Just Back... Equinox 11-day Western Caribbean. VERY Detailed Review!

[Du vent dans les voiles]

We enjoy our wine, but surely aren't familar with anything other than our standard low/med priced bottles here in US.

 

Would appreciate some recommendations for us to try on upcoming cruise. I'm sticking with Classic Package and DH will upgrade to premium.

 

We usually purchase Shiraz, Malbec, Cabernet, pino grigio and chardonnays. Not into the sweet wines at all.

 

Thanks

Barbara

 

Tough we do not remember the wines included in the premium package, DH and I were satisfied with most of them; there was no exceptional wines, but they were nice.

DH also wants to recommend French riesling, always very dry and one of the most under-rated grape varietal; probably because people think of the usually sweeter German riesling...

Also one of his favorites (and mine), a blend of grenache, cinsault, mourvedre and others, typical of the southern Cotes-du-Rhone. Your sommelier can certainly help you with all this!

 

Josée and Pierre

[Onnie0047]

Thanks for the review, the wife and I are going on this cruise in March of 2016 and are looking forwarding to the Adventure. Thanks again for taking the effort to write such a in-depth review!:)

Edited December 11, 2014 by Onnie0047

[AnchorsAweigh2011]

Thank you for the excellent review of the Equinox. I'm looking forward to our cruise next March!

[Ryan&Ronnie]

Thanks so much for your very detailed review. Great tips and excellent external links to the camera and time table among others. Really helped with planning our cruise in March 2015. Sad to hear that the brunch might be no more. It was a surprise highlight on our Silhouette cruise in 2013. :(

[CaribbeanBound]

Thank you all for the nice comments. I didn't expect my review to be revived and active. I'm happy to answer questions once again. Here are a few answers for the recent questions.

 

Workstocruise: we've been on both the Constellation and Equinox. Both are awesome ships in their own charming ways. You will indeed enjoy Equinox.

 

Quendryth: Yes, I believe the all-inclusive in Cozumel would accommodate a wheelchair. However, I wasn't looking at the logistical details this would require. Best bet is to send them an email and inquire.

 

CJCAMom: Yes, if you can get ashore you should not encounter problems getting to most stores in Belize. They're all lined up along the waterfront and the walkway is fairly wide (20+ feet?).

 

cruisehome: Gastrobar and Quasar are both on deck 4. Gastrobar is midships starboard just outside of the casino. Quasar is forward and port just past the shops. Quasar is a nightclub/disco with several interesting ball-shaped chairs hanging from the ceiling.

 

Nikkibird: the show times can vary. However, they were generally 7pm (for late diners) and 9pm (for early diners).

 

Strinkle: they definitely offered Zumba and it was offered at no charge Poolside at different times on different days.

 

NelsonKid: Yes, they do offer a carry your own departure. Sorry, I did not notice a Nexus line.

 

tbmrt: Ah, wines.. I don't need to recommend any as your sommelier will take good care of you! Let him or her know what you like and what you ordered for dinner and they will recommend appropriate wines for you to enjoy that work with your particular drink package. We were never offered a wine we didn't enjoy. But if it happens, just ask for another selection. Enjoy!

 

diesel1973: we brought insect repellent with us but never needed it in the March/April timeframe we traveled in.

[CaribbeanBound]

I just remembered...

Customs in Ft Lauderdale has an express lane for handicap passengers!

[firsttimewithcunard]

Hi,

I'm from the UK and I found your recent review of your Equinox's Caribbean experience really illuminating. We're doing the same trip in 12 months (our first time on Celebrity).

I wonder if you could tell me a little more about finding excursion alternatives to those provided by the ship. We find them very frustrating indeed but we have been nervous of trusting independently organised excursions (not least in getting us back to the ship).

I'd appreciate any guidance you can offer.

Kind Regards

Martin N

[CaribbeanBound]

firsttimewithcunard... We located all of our excursions via the cruise critic boards. The individual Ports of Call boards are especially useful in locating private excursions and getting info on the operators.

 

Keep in mind that these boards are the lifeblood of many tour operators. All it takes is one person reporting that a tour operator failed to get back to the ship on time and that tour operator is toast. You won't see reviews like that though because it just doesn't happen. Quality operators that get the good reviews know what they are doing and will get you back to the ship in PLENTY of time. I find if you research the boards, you'll be very happy with your choices.

 

I published a page called "Secrets of the Caribbean": http://www.lavasurfer.com/info/caribbean-secrets.html that includes our detailed first-hand information on excursions we've taken in 24 Caribbean ports. With photos.

 

Have a great trip. No worries.

Edited January 3, 2015 by CaribbeanBound

[buckeyecruisers]

Thank you for this review. We are going on this ship in April and the information will be put to good use. One of the best reviews I have read on Cruise Critic.

[Vagabondage]

Bravo! This review packs in more great info per word than any I've read here on CC. We're doing some of these ports in March on Eclipse and then this exact itinerary next year on Equinox, and you've provided us with an enjoyable resource.

 

Happy Sailing!

[firsttimewithcunard]

Many thanks for this helpful and reassuring reply. I'll follow your advice..

[CaribbeanBound]

Thanks. Happy to answer any questions.

[MSagar]

Thanks for all the info! Our first ever cruise, same one,coming up in 3 weeks so this is very useful.

[Nikkibird]

Hi CaribbeanBound.......great review! I am a little confused with your Belize review - "While at the port, I took the opportunity to find the water taxi. For anyone concerned about this, don't be. It's too easy! Directions to the water taxi: upon arrival at the pier, walk as far left as you can and enter the building. You'll find numerous tour operators main desks to the left of the hall and souvenir shops to the right. There is also a restroom. Walk to the end of the hall and out the doors. Cross a very small parking lot to a pair of little pink shacks that say "Exit". The shack on the left is the exit. The shack on the right is the security entrance back into the parking lot.

 

Open the exit door, say "buenos dias" to the guard and exit the shack thought a second door immediately in front of you. You are now on the street in front of the terminal and will have a dozen folks ask you if you want their goods or services. Ignore them and turn left. Walk about 100 feet and turn left again into the ferry terminal. (You'll see a large sign above the pink wall advertising "San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi")......"

I thought you said you took the Ecotours trip to Goff's Caye but then you talk about finding the water taxi to San Pedro. We have booked Ecotours and they told us they are "steps" from where the tender comes in to port. If you could clarify.

And, we are not Elite or Elite plus. So are we going to have a problem getting off the ship and over to the port in time for the 10:30 tour?? We are concerned about this since the ship starts tendering at 9:30 and they do their tours first then Elite, etc. How are we possibly going to get there for 10:30am?

We are not even sure how tendering works. Are we given a time to get off the ship in the order of our cabin number? Can you explain this too please. Thanks so much.

[cruzfiend]

I just read that the Equinox (Celebrity) doesn't show American Sports:( we will be on the Feb 1 sailing next year and wondering if they will show the Super Bowl?

[CaribbeanBound]

Nikkibird...

We did do Ecotours, but I also had plenty of time to check out the water taxi so I would know where it is the next time we came to Belize. It was practically next door. Tendering: you should be able to get off in plenty of time. Tendering in Belize is pretty darn efficient. Most important tip I can give you is to get in line to get your tender tickets at least 30 minutes before they supposedly get passed out. Example: if they announce you can pick up tender tickets starting at 9am at the entrance to the theater, be there no later than 8:30 am, and make sure everyone in your group is 100% ready to get off the ship.

 

cruzfiend...

None of this ships are very tuned in to American sports. However, the Super Bowl is such a major event they actually plan it into their show schedule and play it in the main theater. It was shown this year. For other events, like the football playoffs and the baseball world series, the cruise director will make arrangements somewhere on the ship to show the events if enough passengers ask about if starting at least 3 days prior to the event. If concerned about the Super Bowl on your sailing, start asking as soon as you board and talk it up.

Edited February 25, 2015 by CaribbeanBound

[Nikkibird]

Thank you CaribbeanBound. Now I understand. Do we all have to be present at time of getting tickets or can one person get all the tickets? Do we have to be ready to disembark immediately from receiving our ticket or do we have time to go back to the room to get towels etc.?

[Nikkibird]

By the way...we have REALLY appreciated your review. We have referred to it many times with our own planning and it has been most helpful!!! Thank you. :)

[cruzfiend]

Thanks so much for your reply, CaribbeanBound.

[CaribbeanBound]

Nikkibird and cruzfiend... You're welcome. Thanks for the kind words.

 

Nikkibird...

The ship's typical instructions are to tell everyone not to show up for tickets until everyone in your party is ready to depart. You then pickup your tickets and wait in the theater or lounge until your group number is called. Unless they tell you otherwise you should be able to send one person to get all the tender tickets.

 

You may have time to get the tickets and run back for people and towels.

 

My suggestion is to get there 30 minutes early and ready to go. Sometimes they start giving out tickets early (not likely but it has happened). Sometimes you can get off the ship earlier than the originally scheduled time (happens more often than you might think).

[CaribbeanBound]

Did I miss anyone's questions?

[Cuan Sailor]

Hi,

I'm from the UK and I found your recent review of your Equinox's Caribbean experience really illuminating. We're doing the same trip in 12 months (our first time on Celebrity).

I wonder if you could tell me a little more about finding excursion alternatives to those provided by the ship. We find them very frustrating indeed but we have been nervous of trusting independently organised excursions (not least in getting us back to the ship).

I'd appreciate any guidance you can offer.

Kind Regards

Martin N

 

We chose to fly from Dublin to Fort Lauderdale on a fly cruise package. celebrity flew us with US Airways, in my opinion a clear demonstrator of incompetence and should be avoided like the plague.

Here is an extract from correspondence with CAA in relation to ATOL and flights originating in EU,My wife and I booked a package with Celebrity Cruises in the Caribbean for which we were issued an ATOL Certificate. The flights element was provided by US Airways from Dublin, Ireland, to Fort Lauderdale with a change in Philadelphia on 5th March 2015. The flight from Philadelphia to Fort Lauderdale was cancelled and we were not able to make it to the cruise port for the start of the cruise, US Airways flew us to Saint Thomas on Monday 9th to board the ship there.

 

The flight cancelled was US743 scheduled 15:49 for departure. There was a snow storm at the time however the airline had other flights departing for Fort Lauderdale after ours was cancelled.

The airline cited weather conditions but the flight was cancelled after several calls for "Captain Name withheld" to report to the gate went unheeded. At this point the cabin crew were taken off the aircraft and the flight was announced as cancelled.

 

We were not offered seats on later flights and had to go on standby after being refused seats we reached a point when it was certain we could not make the cruise port on time.

 

The first night of our delay was spent sleeping on airport benches, no food coupons were offered and we were advised by airline staff to stay in the airport.

 

Unfortunately they sent our baggage to Fort Lauderdale on another flight, evidence that they were still operating the route, and we didn't get it until Monday 9th in Saint Thomas. The airline provided accommodation vouchers for 3 nights but only food vouchers for 2 nights amounting to $20/person/day. Our out of pocket expenses for food and laundering amounted to much more than this.

 

Because our flight tickets were from Dublin to Fort Lauderdale can we claim for our expenses, compensation for loss of holiday and delayed baggage?

 

Next year we are flying Direct from Heathrow.

 

Be aware.

[S&G1968]

Great information! Thank you for taking the time!

 

~Steve

[Nikkibird]

Did I miss anyone's questions?

 

Hi CaribbeanBound....I have another question. We ended up booking the Goff's Caye with Belize Cruise Excursions/Island Marketing. They confirmed our reservation for meeting at 9am. The ship starts disembarkment at 9:30am. We obviously cannot get to the port likely before 10:30am given the ship disembarks their own tours first. I believe in January there is a one hour time difference - Belize being 1 hour behind. Is the ships quoted time of 9:30 ship time or Belize time? Either way I am not sure how we can meet the tour time on time. Will the boat shuttle wait for us? Or will we end up waiting a long time for a second shuttle to the island? Thanks again for your help.

[chamima]

Hi CaribbeanBound....I have another question. We ended up booking the Goff's Caye with Belize Cruise Excursions/Island Marketing. They confirmed our reservation for meeting at 9am. The ship starts disembarkment at 9:30am. We obviously cannot get to the port likely before 10:30am given the ship disembarks their own tours first. I believe in January there is a one hour time difference - Belize being 1 hour behind. Is the ships quoted time of 9:30 ship time or Belize time? Either way I am not sure how we can meet the tour time on time. Will the boat shuttle wait for us? Or will we end up waiting a long time for a second shuttle to the island? Thanks again for your help.

 

Just did this cruise.

Celebrity always switches their time to whatever the time is where they're sailing.

If it's 9:30 in Belize it will be 9:30 on the ship.

You should , however, email Belize Cruise Excursions and tell them the ship won't arrive in port until 9:30. They have experience with cruise passengers and will be able to tell you a reasonable meeting time.