EQUINOX - 10 Day Ultimate Caribbean - Picture Trip Report 3/14/14...

[FRMPEI]

Kevin,

 

As I said before...you put me to shame. You have also inspired me. This week, I will purchase my FIRST Sony camera (the DSC-HX50V/B)! My old Canon just won't do anymore.

 

Thanks again for the excellent report!

 

Dwayne

 

Hi Dwayne,

 

I am just looking at the Future Shop (Canada) Flyer and I see that the DSC-HX50V is on for $330 CDN. Which is cheaper than what I pad for the HX30V. Speaking of the my HX30V I had to send it back to Sony service this week. Somehow during the cruise I got dirt/debris either on the sensor or the lense. I Purchased Accidental Damage Extended Warranty from Sony so I should be good. Keep fingers crossed and maybe they will send back the HX50V. There were some pictures I could not share here because they looked like they had smudges on them.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

[FRMPEI]

I'm assuming you used some sort of automated program to do this. You could allow longer screen time by removing all the menu and daily shots which one can't appreciate at this pace. But my guess is this would require a lot of work and you may not want to go there.

 

Thanks for your review. It was fun.

 

I Went There...

 

Be careful what you ask for. I use Apple's Aperture to create slideshows. I took your suggestion and removed all the Celebrity Today's and menus. Increased each slide time from 0.5 to 1.5 seconds for a total slideshow of 13 minutes. I am not really a big fan of Cruise slideshows but, at least this slideshow is related to the Photo Trip Report. (Anybody Notice that first song is called "Slow it Down")

 

 

[YOUTUBE]8AegU_cgUiY[/YOUTUBE]

 

On a side note I hope to get some video footage put together that I will share here.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

Edited May 8, 2014 by FRMPEI

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

I Went There...

 

Be careful what you ask for. I use Apple's Aperture to create slideshows. I took your suggestion and removed all the Celebrity Today's and menus. Increased each slide time from 0.5 to 1.5 seconds for a total slideshow of 13 minutes. I am not really a big fan of Cruise slideshows but, at least this slideshow is related to the Photo Trip Report. (Anybody Notice that first song is called "Slow it Down")

 

On a side note I hope to get some video footage put together that I will share here.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

 

Well, we ship junkies can never get enough. How fun to have this as a souvenir of your trip! You looked like you had a great time. You may turn me into an Apple junkie yet. Have an iPhone and an iPad, but haven't made the leap to the computer yet because of the investment in software for the PC.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Happy Cruiser 6143

[wallie5446]

Very nice Mr Reid!

[chamima]

Thanks!!!!! :D

MUCH better (for me anyways! ;) )

I could actually focus on each picture.

[Tommy3putts]

Love it. Can't wait to see the gopro in action!

[dcarter4]

Hi Dwayne,

 

I am just looking at the Future Shop (Canada) Flyer and I see that the DSC-HX50V is on for $330 CDN. .... I had to send it back to Sony service this week. Somehow during the cruise I got dirt/debris either on the sensor or the lense. I Purchased Accidental Damage Extended Warranty from Sony so I should be good.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

 

Kevin, I'll keep my fingers crossed for your camera!!

 

Dwayne

[SavvyAdam]

Well, we ship junkies can never get enough. How fun to have this as a souvenir of your trip! You looked like you had a great time. You may turn me into an Apple junkie yet. Have an iPhone and an iPad, but haven't made the leap to the computer yet because of the investment in software for the PC.

 

Take the leap over the Mac side you won't be disappointed. "Once you go Mac you never go back!"

[Tommy3putts]

I drank the apple cool-aide a long time ago.

[dani negreanu]

Just booked 3 days ago a Venice-Istanbul Med cruise. I've only been with Celebrity on Xpedition (Galapagos), which is basically a big yacht, so I wanted to get the feeling of this ship, and you provided a very detailed and witty report.

I can also relate to the high cost of flying to all those interesting places around the world, from the [my] other side of the "pond"... That's why I have so few cruises "under my belt" :mad:

Thank you for taking the time to share, Daniela

[FRMPEI]

Just booked 3 days ago a Venice-Istanbul Med cruise. I've only been with Celebrity on Xpedition (Galapagos), which is basically a big yacht, so I wanted to get the feeling of this ship, and you provided a very detailed and witty report.

I can also relate to the high cost of flying to all those interesting places around the world, from the [my] other side of the "pond"... That's why I have so few cruises "under my belt" :mad:

Thank you for taking the time to share, Daniela

 

So glad you were able to find my Photo Trip Report informative. For us it cheaper to fly across the "big pond" to England than to the opposite "west" coast of Canada. Already looking at flights for next March to Fort Lauderdale which are around $800/person ++++.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

[Freq Traveler]

Kevin, thank you so very much for your wonderful review. You did a GREAT job! It is so fun to hear you Techis talk about your toys! I wish you and your wife many more wonderful cruise vacations. We love Celebrity too!

[NoleMini]

Thank you for the armchair travels today- I appreciate the photos of the ship we will be on in December and your "trip report" has made it that much better! Excellent review :D

[Raschueler]

Thanks for this great trip report! I really enjoyed reading it. I'll be on the Reflection in July for my honeymoon and am already thinking about more cruises as I am considering the Equinox for Jan 2015.

[missmymary]

So glad you were able to find my Photo Trip Report informative. For us it cheaper to fly across the "big pond" to England than to the opposite "west" coast of Canada. Already looking at flights for next March to Fort Lauderdale which are around $800/person ++++.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

 

Hi Kevin, What would be a good deck and cabin to book if we want to be in the middle of the ship..Maybe Concierge too not sure yet but for sure a good view with a balcony.

I loved your thread here with your great pics and information Thank you !!

[cruise47]

What a very positive review. Thanks.

[FRMPEI]

Hi Kevin, What would be a good deck and cabin to book if we want to be in the middle of the ship..Maybe Concierge too not sure yet but for sure a good view with a balcony.

I loved your thread here with your great pics and information Thank you !!

 

Hi Nanalove,

 

Generally the midship (close to elevators) are a little more expensive. For example the C2's on deck 10 while the further you get away from the elevators they turn into C3's. Honestly I seem to prefer the C3's. Take a peak at the deck plans on the Celebrity web site.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

[gardiner41]

We are on the Equinox for the 11 day Ultimate Caribbean In January. Out first time with X

Traveling with friends we met on the NCL epic Feb 2013 who happen to live not far from us.

I am a Bluenoser , living in Ontario most of my adult life.

My Husband is retiring in a few weeks so the next few years a lot of travel is planned including a month + RV trip "back home" I was just discussing the New Glasgow Lobster Supper with my sister a few days ago. She moved Home last summer and is enjoying re-immersing herself in Maritime culture. I can't wait to do the same.

 

IF all goes well we will be moving back home (Pictou County) in the next 1-3 years.

 

Our itinerary is different than yours but I loved reading all about the ship and looking at the dailies.

Our very first cruise was with Princess and it seems like this will be a very similar experience.

 

 

 

We have a couple of big trips before this one, including a 15 day Escorted tour of Ireland in July, a 21 Day East and South Caribbean cruise on the NCL Pearl in December, and a few other smaller trips and possibly another cruise in Nov.

 

Our friends have sailed most of the major mass market cruise lines and they love X I think we will too.

 

I am especially interested in this experience because I plan to do the Galapagos Cruise in either 2016 or 2017 and want to experience a Celebrity cruise before making that decision.

I noticed in the dailies there were seminars on that cruise and a new itinerary...I sure hope they promote it on our cruise as well!

 

Thank you for all your time and preparation this was indeed an excellent report.

 

 

Angela

Ottawa Ontario

but my heart is in Pictou County Nova Scotia these days

[still-learning]

Hi Kevin,

 

Great job on the report, I hope you all enjoy your summer on PEI and that we see you again next March. :)

 

Btw, when the Royal Brothers, Harry and Will, went to Memphis for a friend's wedding this month one of their first stops was Rendezvous Restaurant for BBQ...which is the same place I got the BBQ seasoning you received. So this summer you can eat like royalty even off the cruise ship! ;)

[dani negreanu]

 

I am especially interested in this experience because I plan to do the Galapagos Cruise in either 2016 or 2017 and want to experience a Celebrity cruise before making that decision.

I noticed in the dailies there were seminars on that cruise and a new itinerary...I sure hope they promote it on our cruise as well!

 

Hi Angela,

Galapagos is not a "cruise" - is an adult camp... Amazing, but tough. :D

X is doing a wonderful job with this trip, is a hassle-free once in a lifetime experience. Xpedition is a small yacht, less than 100 passangers, the food is provided locally, no pool, no casino, no entertainment... After 2 trips a day and an extra snorkelling for those willing, u just go to sleep at 22.00, because u have to get up for the morning excursions by 06.30.

Bottom line - u can't judge Equinox with Xpedition, is like comparing oranges with dates...

It was worth every penny and I'll go back this minute to see islands that were not covered in my itinerary (Espanola, for example), but also Genovesa, which X doesn't cover, being to "big"... Dani[ela]

[gardiner41]

 

I am especially interested in this experience because I plan to do the Galapagos Cruise in either 2016 or 2017 and want to experience a Celebrity cruise before making that decision.

I noticed in the dailies there were seminars on that cruise and a new itinerary...I sure hope they promote it on our cruise as well!

 

Hi Angela,

Galapagos is not a "cruise" - is an adult camp... Amazing, but tough. :D

X is doing a wonderful job with this trip, is a hassle-free once in a lifetime experience. Xpedition is a small yacht, less than 100 passangers, the food is provided locally, no pool, no casino, no entertainment... After 2 trips a day and an extra snorkelling for those willing, u just go to sleep at 22.00, because u have to get up for the morning excursions by 06.30.

Bottom line - u can't judge Equinox with Xpedition, is like comparing oranges with dates...

It was worth every penny and I'll go back this minute to see islands that were not covered in my itinerary (Espanola, for example), but also Genovesa, which X doesn't cover, being to "big"... Dani[ela]

 

Thanks for this detail!

I did know some of it but some is new information.

Still deciding who I am going to do the Galalpogus with it's a couple of year away so I have not drilled down on it yet.

I will be doing the snorkeling DH will not.

Edited May 28, 2014 by gardiner41

[PathfinderEss]

Thanks for your report.:)

[FRMPEI]

We are on the Equinox for the 11 day Ultimate Caribbean In January. Out first time with X...

 

I am especially interested in this experience because I plan to do the Galapagos Cruise in either 2016 or 2017 and want to experience a Celebrity cruise before making that decision.

I noticed in the dailies there were seminars on that cruise and a new itinerary...I sure hope they promote it on our cruise as well!

 

Thank you for all your time and preparation this was indeed an excellent report.

 

Angela

Ottawa Ontario

but my heart is in Pictou County Nova Scotia these days

 

 

Yes! it takes a fellow Maritimer to relate to some of my stories. I think you will enjoy Celebrity. I think your Galapagos question has been answered. I didn't go to the on board presentation because we had already went to one a couple of years ago in Halifax during a CAA cruise expo and Celebrity was there giving the Galapagos presentation. The Canadian Celebrity rep had just recently gotten back and was able to share her thoughts. At this time in our lives probably not for us.

 

Thanks for Reading and Posting

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

[missmymary]

Hi Nanalove,

 

Generally the midship (close to elevators) are a little more expensive. For example the C2's on deck 10 while the further you get away from the elevators they turn into C3's. Honestly I seem to prefer the C3's. Take a peak at the deck plans on the Celebrity web site.

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

 

Hi Kevin, The rooms are quickly filling up on Equinox for the Jan. 23rd sailing. We are booked in the Concierge category but in cabin 9257. We have never been so far aft. Is this ok in your opinion or a mistake ? e can go midship but with no concierge . Any opinion ? Thank you

[gardiner41]

Hi Kevin, The rooms are quickly filling up on Equinox for the Jan. 23rd sailing. We are booked in the Concierge category but in cabin 9257. We have never been so far aft. Is this ok in your opinion or a mistake ? e can go midship but with no concierge . Any opinion ? Thank you

 

Go With the aft Concierge cabin. In January we had an aft balcony and it was great.

Only caveat is if you have mobility limitations.

I liked the extra walking, made up for some of the food we were eating lol.

Other than mobility issues the aft is great.

 

I am glad we booked early seems like we will end up being a full ship!

Edited May 31, 2014 by gardiner41