Celebrity Equinox by Jamie
Ship - Celebrity Equinox
Line - Celebrity Cruises
Date - July 2009
During my 14 years with Cumbria Cruises, I’ve been fortunate enough to see a wide range of fantastic cruise ships, including most recently Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas and Cunard’s Queen Victoria. I have not, however, had the chance to experience a Celebrity Cruises vessel, so it was with great anticipation that I headed off down to Southampton to see the brand new Solstice Class ship from Celebrity Cruises: Equinox.
From the moment I set foot onboard, I knew I would not be disappointed.
The unique Lawn Club on the top deck was absolutely amazing, freshly manicured grass on a cruise ship – I kept telling myself this couldn’t possibly be true but it was and I, along with my colleagues absolutely loved it! I could definitely imagine having a picnic or a game of croquet here though I’d be terrified of taking a divot and upsetting the onboard gardener!
Having had a quick glance round the public rooms, the Sky Observation lounge being a particular highlight, we headed off to view the cabins.
The Penthouse Suite, was the perfect place to start: The thought of unwinding in a Whirlpool Bath on your balcony or relaxing in your suite listening to tunes played on your in cabin Self-Playing-Grand-Piano certainly appealed. If that’s not enough, there’s the added incentive of in suite dining and two huge bathrooms, so if you fancy really treating yourself this is undoubtedly the suite to choose.
That said, each of every one of the cabins we viewed were excellent so whether you choose to book an Inside, Ocean View, Balcony or a Suite your choice will encompass the very best style and taste, meeting the pinnacle of the very highest standards Celebrity Cruises set. All cabins and public rooms I viewed were beautifully decorated and had a modern yet, very elegant feel to them.
The dining experience onboard was fantastic with a wealth of options to choose from. From lunch in the Ocean Café with its huge range of options to choose from (Chinese, Mexican, British, hot Meals & cold Salads) to one of the many Speciality Restaurants onboard the choice is outstanding and the quality as high as can be expected.
For around $15-$20 you could book a table in the Asian inspired Silk Harvest restaurant or the stunning Tuscan Grill, both of which looked absolutely fantastic and well worth the small cover charge.
Aside from the dining experience, the bars and lounges are definitely worth a mention. The fabulous Sky Observation Lounge at the top of the ship was a real treat, but if you prefer something a little different there’s the Martini Bar & Crush, a specialist wine bar & Michael’s Club to name but a few…..
If you like something different to drink or you’re a bit of a cocktail fan; I would suggest a visit to the Galleria Tastings Bar on Deck 4 where you may be lucky enough to meet the ‘Liquid Chef,’ Lilly, who will help you explore the modern world of spirits and cocktails.
Unfortunately, our experience only lasted one evening but from the brief time we spent onboard, I would go as far as to say that the Equinox was the nicest ship I’ve seen. Modern, yet extremely sophisticated the Equinox really does tick all the boxes:
- Fantastic service
- A wealth of dining options
- Great choice of bars & lounges
- Excellent & varied entertainment
- Elegant staterooms & amazing suites
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