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

[Jim_Iain]

49 minutes ago, beverland said:

Good day!  I live on St. Croix and am an avid Celebrity Cruiser.  Our main town is Christiansted town, not Fredericksted.  In the future, I would recommend taking a cab to Christiansted if you do not have a shore excursion or take a cab for an island tour.  Unfortunately, this was the first ship here in almost 2 years and the vendors were at a minimum.  Also, August is our very slow month and many business owners take their vacations in August and lots of businesses are closed.  However, I hope you enjoyed "limin" here.  It is a chill island and we'd love to see you again.

@beverland Wonder if you could let me know if there is a duty free shop for cigarettes in Fredericksted or whether we will have to go to Christianstead to find them?

[mkblinzler]

On 8/13/2021 at 6:22 PM, aring75 said:

Can you believe we are finally getting back to cruising?! Have you been reading every single LIVE thread just hoping it helps the time move a little faster, like I have? Are you so ready to get back onboard that you’ve been packed for two weeks!? No? Just me?

 

My husband Mark and I are onboard Equinox for twelve whole days (!) starting Sunday. Our ports have been changed, but we DO NOT care. We are so happy just to get back onboard that we could float around for twelve days and be supremely happy. 
 

 

Went today to CVS Minute Clinic for our rapid antigen tests. Q-tip in the nose. Easy peasy.
 

 

Nurse will call with results in 20 minutes. Felt like I held my breath that long. 
 

Phone call on the way home…

 

 

 

 

Question about the CVS testing - did you get an email? Did you get a “travel certificate ?” Our son moved back to US from Sweden and they needed travel certificates for their flights.

Did you get a travel certificate?
 

Thank you Marcia 

[MR_T]

4 hours ago, aring75 said:

The Veuve Riche Rosé was excellent. A little sweeter than the regular Rosé, but had a nice full-bodied richness (for lack of a better word). If you like your bubbles a little on the sweet side, I would certainly recommend this one. 

Thanks for the recommendation, it sounds like something I’d like… a lot 🥂

[MR_T]

1 hour ago, SonuvaBeach said:

Sushi on 5 is awesome..my wife won't eat anything raw, and she LOVES Sushi on 5..we skip the buffet and  go there for lunch on the first day of every cruise.

We are the same but in reverse, the wife loves all the raw stuff and I’ll only eat the non-raw stuff and I’ve never left hungry 😋 it’s a great option for a quiet lunch. 

[biscuitsandhoney]

19 hours ago, luckybecky said:

 

We used the gym 3 times to run on the treadmill. The app said reservations were required. My husband noticed that right away and worried about it, but it turned out to be nothing. We did not make reservations and no one was in the gym checking reservations. You just walked right in. There was no check in procedure of any kind. We hardly saw any staff at all, in fact. And the gym did not seem crowded at all during our cruise a few weeks ago, even on sea days which is when we used it. No problem getting a machine. I think you do have to make reservations for classes, but not just for general use of the gym, in our experience.

Thank you so much for the information! After I saw the pics of the pool I thought - the gym can't possibly be more crowded than the pool! We really appreciate you taking the time to research and respond. Cheers to you!!

Lisa and Kevin

[Fatty_Nicky]

Question, were there guests and officers at the Captains Table during the “evening chic” dinners, did you happen to notice?

 

thank you….

[Seany527]

3 hours ago, jg51 said:

.

Good evening, "aring75."  Long time, no chat!

 

Three days ago (as shown above -- from page 7 of your amazing review), you told us about your purchase of the "Drinks and More" beverage package.  We now have a couple of questions about this package.  We're sure that you won't mind answering the first one (which is so simple), but we need to ask you to speak to your stateroom steward about the second question -- hoping that you'll forgive us for that imposition.

 

(1)  In past threads about "Drinks and More," there have been multiple mentions that the package includes Pringles chips, not just Kind bars.  Have the Pringles now been eliminated -- or is it possible that you were "shortchanged"?  [Actually, maybe you need to ask your steward about this too!]

 

(2)  A person who has traveled solo has asked us a question about "Drinks and More" [D&M] that we cannot answer -- neither from personal experience, nor from searching this board, nor from reading Celebrity FAQs.  The reason that the answer is so "elusive" is probably the fact that (a) there are so few solo travelers and (b) there are even fewer "soloists" that have purchased the D&M package.  Here's the dilemma:

 

According to the "X" FAQs, the D&M includes "all the benefits of the Classic and Premium Beverage Packages ... plus ... two bottles of wine ... [plus] $50 in casino free play ... [plus] a wine-tasting experience [plus] Minibar included and replenished daily if two adults in your stateroom purchase this package."  [Our emphasis was added.]

 

Based on the wording of the highlighted passage -- if it is taken literally -- it would seem that a solo passenger would be denied part of what he/she paid for: the right to consume minibar items.  We think that the purpose of the restriction is to prevent a second adult in a stateroom from (unjustly) using any of the minibar items without having paid for a second D&M package.  However, when there is only solo traveler in the stateroom, we believe that he/she should be allowed to use the minibar, because there is no possibility of injustice.  (We hope that you agree with this logic!)

 

Anyway, if it would not be too much of a burden, could you please ask your steward whether or not a soloist that has purchased a D&M package would be allowed to use the minibar (and have it replenished daily)?  There is no need to get the answer in a hurry.

 

Thanks, in advance -- and we hope that you will continue to enjoy your travels, your great food, and your interesting beverages!

 

PS:  We have always avoided "Sushi On 5" due to the same reluctance that Mark had [not wanting to "eat bait"], but you have almost persuaded us to reconsider this!

Wow, that’s a mouthful of a question. 😣

 

Anyway, I was on the Equinox a few weeks ago, traveled solo and purchased D&M. 
 

Pringles were still included but due to the pandemic, the ship was out of stock. From other reviews and photos, it seems the only ship that has Pringles is the Edge.

 

As far as being solo, I only got one bottle of wine, $50 casino credit and because I was the only person in the room, I was able to use the minibar at no additional charge.

 

 

[LGW59]

4 minutes ago, Seany527 said:

Wow, that’s a mouthful of a question. 😣

 

Anyway, I was on the Equinox a few weeks ago, traveled solo and purchased D&M. 
 

Pringles were still included but due to the pandemic, the ship was out of stock. From other reviews and photos, it seems the only ship that has Pringles is the Edge.

 

As far as being solo, I only got one bottle of wine, $50 casino credit and because I was the only person in the room, I was able to use the minibar at no additional charge.

 

 

No pringles!?!?  Ok celebrity enough is enough already! 

[aring75]

4 hours ago, jg51 said:

 

(1)  In past threads about "Drinks and More," there have been multiple mentions that the package includes Pringles chips, not just Kind bars.  Have the Pringles now been eliminated -- or is it possible that you were "shortchanged"?  [Actually, maybe you need to ask your steward about this too!]

 

(2)  A person who has traveled solo has asked us a question about "Drinks and More" [D&M] that we cannot answer -- neither from personal experience, nor from searching this board, nor from reading Celebrity FAQs.  The reason that the answer is so "elusive" is probably the fact that (a) there are so few solo travelers and (b) there are even fewer "soloists" that have purchased the D&M package. 

We don’t have Pringles and the stateroom attendant doesn’t know about them. 
 

Also he is probably not the person to ask about how it will work with a solo passenger. I think it would be best if your solo friend emailed Celebrity with this question. At least that way they might get something in writing before their cruise if the cruise line allows them to purchase solo. 

[aring75]

3 hours ago, beverland said:

Good day!  I live on St. Croix and am an avid Celebrity Cruiser.  Our main town is Christiansted town, not Fredericksted.  In the future, I would recommend taking a cab to Christiansted if you do not have a shore excursion or take a cab for an island tour.  Unfortunately, this was the first ship here in almost 2 years and the vendors were at a minimum.  Also, August is our very slow month and many business owners take their vacations in August and lots of businesses are closed.  However, I hope you enjoyed "limin" here.  It is a chill island and we'd love to see you again.

Thank you for chiming in about the port at Fredericksted. I appreciate all the information you were able to provide for future cruisers!

 

We have visited St Croix several times and have always enjoyed it here. Things are a little (maybe a lot) different at the moment so it will probably take a little time for the island’s residents and also it’s visitors to get back to a sense of normalcy. 
 

We will certainly return. 

[aring75]

3 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

 

what caused her to be tested?

or is everyone is tested before coming aboard from st croix?

this for every port?

Captain said she was displaying symptoms and called medical. 

[aring75]

2 hours ago, mkblinzler said:

Question about the CVS testing - did you get an email? Did you get a “travel certificate ?” Our son moved back to US from Sweden and they needed travel certificates for their flights.

Did you get a travel certificate?
 

Thank you Marcia 

We did get an email, but you have to create a CVS my chart account in order to access the online record. (The email doesn’t tell you anything. It’s just a link to the my chart site.)

 

We did not receive anything that says travel certificate. If it’s necessary to have a specific type of paperwork, it might be best to contact the testing provider directly. 

[aring75]

38 minutes ago, Fatty_Nicky said:

Question, were there guests and officers at the Captains Table during the “evening chic” dinners, did you happen to notice?

 

thank you….

We dined in Sushi on 5 for chic night. So didn’t notice, sorry!

[aring75]

24 minutes ago, Seany527 said:

Wow, that’s a mouthful of a question. 😣

 

Anyway, I was on the Equinox a few weeks ago, traveled solo and purchased D&M. 
 

Pringles were still included but due to the pandemic, the ship was out of stock. From other reviews and photos, it seems the only ship that has Pringles is the Edge.

 

As far as being solo, I only got one bottle of wine, $50 casino credit and because I was the only person in the room, I was able to use the minibar at no additional charge.

 

 

There you go!

 

Thanks Seany527!

[aring75]

Phew! I think I’m caught up questions/comments. 
 

Dinner in the MDR again tonight. 
 

 

[terrydtx]

25 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

No pringles!?!?  Ok celebrity enough is enough already! 

Can't believe how some people get hung up on such minutia as whether or not Pringles are available for a cabin.  LOL!!!

Edited August 19, 2021 by terrydtx

[LGW59]

3 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Can't believe how some people get hung up on such minutia as whether or not Pringles are available for a cabin.  LOL!!!

I’m just hoping and praying that they have Cheetos.

[aring75]

I haven’t mentioned it yet, but every night they have different buttery spreads to go with the bread basket. 
 

Tonight was a goat cheese butter, regular unsalted butter (you get this one every night), and baba ghanoush. There are different flavors every night. 
 

 

 

Enjoyed my escargot tonight. 
 

Strike that. Ate a few snails so I could get to some delicious garlic butter in which I proceeded to dip so many pieces of crusty French bread that it may have been slightly embarrassing. 
 

 

 

The wedge salad. Before and after dressing. 
 

 

[aring75]

Just now, LGW59 said:

I’m just hoping and praying that they have Cheetos.

Make that Jalapeño Ranch Ruffles and I might never leave the room. 😁

[aring75]

Mark had the Steak and Chips

 

 

 

I went for the Branzino. Both were very good. 
 

 

 

I also signed up for a Grgich Hills wine tasting on the last sea day.

 

[aring75]

Dessert!!

 

 

Mark had the apple pie a la mode. 
 

 

 

And I tried the Tiramisu. 
 

[ejnsb]

Just want to say thank you for this great live report.  We have sailed a dozen times or so but never on Celebrity.   On the Edge Nov 28 and soaking up all the Celebrity info I can.  Great report.

[aring75]

Stand up comedian tonight. He was okay. His show was mostly poking fun at members of the audience. I like it better when there’s an actual “set” and it’s interspersed with audience participation here and there. He got a few good laughs, but there were also awkward moments. 
 

 

 

[cangelmd]

7 hours ago, aring75 said:

The Veuve Riche Rosé was excellent. A little sweeter than the regular Rosé, but had a nice full-bodied richness (for lack of a better word). If you like your bubbles a little on the sweet side, I would certainly recommend this one. 

Thanks, sounds delicious, I think that was the one served with the dessert at this dinner.

 

[terrydtx]

14 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

I’m just hoping and praying that they have Cheetos.

If they do not have BBQ Kettle chips I am writing a 3 page letter to Celebrity and then canceling my upcoming cruise.