The Celebrity Equinox was my first cruise experience, and it quickly set the tone for all my future vacations. I’d been on vacation before, but this was a new way to travel. Spending nights in specialty restaurants, the Molecular Bar, and our veranda, I came to love being at sea. In my  cruise travels since, I constantly compare each experience to that first, and always remember it tenderly.

The Equinox is the 2nd of the Solstice class of ships belonging to Celebrity Cruises. These 122,000 ton ships revolutionized the premium brand of cruising, with features like a true coffee shop, gelateria, and creperia, in addition to unique bars like Crush, with an ice bar, and the Molecular Bar which serves drinks concocted via molecular mixology chef, Junior Merino. With a fully inclusive beverage package for purchase, you can enjoy any of these concoctions, as well as sodas, bottled water, wine, beer, and mixed spirits. The Equinox sails the Caribbean in the winter with 10 and 11 night sailings, often hitting both the East or West, as well as the Southern Caribbean ports. It longer than a typical week, but not so long you forget that you actually live on land.

It seems that while Celebrity is letting its parent company Royal Caribbean International handle building new ships for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Celebrity is enhancing their ships to provide an even better experience. The start was “solsticizing” the older ships, to give them that exclusive feeling you get with the newer ships. Next was the introduction of the Suite Class of ships, due to be unveiled next spring. But today, the Equinox is in drydock where it is undergoing enhancements for the next generation of Solstice class sailing.

The Gastrobar will pair over 40 boutique craft beers with souped up bar food. So, a Gastropub “Celebrity style”! Taking over the former Cellar Masters space, guests can still enjoy wine, but will now have the opportunity to pair it with unique food creations. Slush is Equinox’s new frozen drink menu will offer tons of choices for alcoholic and non-alcoholic mixed frozen drinks. And of course, all is included in the premium beverage package. Lastly, new retail offerings will be added to the ship, including a Fine Art Photography studio.

I think its time for us to visit our old friend, the Celebrity Equinox!