Nov 21 - Equinox 10 day Ultimate Caribbean Cruise Review

[huskerc]

I'm a bit confused... are the Molecular Bar drinks still fully covered by the premium package? This has always been the case on previous cruises. Or now will I have to pay $1 extra every time I get a drink there?

 

Still included at no additional cost.

[cruisehome]

enjoying your review

 

thanks

[Sandy1975]

I'm a bit confused... are the Molecular Bar drinks still fully covered by the premium package? This has always been the case on previous cruises. Or now will I have to pay $1 extra every time I get a drink there?

The limit for premium is $13 so they are included.

[Burkyone]

We were on this ship nov 21, the food in the MDR was in our opinon outstanding. Compared to the sister ships Silhoute and Eclipse. The service was also outstanding. Some people on this post comapre the food to Applepes and TGI Fridays, you have to be kidding me those places serve crap for food. We upgraded to the premium package because we like the the Martini bar, best thing we ever did. This ship in our opinion is best of all the other sister ships in it:s class. You will not be disapointed in sailing on this ship. ENJOY.

[matondo]

We were on this ship nov 21, the food in the MDR was in our opinon outstanding. Compared to the sister ships Silhoute and Eclipse. The service was also outstanding. Some people on this post comapre the food to Applepes and TGI Fridays, you have to be kidding me those places serve crap for food. We upgraded to the premium package because we like the the Martini bar, best thing we ever did. This ship in our opinion is best of all the other sister ships in it:s class. You will not be disapointed in sailing on this ship. ENJOY.

 

All I want to know is where I can find the location of Applebee's and TGI Fridays that serve the food like we ate on the ship. I must eat there.

[ISABELLA]

We did the same cruise, my 3d time on Equinox. We had cabins on the hump with double size balconies. Location was perfect. I had to say that food, and service were outstanding. Entertaining was hit or miss.

CD was very talented, we liked his singing...

Will miss my morning cappuccino, all staff at Al Bacio were wonderful.

We also went to Carambola beach in St. Kitts. Very nice beach and facilities.

Glad to be docked in Havensight in St Thomas and not at Crown Bay.

Overall we had wonderful cruise.

[S&G1968]

Thanks for a great review!

[hurwitz5]

How did the OP get there - taxi, Van, shore excursion?

[Sandy1975]

We were on this ship nov 21, the food in the MDR was in our opinon outstanding. Compared to the sister ships Silhoute and Eclipse. The service was also outstanding. Some people on this post comapre the food to Applepes and TGI Fridays, you have to be kidding me those places serve crap for food. We upgraded to the premium package because we like the the Martini bar, best thing we ever did. This ship in our opinion is best of all the other sister ships in it:s class. You will not be disapointed in sailing on this ship. ENJOY.

 

I agree with you about the food. I mentioned Aplebees or TJI Fridays because in another review the person who was also on this sailing said that only people that like those restaurants would enjoy MDR food.

[Sandy1975]

How did the OP get there - taxi, Van, shore excursion?

 

I just took a taxi. We docked at 7 am I think and got off around 8. We went straight to the beach but it was too early! Next time I would wait until around 930 or so. Cost was $8/person because we didn't want to wait for others to go there. Otherwise I believe the cost goes down to $6/person. The taxi driver gave us information about the island and stopped at an overlook point for us to take pictures. If you go there, take your snorkel equipment as the coral reef were really pretty and close to shore.

[tbmrt]

I just took a taxi. We docked at 7 am I think and got off around 8. We went straight to the beach but it was too early! Next time I would wait until around 930 or so. Cost was $8/person because we didn't want to wait for others to go there. Otherwise I believe the cost goes down to $6/person. The taxi driver gave us information about the island and stopped at an overlook point for us to take pictures. If you go there, take your snorkel equipment as the coral reef were really pretty and close to shore.

 

Thanks for all your information

[ClassicalSax]

We did the same cruise, my 3d time on Equinox. We had cabins on the hump with double size balconies. Location was perfect. I had to say that food, and service were outstanding. Entertaining was hit or miss.

CD was very talented, we liked his singing...

Will miss my morning cappuccino, all staff at Al Bacio were wonderful.

We also went to Carambola beach in St. Kitts. Very nice beach and facilities.

Glad to be docked in Havensight in St Thomas and not at Crown Bay.

Overall we had wonderful cruise.

I was also on same sailing. Great itinerary, excellent MDR service, but I am afraid I have to disagree on the food/menu. It was a step down from my previous experience on Silhouette in March, and Elipse and Solstice several years back. The new menu really shows a new quality cost cutting tendency and was especially lacking in good seafood options. It apeared to cater to a more meat and potatoes focus. The rock lobster in partucular was salty and unimpressive as was the onion soup - salty and brothy. The Top Chef entries were a bit gimmicky. The lamb chops and desserts were an exception -excellent. While definitely not Applebees, the MDR nenu did not reflect either modern or luxury and appears to have lost thd edge it had when compared with RCI or Princess. However, the rest of the cruise experience and staff was spectacular as usual and I will be on her again next year for same itinerary. :)

[Sandy1975]

Thanks for all your information

 

South Friar's bay in St Kitts. The cab driver first dropped us off at Shipwreck, which is on the other end of Carambola. I wanted to go there because I wanted to see black sand but at the time we went there was hardly any beach. We decided to walk to Carambola. It was a nice walk and we passed a couple small restaurants. The sand started to change colors and it was white on the Carambola side. Tge beach is wider there. About prices, 2 chairs and an umbrella was $25 or $30 (cant remember). That day was super windy so we got our money back for the umbrella. Chairs and some shade at Shipwreck is $10 for 2 as is in the restaurant that is between Carambola and Shipwreck.

[Sandy1975]

I was also on same sailing. Great itinerary, excellent MDR service, but I am afraid I have to disagree on the food/menu. It was a step down from my previous experience on Silhouette in March, and Elipse and Solstice several years back. The new menu really shows a new quality cost cutting tendency and was especially lacking in good seafood options. It apeared to cater to a more meat and potatoes focus. The rock lobster in partucular was salty and unimpressive as was the onion soup - salty and brothy. The Top Chef entries were a bit gimmicky. The lamb chops and desserts were an exception -excellent. While definitely not Applebees, the MDR nenu did not reflect either modern or luxury and appears to have lost thd edge it had when compared with RCI or Princess. However, the rest of the cruise experience and staff was spectacular as usual and I will be on her again next year for same itinerary. :)

 

I will need to ask my husband what he thought of the lobster tail as I didn't have it. I had the Wellington and it was delicious! This just shows how subjective food can be :) I thought the French Onion soup was good and had it several times during the cruise and Top Chef night was one on my favorite menus.

[ISABELLA]

I was also on same sailing. Great itinerary, excellent MDR service, but I am afraid I have to disagree on the food/menu. It was a step down from my previous experience on Silhouette in March, and Elipse and Solstice several years back. The new menu really shows a new quality cost cutting tendency and was especially lacking in good seafood options. It apeared to cater to a more meat and potatoes focus. The rock lobster in partucular was salty and unimpressive as was the onion soup - salty and brothy. The Top Chef entries were a bit gimmicky. The lamb chops and desserts were an exception -excellent. While definitely not Applebees, the MDR nenu did not reflect either modern or luxury and appears to have lost thd edge it had when compared with RCI or Princess. However, the rest of the cruise experience and staff was spectacular as usual and I will be on her again next year for same itinerary. :)

 

I liked the menu better that I have on Eclipse in April and on the Summit in August. Being from NE, I never order Caribbean lobsters- nothing is like Maine lobster. I thought Sea Bream fish was outstanding. I am not big fan of onion soup, so I cannot comment. You commented on RCI. We were on Liberty of the Sea as B2B after Equinox - it was hit or miss everywhere.

Food was boring and limited, same every day for breakfast and lunch in Windjammer. Food was just OK in MDR. Service and entertainment was very good and I thought bedding and linens were better on Liberty. We didn't like smoking in the casino and few other things, so I would not be going back any time soon. But will be going back on Celebrity in April.

Edited December 11, 2014 by ISABELLA

[wallie5446]

I will need to ask my husband what he thought of the lobster tail as I didn't have it. I had the Wellington and it was delicious! This just shows how subjective food can be :) I thought the French Onion soup was good and had it several times during the cruise and Top Chef night was one on my favorite menus.

 

We were on the week before and had thought the F/onion soup good enought to order every evening, and in Tuscan.

[ClassicalSax]

I will need to ask my husband what he thought of the lobster tail as I didn't have it. I had the Wellington and it was delicious! This just shows how subjective food can be :) I thought the French Onion soup was good and had it several times during the cruise and Top Chef night was one on my favorite menus.

The Wellington was excellent - I had a bite of my fiancee's :-) Overall, the meat dishes I tried were good - it was basically the seafood that was really not up to par.The FO soup is probably a bit subjective - I do tend to like soups you can stand your spoon in - rather than delicate broths.... I did try it twice in the cruise and it was still very salty for my taste.

Edited December 11, 2014 by ClassicalSax