Equinox 9/5 & 9/17 review from Non-Suite passenger

[blueboro]

2 hours ago, Projunior said:

Was the crew masked? Neither the crew nor the passengers were masked on our July 17 Summit cruise out of St. Martin. It was heavenly and for seven days I could look around the ship, with nary a mask in sight, and dream I was cruising in some prehistoric era, like 2019.

Crew was masked other than entertainers / speakers / cruise director and other entertainment staff.  Pax were not thankfully.

[jg51]

On 9/27/2021 at 2:43 PM, wrk2cruise said:

... They ran out of caffine free Diet Coke by the end of the first sailing [9/5-9/17].   They got none for the second sailing [9/17-9/26] so were totally out.   By the end of the second sailing they were out of ginger ale and limes.   Bar tenders were dreading the first day of the new sailing without supplies.  They were also thankful we had such smooth seas as I guess the demand for ginger ale goes way up with rough weather.

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There was some ginger ale aboard, but one had to know where to go for it.  When it was requested in Ensemble Lounge (deck 5), on the 2nd-last day of the cruise, one bartender knew that he had to go all the way up to the Mast Bar to get some cans.

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On 9/27/2021 at 10:11 PM, BillfromWV said:

We were on the 9/17 sailing.  33% passengers on board.  Only ONE positive covid case.  Some masking.  Not many.  Not crowded.  Never more than 4 on an elevator.  Shows are decent except violinist.  Passport bar staff awesome.  Didn't think casino was crowded.  Food was good.  Staff excellent.  Were also on 8/15 sailing.  Excellent both times.

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Bill, we agree with almost everything you said.  The big difference of opinion is on the violinist (actually half of a duo with a virtuoso guitarist).  This was the most talented violinist we have ever seen [live] in our lives.  He was incredibly good, able to do things with his instrument that we had never seen/heard before. 

 

We enjoyed the Passport bar, but would not single out only that bar's staff, because we would praise every server and tender at every bar on the ship.  The friendliness, competence, and efficiency were the best we have ever seen in fifteen years of cruising.

 

The normal maximum passenger capacity of Equinox is 2,850.  On the twelve-night 9/5 cruise, there were roughly 1,200 people aboard.  On the nine-night 9/17 cruise, there were only about 975 people aboard, and about 50 of those were consecutive cruisers.  One could go to many public areas aboard the ship and find no one else within view. 

 

Elevators were usually empty and went up ten floors, lickety-split.  It was marvelous (though not for Celebrity's bank account).

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On 9/28/2021 at 5:14 AM, LMHSRN said:

Good chance you might get moved.  Seems deck 6 is being utilized for staff and entertainers.

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Actually, deck 6 is being used for something very different.  True, it has no normal guests.  Instead it is the quarantine deck for newly arrived crew members, who must stay within their  (outside/veranda?) cabins for about two weeks before they can begin performing their duties.  EVERY little table that is normally kept inside the deck 6 cabins is now outside the doors, because boxed meals are delivered to the quarantinees and are placed on those tables.  Some cabins on deck 6 are unoccupied, and their doors are wide open.

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On 9/29/2021 at 3:53 PM, Projunior said:

Was the crew masked? Neither the crew nor the passengers were masked on our July 17 Summit cruise out of St. Martin. It was heavenly and for seven days I could look around the ship, with nary a mask in sight, and dream I was cruising in some prehistoric era, like 2019.

Every single crew member was required to wear a mask, except for those who were working outdoors (e.g., at an open-air bar [Sunset, Pool, Mast, Oceanview].  It was obvious that the masks -- often double layers -- caused some [perhaps 10%] of the indoor crew members great discomfort, because they would expose their noses -- and rarely their mouths -- to get some cool, fresh air.  At least one bartender got into trouble for completely uncovering his face for an extended period of time.  (We find masks to be disgusting, in every way, so we felt very sorry for the crew.)

 

More later (maybe).

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Edited October 4, 2021 by jg51

[Cruise a holic]

We will be cruising in a few weeks.  We will wear masks indoors, especially in the theatre and elevators for certain.  We have had our covid boosters, but have heard of many cases in Florida so we are concerned.  We will also wear masks and practice social distancing when off the ship.

[Illsticktocrusing]

Thank you everyone for your comments and questions as they are helping me plan and set my own expectations.  We are sailing on the 20th and while we are experienced cruisers, we are planning for things to be different this time around.  

 

As for Celebrity running out of supplies, I believe it was on the Solstice and they ran out of Splenda and Equal.  I happen to grab a bunch in the beginning of the cruise for our morning coffee in the room.  😀