Equinox 2/3/18 Sailing – Live Blog, Photo Blog, Cat Blog, Dog Blog, Vlog?

[evelyn inkpen]

So glad everyone is enjoying the review!! I think we'll have to do a sequins & pirate look for the Summit for sure now - that sounds amazing!

 

Catching up on posting videos... here's Day 6!

Cheers

 

[cltnccruisers]

So glad everyone is enjoying the review!! I think we'll have to do a sequins & pirate look for the Summit for sure now - that sounds amazing!

 

Catching up on posting videos... here's Day 6!

Cheers

 

 

You do the outfits so well If I tried that I'd end up looking like Sidney Greenstreet or Odd-Job.

[Aussiegrlfl]

You guys are too funny, enjoying your review.....any idea yet what is taking the place of the hot glass show, finding out should be right up your alley.....with the "secrets of Equinox" etc...

[cltnccruisers]

How were you notified about the CC Connections Party? There seems to be some general confusion about that.

[sml3]

We were invited to a helipad sail away on our second cruise on Celebrity. We were in a Sky Suite, so that probably had something to do with it, but I've read several comments about various people being invited who do not have Elite status. Many times they have been in a Concierge, Suite or Aqua level cabin.

 

We were on this cruise and invited to sail away from St. Kitts on the helipad. We were just in a veranda balcony cabin and this was our first Celebrity Cruise but we did have Select status due to our Royal Caribbean status. We did not attend this event because we were sailing with 6 others who did not get the invite.

[David Kane]

> cltnccruisers - "How were you notified about the CC Connections Party? There seems to be some general confusion about that."

 

 

On previous Cruises we had a little note card placed in our stateroom the evening before the Connections Party. Since the weird website issues began we have had two cruises, in Sept and just recently, where we received no notification.

 

 

There was a small blue placard placed on the 'Community Board' next to Guest Services, alongside the daily Mahjong, Bridge and Religious Service notifications in case you wandered by and saw it - I did, on Wednesday.

 

 

I figured it out by reading previous Live Blogs and Reviews on this board - for the most part, the Connections Party is "usually" the first full sea day, at 10:00am, and usually in either the Gastropub, Ren-des-vouz Lounge or, occasionally, the Sky Lounge, depending on the class of ship and number of participants. The CC Host and Concierge Desk may or may not be able to confirm the location. Best advice I can give if you do not get an actual invite is to look around the ship at 10:00am on the first sea day and, uh, see!

[like2cruise]

Enjoying following along as always :) From the blog I saw you were going to an all you can eat sushi deal...my hubby LOVES Sushi on 5...so can you please give me some additional information regarding when that was offered, if it was offered more than once, how it was advertised, pricing and what it included? I am assuming it didn't include the fresh wasabi, but we can always hope!?

[David Kane]

>like2cruise "so can you please give me some additional information regarding when that was offered, if it was offered more than once, how it was advertised, pricing and what it included? I am assuming it didn't include the fresh wasabi, but we can always hope!?"

 

 

Sure! When initially boarding we didn't see or hear of any deals for Sushi on 5. We ate there the next day for lunch and paid about $42+ tip.

 

 

While at that meal we inquired about the Sushi making demonstration and was told it was scheduled for the next day at 10am (reminder: Sushi on 5 is only open on Sea Days for lunch). The event was also listed in the daily. When we arrived there were only about 5 people present but they proceeded with the Demo and it was fantastic. Afterwards, the Host, Rodel, announced that if you booked reservations following the demonstration you would receive 20%. When I went over to book he also indicated to me that there was a $30/person 'all you care to enjoy' offer as well, and asked which I wanted to book with. Being a huge Sushi on 5 Lover we took both, the 20% off for that day and the $30/person for Thursday.

 

 

In addition, 3 times while grabbing a quick snack in the Ocean View, a waiter approached us and asked if we had heard of Sushi on 5 and wanted to book a reservation for there, mentioning the $30/pp deal. It was the same guy all three times and we suspect it may have been because XZ and I tend to eat a lot of the Asian food at the OVC. I got the feeling this was a staff member having a keen eye and trying to be helpful rather than a mandated up-sell - but maybe he's just that slick - he certainly wasn't pushy at all - wish I could remember his name!

 

 

In terms of which deal is better...it depends on what you can eat, I suppose! The $30/pp includes everything on the menu, Fresh Wasabi and all. But since the prices are rather reasonable ($6 - $8/roll, let's say) you'd have to eat at least 3x6 piece rolls + some Sashimi *each* to get near that $30/pp! And the rolls are H-U-G-E.

 

 

I think the 20% off may be slightly more advantageous than the $30pp...but if you've got a big appetite, want to eat nothing but Sashimi, or are ravenous, the $30 may work out somewhat better.

 

 

Hope that helps!

[like2cruise]

This is fabulous information and my hubby is going to be so excited. I am putting your post in his Valentine bag of goodies and it will probably be his favorite gift :) :) Thank you so much!!!

[wencam]

Loving your review, pics, video, commentary and wonderful sense of humour! Following along and enjoying every post!! We're on the Equinox in May and can't wait!:D

[David Kane]

Day 2 - The Less than Super Bowl at Sea - 2 of 2 -

 

After High Tea at Michael's Club we wandered the ship for a bit, taking in the sites and the prep work going in to the upcoming Superbowl Celebration. While passing the foyer outside of Celebrity Central we heard what sounded like an angry mob but it just turned out to be Eagles Fans, loudly and aggressively screaming (it couldn't possibly be mistaken for singing of any kind) the National Anthem, which was a bit odd because the game wasn't even close to kick off. Amidst cries of "Dilly Dilly," XZ and I resolved to tell anyone who asked a confusing montage of disarming answers such as; "We're rooting for the Montreal Expos" or "We're Giants/Denver Fans" to prevent from entering, as Ruth Bader Ginsberg might say, 'the political thicket.'

 

Here are some of sites pre-game, set up across from the Gastropub in the Grand Foyer area:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They had a similar spread being prepared in Michael's Club, as well as the Theatre.

 

Sensing the coming tide we retreated to our room, changed for dinner, and enjoyed a fine meal at Luminae. From there, with the din of the game beginning, we took up residence in the World Class bar, which seeemed to be rather neutral territory. I have probably covered this a bit before, but World Class is THE place to hang out at night. The bartenders, Igor and Voycheck, are magnificent, and when things slowed down a bit where able to clue us in to all the happening hitspots in the Belgrade Bar Scene!

 

Much like last time, we met some fantastically interesting guests, including one gentleman who proceeded to recount for me the History of the Masons in such a roundabout and amusingly fictional manner I couldn't possibly interrupt him - it would have been rude and, quite possibly, spoiled the ending of 'The DiVinci Code.'

 

The game dragged on intermitably and we visisted the Theatre to photograph the presentation there and then quickly depart lest the Eagles fans not save their rioting for the post-game. (Pictures of that layout will follow in the next post). It seemed, from there, the Casino was a good a place as any to spend some time, and we wiled away another hour or so playing $1 Roulette before heading off to beg. Luckily, in their Victory Celebration, the Eagles fans only overturned a number of loungers and set fire to a pair of Richard Spacey's socks (kidding, of course).

 

Tomorrow - San Juan, Sushi Demos, I anger a Market-Saavy Hippie, we discover a fine wine and stay up far too late.

[David Kane]

Day 2 Bonus - Equinox Theatre Superbowl Party:

 

Here is the food layout along the back wall, first floor, of the Theatre:

 

 

 

The Patriot's Ice Sculpture - made 1" taller than the Eagles because the sculptor was a Brady fan:

 

 

 

The Eagles ice Sculpture - rumor has it fans kept the remnants of it in their stateroom fridges to be flung at Santa Claus during the next Christmas homegame:

 

 

 

The Lombardi - now residing in Philidelphia, unless it was looted in the celebratory riots:

 

 

 

Wings, Burgers, Dogs and everything inbetween!

 

[misterkevin]

Day 2 - Crawling at Sea - 1 of 2 -

 

While there, we inquired about the Sushi Making Demo they usually have and were told it was the next day at 10am! Now; about this - the hands-down best Free activity on the ship in regards to food is this demonstation. Not only do you get to see a Sushi Chef work up close and personal while he explains all the ingredients and the process but you get to sample each item and can snag special discounts - but more on that tomorrow.

 

In addition to your detail and humor (Dick Fitz🤣), I want to thank you two again for these insider tips which make reading through these very long threads so worthwhile!

[evelyn inkpen]

Day 6 Youtube video is now live:

https://youtu.be/tzJjw5zRWsQ

 

 

 

Last full day:

View from Sailaway bar on aft of ship

Mini-golf on the Lawn

Bridge Tour!

Packing

Tips on tipping & thank you gifts

[David Kane]

Day 3 - San Gone - 1/of Many:

 

 

 

(Note: This is likely to be a touch disjointed due to the 5 picture limit and split into a number of replies)

 

 

Morning finds us up and out by 8am. Last cruise I managed to walk a mile (8 laps!) and make it to the gym exactly once and this trip I plan to meet, or even beat, that record! I figure if I can't get motivated to make the gym when it's literally 100 yards away from where I 'live' for a week I've got 0 chance when I get back home so I might as well try to get on something of a schedule. The last two cruises have been mildly successful in the weight category, as I've either held steady (Summit) or lost 2 lbs (Reflection - we had a room on the top floor right next to the Spa and like 2 miles away from everything else. It took us so long to get back to our room one night I swear we passed to Hobbits carrying a ring) due to us vowing to never take the elevator and there simply not being access to fried-much-of-anything. So yes, while I did have the first piece of Salami I've had since childhood I also did not have access to, you know, fried pickles or zucchini which are totally absolutely 'not bad for you' because they are a fried green. Ahem.

 

 

Point IS I managed to do all 8 laps and then a good 45 minute circuit at the gym, which is wonderfully empty in the morning, even on a pseudo-sea day. The Equinox has a really cool jogging track that has two weird minor elevation changes and a cool tunnel-like area over-looking the Solarium; it's not just a generic flat-track. XZ, well, XZ put in at least 3 laps, maybe 4, and then wandered off to find a Bloody Mary.

 

 

We gathered back up at the Ocean View Bar for a late Buffet Breakfast soon thereafter. Here's another weird note; the Equinox has the strangest aft bar layout ever. The Bar actually IN the Ocean View, the one that opens at 7:00am (!!) is called, for some odd reason, the Destinations Bar. There is no sign for it, and it took us until this morning to figure that out. Outside, at the Aft, is the actual Ocean View Bar, which does have a sign, but is located *under* the stairs leading up to the Sunset bar because...reasons? We just called it 'the Harry Potter Bar' because it made way more sense. Finally, the Sunset Bar is just up the stairs but is really small. On the M Class this is our favorite outdoors bar and has a huge range of liquor. On the Reflection, it's in a re-designed pit-like area and serves fresh coconuts. Here it has like 12 stools and is...small. We'll delve further into this on day 5, it is, when we hold our Bar Olympics.

 

 

The Equinox has an odd arrival time for San Juan; 3:30pm, meaning it was a 1/2 sea day, 1/2 port day. Because of this Sushi on 5 had their Free Demonstration today at 10:00am - as noted in an earlier reply, the BEST food-activity on the ship! We had seen this once before, on Summit, and couldn't wait to attend. We weren't disappointed!

 

 

For whatever reason, likely a ship-full of hangovers due to the Superbowl last night, there were few people up and around this morning - even by 10am. We were one of 5 people who showed up for the demo which means we got front row seats and an almost personal 1 on 1 with the Chef and the Host - Rodel. Sushi making is certainly an art and while I took a ton of video I don't want to spoil some of the neat surprises so I'll just include the pictures for now:

 

 

Saki Selection - the Snow Maiden is in Front - most Saki here is available on even the Classic Beverage Package. There is one that is priced at $15, I believe, but well worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Wasabi - it's a $10 charge for 2 oz. or so but I would highly reccomend it at least once; it is unlikely you'll have a chance to experience anything like it. (Note: were I better I would have cropped that picture and made it super artsy but...I'm only on Day 3 of the 'Live' Blog and it's already a week ago!).

 

 

 

 

 

This is the Tamaki Trio Roll:

 

 

 

 

Rodel presents the Tamaki Trio Roll with an artistically place knee in the foreground. For you photographers out there, this demonstration has great lighting and is perfect for both close up shots and video.

 

 

 

 

 

Rodel presents Nigiri. The chef indicated that Yellowtail was his favorite fish to cut, meaning we absoutely had to order that during our next visit (in about 2 hours). As you can see, the portion size is enormous as compared to 'normal' Sushi restuarants. Yes, it is an upcharge, but you certainly get what you pay for here.

 

 

 

 

 

After the Demonstration (note: you are allowed to 'sample' everything they make. So, if you stay until the end, and are the only one there as the one other person who joined us was, you get an entire Sushi lunch essentially free!) wrapped up we walked the ship for a while, grabbed a quick shower, and ambled through the Casino using our favorite 'strategy' of play a slot machine until 'something cool' happens and then move on to the next one. We also got involved in another round of $1 Roulette with yet another lovely dealer from England named Vikki who regaled us with top choices for horror movies.

 

 

Soon enough, it was time for lunch at Sushi on 5 followed by a visit to Michael's Club.

 

 

Next up: XZ finds a loophole and I join the iLounge Staff for an hour.