Celebrity Equinox Cruise Ship Tour & Video Review Ultimate Southern Caribbean Cruise with Aqua Class
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- Опубликовано: 5 сен 2024
- This is my video review and full ship tour of the Celebrity Equinox cruise ship from Celebrity Cruises, in October 2022. We cruised on a 10 day Ultimate Southern Caribbean cruise including Antigua, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Martinique, and Saint Kitts & Nevis.
We cruised in late September / early October in hurricane season. We were fortunate to avoid both hurricanes Fiona and Ian. We departed from Fort Lauderdale, starting with 2 at sea days at the beginning, then 5 ports of call, and 2 at sea days on the way home.
This was our fifth cruise, and our second time on Celebrity and it was definitely our best cruise so far! We really loved everything about it. The ship, the staff, the food, the itinerary. It was perfect.
Celebrity Equinox is a Solstice class ship, launched in 2009 and beautifully refurbished in 2019. It’s a mid-size ship with around 2800 guests on board. Its sister ships in the same class are Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Silhouette and Celebrity Reflection. We’ve previously been on Celebrity Summit, Holland America Westerdam, Holland America Noordam, and Norwegian Pride of America. This was by far the nicest ship, and at least partly that was down to the recent renovation it had been through.
We were in Aqua Class on this cruise, but previously with Celebrity we’d been in Concierge Class. We chose Aqua Class principally for the benefit of “Blu”, the Aqua Class private dining room. This was such a good decision as the space is beautiful, the service was incredible, and the food was amazing. We had such a good crew looking after us, and it was really nice having the same table and waiters every day at breakfast and dinner. With Blu, apart from the first night, it’s anytime dining. Surprisingly the only time we ever had to wait for a table was on that first night, even though they allocated a seating time, to try and avoid delays! Anyway, Blu was fantastic, and as someone who can’t eat gluten it was wonderful for me as almost every menu choice could be adapted, if it wasn’t already gluten free to begin with. The other awesome thing was that as well as the Blu menu, you could also choose anything from the Main Dining Room as well, giving you lots of choice.
Blu is a breakfast or dinner venue only, so we often ate lunch in the Buffet - Ocean View Cafe - and the food there is also extremely good. Really the food was the star of this cruise, and every meal was memorable. The buffet has so much choice, but in particular I appreciated that you could get lots of items gluten free: pasta, pizza, bread, cakes, desserts, as well as lots of main items that were often or always gluten free. They identify allergies for each item on a little card, so it’s easy to tell.
We did eat at Tuscan Grille one night, which is probably best described as an Italian steak house. While the food was excellent here, it didn’t really seem worth the extra cost. Blu and the Main Dining Room food was so good, and this didn’t top it.
We didn’t try any of the other premium restaurants, Sushi on Five, Murano, Qsine or its alter ego, Le Petit Chef.
The main other Aqua Class benefit was complimentary access to both fitness classes and the Persian Garden (steam rooms, etc). I actually really liked going to the Persian Garden and lying on their “hot beds” and visiting the steam room. It was a lovely peaceful way to chill mid afternoon.
As part of the “all included” pricing, we had basic internet for two, as well as tips, and the basic drinks package. The drinks package meant we got anything up to $9 included, and if a drink was more than that, we just paid the difference. Coffees, cakes and gelato were also included in Cafe al Bacio, one of the most popular places on board. Expect a line in the morning.
For a blog version of this review visit the Let's All Cruise website: letsallcruise....
© 2023 by Let's All Cruise. All rights reserved. No part of this video may be reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the permission of the copyright holder.
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please consider subscribing to my channel. Scott
I watched three of your videos and I could not believe your subscribe count! This is as enjoyable as any of the cruise-tubers to whom I'm subscribed.
Future, I was here at 293!
Thank you so much! It takes time to build a following but I'm working on it! More videos coming :)
I appreciate your video as we will be cruising on the Equinox next year, very helpful!
Enjoy! You'll have a wonderful time
Love your post of the ship
Thanks for the video. My wife and I are sailing on this ship in October. 😀🚢
Lucky you! You'll have a great time
I am so excited to go on our cruise on this boat! Thanks for doing such a thorough review of the boat. 🎉
Yay! You'll have a blast
Thank you for such a detailed video. Best cruise video I have seen.
Thank you Sherri! I'm really glad to hear that. I'm just back from another cruise so I'll be publishing another video soon!
Traveled Aqua class in the Mediterranean it was 2017 it was great.
Great review, thanks!
Great job!! Just subscribed!!
Thanks for sharing. Very in depth and interesting vlog. New sub here 👍🏼
Welcome! Thank you for the feedback. More coming soon!
We sailed Aqua class on Equinox Dec 1. Blu was great, ate almost every meal offered. Loved ship, great, welcoming staff. We got ship tour under $100 booking online thru Celebrity few months before sailing. Got discounted specialty dining too that way.
Fantastic! Glad you had a great time! The staff in Blu are fantastic.
You’re entire cruise was $100? Was that an inboard room? How did you get that price? Wow! Ours was $4500 for 3 of us in the veranda class plus all inclusive package.
The onboard SHIP TOUR was $100, he mentioned $139 or so. Just advising discounts may be available checking website well before sailing.
Fantastic video joined your subscription
You deserve a far bigger audience
I’m on the Equinox July 11/7/24 sailed on her previously in 2018 I’m so amazed they still have glass blowing on the lawn area
I thought they’d all gone on the refurbishment period (did they run out if $$) all the other Solstice ships I’ve been on now have another restaurant there!
Great voice you should be on the cruise Chanel SKY tv channel 681
Thank you!! Glad you enjoyed the video. You'll have a great time on Equinox. She's a wonderful ship.
Great review, getting on Equinox in August. Can't wait!
You'll have a blast! Where are you going?
@@LetsAllCruise West Caribbean, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Bahamas
Nice! I'm doing my first ever Western Caribbean cruise later this year. Can't wait
Lovely vid, Thank you. We have just booked the Lisbon to Buenos Aires cruise in Nov '24 on this ship. Nice to hear you Scottish accent appearing. Big hugs fae Bonnie Scotland
Thank you!! That crossing will be epic. Something to look forward to
Thanks Scott for this great video on the Equinox. We sail on her in 19 days, May 21 and we are so looking forward to this cruise and getting some good content ourselves.
Great video! I am going on the equinox this Sunday, very excited
Lucky you! You'll have a great time
Fabulous tour. We love that aft outdoor space, and would probably spend time there more than around the pool. And yeah, that behind-the-scenes tour is pricey, but we also score high on the ship-nerd scale so would probably pay that for all that access.
Yeah it's worth it! I did an even more expensive tour on Allure of the Seas... 3 hours long!
Wow! These things are never costly or expensive though if its something you enjoy, or is a hobby, activity etc. People can spend way more on sporting pursuits, or fishing, hiking, gaming on consoles etc. Its all relative.@@LetsAllCruise
I've been on this ship twice in the past and was just on its sister ship - the Eclipse for an Alaskan cruise. They're about 98% the same, so if you've been on one of the ships in this class, I'd say the look/layout, etc. are all very consistent. Now that I'm back home, though, I do miss breakfast at Blu...
Yes me too! Breakfast was a highlight for sure. Lovely being pampered and taken care of over as you start your day
We've been on a few cruises but never on Celebrity. We'll be cruising on Equinox soon. It's been hard to find information on foods served as we have an onion and egg allergy. Most people are not aware that severe onion allergies being a very real thing. Thank you for all the interesting information.
Thank you for the kind words! You'll have a great trip I'm sure. Just let the wait staff know your dietary needs and
in the buffet look for the duty manager. They'll take care of you.
Hey Scott, great video. Look forward to seeing more from you :)
This was great. I would love more food photos with comments on what is gluten-free.
Understood! I'll be sure to do that next time I'm on Celebrity. Unfortunately most lines don't bother noting allergens on their labeling on the buffet. I wish they did. Constantly having to ask is a pain, especially a lot of the staff don't even know the answer.
Great detailed review! Do you have to pay for the hot beds and sauna? Also is the spa restaurant included or an extra fee? We are going on the Celebrity Equinox in July and have the Veranda plus all-inclusive package.
If you're traveling in aqua class the Persian garden (hot beds and sauna) are included. Otherwise you buy a day pass.
The spa cafe is included for all passengers. It's near the spa but not inside it
I have gluten allergy. Nice you mentioned that.
I love traveling on cruise ships because they're usually so good with gluten and other allergies. Celebrity is always great on this point.
This is very helpful for the "cruise curious", thanks for sharing. PS. What's the policy on fishing from your deck? 🙂
Glad you found it interesting! For fishing I'd suggest an aft cabin as low down as possible 😂
Well I’m sure you’ve seen the video about the man fishing from the ship and it seems to me that the policy is you will be banned for life from the cruise line. He found out the hard way. 😊
@@pamelabrauer9450 yes true is not allowed 😊
Does this ship have the nice cosmetics stores I found on Princess? I live remotely with no ahopping. I was thrilled to see them on the ship.
There were shops on board but I'm honestly not sure if cosmetics were a big thing or not. Sorry!
What if we have the classic drink package and I do not drink alcohol can I order Pelegrino with dinner? What is available for classic non alcoholic pina colada?
Yeah you can get non alcoholic drinks in the package. I think that sparkling water though is premium not classic. You'll not pay the full amount for it though. Check out the drinks list here: letsallcruise.com/f/celebrity-cruises-what-drinks-are-included-in-the-drinks-package?blogcategory=Drinks
Thank you. I’m going on my first cruise on the Equinox.
I am however concerned about the lack of power outlets. I use a CPAP machine and so does my girlfriend! Can we request a room with more outlets? Do you think the room is big enough for three people?
Cruise cabins are just big enough, but they're not exactly spacious. They're designed to fit three people, but it's more comfortable with two. Regarding CPAP, reach out to Celebrity special needs for an extension cord and distilled water. special_needs@celebrity.com You'll be fine! Enjoy your first cruise! Oh, since cruise cabins always have both US and European outlets it's always a good idea to pack a European adaptor so you have another place to plug in.
@@LetsAllCruise
Thank you!
Hey Scott, I’m assuming you are Scottish by your accent. You can pronounce Foyer just like us Brits and Canadians do. Don’t mind the US bastardised pronunciation lol. 😂
Thanks Carole! Yes, I'm originally from Scotland. Though I'm pronouncing more things the American way thesedays.
@@LetsAllCruise I’m in the US also, born in England and grew up in Canada. I try to spell and pronounce things as I did growing up but my husband is annoying about words like foyer lol. He does it on purpose.