Equinox, a Royal Suite experience

[wendyam76]

Have a wonderful cruise! We fly to Orlando 3 weeks yesterday for a week on Harmony of the Seas (we like Oasis Class but do the unlimited dining plan to avoid the MDR) and a week in Orlando. I’m recovering from a broken leg so will have to take it easier than normal. 

Wendy 

[dkjretired]

23 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Rats, I may never get to see a picture of your posh frock!

 

I'm just off the Equinox.  I've never had a better Luminae experience.  Ask for Neno as your waiter, although they are all wonderful.  Viktoriia, the hostess in Luminae is an absolute sweetheart.

 

I'll be interested to hear your take on the Retreat Lounge which has been redone.  I never made it up to the Retreat Sundeck as there is no elevator access.  You should find your suite pretty much as before, but with new carpeting, a new bed, new bedding and towels.  Wonderful new robes.  Alas, the Bulgari toiletries are no more.  The new stuff is OK, but nothing to write home about.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Retreat sky deck on Summit was very nice but hot. Food and drink service was excellent.  Perhaps because of the interruption in the Equinox redo they didn’t put one in. FYI, Summit has an elevator just past the steps, second slowest elevator we were in in Bermuda.

Edited September 22, 2019 by dkjretired

[chemmo]

6 hours ago, wendyam76 said:

Have a wonderful cruise! We fly to Orlando 3 weeks yesterday for a week on Harmony of the Seas (we like Oasis Class but do the unlimited dining plan to avoid the MDR) and a week in Orlando. I’m recovering from a broken leg so will have to take it easier than normal. 

Wendy 

 

Hope you leg improves! Having cruised in an orthopaedic boot you have to expect some limitations. Seriously, look at hiring a scooter for the Orlando part of your trip.

[wendyam76]

1 minute ago, chemmo said:

 

Hope you leg improves! Having cruised in an orthopaedic boot you have to expect some limitations. Seriously, look at hiring a scooter for the Orlando part of your trip.

I’m very lucky in that the boot is now off and as I travel with my 85 year old mum I will, for once, go at her pace! We go to Orlando every year and thankfully this time we hadn’t planned theme parks - we’ll tour the resorts and spend time at Disney Springs - lots of great bars to sit in and people watch! 

[chemmo]

4 hours ago, dkjretired said:

 

Retreat sky deck on Summit was very nice but hot. Food and drink service was excellent.  Perhaps because of the interruption in the Equinox redo they didn’t put one in. FYI, Summit has an elevator just past the steps, second slowest elevator we were in in Bermuda.

 

A slow elevator is better than no elevator....

 

We do hope the service level for food and drink on the Retreat Deck on Equinox is good as it will take a bit of effort from both of us to access...

[calicakes]

Since we'll be getting off the ship tomorrow, I'll look forward to reading your blog. 

[chemmo]

7 hours ago, calicakes said:

Since we'll be getting off the ship tomorrow, I'll look forward to reading your blog. 

 

I have enjoyed reading yours! Have a safe journey home.  5.30 ish here at the Embassy Suites. Wide awake and waiting to get a glimpse of Equinox coming into port....

 

This may be one of loads of cruises we have taken but the excitement of boarding is always there!

[chemmo]

Just watched her come into port! Magical...

 

Now time to try to get another hours sleep...

[merdon]

Looking forward to your review. Have a lovely voyage.

[Fogfog]

Looking fwd to hearing more. Just back today from 16 days on Equinox (did B2B)

Had outstanding service/food and experience and found the crew and all staff incredibly welcoming/kind and helpful

 

 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Can't wait until its our turn and looking forward to your review.

[ATLgirl15]

Looking forward to following your trip.  We will be on Equinox in RS December.  This will be our 3rd time on Equinox and we’re curious to see the mini revolution.  

[chemmo]

Greetings from Equinox! 

 

We left our hotel at 11ish. We ordered a taxi to the port, showed him our ‘priority’ sign and he knew where to drop us! Just so easy, a single car sized pull over area....

 

A porter took our luggage and a member of staff took us through a private security line (empty) up an elevator to the seating area. Someone then took our passports for two minutes, then we were escorted to the Retreat... Easiest boarding ever! Total time from drop off to Retreat less than 15 minutes...

 

Our room was ready as we dropped off our hand luggage before heading to Luminae for lunch. Unfortunately, our luggage didn’t arrive until during muster. This was nothing to do with poor delivery, it was a consequence of the inspection...We didn’t see one case as we traveled the corridors...Muster was traditional (not the cartoon video). After Muster our cases had arrived and we unpacked before heading for a quick drink in the Retreat and dinner at Tuscan...

 

Unfortunately our request for a window table had not got to Tuscan so for the first time in many years we didn’t have our traditional first night ‘real wake view’....we were a row back. To add insult to injury the couple sat in the window area we were nearest  to requested the blinds be lowered leaving us a very limited view of a very beautiful sunset. As always we now made our two traditional toasts...

 

”To making it count”

”To Cruise Critic posters who add to our cruise pleasure”. We thought especially of one or two who we are aware have not had good health recently.

 

Despite our disappointment at our table allocation service was excellent as was the food. Our steaks were cooked to perfection, tender and very tasty. By desert and coffee we were exhausted and made our way back to the room.

 

Our first impressions matched Fogfog’s summary...

 

17 hours ago, Fogfog said:

Had outstanding service/food and experience and found the crew and all staff incredibly welcoming/kind and helpful

 

 

 

I will post more later about our impressions of the room, retreat deck, retreat lounge....

 

[tcmagnum]

On ‎9‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 8:20 AM, chemmo said:

So despite not being a Spring chicken I have enjoyed three park days shooting aliens, riding broomsticks, being attacked by dinosaurs and even magically riding in a motorbike side car.....Never too old to have fun!

 

I want to be you, when I grow up!!  Such a great attitude.  And I love the idea of renting one scooter and taking turns.

Will have to mention that to daddy/momma!!

Have an amazing trip...

[tcmagnum]

4 hours ago, chemmo said:

As always we now made our two traditional toasts...

 

”To making it count”

 

I love this!!  Such the perfect attitude...

[sdnich]

I look forward to following your review!We will be boarding Equinox  30 days from now for our first B2B !! Have a fabulous and fun cruise!!!

[chemmo]

9 minutes ago, tcmagnum said:

 

I want to be you, when I grow up!!  Such a great attitude.  And I love the idea of renting one scooter and taking turns.

Will have to mention that to daddy/momma!!

Have an amazing trip...

 

 

As you get older your body ages but I think your ‘inside outlook’ remains the same....Some people just never manage to savour and enjoy life to the full whereas others are always ‘young at heart’.

 

Sincere thanks for your good wishes....

[vtcruising]

2 minutes ago, chemmo said:

 

 

As you get older your body ages but I think your ‘inside outlook’ remains the same....Some people just never manage to savour and enjoy life to the full whereas others are always ‘young at heart’.

 

Sincere thanks for your good wishes....

Well said! Your attitude of appreciating and celebrating the high points and letting go of the low points before they consume you is a lovely way to cruise (and to live in general).  🙂

 

 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Interesting to hear they ditched the cartoon during muster drill.  It was still in place on the August 31 and September 7 cruises.  I found it way too cutsey.

[chemmo]

We have now visited the Retreat Lounge and Retreat Deck and offer our first impressions of both.

 

We were concerned about the decor in the lounge being ‘cold’ and the furnishings ‘uncomfortable’ but we have been pleasantly surprised. We have found a variety of chair types to suit all tastes and a bright, cheery environment that still has ‘class’. It also seems more spacious than before. We were real fans of Michael’s so it needed to be good to impress us! Rose, serves up drinks with a smile that further lights up the room. Service so far, excellent.

 

Like others have commented the concierge ‘podium’ rather than desk is rather odd...Even if Saber is young enough to stand for a long time many guests can’t! Saber strikes us already as a conscientious and caring concierge. When a concierge on the first day of your cruise states “If you need anything, if there is anything at all I can do...” you know you are in good hands. We rarely do want/need anything extra but it is sooooo nice to be asked! By the way, does anyone remember me asking in another post if there is Dubonnet on board? We mentioned in our precruise email that if they had it on board could they have it available in the Retreat lounge. Well the request went through and a bottle is planned to be boarded in St. Thomas! Even if it doesn’t board and I don’t end up with my ‘Queen Mother Cocktail’ this holiday, I am genuinely thrilled and touched that they have made an effort.

 

 

This morning we had a swim in the Solarium pool then made our way to the Retreat Deck (walk, then lift, then one flight of stairs). We do have some mobility issues but with care managed the stairs...just such a shame for suite guests whose mobility issues are greater than ours as there is no lift. The furnishings are very comfortable, it is well staffed and yes it is hot and breezy but we find that pleasant for an hour or so....It is a pity there is no ‘water feature’ but it is certainly better than having no suite deck at all. The snack selection is small but well chosen. For us it is ideal, we don’t always want at lunchtime to get out of wet swimwear nor do we want anything ‘heavy’ to eat. I can see this becoming a regular pattern for us. Retreat Deck is manned until 7pm with food served from 11.30-2.30.

 

Tonight there is a ‘Senior Officers Social’ in the Retreat, looking forward to it....

Edited September 24, 2019 by chemmo

[chemmo]

1 hour ago, vtcruising said:

Well said! Your attitude of appreciating and celebrating the high points and letting go of the low points before they consume you is a lovely way to cruise (and to live in general).  🙂

 

 

 

If life throws you lemons you make lemonade....

[chemmo]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Interesting to hear they ditched the cartoon during muster drill.  It was still in place on the August 31 and September 7 cruises.  I found it way too cutsey.

 

I don’t know if there was a technical issue that resulted in a traditional Muster or if they have ditched the cartoon. Next set of guests will need to report.

[chemmo]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

Interesting to hear they ditched the cartoon during muster drill.  It was still in place on the August 31 and September 7 cruises.  I found it way too cutsey.

 

I don’t know if there was a technical issue that resulted in a traditional Muster or if they have ditched the cartoon. Next set of guests will need to report.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

2 hours ago, chemmo said:

We have now visited the Retreat Lounge and Retreat Deck and offer our first impressions of both.

 

We were concerned about the decor in the lounge being ‘cold’ and the furnishings ‘uncomfortable’ but we have been pleasantly surprised. We have found a variety of chair types to suit all tastes and a bright, cheery environment that still has ‘class’. It also seems more spacious than before. We were real fans of Michael’s so it needed to be good to impress us! Rose, serves up drinks with a smile that further lights up the room. Service so far, excellent.

 

 

 

Tonight there is a ‘Senior Officers Social’ in the Retreat, looking forward to it....

 

I agree, Rose lit up the room.  But as she was the only one staffing the lounge often, service was slow.

 

Go early if you want a seat tonight.  It will be packed.

[George C]

happy to hear positive things on retreat lounge , really enjoyed Micheals on my recent cruises, staff was great.