Introduction – We have been cruising since 2006, and have been on 31 cruises, including 27 Royal Caribbean cruises, 2 (counting this one) Celebrity Cruises, and 1 each on two other lines (which was enough). We both start using a Medicare card this summer, and live in the Central US, where flight is required for most of our cruises. Our other venture on Celebrity was in 2008, as we were on the 3rd sailing of Celebrity Solstice (original inaugural date). Between that sailing and this one, we were on 24 RC cruises, with no other cruise lines in between.

We chose this cruise partially because of the perks they offered and the fact that the itinerary took us to three new ports (for us). Also, after so many RC cruises in a row, it’s good to see what going on another line is like. When Equinox’s routes were moved to Caribbean year round in the summer of 2016, they offered the GO Best! Promotion, so for our 11-night journey we had: Free gratuities, Free Premium drink package, free unlimited internet, and $650 OBC (part from Celebrity/part from our travel agent). These perks greatly enhanced our experience. We went to Miami three days early, as it’s unusual for us to sail from there, and we stayed at the Intercontinental, and were spoiled with a bay view that was just like watching a PTZ webcam out our window of the bay and harbor and ships.

Embarkation – We arrived at the cruise terminal at 10:15 a.m. The lines were pretty short, and because of our RC Diamond Plus status we were considered Elite on Celebrity due to reciprocity of loyalty programs. It was a while before we were able to board, as a surprise US Coast Guard inspection was held. We arrived early enough to have a seat for that entire time. Other Elites weren’t as fortunate. By the time we were able to board, about 11:30, there were masses of people standing in lines at check-in, and it was very warm. However, we were handed a Mimosa and boarded. Read more