck and Overhang

 

 

 

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Storage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Bathroom shower

 

 

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Walls actually metallic, hold magnets well.

 

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Nice little night stand with 3 shelves and personal light.

 

 

 

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[silkismom]

I like the idea of curved furniture--I tend to bump into things at night.

[Luckynana]

Plenty of storage, Joel! I think I'll be alright with that! LOL!:D

 

How was your Anniversary dinner?

 

Maryann

[cl.klink]

Plenty of storage, Joel! I think I'll be alright with that! LOL!:D

 

How was your Anniversary dinner?

 

Maryann

 

Thanks, Maryann. Dinner was wonderful. The thing I was strategizing on the most was to have a table by the window, and turned out it was not a problem but also the darker outside than I had planned for so did not matter as much. Wonderful meal. Getting ready to upload my food reviews in a few moments.

 

Thanks for following!

 

- Joel

[cl.klink]

Time to talk about food. I like food. Probably too much. But, there it is. Important to me on a trip. It's one of the things Celebrity is known for, which is why we've only sailed with them so far. Though tastes can differ, folks, really, the food here is still an asset, and I think the CC nay sayers make it sound like its unpleasant to eat here now. It just ain't so. It's easy to nit pick, but I've tried not to do so in this review and while I am looking to enjoy myself and see the positive, I am still trying to be accurate.

 

So, the food has been, overall, excellent on this ship. Particularly for a mass market cruise, really quite impressive to have so many choices of well prepared and interesting food and settings. No major worries here with at most minor issues now and then.

 

Specific places and pics to follow.

 

- Joel

 

 

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[cl.klink]

The Silhouette MDR is bright and large and fills the aft third or so of decks 3 and 4. The specialty restaurants (fee required Silk Harvest, Tuscan Grille, Murano's) and Blu (limited to Aqua and suite guess) are all on deck 5 aft, and to get there you have to walk through the (often too dark) Ensemble lounge, off of which is also the entrance to Michael's Club (Elite lounge). The free buffet is aft to the pool areas, and up a deck (#14). A few small venues are dotted off the main atrium on decks 4 and 5 (Café al Bianco, Gelateria, Bistro on 5, Gastropub). Pool area has a grill (free). Aqua spa cafe for breakfast or lunch (free) is forward, off of the solarium, near Spa, deck 12.

 

 

 

 

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[cl.klink]

We have had two dinners in the fee-required specialty restaurants. Both were excellent. That said, I'm not sure I need to go again. We're really enjoying our "regular" meals in Blu and it has been a cut above the MDR experience.

 

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Murano's we did the first night. They had a 30% off coupon to go to any specialty restaurant for Aqua on 1st night only (not 50% as had often been discussed on CC). French themed, dark woods, beautifully prepared tables, very elegant decor, some table side preparation, extremely attentive service, food was quite good. Lots of nice touches. Bread warm and fresh. Several food items (not on menu) were brought in between the courses that we'd ordered, to cleanse palate, and made us feel very taken care of. I had Dover sole and it was deboned and finished table side. It was not best I've ever had but was very good.

 

Tuscan Grille we did on our anniversary dinner, and it was also excellent. It was an Italian themed steak house. The biggest meal we've had since leaving home. Very warm friendly and attentive service. Food in abundance, which is a stated (and achieved) theme. Less elegant feeling than Murano's but I don't think it was intended to feel genteel like that. More lively and interactive. Caesar salad prepared table side with fresh dressing made at that moment, and a nice little story of how the salad was first invited (I heard more than one of them telling the story!). I had Filet Mignon and it was not best I've ever had but it was very good. We split a pasta course and it was about as good as we've ever had (including in Italy) in terms of quality of pasta. And, we did get a table right at the aft window, which I really had wanted.

 

Both had extensive wine selections. Both were well executed and well conceived dining experiences. Both seemed worth going to, at least once, but could get pricey for a large group. But, too, both seemed a bit like an upscale chain restaurant. I like Chart House as a chain, for example, and would be happy to eat at one while traveling, but would prefer something really good I've never heard of before. In that sense, neither Murano's nor Tuscan Grill are unique to this ship, of course, and the "formula" for each seemed a bit like a put up, Disney-ish show. I don't mean that to be as insulting as it sounds but there's an element of that. The food and experience were very nice and I'd go again on next ship. But for what I'm paying, I'd go just once, if we're eating again in Blu at least.

 

- Joel

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Murano's entrance, from the bar in Ensemble lounge

 

 

 

The Murano's dining room

 

 

Some food

 

 

 

Menu

 

 

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[cocker2]

Thank you for your food reviews Joel and I would agree with you that if you are eating in Blu at least, there is no need to go to a fee paying restaurant.

 

I am interested in the Silk Harvest if you visit there as we are travelling with between 40 and 50 cruise friends next April and because of this we chose the MDR, but Select dining so we could all be together in the evening.

 

Thank you again for this review, very informative and interesting.

[cl.klink]

Tuscan Grill

 

Facing entrance, with Silk Harvest to left, back to Ensemble Lounge. Blu would be ahead on left, round corner.

 

 

Entering restaurant.

 

Caesar salad being made

 

 

View from table

 

Menu

 

 

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[cl.klink]

As for Blu, we've liked it a lot. It is the chief perk of paying to be in Aqua. It feels like a specialty restaurant but more of a place you can come every night, less of an over the top feeling. Sit down breakfast every day with fixed plentiful menu. Best breakfast on board, I think (for some a breakfast favorite is a muesli bar where they prepare live table side for you). Dinner menus change each night. Several good options each night that are inventive, fresh, well prepared. Not just same main ingredient with a new sauce. When I first heard about Blu it was supposed to be Spa like or healthy, and serene. It is hard to pigeon hole it, but I don't think those words are quite right. I think it's just good. It is certainly not Spartan at all. It feels like a special place, with thoughtfully conceived and well prepared food. It is good in the sense that they take the time to think through how to make a nice dish, not just add fat or a sauce or fry it, and in doing so, the result is less calorie laden, I think. Also, portions are just right, appropriate, so always have left satisfied but never felt stuffed (at Tuscan, I felt stuffed). The decor is blue themed and with the large window facing the sea it does feel a bit more serene than MDR. It's open dining so we could show up whenever we liked, and that's been nice to have that flexibility vs set dining times in MDR. I miss getting to know wait staff and tablemates from having a set MDR dining time. But, not that much. At Blu, though we have not always been seated in same section and we have come at different times, the hostess knows us by name (including cabin #) and many wait staff call us by name. They are very attentive. A sommelier opened a bottle just to let me taste something new he liked. When it's just the two of us there has never been no table available, but sometimes there has been a line to greet the hostess and get seated. As a party of 6 we might have to wait a few minutes. The tables for 2 are close together enough to strike up conversations with the couple next to us, but usually (not always) able to feel like it's just the two of you us, if preferred. Often see the same passengers because it's a smaller room and have made a few friends that way.

 

An interesting thought. What if we had booked a balcony room and ate Murano's or Tuscan Grill EVERY night. Cost would be similar, might even be cheaper, to Aqua and Blu every night. My wife and I talked about it today, she would lean against the idea, though I'm not sure. We liked having Blu for breakfast and would lose that. Neither Murano's nor Tuscan Grill feel like every night places, but could rotate. I'd consider it. Have to think about it. All in all, though, I think I'd do Aqua and Blu again.

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Blu photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[cl.klink]

Buffett is free and huge with more options than can be sampled, some quite good, most better than you'd expect in a large buffet. Many choices of many kinds of foods. Meat eaters through pescatorians, vegans, diabetics, and gluten intolerants all have options. At peak times a bit tight to find a place to sit. Bright and well lit, surrounded by windows to the sea on 3 sides.

 

 

Oceanview bar is to the aft of buffet and a nice place to eat. I LOVE it out there. Best view on the whole ship.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest USC Traveler]

joel...once again thank you, thank you and thank you for your fabulous pictures and brilliant commentary. i feel like i'm almost right there with you and your wife. i like the menus from both restaurants. i know i wouldn't have a problem finding more than enough to order.

 

did you ever eat in the main dining room or buffet? which did you prefer? did you ever order room service and does the room service menu offer many selections from snacks to sandwiches to full dinner? is there a grill on the pool deck for hot dogs, hamburgers tacos?

 

i will leaving on a 10 night princess cruise next friday, the 14th from san francisco to mexico. i think princess has fabulous pizza and i always look forward to having that on their ships. i always eat in their specialty restaurants and the food is probably very much like tuscan grill and muranos. they don't have anything like blu, and i'm looking forward to that experience on the equinox. however, on sea days, they offer a tradtional pub lunch service in one of the specialty restaurants: fish and chips, ploughman's lunch or bangers and mash. they're all very good and i like them all very much!

 

continue having a wonderful cruise. it sounds like you are making the most of every day and that's how it should be. i'll look forward to your next post.

[whataboutport]

Wonderful pics! I have been quietly following along. We are on the sailing right after you get back. Thanks for all your work. One question: which camera are you using for the food porn, and are you using flash? I love to take pics of my food but I know the flash bothers some people. I only have a little Lumix point and shoot but it takes ok pics.

[whataboutport]

Sorry, one more question. Can you post a pic of the Aqua spa menu? If possible breakfast and lunch? Thank you! :D