Anyone on board Equinox now with January 9, 2022 sailing?

[JamieLogical]

24 minutes ago, TourDeCruise said:

 

In the cabin for the electronics charging, Equinox has the USB charging outlets, right? Two? Or do I need to use the electrical outlets in the cabin and bring USB plugs to charge our phones, tablets, cameras? I recall USB outlets in the cabin but want to make sure.

 

No USB ports on the Equinox. At least there were not when I was onboard in July.

[TourDeCruise]

37 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

No USB ports on the Equinox. At least there were not when I was onboard in July.

 

Yikes! Apex has the USB ports. I must be thinking of hotels that have them. Haven't been on the Equinox since 2019 or before. If I recall correctly, there are only a couple electrical outlets too. I do have a 2-port USB plug and single ones, so I have packed a single and dual (with cords) in the electronics bag.

[chamima]

12 hours ago, Treasure Hunter said:

So we now have a second passenger who tested positive with mild symptoms in quarantine. Captain made an announcement that all contacts were negative. All above board. It’s not surprising because as the cruise goes on more people are just sitting at the bar chatting with strangers and walking around without their nose covered or with an empty glass at the slot machine. The staff is trying their best. We are stopping at Barbados tomorrow. Excursions seem to be working. We don’t leave the ship. Sitting in the sun and having lunch served works for me. 

 

The part I highlighted in purple  concerns me.

Does staff politely hand those maskless people a mask to wear ? Are crew wearing N95s or just cloth masks?

I think attitude comes from the top on down.

[kearney]

Fauci says we are all going to get Omicron. I have cancelled my next cruise...   Rather than worrying about what others are doing or not doing.knowing the odds are you are going to get it... perhaps it is best to delay travel until this variant passes... perhaps there is light at the end of this covid nightmare.

[JamieLogical]

26 minutes ago, TourDeCruise said:

 

Yikes! Apex has the USB ports. I must be thinking of hotels that have them. Haven't been on the Equinox since 2019 or before. If I recall correctly, there are only a couple electrical outlets too. I do have a 2-port USB plug and single ones, so I have packed a single and dual (with cords) in the electronics bag.

 

In a Veranda there are two US outlet and one EU outlet. I bring an adapter that plugs into the EU outlet and converts it to a US outlet plus a couple of USB ports. Probably a little late to get something like that for our sailing at this point, but here is the one I ordered off of Amazon:

 

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YVMM483/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Treasure Hunter]

No. It’s terrible. Only two regular outlets at the vanity. That’s it! Nothing in the lamps. We brought an extender so at least my husband can leave his hearing aid charger in. I have to remove one of the phone chargers to use the hair dryer. 

[Treasure Hunter]

35 minutes ago, chamima said:

 

The part I highlighted in purple  concerns me.

Does staff politely hand those maskless people a mask to wear ? Are crew wearing N95s or just cloth masks?

I think attitude comes from the top on down.

Some staff does ask you to mask especially in the casino. The staff is double masked with a kn95 under a cloth mask. The bar situation is hard because passengers are allowed to be unmasked if actively eating or drinking and then they forget when they get up. 

[chamima]

1 minute ago, Treasure Hunter said:

Some staff does ask you to mask especially in the casino. The staff is double masked with a kn95 under a cloth mask. The bar situation is hard because passengers are allowed to be unmasked if actively eating or drinking and then they forget when they get up. 

 

We are just off a Princess cruise and if you stood up and started to walk there was a crew member by your side almost immediately VERY politely reminding you to put your mask on. They also have signs everywhere asking people to "Sip and Cover" but that is harder to enforce - it just reinforces that they're taking this seriously.

I'm getting the impression that things are a little more "relaxed" on Celebrity (which some people like and some aren't comfortable with).

[Treasure Hunter]

I’m not comfortable with it. It reminds me of when I was a reference librarian and people used the public computers to view “ inappropriate photos”. I felt like wracking them in the head with a big dictionary. But I really want to cruise…..

[Dave Judy]

On 1/14/2022 at 4:11 PM, phantazmike said:

Thank you all for the excellent updates.  Following along.  Have the production shows been offered as normal on the current cruise or have you seen altered versions or cancellations?  Thank you!

We have found it strange that we are on Day 8 and there have not been any production shows. I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation.  All shows have been only one or two headline acts, some backed by live “orchestra” a few haven’t. We go to all the shows and are always easily entertained.  However, there was a vocalist from Chicago who sang, danced, and told stories… We would never 👎 go see him again…

[Dave Judy]

On 1/14/2022 at 7:34 PM, TourDeCruise said:

 

Wow. Was he kidding trying to get people out of the elevator?  It doesn't make sense that Celebrity would allow someone with Covid to be out and about in the elevator with others as opposed to escorting him and his wife back to their cabin or the quarantine cabin? Hopefully it was a sick joke.

I called him a boor, he was just a jerk… the minute he said it, his wife said, “stop, no you don’t…”.  I was in the elevator with 2 others, he and his wife made 5, then it stopped on the next floor and someone else tried to get on… that’s why I got off.  Cramming elevators and making dumbass comments is a nonstarter for me. 

[Dave Judy]

On 1/14/2022 at 7:50 PM, TourDeCruise said:

 

We also will be in Aqua Class on the 1/21cruise after a successful move-up bid from our initial veranda cabin. We prefer the healthier menu over the MDR and even Luminae's suite-class menu. Who is your maitre d' in Blu?

 

Have you been to the Persian Gardens (Thermal Suite)? Are masks required when on the lounges or in the steam room and sauna, etc.?

The Maitre ‘d is rotating off the ship with us. Our server is “JoJo”. He is veteran and will take great care of you. 

[Treasure Hunter]

Yes Raymond Wise was really an amateur. No production shows so far. We were told a new troupe boarded on 1/9 and had to quarantine. Don’t know if we’ll ever see them. I’d say the best entertainment so far has been Celli ( two funny Polish guys playing fantastic music from classical to musical theater to ABBA )

[Dave Judy]

On 1/14/2022 at 7:50 PM, TourDeCruise said:

 

We also will be in Aqua Class on the 1/21cruise after a successful move-up bid from our initial veranda cabin. We prefer the healthier menu over the MDR and even Luminae's suite-class menu. Who is your maitre d' in Blu?

 

Have you been to the Persian Gardens (Thermal Suite)? Are masks required when on the lounges or in the steam room and sauna, etc.?

I forgot… the Persian Gardens are open and look very inviting, especially the heated loungers. It’s really not a place conducive to our “Covid Times…”.  The loungers are not really socially distant and each time my wife goes in there Hal the people are laying there without masks and talking … She has complained, for me, it’s not just about staff responsibility to enforce, but the moral imperative… people become entitled and that’s how pandemics continue…

[Dave Judy]

On 1/14/2022 at 11:17 PM, closecruiser said:

If I may ask, how far out did you bid for the upgrade? We sail the 11th of Feb and the other day I got a email about a upgrade but the starting bids were so high.   

 It was a few weeks out. Starting bids for Aqua were okay, so my wife and I made a decision about how much a balcony upgrade from an Oceanview was worth.  For us it was about $100/day.  We got lucky 🍀 Cautionary point : Aqua class is under the pool / gym / party deck and you have no choice in the room location. We have had minor chair scraping, but no pool noise or loud music.  We also don’t have neighbors on either side.  Met someone yesterday who is Aqua class under the gym. Every morning, a dude is bouncing hard on a treadmill above their room …

[TourDeCruise]

12 minutes ago, Dave Judy said:

I forgot… the Persian Gardens are open and look very inviting, especially the heated loungers. It’s really not a place conducive to our “Covid Times…”.  The loungers are not really socially distant and each time my wife goes in there Hal the people are laying there without masks and talking … She has complained, for me, it’s not just about staff responsibility to enforce, but the moral imperative… people become entitled and that’s how pandemics continue…

 

We will try to go at off times when people are off the ship, early morning, at lunch, etc. It worked out pretty well when we were on the Apex in November. They are not supposed to be talking when on the loungers or in the main room. It is a designated quiet area. The sauna gets some lively discussions; I am not sure if that is part of the quiet area.

[Dave Judy]

On 1/14/2022 at 5:43 PM, Loracpin2 said:

It really is a small world!! Our oldest was at G'burg HS in Sept 1985 for his Sr year when we moved from MA. Needless to see he was not a happy camper!!!! Other two graduated in 1989 and 1991

Sorry to be late Loracpin… in 1981, our son rolled down A hall in his walker. Years later he walked it as a student and had a class in the room where I used to teach. He graduated in ‘99 and our daughter in ‘05…

[TourDeCruise]

11 minutes ago, Dave Judy said:

 It was a few weeks out. Starting bids for Aqua were okay, so my wife and I made a decision about how much a balcony upgrade from an Oceanview was worth.  For us it was about $100/day.  We got lucky 🍀 Cautionary point : Aqua class is under the pool / gym / party deck and you have no choice in the room location. We have had minor chair scraping, but no pool noise or loud music.  We also don’t have neighbors on either side.  Met someone yesterday who is Aqua class under the gym. Every morning, a dude is bouncing hard on a treadmill above their room …

 

We prefer the A2s aft because they are under other deck 12 cabins. Our assigned move-up A1 cabin will be under the pool area, but we decided to keep it as opposed to requesting one of the A2s. Not too many A2s are available and since we leave in 4 days, we decided to just stay where we are at.

[TourDeCruise]

30 minutes ago, Dave Judy said:

The Maitre ‘d is rotating off the ship with us. Our server is “JoJo”. He is veteran and will take great care of you. 

 

Do you know the name of the maitre d' who is leaving? We are hoping to see some of our favorites on our cruise. 

[Dave Judy]

To be clear, we are having a great time.  The weather is so warm and sunny. The food is wonderful (we don’t have to cook).  The ship is lightly populated.  We have breakfast, walk off the ship to the little terminal shops, (no excursions) back for lunch in Oceanview, out onto our balcony, maybe a nap… late afternoon walks. Dress up (a little) for a great dinner and entertainment.  Then repeat. We are easily pleased and so happy to be here! especially now that there is a big Winter storm forecast for our home town. 

[Dave Judy]

6 minutes ago, TourDeCruise said:

 

Do you know the name of the maitre d' who is leaving? We are hoping to see some of our favorites on our cruise. 

Amalia from Romania 🇷🇴.  I call her the Maitre ‘D as the tall dining room manager  really just kind of watches and doesn’t really get involved though he is friendly enough.  He might actually be the Maitre’d but 4’10” Amalia the fireball seems to run the place.  

[RealBatman]

14 minutes ago, Dave Judy said:

Amalia from Romania 🇷🇴.  I call her the Maitre ‘D as the tall dining room manager  really just kind of watches and doesn’t really get involved though he is friendly enough.  He might actually be the Maitre’d but 4’10” Amalia the fireball seems to run the place.  

Amalia is a wonderful Maitre'D! (We also think of her as Maitre'D as she does all the work while her 'boss' tries to look important! 🙂  I wonder if 'Ronald' is still there? Wonderful man and excellent server! 

I'm REALLY regretting that we will be cancelling our Jan 30th cruise. <heavy sigh>

[Loracpin2]

53 minutes ago, Dave Judy said:

Sorry to be late Loracpin… in 1981, our son rolled down A hall in his walker. Years later he walked it as a student and had a class in the room where I used to teach. He graduated in ‘99 and our daughter in ‘05…

No apology necessary. You're on the ship enjoying yourself. I'm sitting at my laptop bored as h_ _ l and ranting to myself that we never should have cancelled!!  It was the indoor mask mandate that was the catalyst for my hubby!!!

[TourDeCruise]

49 minutes ago, Dave Judy said:

Amalia from Romania 🇷🇴.  I call her the Maitre ‘D as the tall dining room manager  really just kind of watches and doesn’t really get involved though he is friendly enough.  He might actually be the Maitre’d but 4’10” Amalia the fireball seems to run the place.  

 

Looking forward to having Amalia from Romania in Blu. Hopefully she will still be there in five days. One of the Maitre d's we would like to have would be Fazli or Amir. Neither one is tall. Ante of Croatia is very tall but I think he may be an actual Restaurant Manager now. 

[Beba-Beba]

6 hours ago, TourDeCruise said:

 

In the cabin for the electronics charging, Equinox has the USB charging outlets, right? Two? Or do I need to use the electrical outlets in the cabin and bring USB plugs to charge our phones, tablets, cameras? I recall USB outlets in the cabin but want to make sure.

http://www.thepreismans.com/Sil_OnShip_IMG_5190.jpg