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Review of Equinox E. Med. Cruise 5/11/12


sooper

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While I had an immensely memorable cruise, my memory is not very good so I thought I'd get the review out before I forget too much!

 

For those who like it short and quick: fantastic ship, service, food, and itinerary, with just a few complaints on the tendering process and spa. Would cruise again with Celebrity.

 

Want a lot more details - here they are...

 

Booking: Very painless to book the cruise via a TA website, and AQ gty became A1 one business day later. and was able to change our cabin choice to another within the same category.

 

Day 1 - Embarkation: Our train from Trastevere to Civitavecchia had a half hour delay, and then the blind was leading the blind...we followed a group and walked the long way to catch the port shuttle. Suffice it to say, there was no line! We made it to our cabin just 5 minutes before the muster drill announcement. The cabin was spacious, had enough drawers and storage - and I thought we overpacked too with a check-in and a carry-on each. Although we didn't spend a lot of time in it, really glad we had a balcony to look out, relax, and smell the sea. Even was able to connect to free Wi-Fi in one of the ports.

 

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The multiple showerheads helped ease the muscles after so much walking:

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After the muster drill we went to the Sunset Bar where a group of CCers met for the sailaway:

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We had a nice time meeting new friends, but then we were starving so we went to an early dinner at Blu:

 

Nightly appetizers - not my favorite so I had the waiter stop bringing them after the first night

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Seafood napoleon (I think that's the name) - good

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Blackened tuna - very dry, I only had a bite

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Filet that was supposed to be medium but came tough as leather

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After all I've read about Blu, it was not a good first impression (but it would improve later on). I know we could've sent back the entrees, but we were tired and didn't want to spend more time waiting. So we didn't even get dessert and went to check out the buffet. Surprisingly had good curry and tasty stir-fry noodles.

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It was great to eat outside with the beautiful sunset:

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After dinner we walked around and caught the first night's show. Enjoyed the singers, especially Kelly Broadway. Then we made some donations to the casino. I have to say, so far everywhere we went on the ship, staff were so nice and smiling, but for actually giving our money away, the casino staff were not the friendliest. (And yet we still went back...) :rolleyes: They could take a lesson or two from Vegas.

 

We headed back to our good looking made up bed to end the day:

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Day 2 - Messina: Woke up excited about the first day of tour.

 

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As it's the only day with a late start so we could have breakfast in Blu, we went there. The mango smoothie was delicious, but the salmon frittata, while the ingredients were fresh, was dry (sensing a theme??):

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I think I just chose the wrong item. We ate quickly and met our tour group, pre-arranged through our fantastic roll call. There were some miscommunication and too bad we were missing two members. (Learning lesson for future tour arrangements...)

 

First stop was Taormina, where we had free time to self tour. Most of us stayed together and went to the Greek theatre first - amazing views:

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After a quick bite of a delicious cannolo at the pastry shop near the main road, we continued on to Castelmola. Incredible views including the Greek theatre on the right:

 

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Lunch time:

 

tasty tomatoes

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the eggplant pasta was so good that I ate a few bites before remembering to take a picture, and eggplant was just great everywhere we ate this trip

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yummy beef rolls

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I could've easily finished this big cannolo myself, but showed restraint and shared with two others

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I was finished with Celebrity's S-Class ships, but you are reselling me with your photos and posts.

 

Even if it isn't perfect, maybe it can still be wonderful.

 

Thank you for your comments. Please keep writing.

 

Maris

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We saw cats everywhere, and one decided to pose for me:

 

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After another stop for more pictures we were dropped off back at the port. Still had time so we walked a little in the town of Messina.

 

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Somehow most shops were closed. But we still managed to find a place with great gelato just outside the port. We finally called it a day and headed back to the ship. Very relaxing laying out on the balcony.

 

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Then it was dinner time:

 

lovely fried cheese

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lobster/crab salad - soooooo good

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mushroom something - someone recommended it but I found it a tad greasy

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Nice Jill! By you doing this, I don't need to now! Ha!

 

No seriously, awesome to see one of our roll call members review... I will probably do a quick wrap-up with more detail to private excursions and photos... that is, whenever I finish the photos. End of June, perhaps! :rolleyes:

 

BTW, love the cat shot. Ben is groaning at the number of cat shots I took. :D

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Thanks pumpkin and Maris (why were you finished with S-class?).

 

 

I don't care for the S-Class ship design:

 

-too many decibels in Grand Foyer,

-too much emphasis on Grand Foyer as an entertainment area,

 

-the abbreviated promenade,

-minimal sea views from inside public areas,

 

-storage over the bed in cabins

 

-crowded MDR seating for Select,

-insufficient choices and service at the evening buffet

 

-crowded armless loungers in Solarium

-not enough tables in Aqua Cafe

 

Some become less important as you write and post photos.

Thank you for asking.... keep posting.

 

Maris

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quail with sweet potato - too sweet for my taste

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okay desserts - don't remember what they were

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We went outside for the Hot Glass Show - just amazing, really made me appreciate glass that much more. Was very windy though, so bring a jacket or a blanket!

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Day 3 - At Sea: We wanted to sleep in but the CC Meet & Greet was in the morning. Tried room service for breakfast, very disappointed:

 

first it didn't look appealing, the omelette was dry, terrible tasting sausage,

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and the highly praised waffles were so dense they were not tasty at all.

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Needless to say, we didn't try room service breakfast again. We learned to have a quick breakfast at the buffet, and found most items there fresh and good, especially the porridge with the not-dry scrambled eggs for breakfast.

 

The Meet & Greet was quick, and we had met most people at the sailaway already. We then had a cabin crawl, and that was a good experience seeing the various types of cabins and socializing with our new friends. It did take a while though.

 

Lunch at the Aqua Spa Cafe - hard sushi rice, tasty but a little tough pork chop. Perhaps they'd rather overcook to minimize the risk with raw food? Did hear a few people got sick eating steak tartare.

 

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Nice Jill! By you doing this, I don't need to now! Ha!

 

No seriously, awesome to see one of our roll call members review... I will probably do a quick wrap-up with more detail to private excursions and photos... that is, whenever I finish the photos. End of June, perhaps! :rolleyes:

 

BTW, love the cat shot. Ben is groaning at the number of cat shots I took. :D

Thanks Robyn! No way - you need to do one too...look forward to hear your experience! :)

 

I'm already forgetting the details so I'm doing a quick review with just a few pictures sorted out. I'm sure you have tons more photos.

 

Never enough cats or dog shots! :D

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I don't care for the S-Class ship design:

 

-too many decibels in Grand Foyer,

-too much emphasis on Grand Foyer as an entertainment area,

 

-the abbreviated promenade,

-minimal sea views from inside public areas,

 

-storage over the bed in cabins

 

-crowded MDR seating for Select,

-insufficient choices and service at the evening buffet

 

-crowded armless loungers in Solarium

-not enough tables in Aqua Cafe

 

Some become less important as you write and post photos.

Thank you for asking.... keep posting.

 

Maris

I see what you mean on the noise and the crowdedness...though I think the good outweighs the bad overall.

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After lunch we walked around, and rested in our cabin. While the other half watched a movie on demand (great feature), I decided to check out the Aqua Spa. I went to the spa front desk and asked to use the steam room. The attendant was not too friendly, he told me that it was not working and to go back the next day. O...K.

 

I took a nap and continued the eating marathon (apparently).

 

Good but a teeny tiny bit bland crab cakes

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Cooked just right rack of lamb, but the sauce was too salty. We would later became known as the couple who wanted sauce/dressing/everything on the side due to the saltiness.

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Juicy and flavorful grilled pork medallions - one of the very best dishes we had on the ship, they were so good that we requested them (and the crab cakes too) as our next night's dinner.

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Pear (?) tart - desserts are not a strong point on the ship, so we shared

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It was a nice gesture for the maitre d' to be handing out roses to the ladies for Mother's day.

 

After dinner we went to the Captain's welcome. Free champagne and chocolates were handed out as we walked into the theatre.

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We didn't stay for the show, and wrestled just a little with the casino and got some money back.

 

Turned in early to prepare for the full day to come. This cute little guy was waiting for us - although totally unexpected from Celebrity

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Sooper, you may say your memory is not very good but your photographs certainly are. I am enjoying reading your review. Keep it coming!

Thank you dln929. I'm trying and learning. I try to shoot everything as I know I'll forget sooner than I thought I would! :p

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I am enjoying the photo's too and anything I can learn about the Equinox for my trip this year. Also might go Aqua class next year, so far the food does not look as good as have seen before. Thanks for doing the review.

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Day 4 - Athens: Way too early start but we had a tour to try to cover all the major sights. I'm not a morning person so I got up at the last minute possible and took a few quick bites of breakfast from the buffet.

 

Our first tour stop was Acropolis. We had a knowledgeable and well spoken guide who's also a Hugh Jackman doppelganger:

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If Messina was cat-occupied, then Athens was all about the dogs. They are seen everywhere, fed and vaccinated by the government. Good life.

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The Acropolis was grand:

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Temple of Zeus - wow:

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Quick stop at the Olympic Stadium - where once every sport played here for the games:

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We attempted to see the Agora:

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But everyone was a bit tired from the walking and climbing so we saw it from afar and went to lunch in the area just outside instead.

 

First, a nice cold espresso frappe to wake me up:

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Very good grilled octopus:

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More delicious eggplant - moussaka:

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And, what we're still talking and thinking about to this day, the absolutely superb gyros:

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I am enjoying the photo's too and anything I can learn about the Equinox for my trip this year. Also might go Aqua class next year, so far the food does not look as good as have seen before. Thanks for doing the review.

Thank you ~ you'll have such a great time! Let me know if you have questions.

 

Great report!! Thank you. We will be following your trip June 22.

 

What tour did you do in Athens?

Thanks! Our wonderfully organized CCer Shooraq (Robyn) booked the tour with Private Greece Tours. She would have the details if you're interested.

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After the food fest we spent a few hours in the National Archaeological Museum, at least then some of us had an excuse for dozing off.

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Beware - we were scolded by the staff: NO POSING!!

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A quick stop at the Parliament Building:

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It was a great full day and we were wowed.

 

Back to Blu-

 

Mussels (?) cocktail - not memorable obviously:

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Very good short ribs (?):

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The waiter remembered to give us the pork medallions again, but it was drier this time around. So reserving the same item may not result in the same enjoyment.

 

Desserts were crepe suzette - which was overly sweet so had only a bite, and chocolate something cake:

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Hi Jill, your photos are wonderful and we did have a great time, didn't

we:)

Not sure if I am even doing a review.....yours will be more than

sufficient:D

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