Saturngrl

3 hours ago, helen haywood said:

As another poster asked, is there no longer smoking on the port side of the Sunset Bar?

There is still smoking on the port side of the Sunset Bar. 

Just off the Equinox two weeks ago.  On sea days, a light breakfast in the Aqua Spa café is wonderful...it's quiet, great service and wonderful to watch the Solarium fountains and sea from your table. 

The Gastrobar offers a pub menu (extra price) in the evenings. 

Silent Disco is amazingly fun! 

Enjoy all of the opportunities to meet Captain Kate and her awesome crew while they are still on board.

Enjoy your cruise!

I was on the Equinox last week.  I'm not a potato fan, and don't recall seeing hash browns in the buffet.  I can report the scrambled eggs are delicious!   It surprised me because it's challenging to keep scrambled eggs from over cooking. 

Also, the breakfast buffet features an omelet station, as well as poached/Eggs Benedict station that are both fantastic. 

Enjoy your cruise on this fantastic ship!

Thank you for all of the photos and updates!  I can't believe it was just last week that my friend and I sailed on this ship.  We had SUCH a great time!   Loved Sushi on 5, Tuscan Grille and Silk Harvest.  Dinner in the MDR was always wonderful with Sannta being our best sommelier ever.  Elysium featured the wonderful actors, singers, dancers and acrobats....loved your photos of the stars there. 

Enjoy today and tomorrow...hard to believe the cruise week passes so quickly!

Ship - Equinox

Deck - 12

Cabin # - 2106

Class – Concierge 2

Starboard or Port Side – Starboard on the Hump

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Balcony

Quiet Cabin –This cabin is directly under the Ocean View Café and experiences a little noise from heavy footsteps above....not bad...or annoying.

Balcony View – Unobstructed.  No overhang like the aft cabins. 

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? – Oversized on the hump.  Had lounge chair plus two chairs with footstools and a table.

Was wind a problem? -- No.

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? -- No

Any specific problems with this cabin? – None

Any other comments? – Great cabin with large balcony.....larger than Sky Suite balconies.  

I went back and forth with my TA about the Equinox and Punta Cana versus Tortola.  As of a few weeks ago, it was Punta Cana.  That was the deal killer for me....I hated tendering in the hot lifeboats to Punta Cana and the resort was less than satisfactory.   I just disembarked from the Equinox last Saturday and loved the ship and our cruise...will sail her again on another itinerary some day.

Hope you will post the full review with photos soon....looks like an amazingly good time so far!  We sail the Equinox one week from this Saturday. 

Embarkation lunch in the MDR, Daily Canapes in your stateroom, a bottle of bubbly and the dedication pre-departure lounge with coffee, tea, juices and continental breakfast make the $60 charge well worth it!

I always use a TSA approved combination lock on my luggage. 

Yes, the spa services are extra.  The spa is owned by Canyon Ranch spa company.  On Embarkation day, take advantage of the spa tour and "teasers".  They will let you know what discounts may apply, especially on port days.  There may also be daily spa specials that are announced in Celebrity Today each day.

The Persian Garden is heated loungers, usually for spa guests and available to others at an extra charge. 

Hope this helps.  Enjoy your cruise!

The email lists items that are included in the Contract of Carriage, which is a legal document that every cruise passenger should read prior to sailing.   I'm with you other posters who embrace the idea of Carnival enforcing its rules to make the cruise safer and more pleasant for all of us. 

You may also want to check Cruise Planner for multi-night specialty dining packages.  This is a great way to experience Tuscan Grille, Murano, Silk Harvest or Sushi on 5 without paying full price for each.  BTW, Sushi on 5 is ala carte pricing and I love lunching there at least one sea day!   They are also open for lunch on Embarkation day. 

Concierge gets its own check in line, boards after higher classes/suites, gets a welcome bottle of bubbly in cabin upon request, daily canapes in cabin (not great, but it's better than schlepping stuff from the buffet) and a designated disembarkation waiting location with continental breakfast/coffee/tea/juices/water.

In past cruises, Concierge guests have been invited to a sailaway on the helipad, or other unexpected perk.  It's also fun to have other passengers ask "why do you have a gold Sea Pass?"  LOL. 

The Concierge lunch in the MDR is a major perk for me!  I like being able to place my carry-on in a safe, designated spot while enjoying being served and avoiding the crowd at the buffet.  You get to meet some of your fellow passengers as well.

At breakfast, I look forward to English Bacon and the little cucumber slices with cream cheese/chive on top or the salmon mousse on top. 

I never knew there is a special needs option for muster drills!  This is great information.  I am very sensitive to fragrances which will trigger a major asthma attack.  That's why, regardless of indoor or outdoor drills, I bring a mask and my inhaler with me to muster. 

As an experienced disaster management trainer and volunteer, I can report how vitally important these drills are for both crew and passengers.   I pay close attention on every cruise. 

In addition to the above posters, I really appreciate Celebrity's smoke-free casinos.

I certainly understand the challenge of being sensitive/allergic to traditional hand sanitizers. Personally, I am very sensitive to colognes and perfumes.

Idea:   How about bringing and using non-latex gloves to the buffet and donning them at the entrance?  I know gloves only provide 70% protection, but it's 70% more protection for you and others than using nothing....just thinking out loud.....

47 minutes ago, cgolf1 said:

 

Is the 2 hour before flight that you can’t check in until 2 hours before your flight? We have a 10:30 flight due to a 600 dollar difference between tickets at a more reasonable time. So really hoping for no delays whatsoever. 

Most airports are now recommending arriving 3 hours before your flight and I hope the airlines will allow earlier check in as well. 

You are going to need to self-disembark first thing in the morning that day.  It's going to be a tight schedule for you.  Hope you enjoy your cruise!

55 minutes ago, tkere said:

You actually only need about 20 seconds of hand washing but the key is friction, rub the soap between your hands.

The cabin steward uses the same rag to clean cabins, Saturngrl do you lysol everyday? 

Omg, I never considered that!  Yes, I will do so.  Thank you for the information!

Thank you for posting!  I fully agree.  The first thing I do when I get into my stateroom on Embarkation Day is to wipe everything down with antibacterial wipes.  It takes a whopping 5 minutes to do this and is well worth the peace of mind. 

We also thank the crew members offering hand sanitizer every time we are offered (and USE) this gift. 

I just ordered one from Amazon.  The video shows it will hold cell phones, wallets and smaller items.  It also looks like a purse to me, which will be quite fashionable.

I will only book a massage at Canyon Ranch for a port day or if they are offering a sale on board ship.  I always get a massage in port.  This time we have reservations for beach front massages at Nachi Cocum for a fraction of the Canyon Ranch price. 

I love my TA!  My first experiences with TAs were okay because they were in charge of fundraising cruises for our gang. I've also booked directly through the cruise line (most expensive option). 

 I met my current TA at a local Chamber of Commerce event and she has been WONDERFUL.  I can call her any time, I can email her and she instantly responds with great options, and arranges the best perks for us.  I will never book a cruise without her again!

24 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Well, I can't help you with culture.  😋  But I'd suggest snorkeling with the stingrays in Georgetown if you've never done that.  And maybe Nachi Cocum in Cozumel.  Maya Chan is good in Costa Maya as there isn't much at the port.

Nachi Cocum in Cozumel is great because they only limit entry to 130 people a day.  If you want more to do and a great beach day in Cozumel, Mr. Sancho's Beach Club is awesome.  I agree with the recommendation for snorkeling with stingrays or the Turtle farm in Grand Cayman.

I recommend you do NOT book excursions through the cruise line for the above excursions.  You will get a better price through ShoreTrips or booking directly with the vendor.

Happy sailing!