LIVE Norwaylady escape the winter on Equinox B2B 23.03-11.04.24

[bjahil47]

So sorry to hear about Alf.  It is so hard to lose a fur baby.  Sounds like he had a good loving home with your folks.  May Alf rest in peace. ❤️❤️ 🐾 🐾 

[Norwaylady]

Tonight’s show is the vocal cast, Intimate broadway cabaret. 

Let’s hear what they will sing 🎵 for us tonight🎵

 

 

 

Well, what a night (get the lyrics😜) 

Vocal cast are very talented, nothing wrong in them🎵😌

 

 

Broadway musical and live band? What can go wrong??? 

Nothing! 

 

We went for dinner as usual 20.30. 

[Norwaylady]

It was more people for dinner tonight than earlier days…. 

We suddenly had a couple next to our table🤗 they seemed nice 👍🏻 from California😎

 

On the next table, it’s a 4 table seated by 2 people. They have made it clear and LOUD that this IS sailing number 19 on X! So we demand a full service and we will make sure we get what we want attitude😛😅🤭🫣🫡

We are keeping a little lower approach🤭😆🙃 haven’t said a word about the status here…

They are probably nice people, but we are like air when we arrived🤣

So I think we will continue to keep this arrangement😝

 

Back to dinner! 🍽️ 

Today’s menu: 

 

We had the salad, gumbo, shrimp cocktail, gnocchi and flank steak. 

 

 

 

The starters were delicious and tasty. 

 

Main course was hit or miss tonight.

 

 

 

The flank steak was delicious and tasty. 

The gnocchi on the other side was tasteless. It’s Quattro formaggi…. Aka 4-cheeses sauce. Yes, that would make it a little bit tasty? 

No, this sauce was made with a Norwegia cheese😂😂😂 aka no taste, just white sauce. 

 

Well well…. I probably wouldn’t starve myself to death before breakfast🤣

 

There’s always something good for dessert🙃😋

 

Menu 

 

Today was the 🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍🍍

Bonanza 

 

 

That meant limited options for me😝

I took the apple pie and Mr had the passion fruit curd. (And the dreaded sambuca🤪 in a glass) 

Safe to say…. Someone was going to bed after dinner😜😴 

[Norwaylady]

Day 6 🇨🇼 Curaçao

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Norwaylady]

So i promised some pictures from our snorkelling 🤿 trip 🏖️🐡🐠🐟🪼

 

I have just uploaded some photos to my phone. Looking promising for a little reel for IG😂😎

 

 

 

 

 

[Ciaranaman]

What a great shot of Mr. 🤿 

~Bernadette

[Norwaylady]

Mr was all dead ☠️🤣😴😴

So no early start today😜

No shore excursion booked. 
 

I dragged Mr out of bed just before 9… King of the evening, king of the day😎

 

It was OV for breakfast today☺️🫡 

Mr was a happy camper😁 had omelette and OJ on the terrace. 
I was on the boarders of just give up🤪😝

 

it was not crowded, lots of tours had walked off the ship already. 
But I hate the idea of fetching my own food for breakfast, walking around, walking back to get coffee or something…. 😵‍💫

I found my yoghurt and some banana 🍌 to taste it up and my cat pellets🤗 

mission accomplished🫡

 

Angelo had stopped by to make up the room while we had breakfast. 
B2B letter was on the bed: 

 

it’s the first time I have received a health letter ✉️ to fill out for turnaround day. 

I always do it by the app the evening before turnaround day or early morning of the turnaround day🤓 for our b2b and it has worked out great. 

 

[hcat]

3 hours ago, Norwaylady said:

Tonight’s show is the vocal cast, Intimate broadway cabaret. 

Let’s hear what they will sing 🎵 for us tonight🎵

 

 

 

Well, what a night (get the lyrics😜) 

Vocal cast are very talented, nothing wrong in them🎵😌

 

 

Broadway musical and live band? What can go wrong??? 

Nothing! 

 

We went for dinner as usual 20.30. 

Looks like a very lively and entertaining show.. we will keep this one in mind!

[upwarduk]

Interesting that they are asking if you have had COVID 19 injections and boosters.

i can’t remember that being on our health questionnaire last October.

1 hour ago, Norwaylady said:

it’s the first time I have received a health letter ✉️ to fill out for turnaround day. 

 

[cruzzzinma]

6 hours ago, Norwaylady said:

We are keeping a little lower approach🤭😆🙃 haven’t said a word about the status here…

I wrote a note to the officer who oversees the Captain’s club long ago highlighting the hostess’s customer service because made us elite for the second half of a B2B before points could officially post.

 

He found us one morning at Al Bacio and said he’d recognized her the day before in staff meeting. He started into a speech how about how wonderful it was to have elite people like us. I laughed and said it is all about the free laundry. I got a hearty laugh back for that.

[gfkcruiser]

5 hours ago, Norwaylady said:

Mr was all dead ☠️🤣😴😴

So no early start today😜

No shore excursion booked. 
 

I dragged Mr out of bed just before 9… King of the evening, king of the day😎

 

It was OV for breakfast today☺️🫡 

Mr was a happy camper😁 had omelette and OJ on the terrace. 
I was on the boarders of just give up🤪😝

 

it was not crowded, lots of tours had walked off the ship already. 
But I hate the idea of fetching my own food for breakfast, walking around, walking back to get coffee or something…. 😵‍💫

I found my yoghurt and some banana 🍌 to taste it up and my cat pellets🤗 

mission accomplished🫡

 

Angelo had stopped by to make up the room while we had breakfast. 
B2B letter was on the bed: 

 

it’s the first time I have received a health letter ✉️ to fill out for turnaround day. 

I always do it by the app the evening before turnaround day or early morning of the turnaround day🤓 for our b2b and it has worked out great. 

 

Just did B2B on Beyond and did not receive the health questionnaire. Also did not have one on the app. Only had to do Muster Station stuff.

[Norwaylady]

4 hours ago, upwarduk said:

Interesting that they are asking if you have had COVID 19 injections and boosters.

i can’t remember that being on our health questionnaire last October.

 

it must be a old form….. I was very surprised 😳 

But you know….  I look like a pirate 🏴‍☠️😂😂😂 

extra safety precautions😂😂😂

[Norwaylady]

Out & about😎

We have been to Curaçao 🇨🇼 before. 

We have been on a guided walk in the city centre, on a snorkel 🤿 tour etc. 

So this time we had no big plans. 

 

We decided for a walk and a beach stop at Mambo Beach 🏖️ YES, the very crowded beach area where all cruise guests from SY & EQ was🙈

 

The walk from the pier to Mambo is a very nice way to explore Willemstad and deutsch houses. 

Lots of colour, details and character. 

It’s a good walkway/sidewalk all the way. So it’s safe from cars and traffic. 

 

 

 

Mambo Beach is a shopping mall & beach complex. It’s 3.50$ pr person in fee for entering. Beach lounges are additional fees. 

 It was a full house+ lots of tours stoping here and everyone else😅 so no beds or chairs available. 

 

El cheapo Norwaylady rolled out the towel on the beach😂😂😂 it was so loaded of people😜😎

Mr needed to cool off a bit🏖️

 

After 2 hours on Mambo beach 🏖️ we decided it was time to walk back to towards the city centre and our ship 🚢 

 

We passed a grocery store on our way to the beach 🏖️ 

Mr had a great speed from the beach to the grocery store🤣🤣🤣

He was “smelling” a local serveza 🍺

 

Local beer 🍺 was collected from the fridge and we found a ice cream and some Limonade for me🧃 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we continued our journey back to the ship. 

We arrived back at 16.30. 

 

Mr called for a Al Bacio stop☕️ Some coffee, club soda and a little bite for him😋 ( it’s strange… I had to reverse👀 they do have mini sandwiches 🥪 in the selection of daily cake👀👀) 

I think we arrived just during crew turnover. It was a bit of for service and just a bit of for the staff. 

We waited for a while before someone came and then the order came halfway to us…. 

Someone else was delivering it.

Coffee, club soda (no glasses) and the order for Mr bites don’t🙈🤭

Well well…. He will not starve to death ☠️ 🤭🤣😋

Hopefully dinner later will make up for it😋

[Norwaylady]

Observations on Equinox

 

As many of you know, she will go into dry dock after her transatlantic. It’s not a full renovation. It’s a necessary maintenance dock to remain sailing. 

 

She is ready for some TLC in dry dock. It’s very visible on the water line and you see it well when tendering. 

Carpets are worn & torn. Lots of tiles are broken or damaged. 

They must change all carpets on public decks 3-4-5. 

They are very ready for a change. 

Some of the furniture in public areas are well used. Visible signs of wear over time. 

In the theatre the lights in the stairs are partially not functional. The LED strips are partially functional or dead. 

 

Our stateroom on the other side is well kept. No big signs of wear and tear😉 curtains, tv and carpet has been changed one round since she was new. So it okay. 

Personally I think the set-up in the staterooms on S-class is good. It’s not old oldies look and it’s functional. AND the most important for me! 

It’s a real balcony🩷💛🧡🩷😎

 

If they do all carpets and furniture in public spaces it will look great again. 

The outside will receive new paint and the waterline will be fine. 

That will overall make it look great again 👍🏻 

I think Equinox carries her age well🥰💙

 

So over to something that is more a personal preference thing….

When we started sailing X it was a no policy for visible tattoos on crew. 

I’m not a big fan of tattoos. (Sorry🤭 you know I’m a bit conservative🤣🤣 in some ways) 

This has been holding stand and I’m personally not very happy for it. (Had I shown up having a tattoo when I lived home…. Let’s just say that I would be homeless & left out of the testament🤪🫣🤭🫡😵‍💫) 

My brother has a tattoo on his back and my father was rather furious about for a long time…. I don’t love it🫣 but it’s his right to do so🙃 he’s an adult. 

 

I almost feel out of my sun lounger on the second sea day. Someone in a higher position walked over deck 14 in his white short arm shirt 👕 and it was big sleeved tattoo stretching all the way on his arm😳 I was just like 😳😵 what???? 

No sleeves to cover up? 

 

This was not the case on Edge, so I don’t know if it’s captains decision or of this is something corporate has decided to open up for……

 

Back to the good things🥳🥰😍🙃

Crew is very kind and we have a great table for dinner. The crew is excellent and definitely deliver excellent service. 

Speed of our dining is great for our preference and everything is very well done. Keep up the good work👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

 

Crew in Al Bacio is very visible and friendly. Nothing wrong here👌🏻(except for this afternoon🙈) 

 

Live music is good. House band and the orchestra is on the ball. 

Entertainment in the theatre has been good🙃

CD Angela and activity manager Dave is visible now & then. 

Activity on offer is wide and of different things to do during day & evenings. 

We are not the “number” one users of activities. We like trivia sessions, but we haven’t attended them yet😅

Senior officers have been “screamed” out on two occasions for mingling in grand foyer around 20.00. 

 

So no pointy fingers or anything to address as of this point of our cruise😎

(The daily canapés is a “dead” project… when it comes to chefs creativity😂😂😂) 

[Lastdance]

Thanks so much for keeping us all up on what’s happening on and off the ship with words and photos.  It is always a delight to read your adventures, not to mention so many of your phrases.  I love the “no pointy fingers.”  🤭👉

[Barwick Cruiser]

Just catching up…so glad your snorkeling in Aruba went well. We did the same excursion a few years ago but it was quite windy and the choppy wave action made it uncomfortable for me and the water clarity was poor. We were very surprised they still ran the tour but 🤷‍♀️. 
Love your postings and so glad you and Mr are having a wonderful holiday! 

[hcat]

I loved the photos of the colorful buildings and houses on Curacao.  ..Many seem familiar   The bright colors fit  so well for a sunny island..They seemed well kept & in good repair.  Very cheerful and happy!

 

We are not huge fans of Mambo Beach area,  but the water is fairly calm  & very clean.  We try to find a shady spot in a tavern.

 

Last time, the bar staff where we landed for lunch were crazy for U.S. baseball...they treated us very well!

 

Next time at Curacao we will try  to visit the hotel area for sonething different....but we do not have an ABC cruise on our agenda right now.

 

 

[cruisetonowhere10]

Really enjoying your narratives…very informative with a nice dose of sarcasm sprinkled in. 

[gordylad]

is the refurbishment due in April? We will be on her for the Nov TA.

 

Enjoying your updates....tx

Edited March 28 by gordylad

[Norwaylady]

canapés arrived today: 

 

This was a new twist… but not our cup of tea😅 the olives 🫒 YES. The rest 🤔🤔

 

Tonight’s show was Matt McGurk, magic ✨ show. 

Let’s just say we had our dose of him on Sil last year….. he did 2x shows and magic school🤭 

So Mr said no way😝 We will go to sunset bar. 

Mr was quicker than me getting ready. So he was upstairs watching the sunset when I arrived. 

He shared a table by a very friendly couple from FL/France. 

 

We stayed outside until it was dinner time🥰 the temperature was good and it was a little breeze. 

[desibee]

1 hour ago, Norwaylady said:

canapés arrived today: 

 

This was a new twist… but not our cup of tea😅 the olives 🫒 YES. The rest 🤔🤔

 

What was in the bottom left?  Looks like something I would feed my cat lol.

[FeebeeH]

46 minutes ago, desibee said:

What was in the bottom left?  Looks like something I would feed my cat lol.

I was thinking the same - it almost looks like medium rare meat that I've fed my dog (my cats on the other hand refuse to eat ANY type of human food rare or cooked - but will eat lettuce & carrots).  And is the bottom right cake??

[Norwaylady]

32 minutes ago, desibee said:

What was in the bottom left?  Looks like something I would feed my cat lol.

It was red beets😅🤭

[DaKahuna]

16 hours ago, Norwaylady said:

We had the salad, gumbo, shrimp cocktail, gnocchi and flank steak. 

 

 I keep trying to order 5-gallons of the gumbo to go but they keep telling me no. 

 

 It is not uncomment for me to ask for two servings of it.  It's my favorite starter.

 

We love Curacao.  The buildings are so colorful.  We enjoy walking around the fort and use to have a favorite Japanese restaurant there but it did not reopen after COVID..  Downtown is very interesting and not uncommon for us to just walk around enjoying the sites. 

 

 

 

 

[Norwaylady]

Dinner was good, no big surprises here🙃 crew friendly and good service. 
it was surprisingly fully booked by guests tonight. Since we didn’t depart until 22.00. 

 

Today’s menu: 

We had shrimp cocktail, salad, quinoa salad, onion soup and lamb kebab. 

 

 

 

 

Dessert: 

 

Banana fosters & coconut sorbet😋

 

 

After dinner it was bedtime 🥱