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Celebrity Equinox and the AquaClass Experience

6/17/2022

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Celebrity Equinox and the AquaClass Experience
Thrilled to be cruising again, our last cruise was on Celebrity Equinox, departing Fort Lauderdale on May 29, 2022.  This was a 6-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Key West, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. Our cruise was approximately 70% capacity, which to me is perfect. There were no problems getting seats anywhere and we do like to spend our days outside by the pool or on the deck by a lounge.  As all cruises are a different experience, this one was no exception.
For the first time in many years, we didn't book our cruise in The Retreat. When traveling in multiple rooms, it's often easier for everyone to be in the same "level" so that meals can be shared together. Admittedly, I was somewhat nervous that I'd notice that maybe being in the The Retreat was what elevated the Celebrity Cruises service. Boy, was I wrong! Is Aqua Class on Celebrity worth it? In my opinion, 100% YES. Read more for my reasons why.​
It was our first time trying AquaClass and I was extremely impressed. The Blu dining room was unbelievably beautiful  with wonderful personalized service. Although I have to note, the food at every venue on Celebrity Equinox was amazing. It was probably some of the best food I've enjoyed at sea in the past few years. The food quality was top-notch, extremely fresh, and prepared well. The steaks and seafood rivaled any restaurant on land. ​

Here are a few standouts of AquaClass: 

The AquaClass staterooms on Celebrity Equinox are all located on Deck 11, very convenient to get to the Spa and other upper deck venues. In your room, you are provided with 2 generous bottles of water every day. We asked our stateroom attendant to clear out the mini-bar so that we can keep our water cold, along with stash a few treats we pick up in our travels throughout the ship. One of my favorite parts of the AquaClass stateroom is the amazing shower...those jets! With an array of jets the length of the wall, along with a rainforest shower head, you may have trouble leaving this shower. I also became obsessed with the delicious Bigelow bath products. You'll find body lotion, along with shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel in the shower.  Below are photos from our Celebrity Equinox AquaClass stateroom 1539. You can see the sofa is next to the veranda. Our sons had Celebrity Equinox stateroom 1540 and their beds were opposite, closest to the veranda.
Celebrity Equinox Room 1539
Celebrity Equinox 1539
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The footstools provided on the balcony let you stretch out
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The Persian Garden relaxation room hot beds are OMG wonderful! You can wear robes, swimsuit or even comfy clothes. With curves set right where they need to be, the warm tiles support all of your muscles and take your cares away. A lovely fragrance fills the air and the only view you'll need is the ocean right in front of you.
Persian Garden Celebrity Cruises
Snacks are delivered to your room each day in Celebrity Cruises Aqua Class. Honestly, they weren't always my favorite but a nice treat if you like them.
Cabin Snacks on Celebrity Cruises Aqua Class
Blu: This intimate dining room is reserved for AquaClass guests. You can order from the Blu menu or the MDR menu. They graciously accommodate both. One night, they even brought my son a burger. If you love a wine experience like I do, I was thrilled to have Jesus for a Sommelier in Blu. Jesus is amazing. He suggests a perfect wine for each course (I didn’t even ask) and kept my glass full through dinner. Our Blu server was Ida (enjoyable at every meal) and we adored the hostess Melanie. Keep in mind, Blu is open for breakfast and dinner only. Also, you will not have an assigned dining time, just show up when you are hungry.
Virtual Tip: If you are traveling with a larger party, the table configuration in Blu is not typically set for large tables. For our party of 6, we gave the Maitre D' and hostess an approximate time of when we'd be arriving each night and they always seated us right away.
Blu dining for Aqua Class on Celebrity Cruises
Dining at Blu Aqua Class
Perfect sized bites of brie cheese coated with almonds
Dining at Blu
A delicious Fried Eggplant with Goat Cheese to start
Lobster Night on Celebrity Cruises
Just ask...they'll give you two tails
Dining at Blu
Every night colorful butters & spreads are served with bread
Dining at Blu
Seared Duck Breast
Baked Alaska when cruising
Evening Chic night Baked Alaska

Overall around the ship:

One of our favorite spots is the Solarium Pool. When the weather isn't the most idea, this is the place to be. They even have drink service and very comfortable lounges. 
Solarium Pool
Reserved for guests over 16, the Solarium is an indoor sanctuary
Miami Vice Cocktail
What is a Miami Vice? Half Pina Colada and half Strawberry Daiquiri
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An inviting bright and open space!
Mudslide Cocktail
Don't hesitate to ask for extra chocolate in your Mudslide
We dined at Murano, it was wonderful as always. Although, it is a long dining experience, so be prepared. The Murano lobster was the best we’ve had on any ship.
Murano on Celebrity Cruises
A lovely delicate ginger cream amuse bouche
Murano Lobster
Table side preparation of Murano Lobster
Desserts at Murano
Homemade sweets are the perfect end to a French-inspired meal
Murano on Celebrity Cruises
Phyllo Baked Pear
Murano Lobster
Cold water lobster is a treat to have on a Caribbean cruise
Souffle at Murano
Grand Marnier Souffle is filled with a Vanilla cream
Tuscan Grille: Love the location and the Celebrity Cruises Tuscan Grille Italian specialities. Choose a dining time around sunset and/or a port sail away and you’ll have an incredible view.
Sunset on Celebrity Cruises
Tuscan Grille has some of the best dining views!
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Roasted Garlic Flatbread
Homemade pasta at Tuscan Grille
Lobster Rigatoni Alfredo
Celebrity Equinox
Make your reservation at sunset for a treat
Dining at Tuscan Grille
Meatballs are a fun way to start
Limoncello at Tuscan Grille
Limoncello Cheesecake...incredible!
Sushi on Five is a family favorite! I always start my cruise off with the Lobster Ramen, followed by the mouthwatering Caramelized Ginger Cake and Wasabi Gelato. And a cocktail (or two) of course. Sushi on Five on Celebrity Cruises has some of the most creative and unique drinks on the ship. You are on vacation! 
Sushi on Five
Lobster Ramen
Sushi on Five
Caramelized Ginger Cake and Wasabi Gelato
Sushi on Five
Homemade Lobster & Shrimp Wontons
Sushi on Five
Agave Sunrise
Room Service: Aqua Class room service was super fast and they got everything right. Our favorite Celebrity Cruises resource Joyce Lopez' recommendation was for the late night club sandwich and I think my husband had it three nights straight after we came back from the shows/activities. I love the cheese plate.
Cheese Plate from Room Service
Not just your average cheese plate
Club Sandwich from Celebrity Cruises Room Service
A club sandwich with french fries is perfect for a late-night snack
Oceanview Cafe: It's incredible and I don’t usually say that. I’m not typically a fan of the Oceanview Cafe on Celebrity Cruises, but we have eaten numerous meals there and loved them. The pizza is REALLY good and the churros bar was a hit. The Mexican selection was forefront when we were docked in Cozumel. I even went back for seconds of mole chicken.
Oceanview Cafe Churros
Decadent Churros at the Oceanview Cafe
Donuts at Oceanview Cafe
I have such a sweet tooth when it comes to donuts!
The shows on Celebrity Equinox are really, really good! Even the entertainment in the lounges (we always love the Ensemble Lounge on Celebrity Cruises for pre-dinner drinks) are very talented musicians and vocalists.
#briannafaulkmusic
Brianna Faulk AMAZING homage to Tina Turner
Celebrity Cruises Ensemble Lounge Entertainment
Live music at the Ensemble Lounge is fantastic!
For those sports fans, YES! ​Craft Social, along with other public areas around the ship, showed the NBA Finals, and other high profile sporting events. It's lots of fun to share in the camaraderie and cheering with other fans while watching the games at sea. 
One of the highlights for athletic cruisers is the basketball court. Celebrity Equinox is one of the few Celebrity Cruises ships that still maintains a basketball court. It was supposed to have been taken down in order to revolutionize The Retreat area, but because of an incident occurring at Port Everglades during the renovations, the construction crew was needed elsewhere and so this change never happened (much to the joy of my youngest son!) You can see him below in the pink polo playing with the Celebrity Equinox crew at night. 
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The Captain onboard our cruise was Captain Matt Karandreas.  We really enjoyed Captain Matt’s announcements everyday. The weather on our cruise was not great but he kept us informed all along the way. He has a fun format of announcing birthday’s each day along with a seaworthy quote. 
The revolutionized alcoves on the lawn of Celebrity Equinox are fantastic! I wasn’t sure about how functional they would be since they completely changed the design. But I love them! They are ingeniously spacious. Reserve one for the day and be prepared to be pampered. They come with butler service (think bottled water, fresh fruit, and an antipasto platter…they will even bring any drinks on your drink package, pool towels, and more!) Reserve an alcove ahead of time on the app or they might sell out. Go the Dining section, just reserve 1 person and it will seat up to 4. The cost is $99 for port days or $249 for sea days. It’s available to you from 9AM to 9PM. You’ll have a great view of movies showing on the Lawn’s big screen too.
Alcoves on Celebrity Equinox
Alcoves on Celebrity Equinox
As always, our Celebrity Cruises vacation was fabulous. Not knowing what to expect about AquaClass, it turned out to be an outstanding cruise experience and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. The Blu dining, wonderful AquaClass amenities, and relaxation room were notable stand outs. Even though Celebrity Equinox was first built in 2009, she was revolutionized in 2019 and is still wonderfully maintained with some of the most hospitable staff we've had. 

Thank you Celebrity Cruises for helping to make the best family memories once again! ​

If you or a friend are planning a Celebrity Equinox or Celebrity Cruises Aqua Class cruise, feel free to share this article!
Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Equinox in Cozumel
Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Equinox in Key West
Celebrity Equinox
Celebrity Equinox in Grand Cayman
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