My traveling companion and I consider ourselves to be fairly savvy cruisers, and have learned that if a cruise doesn't excite us on more than one level, it was not a cruise for us.

This cruise, from the moment we stepped on board the Equinox, was DEFINITELY our sort of cruise. It was a last-minute decision, that we rate as one of the best cruises we have ever taken! Celebrity always does a good job on their cabins, and our veranda was no exception. And our steward was friendly and right there whenever we needed him. And the ship was decked out both in Christmas trimmings, and Hanukkah lights.

But it was the ports that really kept us saying "WOW"! Cartagena, Colombia, to start, was an amazing mix of old and new. And from there to the Panama Canal (by bus...MUCH less costly than going through the canal on the ship), and then getting in touch with our 'natural' side in Costa Rica, Honduras, Belize, and Cozumel...Rain forests, snorkeling, and visiting Mayan ruins (2 days before the 'end of the world' was to happen) was almost too much to experience! Read more