EQUINOX October 8, 2021 Live/Live-ish

[Alabaster Cruiser]

Kelly as we were getting off in Aruba we saw staff escorting another staff member with luggage to a private vehicle.  All were masked.  We assumed that the positive case was a staff member.  I also agree with you about personal hygiene teaching.  It never fails  while I am eating that I hear someone blowing their nose!  NASTY and RUDE!

[PinkSandGirl]

1 hour ago, Alabaster Cruiser said:

Kelly as we were getting off in Aruba we saw staff escorting another staff member with luggage to a private vehicle.  All were masked.  We assumed that the positive case was a staff member.  I also agree with you about personal hygiene teaching.  It never fails  while I am eating that I hear someone blowing their nose!  NASTY and RUDE!

Sue,

Hi!  Wow, this must have been our room attendant.  Our room attendant was changed on Day 3.  I saw her Saturday night around Cafe Bacio and we were talking for awhile.  The next day we had a new attendant and I asked why and he told us because of rotation which seemed odd.  I later found out she was taken off in Aruba for a medical reason, she hurt her wrist earlier and it wasn't getting better.   She was so nice.  We had met someone she was friends with at Cafe Bacio who told us why she was no longer there.  

 

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Edited October 19, 2021 by PinkSandGirl

[PinkSandGirl]

3 hours ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Thank you so much for your observations. Celebrity has in the recent past, advertised the fact that they have flown these covid positives back home in a private plane. Thought this policy was ending Oct 31, 2021 and went on the Celebrity Web-site to confirm.

It has been extended to December 31, 2021, which is reassuring.   Not that anyone wants to experience the procedures but it is good to know they are there to help in a time of need, if needed.  

 

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[PinkSandGirl]

On 10/10/2021 at 2:24 PM, Stem to Stern said:

Ominous sky after this mornings rain.

Wow.  Look at that sky!  Thankfully that was only for a short time...during the whole cruise.  😃

 

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[PinkSandGirl]

On 10/8/2021 at 5:35 PM, TXranchgal said:

We are sailing on the Equinox on October 20th, so we REALLY appreciate your updates and commentary.  It was exciting to follow Jim & Iain for the past month to gather info.  We'll be following your updates with particular interest since we are leaving when you get back and going to the same ports.  Hoping you have a fantastic cruise.

I didn't get to 'live blog' like I thought due to the internet.  I will be doing an extensive review but the whole thing will likely come out after you Set Sail.  If you have any questions, just ask.  😃

 

Have a wonderful cruise!   I am sure you will.  We did.  Absolutely wonderful!!! ❤   I will say the islands were much, much hotter than we expected.  We knew it would be hot but it was a different kind of heat.  It was usually 84° but it was an intense 84°.  We were told it was hotter than usual due to less wind.  ???   Make sure you bring cold water with you if you explore and an insulated bag to keep it cold.  We did and glad we did.  

 

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[PinkSandGirl]

On 10/8/2021 at 6:29 PM, sunsetme said:

What's the passenger count?

1,267 passengers with a 2,852 capacity.

 

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[jimbri]

Have a great cruise.

[Stem to Stern]

On 10/10/2021 at 12:34 AM, PinkSandGirl said:

We got off in Nassau.  We needed to show our vaccine card, passport and scan our Sea Pass in order to get off.   We walked to the Queen's Staircase.  It was a little tricky realizing where it was but figured it out.  We entered from ground level (below).   There are locals there that will explain the history.  It isn't a requirement to go through with a 'guide' but I am glad we did.  We learned a lot.  Tipping was greatly appreciated.   It was a beautiful area.

Kelly,  We are thinking of doing the Queen's Staircase next time we are in Nassau.  Would you say it was worth doing this on your own and seeing it up close and spending some time there?  It seems Celebrity's excursion just does a drive-by which doesn't sound too exciting.  Thanks.

[Jim_Iain]

On 10/9/2021 at 8:00 PM, PinkSandGirl said:

Hi!  I apologize for not updating more often with information and pictures.  I go to post and the posts will not upload/stay.  I also can not get pictures to upload.  They show up with an 'X'.  

 

We upgraded the internet late this afternoon so hopefully I can get things to post and pictures to upload. 

 

The last we sailed, the internet we had was great and we were able to use WiFi calling.  The standard internet that is part of the All Inclusive is not capable of WiFi calling and the internet...it all depends on the site you are on.  Texting and e-mails come through fine.  

 

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You might consider trying your device out in different locations on the ship.    I have had a couple rooms with internet dead spots and poor internet connections.  

 

While in the hallway look up at the ceiling and see how far you are from the router (on the ceiling or wall).

[PinkSandGirl]

On 11/7/2021 at 8:23 PM, Stem to Stern said:

Kelly,  We are thinking of doing the Queen's Staircase next time we are in Nassau.  Would you say it was worth doing this on your own and seeing it up close and spending some time there?  It seems Celebrity's excursion just does a drive-by which doesn't sound too exciting.  Thanks.

Paul,

Hi!  Yes, I think it is definitely worth walking through it, up the stairs and seeing it up close and learning about the history.  I will post pictures of it and also show where the buses would drive by/stop.  Now that I've been there, I can't imagine why the buses wouldn't stop and let people out.  It wouldn't be a long stop and if people didn't want to hear the history or walk through, they wouldn't have to. 😉

 

I apologize for just answering now.   I was away for the weekend.

 

I signed in to Cruise Critic thinking I need to get started on my review (since it's been a month already, crazy!) since my "Live from" wasn't very informative...  and then I saw your notification.  😉

 

Kelly 😃

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[PinkSandGirl]

29 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

You might consider trying your device out in different locations on the ship.    I have had a couple rooms with internet dead spots and poor internet connections.  

 

While in the hallway look up at the ceiling and see how far you are from the router (on the ceiling or wall).

Hi!  Thanks, Jim.   It did seem to work better in some spots more than others but accessing CruiseCritic was a challenge.   My replies and posts would disappear or not allow me to post them whether trying from my phone or tablet.   It was odd.   Other sites would work fine.  We did have an Aruba access point in the cabin.  Not sure if every cabin has one but having one in there didn't seem to help.  I did not check the hallway.  I'll have to go through my pictures and see if I see one near the cabin.

 

I do want to say, "Thank You!" for the time you put into your reviews and posts while you are onboard.  They are always enjoyable and informative.  Your reviews on the Equinox just before it was our turn were always fun to read and I looked forward to reading each day.  😃

 

Kelly 😃

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Edited November 9, 2021 by PinkSandGirl

[Jim_Iain]

7 hours ago, PinkSandGirl said:

Hi!  Thanks, Jim.   It did seem to work better in some spots more than others but accessing CruiseCritic was a challenge.   My replies and posts would disappear or not allow me to post them whether trying from my phone or tablet.   It was odd.   Other sites would work fine.  We did have an Aruba access point in the cabin.  Not sure if every cabin has one but having one in there didn't seem to help.  I did not check the hallway.  I'll have to go through my pictures and see if I see one near the cabin.

 

I do want to say, "Thank You!" for the time you put into your reviews and posts while you are onboard.  They are always enjoyable and informative.  Your reviews on the Equinox just before it was our turn were always fun to read and I looked forward to reading each day.  😃

 

Kelly 😃

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I had some major problems with CC when blogging on my last cruise.   There was a problem with cookies and when I tried to respond it would hang and list a pile of messages.   Only way out would be to clear my cookies and history - It was consistent on my iPhone with different browsers and PC with multiple browsers.

 

The problem isn't as bad now but have had to do it once or twice a day lately.    I eventually found that in Firefox I could delete the Cookies for just - Cruise Critics

[PinkSandGirl]

On 11/7/2021 at 8:23 PM, Stem to Stern said:

Kelly,  We are thinking of doing the Queen's Staircase next time we are in Nassau.  Would you say it was worth doing this on your own and seeing it up close and spending some time there?  It seems Celebrity's excursion just does a drive-by which doesn't sound too exciting.  Thanks.

Paul,

Hi!  Here are some pictures of the Queen's Staircase. 

 

Enjoy your cruise!!! 

 

Kelly 😃

 

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> That guardrail is where buses would stop.  As you can see it is dark. You have absolutely no idea there is something to see.  

 

 

> This is the other side of the guardrail but there's a downgrade from the road.  You see how dark it is at the entrance and the foliage.  

 

> This is 'inside'.  It is brighter than at the entrance but yet covered like you are in a forest.

 

 

 

> Inside (not quite a quarter the way through) looking back to where we entered.  You can see that guardrail

 

 

 

> 100+ year old tree with roots

 

 

 

 

> Waterfall

 

> Steps

 

 

 

> View from top

 

> View from top

 

> Signs at the top.  We entered from the bottom and there aren't any signs.

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by PinkSandGirl

[Stem to Stern]

@PinkSandGirlThank you so much Kelly.  Your photos turned out great.  Looking forward to checking out the staircase.  I hope you and your family enjoy the holidays.

[39august]

Did you walk back down the stairs or was there a path toward the right as you leave the staircase that led downhill as an alternative descent?  That is how I got back down several years ago.  Great pix by the way. 

[Stem to Stern]

3 hours ago, 39august said:

Did you walk back down the stairs or was there a path toward the right as you leave the staircase that led downhill as an alternative descent?  That is how I got back down several years ago.  Great pix by the way. 

Is there anything else worth visiting in the immediate area of the staircase?

[PinkSandGirl]

On 11/28/2021 at 12:26 PM, 39august said:

Did you walk back down the stairs or was there a path toward the right as you leave the staircase that led downhill as an alternative descent?  That is how I got back down several years ago.  Great pix by the way. 

Hi!  We walked up the stairs and then went right (walked on Prison Lane).  We did a loop to then go back to the water.

 

My boyfriend and I went up the stairs and did not go back down.  My mom and dad did not want to go up the stairs (extremely hot that day) so the gentleman that was our 'guide' told them how to walk back and for us to walk and where we would meet up, which was perfect.  

 

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[PinkSandGirl]

On 11/28/2021 at 4:17 PM, Stem to Stern said:

Is there anything else worth visiting in the immediate area of the staircase?

Paul,

Hi!   In the immediate area, no.  Not that we saw.   There are some nice buildings along the walk, depending on how you go.   Some of the areas were a little sketchy but we were fine.  We did see people and noone bothered us.  We used Google maps to get us there. 

 

We walked from the port to the Queen's Staircase and then back to the port area and had lunch.  We ate at Pirate Republic which is a Brewery.   A small food menu but the chicken sliders and burger sliders were good.  Beer flights and cocktails too.  Our waiter who they call Tracy Morgan, because he looks like him, was friendly and fun.  It was so hot so we then went back to the ship for Solarium Pool time.  😉 

 

From the time we stepped off the ship to when we were back on, it was 2.5 hours.  I would have loved to go in the water but we weren't planning to get off since ship excursions were a requirement up until the day we set sail so we did some quick planning. 😉

 

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[PinkSandGirl]

On 11/28/2021 at 10:37 AM, Stem to Stern said:

@PinkSandGirlThank you so much Kelly.  Your photos turned out great.  Looking forward to checking out the staircase.  I hope you and your family enjoy the holidays.

Paul,

Hi!  Have a wonderful cruise!  I hope you & Tim enjoy the holidays as well.  😀 

 

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[cbfb]

I read there is a Fort at the top. Has anyone done this? Also, how is the downtown area? Shopping? We are hoping to make a half day of all of that with lunch. Hopefully when we sail January 3rd we can still walk off the ship. 

[Stem to Stern]

On 12/2/2021 at 9:27 AM, cbfb said:

I read there is a Fort at the top. Has anyone done this? Also, how is the downtown area? Shopping? We are hoping to make a half day of all of that with lunch. Hopefully when we sail January 3rd we can still walk off the ship. 

After climbing the staircase, we did the fort.  There is not a whole lot to see, but there were a few souvenir vendors.  Then we walked by Gregory’s Arch and onto the historic Graycliff Hotel where there is a chocolatier and cigar shop.  From there we came down to the beach and headed back toward the ship passing a lot of the shops.

[cbfb]

43 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

After climbing the staircase, we did the fort.  There is not a whole lot to see, but there were a few souvenir vendors.  Then we walked by Gregory’s Arch and onto the historic Graycliff Hotel where there is a chocolatier and cigar shop.  From there we came down to the beach and headed back toward the ship passing a lot of the shops.

Nice!  You had me at chocolatier!! 🤣Thank you for all the info! 

[Jim_Iain]

Great photos and bring back so many memories of taking that climb.