This was our second year in a row on the Equinox. The year before we sailed on the Silhouette, which is nearly identical. Boarding and disembarking was very quick and painless. The ship is immaculate and well-tended, and the cruise line's contemporary art collection is wonderful (but it won't appeal to all, who may be left scratching their heads).

We were in Concierge Class Statement 1659, near the stern, and it was very quiet. (We booked Concierge Class because it wasn't much more expensive at the time than regular class and we got more Captain's Club points. However, the benefits of Concierge Class while on the ship are minimal, and the staterooms and amenities are the same.) Our stateroom attendant, Ana, was very friendly and kept the room spotless, and she seemed to have our schedule down pat because our room was always made up when we returned from the ship. She did forget twice to leave the next day's listing of activities and port information, but we managed. On the other hand, she was quick to provide two additional bed pillows, for a total of six, upon request, and the bed was comfortable. We were happy with Ana!

The stateroom's televisions are pretty dated and should be replaced ASAP. Also, the small LED screen on the telephone by the bed is so bright that you'll need to cover it with a washcloth or something else unless you enjoy sleeping with a light on. Another inconvenience were voicemail messages sent by the concierge which produced a large yellow flashing light on the telephone in the middle of the night. Had to put a pillow over the phone to eliminate that annoyance (or get up and listen to the message and delete it, which I didn't feel inclined to do in the middle of the night). Read more