Celebrity Equinox Review
Celebrity Delivered Excellent Cruise Following Two Hurricanes
Rating by category
Additional details
This is our 4th Celebrity Cruise and we continue to think they provide the best bang for the buck in the cruise industry. Also, the demographic of the other guests works for us--45-70 years old, basically, and not traveling with children (been there, done that). The entertainment was the best of any of our cruises and the entire cruise went off like clockwork. Could not be happier. We were on the Equinox several years ago and it is still as clean and well maintained as ever. The food was excellent and the service is beyond compare. I can't think of a thing that could have been better.
Our itinerary was changed twice before sailing due to two hurricanes, so we did end up going to many ports that we had already visited in the past, except Martinique, which was a very nice surprise. I think it is the cleanest of the Caribbean Islands and we hope to stop there again some day. Barbados is our second favorite island for its beautiful beaches and beautiful, walkable town. This being said, the beaches on all the islands were not very good because of the recent hurricanes...the water was still churned up so snorkeling was out. The thing is, this did not bother us much because it was so nice to just enjoy the ship and all it has to offer.
We both had the premium beverage package and the choices were adequate. The internet worked well everywhere, too.
Cabin Review
Deluxe Veranda 2B
Cabin was very clean and well maintained. Our cabin steward, Peter, did an excellent job at keeping the bathroom clean, using bleach to wipe up the floor, I believe, because it always smelled clean with a slight hint of bleach water. No complaints here.
Port Reviews
Nassau
We were in Nassau 40 years ago and it has changed significantly, and not for the better. The town of Nassau was dirty and so was the area around the cruise port.
We took a group taxi out to Paradise Island to see the beach we had enjoyed years ago, Cabbage Beach, which was pristine and gorgeous with few people back then. What a disappointment! Now it is accessed by a dirt road, which is lined with garbage. When you arrive out at the beach, there are many guys standing around trying to rent you an old, rusty lounge chair for the day. There is still garbage everywhere and all these guys just stand around, instead of taking some pride in their beach and picking up the garbage. All I can say is, "Bahamians, pick up your garbage!"
St. Kitts (Port Zante)
We took a private taxi to the Romney Gardens and Caribelle Batik because my husband wanted to buy another shirt there. The one he purchased 6 years ago still looks great and it is the perfect lightweight cotton for our Arizona weather...he bought 2 at 70.00 each. Taxi was about 40.00 roundtrip.
Martinique
This was our first time to Martinique and we loved it. I think it is the cleanest of the Caribbean islands...no trash or garbage anywhere in the town (not sure about the outskirts). Since the weather was a bit overcast with possible drizzle approaching, we had decided not to do an excursion and just toured the town.
Barbados
We love Barbados. In the past we have done the excursion from the ship that goes out to Harbour Lights beach (which is a short taxi ride away for 10.00 each way if you go on your own). This time we took a taxi (same price) to Copacabana Beach, which is right next to Harbour Lights. It costs 20.00 for 2 people to get in, which includes chairs and an umbrella...beautiful beach and better price and more flexibility than doing the ship's excursion.
St. Lucia
The last time we were in St. Lucia we took the catamaran excursion to the Pitons offered by Celebrity and it was a fabulous and very fun time. Would highly recommend it. This time we just walked around a little bit, with people asking us all along the way if we needed a cab. The area outside the port is a bit sketchy.
Antigua
We hired a taxi with another couple to take us to Galleon Beach, which is supposed to be a wonderful place to snorkel. Unfortunately, when we got all the way out there (about 40 minutes) it was closed because of the recent hurricanes...looked fine to us, but it was closed. Anyway, the driver then took us to another beach about half way back toward the cruise port and it was okay, but it had a lot of debris in the water from the recent storms, as well. I would definetly go out to Galleon Beach again on another visit. Cost us 50.00 per couple for the roundtrip and the driver waited for us for 2 hours at the beach...so, not a bad deal for 4 hours of his time.