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

[Wind Jammer]

Thank you for your positive reviews of your cruise. We plan to be on the same itinerary Nov 7th and have enjoyed hearing about Equinox returning to the Southern Caribbean for the first time in many months. I'm sure the residents of the ports have looked forward to seeing ships return as much as we who have sailed the area in years past.

Happy sailing !!

[aring75]

6 minutes ago, COLArmy said:

What was the name of the tour you took in Antigua and also would you recommend it for us on the Sept 5th sailing?

The tour was called Antigua by Land and Sea. It was good. We are people who usually book tours directly with vendors. Not through the ship, so obviously we would have preferred that. But for a ship tour we definitely enjoyed it. 

[cltnccruisers]

1 minute ago, aring75 said:

The lobster tail was warm water. A good size, but no Maine lobster. But it was flambéed in a cognac Dijon cream sauce.

 

And it had bacon. 
 

Applewood smoked bacon. 
 

Do what you think is best, but…lobster. And bacon. 
 

You had me at bacon.  😀

[amevola]

2 hours ago, aring75 said:

I wasn’t going to mention this, but I thought on it and decided I should. 
 

I have overheard several people onboard complaining about this cruise. Mainly due to enhanced COVID protocols and the limited availability of port activities. 
 

You know what??

 

There are enhanced COVID protocols and limited availability of port activities!!

 

I know that as Cruise Critic members we get and share a lot of information. And I would probably consider the majority of people who frequent this site to be better informed than the average non-CC cruiser. 
 

But. 
 

Even without Cruise Critic. How many emails have you received from Celebrity prior to your cruise? How many news articles or social media posts have you seen with regard to mask requirements, travel restrictions, COVID testing, etc?

 

Does anyone expect this cruise to be exactly like cruises you’ve taken in the past? Who are these people who are surprised at port restrictions? Yes! It can be disappointing. And yes! Many people have decided it’s not worth it right now and are waiting for the health situation to improve before sailing again. I think this is a great idea! If you know you won’t enjoy your cruise with these adjusted rules in place, then it is absolutely in your best interest to wait. Do what’s best for you. 
 

BUT do not get onboard and grouse and complain about how there’s nothing to do, and nothing open in port.

 

I’m so sorry for the rant. But I’m finding these people (not many complainers, but enough) absolutely infuriating. 
 

 

 

Sigh. I feel better now. 
😁

These folks need a gentle reminder that such problems are "first-world" problems. 

[odie1024]

@aring75 being a New England girl, no way would I want bacon with my lobster. Enjoying your review but agree how can anyone complain about anything. Surely they should have known things could change daily as these are not normal circumstances. I am cruising on NCL in October from NY to Bermuda and don't really care if I don't go there as I just want to be on a ship. Enjoy the rest of your trip and thank you for your daily updates. 

 

Edited August 20, 2021 by odie1024

[Beba-Beba]

42 minutes ago, COLArmy said:

What was the name of the tour you took in Antigua and also would you recommend it for us on the Sept 5th sailing?

Details of the Land and sea tour are in post # 484 page 20.  Review of tour starts in post #532 page 22 with lots of beautiful pics.

Edited August 20, 2021 by Beba-Beba

[19pamela68]

On 8/19/2021 at 6:50 AM, aring75 said:

 

Here you go. It was in post #176 it just looked a little different since I didn’t take a photo of the first page. Sorry about that!
 

You're the best!  Thank you!  I'm really enjoying this blog!

 

 

[aring75]

2 hours ago, odie1024 said:

@aring75 being a New England girl, no way would I want bacon with my lobster. Enjoying your review but agree how can anyone complain about anything. Surely they should have known things could change daily as these are not normal circumstances. I am cruising on NCL in October from NY to Bermuda and don't really care if I don't go there as I just want to be on a ship. Enjoy the rest of your trip and thank you for your daily updates. 

 

Lol. I think I could eat bacon with almost anything. 
 

It’s pretty much the only reason I don’t think I could ever be vegetarian. 

[LGW59]

2 minutes ago, aring75 said:

Lol. I think I could eat bacon with almost anything. 
 

It’s pretty much the only reason I don’t think I could ever be vegetarian. 

Bacon and peanut butter on a toasted English muffin, hello!

[terrydtx]

52 minutes ago, aring75 said:

Lol. I think I could eat bacon with almost anything. 
 

It’s pretty much the only reason I don’t think I could ever be vegetarian. 

I was thinking the exact same thing, imagine the thought of Vegan Bacon, yuk yuk. 

[aring75]

1 hour ago, LGW59 said:

Bacon and peanut butter on a toasted English muffin, hello!

Oh yeah. I would try this.

 

1 hour ago, terrydtx said:

I was thinking the exact same thing, imagine the thought of Vegan Bacon, yuk yuk. 

I have tried vegan bacon. I think it was called bak’n (? - that should have been my first red flag). 

 

Would not recommend. 

[aring75]

Went to Sushi on 5 again tonight. Did a much better job taking pictures. 😊

 

I had my spicy mango drink again. Took a picture of the top this time so you could see the red pepper flakes. 
 

 

 

We had the Chicken Ginger Gyoza app again. 
 

 

 

And this was the Kobe Beef Slider.

 

Not what I was expecting. Not bad, but Mark ate almost all of this. 

 

 

 

We had a Sunset Roll

 

 

 

And a spicy tuna and shrimp tempura roll 

 

 

 

I almost talked Mark into trying some Nigiri since he’s been liking the rolls so much, but we were both just so full.

 

One comment. The service here is mostly quite good, but for whatever reason they just do not refill the water glasses. And they are tiny. 
 

 

I suggest ordering a second drink even if it’s just tea or lemonade. You’ll thank me after the spicy tuna. 😁

[aring75]

After dinner, we lost a little bit in the casino. It started getting crowded so we ducked out. 
 

Grabbed a couple of drinks and headed to the Celebrity Theater for the show. Tonight’s description was somewhat vague. 

 

But we had our libations. Tonight was a Bailey’s and a White Russian (this was a new drink for me - it tasted like super boozy chocolate milk). So, you know, delicious. 

 

 

 

Ready for this mystery show!

 

 

 

This is not meant to be political at all, but does anyone else think Cruise Director Eddie Jenkins looks like Ron DeSantis’ brother?

 

 

Turns out the performer tonight played the xylophone. 
 

No seriously. 
 

It’s apparently called a xylosynth, and it’s a cross between a xylophone and a synthesizer. 
 

 

 

 

Guy was amazingly talented and obviously very very good at what he does. I think I just might not be a real xylophone fan. 
 

Mark absolutely loved it though. The man won’t do an Abba singalong, but thinks xylophone guy is great. Figures. 
 

David the xylophone guy did a bit with lasers that was pretty cool. I wasn’t supposed to take pictures though, so don’t tell!

 

[Ipeeinthepools]

I’ll toss in my two cents s about the shore excursions.  After making a couple of port stops and seeing what used to be bustling port cities that are now deserted it reinforces the fact that the pandemic still exists in these islands.  These islands are still trying to get their life back together and cruise ship excursions really aren’t their top priority.  For example after we left Dominica yesterday the island was going into lockdown for the weekend where the people can’t leave their homes.  I’ve also heard numerous complaints about the shore excursions: poor guides, poor organization, not enough time at the beach, etc., but people need to realize this is nearly a complete rebuilding process for these islands.  There are going to be a lot of bumps in the road for shore excursions for the indefinite future and if people can’t accept that, they should stay on the ship.  We were the first large ship to stop in Antigua in well over as year.  I’m sure that everyone is trying their best and it will take a while to train new guides and to polish up the tour stops.  There has never been more of a first world problem than a poor shore excursion from a cruise ship.

[brockmom]

42 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

I’ll toss in my two cents s about the shore excursions.  After making a couple of port stops and seeing what used to be bustling port cities that are now deserted it reinforces the fact that the pandemic still exists in these islands.  These islands are still trying to get their life back together and cruise ship excursions really aren’t their top priority.  For example after we left Dominica yesterday the island was going into lockdown for the weekend where the people can’t leave their homes.  I’ve also heard numerous complaints about the shore excursions: poor guides, poor organization, not enough time at the beach, etc., but people need to realize this is nearly a complete rebuilding process for these islands.  There are going to be a lot of bumps in the road for shore excursions for the indefinite future and if people can’t accept that, they should stay on the ship.  We were the first large ship to stop in Antigua in well over as year.  I’m sure that everyone is trying their best and it will take a while to train new guides and to polish up the tour stops.  There has never been more of a first world problem than a poor shore excursion from a cruise ship.

Agreed. I think a lot of people forget that the average islander hasn’t worked in a very long time, they are not vaccinated and have lost their world as they know it.  If we are fortunate to cruise in November it will be because we miss cruising and not making big plans for island tours.

Service sounds amazing to me after reading all these reviews….

kudos to Celebrity for these gigantic baby steps that they have achieved.

Brockmom

[aring75]

Day 7 - We’re in St Lucia today!

 

 

 

 

[aring75]

Today’s tour is St. Lucian Beach and BBQ Lunch. I will be back later to let you know how it goes!

 

 

 

[Ipeeinthepools]

FYI, St Lucia just changed the rules. You can only leave the port area with a Celebrity excursion.   Just the latest example of the islands doing whatever the can to protect themselves but trying restart some level of cruising.

 

 

[Harrylinden]

14 hours ago, cltnccruisers said:

You had me at bacon.  😀

I JUST read where Carnival was only going to serve bacon every other day because they are having a hard time getting bacon!  😛

[terrydtx]

3 minutes ago, Harrylinden said:

I JUST read where Carnival was only going to serve bacon every other day because they are having a hard time getting bacon!  😛

Well that is a good reason to not cruise, no I can still get sausage patties, I hope.😁

Edited August 21, 2021 by terrydtx

[Ipeeinthepools]

44 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

FYI, St Lucia just changed the rules. You can only leave the port area with a Celebrity excursion.   Just the latest example of the islands doing whatever the can to protect themselves but trying restart some level of cruising.

 

 

 

Upon further review, St Lucia has changed their minds an vaccinated guests can now go ashore indefinitely.  Just another example of the need to stay flexible and go with the flow.

[Ipeeinthepools]

It’s 9:00 am in St Lucia, this doesn’t look too bad for anyone who chooses to stay on the ship.

[39august]

Aring- How many chic nights on your cruise, please? We will be on a 12 night in late Sept. and I need to determine how many glitzy tops to pack. Thanks for your very detailed review. 

[cltnccruisers]

14 hours ago, terrydtx said:

I was thinking the exact same thing, imagine the thought of Vegan Bacon, yuk yuk. 

Had some "bacon" made from soy beans once.  It wasn't bad but I just couldn't get the movie "Soylent Green" out of my head.  ☹️

[terrydtx]

7 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

Had some "bacon" made from soy beans once.  It wasn't bad but I just couldn't get the movie "Soylent Green" out of my head.  ☹️

I had a tofu hot dog once and I think they would have been better if made from carboard. Soylent Green was one great movie, in the day.