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The Equinox is a beautiful ship. Our accommodations were outstanding and the service we received could not have been better! We took this cruise because 1) we enjoyed a wonderful Celebrity Constellation cruise to the Baltics last year and so Celebrity was high on our list; and 2) the itinerary was interesting and included so many places we wanted to see...like the pyramids! We were not disappointed. In fact Celebrity exceeded our expectations. Celebrity appreciates its customers and makes them feel welcome.
Dining Room - We had the early seating. We were seated at a table of 12 and were very pleased with our dining companions. They were great people and our conversations were interesting and lively. We considered ourselves very fortunate. Our sommelier, Birol, was friendly and very knowledgeable....and once he learned our preferences, was always able to recommend a perfect wine to accompany our meals. Our waiter and assistant waiter, Sunil and Mariana, were also excellent and friendly. Within a couple of days, they knew what types of things we preferred (eg. what type of tea) and brought it without having to ask our preference.
Accommodations - We had a lovely, quiet sky suite. It was perfect for sitting on the balcony and quietly reading. Our butler, Caetano, and the cabin crew were always smiling and welcoming and always made you feel at home after a long day of sight-seeing. The cabin was always in perfect order.
Speciality Dining - We tried Murano one night. The service was simply outstanding. I can't imagine how it could have been better.
Internet - As expected, Internet access is slow and often unavailable. We experienced this on our last cruise also. It can be very frustrating...however, the Internet (I.T.) staff were very helpful and tried to fix the problems we encountered to the extent they could. Don't expect rapid Internet access/speeds.
Shore Excursions - With such a huge ship, every time Equinox comes into port, it's going to be very busy with loads of people and loads of buses. If there are other ships in port as well, of course the crowds get even bigger. The places we went were very populated and attracts many tourists and pilgrims, so crowds should be expected. If you wind up in one of the last groups leaving, this can be a real problem as you will wait in line at the popular sites (eg. House of the Virgin Mary) for a very long time. However, it was all worth it. We had a great time. It was definitely the experience of a lifetime. It would be nice if Celebrity could work with other cruise lines and its local travel agents/vendors to try and co-ordinate things better so everyone isn't going to the same place at once....
All in all - a fantastic experience, a fantastic trip....kudos to Celebrity. Well done.
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