Celebrity Equinox: At Sea

It rained on us a bit yesterday—not unexpected, as Celebrity Equinox is sailing just off the coast of England—but today dawned bright and sunny at sea. Right after breakfast a walk around the Lawn Club was my to-do list. The grass is bright green and inviting and just the spot for this afternoon’s scheduled bocce and quoits competitions.

As lovely as it is outside today, I needed some down time and headed for the spa. For those of us in Celebrity Equinox’s 130 AquaClass staterooms there are perks that come with our accommodations, including a multi-head Hansgrohe shower panel with rain shower head, dining in the exclusive Blu Restaurant, and complimentary access to the sensory pleasures of the spa’s Persian Garden (pictured here). After a delightful hour enjoying the herbal steam room, aromatic sauna, and heated loungers, my cares had drifted away on the passing waves. For even more pampering, there’s a relaxation room with thick padded lounges one deck below the spa where our AquaClass balcony accommodations are located. With access to the spa via a circular “secret” staircase, it’s possible for AquaClass occupants to go to the relaxation room and Persian Garden in their bathrobes without entering public spaces.

If you haven’t booked an AquaClass stateroom, you don’t have to miss out on the Persian Garden’s delights. The fee for unlimited access is $99 per cruise. Or, if you prefer, the men’s and women’s changing rooms have dry saunas with a view of the sea—one wall is glass.

Aboard Celebrity Equinox you’ll find signature spaces that define the identity of Celebrity Cruises as well as some “California” style elements, such as the Galleria Tastings, that integrate nicely with the South Beach vibe of the draped alcoves in the trendy Martini Bar. An intriguing design element of the Solstice-class ships, and one that adds to their intimacy, is that from any spot in accommodations passageways you can see no more than a third of the length of the ship.

You could spend a month on board Celebrity Equinox and still be discovering new elements. I wish I could stay that long, but as I sit by the pool listening to a Flamenco guitarist, my time aboard is coming to an end. There’s lots more information to share, so watch CruiseDiva.com for a full ship review next week.