JamieLogical's 5/29 Equinox Semi-Live Review

[Oceansaway17]

20 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

The Captain just announced we will be traveling at full speed through the night to stay ahead of the storm and he expects us to be back to Port Everglades on time.

good luck with the winds as the storm won't really ease up until mid morning just a bit.

It would be the wind that would be a problem. 

Sorry you have this type of ending considering your frantic pre cruise issues.

 

 

[jagoffee]

On 6/2/2022 at 3:40 PM, JamieLogical said:

 

I actually got to chat with Isiah last night and he made me a drink. It seems silly to only have one of them on at 5:00, since the bar is always completely slammed with people waiting for it to open, but I will take your word for it. He seems like a decent enough guy.

Interesting.  Has this usually been the case during you cruises?

The WCB is on of our favorite bars.  Part of the reason is that it is seldom busy.  
 

Keep enjoying your cruise. 

Edited June 3, 2022 by jagoffee

[Essiesmom]

Equinox is just off Port Everglades.  Caribbean Princess is already in port.  EM

[MarKay525]

She's just entering the basin now.

[Jim_Iain]

 

Almost backed into the pier.   11:26PM

[MarKay525]

6 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Almost backed into the pier.   11:26PM

I don't know if it is sad that we have nothing better to do on a Friday night than watch a ship outrun a storm and return early, or if it shows that we are caring, compassionate people who want to make certain everyone gets back to Port Everglades safely! 😄

Edited June 4, 2022 by MarKay525

[runningtide]

9 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Almost backed into the pier.   11:26PM

Like you, I was watching Equinox arrive. We just got off May 15th on the 9 night ABC. Cant wait to get on the next cruise. I assume departure times will be the same regardless of docking early. I'll bet a lot of late night last calls at the bars tonight. I know Id be at the Sunset bar watching the rain, or with my favorite bartender in the casino bar, Joe Joe. Hope everybody had a great trip and safe journey home !

[travelwide]

27 minutes ago, MarKay525 said:

I don't know if it is sad that we have nothing better to do on a Friday night than watch a ship outrun a storm and return early, or if it shows that we are caring, compassionate people who want to make certain everyone gets back to Port Everglades safely! 😄

I go with compassionate people.🥂

[RobertybobUK]

Hi Jamie,

Lovin' the blog. Great style and very informative. Thank you for taking the time and effort to do this.

Like you, our drinks of choice, in the bars, are cocktails.

We are booked on a Silhouette cruise to the Baltic in just over 2 months. We have the Premium package.

Going onto the X App and selecting Dining - Bars & Lounges -  individual venue and then the menu, as you helpfully mentioned earlier, we've noticed that in the Martini Bar, all the cocktails are priced at $15.50, which is obviously over the Premium price limit of $15. 

(Interestingly cocktails in the WCB are priced at $14.50 on the App - so still less than the limit in that venue).

Looking back at previously posted pictures online of menus from the Martini Bar, Martini Cocktails were priced at $13. (Equinox 2021 Menus (thepreismans.com).

I've seen threads reporting that the cost of the Premium package has increased (I think from $69 to $84 per day or  from $12 to $16.80 per day as an upgrade from Classic), but I haven't seen anything suggesting that the single drinks cost limit has increased accordingly.

Looking just now on the X website it still says "Includes drinks up to $15" it also says, with regard to Cocktails and the Premium package it includes "Craft cocktails, large martinis, and long drinks, all made with Premium Beverage Package spirits", so arguable that they shouldn't charge any extra on that basis.

 

Have your noticed these $15.50 charges on your cruise and if so were you charged any extra? 

[killsport]

@RobertybobUK does it leave from England? If so, my belief is that includes gratuity. The premium limit would be adjusted to include this, if that is the reason ($15 -> $18)

[RobertybobUK]

4 minutes ago, killsport said:

@RobertybobUK does it leave from England? If so, my belief is that includes gratuity. The premium limit would be adjusted to include this, if that is the reason ($15 -> $18)

Yes, it does leave from England. 

[JamieLogical]

6/3

 

Well, it was a sad day yesterday, since it was the last day. I got my room service breakfast then headed to the MDR where I was seated alone to enjoy my eggs and "corned beef hash". I don't know what it actually is, but I don't think there is any corned beef in there. It tastes mostly like ketchup somehow? Oh well, still goes with eggs!

 

I we determined to spend my morning at the Lawn Club, despite the weather. When I got up there, all of the chairs had been stacked against the wall with their cushions removed. Undeterred, I scavenged some cushions and a bunch of pool towels, and made myself a place to sit with my Grand Mimosa. I toughed it out for a couple of hours, but then it got to the point that even right up against the wall, the wind was driving the rain into me and I had to give up.

 

I decided to stop by the future cruise desk to put down a deposit and book a cruise on the Summit for next May. Unfortunately, the internet was down, so I had to settle for just the deposit and I will have to call my Celebrity  Vacation Planner when I am back home. I did later receive confirmation of the deposit at least.

 

At 11:30, I went to the main theater to hear the Captain give us an update on the weather situation. He said we were trying to outrun the storm and get into Port Everglades around 12:30am. He said he was going to try to get us approval to dock at Pier 18, because Pier 25 blocks the cargo ships.

 

I didn't stay for his full talk, because I am pretty sure it was the exact same presentation I saw him give in January. Instead I went to lunch in the MDR. I had the beef & chicken skewers and the Brik. I discovered Brik on my cruise back in March and it is delicious, so I was excited to see it on the menu again.

 

After lunch I tried to take my nap, but I was a little too antsy. I headed down to Cafe al Bacio around 3:00 and, once again, there was not a single seat to be had. This time I wasn't even lucky enough to grab a seat as someone else got up. So I got my coffee to go and I took it over to the Ensemble Lounge.

 

At 4:00 the Ensemble Lounge actually opened and I visited with Ilma and Abdul. I am definitely going to miss my little family. Ilma wanted a picture with me and she gave me her email address. I really hope we can stay in touch. She is on her current contract until September. She had had a rough day yesterday. When I saw her in the OceanView cafe at lunch time (I stopped by for a donut), she had been seasick and said she had been to Medical several times. She did seem to be doing better in the evening at least.

 

I made a quick stop at WCB before dinner. I had promised to meet May & Dan for dinner in the MDR. They had waited for me the previous night (when I did dinner in the buffet) and I felt so bad!

 

It was just the three of us for dinner. We got seated at a sharing table, but never got any tablemates. Oh well, we had such a nice time chatting. I gave May me email address. I had written it down very neatly (I have terrible handwriting) up in my room before dinner so we wouldn't have to scrounge for a piece of paper or a pen.

 

Alas dinner ended and it was time to say goodbye. Then it was off to the casino to say goodbye to Komang. I love him so much. Somehow we ended up talking about cats?

 

Of course I ended the night at WCB with Z. I got a great goodbye hug and then it was off to bed. By the time I went to bed, we were already pulling into Port Everglades. I am hopeful about my flight to Atlanta, but I do have a three hour layover there, so even if my first flights is a little delayed, I should be able to make my second flight. *Fingers Crossed*

 

Day's Drinks: Grand Mimosa, Ginger Mojito, Mojito, Americano w/ Bailey's, French 77 x2, Birthday Cake Mojito, Strawberry Fields, Gris Blanc x2, Rum Mule, Celebrity No. 10, Vodka Sour, Pimm's Cucumber Concoction

[JamieLogical]

[Laurab23]

Jamie when next year in May are you sailing on Summit? We are sailing May 15.

 

Laura

[terrydtx]

Jamie, since the Equinox came back a day early are they letting you stay on the ship overnight until tomorrow?

 

I have enjoyed following your whole trip in this thread. So sorry that it got interrupted by this unusually early tropical storm.

Edited June 4, 2022 by terrydtx

[NutsAboutGolf]

12 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

Jamie, since the Equinox came back a day early are they letting you stay on the ship overnight until tomorrow?

 

I have enjoyed following your whole trip in this thread. So sorry that it got interrupted by this unusually early tropical storm.

 

Didn't come back a day early, arrived shortly after midnight instead of the scheduled 7am-ish.  'Nox currently does 6 nights then 8 nights.  They let people self carry off the ship at 720ish

 

Spoke to my Cabin Steward, they were preparing to sail away again

Edited June 4, 2022 by NutsAboutGolf

[terrydtx]

18 minutes ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Didn't come back a day early, arrived shortly after midnight instead of the scheduled 7am-ish.  'Nox currently does 6 nights then 8 nights.  They let people self carry off the ship at 720ish

 

Spoke to my Cabin Steward, they were preparing to sail away again

Sorry I thought it was a 7 nt cruise, forgot the Equinox does some 6 night ones.

Edited June 4, 2022 by terrydtx

[JamieLogical]

Well, made it to the airport only mildly soaked. Through security and a TSA agent had to pat me down and actually asked me "why are you wet?"

 

My flight is allegedly still on time, but the previous flight for my plane is 17 minutes late arriving.

 

Celebrity was actually great. They were handing out umbrellas to people to get to the cab/shuttle area and the Uber/Lyft area and then collecting them back. I still couldn't help but getting pretty wet though with the sideways rain and being fully exposed while getting my bags into my Lyft.

[JamieLogical]

Oh, also, for those of you who followed my last live blog, I have my jewelry, passport, and cash! I checked the safe three times before leaving my room. 😋

[PTC DAWG]

28 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

Oh, also, for those of you who followed my last live blog, I have my jewelry, passport, and cash! I checked the safe three times before leaving my room. 😋

Safe travels…thanks for the blog..

[Jenjohncourt]

Thanks so much, Jamie!! Safe travels back home. I’m getting on the ship today!! 

[mayleeman]

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

a TSA agent had to pat me down and actually asked me "why are you wet?"

 

My son was a TSA agent. He quoted Brent Spiner in Independence Day when he said the whole day would go by without him seeing outside:  "They don't let us out much in here."

[graphicguy]

Jamie...what a wonderful report.  Thanks.  Sounds like you had a great time.

 

 

[abbydancer2003]

Thanks again for this.   It was nice sailing through you.   Just over a month until our rebooked cruise. 

[Lastdance]

Hope you have smooth travels back home.  Will you need to diet after your cruise, or are you able to stay on course with your weight because of your metabolism?  Thanks so much for taking us with your through your photos, words and Internet.