TR Celebrity Equinox 11/12-21

[KKB]

We met a fun couple from Houston on the Equinox in 2018 & had been trying ever since to cruise together again.

So it was kismet that we ended up BACK on the Equinox to celebrate their 39th anniversary!

 

We have NEVER laughed so much! They were SUCH a joy to travel with & we WILL do it again! (and also plan a trip to Houston!)

Let me just say, I am outgoing--but this couple takes it to new heights. I swear they know half the ship before the trip is over!

 

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza right down from the port. Price & location were right, with a restaurant on site. Have stayed before, will again.

 

We had originally booked an interior a few steps from the Passport bar...thought DH would love this when I am still getting ready but he is not! 

We did do a min bid upgrade to a balcony ($175@) & GOT IT--and happened to be on the same floor as our friends (7)! 

Great floor--easy to run down the stairs floors 3-5 where all the action is, and not too far up to the Lido deck.

That being said, once again we realize we rarely use a balcony! Seriously...spent maybe 10 min. out there!

 

I will do posts on various aspects of the cruise: dining, entertainment, ports, casino, etc.

[KKB]

Dining:

Buffet:

I do like the layout of their buffet; it seems to alleviate crowds.

We mostly ate for breakfast, usually after 9. 

Food generally quite good. Ate lunch once or twice & dinner once when we had a late excursion.

 

Mast Grill:

Our GO TO for lunch & it did not disappoint. 

I did ask for a gluten free bun one day--BLECH. I stuck with a no-bun burger after that!

I was going to get a hot dog all week but those burgers were so good I never did!

 

MDR:

OH MY GOODNESS.

Food was very good every meal.

But our service was OUTSTANDING. 

We had the same servers every night & we forgot how special it can make dining! We have had many great MDR experiences, but this was THE BEST.

Christopher was our waiter, Alvin our asst waiter, Sladjan our sommallier, Perpetua our bar server & Jasper was the asst maitre de. We TRULY cannot say enough about all of them! They fed off our humor & energy & had just as much fun with us as we did with them--all the while providing EXCEPTIONAL service!!

Honestly--I want to go back just to be with them again!

[KKB]

Activities:

We did some trivia, some game shows.

Game shows are held in the "entertainment court''--basically a walk thru with a dozen chairs. 

I remember this from 2018 & I find this to be a design flaw. 

Game shows should be held in a lounge with sufficient seating, and therefore they don't get the same energy in this space as many people stop for a moment & move on as no seating is available.

This is NO fault of the activities staff imo.

 

We were the only people to dress for the 60s & 80s nights--and the activities staff took note & enjoyed our extra effort. DJ Chris would personally remind us to be at silent discos early to get front row seats & get the party started! There were 4 silent discos...we didn't make it to the one on the last night. But we were out until 1AM the 1st 4 nights dancing so much my hair was drenched! THAT indicates a good night of dancing! 

 

We met so many of the most wonderful people on the cruise at dinner & at these events--some who we even exchanged numbers with to try to visit or cruise with again.

[KKB]

Casino

We spent a bit of time playing poker tournaments & video poker. 

I did well in poker, cashing 3 times while poor DH did not have much luck!

We did overhear a guy hitting a royal flush on a table game (3 card poker? TX Hold Em shootout? not sure....) but it seems he won several thousand dollars for that!

 

Emily was the casino host & she was LOVELY--and it was her 1st week!!!

She did a GREAT job managing events, all the while being a great hostess, chatting people up all week.

 

I LOVE that this casino is non-smoking!!!!!

[Smmessineo]

@KKBThanks for your trip review! Sounds like great crew and a  lively atmosphere onboard.  We're boarding the Equinox on Thursday, and we plan on continuing the party you started ! 

 

 

[lola2013]

I’ll be sailing on Equinox in February…Third sailing on her.  Thanks for creating even more enthusiasm!  CANNOT WAIT……😎

[mahdnc]

Nice review!!

[sweetp0618]

I was on the same sailing. I went with a friend who was a cruise newbie and she's hooked! Veranda cabin. The food and service were outstanding. Entertainment was good to very good. Spent a good deal of our time in the solarium and on our balcony. This was the best Celebrity cruise I've been on. I was especially happy after an underwhelming Alaska 11-day in September that had poor food and service.

 

 

[KKB]

Sorry had to go watch TCU kick some butt then spend DD's last evening at home with her!

 

Shows:

Only attended 2.

One was Life. I think this one was also on Edge & Apex. I loved the song choices but otherwise it lost something from the big Eclass theatre.

We went to the comedian's 18+ show. He was pretty funny, tho it was still a fairly clean show.

This is high praise--I must say in all our cruises funny comedians are few & far between. Seems they are either great or BAD.

[KKB]

Ports

 

Nassau

HOLY COW this place was a MESS. 5 ships, port construction & a rememberance parade at 11...I had a panic attack & said GET ME OUT OF HERE. (a very pushy local trying to talk us into getting a cab was no help...I am trying to think straight in all this chaos & she WILL NOT STOP. So I ask her to please stop & she tells me not to be rude! Sheesh...)

We have been to Nassau MANY times & were finally going to check out Atlantis. Oh, well, another time. 

Did nothing for my lack of love affair with the place. 

Apparently they will soon be able to hold EIGHT ships/day--up to 33K/day. 

NO THANK YOU

We will try to see Atlantis some day but otherwise I don't see getting of the ship there again.

The pool deck was VERY busy so clearly many others feel the same way.

 

Grand Cayman

We stayed on the ship.

We had done a full island tour in July & a recent hurricane had apparently left 7 Mile Beach a bit of a mess plus I'm not a huge fan of waiting around for tenders if I don't have to.

The pool deck was not nearly as busy so it was a pleasant day by the pool.

 

Aruba

We wandered around the downtown (?) area near the port. Stopped at Lucy's for a snack & a drink, Stopped at the casino across the street (turned $10 freeplay into $20 on slots then proceeded to lose it all on video poker). Grabbed a drink at Hoya behind the casino. Then ate a late lunch at Cuban Cooking. YUM-MY! Tapas from 2-6 for $5-8. Cuban sandwich bites, beef ends, wings, plantains with BBQ pork, calamari, shrimp. We just shared about 8 plates & LOVED it. Met the owner who is from Cuba. HIGHLY recommend!

We then did a sunset catamaran cruise thru the ship for $75/2. This was a lovely night (some very light rain later), the drinks flowed. Loved it. Great value, imo.

 

Bonaire

We had done Aruba before (hit the beaches--highly recommend) but never Bonaire. Our nephew lived there for a time & suggested Sorobon beach. Lucky us, there was a ship excursion that included an island tour & a visit there for $75/2--another great value! We saw the salt flats/flamingos, slave houses& lighthouse before spending a few hours at a LOVELY beach (chair & possible umbrella included).He also suggested we hit Havanna bar for a drink but we got back 15 min. before we were to head out so not an option.

 

Regarding the cost of the excursion--last summer we spent $175 each for a Cozumel excursion as we couldn't get off the ship unless we had a ship excursion & it was the only one that interested us. It was FANTASTIC. Worth every penny (it was tequila tasting, Maya ruins & cooking class).

Last summer DM & I took a $40 tour of Nassau that was pretty sad. To the tour driver's credit, a couple places wouldn't let us in (still very COVID sensitive). I vowed to never go so cheap again.

But our friends suggested these 2 & they were GREAT!

 

 

[KKB]

BEST parts:

Our friends

Dining staff

Aruba & Bonaire

Silent discos & other dances

Activities staff

Craft Social bartenders (hey, they got a LOT of college/pro football on for us!)

Casino staff

 

Least fav parts:

Nassau

Game shows (they are just more fun when held in a lounge, imo)

No trivia prizes??!! 

Game show prizes were pretty sad--lime green lanyards, pens that don't even say Celebrity? 

(hey, between Eclass ship prizes & Princess prizes I've gotten pretty spoiled: champagne, water bottles, tees, hats, chargers, leather notebooks)

 

Wish I had spent more time at:

Balcony?? (was just too busy! or it was too hot to sit out there; and no light out there at night)

Sky Lounge--maybe just hanging out reading a book

Sunset bar (sangria!)

World Class Bar (did get drinks there before dinner a couple nights; we vowed to daily but got busy!)

 

Once again a fantastic time.

Now onto our NCL Encore poker cruise next weekend!

[Silkroad]

Great review. Thanks!