Celebrity
Equinox
"Here Comes The Sun"
 |
|
Early Morning
& The Lawn Club Is Being Groomed
For The Day |
by
Linda Coffman
Part Two
Where
Turf's Up & the Action Is Hot
Covering a half-acre fifteen decks above the sea and
providing a sea of green for genteel croquet matches, golf putting,
lawn games, picnics, or simple barefoot strolls, the Lawn Club
has real, honest-to-gosh grass and even a crew of groundsmen to care
for it.
Nearby covered
patio areas are furnished with thickly padded chairs and settees. But
the pièce de résistance is the Hot Glass Show, presented in its own specially-designed
open air
“theater”
where artisans from The Corning Museum of Glass demonstrate glass
making techniques.
Watch the schedule of daily events for show times—it proved so
popular on Celebrity Solstice that seating has been expanded on
Celebrity Equinox and you won't want to miss seeing it.
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| The Ultra Cool Martini Bar |
Inside and on decks 3,
4, and 5 is where the lounges are located and there are a lot of them,
ranging from Quasar the futuristic disco with
lucite-globe chairs suspended from the ceiling to Celebrity's
signature Michael's Club, the refined, wood paneled
clubby lounge to savor a cocktail in front of the faux fireplace
while a pianist or jazz combo performs. In addition to familiar
spots, such as the hip and trendy Martini Bar,
Celebrity Equinox features Ensemble, a
lounge concept that resembles a drawing room aboard an ocean liner
in the last century. Located near the entrance of the specialty
restaurants, it's an ideal spot for pre-dinner aperitifs.
Crush,
an enclave adjacent to the Martini Bar is where vodka and caviar
samplings are the order of the day (or night).
Cellar Masters wine
bar delivers wines and wine-tastings accompanied by the sommelier
service that is a standard aboard Celebrity Cruises.
Off the Lobby is the Passport Bar, filled with
cozy, comfortable seating, and a relaxed yacht-y atmosphere.
Two public spaces that aren't exactly lounges, and might be
confusing as to their purpose until you experience them, are Galleria Tastings, the spot to “taste” an array of foods
and beverages while sampling fashion, jewelry, and
art presentations, and Celebrity Central, the
Entertainment Court venue where you can expect to
see anything from daytime culinary demonstrations and enrichment
lectures, to feature films and late-night
comedy shows.
Sky Observation Lounge offers
panoramic views from atop the ship by day and a dance club vibe at
night. Sensibly, the sound system delivers music directed at the
central dance floor, yet the volume level in surrounding seating
areas is lower. Finally, a lounge where you can dance and still
carry on a conversation.
Naturally, there are poolside bars; however, my
choice of outdoor watering hole is the Sunset Bar.
Tucked away aft of the Lawn Club, it's the ideal location to get
away from it all and savor a perfect sunset.
Fortunes Casino is conveniently located near Shops on
the Boulevard, the ideal spot to relieve yourself of some
"found" money. In all, there are 18 onboard shops filled with enough
merchandise to satisfy the need for retail therapy. The Lawn Club
Shop offers nifty "turf" soled flip flops, that are truly
a unique souvenir. You can be sure no one
at home will have a pair.
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| The Solarium,
with overhead solar panels |
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| Resort Pool |
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| Resort Pool Seating Area |
Relaxation & Water,
Water Everywhere
Celebrity Equinox's
AquaSpa has my nod for a total spa vacation at sea. In
addition to a complete menu of spa treatments to get you glowing
from head to foot, there are salons for both women and men. Guys
have their own barbering space where screens set into the mirrors
show sports programming when they droop in for a traditional
shave-and-a-haircut.
In addition to the
usual spa offerings, Celebrity Equinox features medi-spa treatments
(Restylane, Perlane, and Botox Cosmetic), an Acupuncture Clinic, and
Gold Therapy—a
24 Karat Gold Facial. Get your Gold Card warmed up when you make
your appointment for it, the fare is a not inexpensive $325, and at 75 minutes in
duration, that's $4.33 a minute! There is a perk to go along with
it, though, the “Golden Kiss Martini” inspired by the
treatment, which is a mixture of Golden Supreme vodka, cucumber
juice, agave syrup, and lemon juice, all muddled with fresh mint.
Gym enthusiasts can use exercise machines, free weights, and an exercise area
to get the heart pumping. Some sessions, including basic aerobics and stretch classes, are complimentary, while
there's a per class fee for others, such as yoga and pilates.
You can also take a Tour de Spin (Ride for the Cure), a cycling
workout that enables you to give back. Participation in the trio of Tour de France themed
classes supports
Lance Armstrong's LIVESTRONG Foundation in the fight against cancer.
Complete the three 45-minute classes ($30 fee) and you receive a
distinctive yellow LIVESTRONG wrist band.
Complimentary saunas (with glass walls for sea views) are
located in ladies' and men's changing rooms, but for true relaxation after a work out,
give the Persian Garden a try—heated
stone loungers, a gentle aromatic sauna, and herbal steam room are included in the per
cruise fee
($99 at present, but which is complimentary
to AquaClass passengers). The AquaSpa and
Salon offers treatments and services by Steiner Leisure.
Adjacent to the
AquaSpa is the prettiest Solarium at sea. With a
soothing fountain at one end and a wall of bougainvillea at the
other, in between are the pool, two hot tubs, and a variety of
padded loungers and funky wicker clamshell-style seating. It's an
adults-only haven.
Just a few steps away
is the main Resort Pool area. Separate sports and
family pools lead to the wet zone where kids can frolic
amid jets of water pulsating from the floor while adults relax
nearby in the four hot tubs. Go early if you want to laze on one of the
poolside loungers set into draped sailing material—there's
no charge for one of these cabana-like loungers, but they're
popular and get snapped up fast. Set in the shade are padded wicker
seating areas where you'll also find nifty draped hammocks-for-two.
Service is provided by Pool Bar stewards and Pool
Butlers keep the area ship shape. For sun worshippers, the good news
is that Solstice Deck has been expanded on Celebrity Equinox to
provide more space for chaise lounges.
Fun
Stuff For Families
While
Celebrity Cruises are heavily adult-oriented, no one gets overlooked
on Celebrity Equinox and the youth and teen areas are as
appealing as any I've seen at sea. Fun Factory offers age-specific
spaces and activities for groups ages 3-5 (Ship Mates), 6-8
(Celebrity Cadets),
and 9-11 (Ensigns).
Extensive play areas for children feature not only the usual arts
and crafts and games, but they also offer
“edutainment”
in collaboration with LeapFrog SchoolHouse. Teens, ages 12-14 and
15-17 have their own supervised XClubs Teen area with computer
stations, video games, and a hang out space with a mock bar.
Chic & Cutting Edge With a
Softer Side
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| Artwork from the Galaxy
Collection graces the Deck 10 elevator landing: "Model For
Synthetic Pictures" Intaglio Print 1995, by Terry Winters |
While Celebrity
Equinox has public spaces where
“traditional”
ship decor predominates—Michael's Club, Ensemble Lounge, Murano
Restaurant—and even contains areas that could be considered
“themed”—Silk
Harvest's Asian inspiration and Tuscan Grille's Italian
ambiance—overall the decor is stylish
and chic with a hip edgy twist. Only slight color scheme
modifications were made from Celebrity Solstice to develop Celebrity
Equinox's individual personality. You could say that Celebrity
Solstice was a full-scale mock up for Celebrity Equinox.
Accented by modern art and
sculpture, clean and crisp public areas flow into one another with
unparalleled continuity. In the hands of most designers, the result
could be cold and sterile; however, hard lines are softened with the
use of textiles. Seating alcoves throughout the ship are defined with sheer
fabric drapes creating intimate spaces and textile
“columns”
soar skyward from the lobby floor.
For Celebrity
Equinox's modern art collection, Celebrity Cruises developed a
curatorial concept embodying “the essence of equinox,” where
balance, harmony, and the principle of “yin-yang” (the existence of
opposing elements to create equilibrium) were the driving force
behind the selections. With an eye to both quality and beauty,
Celebrity’s platform for the concept is evident from the varied
blend of media, artists, and images juxtaposed throughout the ship.
Comprised of new acquisitions from a combination of internationally
established, mid-career, and emerging artists, the art collection on
Celebrity Equinox also features a selection of works from the lauded
collection that graced Celebrity Galaxy prior to the ship’s
departure from the fleet earlier this year.
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| Softness &
Style: Classical Entertainment in Celebrity Equinox Lobby |
Lighting also plays a key role
aboard Celebrity Equinox.
Tables are individually lit in the vast double-height Silhouette Dining Room
to create the illusion that each one is in a smaller,
more intimate space. However, the most useful lighting fixtures
aboard are located just above each elevator door where panels change
from blue to pink signifying an elevator's arrival. That effect is
illustrated in our artwork image (above) shot near the Deck 10 elevator landing. The elevator lights cast a decidedly blue glow.
The "Celebrity Life" program, consisting of enriching, sophisticated, and
fun events, went "live" aboard Celebrity Equinox during her July
31st maiden sailing and will be introduced across the balance of the
fleet by the end of November 2009. During our short preview cruise aboard
Celebrity Equinox we were introduced to the "Guru" who hosted
breakfast in the AquaSpa Cafe, we meditated and experienced stress
relieving exercises in the gym, began learning a new language with
Rosetta Stone, and had our choice of dance lessons, a Wine
Appreciation Seminar, and met the Liquid Chef for Molecular Mixology.
A brief overview of the "Celebrity Life" program left me wanting
more.
Natural elements and environmental friendliness also
play a part aboard Celebrity Equinox. The only solar panels at sea
(other than those aboard Celebrity Solstice) capture the sun's
energy to create power sufficient to operate the ship's elevators. A special silicone
hull coating reduces the sea's friction and improves fuel consumption. You can
learn more about the energy efficient features incorporated into
Celebrity Equinox as well learn about conservation efforts
worldwide in the Team Earth venue. Created in
cooperation with Conservation International, Team Earth isn't marked
on deck plans yet, but once on board you can't miss its location,
which is highlighted by a huge globe on Deck 7 near the aft scenic
elevators.
With respect for tradition and an
eye to the future, Celebrity Equinox is truly a dazzling addition
to the Celebrity Cruises fleet.
Celebrity
Equinox Fast Stats
- 122,000 tons
- 1,033 feet long
- 121 feet wide
- Cruising Speed 24 knots
- 2,850 guests,
double occupancy
Photos © Linda Coffman,
Resort Pool image courtesy Celebrity Cruises
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