bjahil47

Enjoyed reading your live blog!  Safe travels home!

Took the survey.  I was glad to see you could write in some comments.  

What will they think of next?  

Enjoy your last night abroad!  Safe travels home and that’s for taking us along on the cruise!

We were on Equinox end of September to October 8th.  We were in the RS and our butler was outstanding!  The best we ever had!  But we have been in RS before with no visible butler so I understand how the other guest is frustrated.  Enjoy your cruise!

Following along!  Enjoy your cruise!

I usually get the credit within a day or so.

We sailed with her when she was Captain on Equinox.  We also met Bug Naked and I held him!  I think I was more excited about meeting Bug than I was Captain Kate!  She was very nice.  I have not met a captain I have not liked!

Never been to Japan and I find your pictures and commentary captivating!  Thank you!  Enjoy your cruise, I am leaning a lot!

So excited for your upcoming cruise!  Dubai is on my bucket list!  
 

sorry about your brother and praying he gets the help he needs and gets better soon.  

21 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

We just got home from our Equinox cruise yesterday.

Had none of the problems that you mentioned. Premium wifi for us was excellent.

Perhaps location of the cabin mattered? We were deck 11, few cabins after mid elevators.
I also noticed an Aruba Networks Router/Extender installed on the wall over the TV in the room. Had not noticed that in previous cruises. Doing work on the balcony was not a problem at all. I am thinking that this may not have been installed in every cabin?

Previously that premium wifi was not good. But we had a great experience this cruise.

Glad you had excellent wifi.  We were on Deck 11 midship in a RS.  Do not recall seeing any wifi extender in room.  My husband would have seen it and said something.  

30 minutes ago, SusieAV8R said:

RS is  considered an Upper Benefit suite, so chocolates on pillows  nightly, included Specialty dining, stocked ensuite bar, etc.are included, which is not true for CS or SS.

Correct!  Although on our cruise March, 2022 we did not receive any of the special chocolates on chic night in RS.  

Aft is the best!

We do it all the time and never notice a difference in service.

We were on Equinox B2B 9/24 to 10/8.  Ian was good.  Most times he seemed in a hurry.  I don’t think we presented any concerns to him.  Gazelle helped us with dining reservations when they were not made by shoreside.  She seemed more visible than Ian and was always smiling and helping someone.  We did get the special chocolates on chic night, maybe because we were in a RS.  

We had premium a few weeks ago on Equinox and it was just ok.  Could not use it on the balcony and I could not watch a live webinar.

We are usually in Retreat and gratuities have always been included.  We tip extra at end of cruise if we receive great service.  Usually stateroom attendant, butler, waiter and assistant waiter.  Sometimes the sommelier if they are very good.  Once in a while someone else who has gone above and beyond normal job duties.  I always give them a handwritten thank you note with cash.  I never give anything at the start of cruise as I consider that a bribe.  
 

Now that gratuities are not included in AI we will still tip those who have been exceptional but I don’t think it will be as much.  We will see.  

Just got off Equinox on Sunday.  There might have been a few minor changes on Luminae menu to lower cost food but nothing noticeable.  What we ate was very good.  Also we were on a B2B, a 6 night and then a 8 night.  The first 6 nights of the 8 night the food was same as first cruise.  And the same lunch was repeated at least 3 times.  

We opt in every cruise and never notice any difference to the care of the room.

16 hours ago, funredhead said:

Wondering about the beyond the speaker series…Is there a speaker on your sailing, and if so what are the talks?

hope you are having a wonderful vacation!

Just got off a B2B on Equinox Sunday.  The Beyond the Podium Speaker was Jim Kennedy, who has 50 years of space exploration.  An introduction to the triumphs and tragedies of human and robotic exploration of space.  He spoke several times on topics related to space.

My husband also tried to try every flavor of gelato.  Now his pants are tight!  

35 minutes ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

Thank you for your review.  I been only on the newer ships and never the Equinox class but I do expect older is going to show its age. I only care about the bed mattresses because we both have herniated discs in our backs and neck.

 

 I love the photos of the food and than you for that.  All I know, my husband better get on his necessary zoom work calls, we have premium internet and its vital he get on them four days, they are about two hours each day.  I wonder if we go to the I lounge if internet is better?  I also want to check on my pets at home on the cameras.  I am sorry your internet was slow on deck, maybe inside the ship would of been better?

 

What time did you go late evening for snacks at the buffet?  I currently have bad ulcers and have to stay away from pasta and pizza so hoping at midnight there be other foods to choose from.

People this week spoke about going to the Obrservation Sky Lounge being closed to private parties a lot, did you experience this too?

What was your favorite place to hang out during the evenings?

We were only able to get one evening at Tuscan and one at Murano but when boarding we are hoping to book other evenings, which was your favorite?

 

Thank you so much and glad you had a good time.  

 

 

 

The beds were very comfortable.  I have hip bursitis and I had no pain sleeping on my side.  I could not get the Webinar with Laura while inside my cabin.  Internet was useless on the balcony.  I did not try any other streaming inside the cabin.  Not sure if it’s any better if you are in an open space in the ship.  
 

We went to buffet around 10:30 pm a few nights.  There were  cheeses, deli meats, fruits, breads, salads and some desserts in addition to pasta and pizza.   Ice cream is open until 10:30 pm.  
 

Sky Observation Lounge was open most times.  I never noticed it closed for a special event.  We only went up there a few times.  If the closure is noted in the daily paper then it was always open.  
 

We went to martini bar twice at night but it was noisy.  We like to sit around Cafe Al Bacio.  My husband does not drink and we are not really bar people.  We loved just sitting on our deck.  It was peaceful and serene.  
 

Since we were in RS we had unlimited specialty dining.  Looking at menus pre cruise Luminae did not appeal to me most nights and neither did MDR (I am gluten free and don’t like spicy foods).  We ate in Tuscan or Murano most nights.  Murano is excellent and for us it’s our favorite.  We love the Lobster, lamb and Chocolate Soufflé.  The steaks were excellent in Tuscan and the Pistachio Creme Brûlée was addictive!  Sushi on 5 is one of our favorites and they have a lot on the menu that is not sushi.  The Asian Pear Smash drink is my absolute favorite and that’s the only place I can get it.  
 

Hope you enjoy your cruise!

7 minutes ago, a1betpr said:

I am on the Equinox right now in a Royal Suite.  There is no beer in the Retreat coolers but they’ve put plenty in our cabin fridge.  From what I’ve seen there have been no events in the Sky Lounge that have prevented us from going in. Izzy is not our butler but he has helped us a couple times and seems like a very good butler.  We can concur that the ship needs a little TLC but overall is in perfectly fine condition.  Service has been fantastic.  

I thought I saw a few beers in Retreat coolers.  I looked quickly while grabbing a small water.  They had ABBA on our first cruise in Sky Lounge.  I don’t know why they don’t have silent disco or other events up there as Deck 3 middle area gets too crowded.  
 

Enjoy your cruise!  

37 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

Thanks for the review. Great pictures!

Looking forward to boarding this weekend.

Enjoy your cruise!

40 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Great review!  Thank you for the food pics. Looks really good!  We also enjoy a Royal Suite but like you said, I think we are priced out of them at the moment. Just wondering what decrease in amenities you noticed while in the RS?

 

Again, thank you for the review!

I don’t think we noticed any decreases in amenities.  We received 2 bottles of Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut in the room on first day.  One for each cruise.  The butler asked if I wanted more bottles of liquor in room besides the 3 I had.  
 

I forgot to mention it in my original post but they have new nespresso machines in upper suites.  He said they just got them.  They even make foam!  The coffee was great.  I asked for almond milk and he brought me a carton!  
 

The Retreat had lots of beer, water and soda in its little cooler.  The snacks there were plentiful.

The one time I went To buffet to get smoked salmon it was plentiful.