LIVE - Equinox 8/15/21 - Ultimate Caribbean - It’s finally here!

[cltnccruisers]

12 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said:

We'll be looking for you to be waving that TB hat as you pass by the cruisecams!!

Equinox pulling out now but showing her starboard side.  Looking for TB when she turns.  But they may be in the Sunset Bar.

 

Edited August 15, 2021 by cltnccruisers

[posidonas]

Does anybody know how full is the ship? 60% , 70% , or more?

Any long lines on the Buffet or not?

                    Thanks in advance for your answer

[cltnccruisers]

So the Sunset Bar was fading away.  No waving but I think I saw a tan TB hat over an orange shirt?

[h20cruzer]

Hope you can answer this question. If not no worries. I will be flying in 3 days plus to Ft Lauderdale for my cruise. I doubt I could get my COVID test and be within 72 hrs at home.  Do all CVS’s do the Quick results? Sounds like you need to make an appt and not just walk in? Any info you could provide would be helpful.

loving your review and pictures.

Norma

[cangelmd]

We just got off Equinox on Aug 8 and you are making me want to go right back!

Have a wonderful cruise.

[goofysmom99]

27 minutes ago, h20cruzer said:

Hope you can answer this question. If not no worries. I will be flying in 3 days plus to Ft Lauderdale for my cruise. I doubt I could get my COVID test and be within 72 hrs at home.  Do all CVS’s do the Quick results? Sounds like you need to make an appt and not just walk in? Any info you could provide would be helpful.

loving your review and pictures.

Norma

Try this website.  They're there in Ft Lauderdale and will do rapid antigen test by appointment.

[Host Anne]

2 hours ago, LGW59 said:

Other than that dang TB cap, you look like you did a good job!  Thanks for all your posts!!!

I thought the TB hat was fantastic!

 

[Host Anne]

2 hours ago, h20cruzer said:

Hope you can answer this question. If not no worries. I will be flying in 3 days plus to Ft Lauderdale for my cruise. I doubt I could get my COVID test and be within 72 hrs at home.  Do all CVS’s do the Quick results? Sounds like you need to make an appt and not just walk in? Any info you could provide would be helpful.

loving your review and pictures.

Norma

 

Click on  https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing and enter 33316 (port Everglades zip) and it will bring up stores in the area where  you can get a test. CVS lets you schedule test appointments much further out than Walgreens.  Don't know if they all offer the quick tests as I've only tried to schedule in my area. Good luck!

 

[Host Anne]

aring75 ~ THANKS so very much for taking us along with you.  Everyone is so excited to be following along.  We'll be on Equinox in October but board Summit this weekend!  

 

Have a fantastic cruise and GO RAYS!!!!

[maggieq]

3 hours ago, aring75 said:

Bringing the over-the-door shoe holder definitely helped with the storage situation. 
 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for live reviewing.   We never travel without this.  So handy and helps keep the cabin much more tidy. 

[luv2ndhalf]

Hope your day has been amazing! 
Can you share how things are around the pools? Can you sit around the pool bars? Looking forward to reading about your journey!

[goofysmom99]

29 minutes ago, Host Anne said:

 

Click on  https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing and enter 33136 (port Everglades zip) and it will bring up stores in the area where  you can get a test. CVS lets you schedule test appointments much further out than Walgreens.  Don't know if they all offer the quick tests as I've only tried to schedule in my area. Good luck!

 

Hi Anne.  I just tried the CVS link and it looks like rapid tests are only available in Miami or Key Biscayne for the next 14 days which leads me to think that they may not be available in Fort Lauderdale.  That fasttestnow.com place has appointments every day so I still recommend that as a near and available option if someone is coming into town early and needs a test.

[Host Anne]

38 minutes ago, goofysmom99 said:

Hi Anne.  I just tried the CVS link and it looks like rapid tests are only available in Miami or Key Biscayne for the next 14 days which leads me to think that they may not be available in Fort Lauderdale.  That fasttestnow.com place has appointments every day so I still recommend that as a near and available option if someone is coming into town early and needs a test.

Thanks for posting the update!  

[mayleeman]

Wonderful review! Getting a kick out of the shared excitement so many people reading this are exuding, sharing in the OP's kid-like happiness. Feels the same as the adrenaline rush we had when we got on board Reflection years ago. We wanted to see everything at once--and the readers following here, do, too!

[NBliving]

4 hours ago, aring75 said:

If you are fine using the Celebrity-provided toiletries, there’s plenty of shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

 

 

Also hand soap and lotion. 

 

 

 

There’s still a tray in the shower for people who bring their own. 
 

Must be nice to drive in!  Coming from Texas, we always fly, but maybe that will change one day if we decide to do a pre-cruise drive down vacation.  Luckily, I've been mostly happy with X brand shampoo etc. So happy to be  reading cruise report/reviews again.  We sail on the Equinox in April but have a Reflection and Apex cruise before that!!

Have a great trip!

[aring75]

4 hours ago, LMHSRN said:

Looks like you ordered the Drinks and More?

What all is in your Frig?  I see 4 bottles of wine, what are they?

Enquisitive minds want to know. LOL

Yes. We got drinks and more back when it was only $6/day more than the premium package. Figuring the $50 casino credit, it made sense for us. 
 

The four bottles are Anakena Cabernet. I asked for all red so I don’t know what the white wine option is.

 

 

The mini bar fridge has Coke, Diet Coke, Tito’s, 2 bottles of Heineken, and a red and white wine option. We were told you can’t make substitutions. Oh yeah. There’s two Kind bars also. You know, like granola bars. 

 

 

 

We also have two bottles of water. 
 

[aring75]

3 hours ago, h20cruzer said:

Hope you can answer this question. If not no worries. I will be flying in 3 days plus to Ft Lauderdale for my cruise. I doubt I could get my COVID test and be within 72 hrs at home.  Do all CVS’s do the Quick results? Sounds like you need to make an appt and not just walk in? Any info you could provide would be helpful.

loving your review and pictures.

Norma

It’s important to note that all CVS pharmacies do NOT do the rapid antigen testing. But it is very easy to go to the website, enter the zip code (of your hotel or similar) and you must select rapid test. It will show all CVS store in the vicinity which offer those tests and then you can make an appointment. It’s very easy, but you definitely want to make sure you select the correct test. 
 

I have also heard they do a rapid test at the airport, but you must pay for that one. (They do not submit it to your insurance.)

[aring75]

1 hour ago, luv2ndhalf said:

Hope your day has been amazing! 
Can you share how things are around the pools? Can you sit around the pool bars? Looking forward to reading about your journey!

So we boarded around 12:30. I took this picture around 1:30. 
 

 

Barely three people at the main pool. 
 

 

Here is the Solarium maybe 15 minutes later. 
 

 

 

Tomorrow is our first sea day. That will be the true test of crowd levels at the pool. 

[aring75]

Dinner tonight. 
 

 

[aring75]

Bread basket. A piece or two might be missing. Mark was hungry. 
 

 

 

Thai Beef Spring Roll

 

 

 

French Onion Soup & Caesar Salad

 

 

 

 

Prime Rib

 

 

Great 1st Night’s Dinner

[aring75]

Dessert!!

 

 

 

 

Banana Blueberry Crisp

 

 

Chocolate Cherry Trifle

 

[aring75]

The Ensemble Lounge has live music almost every night. Great place to relax and enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine. We were one of only four tables from 9:20 - 10:00 tonight. 

 

Drink menu from the Ensemble Lounge

 

 

 

 

(cont’d next post)

[aring75]

Ensemble Lounge menu cont’d

 

 

 

 

[aring75]

This is a Last Voyage. Mark got a Bailey’s. Okay, Mark got two Bailey’s. 
 

 

A look at the nearly empty Ensemble Lounge. We have been here after dinner and could hardly find a seat. Feels so quiet!

 

[aring75]

We got pillow chocolates!! Okay, now it’s a cruise.