Live Blog Equinox Southern Carribean(ABC's) Sept 13th-23rd

[AZcruisegirl]

Hi Randi, Thank you so much for doing this live blog. My husband and I are celebrating our 30th Anniversary on the Equinox in October. We’ve been on 12 cruises and this is our first on X.  I am not looking forward to leaving my beloved mini goldendoodle. Our daughter will be babysitting her but....I will miss her beyond words.❤️

We look forward to hearing about your adventures!  We wish you both a fun and relaxing trip.

BTW, I read the “creature comforts” thread and was disappointed in some of the negative nellies out there. When I travel, I want as much home away from home. We don’t travel light either.  

Bon Voyage! 🎉🛳

[calicakes]

5 minutes ago, AZcruisegirl said:

Hi Randi, Thank you so much for doing this live blog. My husband and I are celebrating our 30th Anniversary on the Equinox in October. We’ve been on 12 cruises and this is our first on X.  I am not looking forward to leaving my beloved mini goldendoodle. Our daughter will be babysitting her but....I will miss her beyond words.❤️

We look forward to hearing about your adventures!  We wish you both a fun and relaxing trip.

BTW, I read the “creature comforts” thread and was disappointed in some of the negative nellies out there. When I travel, I want as much home away from home. We don’t travel light either.  

Bon Voyage! 🎉🛳

I'm glad I have unlimited internet so I can check in on our babies.  My red standard poodle Toby is always mistaken for a doodle.   What cruise line did you take your 12 cruises with?  

[AZcruisegirl]

We’ve cruised NCL, RCL, and Carnival.  Never had a bad cruise! I wanted to try X this time.  

I bring a framed 5 x 7 picture of her for my nightstand. ( among the many pics on my phone)  Yep, internet for us, too!

[snyniew]

15 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Ok, sounds like good deal.  It looks like the Sea Cow also goes out to Klein Bonaire and does drift snorkeling along the reef.  That area is great.  We took a ship's snorkeling tour and it was second rate.  It sounds like you have a better tour.

 

Enjoy your cruise and thanks for doing the review.

Sea Cow is a great snorkel trip. They break the group up into 2 (at least they did when I went) so it's not crowded when snorkeling. That's always a fear when doing a ship excursion that it will be very crowded but they do a good job.

[ipeeinthepool]

9 minutes ago, snyniew said:

Sea Cow is a great snorkel trip. They break the group up into 2 (at least they did when I went) so it's not crowded when snorkeling. That's always a fear when doing a ship excursion that it will be very crowded but they do a good job.

 

For me the secret is to book something that does the drift snorkel at Klein Bonaire, my ship's excursion didn't go there.  It was advertised as going to some sort of protected national area but then I found out that included most of the island.  From a safety perspective I think they need to keep the drift snorkeling groups small so the guide can keep track of the entire group.  I'm sure the OP will have a great time on the Sea Cow.

[Barwick Cruiser]

You don't need the Celebrity luggage tags...they're nice but you'll see when you get to the pier the luggage handlers will have blank tags and will quickly enter your info on them and off they go!  No need to stress, enjoy your holiday!

[hiccups]

We had our first cruise with X on Equinox in June and really enjoyed it.  I took the hot glass class and made a Christmas ornament--it was fun to come home with a souvenir I helped create.

 

We are doing St Kitts and the ABCs on Summit in November, so I'm following along to hear your port experiences.  We have booked snorkeling with Woodwind in Bonaire, but nothing else so far, and looking for ideas  🙂   I am still considering a scuba dive somewhere if I get myself into a refresher class before then, but I'm also feeling lazy, so that might not happen.

[candacee]

Excited to read your blog! We're getting on as you disembark for our honeymoon. Have a wonderful cruise! 

[calicakes]

Thanks for all the tips on snorkeling in Bonaire.  We're so excited!!

 

We had an uneventful flight.  We had a window and aisle and there was no one in the middle.  I had half a CBD chew( light salt water taffy) and I slept for 4 hours!!  When I woke up, and Julie told me we land in 45 minutes, I was stunned.  It didn't feel like I slept for close to 4 hours. 

 

We retrieved our luggage in record time, picked up the rental car and drove to Hollywood.  We were at the airbnb and in bed by 6:30am.  

 

Its 11am now and I'd love to sleep a few more hours, I know we have to get up or we won't be able to sleep tonight.  We're also really thirsty and hungry.   We love NY style pizza( I'm originally from NY), so that is on the agenda.  

[parrothead33]

Hi Randi, 

Really enjoying your review so far and look forward to reading more.  We did the same cruise on Equinox 2 years ago and had a fantastic time.  I can't wait to relive it through your posts.  Have a wonderful cruise and bon voyage!

 

 

[lola2013]

46 minutes ago, calicakes said:

Thanks for all the tips on snorkeling in Bonaire.  We're so excited!!

 

We had an uneventful flight.  We had a window and aisle and there was no one in the middle.  I had half a CBD chew( light salt water taffy) and I slept for 4 hours!!  When I woke up, and Julie told me we land in 45 minutes, I was stunned.  It didn't feel like I slept for close to 4 hours. 

 

We retrieved our luggage in record time, picked up the rental car and drove to Hollywood.  We were at the airbnb and in bed by 6:30am.  

 

Its 11am now and I'd love to sleep a few more hours, I know we have to get up or we won't be able to sleep tonight.  We're also really thirsty and hungry.   We love NY style pizza( I'm originally from NY), so that is on the agenda.  

Hi Randi,

My geography is poor on several levels...not sure where Hollywood is in relation to Ft. Lauderdale or how easy it is to get there.  Our first stop every time we cruise out of FLL is Primante Brothers...right on A1A directly across from the beach and just a little south of Sunrise.  They originated in Philadelphia so not sure if that's something you're familiar with.  The pizza is delicious (remember you're talking to a girl from Chicago who loves her deep dish pizza.....)...it's a huge slice of thin crust pizza for about $3.  We also usually stop there on embarkation day to have breakfast before we head to the port.  

Enjoy!

Susan

Edited September 12, 2019 by lola2013

[calicakes]

2 of these giant slices and a soda for 5.45.

[lola2013]

27 minutes ago, calicakes said:

2 of these giant slices and a soda for 5.45.

Wow...now I'm hungry and have to wait 78 more days to get to Primante Brothers.  I go for the sausage pizza!  P.S.  For $12 you can get the souvenir t-shirt 😋

Edited September 12, 2019 by lola2013

[lamondys]

2 hours ago, calicakes said:

Thanks for all the tips on snorkeling in Bonaire.  We're so excited!!

 

We had an uneventful flight.  We had a window and aisle and there was no one in the middle.  I had half a CBD chew( light salt water taffy) and I slept for 4 hours!!  When I woke up, and Julie told me we land in 45 minutes, I was stunned.  It didn't feel like I slept for close to 4 hours. 

 

We retrieved our luggage in record time, picked up the rental car and drove to Hollywood.  We were at the airbnb and in bed by 6:30am.  

 

Its 11am now and I'd love to sleep a few more hours, I know we have to get up or we won't be able to sleep tonight.  We're also really thirsty and hungry.   We love NY style pizza( I'm originally from NY), so that is on the agenda.  

Randi, do you know if passengers are allowed to bring CBD products onto the ship?

[calicakes]

1 hour ago, lamondys said:

Randi, do you know if passengers are allowed to bring CBD products onto the ship?

I dont know for sure, I'd say as long as it doesn't contain thc.

[hiccups]

3 hours ago, lola2013 said:

Hi Randi,

My geography is poor on several levels...not sure where Hollywood is in relation to Ft. Lauderdale or how easy it is to get there.  Our first stop every time we cruise out of FLL is Primante Brothers...right on A1A directly across from the beach and just a little south of Sunrise.  They originated in Philadelphia so not sure if that's something you're familiar with.  The pizza is delicious (remember you're talking to a girl from Chicago who loves her deep dish pizza.....)...it's a huge slice of thin crust pizza for about $3.  We also usually stop there on embarkation day to have breakfast before we head to the port.  

Enjoy!

Susan

As a PA native, just have to jump and say that Primanti Brothers started in Pittsburgh... the only city where you'll get fries on your sandwiches and salads  🙂  

[calicakes]

54 minutes ago, hiccups said:

As a PA native, just have to jump and say that Primanti Brothers started in Pittsburgh... the only city where you'll get fries on your sandwiches and salads  🙂  

I think we might have a primanti brothers in LA. I'm going to check.

 

Hollywood is about 6 miles from the airport. 

 

Julie is originally from Wisconsin. She loves frozen Custard. We had to stop at our favorite place. We shared this small. $4.25. Chocolate crater sundae.

[calicakes]

I feel like I'm much too old to take a red eye.  I can barely keep my eyes open and its only 6pm.  I'm sure I'll be sleeping in an hour and then up probably at the crack of dawn.  It doesn't help that I didn't have my usual iced coffee today.  I didn't want to drink one this afternoon, for fear I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight. 

[PhoenixCruiser]

Enjoying your thread!  

 

We are taking a red-eye to San Juan later this year to visit the ABCs via The Summit.

 

Looking forward to following your trip.

[micheleata]

We did this same itinerary last September, and are on the Oct. 4th sailing.   We love these islands!

 

Looking forward to reading more!

[calicakes]

Great night sleep. Went to our favorite Jewish deli/bagel shop for a quick breakfast. Scooped out everything bagel and vegetable cream cheese. We're off to return rental car and shuttle to the port. See you onboard.

[merdon]

Have a great trip. We sail on Equinox in October.

[calicakes]

All checked in. It was very quick. Took about 10 min. Equinox is the only ship in port Everglades today. Julie found the library. She is looking for a particular author, but no luck.

[calicakes]

We picked up our sea pass cards and had a look see at the room.

[calicakes]

I know the footstool issue has been discussed ad nauseum.  However, when I asked for one, I was given a grey shower stool. LOL. 

 

Oh and the previous guest left two open bottles of water in the fridge.  I guess they don't check the fridge between sailings.  There are also 2 KIND bars in the fridge.  I'm assuming they are from the previous guest, unless X provides them.