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mrloug

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    Does anyone know how long Richard Spacey will be CD on the Equinox?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    We were also on Silhouette March 15, Reflection March 16 and Reflection Oct/Nov 16 and RS was on all of them [emoji106]🏻 now this one also so 5 cruises in a row... [emoji23]

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

     

    Hello Mr T, enjoying your live thread on the Equinox, My DW and I will be on her July 9, Did you find out if Richard Spacey will be on that week, I know you said he was leaving sometime in July, just wondered when and if he's doing our cruise 7-9-17 thru 7-16-17

    Thanks,

    Lou

    Equinox LIVE!! 5.5.17 Dragon of the Seas goes to the ABCs

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    My kids are on this cruise also with you. You would only meet them at the sunset bar. They are Steve and Diane from Virginia and if you possibly run into them tell them hi from his parents. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Equinox. We sailed her January/February this year to the Western side which we really don't care for but it was just great being on board.

     

    Looking forward to your live posts.

     

    Pat C

     

    So Funny Pat C, Steve and Diane are my Friends, Steve use to work for me, I know they will have a great time, My wife and I are Cruising the Equinox 7-9-17, Can't wait. Steve and Diane are the reason we always cruise Celebrity. So funny!!

    Lou

    Gratuities at Specialty Restaurants question

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    We are booked on Equinox in July, we have, as a perk, prepaid gratuities. If we choose to do a Speciialty Dining package are the gratuities included in the pp extra cost or will they add additional gratuities to our card? We also have the Premium Drink package and I assume drinks are not additional at the specialty restaurants also? Thanks in advance for your help.

    Back from the Equinox - My Review

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Cruise Review - Celebrity Equinox - 3/24/17 - 4/2/17

     

    Background: We are 46 and 48 and this is our 6th cruise, first on Celebrity. It has been 6 years since our last cruise so there were some firsts for us on this cruise. We booked an everything package which included the premium beverage package, unlimited WiFi, prepaid gratuities and some onboard credit.

     

    Pre-cruise: We stayed at Rodeway Inn Cruise Port which boasts free shuttles from the airport and to the cruise port. The shuttle arrived at the airport about 20 minutes after we called and we were dropped off at the cruise terminal as promised. The hotel is bare bones but suited our purpose for an 11-hour stay.

     

    Embarkation: We got in line at the terminal at 10:36am and were on the ship with champagne in our hands at 11:06am. The pool was open, the bars were open, and the staff was offering drink package upgrades and specialty restaurant discounts of 30% for that night.

     

    Room: We were in room 6275 which was on the port side halfway between the aft elevators and the back of the ship. The room was very quiet. We rarely heard other guests but we could hear our neighbors’ room phone ring. There was no engine vibration except when we were docking or departing. No noise was heard from above or below. This was a partially obstructed view, and the lifeboat came up about halfway to the rail. Looking out was not a problem. Looking down we saw deck 5 behind the lifeboats. We brought a 4-port USB charger which helped us overcome the lack of outlets.

     

    Pool Deck: On sea days, the closest 3-4 rows of chairs around the pool were saved by 8am. Usually by 9 or 10 most chairs were actually occupied and often no more were available. The solarium usually had chairs available except on the first very windy day when it was full. The brown wood part of the deck gets very hot so bring some shoes to wear when walking to the bar.

     

    Dining: We took advantage of some OBC to book a meal in each specialty restaurant. We bought a 4-night package for $125 each plus nabbed a BOGO at Silk Harvest ($35/couple). I think the service sets the specialty restaurants apart and in some cases the food does as well.

    • Oceanview: Always had a wide selection of usually very good food. Once we visited for dinner and the chef’s special was cooked-to-order tuna, which was the best cut of meat I had the entire cruise. It was pretty crowded at breakfast and lunch but never dinner.
    • Main Dining Room: The food here was quite good. We only visited 3 times due to our specialty package and timing a couple nights. Service was good and there was no wait for a table when we arrived at 6:15 each time. The lobster was tender and of the several times we had lobster or parts of lobster, it was the best in the MDR.
    • Silk Harvest: The service was very good and the food was good. However, similar items were available in the Oceanview nearly every day so I’m not sure I would pay extra again.
    • Sushi on 5: This restaurant can be visited and paid a la carte or can be used as a specialty dining meal. We did the latter and were able to order as many apps and sushi rolls as we wanted. Had great service and a great experience here.
    • Tuscan Grill: The first time we dined here it was our favorite. The bread, antipasto plate, lobster pasta, and the big, thick filet were excellent. The second time around I was underwhelmed by the spaghetti and meatballs and the tuna. The filet was again nice.
    • Murano: The service here was the best on the ship. The tableside preparation is a special experience and most of the food was very good. Our lobster was chewy and it wasn’t until 6 days later when we had the MDR’s lobster that we realized how much better it should have tasted for $50/plate.
    • Cafe el Bacio: Always had treats any time of day. And remember, they are included for anyone.
    • Aqua Spa Cafe: I never ate here but I saw some nice healthy alternatives as well as made-to-order juices and smoothies.

    Bars: I’m a beer lover but I did have some wine with dinner, some frozen drinks around the pool, and I think I tried every drink at Slush. Each bar has a slightly different selection of beers, but the one with the most is Gastrobar. The bartender knowledge was hit or miss here. There were plenty of beers included in the premium package and some that might work with the classic.

     

    Entertainment: The entertainment was varied and of decent quality. We went almost every night. The Equinox singers are very talented and have Broadway-quality voices. The music around the ship in the bars and public areas was nice. The glass blowing show was fun and informative. I finally attended a Celebrity Life lecture the final day and wish I would have explored more of them.

     

    WiFi: We had an unlimited WiFi package and it was generally very good. I uploaded several pictures and was almost always able to browse without delay. One ill-timed outage occurred right when we needed to check in for our Southwest flight.

     

    Ports of Call: With an abundance of OBC we planned on taking Celebrity excursions to use it. But after spending most of it on specialty dining, we used the casino to convert our remaining credit into (less) cash so we could do the ports on our own.

    • St. Thomas: We took a taxi ($11pp) to Sapphire Beach and rented only one chair ($9) since I’d be snorkeling most of the day. The snorkeling was fairly good here and the only location from shore worth anything on the trip.
    • St. Kitts: We had planned in advance to take Thenford Grey’s Grand Island Tour ($55pp) as we had never been here before. It was a wonderful 6-hour tour with Thenford himself narrating. We drove through Basseterre, visited Romney Manor and the fort, and ended up at Shipwreck with the black sand beach.
    • Barbados: We took a cab to Boatyard ($5pp) and got our chair/umbrella/drink/turtle tour/taxi ride back for $20pp. There are about 8 beach clubs on the same stretch the offer similar amenities. My highlight was walking all the way to the other end to Cuz’ Fish Shack for a flying fish sandwich ($4).
    • St. Maarten / St. Martin: We arrived at 3pm the first day and 4 other ships were in port. 15,000 guests were scrambling back to their ships as we left ours. We grabbed the bus ($2pp) to Marigot. It was rush hour and it took us almost an hour to get there. Had some pastries at Sarafina’s and walked around for a while and took the bus back. All the shops close at 6. On Day 2, we got a shared taxi ($7pp) at the port and headed Orient Beach. We walked a couple doors down from the dropoff to Orange Fever. Here we got 2 chairs, an umbrella, and 2 welcome drinks all for $16. Food was delicious and beers were $3 each or $14 for 6. Returned in a shared taxi ($7pp) and got dropped off in Philipsburg for some last-minute shopping. The walk between the ship and Philipsburg is an easy 15 minute walk.

    Debarkation: We did self-debarkation so we could catch an early flight. Scheduled time was 7:30 so we got into line around 6:40. We were about 15th in line. By 7:00 the line was around 100. At 7:11 they opened the gates and we walked off. Customs wasn’t expecting us until 7:30 but they finally got some lanes opened up. We were through at 7:28, got a taxi ($13.30) and were checked in and at our gate at 8:00am!

     

    We really liked the layout of the Equinox. Floors 3,4,5 are very easy to navigate and get to all of the bars and restaurants, and the pool deck is easy to get around as well. The ship was clean and the service was excellent. It was Spring break, but it appeared there were only 10-20 kids under the age of 20 on the boat. The officers made themselves available and mingled with the passengers. Thanks as always to all of the members of the Cruise Critic boards for the invaluable information that helped us make the most of this cruise. We’re sure we’ll be cruising again with Celebrity in the future.

     

    Link to photos with some menus, daily schedules, etc: https://goo.gl/photos/yJuL7hKtLRbYvCc26

     

    Thank you so much Dabeers1, we will be sailing in July. Excellent Review.

    What do you start doing 30 days out?

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    Quickly approaching 30 days until our Cruise! I felt more prepared the week after we booked and now I am scrambling to see what we need to get ready over the next few weeks.

     

    So what do you start thinking about 30 days out?

     

    We will be driving to port so one of the things on my list is oil change/ tune up.

     

    So what about you? :)

     

    MY TA Gave me this, Hope it helps.

    10 Weeks Prior

    Finalize vacation

    Buy travel insurance

    Book flights/airport transfers

    Confirm travel document requirements

    Determine any necessary vaccinations

    Get details information on vacation, dress code

    Get information on baggage allowance

     

    6 Weeks Prior

    Complete pre-registration

    Reserve specialty dining

    Reserve excursions

    Reserve spa appointments

    Reserve onboard/land programs

    Reserve onboard/land childcare & activities

    Arrange house care and pet care

    Arrange childcare (if traveling without children)

    Arrange mail delivery

     

     

    3 Weeks Prior

    Make appointment for personal care

    Review all travel documents

    Shop for travel necessities

     

     

    1 Week Prior

    Make 2 copies of passport (leave one at home)

    Check airline policy

    Print/order luggage tags

    Buy extra media cards/batteries

    Get cash/travelers checks

    Leave trip information with family/friends

    Confirm house care

    Confirm at home childcare (if needed)

    Stop home deliveries

    Check phone carrier for international service

    Refill prescriptions

     

     

    2 Days Before

    Review & confirm vacation information

    Review & confirm flight information

    Carry-on 3-1-1: 3.4 oz or less, 1 qt bag, pp

    Meet with house sitter & childcare provider

    Contact credit card company

    Day Prior

    Drop off pet at pet care

    Clear refrigerator of perishables

    Take out trash

    Return any borrowed items with fees

    Pay last minute bills

    Set light timer

    Inform family/friends/neighbors

    Finalize packing

    Put on luggage tags

     

     

    Travel Essentials

    Airline tickets

    Cruise/land documents

    Travel Insurance information

    Passport/Visa

    Vaccination certificate (if required)

    Driver's license

    Auto insurance

    Health Insurance

    Copy of medical insurance (if needed)

    Travel Guide

    Camera, media/memory card, charger

    Underwater camera

    Camcorder & charger

    Portable DVD Player & Charger

    iPod/MP3, Tablet & Charger

    Earphones

    Extra batteries

    Converter/adapter

    Prescription

    First aid kit

    VIDEO CRUISE REVIEW: Celebrity Equinox Feb. 20 - March 3, with Mardi Gras

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    From February 20 - March 3, 2017 my DW, Rosie, and I took a cruise vacation on Celebrity Equinox. The trip included a 2 night stop in New Orleans for Mardi Gras!

    I made a short (15 min) video of the whole trip. Hope you enjoy watching, almost as much, as we enjoyed taking the trip.:):):)

     

     

    BILL

     

    Thanks, Bill, good job. We will be in 9268, next to yours in July. Appreciate the view of our room and your great Video.

    Pre cruise hotel in Miami with parking and shuttle to and from port?

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    I agree. Just stayed at Holiday Inn Downtown,Port of Miami- taxis right out front, only cost about $16 for two people. Be careful where you stay tho- a Miami hotel in a safe and convenient location will run about $200+-, but you need to research the area of Miami you're looking at, not just the hotel price.. Read the boards for recommendations but I think anywhere within a couple block radius of HI POM where we stayed is probably ok....there was also an Intercontinental,nearby and a YVE Hotel. All of these are across the street or within walking distance from the Bayside Marketplace that has a lot of restaurants and shopping. There's also a CVS for last minute items one block from HI POM.

     

    We are staying there in July, looks like a good place near the Terminal, also plenty of places to eat across the street if you go in a day early.

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