Equinox B2B Review 9/24 - 10/8/23(Bimini, GC, Cozumel and Eastern Caribbean)

[bjahil47]

 

This was our 7th and 8th cruise on the Equinox and we just became Elite+.  We were in the Royal Suite for both cruises.  Overall we had a fantastic cruise and would definitely go on Equinox again.  Not sure we could afford the RS again as prices have doubled since we booked it and amenities have decreased.  First time in several years I do not have a future cruise scheduled.  We have sailed exclusively on Celebrity last several years.

 

Pre Cruise - Shoreside Concierge contacted me about 2 months before the cruise.  I answered the email and then silence.  No reply to any of my follow ups.  We were then contacted by another SC asking same questions.  I replied I had already been contacted and enclosed my answers to her questions.  I finally called them a few weeks before cruise and they assured me all dining reservations were made and other requests taken care of.  I told them how my emails have been ignored and all they said was SC often switch ships.  

 

Boarding at Port Everglades Terminal 25 was fast and we were on board by 11:15 am.  We were escorted to our cabin.  

 

Dining - We ate a few breakfasts, lunches and dinners  at Luminae.  The food was excellent.  I am gluten free and do not like spicy food so I did have a few selections from MDR and all were excellent.  The prime rib was perfect.  My husband enjoyed all his meals and desserts.  One night there was really nothing I liked and my waiter said to order the lobster and steak from MDR.  I said I was told I would be charged for it, and he said “Anything for you, Mrs. H as you are in RS.”  I had the lobster and he brought two large delicious tails!  

 

We ate several times in Murano, Tuscan and most lunches at Sushi on 5.  Murano was excellent from the tuna, lobster, lamb and chateaubriand.  Only misses were the Heirloom Tomato & Buffalo Mozzarella Salad which was made from Cherry Tomatoes.  Also, the Pork Belly was hard as a Rock.  We tried it a second time and it was the same. Tuscan meals were very good.  My husband ordered the dry aged beef and was charged for it which we were told ahead of time.  He said it was no better than the other steaks included in price.  Pork Belly at Tuscan was amazing!  Everything at Sushi on 5 was delicious.  

 

We went up to the Buffet a few times in late evening and they had fruits, meats, cheeses, pasta, pizza, salads and desserts.  The Gluten free cakes were an improvement over cruise last year.  I went up once in the morning to get smoked salmon and there was a lot of food.

 

Entertainment - we did not attend any of the shows as we have seen most of them.  Music around the ship seemed to be a bit depressing.  In terminal 25 before we boarded the music was The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald!  We did enjoy the silent disco, tributes to ABBA and Queen.  A few nights there was a good group playing rock and roll on Deck 3.  

 

Ship - yes, the ship needs a makeover.  Our balcony had a lot of bubbling paint and rust, some floor tiles cracked and table tops cracked.  Chairs at Cafe Al Bacio definitely need to be replaced as you sink in them!  But, it’s a comfy, homey vibe on the ship.  The condition of the ship did not bother us at all as the crew is outstanding!  They are all friendly and ready to help and serve you.  

 

Butler - our butler was fantastic!  We are usually in Sky Suites and a Royal Suite one other time.  Never have we had a butler like Izzy.  Just fantastic!  All the liquor and drinks I requested were stocked and replenished as needed.  He kept asking me for laundry!  He always wanted to get me drinks and bring food!  We asked for snacks a few times and he would bring 4 trays - cheese, fruit, shrimp and little skewers of different food.  I was told no pj’s by shoreside concierge but he brought them monogrammed the first cruise and asked how we wanted them for second cruise.  Shoreside did not make all my dinner reservations and he took care of correcting them.  He found out that I had tried a new wine and enjoyed it and brought a bottle to the room!  Our Room Attendant was also excellent

.  

 

We did see a few people wearing jeans in Specialty Restaurants.  They were not designer jeans.  There was also a man wearing a track suit in Murano.  Other than those few instances the dress code was followed.  Oh, and of course, there was a woman walking around in her pajamas!  

 

Service at all bars was excellent and fast.  Most we waited was a few minutes.  A few times in Murano, Luminae and Tuscan service was slow.  Walk through of pool deck showed available loungers most of the time.  

 

There were very few times when I saw a photographer taking pictures.  None in restaurants.  The sales people at Effy are very rude.  

 

My main complaint was how the charges showed up on our account.  Since we were in RS and Specialty Restaurants included I did not question it.  But, they did not list where we ate half the time, sometimes it was only one of us, Gelateria was missed most of the time and sometimes they had us at incorrect place or a wrong day.  My question to my husband was if they don’t have us both at Murano or wherever for a certain day are the waiters receiving gratuities for that meal?  Since we were in RS we did not receive a bill to sign, but we did give the waiter extra gratuity every time as they deserved it.  Also, the premium internet was terrible!  I could not use internet while sitting on deck.  It was very slow.  I could not watch the CC PUP presentation of Laura Hodges.

 

Our cruise was the best ever!  We would definitely go on Equinox again in Royal Suite, as our butler truly made our trip memorable.  

 

I’ll post some pictures.  Sorry this was so long.  Ask if you have questions!

 

 

Edited October 10, 2023 by bjahil47
Omitted Internet

[bjahil47]

Food pics 

1 prime rib from MDR

2 snacks from butler

3 lamb rack from Murano

4 Dover Sole Veronique from Murano

5 Muscavoy Duck Breast from Murano

6 Diver Scallop Wellington from Murano

7 Murano Lobster from Murano

8 Vairhona Cocoa Croquant from Murano. 
9 Squid in Shells from Luminae

10 Scallop Appetizer from Luminae

11 Baked Alaska from Luminae (double order)

12 Beef Carpaccio from Tuscan

[hcat]

very detailed  and informative, great pics ..appreciated names of the food photos

 

one laugh was Heirloom Tom Salad with Cherry Tomatos! 

[cluso]

They are really going "vertical" in their food presentations.  😁

[Georgia_Peaches]

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!

[Arzeena]

Thanks for the review. Great pictures!

Looking forward to boarding this weekend.

[bjahil47]

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.  

[bjahil47]

37 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

Thanks for the review. Great pictures!

Looking forward to boarding this weekend.

Enjoy your cruise!

[JDPCruisers]

1 hour ago, bjahil47 said:

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.  

Interesting that beer is in the Retreat coolers as a previous poster mentioned they were removed from one ship, can't recall the name, because underage teen types were taking them out. Not that I'm a big beer drinker but I'm sure others that are would be glad that they are back to being stocked.

[hcat]

I think after reviews like this we are starting to see a very  big diff between Sky Suites and the upper levels..Seems that's the X  plan going forward .

 

Not sure we could afford that but others might see it as a future way to go ...

[JDPCruisers]

4 hours ago, hcat said:

I think after reviews like this we are starting to see a very  big diff between Sky Suites and the upper levels..Seems that's the X  plan going forward .

 

Not sure we could afford that but others might see it as a future way to go ...

Having booked Celebrity and Sky Suites before the changes we can attest to having the level of experience as the OP. We will see what our Dec. Connie cruise in a Sky will be like, but our expectation is lower than what we have experienced in the past.

[Cruisegirl6]

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.  

 

 

 

[a1betpr]

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.  

[bjahil47]

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!  

[bjahil47]

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!