Equinox LIVE Solo Review 11/19-11/28

[GenerationX]

13 hours ago, ptf2009 said:

Thank you so much for your quick response. One more question: Are any of the pools on the ship heated?

Your dresses are sooooo cute!!! 

Thank you!!! I’ve only been in one of the 2 outdoor pools but I’m pretty sure it’s heated.  It’s about 78 degrees Fahrenheit outside and the water is cool enough to be refreshing but not frigid.  It’s perfect in the sun. 

[GenerationX]

Ok so the ABBA sing along last night was so much fun!

 

With all due respect, you know that scene at the end of Dirty Dancing where all the rich people decide life’s way more fun with rhythm and hip movement and break out into an epic salsa party?  I pretty much saw that go down last night in the grand foyer.  

 

As in at one point I saw a gorgeous lady who must’ve been in her 70’s and wearing at least 10 grand’s worth of David Yurman drop it like it’s hot.

 

One of the things I really enjoyed about Celebrity just before the shutdown was seeing the increasing diversity in the passenger demographic.  I was worried the change wouldn’t survive the suspension but from what I saw on Summit last month and onboard Equinox the past few days,  I’ve come to the delightful conclusion that it’s here to stay.

 

Last night it was such a blast to see so many of us of different ages and from different backgrounds all dancing and laughing together and having ALL the upscale fun.  The best part was that while I was competing as a finalist in the impromptu limbo competition that broke out, I bumped into a classmate of mine from college (Northwestern University, go Wildcats!)  who’s now also a lawyer and sailing with his lawyer wife (who has coincidentally been following my live review, hi Jen! Great meeting you!  Let’s get martinis one night soon!) and their 2 kids!

 

BTW, I just ordered a second Bloody Mary from Dilip the pool server when my first was down to a quarter left. I figured because it’s a busy pool deck it’d take him a while to get me the second.  He was back with it in like 45 seconds.  So now I’m double fisting bloody Mary’s by the pool.  This is the biggest problem I’ve had in 3 days.

 

I’m gonna take a dip in the pool and read another chapter in Crossing on the Paris and after that I’ll fill you in on Le Petit Chef!

 

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

On 11/20/2021 at 2:56 PM, ILgirl said:

Not only am I enjoying your review and thanking you for taking the time but I LOVE your clothes!!  Any chance you would share shopping secrets?  Hope you have the best cruise ever!

Oh also I just realized I forgot to share another shopping secret! If you’re into labels, sometimes in late October and early March , Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue have big in store and/or online clearance markdowns to clear out inventory to make room for the latest releases. That’s usually when I acquire most of my high end label clothes and accessories.  I don’t really care if they’re a season or 2 old when the prices are that good. After all, they’re still beautiful and great quality and I’ve got student loans and cruises to fit in my budget!

[GenerationX]

Last night for dinner I did the Le Petit Chef experience at Qsine.

 

I did the original Le Petit Chef show on Infinity when it was first rolled out a couple of years ago and thought it was pretty cool and the food delicious (that bouillabaisse is still the best I’ve ever had) but at the time I wondered how Celebrity was going to keep it from being a one and done experience.

 

That question was answered on this cruise when I saw that there are now 3 different shows/menus offered on different nights.  I actually had to move my reservation to a different night because the night I originally booked for was the menu I’d already done on Infinity. 

 

It also seems like the technology and show have been much upgraded.  The graphics are far more detailed and there’s actually a cute little plot to the story.  

 

I splurged a little and paid an additional $20 to have the wine pairings (not included in premium beverage package) with each course and I thought it was well worth it.  My sommelier Mila was very friendly and engaging and did an excellent job describing each wine and why it was paired with each course.  I thought the pairings were well selected and, in a couple of cases, the wine actually saved the meal course (more on that in a sec).

 

The chilled pea soup and crab pasta in the first 2 courses were amazing.  But that’s were things kind of went sideways.  The next course was a filet mignon which I ordered medium rare.  I know my server heard me right because she said “oh you like lots of red in your steak”.  The meat that came to my table was more like medium-well.  Normally I’m one to promptly and politely send an overcooked steak back to the kitchen.  But I was worried if the chef had to make a whole new steak for me it would hold up the entire dinner show (because everyone has to start the next course at the same time) so I made do.  The fantastic Italian wine pairing and the sauce it was served with took an overcooked steak from a 2 to like a 6 on my rating scale, so that’s saying something.  I did notice at the end of the course that there was a lady at a table near me who barely touched her extremely red looking steak so I wonder if the food runners got our plates mixed up.

 

The last course was a brownie a la mode which is one of my favorite desserts.  Sadly it wasn’t everything it could be.  The brownie didn’t taste like it was baked fresh. It was more like something that may have been baked that morning or even the night before.  I totally get that the pastry operation may not be centrally located enough to be making brownies on the fly for the specialty restaurants at the aft.  But it would’ve been nice if they’d at least put the brownie under a warming light before the topped it with the marshmallow and ice cream.  Like 90% of the joy of a brownie a la mode is the combination of the cold ice cream and a warm brownie blending on your palate.  With a room temperature brownie, it was a little sad.  Here again, the sparkling wine pairing saved the day.  When I get home I’m going to order a bottle of it for my cellar so that on the next particularly rough day at work I can come home and have a bottle of that and a box of Godiva chocolates for dinner (we all need ways to cope, don’t judge me).

 

Overall the experience was wonderful and I think with a couple of tweaks the food would’ve been fantastic.  I’ll likely do it again at some point to try and see the third show. Some pics of the fun below.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mchell810]

 Really enjoying your review.  Sorry your dinner had that glitch with your steak.  I don't think I've ever seen a sparkling red before (and I am into wine so it's something I will have to look for.)  Was it paired with the dessert?  And the valpolicella in the last photo, I am guessing that was paired with the steak.  Is that correct?

 

Edited November 22, 2021 by mchell810

[MJSailors]

Generation X -

   I am enjoying your review !

   Did you post a review of the cruise you took onboard the Summit?

If so, I would like to read it as my DH and I just booked a cruise on the Summit for May 2022. It is a ten day cruise visiting Newport, Bermuda and Charleston. We will have an Aqua class cabin.

    We were on the Summit in the Summer of 2018 before the redo or revolutionizing. I would be interested in your description of the ship as it is now.

   Could you post a link to your Summit review?

      Thank you !

       MJ 🙋🏻

 

[lnuzzo]

3 hours ago, GenerationX said:

I splurged a little and paid an additional $20 to have the wine pairings (not included in premium beverage package) with each course and I thought it was well worth it.  My sommelier Mila was very friendly and engaging and did an excellent job describing each wine and why it was paired with each course.  I thought the pairings were well selected and, in a couple of cases, the wine actually saved the meal course (more on that in a sec).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did Le Petit Chef too on our 10/29 sailing on the Equinox.  and I have to agree - the wine paring save our dinner.  the best item of dinner for me was the soup.    it was an adorable show, but I didn't feel the food lived up to the animations.  

 

And a big Thank you for the pics of the bottles of wine!!!!  I have been wrecking my head trying to remember the wines we had.  My personal favorite was the Valpolicella.  Mila was wonderful!  we bumped into her several nights!

 

 

Edited November 22, 2021 by lnuzzo

[GenerationX]

2 hours ago, mchell810 said:

 Really enjoying your review.  Sorry your dinner had that glitch with your steak.  I don't think I've ever seen a sparkling red before (and I am into wine so it's something I will have to look for.)  Was it paired with the dessert?  And the valpolicella in the last photo, I am guessing that was paired with the steak.  Is that correct?

 

 
So glad you’re enjoying the review!  Yes the sparkling red was paired with the dessert and would go well with any chocolate sweet.  Mila the sommelier told me that that particular sparkling red varietal is rumored to be what Mark Antony and Caesar would bring to Egypt as part of their tribute to Queen Cleopatra. So it’s literally wine fit for a queen!

 

Yes, the valpolicella was paired with the steak.

[GenerationX]

Thank you so much!  I did do a review of my Summit cruise.  Attempting to post a link below. Just let me know if it doesn’t work.

 

 

[SJ1_]

On 11/18/2021 at 3:07 PM, GenerationX said:

Thanks for all the finger crossing, folks! It totally worked! I arrived at my hotel at 10:45am and was able to check right in! 

 

I’m staying at the Hyatt Centric Las Olas in one of their pool walkout patio rooms.  The patio has a little gate so you have direct access to the pool. The hotel is very modern and clean and on my way to the elevators I saw something I plan to ask Santa for for Christmas (see first pic below 😁).

 

There’s quite a bit of construction going on in the area and it took my Uber driver a few minutes to find the entrance in all the confusion (the driveway is like halfway up a ramp to a condo parking garage, it’s odd).  

 

The pool area has an outdoor bar so I rewarded myself for sending my last work email by popping out my walkout and going over to get my first vacation margarita.  I sat out on my patio until I started to feel rain drops hitting me, which also helped me realize that my stomach was starting to rumble (such is life when you eat breakfast at 5:30 in the morning).

 

I just got back from lunch at the bar at the hotel restaurant.  I ordered the mahi-mahi tacos and washed them down with a nice French rose’.  I will say, I’m pretty impressed with the wine list here for a hotel bar.  But this is also a hotel with a champagne vending machine, so it follows, I guess.

 

When I checked in, the front desk gave me a little card good for one free “Absolut cocktail” at the hotel bar.  I was a little skeptical that it was a bait and switch of some kind so I was planning not to use it.  Then while I was sitting at lunch I saw the bartender make the cocktail for someone else who was redeeming their coupon and realized it was an awesome opportunity to relive childhood memories (see the pics, they’ll explain).  When I ordered, the bartender asked what flavors I tend to like in my cocktails and used that profile to make the fresh fruit mix for my drink.

 

I’m about to take a little nap then do one more check in with the office and FaceTime with the hubby at home then chromecast some Netflix to the room tv until it’s time to get ready for dinner.

 

I asked the pool bartender for a recommendation for a good upscale seafood restaurant near the hotel for dinner and he  suggested that I try a place called Lobster Bar Sea Grill a couple of blocks away, so I’ve made myself a reservation on OpenTable for later this evening.

 

So far my trip is off to a great start!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

love ur smile !  Enjoy

[GenerationX]

A quick post with a request for assistance:

 

If you’re onboard Equinox with me and you happen to walk by the luxury handbag shop and see me inside trying on this handbag in front of a mirror, do me a HUGE FAVOR and for the love of Poseidon, do something.

 

Create a distraction. Come right on in and take my shoulders and look at me and say “this is for your own good” and then shake me, if you must.

 

I DO NOT NEED this Louis Vuitton.  I could have a whole ‘nother cruise for the price of this Louis Vuitton. I do not need to buy this gorgeous, gorgeous Louis Vuitton that would go perfectly with my beige leather boots and grey winter coat.

 

 

 

 

[acstall]

1 minute ago, GenerationX said:

A quick post with a request for assistance:

 

If you’re onboard Equinox with me and you happen to walk by the luxury handbag shop and see me inside trying on this handbag in front of a mirror, do me a HUGE FAVOR and for the love of Poseidon, do something.

 

Create a distraction. Come right on in and take my shoulders and look at me and say “this is for your own good” and then shake me, if you must.

 

I DO NOT NEED this Louis Vuitton.  I could have a whole ‘nother cruise for the price of this Louis Vuitton. I do not need to buy this gorgeous, gorgeous Louis Vuitton that would go perfectly with my beige leather boots and grey winter coat.

 

 

 

 

Cruise? Handbag? Cruise wins every time!  Remember that!

[lola2013]

3 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

A quick post with a request for assistance:

 

If you’re onboard Equinox with me and you happen to walk by the luxury handbag shop and see me inside trying on this handbag in front of a mirror, do me a HUGE FAVOR and for the love of Poseidon, do something.

 

Create a distraction. Come right on in and take my shoulders and look at me and say “this is for your own good” and then shake me, if you must.

 

I DO NOT NEED this Louis Vuitton.  I could have a whole ‘nother cruise for the price of this Louis Vuitton. I do not need to buy this gorgeous, gorgeous Louis Vuitton that would go perfectly with my beige leather boots and grey winter coat.

 

 

 

 

STEP AWAY FROM THE BAG.........

[MJSailors]

Generation X

   The link worked !

I am going to start reading it right now.

Thank you!

MJ🙋🏻

[lola2013]

32 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

A quick post with a request for assistance:

 

If you’re onboard Equinox with me and you happen to walk by the luxury handbag shop and see me inside trying on this handbag in front of a mirror, do me a HUGE FAVOR and for the love of Poseidon, do something.

 

Create a distraction. Come right on in and take my shoulders and look at me and say “this is for your own good” and then shake me, if you must.

 

I DO NOT NEED this Louis Vuitton.  I could have a whole ‘nother cruise for the price of this Louis Vuitton. I do not need to buy this gorgeous, gorgeous Louis Vuitton that would go perfectly with my beige leather boots and grey winter coat.

 

 

 

 

Now if it was Gucci, we might have to arm wrestle for it!!!

[jules27556]

Loving your Live report!

 

I am taking my first cruise in 12 years in April. Silhouette TA.

Retired Flight Attendant so travelled the world at 35,000. Time off

was being home in my own bed!

Solo now.

Suggestions? Dining solo?  

Thanks, Julie

 

PS Love your cruise wardrobe!!

 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

5 hours ago, GenerationX said:

A quick post with a request for assistance:

 

If you’re onboard Equinox with me and you happen to walk by the luxury handbag shop and see me inside trying on this handbag in front of a mirror, do me a HUGE FAVOR and for the love of Poseidon, do something.

 

Create a distraction. Come right on in and take my shoulders and look at me and say “this is for your own good” and then shake me, if you must.

 

I DO NOT NEED this Louis Vuitton.  I could have a whole ‘nother cruise for the price of this Louis Vuitton. I do not need to buy this gorgeous, gorgeous Louis Vuitton that would go perfectly with my beige leather boots and grey winter coat.

 

 

 

 

 

I'll take a cruise over a handbag any day!

[GenerationX]

Good morning from Aruba!  Posting may be slow today as I’ve got a full day excursion in port.  I’m doing a catamaran sail with stops at 2 different snorkeling sites followed by a beach barbecue.

 

For the first time in my 2 post-pandemic cruises we aren’t the only ship in a port.  It looks like the Scientology cruise ship is here too so I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for an opportunity to get a selfie with Tom Cruise.

 

This morning I had breakfast in the main dining room and tried the Greek Yogurt Fritatta. All my breakfasts onboard have been fine, but this is the first breakfast item I’ve had that I’m really really looking forward to eating again.

 

I’m sitting in al Bacio having a double espresso to give me an extra shot of energy (it was a late night of silent disco in the sky lounge last night) then I’ll head out on my excursion.

 

 

 

 

[CINGULARONE]

16 hours ago, GenerationX said:

A quick post with a request for assistance:

 

If you’re onboard Equinox with me and you happen to walk by the luxury handbag shop and see me inside trying on this handbag in front of a mirror, do me a HUGE FAVOR and for the love of Poseidon, do something.

 

Create a distraction. Come right on in and take my shoulders and look at me and say “this is for your own good” and then shake me, if you must.

 

I DO NOT NEED this Louis Vuitton.  I could have a whole ‘nother cruise for the price of this Louis Vuitton. I do not need to buy this gorgeous, gorgeous Louis Vuitton that would go perfectly with my beige leather boots and grey winter coat.

 

 

 

 

Damn.  We will be on board on Sunday, my wife has been dropping hints about a Never Full bag, I wonder if we will end up with one.  LOL

[FLCruiser97]

16 hours ago, GenerationX said:

A quick post with a request for assistance:

 

If you’re onboard Equinox with me and you happen to walk by the luxury handbag shop and see me inside trying on this handbag in front of a mirror, do me a HUGE FAVOR and for the love of Poseidon, do something.

 

Create a distraction. Come right on in and take my shoulders and look at me and say “this is for your own good” and then shake me, if you must.

 

I DO NOT NEED this Louis Vuitton.  I could have a whole ‘nother cruise for the price of this Louis Vuitton. I do not need to buy this gorgeous, gorgeous Louis Vuitton that would go perfectly with my beige leather boots and grey winter coat.

 

 

 

 

They DO have Black Friday sales onboard. Maybe you should see about that. 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

3 hours ago, FLCruiser97 said:

They DO have Black Friday sales onboard. Maybe you should see about that. 

 

Nope.  You do not need that bag.  You need more cruises!

[vickykay]

Agree.  We need more of your reviews while we suffer cruise withdrawal!

[GenerationX]

Good afternoon friends!  I had a great day in Aruba, but before I get into all that, let me fill you in on last night.  After spending my sea day afternoon having a fantastic lunch at sushi on 5 followed by an Oregon wine tasting, I spent happy hour at the outdoor bar at the buffet watching some crazy storm clouds out in the distance.  
 

For dinner I went Caribbean with my wardrobe in anticipation of our arrival in Aruba the next day and invited some ladies I met on night 2 to join me at my table in the MDR since I knew one of our couples usual table couples would be at Murano. It turned out the 3 of us were the only ones at our table, but we had a great time.

 

I started with the always delicious escargot (I seriously want to dip everything I ever eat in that garlic butter sauce) and a nice cup of squash soup then had the lamb wrapped in phyllo entree and a peach cobbler a la mode for dessert.

 

The lamb was absolutely delicious, but I can’t understand the decision to serve it with what looked and tasted very much like those 79 cent bagged frozen mixed vegetables my grandma always tried to force me to eat as a kid. I mean I KNOW there’s fresh asparagus and broccoli back there in the kitchen Celebrity. You can do better. Frozen mixed vegetables is NOT fine dining!

 

The peach cobbler was a far better dessert experience than my brownie in Le Petit Chef the night before.  The cobbler was actually warm and the ice cream perfectly softened and it had a nice crunch element from the caramelization on top.

 

After dinner I went to silent disco and then stayed in the sky lounge hanging out with some of the guys from Savannah Jack, who’ll be performing later in our cruise.

I also got to meet a super fun couple who’ve been following my review (hi guys! Thanks for indulging me in a selfie!)

 

Coming soon: all about snorkeling and sailing in Aruba!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

47 minutes ago, vickykay said:

Agree.  We need more of your reviews while we suffer cruise withdrawal!

 

Awww this is such a nice complement!  I totally live vicariously through other people’s live reviews to cope between cruises, so I’m glad I can pay it forward!

[r2h2]

Nice review! That Oregon Pinot Noir map is off.  They put the Willamette Valley where the Cascade Mountains should be. I bet that Penner Ash was fabulous though! Glad you are having a great time. Keep up the great review!