Equinox LIVE Solo Review 11/19-11/28

[GenerationX]

Ugh, good morning friends…although really the only thing good about the view from my stateroom this morning is that I finally got to see the Edge in person.

 

We got into Port Everglades late last night instead of this morning due to a medical evacuation. Me and a few new friends made during the cruise watched our sail in from the sky lounge then stayed until our favorite bartender Marko finished his shift.

 

I’m currently sitting in the buffet eating breakfast and waiting for my luggage tag number to be called to disembark.

  

I’m staying a night in Fort Lauderdale tonight.  I had enough points to book my flight with points free if I fly out Monday rather than today due to heavy post-Thanksgiving travel (and hopefully the airport will be less crowded) and I had enough HHonors points for a free night tonight. Once I’m off the ship I’ll grab an Uber over to the Hilton Garden Inn and see if I can get lucky on early check ins on both ends of my cruise.

 

Once I’m settled in I’m going to go stew in my cruise withdrawal by the pool for a bit and do some catch up posts. Then I’ll start [groan] catching up on work.

 

To the folks leaving on Equinox today, bon voyage! I promise I left A LITTLE fun onboard for you too.

 

 

 

 

[39august]

Marko was our favorite bartender also last month on Equinox. Great guy. Did he mention where his finance was working on the ship? She was in quarintine when we were on board. 

[vms]

Another amazing review! Thanks for taking us along with you, and looking forward to your final thoughts.

[01Sweetpea]

Thanks for the wonderful review & taking us along on your cruise!  

 

PS…Did you bring home the Louis? 

[cazzi]

Thanks for the great review I enjoyed reading it daily. You really showed doing a solo cruise can be a lot of fun. Thank you again 

 

[4ptjo]

Bravo! Thanks for an excellent live review! I enjoyed every detail and smiled the whole time while reading along. Seems to me you know how to do it right! Cheers! 

[sdnich]

I really enjoyed your review also !! Great fun to follow you!! 🥂

[GenerationX]

Hello friends…Can I just say that life in the real world is HIGHLY overrated? 

 

I’m currently having one last poolside sun soak at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruiseport after a hot tub soak before I pack up and head for my flight back to cold weather this afternoon.

 

Unfortunately my early check in request at yesterday couldn’t be accommodated until early afternoon.  I saw lots of flight crews coming through the lobby area who I assume were staying while working the busy holiday flight schedule and as I was arriving a nearly full shuttle was boarding to take lucky passengers to Equinox, Edge and Odyssey of the Seas. So I think hotel was fairly full.

 

I overheard the shuttle driver giving passengers a price of $75 for two people for a round trip ride to and from the cruise port.  That seems kind of steep given that my Uber ride from the port to the hotel at peak disembarkation time was only $35 with tip (so I assume would’ve been about $70 round trip with Uber, a private transfer).

 

As I was checking my bags with the front desk yesterday I noticed that my stomach was growling and realized that over the past week I’ve become accustomed to eating every 2-3 hours and I was overdue.

 

I killed some time eating at the bar at the Firebirds Wood Fire Grill a few minutes walk from the hotel and trying not to let myself be disappointed that the bartender didn’t greet me by name, the butter that came with my bread wasn’t whipped and didn’t have any cool flavors in it, and I was going to be expected to pay for my margarita.  The food was very good though (try their lobster queso dip!) and I had some leftovers to stick in the fridge in my room and heat up in my room microwave for a happy hour snack after I checked in (oh how the mighty have fallen).

 

My room at the hotel is a little dated but clean and fine for a free night in a hotel with a pool and hot tub.  There’s also a restaurant and bar in the lobby open for breakfast and dinner, but I haven’t checked it out.

 

While I’m sitting here saying goodbye to the sunshine, I’ll catch you up on a much more pleasant meal memory: my Thanksgiving dinner at Murano!

 

I’ve traveled solo enough that I don’t really get nervous about it anymore. But I will admit I was a little apprehensive at my first time spending a major holiday meal without family.  Turns out I was pretty silly to worry because from the moment I stepped in the door, everyone working in Murano was treating me like family.  The maitre d rushed up to open the restaurant door for me (he’d seen me finishing up my pre-dinner cosmo at the bar in Ensemble Lounge and heading his way) and greeted me by name. Then took me to the same great table I had the first night and let me know that my server and sommelier (both named Michael) had both been looking forward to seeing me again.

 

I had an amuse bouche of cauliflower and truffle soup followed by lobster bisque, the Muscovy Duck, crepe ballon rouge finished tableside and (because I guess the chef thought the American girl had to eat SOMETHING traditional on Thanksgiving) a surprise second off menu dessert of the best pumpkin pie I’ve ever had!

 

I know the amuse bouche is just supposed to be a palette cleanser, but OMG does anyone know who do I need to talk to about getting that soup added to the regular menu of Murano?  I was actually a little disappointed when it was gone after the 4 spoon fulls and I had to move on the the lobster bisque (which was fantastic as always).  
 

When my duck two ways arrived Michael my server said to me “I have your Turkey dinner Ms. Charla!” And I was happy to find the breast was prepared just to the temp I requested.  
 

As I was sipping my dessert wine and watching Michael finish off making my crepe, the surprise pumpkin pie came to the table. I’ve always been lukewarm about pumpkin pie, but this one made me a believer!  It was topped with some kind of cream that tasted like it had white chocolate and marshmallow in it and some dark chocolate shavings.

 

Sommelier Michael did a great job of pairing each course with a wine he thought I’d like within the premium package based on our conversations in the tasting I’d attended and during my first night dinner. He hit the mark every time and he never let my glass get less than a quarter full until it was time for the next course/pairing (as evidenced by the fact that post-dinner I skipped my usual martini bar stop and stumbled straight to bed).

 

During the meal I had a great chat with the couple at the next table who were from Ohio and my assistant waiter made a point of coming by whenever she had a few minutes to chat to make sure I didn’t feel lonely. (Side note for anyone wondering: I have never once felt lonely while solo on a Celebrity ship.  One of the things I love about Celebrity as a solo traveler is that the personalities of the crew and most of the fellow cruisers are so open and welcoming, so there’s plenty of company and conversation to be had if and when you want it.)

 

I’m a little ashamed to admit that I did not miss turkey or green bean casserole or listening to my mother and my aunt bickering about how the pie should be cut one little bit. 😂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

I’m currently in my Uber on the way to MIA doing my best to soak in the blue sky and all the lovely green trees and plants along I-95 because I know it’s the last time those colors will be part of my scenery repertoire for months.

 

As we’re driving, I’m thinking back on my Thanksgiving Day in Bonaire.  In this port, I booked my second snorkeling excursion of the cruise. This one was called the Exclusive Sailboat Shore Cruise and Snorkel.  Unlike my excursions in Aruba and Curaçao, this one was very small and personalized.  The excursion was sold out with 12 people signed up and 2 decided not to come last minute so there were only 10 of us onboard a small sailing yacht with a crew of 4.  

 

The snorkeling on Bonaire was much better than in Aruba. While there seemed to be a bit more of a current, the reefs were in a lot better shape and had more color and there were far more different types of fish and in bigger numbers.  I had hoped since it was a protected marine park area we might see some turtles and small sharks too, but no luck.  The crew were all Dutch residents of the island and very friendly and open to answering any questions we had about the island and ocean life.

 

After the snorkeling the crew served up beer and rum punch as well as a plate of Dutch snacks and fruit (all included in the excursion price).

 

We ate and drank while the captain sailed us to see an uninhabited island nature preserve and stopped past Equinox so people could get photos of the ship.

 

In the smaller boat with so many waves splashing around I didn’t want to take my phone out of my dry bag much so I don’t have many pictures from the excursion, but the boat was spotless and the ocean was beautiful.

 

Our excursion got back less than an hour before all aboard time so I didn’t get to explore much.  I just stopped in a gift shop for some gifts for folks at home and then hopped back aboard.

 

We passed quite a few interesting looking shops and restaurants on the way back to the ship so I think next time I do a cruise that stops in Bonaire with the hubby in tow, I’ll do one of the morning cultural history tours instead so I have time to spend the afternoon exploring town.

 

Although the captain of our tour boat did say they have direct flights to Bonaire from Miami 3 times a week so I may check the flight board when I get to MIA and see if it’s my lucky day. After all, I’ve already got my passport and vaccine card with me and there’s a rapid Covid test center at the airport…lol

 

After I got back to the ship I relaxed on my veranda watching the notorious runners incident go down then treated myself to sunset on the pool deck with a mast grill burger and a soak in the hot tub.  Then went back to my room to dress for my dinner in Murano.

 

Before dinner I stopped by to watch the Martini Bar flair show (definitely check that out at some point in your cruise, I’ve seen it so many times and it’s still entertaining) and then headed to Ensemble Lounge for my pre-dinner cosmo.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

18 hours ago, 01Sweetpea said:

Thanks for the wonderful review & taking us along on your cruise!  

 

PS…Did you bring home the Louis? 

 
Thanks for following!!!! No, I resisted the urge to buy the Louis. I thought it a wiser financial decision to keep that money in savings in case it’s a truly miserable winter and I just can’t wait all the way till March for my next tropical vacation and need to book something in January.

 

It was a close call the last night though.  I walked by the shop and saw a woman inside standing next to the sales person and trying it on in the mirror.  It was the closest I’ve ever come to being tempted to violate the guest conduct policy. 😂

[GenerationX]

On 11/28/2021 at 11:21 AM, 39august said:

Marko was our favorite bartender also last month on Equinox. Great guy. Did he mention where his finance was working on the ship? She was in quarintine when we were on board. 

Marko is fantastic and he makes a mean old fashioned!  He mentioned his fiancé is onboard but he didn’t say where. I do think she’s out of quarantine though.

[Northern Aurora]

The photo in post 151 made me laugh literally out loud.  That pout is just perfect!

 

Very enjoyable review.  It seems that since August we have had a greater than usual number of folks asking questions about Celebrity on this forum.  While they have cruised before they haven't tried Celebrity and will be on their first Celebrity cruise in the near future.  There is so much information in this review which will be of great help to first time Celebrity guests.

[mchell810]

Thanks for bring us along on your trip.  I am just at the beginning of my solo trips, so your stories make me believe more and more that I will have a great time on my own.  (And I must say, I just love that green dress -- you make it look fabulous!)

[WomanRN]

Thanks for such a great review as well as your insights on solo cruising. I have come to the conclusion that solo cruising does not have to be scary, you make it your own, whatever your own may be 🙂 I'm actually looking forward to it!  Although I must say, I'm going to have to visit a few of your suggested "cruise wear" sites 😂

[jules27556]

Hi GenX,d

 

Hope all is well!

 

Any special safety tips you would like to share for we Solos would be greatly

appreciated!  

 

Your review was outstanding from start to finish!

 

Although, I found myself wanting "munchies" as I read!🤣

 

My drinking consists of at least 1 drink a year (if I remember),

and Mimosa, Champagne Cocktail or Pina Colada my "repertroire",

but you mentioned some things I just might have to try! At 71 they

probably won't ask for my ID!   

 

Thank you again for the time you took to take us along!

 

Julie

[disfan123]

On 11/29/2021 at 12:38 PM, GenerationX said:

Marko is fantastic and he makes a mean old fashioned!  He mentioned his fiancé is onboard but he didn’t say where. I do think she’s out of quarantine though.

We got to meet her on the last night at sky, not sure where she is working but she isn't in quarantine.

[GenerationX]

Hey CC! I’m so sorry for the long delay in finishing up my review.  My first week back in the real world has been a hectic one.  I’ve also learned that with a longer cruise, the adjustment period back to life on dry land is also longer.  

 

The other night I was sitting on my living room couch relaxing after work and looked at my glass of wine and was shocked for a moment that it hadn’t magically been refilled by a stealthy smiling face in a tie and burgundy vest.  I half heartedly called out “Binu? Michael? Mila? ANYONE???”  

 

It’s going to be a long wait till my next cruise…

 

Anyway, to wrap up, I wanted to do a couple of more posts on Sushi on 5 and final thoughts on the cruise.

 

I also received a request to share some of my tips for women sailing solo.  I think I’m going to do that as an entire separate CC topic since it’s not really this cruise specific and that will make it more easily searchable on CC for women looking for the info and easier for other seasoned women solo sailers to jump in and share their thoughts/tips as well.  So for those interested, keep an eye out for it.

 

Ok let’s talk Sushi on 5:

 

I’ve found it’s common when I mention this restaurant to people around the ship for them to say they’ve never really had an interest in going because they don’t like sushi.  If you’re one of those folks, I suggest checking out the menu because even as a sushi person, I honestly think the strongest dishes at Sushi on 5 are their non-sushi Japanese food offerings.

 

For appetizers, the lobster and crab wontons and Kobe beef “slider” are favorites of mine.  The slider is more like a Japanese version of pasta and meatballs because the Kobe beef meatball is served on a yummy bed of fried ramen noodles.  If I’m not getting an entree, I’ll sometimes order this with an extra fried ramen cake to balance out the meat to ramen ratio.  The wontons come with a side of seaweed salad that I love.  If I’m not getting the wontons, I’ll sometimes order just a side of that seaweed salad with my meal.

 

The miso soup is finished and poured tableside and I discovered on my last cruise that it’s a pretty decent home remedy for a martini headache.

 

If you’re a spice fan, try out the wasabi made fresh tableside.  It’s very cool to watch and a unique experience. I’ve yet to find a Japanese restaurant in my area that offers it.

 

Now let’s cut to the chase.  In my opinion the REAL star at Sushi on 5 is the pork ramen dish!  I’ve said it in previous reviews and I’ll say it again, in my opinion it’s the best dish in all of Celebrity Cruises.  My server this cruise told me she served a couple on the previous cruise who’d spent time living in Japan and they told her that they were disappointed that they couldn’t find a pork ramen there that was as good as the one in Sushi on 5.  Whoever came up with the recipe for the pork broth deserves a medal.  I don’t leave a Celebrity cruise without having had this pork ramen.

 

The restaurant is a la carte, but the prices aren’t bad (I don’t think my total bill has ever been more than $35 with gratuity) and they have lots of cocktail and sake options that are included in the beverage package.  

 

When dining solo, I like to go for sea day lunches and ask for a seat by the window so I can watch the ocean go by while I eat.  Between my career and family, it’s a rare treat for me to be able to just sit and enjoy a nice lunch without a phone ringing, having to respond to an email between bites or anyone asking me for anything or needing my help.  After spending an hour alone with my thoughts (interrupted only by smiling faces asking what else THEY can do for ME), just sipping sake and eating ramen and watching the sea I almost feel like I’ve been at the spa!

 

I’ve had varying experiences on how busy the restaurant is on sea days for lunch. Some sailings it’s practically deserted and there’s plenty of opportunity to just walk in (this was the case on this sailing, and the maitre d even gave me a 20% discount to come in for a third sea day lunch).  Other sailings it’s been packed and reservations only.  I’ve never been able to make lunch reservations pre-cruise because the online cruise planner only lets you book it for dinner. So I just stop by the specialty dining desk as soon as I get on the ship to make my lunch reservations for the cruise  (or, if I’m sailing in a suite, ask my butler or the suite concierge in the Retreat lounge to take care of it for me on the first day).

 

A few pics of my Sushi on 5 favorites below.

 

Coming soon: Final thoughts my solo sail on Equinox.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GenerationX]

On 12/2/2021 at 7:39 AM, WomanRN said:

Thanks for such a great review as well as your insights on solo cruising. I have come to the conclusion that solo cruising does not have to be scary, you make it your own, whatever your own may be 🙂 I'm actually looking forward to it!  Although I must say, I'm going to have to visit a few of your suggested "cruise wear" sites 😂

Thank you!  I’m so glad to hear you’re excited to solo sail!  When I first started solo cruising I found it really hard to find detailed info and experiences from other women, which is a big reason why I like to do live reviews.  It really is a special experience to enjoy a cruise entirely on your own terms!

 

I hope you find some things you like on my favorite cruisewear sites! Just FYI on Venus and Cupshe, unless you pay extra for their express shipping, you’ll want to order well in advance of your cruise.  The shipping can sometimes be really slow.  I actually came home from this cruise to find a package of dresses I ordered from Venus 2 weeks before my sailing. Oh well, more new outfits for my next cruise in March!

 

Bon voyage! Oh and happy shopping!

[GenerationX]

On 11/30/2021 at 11:35 AM, mchell810 said:

Thanks for bring us along on your trip.  I am just at the beginning of my solo trips, so your stories make me believe more and more that I will have a great time on my own.  (And I must say, I just love that green dress -- you make it look fabulous!)

Thank you!  Trust me, the crew on Celebrity will take very good care of you and you will have an AMZING time! Bon voyage! 

[LizikinsLivesToCruise]

Thanks very much GenX for this review. I have enjoyed immensely following you on this adventure, your positive outlook and many tips. You and others who take time to write these reviews are taking away a lot of the pain from this long wait to get back onboard a ship. Christmas and New Year's cruise had to be cancelled because of travel ban against our country.