Same Ship Different Season: An Equinox LIVE Solo Review (6/18/22)

[bunnyette]

Urgh I was thinking of booking a cruise over Christmas but your post has me rethinking that idea!

[TPCRUISER2]

Wow! Just found your Awesome thread tonight! Looking forward to the rest of your cruise! Thanks for sharing once again!

 

[KKB]

Sweetie, as a teacher & a parent, I 100% agree with you!

As a parent, no way in H*LL would my children behave that way!

As a teacher, I know darn well far too many parents do t want that tough job of parenting.

FINE

Then my teacher voice is gonna come out!!

 

Loving this TR, as others, & hope I can match your fab review in the future.

[GenerationX]

5 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 

Yikes! That definitely was not my experience.  I've only been back 36 hours, so just shaking off the jet lag.  If I write any kind of review I'll be sure to post the link for you.

Not to pressure you but I would LOVE!!! to see you write a trip review once you’ve fully recovered and have settled back into real life.
 

I’ve done some digging and there is a really void of first person feedback from solo cruising women on Silversea (especially from women who seem like they share my travel vibe).  
 

I don’t endorse bribery but if I need to sweeten the deal to you encourage you, FYI I’m gonna got to future cruises tomorrow to browse Ascent suite booking options and I’m pretty sure there’s no law that says my husband has to be the second passenger in that cabin…especially if the lady taking his spot recently did me a travel advice solid. 😉😂

[GenerationX]

Back to happy news! About my evening thus far…

 

I’m beginning to think maybe I should rename this thread “Murano LIVE Review” lol

 

But I promise that while I won’t be reposting pics of/reviewing the Murano dishes I’ve already talked about, I do have new info to share! 

 

Tonight I was a couple of minutes late for my reservation but it was wasn’t my fault I swear!  

As I was finishing my usual Ensemble Lounge pre-dinner live music and cocktail party with my fellow regulars/Komang and Abdul fan club members (btw I don’t know their CC handles and want to protect real names for privacy but please join me in wishing a very happy FORTIETH wedding anniversary to a lovely and hilarious  couple following this review who have become my new friends!), a headphone wearing conga line went dancing past the entrance to Murano and I had to wait till it got past to go in.  

 

Turns out that this cruise the Retreat had their own private silent disco party for suite guests in the lounge and it spilled out beautifully and briefly into Ensemble. Ugh, everything cool happens when I’m not sailing in a suite! This better still be a thing when I’m on Silhouette in a suite in December!

 

Anyway, when I got in the restaurant, I was escorted to what has become my usual table and had my usual wonderful serving team of Michael as my waiter and Pavle my sommelier. 

 

As I was perusing the menu Pavle came over and asked if it was too early to have a conversation about my wine order. I told him it is NEVER to early to talk to me about wine.

 

I told him that I was thinking about trying the lamb for my main course and he recommended pairing it with an Argentinian (of course) Malbec.

 

I also ordered the heavenly lobster bisque and risotto again to start.

 

This was my first time having the lamb in Murano. This is another one I have always passed on in a restaurant I paid a premium for since there’s other places on the ship you can get lamb chops (including the MDR).  I don’t think I’d order these over the Murano lobster, but if you’re in Murano and not a lobster/seafood person, these lamb chops are good. 

 

I wasn’t impressed with the sauce served on the side but the chops were tender and well crusted with a perfect balance of salt and earthy flavors and cooked to practically still going “baaa” in the center just as I ordered. 

 

Oh also if you get them, don’t forget to dig under the lamb rack where they’ve hidden a little Easter egg of a walnut sized spiced meatball.
 

 That meatball is so good that, if I’m ever blessed to have the means to book the penthouse suite on S-class and thus feel like I can make a high maintenance request (and not be completely out of line), I will ask if it’s possible to have a plate of them delivered to my (shock and awe caliber) stateroom each night for canapés.  

 

BTW random funny side story: My long time fantasy for if I ever could afford that penthouse suite has been to throw a big, extra, black tie only Gatsby party in that room and hire an onboard pianist to attend. Then lay across that grand piano in a blinged out evening gown, tiara and elbow length gloves drinking Veuve and singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and Josephine Baker’s version of “Begin the Beguine” while the pianist plays along.  But I heard that they’re 86ing the pianos in penthouse suites as part of the refurbs, so I’m working hard on letting that dream fade into the “modern luxury” sunset.

 

Anyway, back to the matter at hand.  For dessert I knew the Gran Marnier soufflé would put me well past being in any fit state for a Motown party so I tried something else new and did the gelato assortment, of course with my espresso and a glass of 10 year port. I really enjoyed the Pistachio and Chocolate gelato flavors and they happened to be the ones at the bottom of the dish for me, so don’t be afraid to dig deep!

 

More to come!

 

 

 

 

 

[abbydancer2003]

22 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

 

 

Tonight I was a couple of minutes late for my reservation but it was wasn’t my fault I swear!  

As I was finishing my usual Ensemble Lounge pre-dinner live music and cocktail party with my fellow regulars/Komang and Abdul fan club members (btw I don’t know their CC handles and want to protect real names for privacy but please join me in wishing a very happy FORTIETH wedding anniversary to a lovely and hilarious  couple following this review who have become my new friends!), a headphone wearing conga line went dancing past the entrance to Murano and I had to wait till it got past to go in.  

 

Turns out that this cruise the Retreat had their own private silent disco party for suite guests in the lounge and it spilled out beautifully and briefly into Ensemble. Ugh, everything cool happens when I’m not sailing in a suite! This better still be a thing when I’m on Silhouette in a suite in December!

 

I was talking to some people in the retreat on the Eclipse in 2019 (remember those days when you could just get on a ship and go?) and they told me that the Retreat Silent Disco used to be a regular thing, but people outside would see it, feel left out and complain so they stopped it.  Maybe they're restarting it?

 

They didn't have it in the Retreat on the Equinox in October.

 

Edited June 23, 2022 by abbydancer

[hcat]

We've been to to a  Gatsby wedding for a cousin.  We live on Long Island, NY....site of the story.   It was held in a north shore "Gatsby" style mansion on LI Sound.  Great fun!  Maybe we could do a Gatsby party on BEYOND...,not sure about the baby grand?? Easy to dress..black and white with the fancy headpiece or headband, bling etc for ladies. Men..also easy..hat, " gangster" couture,,dh loved doing it..but he is a very good sport. 

 

 Circling Back to the pool safety/ supervision issue; from recent water safety posting...great advice. For  some pool parties here for kids, a  life guard is hired.

Parents' watchful eyes are also needed.  Even kids who had lessons can get tired!

 

". Supervise

Adults should actively supervise children and stay within arm’s reach of young children and new swimmers. Kids should follow the rules. Designate someone to keep a close eye and constant attention on children and weaker swimmers in and around the water."

[AbbyCruiser45]

I’m sailing this same itinerary but on July 30th! Even though I’m only 28, I get cranky with rowdy kids too. Hopefully, my sailing will have less kids since it is during the start of the school year for kids in the south. 

[GenerationX]

Good Morning from Tortola BVI!

 

It probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone that I ended up in the sky lounge till midnight last night.  

 

My excursion today doesn’t assemble till late morning so I was planning to sleep in some, but around 7am I was awakened by the sound of blasting reggae music.  Turned out we had just docked in Tortola a stone’s throw from the Breakaway and I guess they start the pool party early on NCL.

 

Once again I briefly felt like an old lady and wanted to go out on my balcony with shades over my red eyes and shake my fist and shout at the neighbors “You kids keep it down over there! Aren’t YOU still sleeping off last night’s martinis and Malbec too??? I haven’t even had my Tylenol yet!”

 

Speaking of last night, after dinner I had a pick me up espresso martini with the Ensemble Lounge A-team (I’m gonna miss this crew so much when I go home) before heading to the Motown party. 

 

The Motown party definitely wasn’t as heavily attended as some of the Grand Foyer parties earlier in the cruise, but it was scheduled in competition with both live band karaoke and the late night adult game show which I think split crowds (not the worst thing in the time of Covid I guess). There was still a decent crowd though and not shy about getting on the dance floor.

 

Our dance band BR4 performed along side the brass section of the orchestra for the production shows.  The lead singer of the band has a voice to match her stage presence!

 

After the party wrapped up I headed up to the sky lounge which was also much less crowded than previous nights (guess all the newbies are starting to figure out that nightlife on an 8-night celebrity cruise is a marathon not a sprint).  

 

It looked like they may have lifted the 18+ age requirement for late night sky lounge last night because the biggest groups on the dance floor looked to be in the 13-16 age group.  I felt a little like I was crashing someone’s Bar Mitzvah, but the teens were well behaved and weren’t bothering anyone and looked to be having a great time and enjoying their cruise.  Some of the young men had some killer dance moves!  My hope for the future of rhythm in America is restored! 

 

Next up: a back in time report on St. Maarten!

 

 

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, hcat said:

We've been to to a  Gatsby wedding for a cousin.  We live on Long Island, NY....site of the story.   It was held in a north shore "Gatsby" style mansion on LI Sound.  Great fun!  Maybe we could do a Gatsby party on BEYOND...,not sure about the baby grand?? Easy to dress..black and white with the fancy headpiece or headband, bling etc for ladies. Men..also easy..hat, " gangster" couture,,dh loved doing it..but he is a very good sport. 

 

 Circling Back to the pool safety/ supervision issue; from recent water safety posting...great advice. For  some pool parties here for kids, a  life guard is hired.

Parents' watchful eyes are also needed.  Even kids who had lessons can get tired!

 

". Supervise

Adults should actively supervise children and stay within arm’s reach of young children and new swimmers. Kids should follow the rules. Designate someone to keep a close eye and constant attention on children and weaker swimmers in and around the water."

This is a BRILLIANT idea. We are DEFINITELY throwing a Gatsby party on Beyond!  I’ll let Red know too.  I need to join the roll call for that one as well.  I’ll be in a solo cabin so I probably won’t have room to host but perhaps we can make a friend in an Edge Villa or Iconic or maybe commandeer a corner of the new and improved Sunset Bar for the event.  I’ll even spring for the first bottle of Veuve.

 

You heard it here first, folks! Gatsby party on Beyond hosted by hcat and GenX! November 8th sailing! Anyone who wants in on this book your staterooms! 😁

[Reel Love]

As always GenX, a great live review!  😊   

Looking forward to hearing about your day in Tortola as that is one of the islands I have not been to yet but will be on our future cruise on the Equinox.

Btw.....you have fantastic taste in cruise dresses!!  Thank you for posting some of the links.
Have a fabulous day!! 😊

[Citymom92]

We are on this sailing July 2 and your review is giving me life! I love the detail, the stories, the pics. I know it’s not easy to post while on vacation but I just want to let you know how much it’s appreciated. It’s the first thing I check when I wake up! Thank you! Wish we were there with you this week! 
 

After doing a similar cruise on Milly last summer with only 500 passengers, now thinking a cruise the week of July 4 might be quite the shock. Only hoping there’s not a bunch of wild kids, which, as others have said, is a big part of why we like Celebrity so much. Anyway, can’t wait! 

[sdnich]

I’m really enjoying your review of your food and wine. I wish they had a Marano on the summit for our cruise in September !! But I also love your dresses I really like the green dress you just had on .Is that from  the same website on Amazon? I am more of a solid color dress person .

[Buckeye94]

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

This is a BRILLIANT idea. We are DEFINITELY throwing a Gatsby party on Beyond!  I’ll let Red know too.  I need to join the roll call for that one as well.  I’ll be in a solo cabin so I probably won’t have room to host but perhaps we can make a friend in an Edge Villa or Iconic or maybe commandeer a corner of the new and improved Sunset Bar for the event.  I’ll even spring for the first bottle of Veuve.

 

You heard it here first, folks! Gatsby party on Beyond hosted by hcat and GenX! November 8th sailing! Anyone who wants in on this book your staterooms! 😁

 

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I have been so inspired by your posts that I'm adding myself to the Beyond Nov 8 sailing!!!!  

[Jazzbo]

17 hours ago, hcat said:

As involved  grandparents of 2 young boys, we are often appalled at some free range parents we observe on vacations.....ignoring the kiddos, face in their devices etc,, We now hesitate to correct other's children b/c of parental  backlash.

 

... We are lucky that where we live most parents are  "eyes on".

 

 Strict rule we had with kids and  pools is that if your child is in the pool...you are too!. Still followed around here,  only takes a few seconds  of parental inattention for a child to go under...

 

Hope your comments are a wake up call to some who need it!

 

 

 

I agree, and I love "free range parents"! I haven't heard that term before, but it's perfect!

[julia]

@GenerationX  Most definitely NOT the curmudgeon!  We have witnessed this clueless, thoughtless pool behavior on several cruises and at resorts...  soooo annoying.  The absolute "I'm done" for us is hearing a screaming root-canal-without-novacaine game of Marco Polo.  And I don't even know where to start with the football!  😯😯😯

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

5 hours ago, hcat said:

Even kids who had lessons can get tired!

 

Or Olympic-caliber synchronized swimmers!! 

[GenerationX]

A belated report on my day on St. Maarten:

 

The excursion I booked was the Orient Beach Escape with Lunch.  

 

The excursion price included round trip transportation to the beach in an air conditioned motorcoach, a beach lounger (umbrellas for shade were an additional $5 US charge paid at the beach, cash only), a glass of rum or fruit punch at the beach and a sit down lunch at the beach restaurant with one drink (beer, soda, juice or water) included.

 

There were a lot of people on the excursion but they split us between two buses.

 

This was my first time back on St. Maarten since the hurricane and it looked like the island has recovered well, but you could still see the remnants of lots of destroyed homes and businesses spotted throughout  that hadn’t been rebuilt.

 

Orient Beach itself, while still beautiful and with that super soft white sand, wasn’t quite as nice. I remenber the water being so clear you could be chest deep and still see your toes.  The water still seemed clean but wasn’t that clear.  

 

There was also a little  sargassum which wasn’t a thing last time I was there. Nowhere near as much as I’ve seen in Cancun or the DR, but it was enough that it was giving the beach that signature funky smell and you had to dodge patches of it when swimming.  The water was a perfect temp for the hot day though and I didn’t let it stop me from floating around.

 

The beach vendors were also more persistent than I remember. It took 4 or 5 “no thank you’s” to get each one to move on.  I totally understand why though. The tourism industry on the island has really been through it between the hurricane and Covid lockdowns and the cruising suspension and our bus driver told us things still aren’t anywhere near back to where they used to be.  Equinox was one of only two ships scheduled to be in port the whole week.

 

I did buy a cute new pool coverup for me and a bracelet for GenZ from one lady. I negotiated aggressively (occupational habit) and ended up getting them both for $15 total.  

 

If you decide to do a massage or hair braiding from these ladies be sure to be clear and agree on a set price for the full service you expect before you start. I saw the ladies offer hair braiding for $4 “per braid” (negotiate down to $2 or $3) but not saying how many braids they would put in.  Same with massages. They’d say $2 “per minute”.   Be clear on how long you want the massage to go and the total amount you’ll be giving them.  You don’t want them to just keep going and run up a big bill for you.

 

The lunch in the restaurant was platted and full service. There was a choice of ribs, bbq chicken or mahi-mahi with salad and either rice or French fries on the side.  My ribs were nice and tender and you could tell the sauce was something they simmered low and slow for a good while.

 

I ate with a couple I met at World Class bar and they both got the mahi-mahi and said it was very good too.

 

We had about an hour and a half of beach time before lunch and then another half hour afterwards. It was a gorgeous day on a gorgeous beach with pretty good food and I’d 100% book it again.

 

We were asked to be back at the front of the restaurant to meet the bus back to the ship by 1:15.  At 1:25, our tour guide came on the bus, did a head count of us, and then disappeared with a concerned look on her face.  We all sat there on the bus (fortunately with the air running) for another 15 minutes then we saw our guide coming up from the beach with a man behind her carrying his heavily intoxicated, barely conscious and sunburned to a crisp wife in his arms. 

 

The guide helped the man put her under the beach shower to try and cool her down and wake her up some then got them a bottled water from the restaurant and a bag for her to use on the bus in case she got sick.

 

The guide also helped reseat the passengers sitting directly in front of and behind the couple, so they would be out of the line of fire in case the worst should happen.

 

It was a good reminder for me of why I’m careful to stay hydrated and keep an eye on my alcohol and sun intake on vacation.  There’s not a chance on earth that my 140lbs soaking wet husband would’ve been able to carry me all the way up that beach and onto that bus. He would have had to leave me to bake and find himself a new seasoned cruiser wife onboard to keep his Elite benefits.

 

 

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

3 hours ago, Buckeye94 said:

 

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I have been so inspired by your posts that I'm adding myself to the Beyond Nov 8 sailing!!!!  

 
 

Ok this is SUPER COOL!!! Now we have to start planning our Gatsby outfits for the party.
 

Oh and do you already have a map dress for embarkation day? 😂

 

Can’t wait to sail with you!

[GenerationX]

4 hours ago, Citymom92 said:

We are on this sailing July 2 and your review is giving me life! I love the detail, the stories, the pics. I know it’s not easy to post while on vacation but I just want to let you know how much it’s appreciated. It’s the first thing I check when I wake up! Thank you! Wish we were there with you this week! 
 

After doing a similar cruise on Milly last summer with only 500 passengers, now thinking a cruise the week of July 4 might be quite the shock. Only hoping there’s not a bunch of wild kids, which, as others have said, is a big part of why we like Celebrity so much. Anyway, can’t wait! 

Thank you! I won’t lie to you. The passenger count jump after sailing half full ships was a big adjustment.  
 

The first day or 2 I found myself thinking “who the dickens are all these PEOPLE on MY ship??? This is OUTRAGEOUS!” 😂

[Buckeye94]

7 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

 
 

Ok this is SUPER COOL!!! Now we have to start planning our Gatsby outfits for the party.
 

Oh and do you already have a map dress for embarkation day? 😂

 

Can’t wait to sail with you!

I think I met @Jim_Iain on a Greek Isles cruise out of Rome on Edge back in fall 2019. They may have been the kind souls to loan me $2 so I could get back to the ship. The details are sketchy!

 

Hmm, I may need to get a map dress. Definitely shopping for something Gatsby appropriate! 

 

I'm so excited! My next cruise wasn't until my 12-night Patagonia cruise in January. This is perfect!

[luv2camp04]

Great review on St. Maarten.  We were there in March.  For those that are happy to just grap a taxi to Orient Beach, I would suggest the following.  We got to the beach and rented loungers and umbrella at Le String.  It included a free drink for each of us.  I can't remember the cost, maybe $20 for both of us?  However, we decided to try the Le String restaurant.  OMG!!!  Some of the best food I've had in a long time.  Basically a lovely French restaurant.  I had Chicken Marsala Linguine and my husband had a Seafood Linguine.  Huge portions (next time we'll share since we can't bring home the leftovers).  I also had the nicest Rose wine for only $5/glass!  

 

Ok, Gen X, sorry to highjack.  Thanks!!

[Buckeye94]

35 minutes ago, Buckeye94 said:

I think I met @Jim_Iain on a Greek Isles cruise out of Rome on Edge back in fall 2019. They may have been the kind souls to loan me $2 so I could get back to the ship. The details are sketchy!

 

Hmm, I may need to get a map dress. Definitely shopping for something Gatsby appropriate! 

 

I'm so excited! My next cruise wasn't until my 12-night Patagonia cruise in January. This is perfect!

Ugh, I wish I could edit for a longer window! 

 

@GenerationX I meant to say that I think I met @Jim_Iain (maybe, possibly), and it will be nice to meet more people like you and @hcat since I've followed you all for so long here!

 

Julie

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

43 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Thank you! I won’t lie to you. The passenger count jump after sailing half full ships was a big adjustment.  
 

The first day or 2 I found myself thinking “who the dickens are all these PEOPLE on MY ship??? This is OUTRAGEOUS!” 😂

 

That's how I felt on the Summit this spring when we went from 350 pax on the first cruise to 1600 on the second one!  I walked into Bacio the first morning of the second cruise and asked my favorite server where did all these people come from?!

[julia]

Hey....  this IS crazy, but after nearly 30 cruises with the DH, I may just be ready to branch out and celebrate my November birthday solo on the Beyond.  At least I won't have to arrange for cat care and airport rides!