Celebrity Cruises : Equinox Launch

Brian Telfer on 31 January 2018
Ships in the Celebrity Solstice Class promise an extraordinary experience. I found this to be so true. Recently I had the privilege of sailing on the new Celebrity Equinox, the latest addition to Solstice class, and it offers everything you'd expect from ships of this size - but delivered with a touch of class that sets it apart from the rest.

The highly personalized service, exceptional dining and extraordinary attention to detail must be experienced to be believed. Although a big ship it has been cleverly designed to give not only a feeling of spaciousness but also a level of intimacy that can sometimes only be found on a smaller ship.

I joined the Equinox at Southampton, which will be its departure point from the UK. Seeing this beautiful ship suddenly come into view was so exciting.

What stood out for me about this ship? The Lawn Club which includes half-acre of real grass, the host of dining venues, the varied entertainment including spectacular shows, AquaClass, the spa-inspired staterooms with unlimited access to the Spa areas and the healthy eating restaurant Blu, and that extra touch of class and level of detail.

Meeting up with colleagues at the Martini Bar & Crush where the bar itself was made of ice, was such a great way to start the evening. You can also sample a global wine tour in the Cellar Masters. We did try out the Casino, and the staff there were great fun and very, very patient! Cabins have been finished to a high standard and are a good size, with more storage available than on a lot of other ships, including the bathrooms which again have been well designed. Concierge Class has, as it suggests, a concierge service with priority check-in, butler service, champagne in the cabin on arrival and other special extras which you would expect from a more expensive grade. Whichever cabin you pick or whatever grade, they are all beautiful, as are the specialty restaurants: The Murano (French), The Silk Harvest (Far East Fusion), The Tuscan (Italian), The Bistro (Crepes) and Blu (Healthy eating). The main restaurant is the Silhouette which is situated on three floors. Children are well-catered for with their own clubs and area on the ship and are well looked after at all times.

From the moment we embarked, when we were given a glass of chilled champagne to the time we disembarked, nothing was too much trouble. We've all heard of the phrase "plain sailing" - well, this was "fabulous sailing"! Our trip onboard Celebrity Equinox involved sailing from Southampton on a 10-night “Best of Europe” itinerary to Rome, calling on ports in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy, as well Gibraltar, UK. The ship then sails a series of 13 and 14-night “Ancient Empires” cruises, featuring two new ports of call: Haifa and Ashdod, Israel.

If the above has whet your appetite, please call me now on 020 3432 2510 for a chat and I can arrange everything for you.