Tuesday, November 16, 2009…My Equinox diary

Tomorrow is our final day at sea before arriving at Ft. Lauderdale on Thursday so everything is kind of wrapping up. People are checking their accounts, packing up their trip purchases and planning their Thanksgiving holidays.

Today there were two highlights:

First was the passenger talent show. There were 15 “acts” – brave souls willing enough to get onstage before hundreds of people to perform – and most acquitted themselves admirably. Several of the singers were quite good, and then there were the surprises…including a fellow singing to his wife for their 61st wedding anniversary.

The live show last night was an extravaganza…titled “Equinox: The Show” it was a Cirque du Soliel-type production with lots of acrobatics, contortionists, high flyers and fabulous costumes and staging. In my opinion, it was the best show I have ever seen produced on a cruise ship.

I did hear others say that they prefer song and dance over acrobatics but one must give credit to Celebrity for investing in this ambitious undertaking. I enjoyed it so much that I was willing to stand for the entire hour…as the house was packed and no seats were available.

So what are the cabins like on the Equinox?

This seems like a good time to discuss the cabins here on the Equinox. About 90 percent of the cabins on this ship are exactly the same. They are all veranda cabins with 194 square feet of space. The differences in price are largely due to placement on the ship and additional amenities offered so bear that in mind when booking.

We prefer this configuration...

What is rather unusual is that the way these Solstice-class ships are configured, every other cabin is arranged differently. Either the bed is next to the entry door, or it is next to the sliding glass doors to the veranda. We much prefer having our bed next to the entry door…but whichever your preference you should be aware of this when booking.

The veranda cabins are very nicely appointed with very comfy beds, high end linens, 32” LCD TVs which swivel so you can see them from anywhere in the cabin, a large sofa (some of which contain trundle beds) and a rather small vanity. The lounges on the veranda are excellent. The only improvement would be a bit more storage space.

The bathrooms are perhaps the best I have seen, with plenty of storage, a large mirror and an excellent shower with sliding glass doors. The automatic night light is much appreciated.

...over this one

Some of these cabins are designated Concierge Class, which means the cabin is exactly the same but you get some extras. These include fresh fruit, daily canapés, fresh flowers, plush terry bathrobes and a nice piece of linen by your bed each night. We are in one of these cabins and we discovered that while the posies are a nice touch, we do not eat the fruit or the canapés (who needs the extra food?) and that the plush robes are actually kind of a pain and too big to wear on deck. So is the upcharge worth it? You decide.

There is another group of cabins designated AquaClass. You pay a larger premium for these. They are located near the spa and have the same amenities as Concierge Class plus a bit more. People in these cabins have their own specialty restaurant, called Blu, which serves lunch and dinner. Supposedly, it features healthier fare. Also, there is not set seating, you can dine anytime.

Bathrooms are excellent

They also have their own Spa Concierge, who coordinates spa appointments for them, and they have access to a couple of special lounges in the spa.

Sky Suites are slightly larger…the rooms are wider, but no longer…but I am not sure these are worth the upcharge either. Our friends have a Sky Suite and noted that a comparable suite on Holland America Line’s Eurodam was much larger and better configured.

Tomorrow, time to pack…

The Equinox cruise is over but the memories still linger.

Well, the last memory wasn’t the best, as debarkation did not go very well. Of course, it was the first time that this ship had visited Ft. Lauderdale but I do believe that the Solstice has been here already so there shouldn’t have been any surprises.

Dolly and Mike Biennas

The first problem was that the original gangplanks were too steep…so, with about 200 people jammed into the lower level, they decided to stop letting people off and fix the gangway. That meant we all stood there, packed like sardines, for about 20 minutes while this was accomplished. (I think they should have cleared the area and then made the fix.)

Then once we did get off, our luggage was not there and did not arrive for another hour. To be sure, we slipped off early so maybe we could have been waiting in a comfy chair somewhere rather than in the terminal…but I would estimate that at least 2/3 of the people on board got off an hour late. For some who had to make flights it could have been tricky. Considering we were at the pier at 4 a.m., why couldn’t they get that luggage off way earlier? One of the mysteries, I guess.

Ron and Doreen Ronholm

But glitches are to be expected. To be sure, most of this cruise was flawless so we have nothing but praise for how well the cruise was run.

I wanted to mention a few more people that we sailed with on this cruise, specifically our lovely tablemates Mike and Dolly Biennas from Melbourne Beach, Fla., Sally Scott from Tucson, Ariz., and Doreen and Ron Ronholm from Del Mar, Calif. They were great dinner companions.

Someone I met while still in the hotel in Rome and ran into often during the cruise was MaryAnn Gamrot and her husband Ron. MaryAnn is a part-time travel agent so she and I were often comparing notes.

My husband Chet and Sally Scott

Before I wrap us this commentary on the Equinox cruise, I wanted to compliment Celebrity on its Captain’s Club program for frequent cruisers. They upgraded the program a few weeks ago and it is now superior. The benefits they give their Elite cruisers (10 cruise points or more) are fabulous and creative…and they were challenged because there were over 600 Elite cruisers on this transatlantic sailing! (Most cruises they have 40-60 aboard.)

MaryAnn and Ron Gamrot

The highlights of what Elite cruisers get on cruises of 12 days or more: Each afternoon a two-hour cocktail party with free drinks and appetizers (think how much that can save you on a 14-day cruise); each morning a private “coffee break” from 8-10 p.m. where they have continental breakfast and such luxuries as fresh-squeezed orange juice, mimosas and cappuccinos; 90 minutes of free internet time; complimentary dry cleaning of one item; complimentary pressing of two items; complimentary laundry of up to 30 items; a free bingo bonus card, matching coupons for the casino and more.

If you want to know more, go to www.celebritycruises.com/captainsclub.