Review/Report Mid-Summer Caribbean Back-to-Back Western/Eastern aboard the Equinox

[cmhdoogalsatsea]

This is a combo report/review from a b2b western/eastern Caribbean trip I did July/Aug 2018 on Equinox. I was in a Sky Suite the first week and an Aquaclass room the second.

To cut to the chase: I had a terrific time and I’ve booked another Equinox b2b for next summer; although a good bit earlier in the season.

 

 

Embarkation Day 1

I flew into MIA in the morning, landing about 1130. Because I’d used Luggage free this time, I had no bags to await and so was was a quick stroll thru the airport. I planned to use Uber, but found myself standing at a long line of waiting taxis so hoped in and was off.

About the best port experience I’ve had with Celebrity. Suites entrance to the building, then common line up and thru security. Quickly at a checkin desk and smiling for my picture. Though I felt a twinge of nostalgia for my escort thru the “secret” entry last time I came on board Equinox as a Grey Portfolio-ed CS guest, I managed to find my own way onto the ship and into Luminae with no problems. After a hearty “welcome back” the Maître D’ sat me at a table and I enjoyed a good embarkation day lunch. By the time I’d finished, cabins were ready.

This was the first time I’d used a luggage valet service from home. Fabulous—my bags left me 5 days earlier, and were waiting for me at the suite.

 

 

Embarkation Day 2

They make it about as easy as it could be when you’re doing a back to back. I hung out for an hour or so in Michael’s, bidding my adieu to suite life, before the 35 or so of us staying on were escorted off. We hung out for 20 or so minutes in an area just off the ship before going down the escalator, through immigration and back on board the ship. We received new seapasses while waiting to go thru immigration, and that was about all there was to it. I hit Café al Bacio—10AM with NO LINE, heaven. And then went off to future cruises office---the sole customer… Finally, before heading to the MDR lunch, I headed upstairs just to see, and sure enough, everything had been moved from the old suite to the new cabin. Even the tea kettle made it!

Cabin Week 1 Sky suite Aft Corner (8345)

Once I was in my 8th deck aft corner sky suite, any nostalgic thoughts about the old celeb suite disappeared. As a solo traveler those S1s are the tops for me. Terrific space, that nice big round window and a perfect sized balcony make for a very relaxing trip. Not to mention there's room for an adult to sit on the toilet, unlike solstice class celeb suite pottys. Others complain about the pole, but I’ve lived in a couple of places where similar concessions to function have been made in order to gain a wide-open form, so it’s not a bother. I had one of the best butler and steward teams anywhere. Everything was thought of just before I thought to ask.

Cabin Week 2 AquaClass A2 (1548)

I’d originally booked an A1 with the larger angled balcony, but then started reading about the overhang, and it occurred to me that I’d been in an S1 on Reflection with exactly the same issue—large balcony with no sun to enjoy on it. So, after copious CC reading, I moved “down” to an A2, 1548 and was glad that I did—it’s the last cabin without the overhang. First non-suite in awhile…wow, shipboard living can be a little snug!! LOL In truth, the room was terrific—that couch is even usable once I dumped one of the back bolsters under the bed. The bed was next to the balcony which I really like-- wide open ocean views while still prone in the morning. The shower was fine too; although I’d gladly trade in the “jets” for a wand. My cabin attendant was a wonderful host and even managed my preferred afternoon goodies just like my butler had. OF course I was left to fend for myself for S. Pellegrino and Tea Forte--it really is a bit annoying to be told "one drink" when requesting 2 bottles of water while somehow vodka PLUS OJ is also one drink...but life's a challenge some times...lol

Entertainment

For me the best part of the ship’s big shows are that they keep several hundred people occupied while another several hundred are eating and I am enjoying the gym, Persian garden, and pools. The production shows tend to be over amplified (to these ears), and someone @ Celeb corporate seems to have decided that dramatic arm waving makes for good entertainment. I do generally take in the comedians and the occasional solo/group act. Over the course of the two weeks I saw one "new to me" comedian, really funny, and one I’d seen before, knew the routine but still enjoyed it. A new “Rock something”(1970’s suburbs music) production was tried out up on the pool deck one night so I stopped in…loud, occasionally off key, and lots of arm gesturing…not really my thing but the kids were enthusiastic and most everyone seemed fairly into it.

 

As to lounge acts, there was a woman guitarist who attracted seriously large crowds. The pianist was quite good. There was no string duo such as I’ve enjoyed on some other trips, but that sort of thing doesn’t really fit with a mid-summer Caribbean trip anyway.

Thanks to less than perfect weather, on the first week just about every night the lobby level was party central, meaning, thanks to the atrium design, that a good part of the ship was deafeningly loud. The second week, when more things took place up on pool deck, the more quiet atmosphere throughout all areas touching the atrium was fabulous, at least for this curmudgeon.

Spa/Persian Garden

The standard Solstice class PG is my least favorite celebrity thermal suite. They did so much right with the PG on Reflection that even comparing isn’t really fair. To be honest, I prefer the two steam rooms on the Millennium class over the whole of the Equinox PG. But with that said, I was there just about every night for 14 evenings, so my complaints aren’t so tremendous. I do hope that in the overhaul they give it a real steam room rather than a hot room with occasional bursts of steam. And while I’d love an icy plunge pool, an ice room a la Reflection would be nice.

The barber on board equinox (summer 2018) gives the best straight razor shave I’ve ever encountered. Mani/Pedi and massages were nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about either.

Casino

Very lively spot on both weeks. The VP machines were kind to me. As I have found on other Celebrity ships, many of the BJ dealers tend to rub me the wrong way—which is fine; I save my money. I dunno, I just prefer a fun atmosphere while handing in my cash and there tends to be a dower demeanor combined with speed demon dealing that doesn’t turn me on. I have to admit the $5 single deck table seemed to be having some real fun, but was also jammed nightly.

Ports of call

SORRY not much to report. One of the reasons I booked this was as a test of sanity prior to a 2 week TA so I purposely stayed close to/on board the ship for the most part.

Key West—Never one of my favorite places, made about as unpleasantly hot-n-sticky as one would imagine it on a weekend in late July. BUT the CVS did have a USB-c charger cord for my phone.

Costa Maya—Early August with 4 cruise ships all docked at the same “south of the border” tourist trap. Enough said.

Nassau—We weren’t scheduled for Nassau,but stopped there in lieu of San Juan—the one spot I was looking forward to re-visiting—because of a health emergency. I’ll give Nassau this: If nothing else, it serves to show that Costa Maya isn’t the most horrific place to visit with fellow cruisers on a summer’s weekend. We were but one of 5 big ships docked for the day.

 

Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, Cozumel and St. Maarten—Fabulous spots on which to enjoy a nearly empty ship. Seriously, each is terrific in its own way, and if you haven’t visited, check out others’ reports. When it’s not summer time, I highly recommend visiting some of the ruins one can reach from Costa Maya or Cozumel. There’s nothing like the flight to, over and around Chichen Itza—not inexpensive, but memorable.

Dining

Week 1 Luminae & Ocean View Buffet

Very attentive waitstaff, showing some of the stress/stain that seems to be fleet wide in Luminae these days, but not to the extent that Reflection suffered in May. The kitchen was turning out some fabulous cooking though. It amazes me how the same thing, cooked from the same recipe and using ingredients sourced from the same central corporate source, can taste so different. Seriously, the cooking was awesome. Once I was “pegged” as a mostly vegetarian, I was also offered some super “chef specials” Indian dishes most nights.

Ocean View buffet--I had a very similarly great experience in for multiple lunches on both weeks. The quality that’s made available in such astounding quantities truly impresses.

Week 2 Blu, MDR lunches & Murano

Blu--I know this will draw ire from some quarters, but this wasn't my cup of tea. Back when I did marketing, there was a jokey saying “if you can’t make it good, make it blue.” It’s a color folks respond to on a deep level, something the folks @ Ritz Carlton certainly figured out years ago. I’m not saying blu was bad (RC isn't bad), but it sure feels like a major marketing effort on various levels. Just getting a waiter to skip his pre-programmed “recommendations” patter when I knew what I was ordering was often fruitless and felt a bit like a visit with Disney animatronics…I was in Blu and was gonna get the full blu experience, like it or not. The amount of shortening that goes into Blu’s recipes is stunning, and not too "spa" like. Breakfast led me back to room service pretty quickly—neither the water server nor the juice pourer were able to communicate to the coffee specialist who was the only one authorized to put in an order for tea. Tongue-in-cheek snipping aside, the team worked hard, but the product felt too much like a corporately packaged early 2000’s not-quite-fine dining Vegas venue for me.

Main Dining Room lunches—my first visit to a Celebrity MDR in over 20 years was not bad at all. Embarkation day lunch ( we b2b-ers were allowed to dine with the concierge folks) proved tasty. I had pasta then and one other time—one was some of the tastiest pesto I’ve had anywhere, almost tempted to lick the bowl. After getting “spoiled” by the more personal service possible in smaller venues, service felt a bit abrupt, but otherwise it was fine and if with a group of family or friends I wouldn't have noticed much difference. If however, Murano had been open for lunch more than once, I’d have been there instead!

Murano—3 dinners and a lunch on the second week and I really enjoyed it, despite not being a fan of table prep shows. The atmosphere is so pleasant, the wait staff so spot on and the menu awesome, that it become a real favorite. Even though I only ordered an entrée one night, the team made it work on every visit.

 

Elite perks

I’m not a drinker so the evening cocktail hour doesn’t do much for me. The breakfast was pretty icky, albeit with a great view if yours isn’t so hot. Even when there were only 2 or 3 other tables, service was s---l----o---w and the Pain Au Chocolats they served weren’t even the same as the ones next door in Blu. (I did a comparison on my breakfast visit to blu) But, the discounts and the free laundry services are nifty.

 

Debarkation

After 2 weeks I was okay with leaving. Celebrity’s luggage valet service is tremendous--$25 and I didn’t see my bags from the final night to baggage claim on my arrival home.

The MC concierge had graciously invited me back in for the “final” suite experience of the escort off the ship. It was nice to be able to wait in there, and then get the escort off. No major hassles getting thru immigration, but it’s disappointing to see the signs for Global Entry and then find “we’re not doing that today.” Even without it, the wait was about 10 minutes or so and I was out and in a taxi in no time.

Take-a-ways

 

 

 

 

 

• A luggage valet service is fabulous. While the one that took the bags from home to ship wasn't inexpensive, the joy of air travel and port arrival without luggage is “priceless.” At $25 per person, when in a port that offers Celebrity’s service, it’s a no-brainer.
  

 

 

 

• Doing a back-to-back is fun—you get to trade out one set of fellow cruisers for another, enjoy two times the relaxation of one cruise, avoid one set of embarkation hassles and put off debarkation hassles for at least a little longer. And of course, then there’s the doubling up on the Elite laundry benefits!
  
• I think I’m “ready” for the (non-celebrity) TA in the spring.
  
• Having a suite on the first leg smooths life out when “dropping” categories the next leg vs "moving up"on a second leg.
  
• I prefer an aft view to Blu. Next year I’ll move from the sky suite (wk1) to one of those C1s with the sky suite sized balconies on the same deck(wk2). The multi-night specialty dining plan and the PG pass will make up for anything I might miss from Aquaclass.
  

Edited August 27, 2018 by cmhdoogalsatsea

[tompeter]

Great review, Thanks!

[portofrome]

Thanks for your review!

[bighairtexan]

I loved your review. As for Blu I could have written your exact viewpoint ... though not as articulately (esp the marketing ploy aspect) for each of my 3 cruises where Blu was my assigned dining. Never again. I have no issues w/ the MDR if I won't be in a suite.

Saying that, I agree spot on with your assessment of Luminae and look forward to eating there next starting next Monday on the Eclipse. Your review "whet my whistle."

 

**Laughing about the arm gesturing** too true and too funny.

[cmhdoogalsatsea]

Great review, Thanks!

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!!

[riclop]

Thanks for the review.

[micheleata]

Great review! Thanks!

[Arubalisa]

b2b-ers were allowed to dine with the concierge folks

and

The MC concierge had graciously invited me back in for the “final” suite experience of the escort off the ship. It was nice to be able to wait in there, and then get the escort off.

In my mind, these are both great examples of what sets Celebrity and perhaps the Equinox apart from the rest. ;) We'll look for you next June on the Equinox. Our family will be sailing B2B. One week this year was simply not long enough.

[cmhdoogalsatsea]

I loved your review. As for Blu I could have written your exact viewpoint ... though not as articulately (esp the marketing ploy aspect) for each of my 3 cruises where Blu was my assigned dining. Never again. I have no issues w/ the MDR if I won't be in a suite.

Saying that, I agree spot on with your assessment of Luminae and look forward to eating there next starting next Monday on the Eclipse. Your review "whet my whistle."

 

**Laughing about the arm gesturing** too true and too funny.

Thanks for the comments! :-) Have a great trip. On another thread I've been following the challenges your friend is having. Very sorry for her and that she won't be able to make the voyage, but as a regular solo traveler I can assure you that you'll still be able to have a restful and enjoyable,albeit different from what you'd planned, time!

bon voyage!!

[bighairtexan]

Thanks for the comments! :-) Have a great trip. On another thread I've been following the challenges your friend is having. Very sorry for her and that she won't be able to make the voyage, but as a regular solo traveler I can assure you that you'll still be able to have a restful and enjoyable,albeit different from what you'd planned, time!

bon voyage!!

 

MERCI BEAUCOUP and trust me, since I've realized I'll be solo, I have REREAD your review. You're my INSPIRATION. **CUE THE HARP MUSIC** :halo:

[cmhdoogalsatsea]

and

In my mind, these are both great examples of what sets Celebrity and perhaps the Equinox apart from the rest. ;) We'll look for you next June on the Equinox. Our family will be sailing B2B. One week this year was simply not long enough.

 

Agreed. I'll be on for the last half of the month. Hope to see you then!!

[cmhdoogalsatsea]

Great review! Thanks!

 

Thanks! Although writing isn't quite as fun as the trip itself, it does make for an enjoyable "re-living" the good times!

[cmhdoogalsatsea]

Great review! Thanks!

You're welcome! thanks for reading!!