Caribbean Cruise 2010 – Day 2 – Day at Sea
November 28, 2010
Yesterday was our first full day of the cruise and it was a day at sea. We love days at sea when cruising – even better than days in ports. Days at sea are wonderful relaxation days and a very good way to recharge your batteries. We are currently making our way to the Eastern Caribbean where we will make 5 stops, the first being in St Thomas.
We slept in until about 7:30 in the morning (late for us with our hectic schedules). We ate a light breakfast and began to think about the day. It was a beautiful sunny day with slightly warm and humid conditions. Luckily the speed of the ship generates enough breeze on the boat that it made the conditions quite comfortable. The seas remain exceptionally calm with almost like glass like conditions. It’s hard to tell you are even on a ship.
We started the morning with the Cruise Critic party in the morning. We met many of the same Cruise Critic members that we sailed away with the day before and some new ones. This is more of Suzanne’s thing than mine, but it was an enjoyable morning as the Celebrity staff helped organize a nice little party. Suzanne preceded to do an hour of walking on the track while I walked about the ship checking out the areas of the ship I hadn’t seen yet. I also went up to the lawn club and grabbed a nice, cushy chair and did my usual staring at the water. I can do that for days and find it very therapeutic and relaxing. We received a nice little surprise as the Celebrity Solstice sailed on by us in the morning on her way back to Fort Lauderdale.
I then caught the Corning Museum of Glass Hot Glass show. It’s a wonderful show on the ship were 3 hot glass blowers take turns making various glass items or sculptures. On the Solstice, Sean and I made most of the shows. I find it quite interesting how they make the glass items. The show is also done in the lawn club on the top deck so you still have amazing views of the ocean while watching the show. Suzanne did not take in the show as she went for a nap after her walk.
I grabbed a quick burger and onion rings for lunch after the show and ate while again staring at the ocean. The past year of work has faded from me as the cruise takes hold. This is most definitely why we cruise at least once a year. After my lunch and bit more ocean time, I headed up to the room to check on Suzanne. As fate would have it, I also decided to take a short 45 minute nap although I can’t remember the last time I took a real nap – probably the last cruise!
A bit after 4:00, we went to the Celebrity Captains Club cocktail hour. This is a private function for Captains Club Elite members. It’s a two hour cocktail party every night of the cruise with free drinks and appetizers. It is a nice way for Celebrity to say thanks to its loyal cruisers! Being able to go every night, if desired, and have your pre-dinner drinks for free actually adds up to some savings. It’s also a way to meet some of our fellow cruisers in a smaller, more intimate environment.
Last night was also the first formal night of the cruise. After the cocktail party, Suzanne went to get ready and I headed off to the pool bar rather than wait in the room while she primped! Dinner was another fabulous meal. I don’t think I have had a bad meal on Celebrity in any of our cruises. I had a wonderful Filet Mignon Carpaccio to start, followed by a Cesar Salad and then a Penne Poulet main course. The penne was with chicken, truffles and basil in a crème sauce – absolutely delicious. Suzanne had a Seafood Bisque, a mixed greens salad and went for a couple of main courses. She tried both the Quail and the Lamb Chops.
After dinner, it was off to the Celebrity Theater for the Captain’s welcome aboard toast and the evening show. Tonight, the show was another version of the Cirque de Sol. Yawn. It was a variety of aerialists doing acrobatic type things. It seemed like I had seen it all before. Or maybe found the first 30 seconds of each performance interesting, but the next few minutes quite repetitive. Yawn. The juggler at the end was pretty good, but all in all, I could have passed on the show.
The show ended just before midnight we gave us time to run to the Celebrity Central theater to catch the late night comedian. We had seen Steve Caouette the night before during the welcome aboard show and found him very entertaining. He was again VERY funny and entertaining. Almost the entire show was improvised on the spot. We sat in the front row and got ‘picked on’ a little bit by the comedian. Funny stuff and we will watch for him again.
It was about 1:00 am when we returned to the cabin for the night to get some sleep. We also crossed a time zone last night and had to move our clocks forward one hour, so it will surely be a late start morning for us the next day where we once again will have a day at sea.
Caribbean Cruise 2010 – Day 1 – Departure Day
November 27, 2010
Yesterday was the start of our 2010 Caribbean cruise on board the Celebrity Equinox. The cruise would be departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Our destinations would be St. Thomas, St Kitts, Barbados, Dominica and St Maarten. Add in four days at sea (plus the departure and arrival days) and it should be a fun filled cruised.
We flew in Fort Lauderdale on Thanksgiving Day. We celebrated Thanksgiving a day early back in Arizona with our kids and Suzanne’s parents (Brett and Anne). We stayed at the Hilton Marina right across the street from the cruise terminal. The hotel was more than sufficient but nothing all that special. But hey, the room was free courtesy of Hilton Honors points! The air travel to Fort Lauderdale was also free with American miles.
After arriving around 9:30 pm, we enjoyed a couple of beers in the marina side bar before calling it a night around midnight and rose about 7:30 in the morning. Suzanne went for a walk and picked up some breakfast on the way back. We spent a very leisurely morning just kicking back in the hotel room.
With check out time at 11:00, we decided to just head for the cruise terminal. We were thinking we would just walk it, but evidently that’s not allowed so we grabbed a shuttle which was a good idea since the ship turned out to be a bit further than just the entrance to the cruise terminal. It was a busy morning at the Port Everglades cruise terminal with our ship, the Celebrity Equinox, the Holland American ships Westerdam and Maasdam, and the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas departing that morning. The Allure of the Seas is the new Royal Caribbean monster ship holding over 5000 passengers – big it was!
The arrival at the ship couldn’t have gone smoother. Shuttle dropped as at 11:30, we gave our bags to porters and waited for a registration agent for oh, maybe 30 seconds. We were comfortably on board sipping champagne before 12:00. After a brief topside tour of the ship, we grabbed a quick lunch (hmmm, must be a cruise, eating within 30 minutes of boarding!) and decided to go see which crew members we knew. It’s been a long time since we have sailed anybody but Celebrity (1992?) and have gotten used to seeing many of the crew members on multiple sailings.
First stop was the cellar master bar, where to our surprise, Sinisa was again our cellar master for the cruise. I think that makes three cruises in a row! We were soon sipping a good Pinot while discussing the wine events on the cruise. We also ran into several waiters that we had the pleasure of sailing with before.
This was our first cruise since 2005 without the kids. With Sean being in high school now, we no longer felt comfortable taking him out of school for a couple of weeks for a cruise. We have been in the habit of getting a table for four for dinner. This cruise, Suzanne went ahead and requested a table for 8 (I wanted on for two). When she went to scope out the table, she was disappointed. The table was for 12 and was actually located behind the big grand staircase that goes from the top dining room floor to the lower level. We went to see the maitre ‘d about getting the table changed. Luckily Marcel was one of an assistant maitre ‘d we had sailed with 3 or 4 times and he was handling the dinner seatings. After some brief pleasantries he sent us away saying he would take care of it and to meet him at the entrance at the start of late seating.
About 1:30 we went to our cabin to check it out – a good standard balcony cabin. Actually, it’s on the concierge class level. This means we get a butler. Why, I don’t know. I guess we can give him the cruise off! When we booked the cruise, our travel agent Lori at Skyscraper Travel, got us the concierge level for $10 more than a regular balcony, so we did it. As the cruise got closer, the price also dropped $200 so we saved even more! About 3:00 our luggage arrived and Suzanne made short work of the unpacking.
The required muster drill was at 4:15 and it’s still one of the best recent changes that you no longer have to wear your life preservers to the muster drill! Sail away was scheduled for 5:00 pm but loading delays was going to mean a departure closer to 5:30. After the muster drill, we proceeded to the Sunset Bar on the top/back of the boat for the sail away. We were meeting the Cruise Critic Roll Call group for sail away drinks. Cruise Critic is a popular cruise site that Suzanne frequents and they always get together on cruises. Celebrity even throws a party for members. We met with about 30 other cruise critic members and had a couple of glasses of wine for the sail away. It was actually our first sail away from Fort Lauderdale as despite our numerous cruises, we haven’t done a Caribbean cruise before. It was sunset and quite a beautiful sail away! Sailing past a couple of high rise resorts or condos on the channel to the Ocean was kind of fun. We went in processing, the Westerdam first, followed by us and then the Masdam (the Allure of the Seas had a later departure). It was almost like dueling horns as we passed by the high rises.
We went to our cabin and dressed for the night – it was casual and then went to our usual pre-dinner spot, the cellar masters lounge and enjoyed a pre-dinner glass of wine. When we went to dinner, Marcel had gotten us a nice table for two – at a nice window! Our waiter is from Croatia and his assistant is from Mauritius.
Dinner, as usual with Celebrity, was fantastic. Suzanne enjoyed escargot and a Turkey meatballs/pasta combination. I had Asian chicken spring rolls and a Chicken Saltimbocca. No complaints from us on the food!
After dinner, we went to the ‘Welcome Aboard!’ show which was a preview of the entertainment to come. I am probably most looking forward to the comedian Steve Caouette who was very funny and largely unscripted. I like comedians that think very well on their feet.
After the show, which ended about midnight, we had planned to go see the dance band Headlines in the Observation Lounge. Headlines is one of Suzanne’s favorite bands we have seen on cruise ships. Again, this is our third or fourth cruise with them. While touring the ship earlier, we walked out to the pool area where they were preparing to play and chatted with them for a bit. They instantly recognized Suzanne and called us over. Suzanne usually ends up singing a song or two with them at some point in the cruise. Anyways, we were a bit tired and decided to forego the midnight trip to the lounge and instead called it a night.
Tomorrow is a sea day and will be a great follow up day to this Caribbean cruise!
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