Same Ship Different Season: An Equinox LIVE Solo Review (6/18/22)

[parrothead33]

2 hours ago, GenerationX said:

I think we’re the sailing right before you. We sail on the 24th!  I’ll have my 40th birthday onboard 😁 bummer we’ll just miss you!

Sorry we’ll miss you but know you will have a very special birthday!

[Loucat]

I fly AA frequently and checked the only non stop from STL to MIA on Friday. The flight is still on and they have one seat left. I could only do a one way as I did not know your other plans.

I could book this last seat if I needed to.

AA as all have, cancelled flights leaving us anxious (as if we do not have enough to be anxious about).

Looks like a go. Other flights (as you know have 1+stops). You could spend the day touring the country just trying to reach Miami!

BTW Love your thread and will follow for sure. 

 

[postnobills]

3 hours ago, GenerationX said:

My question is how concerned should I be that my flight is going to get canceled, given that it’s not being offered as a rebook option (even though it looks like seats are available) and that I’ll also be offered no alternative options to fly till Saturday (even though there are several other flights out Friday, albeit not nonstop, to Miami).

 There is a flight on Southwest STL-MIA that leaves around 8:35 a.m. on Friday, which is, I think, a few hours after your scheduled AA departure.  You could always book a ticket on SW and then cancel as soon as you are reasonably sure your  AA flight will operate (i.e. when they start boarding).  You should be able to get a full credit on SW that would be good for a year.  

[NutsAboutGolf]

4 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Ok, so I know we have some real air travel warriors/experts on the boards so if any of you are reading this and can weigh in, that would be fantastic. Here’s my question:

 

I was just on an AA discussion board and someone posted that their red eye STL to MIA flight for tomorrow morning had been cancelled and they were told by AA the earliest available rebook was on Saturday (6/18, aka my sail date). 
 

I am scheduled to fly a nonstop red eye  STL to MIA on Friday morning (6/17) and when I just did a dummy booking it looks like there are still about a dozen seats left open on my flight.

 

My question is how concerned should I be that my flight is going to get canceled, given that it’s not being offered as a rebook option (even though it looks like seats are available) and that I’ll also be offered no alternative options to fly till Saturday (even though there are several other flights out Friday, albeit not nonstop, to Miami).

 

I don’t know if this changes the analysis but the person indicated that they booked a ways out on an extremely cheap fare (almost 900 less than what seats on my flight are priced at currently) so not sure if that would affect what rebook options would be.

 

 I know that whatever will be will be and situations like this are why I book the earliest flight (with a less than 10% cancellation rate) a day in advance so that I have a good chance at options and time to still make the ship if things go wrong.

 

Just checking to see if anyone has any insights that could drop my anxiety level a few notches!

 

Others answered your question.  You also could consider flying into FLL if needed.

[abbydancer2003]

6 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Ok, so I know we have some real air travel warriors/experts on the boards so if any of you are reading this and can weigh in, that would be fantastic. Here’s my question:

 

I was just on an AA discussion board and someone posted that their red eye STL to MIA flight for tomorrow morning had been cancelled and they were told by AA the earliest available rebook was on Saturday (6/18, aka my sail date). 
 

I am scheduled to fly a nonstop red eye  STL to MIA on Friday morning (6/17) and when I just did a dummy booking it looks like there are still about a dozen seats left open on my flight.

 

My question is how concerned should I be that my flight is going to get canceled, given that it’s not being offered as a rebook option (even though it looks like seats are available) and that I’ll also be offered no alternative options to fly till Saturday (even though there are several other flights out Friday, albeit not nonstop, to Miami).

 

I don’t know if this changes the analysis but the person indicated that they booked a ways out on an extremely cheap fare (almost 900 less than what seats on my flight are priced at currently) so not sure if that would affect what rebook options would be.

 

 I know that whatever will be will be and situations like this are why I book the earliest flight (with a less than 10% cancellation rate) a day in advance so that I have a good chance at options and time to still make the ship if things go wrong.

 

Just checking to see if anyone has any insights that could drop my anxiety level a few notches!

I'm not 100% sure that just because they were told Saturday it means anything about your flight.

 

By the way, thanks for doing this.  I love Live Froms, and I'm three weeks out from my first X cruise of the year.  I was supposed to be between my May and August cruises, but I had to cancel my May cruise due to the cold I had a week before that lit up that awful Covid test line.  So instead, I rebooked for July (a little easier after they changed the port I booked the cruise for), and worked on the California Primary.

 

And I've been on the Equinox many times, and lover her.  We did just have to move a January 2023 to the Beyond in 2024 - ran into a date conflict with the US Figure Skating Championships in 2023.

 

So, happy to follow along vicariously.  Have a great time.

Edited June 16, 2022 by abbydancer

[GenerationX]

6 hours ago, postnobills said:

 There is a flight on Southwest STL-MIA that leaves around 8:35 a.m. on Friday, which is, I think, a few hours after your scheduled AA departure.  You could always book a ticket on SW and then cancel as soon as you are reasonably sure your  AA flight will operate (i.e. when they start boarding).  You should be able to get a full credit on SW that would be good for a year.  

This is a smart idea! I actually checked and I have enough southwest miles to book an STL-FLL flight late tomorrow morning one way for free.  Even if I end up having to cancel it too close to get the miles refunded, it may be worth burning a few thousand miles for my own peace of mind.  Thank you!!!

Edited June 16, 2022 by GenerationX

[cameronp12]

The wife and I both tested negative this morning on the eMed proctored tests before work, so we are officially in cruise mode!

[chamima]

12 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Ok, so I know we have some real air travel warriors/experts on the boards so if any of you are reading this and can weigh in, that would be fantastic. Here’s my question:

 

I was just on an AA discussion board and someone posted that their red eye STL to MIA flight for tomorrow morning had been cancelled and they were told by AA the earliest available rebook was on Saturday (6/18, aka my sail date). 
 

I am scheduled to fly a nonstop red eye  STL to MIA on Friday morning (6/17) and when I just did a dummy booking it looks like there are still about a dozen seats left open on my flight.

 

My question is how concerned should I be that my flight is going to get canceled, given that it’s not being offered as a rebook option (even though it looks like seats are available) and that I’ll also be offered no alternative options to fly till Saturday (even though there are several other flights out Friday, albeit not nonstop, to Miami).

 

I don’t know if this changes the analysis but the person indicated that they booked a ways out on an extremely cheap fare (almost 900 less than what seats on my flight are priced at currently) so not sure if that would affect what rebook options would be.

 

 I know that whatever will be will be and situations like this are why I book the earliest flight (with a less than 10% cancellation rate) a day in advance so that I have a good chance at options and time to still make the ship if things go wrong.

 

Just checking to see if anyone has any insights that could drop my anxiety level a few notches!

 

I wonder if AA is similar to the cruise lines in that if you get a phone rep who can't accommodate,  you should hang up and try calling again.

So I just wonder if that person just happened to get an agent with misinformation. Did anyone on that other board suggest that to them?

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, cameronp12 said:

The wife and I both tested negative this morning on the eMed proctored tests before work, so we are officially in cruise mode!

Excellent news!  Safe travels and see you onboard Saturday!

[GenerationX]

Just finished my eMed Covid test (negative, yay!). The process went much smoother this time than it did for my Edge cruise in January. I suspect the proctors have had a lot more practice by now so they know the drill much better.

 

So far my flight is still on according to plan (knocks wood).  It’s a beautiful day to pack for a cruise!  21 hours till wheels up!

[cameronp12]

48 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Just finished my eMed Covid test (negative, yay!). The process went much smoother this time than it did for my Edge cruise in January. I suspect the proctors have had a lot more practice by now so they know the drill much better.

 

So far my flight is still on according to plan (knocks wood).  It’s a beautiful day to pack for a cruise!  21 hours till wheels up!

Yes, the eMed test went off without a hitch for both of us. This was our first time doing it. We had gotten the Walgreens NAAT tests back in March for our cruise, but they are harder to come by in our area now, so we ordered the eMed ones to be safe and it was great.

[GenerationX]

3 hours ago, chamima said:

 

I wonder if AA is similar to the cruise lines in that if you get a phone rep who can't accommodate,  you should hang up and try calling again.

So I just wonder if that person just happened to get an agent with misinformation. Did anyone on that other board suggest that to them?

 

From personal experience I know that this can be the case with AA…And sometimes the agents at the desk at the airport have completely different answers than the phone agents!

[peanut head]

So happy you are traveling again!  I will be following along with all my neighbor-patients in Mayo Clinic.  Trying to stay strong so that I can have the same experience of fun/drinks/laughs/excursions on the Equinox in the fall.  Enjoy!

[GenerationX]

I’m having one last lunch with Gen Z before she heads off to be spoiled by Nana and Papa for the weekend and she asked to make a cameo appearance in the review.

 

She’s been quite tepid towards me since I told her I was heading off on a cruise without her (only downside to that Millennium cruise, now she knows EXACTLY what she’s missing 🤦🏾‍♀️), so I decided to buy my way back into her good graces with bottomless chocolate milkshakes and chicken tenders.  Worked like a charm!

 

 

[Jazzbo]

Gen Z is so cute!

[sbt518]

I was so excited to see a new review from you last night and then I saw I had missed the one from your trip with GenZ! So I had to binge read that one first so I could go in order and now I'm caught up.

 

She is so adorable and I'm hoping for more reviews of her adventures onboard for future trips.

 

I need to figure a way of convincing my husband to let me cruise without him, I get so much more vacation time than he does, but he'd be soooo jealous.  I'm not sure I could convince him.

[KKB]

7 hours ago, GenerationX said:

This is a smart idea! I actually checked and I have enough southwest miles to book an STL-FLL flight late tomorrow morning one way for free.  Even if I end up having to cancel it too close to get the miles refunded, it may be worth burning a few thousand miles for my own peace of mind.  Thank you!!!

You can cancel up to TEN MINUTES b4 departure time—I’d say u r good👍

[kpark895]

I was just wondering a few days ago when I would see another review from you, and here we are!  Thanks in advance for all of your posts and pics.  Myself, heading off on the Summit in about 10 days, the first of 3 Celebrity cruises scheduled for the next 9 months.  Can't wait!

[kokopelli-az]

We're in Cozumel on the Caribbean Princess as I type this and guess who is docked right next to us?   The Equinox 🚢

 

The Equinox is absolutely our favorite ship and we'll be on her in August.   

 

BTW it looked like most of the passengers on the Equinox went directly to Margaritaville.   🍷

[spiritkat090909]

How exciting!  My sister Laura and I are going on this cruise leaving the jelly hubbies behind... We've been trying to do a girls cruise since Nov 2019. Both tested negative today (she's freshly boosted, and I'm freshly recovered)...so meeting peeps shouldn't be too risky. Fingers crossed.

 

Although...we have La Petite Chef 1st night 6pm, so I don't know if the sailaway party is do-able for us to crash. However, I'm pretty sure our paths will cross at the WINE tastings!  We both like to do those. Otherwise, she's by the pool during the day & I'm in the casino. I've read ALL of your reviews...she works and has not. lol... If I see you, I will be sure to say hello. 

 

The Hurricane Sisters...

Katrina & Laura

[GenerationX]

2 hours ago, peanut head said:

So happy you are traveling again!  I will be following along with all my neighbor-patients in Mayo Clinic.  Trying to stay strong so that I can have the same experience of fun/drinks/laughs/excursions on the Equinox in the fall.  Enjoy!

Thank you! I hope you are feeling better and back on the seas soon! I’ll be sending thoughts for strength and health your way!

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, kpark895 said:

I was just wondering a few days ago when I would see another review from you, and here we are!  Thanks in advance for all of your posts and pics.  Myself, heading off on the Summit in about 10 days, the first of 3 Celebrity cruises scheduled for the next 9 months.  Can't wait!

 Have a wonderful trip on the Summit! If you feel inclined to post some pics/reports while you’re onboard to help get me through till I board her in July, I will be forever grateful!

[FlorenceItaly]

2 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

 Have a wonderful trip on the Summit! If you feel inclined to post some pics/reports while you’re onboard to help get me through till I board her in July, I will be forever grateful!

When in July???  We are boarding the Summit July 24!

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, sbt518 said:

I was so excited to see a new review from you last night and then I saw I had missed the one from your trip with GenZ! So I had to binge read that one first so I could go in order and now I'm caught up.

 

She is so adorable and I'm hoping for more reviews of her adventures onboard for future trips.

 

I need to figure a way of convincing my husband to let me cruise without him, I get so much more vacation time than he does, but he'd be soooo jealous.  I'm not sure I could convince him.

Thank you!  We have the same issue in our marriage. I just have an annual hours requirement rather than official vacation day count, and my job is one where I can keep most projects moving from anywhere that I have wifi, so it’s much easier for me to get away than my husband.

 

My trick to getting him onboard with my solo trips has been that I always cook or take him out for a really top notch meal right before I leave and we made a deal that while I’m away, all of my house rules are suspended (as long as the place looks like how I left it when I get home).  I think he enjoys being able to spend all evening playing loud violent video games on the living room TV with no earphones on, sitting his beer bottles wherever he wants without a coaster and being able to head to the river with his fishing pole without me blocking the doorway and asking if he finished fixing the sink yet.

 

I’m fairly confident that within 24 hours of my departure my home will look like a frat house and there’ll be men’s pants (and who knows what else) lying on my dining room table. But it’s totally worth it!

[GenerationX]

11 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

When in July???  We are boarding the Summit July 24!

Us too! Looking forward to sailing with you!!!