LIVE from Equinox (June 24, 2023), sailing on a budget

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

3 minutes ago, AbbyCruiser45 said:

Non-smoking in the casino is rare

 

On Celebrity?? Smoking in the casino is not allowed on Celebrity, so yeah...it's rare.

[AbbyCruiser45]

5 minutes ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

On Celebrity?? Smoking in the casino is not allowed on Celebrity, so yeah...it's rare.

I meant in general, non-smoking casinos are rare. So people that gamble on Celebrity tend to gamble elsewhere and are used to smoke. Regardless, this is overblown. The vaping is not noticeable. I’ve seen some people vape at the tables but I have not smelled anything. 

[hcat]

vaping also not permitted

[Silkroad]

1 hour ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

Even if it's not allowed, have you SEEN vapers out and about? They don't care where they do it and they "sneak" (in quotes because anyone looking can see them doing it) their puffs. Yet another example of the "My mummy says I'm a miracle..." generation who grew up with everyone getting a trophy just for showing up.

Yes indeed. Three of these special people were the cause of an hour delay to our recent flight leaving FLL😡 They were finally escorted off the plane by security. 

[Silkroad]

1 hour ago, AbbyCruiser45 said:

I meant in general, non-smoking casinos are rare. So people that gamble on Celebrity tend to gamble elsewhere and are used to smoke. Regardless, this is overblown. The vaping is not noticeable. I’ve seen some people vape at the tables but I have not smelled anything. 

Celebrity hasn’t allowed smoking anywhere indoors for over 20 years. This is one of the reasons I (and many others) sail with them, and spend time in the casinos. Vaping does expose others to nicotine and other chemicals. Thank you for making us aware of this new policy aboard Equinox.

[Stem to Stern]

3 hours ago, Alabaster Cruiser said:

Question ...I've read on another site that they are allowing vaping in the casino.  Have you or did y'all experience this.  When these people that posted had asked security, they were told it started this cruise.  I sure hope that is not a new rule.

Hey you two!  We cruised with you twice in 2021 on Equinox and Summit.  Hope you are both doing well.  When are you cruising again?  We board Seascape on 12/9 followed by Summit on 12/16.  Twelve nights of Caribbean do-nothingness and we can hardly wait.  We haven't cruised since last December.

Not good news about this whole vaping thing.  Sorry to learn that the rumor you heard has turned out to be true.

Paul and Tim

Edited July 2, 2023 by Stem to Stern

[Alabaster Cruiser]

Hi Guys!  We will be on Equinox in August(14 nights) and September(14 nights) and Silhouette  in November(10 nights).  Our last cruise was in March.  So ready to go!

Not pleased about the vaping.  But, hey, we have proved that we can cruise and wear a mask!  I'm not too proud to do that if I have to.

[Stem to Stern]

2 minutes ago, Alabaster Cruiser said:

We will be on Equinox in August(14 nights) and September(14 nights) and Silhouette  in November(10 nights). 

I want to be you!!!

 

2 minutes ago, Alabaster Cruiser said:

Not pleased about the vaping.  But, hey, we have proved that we can cruise and wear a mask! 

Oh yeah!  My Dad had to wear a mask to mow his lawn in Michigan today.  But remember when we boarded Equinox?  As soon as we got on board we were told we could lose the masks.  And most of us did.

[kywildcatfanone]

12 hours ago, AbbyCruiser45 said:

The TV/on demand selection is not great. I don’t recall any series on demand but there were a few movies per category (comedy, drama, etc). I know some people have had success bringing Rokus on board, so that’s might be an option. 

Do you know if you can just connect a HDMI cable between a computer and the TV and project something like Netflix or other streaming services to the TV?

[hcat]

Hope vaping  is limited to the Casino if they must have it. We never go in there but recall when smoking was allowed there.. horrible air quality even just walking through..  Terrible setback!

 

There are enough places for smokers already.  Dh likes his cigar but goes outside to the designated areas.  

 

Hope they never allow it elsewhere indoors like bars, theater,  dining areas or lounge areas.

Slippery Slope!

[hcat]

I  now see there is a sep thread about valping so I will copy and move my comments there..

 

This is just a great review..love the photos..so no need to sidetrack!

[Bo1953]

17 hours ago, AbbyCruiser45 said:

 

Which ship and sailing is this from???

 

TIA - bon voyage

[CHEZMARYLOU]

6 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Which ship and sailing is this from???

 

TIA - bon voyage

Equinox sailing that ended today.

[AbbyCruiser45]

A sad hello from Georgia! We had a super smooth travel day back home. We did self-assist walk off this morning and we were off the ship at 7:30 and through security in the airport at 8:05. We had a 10:20 flight, so this was perfect. Always a little risky because there could be delays coming into port, but glad that it went so smoothly. 
 

Yesterday was the perfect last sea day. We spent most of our day reading, hopping from Sky Observation, Al Bacio and our balcony. The ocean was so calm yesterday, it was like sailing on a lake! 

We spent the late afternoon bar hopping to say goodbye to our favorite bartenders. The crew at Sunsetbar was the best with Arny, Shamora, and Eric. Widyamara in Sky Observation was also fantastic. We spent about an hour chatting with him and he even ran somewhere to get us bar snacks! I’ve only seen those in Ensemble, so that was a treat. 
 

For dinner, I did something I’ve never done and I got the Thanksgiving 😂 I asked our server what he recommended and that was the first thing he said. Now, I was a little tipsy so I went along with it and I have to say it was actually pretty good. I took the picture before our server came by with a gravy boat of cranberry sauce. 

There is more I want to say about the trip overall (all good, some mild), but I’m about to have a busy few days unpacking our new townhouse. When I’m a little settled (which could be as soon as tomorrow evening) I’ll write up a review overall to share here. In the meantime, I’m happy to answer any lingering questions. Otherwise, go follow @Georgia_Peaches as she is now on the 6 night sailing on the Equinox!

Edited July 2, 2023 by AbbyCruiser45

[horseymike]

Great photos and running commentary , thank you for sharing your precious vacation time.

All The Best going forward .🍀🍀

[big_schots]

On 7/1/2023 at 6:00 PM, Alabaster Cruiser said:

Question ...I've read on another site that they are allowing vaping in the casino.  Have you or did y'all experience this.  When these people that posted had asked security, they were told it started this cruise.  I sure hope that is not a new rule.

I was in the casino quite a bit, and never saw a single vaper.  Nice to have a smoke free casino.  If it is allowed, I never saw it.

Edited July 3, 2023 by big_schots

[big_schots]

On 6/25/2023 at 9:05 AM, Georgia_Peaches said:

We've had lackluster experiences at Tuscan in the past (across several ships) as well.  I'm glad your meal was enjoyable this time around.  Pics look amazing.  In fact, I just booked Tuscan for our upcoming cruise and I'm going to ask for Joel.  The only time slot available for the night we wanted was 9PM.  That's a little late for us so I thought we might see if we can get in a little early, like around 8:30 instead.  No biggie if they can't accommodate but I was wondering, was every table filled when you were there and what time was your reservation?

We were on this cruise and went to Tuscan Grille two nights and Murano once.  The Tuscan Grille was truly a wonderful dining experience.  We had Norest as our waiter the first night (2nd day of cruise) and he was amazing.  Nothing was ever too much, and his demeanor was extraordinary. My wife tends to want to deviate her order from the norm, and he did it all with a smile, and everything came out exactly as she asked.  We asked for him on our second visit (6th day of cruise), and it was the same as our first visit.  The truly standout dishes were the lobster rigatoni alfredo and the veal marsala. I had the ribeye both nights and it was nice little steak, cooked perfectly (medium rare) both times.

 

Now on to your question about reservations.  Before the cruise, I bought the 3 individual specialty restaurants separately, and not as a package.  I wanted specific times and with the package, you had to wait until on the ship before making your reservations.  I think I paid like a total of $20 more pp, to do it this way.  We usually like to eat around 6:30 P.M. and didn't want to get stuck with 8:30 P.M. or later.  Right before the cruise I checked, and Murano said it was completely booked the entire cruise, while the Tuscan Grill only had late seating (> 8:30 P.M.) available. I don't think it would have been a problem switching our times onboard, though.  Every day, right by the entrance to the Oceanview cafe, there is a person selling/pushing specialty dining.  Waiting for my wife, a few times, I heard him tell people that for all the specialty restaurants, whatever time you wanted was available.  Whether true or not, I'm not sure, since I didn't stick around for the whole sales pitch.  But, our first visit, the Tuscan Grill was pretty empty, while the second was quite a bit busier.  There were multiple parties of 10+ people.  Murano we decided to eat later (8:00 P.M.), since we were in Curacao (day 5) and didn't want to rush back to the ship. When we finished dinner (~9:45), there were only 5 other parties left in the entire restaurant.  I don't think I saw anyone come in after 8:30, even though reservations go out to 9:15 P.M.  Even at 8:00 P.M., Murano was never more the 75% full.  So, after all my meandering, I think you should be fine switching up your dining reservations on board.

[def0715]

It is allowed, and I witnessed it while sitting at a video poker machine last week on the Equinox. A man was playing at one of the tables, turned around and released a big cloud of cherry-ish vapor. He wasn’t aiming for me. Guess he didn’t want to blow on other people at the table. 

[AbbyCruiser45]

This will be my last narrative post in this thread! I wanted to wrap it up with a little review/reflection. After getting off the ship, I have had a whirlwind of the last few days. We had moved before the vacation but saved the unpacking and decorating for after. Now that we have that all done, I can make this post! 

 

Overall my review is extremely positive. I also sailed the Equinox last summer, so I have a decently even comparison. The service on this trip was much better. Nothing was super lacking last year besides a really poor Tuscan experience, our stateroom attendant was slow in making up our room, and main dining was super slow. The opposite was true here! Our Tuscan experience was great, our stateroom attendant was fast and fantastic, and MDR was fast and good quality. Maybe it was the luck of the draw, but maybe it's a trend. 

 

Now I know some of you are already reacting to me saying the MDR was good quality. Here is what I think. The menu trial on the Equinox was not great because it was a limited menu. However, the dishes they did prepare were still really nicely done. I hope they return to the normal menu permanently because I missed some favorites.

 

Bar service was also much faster and better this year than last (same capacity). The servers were super attentive, and they were personable too. As for the casino, yes, there was the vaping change. No, it was not noticeable. I imagine it would be unpleasant if someone sitting beside you were vaping. I was sure to leave strong comments in my survey because I recommend Celebrity often to friends and family because of the no vaping rule. Alas, as @Georgia_Peaches mentioned in her live report going on now, surveys likely won't matter, as revenue is the bottom line. 

 

Now I want to say something that might be a strong opinion or not well-received. I've been browsing the boards and the last few months while on board. When doing that, you might think that Celebrity has gone downhill, and it's similar to a line like NCL or Carnival. Similarly, there have been several mentions that you won't be satisfied on X unless you go suite class, and that's what these changes are intended to push you towards. I really do not think that is the case. I had a perfect vacation and felt well taken care of on board. This is my third cruise with X, and I've previously sailed in an IV room and an inside room, this time in a balcony. My level of service has not felt different across the different room types, nor did I ever feel neglected/looked down upon since I was not in a suite. All of the crew were friendly, helpful, and just the best. I recognize that people's tastes and opinions differ, but these are just my two cents. So with that being said, go enjoy your next cruise without too much worry. I think most everything is just fine on board. 

 

Thank you to everyone that has read this far and followed along! I'm still happy to answer any lingering questions. For those interested, I am sailing on the Majestic Princess to Alaska on a family trip at the end of July. Because it is a family trip, I will have less free time and won't do a live thread over on the Princess boards, but I am thinking of doing a post here comparing this Equinox sailing to the Majestic. Happy sailing! 

Edited July 5, 2023 by AbbyCruiser45

[horseymike]

Thanks for such a wonderful running commentary and photos of your cruise Abby, In spite of all that you have going on , you found the time to share a lot of valuable information to your fellow cruise passengers. All the Best going forward 🍀 cruises and otherwise.

[lovetocruisee]

47 minutes ago, AbbyCruiser45 said:

This will be my last narrative post in this thread! I wanted to wrap it up with a little review/reflection. After getting off the ship, I have had a whirlwind of the last few days. We had moved before the vacation but saved the unpacking and decorating for after. Now that we have that all done, I can make this post! 

 

Overall my review is extremely positive. I also sailed the Equinox last summer, so I have a decently even comparison. The service on this trip was much better. Nothing was super lacking last year besides a really poor Tuscan experience, our stateroom attendant was slow in making up our room, and main dining was super slow. The opposite was true here! Our Tuscan experience was great, our stateroom attendant was fast and fantastic, and MDR was fast and good quality. Maybe it was the luck of the draw, but maybe it's a trend. 

 

Now I know some of you are already reacting to me saying the MDR was good quality. Here is what I think. The menu trial on the Equinox was not great because it was a limited menu. However, the dishes they did prepare were still really nicely done. I hope they return to the normal menu permanently because I missed some favorites.

 

Bar service was also much faster and better this year than last (same capacity). The servers were super attentive, and they were personable too. As for the casino, yes, there was the vaping change. No, it was not noticeable. I imagine it would be unpleasant if someone sitting beside you were vaping. I was sure to leave strong comments in my survey because I recommend Celebrity often to friends and family because of the no vaping rule. Alas, as @Georgia_Peaches mentioned in her live report going on now, surveys likely won't matter, as revenue is the bottom line. 

 

Now I want to say something that might be a strong opinion or not well-received. I've been browsing the boards and the last few months while on board. When doing that, you might think that Celebrity has gone downhill, and it's similar to a line like NCL or Carnival. Similarly, there have been several mentions that you won't be satisfied on X unless you go suite class, and that's what these changes are intended to push you towards. I really do not think that is the case. I had a perfect vacation and felt well taken care of on board. This is my third cruise with X, and I've previously sailed in an IV room and an inside room, this time in a balcony. My level of service has not felt different across the different room types, nor did I ever feel neglected/looked down upon since I was not in a suite. All of the crew were friendly, helpful, and just the best. I recognize that people's tastes and opinions differ, but these are just my two cents. So with that being said, go enjoy your next cruise without too much worry. I think most everything is just fine on board. 

 

Thank you to everyone that has read this far and followed along! I'm still happy to answer any lingering questions. For those interested, I am sailing on the Majestic Princess to Alaska on a family trip at the end of July. Because it is a family trip, I will have less free time and won't do a live thread over on the Princess boards, but I am thinking of doing a post here comparing this Equinox sailing to the Majestic. Happy sailing! 

Thank you again. I followed all your posts and I am presently onboard.  Service HAS been great. 
Kevin

[Kirsten T]

Thanks very much for taking the time to post such an interesting thread, with lovely photos! Enjoy the rest of summer and your Alaska cruise! 

[#55worktoplay]

Very well done. I have never been on Celebrity but your thread captured me. I will try one of their ships one of these days. Work gets in the way sometimes!  
 

Congratulations on the PH’Ds!  
 

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by #55worktoplay

[Texed]

Thanks for posting.  😊

[Random Cruizer]

Great thread, I've enjoyed following your trip!