Early trip report - our much needed vacation on the Celebrity Equinox

[snowmc]

Would you mind posting the full names of the Concierge and Captain Clubs Host? We just got off the Equinox and I forgot to grab the Officers Onboard sheet. Thanks in advance!

[Ned1552]

We are going on our first cruise to the Caribbean in September. is there a strict dress code for dinner in all restaurants?

[hancock]

Raluca Matthews was the Captain's Club hostess when we left the ship on the 3rd.

[MR_T]

We are going on our first cruise to the Caribbean in September. is there a strict dress code for dinner in all restaurants?

 

 

No strict dress code on any celebrity ships or cruises, they got rid of formal nights a while ago and replaced them with "chic nights" it's more of a smart casual code now on all nights, the chic nights are generally more smart casual and above vs the other nights onboard,

 

You will see people in tuxedos & gowns, along with people in suits, trousers/jackets, a variety of dresses and jeans & shirts/polo tops and a few with their own take on the current dress code,

 

 

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[aml3679]

Would you mind posting the full names of the Concierge and Captain Clubs Host? We just got off the Equinox and I forgot to grab the Officers Onboard sheet. Thanks in advance!

 

I will have to track these down

[aml3679]

We are going on our first cruise to the Caribbean in September. is there a strict dress code for dinner in all restaurants?

 

No shorts, t-shirts, bathing suits, cover ups or torn jeans

[aml3679]

Well, it is the end of our first full day in Port. There was a problem with a pipeline and traffic was backed up and it took almost three hours to get to our rainforest canopy tram with butterfly observatory.

 

One we got there, we went to the butterfly observatory which was nice. We ended up seeing a sloth in a tree along with 2 toucans.

 

After a very nice lunch -

Watermelon

Pineapple

Cantaloupe

Tomatos

Lettuce

Hearts of palm

Rice

Black beans

Chicken

Plantains in a brown sugar sauce

Native fruit juices

Water

 

We finally boarded the tram for an hour and a half ride through the rainforest - it was unbelievable.

 

Bring bug spray, the mosquitos are the size of small birds. Also wear a hat, bring watermark and wear sunscreen - it is hit and sticky and the rainy season starts in May.

 

Thank God we booked the excursion through Celebrity because the bus got back 30 minutes after sail away was supposed to take place.

 

We ate our first meal in the main dining room. I had the caprese salad and we each had the French onion soup which we really enjoyed. We each also had strip steaks for dinner which we liked. My husband had crime brûlée and I had the cheesecake.

 

We skipped the show again because we were both tired. We arrive in Panama in the morning where we are going on a monkey watch excursion.

 

We think we are going to the Gastro Pub for dinner after we get back.

[Pier290]

Loving this review!

 

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[aml3679]

Another time change - an hour ahead. Currently in the Observation Lounge watching the ship pull into the port of Colon Panama.

 

We are going on an excursion called "Monkey Watch" where you take a bus 45 minutes to a high speed boat that takes you to see and feed monkeys and then a 45 minute ride back. We are going to go on shorter excursions after yesterday.

 

After we return, we are going to check out the Gastro Pub for a late lunch.

 

We got some iced cappuccinos at Cafe el Bacio and headed up to the Oceanvirw Cafe for breakfast. They have everything for everyone's palate.

 

Beverages: coffee, tea, iced tea, milk, orange juice, apple juice etc...

 

Rolls, croissants, breads, and pastries - they make everything from scratch exceot their kosher products.

 

Bacon, Canadian bacon, English bacon, bangers, ham etc...

 

Eggs any way you likr and the list goes on and on.

 

Just a hint: we have used 2 bottles of sunscreen already - bring double the amount of what you think you will need.

 

Anyone aprehensive about booking the Equinox - not to worry - best vacation ever.

[champagne123]

That is soooo great to hear and cannot wait to get on this ship. So glad you are having a great time and loving your review. :cool:

[snowmc]

We were on the March 24th cruise...found that 100 SPF spray on worked extremely well. I don't even look like I went to the tropics. :')

 

Please tell Justin (Activity Manager) and Ashley that "Idaho" says hi! It will give them a laugh. lol

 

Are you planning to try Silk Harvest? I highly recommend it...great food and wonderful service.

 

Enjoy your cruise and the Equinox. Such a wonderful ship!

[aml3679]

We were on the March 24th cruise...found that 100 SPF spray on worked extremely well. I don't even look like I went to the tropics. :')

 

Please tell Justin (Activity Manager) and Ashley that "Idaho" says hi! It will give them a laugh. lol

 

Are you planning to try Silk Harvest? I highly recommend it...great food and wonderful service.

 

Enjoy your cruise and the Equinox. Such a wonderful ship!

 

Ate at Silk Harvest and loved the food so much that we are going back on our last night. Had spring rolls, shrimp won ton soup, cream cheese rangoon, chicken fried rice, orange chicken and pepper steak.

 

Ate at Tuscan Grill and had calamari, the cheeseboard, filets, carbonaro, spaghetti in pepper sauce.

 

We are about to leave Panama and went on the monkey watch excursion. It was a lot of fun. We went on a high speed boat and saw howler monkeys who are vegetarians. Capuchin monkeys who eat fruit and small crocodiles, crocodiles, iguanas, and toucans.

[aml3679]

We were supposed to leave Panama st 4:30 but ended up leaving a little after 7 due to some shore excursions being stuck in traffic at the canal.

 

We will get in a bit later in Cartegena.

 

After we got back on board, we had to wait until 4 to find something to eat. We decided to eat at the Gastropub - save yourself some money and skip it in our opinion. We did like watching the Masters on their nice televisions.

 

For food there is: cheeseburger, charcuterie, lamb stew, bone marrow on toast, whipped ricotta and some kind of soup.

 

We both ordered the cheeseburgers with truffel fries. You could order them pink or well done. I ordered mine pink and my husband ordered his well done.

 

They both came well done and were sadly pretty tasteless - our first food disappointment.

 

I went swimming in the solarium while my husband went to deck 15 and had a bourbon and a cigar.

 

We met at the martini bar before the theater. They put on a nice show at the martini bar and the bar is iced over.

 

We went to the 7 o'clock show which was quite well done. Aftetwards, we headed to the Oceanvirw Cage to get some dinnet.

 

My husband wanted to go to the casino. He won $60 playing black jack and I won $15 at the penny slots.

[aml3679]

We left Panama 2.5 hours late due to an excursion getting stuck in the canal and the Captain announced that someone needed to sent to the hospital - he reported that she was doing okay this morning.

 

It is 9:45 and we are slowly making our want in the Port of Cartegena, Columbia for 2 days. The Captain announced that he is adding an extra hour due to the hour we lost. Yeah!

 

Since we have been to every port except this one and Grand Caymen, we are most excited for this one. It is supposed to be a sweltering 95 degrees today. Hat, sunscreen and a lot of water.

 

This morning we slept in until 8:30 - our excursion does not leave until 11:20 - a Taste of Cartegena.

 

We had breakfast in the main dining room which was not bad. We ordered 2 premium orange juices along with cappuccinos. My husband had the French omelette which he enjoyed but said that it had too many chives. I had the Greek yogurt frittata which had asparagus, potatoes, onions, and tomatoes - it was delicious but too much to eat.

 

It is nice to have unlimited internet this cruise (we got it free with our promotion). Will report in after our excursion.

[didicruiser]

Keep it coming. I'll be on her next month!

[aml3679]

Keep it coming. I'll be on her next month!

 

You will not be disappointed it is a beautiful ship. They are organized and bend over backwards to make you happy.

 

Bring a small backpack for water, camera, etc. Also wear comfortable shoes.

 

Make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen, drink lots of water.

 

Also make sure you bring heavy magnetic hooks to hang bathing suites etc...

[aml3679]

Back from the Taste of Cartegena. Had to laugh when my husband asked if I thought we were going on a food tour because I thought we were. Wrong! Just the highlights.

 

Ate at the Hardrock where my husband bought a t-shirt and bottle opener.

 

Bring a lot of water and a hat it was hot.

 

Also, the street vendors are in your face. We went into a shop where I saw a nicely painted wood bowk with a lud. She wanted $50 and my husband offered $40 and I talked her diwn to $27. My husband bought a box of Havanos for $35.

 

I am now at the Solarium pool - I think my favorite place and we are going to meet for dinner later.

[drychi]

Great review. Wife and I are on-board in May, so your experiences and observations are timely and appreciated. Happy Cruising! Bob and Linda

[2B A VTer]

I'm enjoying your posts. We board the Eqinox this Friday. My mouth is watering in anticipation of the food and drinks.

 

How are you finding the internet speed?

[aml3679]

The internet speed is iffy but it is nice having it.

 

We just returned from the Best of Cartegena- it was the best tour and highly recommended.

 

The whole city us getting ready for Easter and is buzzing.

 

We hit on some of the highlights of the tour we were on yesterday but with more detail. We had a half hour to shop and I bought a hand embroidered dress for my granddaughter whi will be four this May.

 

At the end of the tour, we were able to sit in an air conditioned restaurant and have a cold columbian beer. Anytime you eat, it includes the tip already.

 

Once we returned to the ship, they had iced cold towels, water, pineapple water and orange water.

 

We skipper lunch because we are eating in Murano's tonight at 6 pm.

 

Instead, we opted for gelato - cold and refreshing.

[NordicPrince]

Got off the Equinox on April 3rd. What a great cruise. You must say Hi to Morales "Happy Happy" in the Oceanview and Futri the Ice Cream server, a very nice young girl. Khadeen from Jamaica is greeting people at the entrance to the Oceanview, just say "Drink the Red Stripe" and I hope she remembers me.

 

The crew is happy and willing to make you happy. What a difference that can make. For those who want to know, the MDR dining is very good, although wife said it is not WOW factor as in past. Of course this did not stop her from having 2 shrimp cocktails everynight, prime rib twice, the rack of lamb. the beef brochette and of course the creme brulee to end. I had fish every night. They have a fish, a chicken, a pasta, a beef, another meat and a vegetable dish evry night, in addition to the 3 standards of chicken, salmon and steak. Believe me you won't starve. The other cruisers are friendly and having a good time. We made friends at our table of 8 , so much so that we're all going on a cruise together next year to reunite the table.

Hi Hancock and HI snowmc, thanks for the Idaho mug and cookie cutter.

OP you;re doing a great job and hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise.:):D

[NordicPrince]

Forgot to mention 2 special places not to miss. DW loved sitting at the back of the ship at the Sunset Bar on Deck 15

as we were leaving the islands.

The other was to go up to Deck 14 in the front of the ship and go up to the next deck. There are loungers there and it is very quiet and peaceful up there, not a lot of people know about it up there.

If you're in Europe don't go up there with your kids. I hear they use it for topless sunbathing.:D:D:D

Did I say I love this ship ???

[Pier290]

If u remember...please let us know if luggage valet is offered to u before you disembark. Thx!!

 

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[wallie5446]

I looked back to see if this was asked, could not find it.

 

There is a lot of chatter about the 'new' limits of the beverage packages.

Are CAN soft drinks covered by the Classic and Premium ?

EW

[GordonJasmine]

Really enjoying this thread! We have 2 cruises booked on the Equinox this year, a Celebrity ship we haven't been on yet. Are leaving on May 5 and getting so excited!