On the Ship

Reflections of a Six Suitcase Gal in a One Bag Allowance World

We never thought we'd be cruise people. We were always land travelers who spent extended periods of time wherever it was we went. We travel out of the country every year. We've spent months in Europe, mostly France, sometimes Italy. We've done extended home exchanges to France and Denmark. We usually begin by visiting family in England and then extend the trip by crossing the channel. About five years ago, we decided to try a cruise. I did a lot of research on cruise lines. I decided on Celebrity and our first cruise was fabulous. We decided not to mess with success and have since that first cruise exclusively booked with Celebrity.

The Celebrity ships are both elegant and sophisticated, Every detail is exquisite. The newest ships, the Solstice class vessels are built in Pappenburg Germany and each cost between 700 and 750 million to build. Our recent transatlantic sailing was on the gorgeous Equinox. Spending two weeks aboard the ship was like spending two weeks at an elegant five star spa except that it floats. We booked Aqua Class which means that our stateroom was part of the spa experience, close to the pools and solarium, the spa itself, the Persian Gardens and the private Aqua class restaurant and dining room, Blu. Even suite room passengers cannot use Blu unless there is room and they must pay an up charge. The bedding and amenities of Aqua class rooms are different than those of other rooms.

The Aqua class cabins are identical in size to the deluxe ocean view cabins with veranda - 192 square feet with a 53-square-foot veranda (299 square feet with an 80 square foot veranda for the accessible Aqua Class cabins). The Aqua class cabins also have all the amenities of the deluxe ocean view cabins:

• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
• Veranda (54 square feet)
• Two beds convertible to queen-size
• Modular closets and under-bed storage
• Interlocking doors (in some staterooms)
• Vanity
• Bath with footrest in the shower
• 32" LCD flat panel television
• Wireless Internet access (extra fee)
• Sitting area with sofa
• Trundle bed (in some cabins)

The Aqua class cabins do have several special features that set them apart from the other balcony cabins, many of which stress their health-and-wellness-oriented cruising experience. The Aqua Class Cabin passengers have a special color-coded Sea Pass card that gives them unlimited access to the Aqua spa relaxation room and the Persian Garden. They also have

• Guaranteed complimentary dining in Blu
• Welcome kit featuring teeth-whitening sample, a spa-oriented amenities kit and shower gel
• Five-head Hansgrohe "shower tower" in the bath
• Use of plush Frette robes and slippers
• European-style bedding and choice of pillow from the pillow menu
• Use of over sized bath towels
• Use of Euro face towel
• Light dimmers
• Sound and aromatic elements to foster relaxation
• Nightly turndown ritual
• Complimentary bottled water
• Carafe of flavor-infused iced tea (regular or decaf)
• AquaClass room service selection, including healthy menu options and salads
• Daily canapés
• Dedicated television channels with special programming
• Daily breakfast in the Blu Specialty Restaurant from 7 to 9 am
• Spa concierge services
• Access to a library of wellness books available during the cruise

Ultimately, we booked Aqua Class because we have traveled a lot. We're not so much about the ports visited as we are about elegance and a spa-like experience. It is pure indulgence to spend two weeks crossing the Atlantic aboard a cruise ship versus flying home after spending time abroad. We are foodies. Blu is like a four star restaurant where your food is cooked to order and no wish or whim of the passenger is undoable. The main dining room on the ship is gorgeous and the food is great, but it is huge, two stories and the food is not individually prepared to order, but more like banquet food. Also, and this may irk some, but there are few overweight diners in Blu and not so in the main dining room. My theory has always been that top quality fresh ingredients exquisitely prepared require less quantity consumption to satisfy hunger than lesser quality food. People who book Aqua and Blu are thinner and more fit. That's not an indictment, just a readily apparent fact to one who observes. And, just for the sake of clarity, Aqua passengers can also go to the main dining room if they wish, but the reverse is not true for Blu.

Our room was lovely, the bathroom huge with a steam shower with multiple jets and rain shower head. Every day we received spa shampoo, conditioner, lotion, soaps, lemongrass lip balm and facial spray. We had daily canapés, fruit bowl and every day a pitcher of a differently infused ice tea. The bedding was Frette, the nicest upon which I've ever slept. We had big white fluffy Frette robes and slippers and scrumptious towels. It really was heavenly.

We boarded the ship on November 28th. When we awoke on November 29th, the entire ship had overnight been decorated for Christmas. It was incredible that the decorating had been accomplished while we slept.

I have a lot of photos. It's hard to know how to sort them. I will start with a general introduction to the ship and its public areas, saving dining venues for a separate entry.