Karl WP Beyer The premium shipping company Celebrity Cruises provided the 317 meter long and measured at around 122.000 GT Celebrity Equinox as the second of five cruise ships of the “Solstice class” in service in July 2009. MEYER WERFT from Papenburg built the Solstice class ships. In May 2019, the ship was overhauled in Cadiz, Spain and adapted to the standards of the new Edge class.
Celebrity Equinox in Colon 2000
Solstice-class ships are named after astronomical phenomena. "Equinox" stands for the calendar equinox. The open atrium between decks 3 to 5, known as the “Grand Foyer”, is typical of all Solstice class ships. There is a spectacular elevator shaft next to the Grand Foyer. Eight glass elevators shuttle between decks 3 to 15 in a light shaft planted with a large deciduous tree.
Celebrity Equinox - the on-board deciduous tree
Another attraction of the ship class is the “Lawn Club” on deck 15. The 2.000 m² lawn area is an explicit invitation to step on and sunbathe. There is a bit of a country club atmosphere and a lawn keeper is responsible for looking after the lawn.
Celebrity Equinox - the Lawn Club
Cabins & Suites
According to the shipyard, the Equinox has 1.426 cabins. With double occupancy this corresponds to 2.852 guests. Only 140 cabins miss the ocean.
Cabin categories
- Inside cabins
- Outside cabins including family
- Balcony cabins - Deluxe and Sunset
- Concierge Class balcony cabins
- AquaClass balcony cabins
- Suites
It is rightly expected of Celebrity Cruises ships that even the standard cabins are tastefully and elegantly designed. Sufficient space - including the wet rooms - is available.
Celebrity Equinox - balcony cabin 8262
The cabin service is carried out twice a day. The stewards are well trained and courteous. Thought has been given to passengers with restricted mobility. There are enough cabins equipped for the disabled.
Eating and Drinking
Restaurants
Guests can choose between several restaurants and cafes. As is customary in cruise shipping, a distinction is made between restaurants that are included in the price and those that are subject to a surcharge.
Restaurants included in the price
The Silhouette main restaurant
The spacious and representative main restaurant is located aft on decks 3 and 4. It is used for main meals. Two sessions are required for dinner. - Part of the restaurant is reserved for those guests who prefer “select dining” to fixed meal times. The select dining option provides for the flexible consumption of dinner within a core time between 17:45pm and 21:30pm
Celebrity Equinox - Silhouette Dining
The varied and high-quality food offer changes constantly. The dishes are tasty. As such, none of the specialty restaurants on board would need it. The service staff act competently and quickly even at peak times.
The Oceanview Cafe
The Oceanview buffet restaurant is located aft on deck 14. Its self-service stations are sensibly arranged and designed twice in heavily frequented sections. There are practically no queues. When the ship was rebuilt in spring 2019, a marketplace concept was introduced.
One of the advantages of the Oceanview Café is the spacious, partially shaded outdoor area. There, guests enjoy eating outdoors, which makes sense in warm regions. Country-specific dishes are offered depending on the mix of guests. There is nothing wrong with the selection, the quality and the taste of the dishes.
The Aqua Spa Café
The small bistro is located in the solarium on the 12th deck. Breakfast is served there and guests satisfy their “little hunger in between” without changing deck. The snacks offered are healthy and tasty.
The mast grill
Towards the center of the ship is the mast grill on deck 14. It stands for hamburgers, hot dogs and fries. On the jogging track leading past the grill, you could jog after the high-calorie food intake.
Celebrity Equinox - Mast Grill
Restaurants only for suite and AquaClass guests
Suite residents take the main meals in the restaurant Luminae on deck 3. Guests of the AquaClass have breakfast and dinner in the Blue on deck 5.
Celebrity Equinox - Restaurant Blu
Restaurants subject to surcharge
Most of these bars are mostly only open in the evening. The environment and the quality of the food in the restaurants generally justify the statement: very good!
The restaurants subject to surcharge are located on deck 5. There are ...
… the Bistro on Five - more than a "typical" bistro;
… the Murano - stands for classic and modern French cuisine;
… of the Tuscan Grille - presents itself mainly as an Italian steak house;
… the Qsine - Fine cuisine with 3D gadgets from “Le Petit Chef”.
Bars & Lounges
Guests can choose between the following bars and lounges.
Deck 3
Passport bar
It is located in the Grand Foyer across from Guest Relations. It is suitable as a stimulating and cozy place to have a drink, unless the live music is booming in the atrium.
Deck 4
Casino Bar
The bar on the edge of the casino impresses with its good and friendly service. Sports events are shown on large monitors.
Cellar Masters
The intimate wine bar offers its guests tasty, fine wines. Wine tastings take place regularly in the Cellar Masters.
Celebrity Equinox - Cellar Masters
Martini Bar & Crush
Already in our discussion of the Celebrity Silhouette we wrote “This is where people stir, shake and enjoy”. This also applies to the Celebrity Equinox.
Celebrity Equinox - Martini Bar & Crush
Quasar
The soberly designed location is mainly used as a disco and for regular karaoke events. We don't feel addressed by the interior.
Deck 5
Café al Bacio & Gelateria
On all Solstice-class ships known to us, the café is a suitable place to relax and enjoy delicious coffee blends and exquisite teas. The drinks and the additional ice creams offered are chargeable. The pastry specialties also served are available as an encore.
Ensemble lounge
A spacious and dim lounge with live music and good drinks.
Gallery Tastings
Following the times, molecular drinks and cocktails are offered in the hip bar. Not our thing!
Celebrity Equinox - Galleria Tastings
Retreat Lounge
The former Kommode pub has been redesigned as a retreat for suite guests. We miss the pub.
There are no bars and lounges on cabin decks 6 to 11. Further locations follow on the decks above.
Deck 12
Pool Bar
It is the open-air bar on the sun and pool deck.
Deck 14
Mast bar
Located on the starboard side, level with the mast grill.
Celebrity Equinox - Mast Bar
Ocean View Bar
Located aft in the outdoor area of the Oceanview Café.
Sky observation lounge
The large, versatile lounge extends over the entire front width of the ship.
Celebrity Equinox - Sky Observation Lounge
Deck 15
Sunset Bar
The highest bar in the Celebrity Equinox. The guests sit in the stern area of the ship and look out over the stern water. Comfortable lounge furniture is available for visitors to the Sunset Bar on both sides of the adjacent lawn of the Lawn Club. A staircase leads down to the Oceanview Bar. The Sunset Bar is an ideal place on warm evenings.
Fitness & Wellness
Ball games, running and swimming are the focus of on-board activities. Space has been created on the upper decks for all three sports. The basketball court and jogging track are in the front on the 15th and amidships on the 14th deck.
Celebrity Equinox - sunbathing areas next to the basketball court
You can swim in the two outdoor pools on deck 12 and in the solarium. This fully glazed relaxation area with water features, a large pool and whirlpools is officially reserved for people aged 16 and over. Unofficially, this is often overlooked. The solarium offers the most beautiful and tasteful loungers on the entire ship. Six whirlpools are distributed over the pool deck.
Although the loungers on the sun decks are well frequented; it is no problem to find two berths on deck in the desired area. It is not typical for American ships to block berths during the day.
The spas and the gym on deck 12 is run by Canyon Ranch, a renowned operator of wellness centers. The spa offers are varied and expensive; the sports area is spacious and equipped with very good equipment.
Entertainment
Entertainment runs from early morning until late at night. Lectures about upcoming destinations, wine presentations by the head sommelier and art auctions find a grateful audience. There are also special sales, the Liar's Club, karaoke events or the “Officers Challenge” in the on-board casino. Members of the Captain's Club meet the captain and senior officers.
The center of on-board entertainment is the large three-story On-board theaterr. When designing the theater, it was taken into account that almost all of the 1.095 seats have an optimal view and that the audience is close to the artists.
Eelebrity Equinox - Theater
As a look behind the scenes reveals, the technical equipment is excellent. The board musicians and the dancers act first class. The singers stand out mainly because of their volume. Guest artists appear regularly. The four artists involved in all shows should be emphasized. You show great ability.
The entertainment spectrum counts Live music in different ship areas. We find all of these performances too loud and ask ourselves whether only the hard of hearing prefer to travel with the Equinox. It is usually well attended Fortune Casino. The gamblers meet at around 275 modern machines and 15 gaming tables.
The two of them branch off from the Grand Foyer on decks 4 and 5 Store levels from. On deck 6 adjoins Online@Celebrity to the central area of the elevators. Workshops on PC topics are offered regularly for a fee.
Close to the open elevator shaft on deck 9 Card Room and on decks 10 and 11 the Library on. Comfortable seating areas and daylight invite you to browse.
The glass artists of the Hot Glass Show. There are regular, one-hour demonstrations on deck 15 at the Lawn Club. For a fee, guests can try their hand at the art of glass production; they are guided by the experts.
For Children and adolescents there are areas on deck 15 that are separated according to age groups. Care is guaranteed. The older generation of travelers can enjoy video games.
And then there are the extremely high quality Stores to mention. Clothing, leather goods, Swiss watches or duty-free goods, all of this is offered and bought.
General information about Celebrity Equinox
|
Commissioning |
July 2009 |
|
Size: |
Length 317 meters; Width 36,80 meters |
|
measurement |
122.000 GT |
|
Decks |
17 decks, 12 of which are passenger decks |
|
Machine |
Diesel-electric propulsion, two Azipods |
|
Machine performance |
67.200 kW |
|
Speed |
Max. 24 knots (44 km / h) |
|
passengers |
Approx. 2.582 with double occupancy |
|
Cabins & Suites |
1.426, including 140 inside cabins |
|
Crew |
Around 1.270 people |
|
Flagge |
Malta |
|
shipyard |
Meyer Werft, Papenburg |
|
Godmother |
Nina Barough - Founder of "Walk the Walk" |
|
Board language |
English; German-speaking guest service from case to case |
|
Currency on board |
U.S. dollar |
Current position Celebrity Equinox
Rating of the Celebrity Equinox
When you step onto the Equinox for the first time, you get the feeling that you have made a good choice with the ship. She is presented as a premium ship both in the cabin and in all public places. Works of art by contemporary artists are well worth seeing in the public areas. The Equinox looks exemplary from the outside and inside.
Power
Like her four sister ships, the Equinox is a beautiful and remarkably straightforward ship with clearly structured and generously designed public areas.
The gastronomic offers of the restaurants and bars as well as the proven, excellent service of the crew members are hard to beat.
We find the international mix of guests to be extremely pleasant. We enjoy making and cultivating contacts on board celebrity ships.
criticisms
Not only on the Equinox, but also on its sister ships, we wanted more comfortable bars and lounges. We feel more comfortable on the ships of the sister company Royal Caribbean International and those of the Azamara ships belonging to the group.
The music in public spaces is criticized: whether live or canned, the music mix and, above all, the volume are often a nuisance. Many of our fellow travelers shared this criticism.
Summary
However, the criticisms made do not change the fact that we thoroughly enjoyed our stay on board the Celebrity Equinox. As a cruise line, Celebrity Cruises is always recommended to guests with an international focus.
Our journey with the Equinox led as a 14-day trip through the western Caribbean. The trip was supported by Celebrity Cruises. Our thanks go to the shipping company. With regard to our journalistic independence, we refer to the chapter "We are independent".
