Observations from the Equinox Retreat

[Cruise a holic]

We will be sailing in a royal suite in a few weeks.  If you have an opportunity to view, would appreciate knowing what has been revolutionized

 

enjoy your cruise 

[rattanchair]

11 hours ago, jj6961 said:

As you can see it’s a great space.  I liked closing the bedroom door so the Butler could leave  a carafe of latte, berries and muesli and the good pastries from Luminea  🥐

have a wonderful cruise 

Dear JJ, Here are some photos of our cabin #1110.

[rattanchair]

15 hours ago, miched said:

Don’t want to quote and repost all the photos like many do that takes up a lot of space in a post just to ask or make a comment.

 

 Are all those photos of the outside areas  in post #10 the Retreat area that are now  for suite passengers only? 

 

Thanks

 

happy cruising🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

Dear Mic,   They are both. The grey cushioned lounges are the Retreat.

[39august]

What do you think of the Craft Social area? Slow bar service or good? Comfortable seating available during the evening hours?  Thanks for all your input. 

[rattanchair]

6 hours ago, chemmo said:

 

Thanks,

 

Hope you enjoy Le Petit chef, we giggled like children right through...Whatever you do don’t google/YouTube it as it takes away the novelty, go in fresh!

 

Re Luminae, it is the special dishes that chef Daniel Boulud is supposed to be introducing we are interested in. Wondering when they will be introduced, if there will be just one or two throughout the cruise or one per evening.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to all us ‘desperate to find out’ future suite guests. Hope you continue to enjoy your cruise!

 

 

Dear Chem, You are correct. Daniel Boulud has shown up at the bottom of the Luminae menu the last two nights. Did not change from one night from the next, though the Luminae part did change. It appears so far that DB menu will be like a 'classics menu'  like that found on the MDR menu. There were only three choices, I will concentrate more closely but not tonight. Le petite chef experience is tonight. Just glad I can be of some help.

[rattanchair]

13 minutes ago, 39august said:

What do you think of the Craft Social area? Slow bar service or good? Comfortable seating available during the evening hours?  Thanks for all your input. 

Dear 39,  DW and I were just commenting to each other about how much more refined the area has been revolutionized. The sports channels were still being displayed but less seating, much more high class.

[WonderMan3]

1 hour ago, lola2013 said:

WonderMan3...

apologies for momentarily hijacking this thread but no other way to contact you and thank you for last year's Med review.  I just returned from a nine-night sailing on RCCL (only because when we booked, Edge had not yet been introduced to the Med and the other Celebrity ships had been moved to other areas of Europe).  Anyway, I contacted several of the same vendors that you used for excursions and they were all wonderful.

Many thanks...I now have Edge and Equinox to look forward to.  

Susan

You’re welcome! Happy to have been a help. Which vendors did you use that I had mentioned?

[miched]

Looking at the photos of the cabin it doesn’t look as if much or anything has been “Revolutionized” or changed from how it was.  

 

It appears as if most changes were made in the public areas. 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🌅🇺🇸

[Cruise a holic]

21 minutes ago, miched said:

Looking at the photos of the cabin it doesn’t look as if much or anything has been “Revolutionized” or changed from how it was.  

 

It appears as if most changes were made in the public areas. 

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🌅🇺🇸

Yes- same carpet- drapes no changes to the interior of the room that I can see.  The balcony might be different. 

[jj6961]

Thank you so much for posting the suite pics.  Only differences I see is a Celebrity X pillow and new robe in the closet.  It’s still a great suite. Celebrity was between a rock and a hard place on the refurb.  I have wondered what Celebrity was able to do for guests who booked the non-added Reflection and Signature suites

 

looking forward to any new choices in Luminea.  

Can I ask who the retreat lounge consierge, suite manager and captain club hostess are?

 

isn’t Captain Kate just the best 

[hiccups]

1 hour ago, 39august said:

What do you think of the Craft Social area? Slow bar service or good? Comfortable seating available during the evening hours?  Thanks for all your input. 

The first couple days Craft Social seemed to be struggling with slow service, but it improved after that.

Just an FYI, the food in Craft Social isn't available until 5 PM, which was disappointing to my DH as he had a hankering for an afternoon snack of wings one day.  They put the order in as soon as possible (a bit before 5 PM), though.

And while most cruisers are aware the 20% gratuity is included, my DH wasn't (and didn't pay attention to the bill).  With the built-in gratuity and what he added, they got about a 55% tip on his bill.

[poffles]

14 hours ago, hiccups said:

 

This policy is for all passengers, not just suite guests.

I experienced this new policy ... going to your cabin immediately upon boarding and getting room key ... on my March Edge sailing and loved it (I had inside cabin)!  I boarded around 11:30. 

 

I had read this was now the policy on Equinox post revolution and have been looking forward to it on my July/Aug sailing (now in Veranda) and glad I wasn't wrong when I read it was ship wide.  It certainly seemed odd that they would do it differently on Equinox and offer only for suites. 

 

It really was nice going directly to the cabin to drop off bags before heading off to roam the ship. 

[rattanchair]

Here is another observation from last nights chic night.  A majority of the ship's gentlemen guests were dressed in suit and ties and many with tuxedos. I brought 4 jackets and 8 ties, next time on board I will have hoped to lose another 10 lbs and be able to bring my tux. This was the entire ship, not just the Retreat. This 'revolution' has not only affected the ship, I think it has also touched, influenced the guests as well. The attention all guests are given throughout the ship by staff is enhanced as well. This morning on the Retreat sun deck, DW was assisted by a crew member in coveralls painting. She was searching for lounge towels, when he stopped painting and escorted her to staff with towels. Above and beyond his pay level!

    Noticed in Retreat lounge (former Michaels Club), for pictures with Captain Kate, that they removed all the bar chairs from bar, just a walk up and stand with a foot rest at the new all white marble bar. The line of passengers the last couple of days lining up at the internet lounge trying to log in is very disconcerting for non suite guests, but DW went to the Retreat Lounge and was immediately  assisted by the concierge. She forgot to put a space between her first and last name while trying to log in. Can one just imagine waiting two hours in  line to discover your mistake? Suite perks have their advantages.

    I do not recall from our past experience on board the Equinox in March 2019,  but the there are no "make up room" door hangers , or a button you push that lets the room steward know you are out and to please make up the room, so that one can return to the cabin to enjoy the balcony that comes with most suites. Instead the stewards still resort to stuffing a wad of paper in the door jam and when they see it on the floor outside our door they know we are out. Of course we are up and out early and when we return to our cabin from our  stay on the Retreat Sun deck  we find the wad of paper hit the floor when we open the cabin door to go in, knowing that our cabin has not been made  up yet.

    DW is on her computer this morning, ordering a white noise machine battery operated for use at night in these cabins. The problem I ascertain is noise coming from other cabins, generally the cloths hangers rocking and hitting the sides of the closets.

    Just came back from the Retreat Sun deck to our cabin.  As the morning progresses, more guests appear and the seating in the shade is coveted. A lovely lady sat down beside me and began to hack up a storm. Although I chose a lounge most up wind,  the continued coughing forced my retreat from the Retreat. On my balcony now as I finish this post. The table on our balcony has been changed this morning to a new white aluminum, DW just noticed; about 50" in circumference ! I guess it is true, changes are occurring on a daily basis.  So what I may be reporting today will be much enhanced by the time you all sail.

[Oville]

16 minutes ago, rattanchair said:

  DW is on her computer this morning, ordering a white noise machine battery operated for use at night in these cabins. The problem I ascertain is noise coming from other cabins, generally the cloths hangers rocking and hitting the sides of the closets.

   

Thank you for your review and observations.

In case you are unaware you can download white noise apps on your phones, they might come in handy for this cruise.

[39august]

Thanks for the info about Craft Social. More upscale is nice. Sorry to hear about removal of bar stools in the Retreat Lounge. Maybe if enough people ask for them back, they might reappear.

[spammie]

Personally I like sitting at a bar.  Sad to hear they removed the bar stools from the Retreat Lounge.  We really missed not having a bar on the Edge in the Retreat Lounge and were only there a couple of times.  We cruise in September in a Suite.  Pretty sure we won't be spending too much time on the Retreat Deck as hubby has had skin cancer and needs shade.  I don't like the idea of having to walk from there to use a pool.  Oh well, I know, first world problems!  LOL!

[Alakegirl]

This post reminds me how Celebrity is failing to recognize consumers’ needs and wants: we are concerned about skin cancer, they are providing less shade, we have old sports injuries that make it difficult to stand, they remove the bar stools, we need to keep our feet elevated, they take away the balcony footstools.  It doesn’t make much sense to us.

[Cruise a holic]

1 hour ago, Alakegirl said:

This post reminds me how Celebrity is failing to recognize consumers’ needs and wants: we are concerned about skin cancer, they are providing less shade, we have old sports injuries that make it difficult to stand, they remove the bar stools, we need to keep our feet elevated, they take away the balcony footstools.  It doesn’t make much sense to us.

I agree about the shady areas- It amazes me how many people of all ages still bake in the sun. With all we know about how it damages the skin and potentially can cause terminal cancer.  But people still smoke also-

[rattanchair]

Well, This afternoon we gathered in the Retreat Lounge for our concierge escort off the ship in San Juan, and voile la new chairs appeared at the Retreat Bar.  Notice that there is no longer a desk in the Retreat lounge for the concierge. Just a podium with a computer and NO chair, for the concierge or for the guests at the podium. Below the coffee making machine, please note the lighted glass which are doors to a refrigerator filled with bottled water and sodas so as not to bother the bar tender, just help yourself. On the dock today are being delivered new mattresses, see photo. The 'revolution' is still in progress.

[rattanchair]

5 hours ago, Oville said:

Thank you for your review and observations.

In case you are unaware you can download white noise apps on your phones, they might come in handy for this cruise.

Dear O, You are a lifesaver. Thank you.

[rattanchair]

5 hours ago, spammie said:

Personally I like sitting at a bar.  Sad to hear they removed the bar stools from the Retreat Lounge.  We really missed not having a bar on the Edge in the Retreat Lounge and were only there a couple of times.  We cruise in September in a Suite.  Pretty sure we won't be spending too much time on the Retreat Deck as hubby has had skin cancer and needs shade.  I don't like the idea of having to walk from there to use a pool.  Oh well, I know, first world problems!  LOL!

Dear Spam, Please read latest posts. Your wish has been granted. Things are happening ! By the time you sail it will be an even more different ship than what we are experiencing today.  Please take extra special care when you sit in lounges  on the Retreat Sun Deck even when in the shade.. I hate the sun and live in south Florida.  I got so burned up yesterday from the several hours I spent In the shade beneath those fabric striped awnings I went searching for aloe vera on  the ship, to no avail.  Got off in San Juan, and went straight ahead to the Walgreens at the end of the pier, lower floor of the Sheraton. Same prices as US.

Edited June 24, 2019 by rattanchair
additional info

[MaggieAtSea]

@rattanchair you are doing a great job with sharing your observations and illustrative photos. Thank you for taking the time to do so!  Cannot wait to hear your thoughts on Petite Chef.  

[rattanchair]

4 hours ago, Alakegirl said:

This post reminds me how Celebrity is failing to recognize consumers’ needs and wants: we are concerned about skin cancer, they are providing less shade, we have old sports injuries that make it difficult to stand, they remove the bar stools, we need to keep our feet elevated, they take away the balcony footstools.  It doesn’t make much sense to us.

Dear Ala,  In my posts I have been relating to the fact that Celebrity is ADDING more shade. Please see photos I have posted. I have a chair and a footstool, rather large footstool wicker on wheels about 30" in diameter on our CS balcony. I did not think it was important. Obviously I am mistaken, an did not bother to take a picture of it since it has not been 'revolutionized' yet.

[WestLakeGirl]

They have taken away footstools in Concierge class

[rattanchair]

16 minutes ago, MaggieAtSea said:

@rattanchair you are doing a great job with sharing your observations and illustrative photos. Thank you for taking the time to do so!  Cannot wait to hear your thoughts on Petite Chef.  

Dear Mag, That is coming up at 6:30 this evening. The MSC Seaside just pulled into port next to us. I plan to give you all my observations from the Yacht Club next month.