If you need to get the magical islands of the Caribbean checked-off your bucket list, this cruise is a relaxing and convenient way to do it. Not only will you have plenty of opportunities to punctuate your experiences with shore excursions among enthusiastic and knowledgeable local guides, but excellent accommodations and staff aboard the ship as well. Be open to conversations with your fellow travels and soak up as much of the on-board entertainment as possible.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
The process was incredibly smooth. I was shocked at how quickly my wife and I found ourselves in our state room.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
I was pleased with the quality of the food, but the variety of options wasn't as impressive. I would have loved to have had the option of cuisine that was more local to the Caribbean, whether it was high-end or more every-day. With such items available, I think my trip through the Caribbean would have been far, far more immersive.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
My wife used the fitness center and seemed quite happy to have done so.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Usually, I don't get fired up about cruises that have "sea days," but every day was a delight on the Equinox due to the on-board entertainment. Over the course of the cruise, we saw magicians, singers, musicians, dancers, and comedians. Very memorable!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Absolutely extraordinary. Not only was the staff amazing at their jobs, they were friendly and out-going. I am not much for being fussed over, so their engaging smiles and demeanor made me feel like I was no fuss at all and that they were eager to please. Whether I was interfacing with staff dedicated directly to me or passing a staff member in the hall, I felt as though as was surrounded by friends who were happy to see me.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The ship was absolutely immaculate and every area seemed very welcoming. The only thing I would reconsider is the "library" area. As much as I like to party, it would have been nice to have a quiet, enclosed library where one could enjoy illustrated books and information about our destinations in peace and quiet. Aside from our staterooms, there didn't seem to be any areas to just sort of chill.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
As nearly ever square inch of the Equinox is designed to entertain and delight, our room made an excellent refuge from all the pomp and circumstance. It had everything we needed to make ourselves comfortable- without feeling like we squeezed in among all the nice amenities. Our steward kept it meticulously clean and inviting.
Ship tip
Recognize that if you want peace and quiet, it'll be hard to find anywhere on the ship except your room. Happily, your room will provide an excellent, comfortable sanctuary.
We didn't go far beyond our Wyndham hotel, aside from an amazing little restaurant called The Fish Grill. I didn't expect to be taking many pictures before we even got on the ship, but this restaurant really started our trip off on the right foot.
We did the Fanta-sea adventure package and it was worth every cent. Getting to the catamaran was easy, even though we forgot our excursion ticket. I knew that Celebrity would solve that problem, so I didn't even worry for a moment. The voyage itself was beautiful and unhurried. Access to the water from the catamaran was simple and safe and the staff was friendly. I thought the snorkeling would be the high point, but the level of fun and adventure was kept up throughout the entire excursion.
A truly amazing port once we got onto our excursion, which was to the beautiful and interesting Tower Estate. Our local guide and the Tower Estate employees were fun and informative. Afterward, we visited a somewhat dilapidated nutmeg processing factory which felt like an unnecessary (and largely commercial) add-on.
We visited the DePaz Rum Factory which would have been more interesting if we'd also set foot in the adjacent, open-to-the-public mansion that was also on the grounds. From a distance, it looked for more inviting than the factory itself. The highlight of the tour happened afterward, when we went to the gorgeous zoological garden and got to wander around at our own discretion.
Everything on St. Lucia was a joy, from Pointe Seraphine's duty-free shopping to our actual excursions. We first went to gorgeous Howelton Estate to make our own chocolate bars with assistance from the super good-looking staff. Next, we visited The Pink Plantation where a very enthusiastic man named "Tree" kept us entertained while showing us his landscaping and let us sample some food he and his assistants prepared. Sounds basic, I know, but this guy's happiness was absolutely infectious. Both of these destinations left a powerful impression in my mind - a place I can summon up richly in my imagination anytime I feel the need. Bravo to everyone involved in setting up this amazing experience!
My wife had been rather nervous about swimming among the stingrays, but she went ahead and did it anyway. Though a little awkward in the water, she still managed to swim about and touch and feed the stingrays. She was so proud of herself that she purchased a stingray plushie which his proceeded to hug and play with for the remainder of the cruise! Now that we're back home, the plushie now serves as a pillow in our living room.
Thank you for a great review of the Celebrity Equinox. I've sailed on this ship back in January 2012 & will be sailing again on February 27th. Was Grenada the original itinerary when you booked the cruise as my itinerary are the same islands except we go to Barbados instead of Grenada!
I cruised on Equinox for my very first cruise back in September, and I was just as pleased and amazed with the ship as you were. I'd like to cruise on the ship again for the itinerary you did, so I really appreciate your incredible feedback about the ports! Happy continued cruising!
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