Celebrity Equinox Cruise Reviews - Reviews

I contracted pneumonia and knew it, yet it took 4 tries to get in to see the ship's doctor.  Got soaked from a maintenance worker cleaning a few decks up, while sitting on the balcony having breakfast...which was ruined, too.  Electric scooters are everywhere and are a menace as the people don't know how to drive them or don't care.  I got hit from behind with one, almost got my foot run over TWICE from people backing up without looking first and the 2nd time I was able to slide my foot out of my shoe just in time.  The shoe was ruined.  People with her were shouting for her to stop, as was I, because it was so congested outside the theater that I had no place to move to.  Her husband tried to laugh it off saying that she needed a learner's permit.  Neither I, nor the others around her, found that amusing.  Went to the Captain's Club 5-7 p.m. Happy Hour on Deck 14 and waited 20 minutes for a waiter of any kind.  I had my arm up trying to signal someone, but even a ship's officer was too busy talking to take notice.  Lesson learned:  do not arrive at 6 p.m. or later. Also, chairs are really in need of refurbishing up there. Love to play trivia games and found it strange that they have taken to eliminating the fun little trinkets as a prize for the winner.  Cheap, cheap.  Food was repiticious in the Oceanview Cafe and the menus weren't all that great in the Silhouette either. Trying to get passengers to spend more by going to the specialty restaurants which are what the main dining room used to be back in the day. The only time there was ever any difficulty in making a decision was during lobster night as they had ALL the good stuff on the same menu.  Upon departure we opted for a later departure time (we were driving) in order to help accommodate others who were trying to catch a flight, excursion, etc.  We had our choice of Harvest Silk or Tuscan as our waiting lounge for Concierge Class and/or Elite members.  By 8:30 neither had a pastry, coffee, juice or even a cup of water.  All had been taken away already.  I told the hostess that we had morning meds to take and she told us to go up to the Oceanview and "see what might be left up there."  Her words, not mine.  This was the Captain's Club Elite hostess throughout the cruise who said this.  Not too interested in seeing to guest's needs once the "magic time" rolls around.  The whole experience was like Celebrity got a new CFO and he/she came from Carnival and chose to run Celebrity the same way.  We took the Equinox trans-Atlantic and through the Mediterranean in 2012 and you'd never know we were on the same ship.  Having said all that, the theater entertainment was fantastic although the other musicians around the ship were mediocre at best.  Again, same old, same old.  No more harpist, pianist/singer, or better yet, those fantastic a'Cappella groups.  They had a HUGE following on all 3 Solstice class ships we were on yet Celebrity chose to do away with them.  We booked a New England-Canada cruise for 2017 but we are really rethinking this choice after seeing how drastically Celebrity has changed...and not for the better.  I am glad to see that they have done away with the archaic formal nights.  Only wish I knew about it first so I didn't pack for them.  

Thought the room we would have had a couch like shown in brochure. Not the case we had a different room that had no couch and was different there the pictures in the brochure. The ship let us to believe they might have another room the next morning so we did not unpack to find out the next morning the ship was sold out. They have to have already known that but chose to put us off for another day. Then they said all the rooms with 2 people in them had no couches.The couple across from our room had couch and only 2 in the room. They didn't even give us a credit of $1.00 for the mix up!!!!  

We are very fond of the Celebrity brand and this cruise cemented that opinion.  We cannot say enough about the wonderful crew and staff onboard who are all so pleasant and always on the lookout for something to do or help with.  Where does Celebrity find these people?!  The ship is well maintained and so very clean.  Embarkation and Disembarkation was a breeze.  The production shows were amazing and even better it seems since Celebrity brought that part of the entertainment in house.  We cannot wait until March 2017 and our next Celebrity cruise.

Excellent Cruise again this year.  Beautiful ship and great staff.  The ship is in great shape, beautiful common areas and pristine artwork. This is our 5th time on the Equinox and we just love it.

My wife and I prefer Celebrity and the Equinox is absolutely the best.Let me start at the end of the cruise.We used Valet Luggage Service for the first time.Every cruiser is familiar with the last night scenario.Put your bags outside your cabin door and collect them the next morning,drag them through customs,drag them to the airport bus or cab and wrestle them to the check-in counter.Valet Luggage,for only $20 dollars per person,takes your bags left outside your door directly to the airport and puts them on your scheduled flight.You don't see or deal with your bags until you pick them up at the your destination!The trip ends on a "high note" and you can focus and remember all the pieces of the trip that made it so enjoyable.(The staff,the food,the tours,and the entertainment!)The guest are treated as truly valued,and that is why we prefer Celebrity! 

The ship was very clean and the staff was friendly and efficient.  My negatives were that there could have been a better variety of activities and better variety of shows.  We have also sailed on the Eclipse and the layout was the same on the Equinox.  A little disappointing since we like to experience a different layout each cruise.  Just makes it a little more interesting.  The ports of call were good.  Disappointed that we couldn't stop at Belize, but I'm sure there was a good reason.  I should note that we have cruised quite a few times so our expectations are probably higher than a first time cruiser. Harder to find something unique to wow us.  Overall, I would highly recommend if you are looking for great food and want a slightly quieter cruise.  Very few children on board which can be a plus or minus depending on what you are looking for.

Since this is our 4th cruise on the Celebrity Equinox, we pretty well know around the ship.  We enjoyed the Equinox theater shows were great.......Jane Curry, and Leonardo were exceptional !    The Cruises director Alesandro  sp?   was OUTSTANDING !!!   He could have done an hour show by himself!!!.    In guest relations, Edrilyn was outstanding and very helpful.

stateroom was very clean and spacious. Stateroom attendants were responsive. Dining room provided plenty of selections and the quality was good. Some meats were over-cooked. Waitstaff was pleasant and quickly served and cleaned. Buffet (14th deck) was quite good.  Sometimes spoons were not washed properly. Plenty of lounges on pool decks. Shows in theaters were redundant; needs more variety. Embarkation and exbarkation was smooth. Ports of call were OK. Celebrity does well at providing value.  I'd cruise with Equinox again.

We thought this cruise was one of the better cruises we took. 

Selwyn,our room attendant and his assistant were friendly. They were attentive and accommodating to our needs and schedule.

Our dining experience was excellent due to our waiter Erroll, his assistant Rojan, and our wine steward Raja. (Table # 531)

The shows were the best that we had seen on cruises (with the exception of the comedian).

Large ship, well run so rarely notice the large number of passengers.  We had anytime dining with a total group of 4 couples. Had a table in the main dining room every night at 7:45pm.  Main dining room food good to very good.  Specialty restaurant (3) were excellent and well worth the extra cost.  Large and fully equipped gym.  Spa was very haphazard as regarding appointments. Lost multiple appts. for my wife and her friends and they did nothing to accommodate the women, very disappointing. Took excursion to Costa Rica through celebrity to the rainforest, very good, otherwise arranges our own tours. Entertainment was fair to good, nothing special. Ship is extremely well appointed and maintained.  The staff were wonderful especially our waiter, maître d and wine steward.  Cabin steward was excellent. Overall excellent rating!

The ship was like a 5 star hotel. Food was excellent & the service was exceptional. The crew made the trip outstanding because they went over and above our expectations. The weather was great & we had smooth sailing.

10 glorious days on a fantastic trip. The Celebrity Equonix is the best ship with the best food and service on the high seas. Second trip with this ship and it is five stars all the way.

the overall cruise was very relaxing and comfortable. There was a couple of things that need attention. The cruise director is not our favorite. He is from Argentina, and spent a great deal of time letting us know. He was not visible other than during the shows. His English left a lot to be desired.

we spent a good deal of time while at sea on the pool deck. There was no music during the times there was no one on the stage. Very boring during those times. 

The staff at all venues was outstanibg. They all were very helpful, and curtious.

the Apple Internet site was a COMPLETE RIPOFF. They charged .79 cents per minute, and it took a great deal of time to get on line. When questioned the staff said it was slow and to wait. I went on the Internet to do my airline check in, it took me 18 minutes and cost almost $15.00. Not a good deal. 

This was our 24 cruise, third on Celebeity. We met some great people, and would say we would go on Celebrity again.

 Great ship.  Accommodating crew. Food above average. Entertainment just average.  The only negative was having to wait three hours in boarding area prior to boarding. Would consider  using Celebrity again.

We just returned home, relaxed, rejuvenated, and reiinvigorated, following a 10 day cruise on the Equinox.  This was our 5th cruise on this particular ship, and while it could use a little refurbishing, it is a beautiful ship, and staffed with truly exceptional individuals.  We enjoyed most of the evening entertainment, and the dinners in the main dining room surpassed our expectations.  There were lots of options, and the beef and red meats were always tender and tasty.  The fish and poultry were beautifully prepared.  We are remaining in touch with our table mates, and several other persons who were sailing with us.  We look forward to future cruises with Celebrity.  And we truly appreciate the support of for our planning and arrangements.  We will use them again, as well.

Celebrity Equinox is a beautiful ship. It is very clean and service is great.However, it is apparent that the changes that have been made with regard to food choices in the main dining room for lunch and dinner reflect cost cutting moves to improve profitability. It is apparent that they are pushing specialty dining to improve revenue. The  entertainment was the poorest that we have experienced in the cruises we have taken. The Cruise Director thought he was God's gift to the entertainment field. His superior attitude toward guests came across obnoxious at times. His fast talking with an accent made him difficult to understand. The production shows were so far out that very few people understood the themes. The cast seemed talented but their talent was lost with the story line. The guest performers were average at best with the exception of Zoe Taylor. The onboard activities were limited and for the most part average at best. Overall it was a disappointing experience. As one guest put it you can get a better value at a resort then the cruise we were on.

The ship is beautiful but we chose it because the itinerary is very interesting and unusual. We were not disappointed.

Another aspect of the cruise that we really enjoyed was the Hot Glass Show with artists from the Corning Glass Museum. The best glass blowing demonstrations we have ever seen.

The food was good, particularly the specialty restaurant Murano where they prepared certain dishes tableside. Don't miss the lobster!

The entertainment was also excellent, we enjoyed the nightly shows in the theater  and had our favorite quartet that played in the various bars in the evening.

We met lovely people from all over, Americans, Canadians and Europeans.

All in all, everything a vacation should be, a little relaxing, a little educational and

a little romantic.    

We made the reservation based upon the itinerary offered.  We prefer to cruise to new places instead of the same locations. We booked an affordable excursion for each port stop.  Our favorite was the Underground Mayan River Cenote and Famous 5th St Shopping and Beach.  First of all, this is NOT the 5th street actually located on Cozumel where the port is located.  This is a ferry ride to Playa del Carmen.  Still good shopping though.  The underground river was a blast. We had a traditional Mayan lunch served afterward.  Word of warning, since some tend to not read the description.  You WILL have to walk through water so bring water shoes. Don't inconvenience everyone else when you have to hold up the line and gripe about not wanting to get wet.  Pet Peeve. Next we did the Costa Rica Puerto Viejo Beach Break and shopping tour.  Waves were too rough to swim. Drinks were available for purchase. Included in the price was lunch and a local fruit punch. Lunch?  Toast with butter and shredded cheese. Next was Panama's Gatun Lake kayak and eco adventure.  Our guide was funny and knowledgeable. We went to one of the locks to watch a ship cross the canal before starting our kayak adventure. NOTE:  The 8 buses that took people to the Panama Canal Tour were late arriving back to the ship resulting in a 45 minute late departure.  This is where buying the cruise excursion keeps the ship from leaving you high and dry.  It takes about 8 HOURS to cross the canal.  It is not a quick crossing.  Be aware. Next was 2 days in Cartagena.  Day one we did Romancing the Stone and learned a lot about emerald with the opportunity to shop for jewelry.  Day two we did Cartagena City, La Popa HIll, Folkloric Show and shopping.  La Popa Hill is the highest location as well as a monastery.  Great panoramic photos!  We got great deals on leather at the artisan shops afterward.  The last stop was George Town, Grand Cayman.  We had booked the Shipwreck Snuba but due to high wind/seas, it was cancelled. We took the shuttle to the shopping district and had a relaxing time shopping and taking photos.  We booked the Ft Lauderdale Land and Sea excursion for disembarkation day so we'd have a ride to the airport but not have to spend all day waiting for our flight.  We had a very energetic tour guide telling us all about the history of the city.  We almost didn't get onto the paddleboat as there was a mix-up with the dates.  We did get to board but didn't get the lunch that was promised.  We could buy drinks and chips.  The tour was amazing, seeing all those mansions on the New River canal.  

As for the ship, the ONLY places people can smoke are a few designated outdoor locations.  Therefore the casino was nice to walk through, although not very busy.  There was no 24/7 food location, only water/coffee/tea was always available.  We had an AquaClass suite therefore had a dedicated dining room for only AquaClass, Blu.  Absolutely outstanding service from Ray and John.  We didn't go to any specialty restaurant. I had the premium water package - Evian, but I wished it was kept colder. If you want to save money, just get water from the buffet and pour into a bottle or a bottle of normal water. Next time, I'll bring an insulated thermos that will keep ice water icey. My husband had the classic beverage package which allowed him soda, water, and PREMIUM COFFEE drinks.  He loved that!

With the AquaClass suites, the Persian Garden Spa pass is included.  The ceramic lounges were nice as was the aromatherapy.  There are no jacuzzi's in the spa area, which I had wished there was.  However there were at least 6-8 located on the deck.  Half of them were in the adults-only area as well as one pool.  We only saw a handful of kids though.  Of course there were the adults staking claims on deck chairs.  No waterslides, but there is real grass on the top deck with Bocce ball and a few other lawn games available. No shuffleboard.

In my opinion, the entertainment wasn't as good as on NCL or Carnival.  The ship entertainers/dancers were good, it was the contracted entertainment that wasn't up to par.  Then again, the age demographic that appeared the majority on the cruise probably doesn't stay up late or really get interested in some types of entertainment.  The entertainment highlight for us was the Corning Museum of Glass Hot-Glass demos that were done almost nightly.  The disappointing part was that we couldn't buy anything they made as they are a non-profit.  They did auction off 6 pieces on the last day, but with auction increments of $100 starting at $100, they were out of our price range quickly.

The extras, like the salon services, were pricier than the other ships as well.  The art was the same.

We did book an Alaskan cruise for 2017 in order to get the perks, so we are looking forward to cruising Celebrity again.

We had a Great Time, The staff were outstanding and the Captain and Officers easily the best ever.

Food and Service were excellent and the staff so helpful and friendly and the Ship its self is beautiful and kept so clean,

We are used to the smaller ships, Seaborne, Oceania and Silver Seas and were a bit anxious about a larger ship.

Here is were the difficulty arose, Sun Loungers reserved from early morning, people reserving two in the shade and two in the sun and leaving them all day and not returning to them, leaving flip flops, books, hats to reserve the chairs, I had a word with security and they said they could do nothing if property was on it, even though they new they had been unoccupied for hours.

This was our first cruise and it was beyond our expectations.  The servers in the dining room, Julio and Admir, were the best.  They were so helpful and polite.   The food in the dining room and the café was fantastic!   The stateroom and the whole ship was very clean and the crew was wonderful.  We would definitely choose another cruise on Celebrity again.