Equinox LIVE!! 5.5.17 Dragon of the Seas goes to the ABCs

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Enjoying your review immensely :). We've on Equinox next year to the ABCs. Would you say Bonaire is the best place for snorkelling out of the 3 islands? Even though I'm not confident in the water, so unlikely to participate, the rest of our group love the water and it would be great for them to explore the sea life ;).

 

Yes--while there are good snorkel spots on each of the islands Bonaire is amazing! They have designated around the entire island to a depth of 200 ft as a national park to protect the reef.

 

I am including the link from TripAdvisor for Woodwind. There are no reviews below the level of good and only 2% of reviewers give them anything but excellent. Click through the pictures and you will see how stunning the area is.

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147268-d1199379-Reviews-Woodwind_Sailing_Guided_Snorkel-Kralendijk_Bonaire.html

 

 

 

. . . and I mentioned earlier that the owner took a group of total non swimmers through the snorkel. I was really impressed how she handled them and what a good experience they had. [in case you want to give it a try]

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Happy Mother's Day and welcome to Key West!!

 

It is 84 degrees and a little overcast. [which is good for walking]

 

Our starboard side balcony faces the pier today. We have faced away in all of the other ports.

 

 

The old Customs house on the wharf is an arts museum.

 

 

 

 

 

There are life sized statues around the outside. [only the couple on the right are live]

 

 

This statue of the famous WWII nurse is on loan to celebrate an anniversary for the Navy. Notice the size.

 

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Key West is very walkable. The historic area is 1 mile by 2 miles. We took a tour with the old Town Train. I know it is touristy--but, it took us farther than we would have walked and they had 3 stops that you could hop on/off.

 

We decided to stay on for the duration. The stop for the southern-most point was jam packed with people. The line to stand beside the southern marker had 100 people in it. We had done this before; no need to fight the crowds.

 

Duval Street is the most famous street in Key West. It is home to many bars and quirky shops.

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of the biggest. This is where Ernest Hemingway frequented in the 1930's.

 

 

This is the home of Key Lime pie.

 

[villauk]

Yes--while there are good snorkel spots on each of the islands Bonaire is amazing! They have designated around the entire island to a depth of 200 ft as a national park to protect the reef.

 

I am including the link from TripAdvisor for Woodwind. There are no reviews below the level of good and only 2% of reviewers give them anything but excellent. Click through the pictures and you will see how stunning the area is.

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147268-d1199379-Reviews-Woodwind_Sailing_Guided_Snorkel-Kralendijk_Bonaire.html

 

 

 

. . . and I mentioned earlier that the owner took a group of total non swimmers through the snorkel. I was really impressed how she handled them and what a good experience they had. [in case you want to give it a try]

 

Thanks for the link, much appreciated :).

[DragonOfTheSeas]

They have a strict architectural code for all of the historic buildings.

 

Look at this Walgreen's Pharmacy. It has the facade of the rococo movie theater.

 

 

The cemetery is above ground like it is in New Orleans.

 

 

 

 

There were several huge banyan trees growing on the side streets. This is one tree. Air roots shoot out from the top and grow to the ground.

 

[Hatteras51]

Thanks so much for doing this review. We are doing this cruise in Sept. on Equinox, and I've really enjoyed it. I read that you had to meet with customs before getting off of the ship in Key West. How long did that take you?

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Thanks so much for doing this review. We are doing this cruise in Sept. on Equinox, and I've really enjoyed it. I read that you had to meet with customs before getting off of the ship in Key West. How long did that take you?

 

It was not that long for the actual customs. We arrived in Key West at 8 AM. One of the couples at our dinner table had a Celebrity excursion and they had an 8:30 AM time to do customs. We had a 9:50 AM time. However, at 9:30 they called for anyone that needed to still go through customs to come down to deck 3. First the ship clicked your seapass card. Then the customs agents looked at the passport. Then you walked back to a ship crew that punched a hole in the seapass card to show you had been seen.

 

They called the name of 2 men three times. They reminded them that it was up to a $5000 fine for not showing up for customs. . . . I do not know if they ever showed up. But, I hope they had a good excuse. We were off the ship by around 9:50 AM. I would not plan anything that starts at 9 AM unless it is through the ship. The other couple at our dinner table had a 10 AM time slot. So, it could have taken that long.

 

The description sheet for departure states that the Port of Miami no longer requires the paper declaration forms. . . . [The ones where you tell what you are bringing into the country.] We had to use these at Fort Lauderdale in March. So, it will be interesting to see what they do instead.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

This is the Truman Annex.

 

 

Before we re-boarded the ship we stopped at Mallory Square. This water front square is where residents of Key West greet the sunset. . . . would not want to interfere with "happy hour."

 

 

In fact, ship are not allowed to remain at the pier after dark. [or so I was told]

 

This is the sloop Mary in Mallory square. It is out in the elements and getting to be worse for wear. It is an interesting piece of history.

 

 

Mallory Square:

 

 

You can see how close it is to the ship.

 

 

 

This island off shore is interesting. We were told the reef off shore keeps it from have much wave action.

 

[DragonOfTheSeas]

One of the things I like about Celebrity is when you get back to the ship they have a welcome back area.

 

First they have icy towels to wipe your face. Ahh! [they pass these out on the pool deck, too]

 

 

Then it is time to re-hydrate with fruit infused water. [orange, pineapple and plain]

 

 

If you are too tired to get back on right then--you can sit a spell. :D

 

[miched]

Key West is fantastic. I wish that they would stay over night or at least until midnight. The sunset celebration on Mallory Square is a lot of fun and the whole place becomes alive in the evening.

 

Kelly's is the best. Great happy hour, good beer, margaritas and great bar food. Really a fun atmosphere. Problem is the happy hour is around the time that the ship needs to be boarded.

 

 

Love the overnights in US cities. Just spent 2 nights in NOLA and it was it was fantastic. Stopping in Key West was a bonus but not enough time. May have to do another land trip there like we have done a few times before after a cruise. Checked out the price for the Southern Most Hotel, minimum price right now for May is $319 per night not including taxes, fees and parking.

 

 

Sailing and doing layovers is the best and cheapest way to be in the heart of the cities where the action is.

 

 

happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌞

[miched]

]

 

If you are too tired to get back on right then--you can sit a spell. :D

 

 

We mostly sail in the Caribbean and when In St Maarten we always buy a bottle of duty free liquor. Purchase small cups and sit in those chairs, handing out free shots to passengers coming back that want to join us. It is a blast. Always meet a lot of people and continue the friendship during the rest of the cruise and beyond. Amazing what a little act of kindness will result in.

 

Drink up 🍸🍷🍹🍺🥂

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We mostly sail in the Caribbean and when In St Maarten we always buy a bottle of duty free liquor. Purchase small cups and sit in those chairs, handing out free shots to passengers coming back that want to join us. It is a blast. Always meet a lot of people and continue the friendship during the rest of the cruise and beyond. Amazing what a little act of kindness will result in.

 

Drink up 🍸🍷🍹🍺🥂

 

That sounds like so much fun! Celebrity really is a different cruise line. Happy travels!

 

I will be back tomorrow from the airports. :D

[DragonOfTheSeas]

we are sitting in the Fort Lauderdale airport. So I won't be doing much posting today. But I'll get back to giving final thoughts tomorrow. The disembark process in Miami this morning went ahead of schedule. The only difficult part was finding the shuttle at the curbside. There were people coming in with luggage and others going out

[lovecruzin]

Thanks so much for your Live review and photos.

Boarding on the 26th and I am counting the days!

[lizmit]

Thank you for an amazing review and pictures Dragonoftheseas.

Happy Sails

~ Liz

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Loved your photos. We were on the very same cruise with you, but your photos are better than ours. Many, many thanks for taking the time to post your comments and photos. I love your Key West pictures, one of my favorite places. It always makes me so happy to visit the city. Hubby treated me to a delicious Mother's Day lunch at Antonia's Restaurant on Duval.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Thanks so much for your Live review and photos.

Boarding on the 26th and I am counting the days!

 

You will have an excellent cruise. The crew is very good. Miami is a beautiful departure port.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Thank you for an amazing review and pictures Dragonoftheseas.

Happy Sails

~ Liz

 

I enjoyed it. Thanks!

 

Loved your photos. We were on the very same cruise with you, but your photos are better than ours. Many, many thanks for taking the time to post your comments and photos. I love your Key West pictures, one of my favorite places. It always makes me so happy to visit the city. Hubby treated me to a delicious Mother's Day lunch at Antonia's Restaurant on Duval.

 

What a special Mother's Day memory.

 

Please add anything you think I missed. Have a safe trip home.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

An awesome afternoon storm boiled up just as Equinox was about to leave Key West. From our balcony on Deck Ten we were able to watch the storm come up on the front of the ship then sneak around behind and hit us hard from the aft side. The cloud formations and rain were amazing to watch from our perch high above the highest buildings in Key West.

 

It was touch for the guys who were waiting to drop lines. They had to stand out there in that fierce storm.

 

For the most part, the rest of the cruise had really great weather and seas. Yes, it was hot, hot, hot in the ABCs, but that's what one would expect.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Just want to mention the two interesting "From the Podium" speakers. Bill Lee is a specialist in quantum mechanics. He did an outstanding job of making a really difficult subject interesting. His last lecture was a presentation of well-known science picture movies and what they get right or wrong.

 

The other speaker is an expert in stars, planets and other matter in space. His lectures were drier, but he held stargazing sessions at night on the lawn. He was very patient. The moon was very bright those nights, so we couldn't see as many stars and planets as we could have on darker nights.

[4cats4me]

Just want to mention the two interesting "From the Podium" speakers. Bill Lee is a specialist in quantum mechanics. He did an outstanding job of making a really difficult subject interesting. His last lecture was a presentation of well-known science picture movies and what they get right or wrong.

 

 

 

The other speaker is an expert in stars, planets and other matter in space. His lectures were drier, but he held stargazing sessions at night on the lawn. He was very patient. The moon was very bright those nights, so we couldn't see as many stars and planets as we could have on darker nights.

 

 

 

How interesting. I hope we have equally as interesting speakers on our cruise in October [emoji483]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[BettyPC]

I LOVE this idea! What a fun way to make new pals!

Betty

 

 

 

We mostly sail in the Caribbean and when In St Maarten we always buy a bottle of duty free liquor. Purchase small cups and sit in those chairs, handing out free shots to passengers coming back that want to join us. It is a blast. Always meet a lot of people and continue the friendship during the rest of the cruise and beyond. Amazing what a little act of kindness will result in.

 

Drink up 🍸🍷🍹🍺🥂

[BettyPC]

Dragon - what a great cruise review and your pictures are marvelous. We want to see Key West - I think we are doing it 2018 on Oasis of the Seas! Thanks for all the hard work you put into this!

 

Betty

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Cabins—Someone asked for a picture of the inside of the cabins.On an S class ship all of the balcony cabins are the same size. [Aqua, Concierge and Veranda] Some have larger and/or irregular shaped balconies. You can find these in the deck plan.

 

Our cabin had the bed by the bathroom.

 

Balcony—2 adjustable back chairs and a table that is dining height.

 

 

 

Bathroom-It had the curved solid-glass doors. There was a nightlight that provided enough light at night so you do not have to turn on the light and wake-up your cabin mate.

 

 

[DragonOfTheSeas]

An awesome afternoon storm boiled up just as Equinox was about to leave Key West. From our balcony on Deck Ten we were able to watch the storm come up on the front of the ship then sneak around behind and hit us hard from the aft side. The cloud formations and rain were amazing to watch from our perch high above the highest buildings in Key West.

 

 

We watched that storm come in, too.

 

 

Then a wall of rain moved across the marina to our ship.

 

 

 

We were glad it waited until all were onboard. . . . but, several workers got caught.