Cruising on Celebrity Cruise Lines
I have just returned from our third Celebrity Cruise. This was our first cruise on the Equinox, one of the Solstice class ships. We chose an 11 night Caribbean cruise with stops in Cartagena, Columbia, Colon, Panama and Puerto Limon in Costa Rica, along with both Grand Cayman Island and Cozumel, Mexico.
The verandah’s are small, they fit 2 chairs and a table, but have a glass wall that you can readily see out of if you are sitting down. The vanity and desk area are adequately sized. There are also 2 large mirrors in the cabin and one in the bath.
The bath is a typical sized bathroom on most ships. It includes a shower (small) a sink and a toilet. There is storage in the bathroom adequate for most people’s toiletries. Each cabin comes with nice luxurious bathrobes and slippers and binoculars!
Now for the rest of the ship! It is simply gorgeous! Very modern, tons of beautiful artwork all over the ship and the public areas are warm and generously sized. The restaurant we ate in is called Blu and it is reserved for Aqua class passengers. This restaurant serves “spa cuisine” and we really like the way the food is cooked. Simple and elegant, with very light sauces. We actually don’t take advantage of the other perks of aqua class that include the Persian garden and a concierge to book whatever spa services you want. Most people eat in the main dining room, which is beautiful and large. It has both fixed seating (6pm and 8:30 pm) or you can dine anytime you wish. There are different sections for each option! There are 4 specialty restaurants on board, each with an upcharge. Murano’s is the most formal, and most expensive, fabulous French cuisine. Silk Harvest is Asian, and La Trattoria is Italian. There is also a Sushi bar that has a small upcharge.
The most interesting part of the ship, in our opinion is the Glass Blowing show. Sponsored by the Corning Glass Museum in Corning, NY, it is a live glass blowing show where the 3 artists give shows while at sea and while in port. They do auction several pieces for charity! I must say the pieces we saw them make were just gorgeous and they explained each and every technique they demonstrated!
The martini bar is another fun spot on this ship (and all Celebrity ships). The bar is covered in a thin layer of ice and they make all kinds of martinis. The bartenders also put on shows where they pour up to 18 martinis at once!
Now for the service! It’s on par with Disney for white glove service! The staff is incredibly attentive to everyone’s needs and desires. Ask for something and it is done! The cabin was impeccably cleaned twice daily. Never had to ask for new towels or anything else. You aren’t guaranteed the same server in Blu each night, but we asked for our favorite waiter and except for 2 nights always had him! Always had a table next to or near the window! He knew our tastes and desires, and if he thought we’d like something he brought it to try, even if we didn’t ask for it. The sommelier was excellent as well. His suggestions for wine with dinner were always right on and delicious.
All in all, this was one of the best cruises we have taken, and we have cruised on many lines, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and of course Disney.
The only line I can really compare the service and food to is Disney—equal in every way! If there was a disappointment in our cruise it was the entertainment, can’t even begin to compare with Disney, but all in all, it didn’t stop us from loving this vacation!
Bonnie Polan, Coasters and Castles Travel Vacation Specialist