This was our 25th cruise and the 7th on Celebrity - first time on Equinox. I fully expected another 5 star experience but sadly did not get it. I will say for the most part the crew is great and they did their best and we still had a good time but there were just to many things that went wrong to make this a "great" cruise. Day 1 Embarkation Celebrity now shows a very silly - Carnival like" safety video. Our stopped playing 3/4 of the way in and we had to endure a repeat of the entire thing. Then the crew reiterated what the video said. We had anytime dining in the MDR and this is where I had issues. Over the course of the cruise I had to send back 4 different meals as being non edible. Tonight it was salmon that was not only cold but had a rotten nauseous smell to it that i caught as soon as it was sat down. Day 2 Sea Wondered the ship. While still a beautiful vessel it is showing some wear. Spent a lot of the day in the solarium. Peter the bartender in the Martini Bar is great. This was his last trip on Equinox. He was going the Edge to help set the martini bar up on it. Day 3 Grand Cayman Got room service breakfast. Eggs were ice cold. We are Elite so we got the chance to take Captains Club tour. It consisted of a visit to Crystal Caves which were interesting, a rum tasting which was very nice and a tour of Pedro St. James which was a waste of time. Also the tour spent a lot of time on a bus. The entertainment at night was an impersonator Shawn O'Shaw who was great. Day 4 Sea Entertainment was a group called December 63 who was sold as a Frankie Vali type band. They sang 4 seasons songs but were no cover band. Day 5 Aruba I can say I was looking forward to going the the ABC islands, but now having been there not sure of a need to go back unless you are a SCUBA diver. Way better beaches much close to home. We took a tour that went to a butterfly farm which was nice but then it went to where the Natural Bride "Use to Be". It collapsed several years ago so not much to see. Then we went to the OYA rocks. Again not sure what is so special. Day 6 Curacao I have never had an issue with my sea pass card stop working but on this cruise, I ended up getting 10 new cards almost one every day. One lady at Guest services said I must not know how to use the card. REALLY??? Our tour was a bust. Right after we left the dock it started to rain. Found out later ours was the last cruise before all the rest were cancelled. Spent a lot of time driving thru neighborhoods like we were house shopping. Got to the beach and it was still raining with thunder and lightening. Most of asked to just be taken back to the ship but were told no we had to get off the bus. Spent the next 2 1/2 hours under an awning waiting to be picked back up. Will say after complaining to the Shore Excursion desk we did get a portion of our money back Had to send my main course back again tonight. It was veal but was obviously cooked in rancid oil. Even the waiter said so. Day 7 Bonaire Tour organization of the pier was confusing, chaotic, and unorganized. The island tour was nice but decided to skipped the beach as it had little to no shade and was in a very sketchy part of town. Again had to send main course back. It was lamb that even the waiter was not able to cut it was so tough. Mater di was very helpful and tried to make things right but by now I had given up. Went with just appetizers which were always good. Day 8 Sea Did the behind the scenes Inside Access tour which got us to the engine control room and the bridge. Very good tour. Day 9 Sea I had been waking up every morning with a back ache. Today I notice that my side of the bed was like a bowl - very sunken in the middle. Took a picture and showed to Guest Relations. They immediately replaced the mattress. I wish I had noticed sooner but also the room steward should have noticed that the mattress was that bad. The ship made a big deal out of things they were doing to save the oceans, but they are still using plastic straws - WHY??? Day 10 Key West We did our own bar crawl and it was great. Had to get another new key. After dinner came back to the room which was over 90 degrees. The AC had stopped working. It took over 2 hours to get anyone up to fix it. Day 11 Debarkation As Elite we had access to a separate area to wait. On previous cruises the Captains Club person "worked" the room. For the entire cruise never saw a CC rep. Captain Kate (who is a fantastic captain) was at the gangway saying goodbye to all the guests and even helped lift a wheel chair up over a ledge. How great was that. The process was painless until we got to the airport. We had used Choice Air so we had transportation to the airport. Got to terminal and 3 buses unloaded together to the curbside check in. We were told we had to check in there. It took over an hour standing in the heat. In fact we could have gone inside and done it at the ticket counter. Summary Will I take another Celebrity cruise - Definitely as we love Celebrity. Did we have a good time - In spite of all the issues - yes Do i need to go back to the ABC islands. No As I said the crew was generally fantastic. It seems the ship is past ready for dry dock. Read Less

I have sailed on Celebrity once before and this second sailing has confirmed my delight with Celebrity making Celebrity my most favorite cruise line. First sailing was on the Reflection, second on the Equinox. Both ships are spectacularly beautiful although the Reflection is slightly nicer! Celebrity has discovered the secret to great personal service and attention to the passengers. I am hard pressed to report any negative on this sailing. Service, exceptional; food, outstanding, stateroom spacious and comfortable; Staff both service and officers pleasant, well trained, attentive and professional. Having been involved in customer service and some training, Celebrity have a exceptional training department. Thank you Celebrity for a 2nd great voyage. Looking forward to my 3rd, next month, on the Reflection again. To top the experience, The Master of the Ship Equinox: Captain Kate McCue a delightful, funny and professional Captain. I have never seen before the Captain at the conclusion of the cruise personally thank and shake hands with passengers as they disembarked. I am sure this can't happen every cruise; It was a treat. Read Less

This was our 5th time on Celebrity in a Solstice class ship and in Aqua Class. We are a married couple, in our 40's, it has been five years since we last sailed with Celebrity (we were cruising with other lines) and things have definitely changed. We were very excited about this cruise even though the disembarkation was a mess last time we sailed with them, though the experience was exemplary. For this last cruise we purchased the Premium Drink Package and the Four Pack Specialty Dining package prior to cruising (we ended up doing extra speciality dining, however) and the WiFi package. Celebrity Equinox, as a ship, is in itself is beautiful and the upkeep has been very good. That being said, you can start to see the age of use of the chairs etc around the ship. I heard it was going into dry dock for a refurbishment and so I think this has been recognized and is being addressed. Our Aqua Class cabin (1570) was fine for the most part, however, we did notice that they have skimped on quite a few things since we travelled last time. Gone are the days it seems of the Frette bathrobes, sheets and slippers, plush towels, daily complimentary water and small floral arrangement. Instead, we were greeted with rough, overwashed, albeit large sized robes, too-small slippers, two cheap generic bottles of water (the total amount for the entirety of our trip), and name brand toiletries which were replaced with generic Celebrity toiletries once they ran out and thin, rough toilet paper. Additionally, Blu - the Aqua Class restaurant was no longer open for lunch on sea days. We were also greeted every day by the sound of what we think were towel trollies rolling over the ceiling of our room. The first time we heard it, we thought it was thunder then we realized it was not. This resulted in us receiving a $600 credit towards our next cruise for the inconvenience, which was appreciated, however, I just do not understand why you would position some of the best rooms under areas that generate noise. There seems to be an idea that being at the top of the ship is a premium spot - it's not if there is noise in your cabin day in and day out. This all being said, we made the most of it - we didn't have to change rooms, unlike other friends we met who were in Aqua Class due to the noise so we were lucky in that aspect. We were also extremely fortunate to have an AMAZING cabin steward! Shawn was AMAZING! Very personable, would do anything for you (although even though this review may sound like it - we are not overly demanding people LOL!) and is just a great all-around wonderful human being. He works extremely hard and deserves any and all positive acknowledgements! As we are in Aqua Class, let's discuss the Aqua Class restaurant BLU. First of all, I'd like to acknowledge a few exemplary people: Linda, Wayne and Diaz! Every time we dined in Blu, you made our evening/breakfast! Celebrity has some of the finest staff and I am grateful to have met such wonderful people. They always go above and beyond. Unfortunately (I know, I know), the food in Blu was either fantastic or an extreme miss. Breakfast was generally very good but dinner...one evening it would be fabulous, the next evening it would miss the mark big time. I ordered the salmon twice (thought I'd give them a second chance) both times it came out dry and overcooked even when I asked for it to be pink in the middle both times. Additionally, BLU was extremely busy. I've never it seen it so busy. They started giving people pagers to wait for tables - this never happened when we travelled on Celebrity last time. I feel as though the ship, in general, was overbooked (e.g. too many people booking 4 to a cabin). On to the other speciality restaurants: 1) Silk Harvest: You'll be in and out in about an hour - very quick turnaround if you like that (I don't. I prefer a leisurely meal especially since I paid extra for it). The food is good but not amazing as you would expect. They've changed the menu since we dined with them last and not for the better. Celebrity offered a "Taj Mahal" night for an extra fee at Silk Harvest - it was sold to us as authentic Indian Cuisine with real spices. It was a HUGE letdown. They dumbed it down for the masses which was very unfortunate and it wasn't worth the $90 USD we paid. We know there are Indian chefs on board - I just wish Celebrity would let them do what they know and have real foodies enjoy it! 2) Tuscan Grill: I cannot say how disappointed we were in the food quality this time around. Previously, this was one of our most coveted restaurants on the ship and now it's just like a cheap steakhouse. Steak cooked heavily in vegetable oil, no Osso Bucco, having to pay extra on top of the speciality dining cost to get the prime cuts of beef - ridiculous! I will say I did enjoy the homemade pasta but the revised menu overall it's not worth it. 3) Murano: Go! Don't hesitate - book this more than once! The food was impeccable, the service amazing, Star the sommelier was really personable, knowledgeable and funny. 4) Sushi on 5: Yes, this is al la carte and is extra but it is SO WORTH IT. The fish is fresh, they don't put cream cheese in the sushi (not sure where that started but it needs to stop LOL!). Near the end of the cruise, they start offering All-You-Can-Eat for I believe $35 per person. Worth the extra money. Others: 1) Ocean Cafe: it's a zoo, it's frustrating, no one knows how to line up and are lacking in manners. The food quality is poor - cafeteria heat lamp overcooked food. We gave up going here about half-way through the cruise and went to Sushi on 5 (maybe that was their ingenious plan??) 2) Cafe al Bacio: you know corners are being cut when you see products like Heinz brand Honey packets. Not exactly a premium coffee shop condiment. That being said, the coffee was good. The pastries were alright - they were much more Parisian style last time we were on Celebrity now they seem a bit dry (e.g. not enough butter LOL!). Entertainment: 1) Silent Disco: AMAZING!!! Do it. So fun! 2) Comedy: we went to one comedy show - my husband found it funny but me not so much. Individual tastes. Service: never had an issue. Again, the staff were fantastic. I did hear that the cabin stewards (at least in Aqua Class) went from having 20 rooms with an assistant to help clean to 14 rooms to clean by themselves. That's a lot on them...again corner cutting? Ports & Excursions: We had travelled to all the ports before with the exception of Barbados. We, for the first time ever, book an excursion through the ship to see the volcano in St. Lucia. I wasn't feeling well so we gave the excursion to our friends. The excursion description explicitly said it included a "drive into the volcano". This never happened - basically, our friends saw a hill - no drive in at all. They also only "viewed" the sulfur springs. Basically, a 6-hour tour of views, stuck on a bus the entire way driving on winding roads. Will NOT book an excursion through the ship again. Sorry, you had to go through that Ian and Fiona but glad we got out of it LOL! In closing, we were actually very interested in going on The Edge prior to this cruise but now we are considering trying Silver Sea, Seabourn or Viking cruises. Celebrity set a high bar the first 4 times we cruised with them but have fallen drastically below it now. Read Less

Let me start off by saying we had a good time, but it was nothing like AC was 5 years ago. We stopped going on Celebrity and went to Oceania for a bit, but we got a good deal and with the new Edge coming we thought give it a try and maybe go back to Celebrity. We were excited at the start, we got the better package, so had internet, premium alcohol and enough onboard credit to get free special dinning. So we got on the boat and had well it all stated there. 1> Water, you only get water once on the cruise now in AC, it used to be every day. This was not such an issue since we had the premium package, so we got our fridge emptied and filled it up. The funny thing is they had a bottle of water for sale in the bathroom, for me that is a hygiene issue, I just hope it was fresh for me and cleaned. 2> The robes are no longer by Frette, or the towels if I remember right. The robes were for sure, now they are just generic ones 3> The toiletries the first ones in the room were high end, but once they ran out we went to generic X stuff, which is something I would not expect in a AC room 4> The food, this was the biggest shock. So our first night we got the deal so we ate in Silk, it was ok, very rushed the food was not good or bad it was just food. Then the next night we went to Tuscan Grill, it was just good as well, the meatballs were good but the rest was just ok. The next night was Marano it was good both times, never let us down. Now our restaurant was Blu, which was hit or miss and mostly miss, some food I just could not eat and had to send back. It was just bad. We also got the Indian food night in Silk, it was ok but not even close to real Indian food, it would be like what you get in in a food court, just $90.00 upgrade cost. The second time in Tuscan I got a steak and was just horrible, I think I get better at Denny's. The real shock was the sushi on 5 it was amazing. We tried the buffet a few times but it was a zoo, people just don't know how to act around others most of the time. So for food, Marano always good, Sushi on 5 always good the rest (we never did the main dinning room) was just ok if not bad. 5> The spa one of the reasons to get AC to is the spa, so after getting in past the line of sales people who stare at you desperate for you to engage, don't get me wrong I am sure they work hard, but really make you feel like you are doing something wrong on the way in the spa. We got in and the chairs were almost empty which I found shocking, every other cruise is was hard to get one, then I found out. This ship uses a lock on the door and it snaps every time you enter the garden, so whenever anyone went to get water, it was snap, snap ... so not at all relaxing which is a shame, wonderful room, nice view and noise all the time. 6> The staff is amazing and if not for them it would have been a much worse trip 7> The Martini bar is amazing if you get a seat at the bar and have premium drink they will keep filling the drinks forever. 8> Art action, they have nice stuff, but you are going to pay retail for it. so if you like it buy it but don't think you are getting a deal. 9> Shops, first off I am a watch guy, you can get any of the watchs on the ship for less anywhere, I mean anywhere. The biggest shock was the Kate Spade on the ship they are selling the factory outlet stuff, you can call tell if it spade pops up like a jewel, it store stuff, if its embossed its factory outlet stuff. I did not look at the other purses, but saw in the window I was surprised. 10> The café, now I may have missed it but they used to have a breakfast and lunch with sandwiches, so days we would just go there get a sandwich and desert and relax on sea days, this year none of that, always the same stuff every day. Even more funny they ran out of Earl Gray on the trip. So no more for the last three days. 11> Alcohol, on the last night you could not get what you wanted, so be aware that all the choices can become limited at anytime. So I have nothing really bad to say, but nothing really good. This is the real problem. The cost, if you add the extras and the special restaurants and the AC room, you are at the same cost as Verandah on Oceania or Silverseas and trust me you get better everything. So although our plan was to book the Edge on this trip, we booked a Silverseas instead the funny thing we were at the café and we were not alone booking other lines on the ship. So if you go basic its a nice ship, if you go premium everything its not good at all. I think RCC is killing what was a really good cruise to go on. Read Less

Although the ship itself was excellent with really good food and accommodation, I found the entertainment on bored to be very poor, the first three days at sea dragged as there was little to do, there were quiet bar areas to relax in but for those who like a little more nightlife this is not the ship for you. I had spoken to numerous passengers from different countries who all said the same. The holiday itself was an experience and gave us some beautiful sites and beaches, however the boredom on the ship out ruled this. I think this particular cruise is aimed at the American market and more suitable for the older generation. All in all visiting the exotic locations was nice but would not use this ship again, 5 days at sea and two days travelling takes to much off the actual holiday. This cruise will suit people who just want to sit quiet but not enough life for myself and the three people I travelled with. Read Less

Having cruised Celebrity 4 times previously we talked our parents into there first cruise..We were really embaressed by what we had recommended to them throughout our cruise..They spent allot of there savings to come with us and I wish I could afford to reimburse them....we upgraded to concierge class and drinks package but found it to be the same size cabin as a balcony cabin only with bathrobes, umbrella and binoculars??? You always get your bottled water in your room but our parents got charged $6 dollars plus $99 cents gratuity to drink it (even though we had paid a hefty price per person for the drinks package.. We were on anytime dining another extra cost we paid and each night we had to walk the length of the dining room to a far corner dark table (having passed many empty tables for four)..where we had to use the candle to see the menu..it was terrible and service very slow. One night we had to leave our sweet orders due to going to the 9 pm show as we wouldn't get a seat in the theatre. Then the show was terrible with 30% walking out and that happened three times on this cruise. Sun beds were taken no matter what time you got to the pool with people putting towels on numerous beds then not using them. No staff monitoring the situation. The bars after paying for our drinks package ran completely out of beer, Grouse whiskey, Bailey's and Coke, lemonade and the last two days even water...come on the amount of money we paid we should have been able to get a drink. The staff were slow and we only saw our room attendant twice in 12 days..the room got made up but towels and a bathrobe went missing and we had not used it... Not saying it was stolen it just got taken from the room. The Captain Kate seemed to be making herself known to the passengers and everyone liked her modern approach to cruising but for all the above reasons her staff are not taking her serious and she is NOT KEEPING A TIGHT SHIP...she needs to get her staff organised and ordering the correct volume of drinks that we are paying for. I don't see her as a Captain for very long.....I will not cruise Equinox again it's an older ship with lots of wasted areas..THIS IS NOT A 5* ship my advice is to try an alternative or go RC..... Read Less

We've never cruised before and thought why not for our anniversary. Of all the cruise lines, Celebrity seemed the best fit for us. We're a mid-40s couple with no kids. We like having fun but we're not into drunken bacchanalia. The Equinox was perfect for us. We upgraded to a Celebrity suite so there was ample room in our cabin to spread out and relax. The balcony was spacious enough for a table for two and two lounge chairs. Our butler, Gene, was solicitous but our needs were very minimal. Our room attendant, Muneer, was great. There was some wear and tear in the cabin but nothing major. The only issue was that the previous guests had ripped the phone off the bathroom wall and it was next to the desk phone. By the time we got back from lunch they had already fixed it. We ate breakfast nearly every morning in Oceanview as we prefer to get there early, by 7, and linger over coffee and read the papers (we got the go best package with wifi). The buffet was sufficient. We usually had bacon, eggs, toast and fruit. The coffee was fine. We had the premium beverage package so we could have gotten lattes and espressos but the regular coffee was fine. We alternated lunches in Luminae and Oceanview. It was nice to get away from the crowds in Luminae. The lunches were small but satisfying. They had mix of sandwiches and entrees. Oceanview had a decent selection of food for lunch but it could get very crowded. We ate dinner in Luminae most nights. The food was high quality and well prepared. While we're not vegans we do enjoy our vegetables and many of the entrees were veggie lacking. So we would split the vegetarian entree. The staff was phenomenal. Yan, the sommelier, always had a suggestion that was spot on. Our waiters, Jesus and Carlington, were excellent. By the second night, they remembered our water preference, my bread obsession, and our knew our palate well enough to offer excellent suggestions. The hosts in Luminae, Viktoria and Auri, were beyond friendly. Every time we showed up it felt like we were dining in a friend's house. We did Murano one night (discounted to $35) and it was good, not great. I didn't mind paying $35. I wouldn't pay $50. The one place it did excel was our waiter. He was fabulous. We're early birds so we didn't see any of the entertainment other than the singer/guitarist in the Ensemble lounge and the band in atrium. Both were quite good and played songs from the 50s to current music. We spent one evening in the casino and it was over quick. We were usually back in our room by 9 but it seemed like a lot of people were just starting their night. The only entertainment drawback was that you better love the Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel or news because that's pretty much what you're stuck with on the tv. We must have watched every Halloween themed Food Network show ever made. There were a few free on demand movies. The pay per view was a bit high at $15. We spent a few days in the gym. It's well equipped. There were about 12 treadmills, 20 ellipticals, 10 bikes, two rowers, and assortment of weight machines and a small free weight area. Let's just say it's a challenge to run on a treadmill or lift free weights while you're at sea. We had a few days of rougher seas and there were times I thought I'd fall over. I had two treatments at the spa. One was a body scrub and massage. The other was a Thai massage. Both by Wanna. She was an excellent massage therapist. The spa facilities themselves could use some sprucing up. Compared to some of the spas I've been to the robes were a bit threadbare. There were no slippers provided. It was a bit disorganized. There was no hard sell but she did show me the products I used. The only thing I wasn't keen on was the itinerary. We're not beach, booze and sun people so spending 5 days on islands that pretty much sell themselves as isn't appealing. But it was the only Celebrity cruise that fell on our anniversary. We had OBC so we did two cruise shore excursions. The 4x4/Harrison's cave tour on Barbados was a lot of fun. We also did a driving tour/nature walk on St. Lucia. The guide and driver were excellent. The island was pretty but that was about it. We did a non-ship excursion on St Thomas to Hassel Island. There was a lot of kayaking but not a lot of hiking as they were still recovering from the hurricanes. We had to skip St. Croix and ended up staying over night in Antigua. We left the ship in Antigua, walked through the market, and came back for the day. Our last stop was in St. Martin. We did some shopping and walked around. The Dutch side was still recovering - maybe 70% back. There were a lot of empty stores. We will cruise again and with Celebrity. Although an Alaskan cruise is probably more our thing. Read Less

First Cruise and we started with the very Best. Everything on the ship was perfection. The choice of food and various eating places let everyone eaat where they were comfortable. Entertainment was first class and Port visits were fantastic. We done our own thing when going ashore and had a great time. should anyone wish to go on Tours they can easily be booked on the ship or at Port side. The beaches at Arubu and at all the resorts were truly Caribean, white sands clear water and amazing to swim in.We made many good friends on the ship which was our choice, If you want Just your own company then thats easilt possible.Captain Kate just oozed Confidence and most if not all men forgot we had a women in charge.her daily 10am Gab with everyone over the speakers was good crack. Cant wait to go on my next cruise with Celebrity cruise. Read Less

Sailed on Equinox from Miami after a two night stay in the Washington Park Hotel just two blocks away from Ocean drive which was ideal. This was our first time with Celebrity but it was our 12th cruise so by no means was it the worst but it is definitely not a five star ship and I only say this because the only thing that let it down was staff serving guests with drink whilst in the pool even though they were glass bottles and allowing guests to eat whilst in the pool, we even witnessed guests washing their hands in the pool after they had finished eating, they even took over the children's area and although there was only about half dozen children on board they were unable to play as it was so overcrowded with the adults, it was more like an eighteen thirties holiday around the pool area. The ship is definitely due for a refurb as some of the corridors smelt musty but the public areas still looked very good. The food in the main restaurant was very good as was the waiters and over the ten days we had something different every night so there was plenty of choice. The entertainment was also very good and the guest entertainment was outstanding. All in all we had a great time it was just the behaviour that was allowed in the pool by guests that spoilt it so feel we we can only give four stars Read Less

Equinox – Solstice class ship in excellent condition. No complaints worth mentioning. I appreciate quality touches on Celebrity (say, vs. Princess). There are lots of sturdy, padded deck chairs at the pools. Everything is scrupulously clean all the time (unlike the Princess pool rest rooms in the afternoon). Captain, Kate McCue, has tons of charisma and was more visible than most during the cruise. She stood on the deck and shook hands with everyone as we walked off the ship. Never seen that before and appreciated it. Food: Main Dining Room-Dinner – Mediocre. Typical cruise fare. Dumbed down flavors. Chicken, fish, pasta, vegetarian entree every day. One or two other entrees every day. No change from prior cruises. Our waiter was inattentive and not too personable. Wine steward (Alexander?) was excellent. Food: Main Dining Room-Breakfast – Don’t bother, buffet is same quality, much larger selection. Food: Buffet – Good selection (i.e., Asian, Mexican, Italian etc.) and good quality at breakfast and lunch. Cannot speak to dinner. Food: Pool Grill – Good hamburgers and French fries. Food: Specialty: Murano – The biggest single failure on this ship. Food is simply bad. Lobster bisque was flavorless. Salad was unremarkable. An appetizer with salmon row was fair. Lobster entrée was bland and too rubbery. Veal chops were awful; tasted like dishwater. Service was great. Paying $50 per person for this is a big mistake. People must be catching on since the place was half full at 7:00PM mid-cruise. Food: Specialty: Tuscan Grill – Both pasta and rib eye steak entrees were very good. The location at back of ship makes for some great views. Service was excellent. Is it worth what they charge for it ($45 per person)? I would say only marginally so. Food: Specialty: Sushi on 5 – Small selection (tuna, yellowtail, fluke, shrimp, octopus, salmon, eel) of mediocre sushi. The appetizers, dumplings (chicken and lobster) were bland/uninteresting. Best item was a roll consisting of crab, cucumber and avocado with spicy gold and brown sauces drizzled on top. Is it worth what they charge for it? If you pay by the piece (which is how you would normally do it), I would say no. If you dine there as part of a specialty dining package as we did – you don’t pay by the piece but a fixed price – and you need a sushi fix, I would say maybe. This will be gone soon. I doubt they served an average of ten people per night from what I observed. Food: Café el Baccio – Very good, quick service. Nice seating area. Love the espresso; Lavazza, I think. However, sometimes it felt like, no matter what you asked for, they gave you what they wanted. Specifically, good luck actually getting decaf espresso. If you like Americanos, I advise ordering a triple (or at least double) shot. Otherwise, Americanos are a little weak. Pastries always tended to be on the dry side. Don’t know what’s up with that since that was not true of pastries elsewhere. Bars: Inside – Lots of variety: rowdy, dark & sedate, live music/dancing. Inside bartenders were reasonably competent. Availability of table service varied bar-to-bar. Bars: Poolside – Service was generally good, despite consistently high volume. I noticed many more waiters trolling the area. If you are a little patient, you really do not ever need to get your drink yourself. That is new. The bartenders, unfortunately, are not overly skilled or consistent. I had “dirty bananas” made three completely different ways. I also wonder whether they actually put any alcohol in any of these drinks. Entertainment – Overall, lots of very good entertainment. Three production shows, two comedians, one magician, one vocal group, one violin act and one female singer. The comedians also did second late shows the following night. The cast did a Broadway-type show one afternoon that we did not attend. The second comedian’s second show was a bit of a dud. The female singer, Ashlie Amber, could not hold all her notes. Apparently, she has been contracted to appear on Edge. Can’t imagine why. In-house bands that played at the pool and in the central court were pretty good. Fitness Center – Well above average. Lots of machines both aerobic and weight. Itinerary – Ten days: Miami, at sea, Grand Cayman, at sea, at sea, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, at sea, Key West, Miami. Perfect mix of sea and shore days, in my opinion. Very hot and humid everywhere. Shore Excursion: Double Dip Snorkeling in Bonaire – Liked this a lot. I think it was $79 per person. The crew was great – knowledgeable, personable, attentive, patient. Made sure everyone was prepared. If you are inexperienced, I think you will feel very comfortable on this trip. Each group of ten or so was led by a crew member (or two) who pointed out things of interest as we went along. This is not bright coral like Hawaii. Coral is green and brown. Fish, however, are very colorful and varied. I don’t know how Bonaire snorkeling compares to other islands in the Caribbean. I was told very favorably. Shore Excursion: Hop-on/Hop-off Trolley in Key West – Being a first-time visitor to Key West this was perfect to get an overview of the place. Lots of history, lots to see. This helped us decide what to see. Well-spent $25 per person. “Shore” Excursion: Tour of Ship – Not cheap, $99 per person. About twenty people on our tour. Got to see kitchen, storage areas, garbage/recycling (actually very interesting), laundry, engine control room, one of the crew buffets and bridge. Short talk (plus Q&A) by person in charge at every stop. Learned a lot. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Overall – This cruise exceeded our expectations. We knew not to expect great food. The food we had, with the exception of Murano, was as good as expected-to-slightly better than expected. Nicest ship we recall being on (our last six cruises have been Celebrity or Princess). Staff was as good as we have ever encountered. Entertainment was probably a little more and better than expected. We used to think of Celebrity and Princess as comparable. Not anymore. Celebrity is clearly a cut above Princess in term of quality. Prices appear to be comparable, in most cases. Read Less