Just off the Equinox--BEST CRUISE EVER!

[KKB]

Yep, we both agree!

 

Now, this is our first summer cruise...and probably our last. It was just REALLY hot & humid pretty much all the time. Plus it rained on Sunday & Monday...cloudy all day Tuesday & Wednesday. Have NEVER had more than a passing shower on any other cruise!

OK, OK, if someone says let's cruise next summer--OK, I'M IN!

 

I will do a full report probably next weekend. I am a teacher & we go back to work tomorrow so this week will be BUSY & exhausting as I get up to full speed again.

 

The ship was GORGEOUS. I know it is the Silhouette's twin but it was just a LITTLE nicer...

 

Service was terrific as always; while we have been happy with nearly all service on all ships, Celebrity always feels a LITTLE bit better...

 

We ate in Murano the first night for $35--OMG, better than Silhouette (which was still very good). At in the dining room all week & I was VERY impressed with nearly every course each night. I'd say the most consistently very good food we have ever had on a cruise. (though I wasn't impressed with our dining room breakfast; I thought the buffet was superior in quality for breakfast)

 

We had VERY good luck in the casino (DH won 2 poker tournaments & got 2nd in 1; I didn't far well in poker BUT I hit a royal flush in video poker!) We loved trivia (though one game was SUPER hard--like we didn't even have guesses for most questions!), the game shows (DH won the battle of the genders--his week, I guess!), the comedians (1st/last nights), the silent disco (we were both super skeptical--but LOVED it! BUT not much of a fan of it in the foyer--Sky lounge is a MUCH better venue)

 

We found a new fav--Jaime's Blue Reef in Costa Maya. This man knows service & food. And I have never seen a shallow shore go so far out--you could walk a LONG LONG LONG way out without getting above your waist!

 

But the BEST part of the cruise was the wonderful people we met. Not since our first cruise where we dined with 2 wonderful couples have we connected like this trip. A variety of people from all over the country--really, they MADE our cruise!

 

If you have questions, I will try to check in daily to answer!

[gordylad]

just to say reflection is the silhouettes twin

[vulcan1971]

just to say reflection is the silhouettes twin

 

 

 

Uhm, that doesn’t jive with me. There are things on Reflection that no other Solstice class ship has (not to mention it has capacity for about 300 more people. Equinox now has things that other Solstice class ships don’t when Cellar Masters was converted.

 

 

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[Silkroad]

Uhm, that doesn’t jive with me. There are things on Reflection that no other Solstice class ship has (not to mention it has capacity for about 300 more people. Equinox now has things that other Solstice class ships don’t when Cellar Masters was converted.

 

 

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Agree. Reflection is the newest, and largest of the S-class ships. She has one more deck, and more cabins (including unique suites) than Silhouette, or her other sisters. They are alike in being the two S-class ships having both The Porch and Lawn Club Grill.

[abbydancer2003]

Sorry we didn't connect on the ship, but it was great cruise.

 

I've been on the Equinox and the Reflection - I'd consider them siblings, but not twins.

[maggieq]

We cruised on 6/2 on the equinox after a few years of sailing celebrity. I would say best main dining room experience in many years

For the price we paid and perks included, we are comparing Rccl vs. celebrity now more so and we are seeing celebrity as a better value. This is shocking if you look at our list of many Rccl cruises.

[charleysmom]

KKB... I can’t believe we never connected. Where did you end up in Grand Cayman? If you went to Hemingway‘s, I’m really curious what you thought. We also went to Jaime’s and it was a real highlight!

 

 

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[lovecruzin]

Kris, I thought we may bump into each other at a bar! :D Congrats on your good luck in the casino!

I agree, a fantastic week! For us, a bit far for a 7 days but we love Equinox and the crew.

Have a great school year ahead.

[gordylad]

apologies guys i was always under the assumption silh was the same as reflection i stand corrected

[Silkroad]

No worries, gordylad. Had I not sailed on both, I might have thought the same:) I always like to point out the extra deck on Reflection, since it impacts cabin choice for those who don’t want a cabin under the pool or OVC. Cheers!

[Silkroad]

Thanks for your report KKB. We’ve twice booked the Equinox over the years, but had to cancel due to work. Perhaps the third time is the charm;) Thanks for the tip about Jaime’s Tropical Reef. Looking forward to your review....

[KKB]

Sorry we didn't connect on the ship, but it was great cruise.

 

I've been on the Equinox and the Reflection - I'd consider them siblings, but not twins.

 

Me too--we got delayed & I missed the connections party! SHOOT!

[KKB]

KKB... I can’t believe we never connected. Where did you end up in Grand Cayman? If you went to Hemingway‘s, I’m really curious what you thought. We also went to Jaime’s and it was a real highlight!

 

 

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I injured a shoulder about 2 months ago & it was REALLY bothering me as we walked around Cayman; I think it was just from carrying the beach bag & made DH carry it after that. I also forgot to take ibuprofen that morning...so we headed back to the ship.

 

You were at Jaime's too??!! Where were you?? We were in the front row...there was a family with several members then us!! SHOOT!

[KKB]

Kris, I thought we may bump into each other at a bar! :D Congrats on your good luck in the casino!

I agree, a fantastic week! For us, a bit far for a 7 days but we love Equinox and the crew.

Have a great school year ahead.

 

LOL--we probably did!

First day of meetings today, nothing much, still pretty tired & about ready to head up to read in bed for a while.

New kittys need to learn to sleep all night!!

[KKB]

No worries, gordylad. Had I not sailed on both, I might have thought the same:) I always like to point out the extra deck on Reflection, since it impacts cabin choice for those who don’t want a cabin under the pool or OVC. Cheers!

 

We did do specialty dining on Silhouette, but with only 3 main venues & DH not being an Asian fan we couldn't justify it--sure glad we didn't! But we REALLY liked Qsine & Lawn Club on Silhouette.

[KKB]

Thanks for your report KKB. We’ve twice booked the Equinox over the years, but had to cancel due to work. Perhaps the third time is the charm;) Thanks for the tip about Jaime’s Tropical Reef. Looking forward to your review....

 

Jaime's will be our new "must do" in Costa Maya from now on!

[pnsnkr]

Jaime's will be our new "must do" in Costa Maya from now on!

 

What did you end up doing in Cozumel? You were looking into the bar hop tour, did that materialize?

[charleysmom]

You were at Jaime's too??!! Where were you?? We were in the front row...there was a family with several members then us!! SHOOT!

 

 

Shoulder injuries can be a beast! My husband has had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders and never fully recovered.

 

We were also in the very front row! Almost the last chairs away from the port area with a couple of the scuba diving boats in front of us and the massage table several rows straight back of us. (Did you have a massage? She was amazing - best 20 bucks I ever spent!)

 

 

 

 

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[George C]

Sounds like a great cruise, winning at casino never hurts, thanks for review.

[tartan cruiser]

Jaime's Tropical Resort sounds great. I looked at their web page and they say unlimited food and drink. How did this work? Could you order from the menu or was a buffet set up. Just curious. I see the boats in the picture. Could you also book this at an extra cost? Was it snorkeling, diving or both? Thanks for your help. I think we would really enjoy this place.

[charleysmom]

Jaime's Tropical Resort sounds great. I looked at their web page and they say unlimited food and drink. How did this work? Could you order from the menu or was a buffet set up. Just curious. I see the boats in the picture. Could you also book this at an extra cost? Was it snorkeling, diving or both? Thanks for your help. I think we would really enjoy this place.

 

 

There was a menu and actually if you wanted something that was not on the menu, you could just ask. For example, we were trying to decide what to eat after having skipped breakfast on the ship and they offered to make eggs for us. They will let you know that they make portion sizes fairly small so you can try multiple things throughout the course of the day without feeling overstuffed. I think the boats were affiliated with the dive shop next-door. We saw people in both snorkeling and diving gear, but did not try either one ourselves. You pay at the end of the day in the little bar using either cash or credit (Visa/MC). There is a tip jar that the waitresses share up there as well. I am sure cash for tips is preferred.

 

 

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[micheleata]

Love the Equinox! Looking forward to your review!

[tartan cruiser]

Thanks Charleysmom for the great information. Good to know there is a dive shop next door, too. Our son and his wife are certified divers and like to snorkel too. This would be the best of both worlds for us. I like the fact they limit the number of guests too. We've been to Tropicante but wanted to try something different.

[riclop]

That is why we don't cruise during the summer.

[Bellfree Bat]

We were on the same sailing and had a blast! If the price was right, I would sail again in the summer!