Just Embarked the Equinox. IMPRESSED!

[easyboy]

Enjoying your review and nice pictures

[ChucktownSteve]

The Captain knows how to do a K turn when we backed out departing St. Thomas. Good thing he didn't get too close.

 

 

The Pilot boat coming to pick up their Pilot.

 

 

Here are a couple of ads placed inside the Celebrity Today.

 

 

 

Everything is a "deal" where they mark it up to put it on sale. I did take advantage of a complimentary two minute massage just outside the buffet on the way to the elevators. She recommended an 80 minute massage for only $158 because we were still in port. If it had been more reasonably priced I probably would have done it but because Celebrity has to take such a big cut from the vendor, makes it pretty pricey compared to what you get landside.

 

Here is a picture of the "Passion Duo" playing in the atrium before dinner. That is a great venue because the music fills the various atrium deck levels. Much better than the disco DJ.

 

[ChucktownSteve]

Here's St Thomas evening Blu menu.

 

 

And the MDR one.

 

 

I had the grilled asparagus salad and the everyday salmon. Nothing on the menu really grabbed me. Food was again ok. Nothing wrong with it. However there is no wow anymore that I've seen. It's almost like they've dumbed down the food to entice you to do the specialty restaurants. For dessert I had the Tiramisu. It was very good.

 

One of the things I've noticed about select dining is that the servers while efficient, take your order, deliver your order and are gone. There is really zero personality interaction so far as I experienced in the past with fixed seating.

 

 

The Patriots game was on in the Gastro Pub. There were a couple of die hard fans obviously.

 

 

 

Tonight's show was Broadway. The second number in one of the singers did a medley from The Jersey Boys. He was NO Jersey boy. I was raised there and saw the show on Broadway. I wish the singer had more depth and range. But the good thing was that the audience really liked his performance. After the next singer came on, I thought it was time to go watch the back of my eyelids. So I headed to my cabin.

 

I awoke about 4ish and scanned the onscreen options. I found room service. Many of the main dishes were only served until 11pm. There is a $4.94 service charge to order between 11pm and 5am. I found this opening screen showing 24 hour ordering.

 

 

But check out the bottom right. 24 hours to Celebrity apparently is only 10:30am to 5am.

Edited December 13, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[ChucktownSteve]

Wondering about internet speed? I took the speed test very early in the morning before anyone else was awake.

 

 

I find the worst times to try to use the wifi in my cabin is after people have returned on board and before dinner.

 

However it is faster than it used to be before Xcellerate.

[cheeseheads4ever]

Chucktown steve,

Enjoying review but you got any time for cruisng with all the updates? Much appreciated.

How are the seas?

 

Larry

[ChucktownSteve]

;

Chucktown steve,

Enjoying review but you got any time for cruisng with all the updates? Much appreciated.

How are the seas?

 

Larry

 

The seas this morning were very smooth. And even more so now that we're docked. ;-)

 

Thankx for your concern, but you'll notice many of my postings are in the middle of the night when nothing is open. It really doesn't take long to download the pics from phone to photobucket. and do the links. So I'm not spending as much time as it appears.

 

Besides, I'm enjoying doing this thanks to the positive remarks from posters such as you and the several others. Plus I have the time since my spousal unit isn't on board. Just spoke with her for about 20 minutes. So we're all good there.

 

Here's a pic of us coming into St. Kitts.

 

 

That was from Cafe al Bacio about 6:30 where I was the second person waiting for the coffee.

 

 

 

 

View from my cabin while docked

 

Edited December 13, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[TommyD3]

Since you are sailing alone did you book as a single and get double points?

 

Should be 100 points - 1/3 of Elite in ONE CRUISE !!!!

 

WOW !!!

[ChucktownSteve]

Since you are sailing alone did you book as a single and get double points?

 

Should be 100 points - 1/3 of Elite in ONE CRUISE !!!! WOW !!!

 

 

Exactly. I paid double thus received double Club points for 100! My TA gave me go best and I wound up with $450obc ($150 OBR). That's the only reason I sailed solo was to get the double points. This cruise put me over into Elite so when my DW and I sail next month she also travels elite for 14 days. If she joined me, I wouldn't have hit elite until the Aamara cruise.

 

Plus when I return, I'll be Discoverer on Azamara and will request the upgrade at the higher club level.

 

I have a really great boss who lets me take off for this cruise and the others!!!!

Edited December 13, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[PoppyandNana]

Exactly. I paid double thus received double Club points for 100! My TA gave me go best and I wound up with $450obc ($150 OBR). That's the only reason I sailed solo was to get the double points. This cruise put me over into Elite so when my DW and I sail next month she also travels elite for 14 days. If she joined me, I wouldn't have hit elite until the Aamara cruise.

 

Plus when I return, I'll be Discoverer on Azamara and will request the upgrade at the higher club level.

 

I have a really great boss who lets me take off for this cruise and the others!!!!

 

What is OBR?

[ChucktownSteve]

What is OBR?

 

Refundable On Board credit. That comes from the travel agent. If you don't spend it, the credit goes to your credit card of sailing. The $300 OBN comes from Celebrity and is non refundable. It's use it or lose it.

 

You can follow your balance on the TV account. They draw down the OBN first and then from the OBR. I usually stop at the OBN being zero and take the credit for OBR. Guess my DW is going to get some jewelry later. :)

Edited December 13, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[ChucktownSteve]

My starboard side view is not blocked by another ship although there are four in port today. I went to breakfast. Here's my view. Good thing that shirtless old man didn't stand there the whole time.

 

 

I've never had bangers before. So why not try them. I like the crunch of the casing and the flavor of the inside. There was no mash though.

 

I though it was funny the way the Brits and the Yankees view words with opposite meaning. In the UK Bangers are sausage while in the US it could be considered a "stud"

 

In the US, shagging is a dance in Myrtle Beach. Well you know what it means in the UK. :cool:

 

The two big boys were side by side. Celebrity Equinox (left) and P&O's Azura (right). One small ship was at a distant dock while the other one tendered.

 

 

St. Kitts shopping area at the port.

 

 

In Celebrity Today they say, "BEWARE OF MONKEYS" We strongly recommend to stay away from vendors carrying monkeys as they will encourage the monkeys to jump on you and then charege if you take a picture. They have also been known to bite and can break the sking causing bleeding and pain.

 

 

Although that didn't stop a lot of people from doing just that. I tried not to take a picture of the tourists but just the monkey men waiting for more victims. If you look closely, you'll see them holding the monkeys. One guy had three of them. The guys in those green shirts all had monkeys.

 

Those of you who have sailed Celebrity are familiar with the next picture.

 

 

that's the cool drinks of water; plain, orange or lemon. Then comes the iced wash cloths before you re-board.

Edited December 13, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[ChucktownSteve]

Here's another pic of the monkey men.

 

 

We just set sail from St. Kitts on the way to Barbados. The Captain did this without the assistance of a Pilot. He just backed up, looped a left then passed the anchored Regent ship. These are the sailaway views from my cabin.

 

 

Edited December 13, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[ChucktownSteve]

I like this cabin's bathroom more than the M Class Aqua Class bathroom.

 

This shower and shower door IMHO are better. First, these shower doors slide in a curved rail instead of two swinging doors that either block the bathroom or crowd you in the shower.

 

I prefer the shower head instead of the jets in the AQ cabin. The swivel head works better than the other. Both have the foot bar which is very convenient. And the storage on the Equinox is much more convenient instead of three corner glass shelves.

 

 

 

 

 

There is one electrical over the sink adjacent to the cabinet on the ceiling. It is only two prong and says it's for shavers only.

 

 

And here is the desk's electrical outlets.

 

Edited December 13, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[minidonuts85]

Loving your review and pics!

 

Going on the EQ in May and glad to see that a whole fried fish is available in Silk Harvest!

[Beardie]

Steve....

Just a bit of clarification. Are you sure that the non-refundable OBC is used first? I always thought the refundable is used first, thereby ensuring that most OBC not used would remain with Celebrity as it's non-refundable.

[PostcardJar]

Again, I'm loving this review! We will be in Summit in 2 weeks stopping at some of your ports. Please keep the info. flowing. More important, enjoy your cruise!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[gimletgal]

Steve....

Just a bit of clarification. Are you sure that the non-refundable OBC is used first? I always thought the refundable is used first, thereby ensuring that most OBC not used would remain with Celebrity as it's non-refundable.

 

OBN = On board credit/Non-refundable - this is used first!

 

OBR = On board credit/Refundable - this is used last!

[Alabaster Cruiser]

Steve enjoying your review. Hope you are enjoying your cruise as much as we are enjoying hearing about it. We will be on Summit in Feb. and then Equinox in Sept. We also met you on the Constellation in Feb. 2016. Good to hear from ya. We still talk about the roulette pull that you and Gopher did. Much more fun than a slot pull. Enjoy the rest of you cruise! Susan and Jimmy

 

Sent from my VK700 using Tapatalk

[cheeseheads4ever]

Steve we are also enjoying your reviews. We will be on Summit next month and also met you on Constellation Feb 2016. Keep up the good work and enjoy your cruise..

[ChucktownSteve]

Steve....

Just a bit of clarification. Are you sure that the non-refundable OBC is used first? I always thought the refundable is used first, thereby ensuring that most OBC not used would remain with Celebrity as it's non-refundable.

 

On every cruise I've been on, they always debited the OBN before the OBR. You can check it daily on your TV account. But if you need a second opinion, there are many experienced cruisers who will be happy to share the answer with you. :D

[ChucktownSteve]

Steve we are also enjoying your reviews. We will be on Summit next month and also met you on Constellation Feb 2016. Keep up the good work and enjoy your cruise..

 

TYVM I remember running into y'all. Did you know that cheese if my favorite food group? My DW will substantiate that. lol

[ChucktownSteve]

Steve enjoying your review. Hope you are enjoying your cruise as much as we are enjoying hearing about it. We will be on Summit in Feb. and then Equinox in Sept. We also met you on the Constellation in Feb. 2016. Good to hear from ya. We still talk about the roulette pull that you and Gopher did. Much more fun than a slot pull. Enjoy the rest of you cruise! Susan and Jimmy

 

Hiya Susan & Jimmy,

 

Yes Gopher did a great job on the roulette "pull". I was just his helper. That was much better than the slot pull because they can put you on a tight slot but they can't alter the wheel. I made more money back than any slot pull previously. I wish more roll calls would do it.

 

This had been a great cruise. I'm happy to share. I'm very impressed with this ship and crew. TYVM for your post.

[ChucktownSteve]

Well it looks like not enough people have gone to bed yet. :eek: They must be on the wifi.

 

 

 

I'll just wait until I wake up in the middle of the night and nothing else to do since Cafe al Bacio won't be open. Speaking of which, here is one of my favorite crew there.

 

 

She's always smiling and very friendly.

 

Then there's CD Damian and Justin.

 

 

I forgot to mention earlier on the Pic of the two ships docked side by side. The Equinox draft was 92ft while the P&O ship was drafting only 80ft.

Edited December 14, 2016 by ChucktownSteve

[parrothead33]

Enjoying your review and pictures very much. Sailing on the Equinox in May - can't wait! Thanks for doing this.

[lauraapp]

Can you tell me how this works??? Tired of slot pull lol!