Still a fan of Celebrity!

I have to say this was the easiest, fastest embarkation process I've ever experienced. From arrival at the port to stepping onboard the Celebrity Equinox, the entire process took only about 15 minutes. There were your usual security lines, but beyond that everything was smooth sailing. We were greeted right away by friendly Celebrity staff checked our barcodes, took our pictures, and let us proceed directly onto the ship. Kudos to Celebrity Cruises for perfecting the embarkation process and making those first steps onto a new ship totally seamless and stress-free. I wish other cruise lines would follow their model to make embarkation pleasant and easy for guests. Celebrity exceeded my expectations and started our cruise off on the highest note!

The Oceanview Cafe buffet on the Celebrity Equinox offers a decent variety of options, though the food quality is inconsistent. I appreciated the Indian station, an uncommon find on cruise ship buffets. There are ample clearly labeled gluten-free options, perfect for my daughter's dietary needs. However, the buffet gets very crowded during peak times, making finding a seat challenging. Servers rarely approached to offer coffee or juices - most were bar staff taking drink orders. Overall the buffet is average; on par with Princess but not as high quality as Virgin Voyages. The main dining room menu provides reasonable variety typical of most cruise lines. From past experiences, I remember Celebrity's dining room fare as exceptional, but quality has deteriorated over time. I'm glad classic favorites like steak, French onion soup, and shrimp cocktail are now always available. However, the sophistication I recall was lacking; most dishes were straightforward without much complexity. Our cruise was a shorter, 5-day deal, so there was not a formal night at the MDR, and as a result, there was no lobster dinner option offered. I thought that was an unfortunate omission, especially for a holiday cruise. That said, the escargot appetizer stood out for its perfect preparation and generous portion. Our waiter Yudha delivered excellent, attentive service, accommodating my daughter's gluten-free needs seamlessly. The Le Petit Chef specialty restaurant was the dining highlight. The animated tabletop show makes for an entertaining experience, albeit a bit gimmicky. Nonetheless, the food quality was excellent. Ironically a very similar dish appeared in the main dining room the next day, making me question the value. While memorable, Le Petit Chef seems like a one-time experience - I likely wouldn't repeat on a future Celebrity cruise. One thing I missed was a café serving small bites and sandwiches on the main deck, like Princess' International Cafe. The existing cafe on this ship had only coffee and sweets, but no savory snacks. Overall the dining options are satisfactory, but I expected more sophistication from Celebrity's cuisine based on my past experiences. The simplified food seems indicative of the larger mass market trend, though service remains excellent.

The Celebrity Equinox offers a full slate of activities to keep passengers engaged throughout the day and night. There truly is something for everyone, from trivia and classes to live music and evening entertainment. However, the outside pool areas left a bit to be desired. The outdoor pools were small, and on sea days in particular, crowded. It was extremely challenging to find an open lounger or spot to swim. The hot tubs were also on the small side compared to more modern cruise ships. With so many passengers trying to enjoy the outdoor deck areas, they felt cramped. On a positive note, the gym facilities were excellent. A wide array of cardio and strength training equipment was available with ample space for using the machines, free weights, and stretch areas. The gym far exceeded the tightly packed fitness rooms I've experienced on some other lines like Princess. Hydration was also well-addressed, with water dispensers providing different flavored varieties as well as towels. While the activities roster onboard is robust, the pool areas come up short if looking to relax outdoors. However, passengers seeking exercise options or scheduled entertainment will find plenty to enjoy on a cruise on the Equinox.

The entertainment on the Celebrity Equinox was fantastic. The first night show "Life" featured talented singers, dancers, and acrobats in a well-choreographed performance. The audience participation game shows were entertaining, especially the "True or False" and "Majority Rules" games, though the space they were held at (outside the main theater) were a bit tight when crowded. Veli from Turkey was an engaging and humorous host, and the cruise director, Crystal, was always there to entertain. The silent disco was high energy and fun for participants, while quiet for outside observers. The comedian Lenny Schmidt was hilarious and relatable with his routine. His late night adult comedy show was raunchy but very amusing. The Topper show was likely the best production I've seen at sea recently. The dancers, singers, and acrobats were phenomenal. Combined with gorgeous sets, lighting, costumes and music, it made for an incredible show. The pianist (forgot his name) put on an excellent concert with wonderful music arrangements. The holiday show featured the talented Equinox cast of singers, dancers, acrobats and live band performing festive numbers. It was a stellar way to celebrate the season. In summary, the entertainment across the ship was top-notch. The productions were vibrant celebrations of music and movement that rivaled Broadway. The Equinox has an incredibly gifted cast of performers that made for wonderful onboard experiences. Kudos to Celebrity for curating such incredible live shows.

I traveled without any children

The service provided by the staff on our Celebrity Equinox cruise was excellent. The crew members were pleasant, accommodating, and worked hard to meet passenger needs. Our waiter Yudha and assistant waiter Nikhil went above and beyond. They were attentive to my daughter's gluten allergy, ensuring she had appropriate food options and that her meals were contamination-free. Our room steward Munir worked efficiently and effectively - we rarely saw him but our stateroom was cleaned twice daily. The cruise director Crystal and entertainment manager Veli had outgoing personalities and were visible around the ship. The captain was also approachable and friendly - I enjoyed a brief chat with him in the gym one day. It was clear the entire staff worked as a cohesive team focused on delivering quality service. They anticipated passenger needs and were consistently willing to assist. Even with over 3,000 guests on board, the service never felt impersonal.

Having been built in 2009 and refurbished in 2019, the Celebrity Equinox is showing some signs of age in places. I noticed worn carpeting in certain areas, and some public spaces are starting to look tired. However, the overall ship design has aged well. The décor remains elegant and understated rather than feeling dated. I recalled my 2012 cruise on sister ship Eclipse, and the Equinox felt intimately familiar. Not much seems to have changed in terms of layout and furnishings. However, the ship never felt dated, just comfortably familiar. In contrast to more recently built mega-ships, the Equinox has a more restrained elegance. At 122,000 tons, the Equinox feels much cozier and easier to navigate than larger vessels like my last Princess cruise. The central atrium is petite compared to new ships. Despite being an older mid-sized vessel, the ship is well maintained and clean. Small touches like real cloth towels in public restrooms add class. The Equinox does not feel nearly 14 years old. The classic, elegant design has aged gracefully. And the maintenance crew keeps her looking shipshape. I appreciated the understated sophistication of the ship, as it is perfect for travelers seeking a more intimate cruise experience.

Our veranda stateroom on the Celebrity Equinox was comfortable and roomy, especially compared to similar cabins on other ships. At over 200 square feet, it was more spacious than my last Princess veranda and featured a couch and a deeper balcony. The layout was functional with ample storage space. I appreciated the full shower enclosure versus a clingy shower curtain I had on my last Princess cruise (I disliked that curtain with passion). Everything was well-maintained and clean. However, there were no power outlets close to the bed for device charging overnight. Small touches like chocolates on the pillows each night make Celebrity a notch above Princess. Robes were provided but unfortunately they were made of polyester (not my favorite material). Overall our stateroom met our expectations in size and comfort. The space was well-designed and appointed, minus the lack of bedside outlets. Even thought the room lacked some of the modern technological touches, it had everything needed for an enjoyable cruise experience.