EtherlyCC

We got off the Equinox on 16th October, we did Murano and Tuscan twice and Silk Harvest once. I would rate Murano's the best both times, then silk harvest and Tuscan would be last.

As previously stated service, food and pure ambience in Murano was excellent. The food and service in Silk harvest was also excellent though we did this on embarkation day. Tuscan on both occasions left us somewhat frustrated, food and service not the best. The online dinner packages an offer were very good as well, we got a 4 night one for $125 pp ($31 per dinner).

Hope this helps.

On the bar side of our cruise we used the sunset bar most days (Nestor, Milton and all staff were very good). On an evening we would have a drink in the Martini bar before dinner (Goose and Jonnie very good - sailed with both before), then we would frequent the sky lounge or the bar on deck 3 (forgot name) depending what entertainment was on after dinner. DW would try to make the show (7pm or 9pm) depending what time we had dinner. I would often get a drink from the Gastro bar as I drink cider and they have a good choice in there but would take it to wherever we were sitting (except sky bar as too far away).

Once again hope this helps.

Graeme

Hey there Graeme, where did you go on Kontiki beach - was there a place to get chairs and umbrellas and a bar with food service?

We went to the Mambo part and yes we got chairs, bar and food available if I remember correctly, on beach blends into another sometimes:eek:. Wasn't to expensive if my memory serves me correctly.

I am on the 10/27 sailing... can you tell me the night of which shows and who the entertainers were that were on your sailing, decent chances they may be the same. Also, was Richard Spacey your cruise director?

See earlier post (5) for guest shows, but the ship singers and dancers did 4 shows, I did not go but my DW did. She enjoyed 2, another was ok and she walked out of the other, don't know which ones though.

Yes Richard was our CD, he was excellent as ever.

Graeme

Did you try Silk Harvest by chance, and if yes, how was it? Sailing on Equinox December 2-9, Western Caribbean cruise! Have yet to try this Specialty restaurant!

We did Silk Harvest on the 1st night and our experience was excellent, great service and food, also got 30% discount ($25pp), We also did Murano twice (excellent both times) and Tuscan twice (very moderate service and food). Had we not already booked Tuscan twice we would have changed to silk harvest on second time but were told all were full.

This is our opinion.

Hi Graeme we are on the same cruise next week (in the U.K. and the rain is chucking down at the moment so looking forward to some sunshine)When you say you went to Nikki beach and Eagle beach area are they walking distance from the ship ? (we don’t have any walking difficulties) or did you get a bus/taxi ?

Again the same question for Kontiki Beach from the ship: walk /taxi ?

In Bonaire Can we walk into town from the ship?

What did you do in Grand Cayman? Are you able to walk to places?

We have booked a ship tour for Jamaica.

We are happy to book organised trips if needed but would prefer to wander off the ship and walk to places when possible,

Thank you

Hi Tac sorry for delay been busy catching up this weekend (grandkids, work etc.)

Nikki beach is $10 taxi ride towards the airport (10 mins max), eagle beach about $15 and the other way. Nikki beach is walkable but very hot, taxi is easy.

Grand Cayman we went to 7 mile beach, palm resort, taxi was $4pp, entrance was free but $12each for sun lounger, good facilities though.

Hope this helps

Love to hear what you did Aruba, Curacao & Bonaire. We have similar cruise on Equinox in October 2018 and have never been to those

ports. Also, was the entertainment good?

Thank you for you reply !!

Hi Kentucky, we had been to all the islands before and Aruba is one of our favourites. Here's what we did in each:

Aruba (11am - 11pm). Got off ship around 11.30 and headed for Nikki beach, this is a small beach near the airport, lovely and not crowded, also only $6 for a sunbed. We went back to the ship around 3.30, had a shower and change of clothes and headed up towards eagle beach area to a great beach bar called Bugaloe beach bar, this is next to the Riu hotel. Happy hour 5 - 6 and live music from 7pm. Great atmosphere, food and drinks. Got back to ship about 10pm - Great day.

Curacao (8 - 8), had a walk into town (10 mins walk) and did a little shopping. Then we headed to Kontiki beach for the afternoon. Again great day.

Bonaire (7 - 4), we had booked a private snorkelling trip with accompany called Woodwind. We have used them before and are excellent if you like to snorkel, thousands of fish on the reef. The cater for all levels of snorkelers, from beginners to expert, $55 pp incudes food and drinks. Then we had a walk in town, not a lot else to se in town but is very pretty. Again had a great day.

As for the entertainment, I am not a song and dance person but my DW is. She said the production shows were 'ok'. Guest entertainers were Ashley Amber - good (Whitney Houston act), December 63 act (did not see), comedian (did not see) and a guy doing impressions of singers on last night - dreadful, we have seen him before and gets no better. Highlight of the team is Richard Spacey the Cruise director he was excellent. The two house bands were only average, no oomph in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

Graeme

By having a great cruise in “most area”, can you share which port you did not enjoy?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We did not enjoy Jamaica but this port was a replacement for Key West. Having been here twice before we only had a walk around the port area shops which were selling same stuff in each one. Then back on the ship so really it was a bit like another sea day. Lots of people did the same.

Graeme

Hello everyone, we have just been on the Equinox October sailing out of Miami (Grand Cayman, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire and Falmouth. We had a great cruise in most areas.

Anybody has any questions or need any information please ask. I do not have many pictures and certainly not of any dailies, menus or food but I will help where possible.

Graeme (UK)

Don, I have 1 quick question, we were on Equinox 2 years ago and will be back on October 6th, there was a young English lad on the entertainments team called Jack (he did lots of the quizzes) just wondered if he was still about?

Pleased you having great cruise, how is the southern Caribbean weather?

G

Nothing better than a Bailey's on the balcony before bedtime.

Hi Whitshel, great live review enjoying all of it. We will be on board from 4th October, couple of asks, What is the entertainment like, especially the house band as we like to watch them late nights upstairs. Also have you had the blind disco yet in the martini bar, supposed to be very good, we did this once before on royal and it was a blast.

Thanks

G&S

Hope Kevin comes back to this review, it was just getting good.

Hi, we will be on her in 3 weeks time for reposition cruise to San Juan, would you be able to post a picture of the new menu in Tuscan grille if possible please.

Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

It looks like 3 dinners in Normandie and 2 in Qsine on the Summit. They will choose your first night for you and book the others. You can work with them once on board to change the rest around.

I take it that Normandie is now the Tuscan Grille?

Next question same package, what are our options on the Summit as there are only 2 speciality restaurants? We doing a 6 night cruise in October so will we be able to choose our 5 nights and where or do we have to go where and when we are told? don't know how this package works so any advice is more than welcome.

Thanks

Graeme

What's a T&C?

Terms and Conditions (contract)

Please could somebody help. Looking at a cruise that finishes in Los Angeles and then going to fly to Las Vegas for a few days. I need to know where the ship would dock in LA so I know how long it will take us to get to LAX for a flight.

Thanks in advance

Etherlycc

Hi everyone

Please could someone answer my question. We will be doing a 4 night cruise on the Constellation between Christmas and New Year and would like to know if there will be a formal night. Need to know whether to pack the Tux or not.

Thanks in advance

Etherlycc

Hi Beth, hope you got it sorted, loads of great advice on here, the power of cc strikes again. Send me an email to let me know all is ok.:)

G&S

I always use a US TA, always rings me back within an hour and it is always freephone when I ring him. Best deals and he will ring me to advise of better deals.

Pretty much as Andy says. Any OBC given by a TA is refundable and any OBC given by the cruise line is not. Also as other poster said, if you have both they will use the TA OBC 1st then the cruise line OBC. We had about $120 left from our last cruise (TA credit) and this was returned to my credit card after about a week.

Hope this helps as well.

Strongbow is 5.00, so it qualifies under the Classic package. Some ships also have Woodchuck Amber and Woodchuck Pear Cider, which I believe is 8.00 and is available at the Michaels Clubs on the Silhouette and the Reflection. Not 100% sure if any are available at the Micheals Club on the Summit.

Just to let you know when we were on the Summitt in April the woodchuck was available in the Michaels club. Also as I was the only person drinking it the very kind beverage manager from Eastern europe let me have it as part of my classic package. Great guy and so pleased I met him on embarkation day. I was having 4/5 every night.

We have the classic package again as part of the promo on the Equinox in September and it is always fine for us.

G

Thanks for the info! Was the "beer package" only for beer, or did it also include liquor and wine?

No it also includes wine, but no spirits.

Hi! Do both people in the room have to purchase the alcohol package or is that only if you are married? I am rooming with my cousin and I am pretty sure she won't want to do this, but I certainly do!

 

Are there other packages offered asides the $55 a day package?

Not sure how that would work, think you would have to ask. Only other package was a beer and wine package.

Hi, here is some information. We just got off the Vision last Friday and our barman in the Schooner (Jamie) told us this. As from the next sailing (Friday 23rd Nov) drinks packages would be available. There were two types, a premium package priced at $55 pp per day and a beer package (cannot remember the price). He said all passengers in a stateroom must purchase the package (no sharing). He said he had attended extra training that day with other bar staff to ensure all was clear.

We have in the past purchased drinks packages (last year on Granduer and year before on Millenium), both time we were offered a classic package priced at $45 pppd. Both were more than adaquately used and well worth the price tag. Not sure if they will adopt the classic package which allowed any drink upto the price of $8 and any beers upto $5.

Hope this helps.