LIVE!! FROM THE EQUINOX PRESIDENT's Cruise August 27th, 2017 - ChicagoPaul

[lojax]

Hi ChicagoPaul! Thank you so much for sharing your vacation with us all. We embark the day you return - very much looking forward to spending 11 days on Equinox. We sailed on her 2 years ago and love the ship and the staff. Quick question for you regarding the casino - if you happen to go through there. On a recent trip to Vegas, my husband became hooked on Pai Gow poker. Would you be able to tell us if they have Pai Gow tables on board? If so, I many never see my husband the entire time we sail. :o Thank you also for your review of the GastroPub. Never tried the food but the menu items look delicious. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

[lilghallinsf]

What you were looking at above is the salmon and crab parfait. Dover Sole and a cheese plate for desert with a 20 yr tawny port. Tonight's dinner is in Tuscan.

 

The weather today is beautiful. A bit humid but sunny with a nice breeze. Welcome to paradise. Here is today's Daily.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Looks like they have redesigned the daily. Looks more up to date

 

 

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[lilghallinsf]

I was also very impressed by Lisa. She is doing quite a bit to improve diversity especially in areas that have been predominantly male over the years. Her commitment to the crew was evident.

 

She was asked about Cuba as a port. Apparently even the Millennium class ships are too big to dock there and the infrastructure is not able to support tendering. But if and when the situation improves they would like to include Cuba as a port but not as a destination. In other words, as a day visit but not for several days as some cruise lines currently do.

 

They are also going to replace Choice Air with new flight services in conjunction with cruises since 82% of passengers fly to the departure ports. I don't recall exactly but something like Flights by Celebrity is the branding and it will incorporate some kind of mileage program. All still under development.

 

I left before it ended but no question had been asked about the web site. But they had another blurb on the daily schedule today asking us for our comments specifically on web access. Sounds like they know there are issues!

 

 

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Thank you for sharing. I personally love the prices on choice air but I fly them on international trips. The price can't be beat. But obviously you can't make everyone happy. If you could, our country wouldn't be in the political state that it is. Sometimes these boards, which bring me so much enjoyment,sadly remind that you just can't please everyone

 

 

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[vincesm]

Hello Paul - enjoying your review - quick question seems you've been eating at Specialty restaurants did you purchase "dining package" if YES did you purchase before you boarded or while on board? Thanks

 

 

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[Mr&MrsBee]

The Queen wants to improve diversity and has a commitment to the crew??? Is that why staff has been cut? How can one actually listen to her comments.

[CruisingChick]

The Queen wants to improve diversity and has a commitment to the crew??? Is that why staff has been cut? How can one actually listen to her comments.

 

On our Summit cruise this past July we ran into one of our previous stateroom attendants, who we actually had twice before on Summit. She was not a happy camper and did not like the reduction in staff and the fact that there are no more assistant stateroom attendants.

 

I fear that the good stateroom attendants will be leaving Celebrity (if they can) for greener pastures. She was not the only attendant we encountered who was unhappy about the change.

[hcat]

Enjoying the review...info about the dining package would be appreciated..seriously considering booking Concierge with the package if BLU menu has not changed very much..3 more booked in AQ but after that, open to change

[ChucktownSteve]

The Queen wants to improve diversity and has a commitment to the crew??? Is that why staff has been cut? How can one actually listen to her comments.

 

Passing the salt shaker. Please take a grain and pass it around :D

[ChucktownSteve]

I fear that the good stateroom attendants will be leaving Celebrity (if they can) for greener pastures. She was not the only attendant we encountered who was unhappy about the change.

 

I encountered the same thing with our cabin attendant on the Eclipse in January. He used to have 24 cabins with an assistant. Now he has 14 by himself which included at least one suite next to our aft cabin. But he was excellent though.

[CruisingChick]

I encountered the same thing with our cabin attendant on the Eclipse in January. He used to have 24 cabins with an assistant. Now he has 14 by himself which included at least one suite next to our aft cabin. But he was excellent though.

 

Yes, our stateroom attendants have been wonderful, but I'm afraid since most of them seem unhappy with the change the really good ones might go somewhere else.

[RichardE954]

Paul - Looks like you had a beautiful day in St. Maarten! Are you going to St. Thomas? If so, and you dock at the Havensight Pier, there is a great jewelry store right across the street from the pier. It's called Majestic Jewelers and ask for Litul. Tell him The Goodnights from Fort Lauderdale sent you, he should remember us. We've been buying from him for years. The store is nothing to look at, but don't be put off. He has beautiful jewelry at good prices and stands behind everything he sells. We have purchased many pieces from him over the years.

[wallie5446]

 

How did the Gastropub hamburger and fries compare to the lunch hamburger in the Lawn Grill?

 

.

We had the GastroBar burger in 2014 & 2015, it was the best burger on ship as of that time.

Now we have friends that have since been on the Reflection and had the burger lunch at the Lawn Club.

Said it is totally a different type and far superior.

 

Now if you mean the Mast Grill on the Equinox, since there is no Lawn Club Grill on this ship, it is a sad offering compared to the GastroBar burger.

EW

[wallie5446]

Paul,

 

Late night question.

 

There is a report that some were upset about the silent disco in the Solarium at 11:00. Have you heard any rumblings? Was it well attended?

Celebrity is know for rolling up the carpet early, looks like maybe they are making an attempt to be a tad more 'lively':confused:

Thoughts?

EW

[raudacruise]

Hi Paul

 

I'm following this thread with great interest. Thanks so much for sharing, I know it's a lot of work. Love the Equinox, sailed her 3 times. Murano is a favorite of mine.

 

Fingers crossed for a new Zen level. Zenith seems so far away but I'm willing to work on it. :cool:

 

Also on my wish list is a functional website. Tried browsing for retirement cruise ideas and gave up in frustration.

 

Getting a bit twitchy since for the first time in many years I don't have a cruise booked. Working out retirement plans. A month on the Equinox? M-m-m-m... (Don't tell my cat!)

[Ma Bell]

Thank you for sharing. I personally love the prices on choice air but I fly them on international trips. The price can't be beat. But obviously you can't make everyone happy. If you could, our country wouldn't be in the political state that it is. Sometimes these boards, which bring me so much enjoyment,sadly remind that you just can't please everyone

 

 

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Interesting comment. I haven't seen anyone complaining about Choice Air, in fact just the opposite.:confused:

[Ma Bell]

Thanks for the continuing report!

[upwarduk]

Great idea,,,we sadly miss B on 5..,ate several lunches there every cruise! Is Eq the only ship with the gastri bar..,in former space of Cellar Masters?

 

Eclipse had a Gastro Bar in summer 2015.

[awhcruiser]

Yes...Look at the embarkation daily. that Paul posted

Is Aqua Spa cafe open for lunch on embarkation day?

[chicagopaul]

I'll get to everyone's comments shortly. Before I do that however here is the daily Daily for today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[RichardE954]

Is there any shade to sit in when getting food from the Mast Grill by the pool?

[chicagopaul]

Hello Paul - enjoying your review - quick question seems you've been eating at Specialty restaurants did you purchase "dining package" if YES did you purchase before you boarded or while on board? Thanks

 

 

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Yes, we did buy the package for all nights for specialty dining. We actually bought it ahead of time and used on board credit. We were able to navigate the website to make it happen. We were able to 20% off because they were running a special in June. We ended up paying $384 total for the two of us for 8 nights of specialty. Not bad! No restrictions with regard to number of times you can dine in a single one which means we could eat at Murano every night if we want. We planned to do that but they're closed 3 nights this cruise for private dinner events.

 

 

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[chicagopaul]

Enjoying the review...info about the dining package would be appreciated..seriously considering booking Concierge with the package if BLU menu has not changed very much..3 more booked in AQ but after that, open to change

 

 

 

Sorry forgot to quote you on my reply. See above posting. FYI I believe it's $29/pp per day if there are no discounts. This is for buying for the entire cruise. If we're not in Aqua or suite we always book it. One time we did book it in Aqua too.

 

 

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[chicagopaul]

Paul - Looks like you had a beautiful day in St. Maarten! Are you going to St. Thomas? If so, and you dock at the Havensight Pier, there is a great jewelry store right across the street from the pier. It's called Majestic Jewelers and ask for Litul. Tell him The Goodnights from Fort Lauderdale sent you, he should remember us. We've been buying from him for years. The store is nothing to look at, but don't be put off. He has beautiful jewelry at good prices and stands behind everything he sells. We have purchased many pieces from him over the years.

 

 

 

Thanks for the recommendation. By chance do you know if he sells any watches?

 

 

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[chicagopaul]

Paul,

 

 

 

Late night question.

 

 

 

There is a report that some were upset about the silent disco in the Solarium at 11:00. Have you heard any rumblings? Was it well attended?

 

Celebrity is know for rolling up the carpet early, looks like maybe they are making an attempt to be a tad more 'lively':confused:

 

Thoughts?

 

EW

 

 

 

We did not hear anything. We chose not to attend it and instead had a couple cognacs at the Sunset Bar. It was a gorgeous night. Sunset bar was absolutely packed, even when we left at around 11:45.

 

I'll ask about the silent disco. I thought that the solarium would be a cool venue for it but maybe it's a bit too big or awkward set up for silent disco?

 

The Martini bar also had a DJ last night. It looked pretty busy when we passed through around 10:30/10:45.

 

Not sure about Quasar or how busy that had been. I'll try to make a full pass tonight.

 

 

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[chicagopaul]

Hi ChicagoPaul! Thank you so much for sharing your vacation with us all. We embark the day you return - very much looking forward to spending 11 days on Equinox. We sailed on her 2 years ago and love the ship and the staff. Quick question for you regarding the casino - if you happen to go through there. On a recent trip to Vegas, my husband became hooked on Pai Gow poker. Would you be able to tell us if they have Pai Gow tables on board? If so, I many never see my husband the entire time we sail. :o Thank you also for your review of the GastroPub. Never tried the food but the menu items look delicious. Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

 

 

 

I haven't hit the casino yet but plan to tonight. Casino should be open around 5 or so and was hoping to play some blackjack. I'll check on the Pai Gow poker tables for you.

 

Wish we were staying on for another 11 days!!

 

 

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