This was our fourth Celebrity Cruise in a year. We did two on the Reflection last year and one on the Summit. Overall, enjoyed the cruise except for the food. Most of the food on the lunch and dinner buffet was never hot and usually just warm. Ordered salmon and other fish selections a few nights and just couldn't eat it, very fishy. Last night turkey and stuffing on menu. Stuffing was horrible and probably dog would not eat it. Lobster tails one night were disappointing. Food on the Reflection was much better and usually served hot. Desserts on the buffet were all cream filled and disappointing. They should have an apple pie or fruit pie or maybe apple cake or pound cake for those who don't like cream filled items. Breakfast buffet was good. Griddle items were warm, but just waited till they put new french toast and pancakes from the grill. Late afternoon (3:30-5:00) they put our scones, apple turnover, almond pastry, and bread pudding. It's the same every day. Reflection always put out the scones, but changed the other selections. The highlight of this cruise was the house band, The Cardinals. They are just great. We lucked out since we had them on the Reflection last year. I honestly think they are the best house band we've seen on any ship. Dec. 63 played two nights Four Seasons Frankie Vallie songs and it was like watching Jersey Boys--they were great. WE've seen the same production shows on other Celebrity ships --they were ok Read Less

We are first time cruisers in our 40's and chose Celebrity due to it's high ratings for service and food. We were looking for warmth and relaxation but also some good excursions that combined history, physical activity and beautiful views. We had a Concierge cabin (1149) with a larger than average balcony due to the location being the last cabin starboard. There was quite a bit of motion/rocking due to moderate seas and likely the cabin location but otherwise noise was not an issue. We rate the cabin's organization highly with plenty of space for storage of clothes, toiletries, shoes, etc. As expected service was really, really good. Standouts include Savio (stateroom attendant), Linda (MDR Hostess), Sergio (waiter) and Abdulali (assistant waiter). We thought the food was so-so. We ate in Tuscan and my husband needed to send his steak back twice due to it being undercooked. He finally just asked them to bring him an order of lasagna which was quite good. My steak was cooked to order but the sauce/jus tasted like canned broth. Service, however, was excellent. We also ate at Silk Harvest. We had booked it online via the Celebrity app and did not realize the night we booked was a special event (Silk and Soul) and included a multi-course set menu, with the majority of courses consisting of seafood. This was fine for me but not for my husband who is allergic to most seafood. Had we known we would not have booked for this particular night. The restaurant manager was kind enough to offer my husband food from Blu which he did enjoy. We enjoyed MDR breakfast more than the buffet so did that most mornings. MDR dinners were a bit hit or miss for us (highs included beef wellington, turkey, and cheesecake. Lows included chicken and salmon-both overcooked). We did a Celebrity shore excursion in San Juan (Old San Juan Food and Walking Tour) which was very good. The guide was very knowledgeable of Puerto Rican history and very engaging. We had booked a ziplining adventure in Punta Cana (through an outside vendor) but the ship was unable to provide tender service due to rough seas so this day was essentially another sea day. In St. Thomas we did our own thing, riding the gondolas up to Paradise Point and souvenir shopping. In Nassau, we went to the British Colonial Hilton and had a relaxing beach day. All in all this was a very relaxing vacation. Almost too much so for me. I think if we had been able to do our excursion in Punta Cana I would rank our week a bit higher but I found myself bored at times. The only show we attended was a special guest singer, Ashlie Amber Harris, who was outstanding. Disembarkation went very smoothly for us (we checked one bag on the last night). Overall we did enjoy our first cruise. It was certainly relaxing and the service and cleanliness of the ship was top notch. I definitely think I would prefer a more port-intensive trip so will focus more on specific destinations and excursions for the next cruise we book. Read Less

We were on the Equinox for NYE and then again 2 months later. The staff are very friendly and those whom we had a connection with were very happy to see us again. They went out of their way to ensure we had a great vacation. Captain Kate is very personable and was mingling with the guests and stopping for photos any time anyone asked. Every morning, when she made an announcement from the bridge, she not only provided us with location, weather and points of interest, she also included some trivia to ponder over before the answer was revealed the next day. Her last message not only thanked us for sailing, but also thanked her staff for their hard work and dedication and for being wonderful people. She is a true ambassador for Celebrity and a true leader for her staff! Although we were in Aqua and had access to Blu, we dined in a specialty restaurant 6 out of the 7 nights. Our favourite is the Tuscan Grill. We booked all of our reservations for the restaurants when we boarded the ship except for one night where we showed up at Murano at dinner time. They immediately accommodated us. (It was not busy as we only docked in San Juan at 3:30.) We did eat breakfast in Blu which was very good. We had the pleasure of attending the ceremony for International Women's Day on the ship. It was nicely decorated and a red ribbon was provided for those who didn't have something red to wear. (A nice touch!) It was also nice to see senior staff mingling with the passengers around the pool and serving fruit and gelato. We continue to sail on Celebrity because of the amazing staff!! Read Less

For the most part we enjoyed the ship. Our Steward Wiji was amazing. The food was fairly good. We enjoyed the buffet more than the dining room. We LOVED how nice the restrooms were with the little towels to wipe our hands off, instead of the hand blowers. The service was overall was very good. The entertainment wasn't the best we have ever seen, in our opinion. We did really enjoy the show with the singer from Denver. To us the biggest negative was that the running track was right where people are eating, smoking, drinking and relaxing on their loungers. Also people trying to walk to the buffet and being run into by walkers/runners on the track. We personally walk the track early in the morning but one day we waited until later and it was a mess. For the most part we usually travel with Carnival and their jogging track is away from other traffic. Read Less

This was a group birthday celebration cruise with 7 girlfriends & family- all women. Had initially booked 2 Sky suites but were able to upgrade to the PH suite(& sky) for a very fair price. Service was just amazing. Weather perfect. Full moon. Very friendly & happy fellow guests. Have been on 20+ cruises but this was the best so far. Was pleased and surprised to see women in so many of the top positions - even the captain. Captain Kate set the tone for the entire cruise- elegant, charming, interesting & fun! Our butler, Gordana, was so efficient and patient with us. We had dinner( from Tuscan Grill) together in our suite( all 7 of us) and every detail was perfection! We made a fantastic memory to last forever. It's a long story but the suite manager, Roxana, saved the day for us in an important way! Callie in Michael's Club offered a level of service I've never experienced on other more expensive line like Silversea and Seven Seas. Thanks to all the crew- by far the best ever. Read Less

Chose this ship to get out of the nasty New England weather for a week. Pros: Aqua class is worth it for the Blu restaurant which was very good always. The persian garden is no big deal, simply a steam room, sauna, and warm lounge to relax on. Not an outdoor garden as we expected. The ship is large and well maintained and the staff generally very helpful and well trained. The martini bar was fun for a few trips. Cons: The bars after muster drill don't have any help so get your drinks to your room before because you won't be able to get a drink. If you buy the highest end drink package, you won't get those wines except in the restaurants. The bars don't carry the better wines that you can have in the restaurant. The bars have St. Francis chardonnay, and the Celebrity special brands which were ok. Also the drink packages do not include room service or the mini bar so if you want to drink on your balcony, you have to bring the drink back or pay for a bottle. A little bit annoying. The food in Blu and Murano was very good. The oceanview cafe and pool hamburgers were overall disappointing. The buffet food was often just warm and no where near as good as we remembered from 2009 when we cruised on Summit. The highlights were the salad bar and soups, which were always good. And the flan and french bread. The fried chicken was not crispy, the steamship roast of beef was tough, etc. No sushi anymore on the buffet. Now you have to buy it at Sushi on Five. In 2009, sushi was available on the buffet every night. All part of cutting costs, I suppose. The biggest disappointment was the Sky Lounge. A beautiful, huge area in the front of the ship where they should be holding entertainment every night. I don't know why they don't use it, but we're guessing the bar isn't big enough. I hope they enlarge the bar and use it more after refurbishment. Also, they stop all music on the ship during the shows 7-8 and 9-10. They should have alternative music since everyone doesn't want to go to the shows or stay up late for other music after 10 p.m. All our shore excursions were canceled due to weather but the staff didn't tell us until we were onshore in the rain. They should have a system to tell us while on the ship so you don't go to shore only to learn the boats aren't going out due to rough seas. Ashlie Amber was excellent. Read Less

The crew was amazing, welcoming and helpful! The food was plentiful (especially in the Silk Harvest restaurant). The entertainment was above average for a cruise ship. We really enjoyed the glass blowing and came home with our own creations. We also toured the bridge and got to meet Captain Kate's cat named "Bug". The tour was interesting and I would recommend it to others. The only complaint we had was the cabin noise. I don't understand why a solution can not be found to lessen the noise from the restaurant above. I hope that is addressed when the ship goes into dry dock. With the expense of a cruise and especially upgrading to a suite, one does not expect to have to listen to that while trying to sleep at night. In summary, we had a great time and while no cruise is perfect, we would do it all over again - just in a different cabin! Read Less

There are valid reasons why the Celebrity Equinox is number 1 among Cruise Critic reviewers. These reasons include: Check In and Boarding: Check in was fast, easy and we were escorted to the small Concierge waiting area. Boarded the ship prior to the stated 11:00 a.m. time and were greeted with a mimosa. Confirming our dining package reservations was also quick and easy. Concierge Embarkation lunch in the Silhouette Dining room was excellent and such a nice perk! Cabin 2106 is showing a bit of wear and tear (tears on the sofa and scrapes on the furniture) but was clean and the hump balcony was larger than the Sky Suite balconies. Our steward, Hector, was the BEST EVER! Hector was always friendly, responsive and opened our door for us every time he saw us. Santa, the sommelier in the Silhouette dining room, was wonderful. I am a bit of a vinophile, and his recommendations for pairings were 100% awesome! Food in the main dining room, the buffet, Tuscan Grille, Silk Harvest and the Aqua Spa café was consistently excellent. I highly recommend the Aqua Spa café for breakfast on sea days....quiet, wonderful healthy foods and great service. Yusef and Mary in Tuscan Grille get extra kudos for our three visits there. They are wonderful assets to Celebrity. Raul, the coffee cart server in Oceanview, was also a delight every day. The hot glass show is interesting, but didn't hold our interest long. The Grand Bocce Tournament was terrific (especially since we won!). Elysium was the only show I attended. The cast are all VERY talented. The settings, moveable stage parts and costumes were amazing! The story line was lame and the sound was LOUD. I applaud the production staff and cast for their talent and hard work. Captain Kate is amazing! She was very visible throughout the cruise, from the Cruise Critic Connections Party to the Captains Club party to signing autographs on Celebrity merchandise, to multiple photo ops with passengers. Her crew was equally visible and accessible. We loved the Silent Disco both nights, especially on the Party Like Gatsby night. We were the only ones dressed in Gatsby garb, which was a funny sight with our headphones. The Motown event was fun as well! We enjoyed the ports in Key West and Costa Maya. Went to Nachi Cocum in Cozumel. Stayed on board in Grand Cayman due to the dreary weather. It should be noted that we observed three pier runners who didn't make it back to the ship on time in Key West. They sat on the pier watching us sail away. It was a great reminder to all of us to return to the ship WELL in advance of the required "on board" time. It also reminded us to take our passports with us at EVERY port, in case of this type of problem. Those folks had to wait three days to meet the ship in Cozumel with just the clothes on their backs. The Concierge Disembarkation lounge was in Silhouette Deck 4. Disembarkation was quick and earlier than expected. We were through Customs and on the road home ten minutes after our expected disembarkation line. I admit to crying on the way home....we had such a wonderful time! With the friends made on this cruise, superior service and a beautiful ship, this was the BEST CRUISE EVER!!! Read Less

This cruise was a family reunion of sorts for my significant other's family and I got to tag along. It was my first cruise, but I travel 12-15 times a year and was floored by the amazing level of customer service. I work in customer service and reviews are huge to me but I rarely do them. The ship is about to be completely remodeled, but I didn't notice anything that was in need of remodel. I was very impressed with the decor and the quality of the fixtures, appliances, pool area, dining hall and we even toured the kitchen and it was the cleanest I have seen. We stayed in a cabin (can't recall the name) that was larger than expected with a balcony. Even better there are privacy doors that separate each balcony, but since we were next to family and they removed them so we had just enough privacy but could still walk from balcony to balcony The dining was top notch. We received afternoon "snacks" that were more like gourmet small plates. The regular dining hall was a buffet style with an incredible amount of selection from salad to carved meats to pizza to Mexican to Indian etc. We dined in the Silhouette dining room and our servers were INCREDIBLE. Jennylyn and Sudiasa were two of the best servers I have had. On board the two pools were where we spent most of our time. We did take part in the excursions and they were fun. The one we wanted to do the most was Stingray City in Grand Cayman. It was raining pretty hard that morning so we loaded the passenger ferry and they cancelled it when we got to port which was disappointing. It was not the cruise line's fault but it would have been nice to save the two hours of commuting. I'm certain the island just wanted us to spend some money while we were in port, not a big deal. We attended shows at 9 pm 5 of the 7 nights and I'm not really into that sort of thing, but overall they were impressive. The acrobats and the female lead were especially talented. After the shows we hit the casino which had affordable minimums and was quite fun. THE SILENT DISCO was awesome. They had 3 different stations and people from 5-75 were all dancing to their own beat and it was a GREAT time. Overall the guests were mostly older (probably the main demographic of people that can afford a cruise this nice). There were very few children on the cruise and it was a nice adult getaway. I would definitely go again. And this is my shameless plug for Jennylyn and Sudiasa. They deserve promotions and were great ambassadors for the ship and the brand. Thank you all for an amazing experience! Read Less

Embarkation was smooth and fast. Celebrity asks you to board at different times based on your deck, so less crowding. We went Aqua class for the first time and are glad that we did. Dining in Blu was wonderful. Much faster than eating with 1000 people in the main dining room. Service was great, food delicious. No reservations needed, most nights, no wait for a table Well worth the extra cost. Oceanview cafe was very good. Always super clean, good selections. The last sea day had an amazing selection of desserts. Pizza was excellent. Also, the aqua class cabins are on deck 11, right under the pool deck so the balcony is under a large overhang and is completely shaded (which is what we like). Ports were good. We booked our own excursions ( check out trip advisor or cruise critic destination section for recommendations- generally smaller groups, better pricing) Entertainment was good. Every member of the crew that we interacted with did a great job. Would highly recommend celebrity for an upscale , fun, relaxing week. Read Less