Celebrity Equinox  Review 2011 in the Caribbean  [Aptil, 2011]

                 Master :  Captain Apostolos Bouzakis*   Chief Engineer : Stavroz Zanikos 

                        Hotel Director : Raffaele                              Cruise Director : Dru Pavloz          

                        Executive Chef : Ueli Bachofner

                       Captain's Club Hostess was Maria Nunes

                            * The Captain is possibly the youngest we have so far met in our 11 years
                            sailing with Celebrity, he did have a high profile from the time he spent
                            with the guests and their families, which clearly was much appreciated
                            by them

                   

                    Equinox berthed in Dominica taken from the highest point on the island

                    Our pre-cruise hotel in Fort Lauderdale  they have all been great hotels but
                    this one was the best ever location so far

                                 

                 
                Christine enjoying a few quiet moments before we leave to join the ship

                                    
So lets start to cruise:

The ship was cleared very quickly and we started leaving the hotel before the planned
departure given to us be the Celebrity reps in the hotel. Given our location we were
there and onboard and the rooms were ready before 1 p.m.

Our room was 2101 and this was under the area where sun loungers were but we had
little if any noise.

                   
              We did have a few stoways !!!                Carlos & Brian

              Both Carlos and Brian were so helpful it was a treat having them look after us,
              currently Carlos is on a break but will be back to Equinox in a few months
              time

                                                   
               and not forgetting our extra special security Carlos's dog 

               now other parts of the room:

                         
                Storage on the left glass panel with        Shower with a fixed pivotable head
                shelves and below a cupboard with       with the foot support for ladies to shave
                shelves                                                          their legs 

                    
               The mirror by the door to the               Two 115v sockets and One 220v
               balcony

                   
               Flowers from the room                          Unit with drawers/safe and a fridge

                          
               The contents of the fridge with bottles/cans and miniatures of Jack Daniels;
               Gin; Vodka; Sky & Whisky etc 

                                                   
                                     The hair dryer in the drawer of the unit to the right
                                     of where the safe is located in the main unit

                  
            The retaining clip to hold the balcony panel open has been moved to
            top right instead of the initial position shown in the photo on the left,
            as if you do have friends next to you, it is possible to open up the 
            balcony area

                                
                                 like so..........        

            and now the restaurant:

                 

                                            
             and our other two great assistants Melania [left] & Nela who together with
             Carlos and Brian made our cruise a very memorable one. My wife unlike
             the majority dislikes spending time in a restaurant and they certainly did
             there very best to see that a fast and efficient turn around could be the
             case

On the first night we received our first ever invitation to dine at the Captains'
table as a guest of Chief Engineer Stavros Zanikos, so that really got the cruise
off to a great start. Prior to the start of the meal all the guests met in the
Cellarmasters before heading along to the main diningroom. When seated
a photograph was taken and presented to each guest at the end of the service,
this does show all the guests with their names. One of our main favourites is
Quail and it was one of the options on the main course, but a thoroughly
enjoyable meal with some interesting guests

A few days later a follow up to visit the Engine Room Control room, quite a
fascinating insite into the operation that keeps Equinox working

On bar prices for the first time in two years our two drinks price changed from
$14.38 to $13.80

A few have asked what are the beer/lager on tap

                
The photo of the Mast Bar which shows the two on tap Amstel Light and
Heinekin both served in a schooner glass at a price of $5 plus 15% service
charge and the same pumps can be seen at the Pool bar & Sky lounge etc
Some options are different on a cruise leaving from the UK e.g. Southampton

Some cocktail prices:

                             

Bar prices:

                             

Smoking is only permitted in the following areas:

Portside of Sky Lounge Deck 14
Portside Pool Deck 12 on Equinox the area on the left as you exited the Aqua Spa
area had been removed as a smoking area although the seats where still the same
ones the others further up
Mast bar
Deck 5 Portside, promenade, midship –where chairs, tables and astrays are provided
Sunset Bar Starboard side Deck 15 aft. The is the recommended area for cigar and
Pipe smoking.

Electronic Cigarettes - Celebrity advised only to be used in designated areas, just like a normal cigarette

I have to say this is for the information for smokers, but I do not smoke but it is part
of the infromation for the review of the Equinox

Some photo's from around the ship:

                                     
           The ship's atrium where there was dancing prior to each sitting for dinner all
            part of the  Celebrities Life Activities which also inlcuded:
           
            Senior Officers' Booce Challenge; 80's Party & Thriller Dance; Celebrity
            Singing Star; H20 Robotis Water fun; Beyond the Podium talks from
            Weather Expert Harry Strong and Opera Teacher Helen Sagan; The Liars'
            Club comedy game; Officer vs Guests Table Tennis Tournament;
            Dancing Lessons involving Waltz; Cha Cha and Salsa plus many more
            activities

                                                 
    

           Celebrity theatre which featured The Broadway Dream; Late night laughs with
           Dave Burleigh; Gareth Oliver from Britain's Got Talent;  Doug Cameron;
           The 'Show'; Antonio Salci recording and performance star plus others and
           not fogetting the Bingo with a $5,000 Mega Jackpot plus the final Jackpot
           session.

           plus other entertainment throughout the ship including Top Notch dance band -
           Manny Kellough Jazz Quartet; Al Ducharme; BSharp Steel Band; Jordan
           Bennett and Simon Belair Guitar/vocals

           In the Cinema usaully shown in the mornings and again in the evenings:

           Night & Day PG-13; Robin Hood PG-13; Winter's Bone Related R; Letters to Juliet
           PG; Secretariat PG;

           In the Sky Lounge Deck 14

           Dancing with stripes we first saw on Millenniumm in 2010; Captains' Club
           Get Togther; Karaoke competetion etc

           Deck 15

           Croquet Competition; Wine & Cheese on the Lawn; Hot Glass Show etc

            Quasar

            Guess the Mowtown tunes; Late night dance vibes

            The IT costs were:

                                                                                                                                                                                

Package Name	Package Price	Rate per minute	Savings	Minutes
As you go		$0.65
Occasional	$29.95	$0.60	6%	49
Standard	$49.95	$0.56	14%	89
Social	$79.95	$0.53	18%	150
Power	$99.95	$0.42	35%	237

                

            Out and about:

                   
            Aqua pooo main chair for the disabled and the smaller version for the whirlpool

                  
            Aqua Spa Bar                                             Eclipse Luxury yacht and yes it is
                                                                                  registered to Roman Abramovich,
                                                                                  the Russian billionaire, one of many

                  
            Coffee dispensers in the Ocean cafe   soft drinks

                   
                   Ice cream bar, maybe one of my favourites

                   
              Ice cream bar display only                     Ice Cream !!!

                   
              The grass resting just like the guests  Juice dispenser

                   
              One of a few visiting ships                      Quiet by the pool

                  
              Bar at Mount Gay distillery
              Barbados
             
                   
              Library                                                        Art work that was on Galaxy

                   
              Blu restaurant                                          Carnival Victory

                  
              Drakes point St. Thomas                       Look out pirate ship

    For all those interested in the ships in port when we visited these island and by far
    was St. Thomas where there were Explorer of the Seas; Carnival Victory; Emerald
    and Caribbean Princess; Noordam. In St Maarten's Adventure of the Seas and
    Thomson Destiny. In Barbados were Carnival Victory and a Regatta ship whilst
    St. Kitts was just Equinox. There were no charges levied for shuttle buses.

    The Captains' club events covered the Celebration; Backstage tour; Senior
    Officers' Cocktail Party; Elegant tea and the private departure lounge was
    Tuscan Grille, but we just arrived when it was time to depart.

    We are Elite members' and entitled to attend the free drinks which on Eclipse
    was from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and in the starboard side of the ship whilst other
    guests could use the port side of the Sky Lounge where it was held. On the
    Equinox the Sky Lounge was closed from around 4 p.m. to set the room up
    then 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the Elite members. This different arrangement caused
    the other guests to feel very unhappy and that was quite strongly said by many
    I spoke with. We rarely attend these events as it is a bit early for us hitting the
    liquor path, as prefer just to relax somwhere around the ship.  

   The return home was slighlty marred as I managed to lose my watch at the
   security check at Miami and our Miami to JFK flight left 1 hour 10 mins late
   and whilst we made the Heathrow flight our luggage didn't, but it arrived
   7 hours after we arrived back home.

   The cruise with the invite to the Captains' table was more memorable than
   than ever but the staff; food; accommodation and the general atmoshere
   about the ship added to our enjoyment of the cruise and we look forward
   to the Constellation cruise in a few months time, to see how the ship has
   changed following its $100M refit.

   I may yet find more photo's bits of paper with even more information about
   the cruise but they will be added as and when.
            

  Other Reviews:     Century 2009    Millennium 2010    Eclipse 2010

  Solstice Class Rolling Review

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