March 2024: A Fun Southern Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Equinox

Although we have cruised the Caribbean many times, Myron and I haven’t spent much time in the Southern Caribbean. So, we booked a 10-day Southern Caribbean cruise in The Retreat on Celebrity Equinox to see a few new islands, which we took in March.

Starting in Fort Lauderdale, the cruise had two sea days before stopping at:

• St. Johns, Antigua
• Bridgetown, Barbados
• Castries, St. Lucia
• Fort-de-France, Martinique
• Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis

We then had two more sea days before disembarking in Fort Lauderdale.

Day 0: Travel to the Port Day

Normally, traveling to the port the day before the cruise is noneventful, but not this time. Thunderstorms in Fort Lauderdale delayed our arrival by over six hours, which meant we arrived at our pre-cruise hotel close to midnight.

The upside was that the crew did their best to keep us entertained while we were on the ground in Sarasota, where we were diverted. For us, that meant a peek inside the cockpit, where I got to sit in the captain’s seat and chat with the pilot and copilot. So much fun!

Although the diversion was annoying, it could have been a disaster if we’d arrived too late to board our cruise. This is why I always recommend you travel a day or two before your cruise, depending on how far you travel and the weather at that time of year.

Day 1: Embarkation Day

We booked in the Retreat, Celebrity’s exclusive suite experience, which gave us priority embarkation. Normally, it would have only been about 15 minutes to transition from the taxi drop-off to boarding the ship. But I dropped my phone on the floorboard of the taxi and discovered it missing when we tried to check in at the port terminal.

Luckily, the taxi driver picked up my phone when we called it and swung back around to return it to me. Whew…crisis averted!

Once checked in, we headed to our cabin to drop off our day bags. On this trip, we enjoyed a spacious Sunset Sky Suite, cabin 6305 on Deck 6, which gave us plenty of room to spread out. It has a large balcony with two loungers and a large table and chairs, perfect for having breakfast, a snack, or cocktails outside.

Our cabin attendant, Bow, ensured we had all we needed for dual CPAP machines, which is tricky on an older ship like the Equinox with limited electrical outlets. Luckily, I had packed a power adapter with extra outlets and USB ports, so we were good.

Once we’d dropped off our day bags, we set out for our muster station and got the safety check done, then went to Luminae, the Retreat restaurant, for lunch. Their Cobb salad was just the thing to tide us over until dinner.

Don’t like the way they prepare a certain dish? Simply ask for it how you want it, which is what I did here. It’s no problem at all.

After lunch, we explored the ship, checking out its Retreat Lounge where we were happy to find familiar faces. Toni and Tessa were our concierges for the cruise, whom we’d met before while sailing on the Solstice.

We found our luggage waiting for us when we returned to the cabin, so we unpacked our bags and set up our little home for the next ten days. It’s always wonderful to have everything hung up and put away well before dinner on embarkation day.

Dinner on our first night was at Tuscan Grille, a specialty restaurant, which was good but not as great as we hoped. We had taken advantage of the first-night discount that you can book pre-cruise for $71.98 for the two of us.

Our full review of our experience at Tuscan Grille is available, as well as a quick rundown of all the restaurants on the Equinox.

Days 2 and 3: At Sea

On Day 2, we spent the afternoon in the spa. I got a much-needed haircut and a mani/pedi, and Myron enjoyed a pedicure. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

On Day 3, I got up early to take photos of the ship for you while most of the passengers were still asleep. I love these quiet early mornings onboard when I can be one of the first customers at Cafe al Bacio and watch the sunrise.

That evening, we were invited to a soirée with the ship’s officers in the Retreat Lounge, which is a wonderful opportunity to share your thoughts with those in charge. We had nice chats with several of the officers, including the master of the vessel, Captain George Iatrou, who was very gracious.

The next day, we found this photo waiting for us in our cabin, taken with Captain George. Such a nice touch!

Day 4: St. Johns, Antigua

In Antigua, we took the Celebrity excursion Destination Highlight: Island Sightseeing and Catamaran Cruise, a six-hour tour for which we paid $227.98.

The excursion started at 9:15 a.m. with a bus tour that allowed us to visit four forts on the island, where we enjoyed gorgeous views of the harbors the forts were built to protect.

Our next stop was at Nelson’s Dockyard, built in 1725 and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. We learned how ships were brought in for maintenance during that time, and then had free time to explore the museum and wander the site.

Our last stop on the bus was at Blockhouse Ruins, which has stunning views of the Atlantic.

Finally, we boarded a catamaran at Jolly Harbor and enjoyed a buffet lunch as we cruised to a beach for a quick swim. Unfortunately, we didn’t bring our swimsuits since the excursion description didn’t specify that swimming was an option. Such a shame because it looked like everyone enjoyed their time in the turquoise water.

Day 5: Bridgetown, Barbados

I opted to stay behind in Bridgetown since I got sunburned in Antigua, and Myron went on our excursion alone. We had chosen a Celebrity excursion, Destination Highlight; Swim with Turtles, Shipwrecks, and Snorkel. This 3-hour, 30-minute excursion cost $81.98 for the two of us.

The plan was to snorkel above a shipwreck and swim with giant sea turtles, but the outing was a bit of a bust, Myron said. Only one small turtle showed up, disappointing the group, the shipwreck was simply a downed small boat, and the excursion was disorganized and frustrating overall with lots of waiting and confusion.

Day 6: Castries, St. Lucia

For St. Lucia, we’d chosen another Celebrity excursion, Small Group: The Island’s Delights, a six-hour excursion priced at $179.98 for two adults.

That morning, I got up early and saw the most beautiful sunrise. When you can, take a moment on your cruises to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. They are so magical at sea!

St. Lucia is a beautiful 27-mile-long mountainous island with the most hairpin turns and switchbacks we’ve ever experienced, causing some in our group to complain of being queasy. The views, however, were worth it – the Pitons were stunning.

Quick Fact: St. Lucia is the only country in the world to be named after a woman!

While there, we drove to Soufriere past the villages of Anse La Raye and Canaries until we found gorgeous views of the Pitons, and then stopped at a waterfall, the largest in St. Lucia.

We also visited Morne Coubaril Estate, a working 17th-century plantation where cocoa is processed into chocolate, followed by a Creole buffet lunch of chicken, rice and beans, potato salad, plantains, and a cake square while enjoying another view of the Pitons.

Day 7: Fort-de-France, Martinique

In Fort-de-France, Martinique, we chose the Celebrity excursion Destination Highlight: Rum Distillery and Banana Plantation, a 4-hour, 30-minute tour that cost $103.98 for us both.

We visited Habitation Belfort, a banana plantation, where we boarded a little motorized train to take us through the acreage for a tour. Our knowledgeable guide walked us through the stages of growing, packing, and exporting bananas, which was quite interesting. Banana production is one of Martinique’s most important industries. Once the tour was done, we had a tasting of some of the products made from bananas at Belfort.

Afterward, we toured the Clement House rum distillery, a French national heritage site, and had a quick rum tasting. The grounds are an eclectic mix of contemporary buildings and charming gardens.

Day 8: Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis

Our last port was Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis. We took the Celebrity excursion Destination Highlight: Essential St. Kitts, a 3-hour, 3-minute tour that cost $95.98 for us both.

We visited the Caribelle batik factory and saw a live demonstration of how batik fabrics are made. I had a basic idea of the process, which involves wax and dye, but didn’t realize that each color in a batik fabric takes a full day to process before adding another color.

After browsing the shop, we bought a couple of pricey souvenirs – a shirt for Myron and a mini caftan for me – and then quickly shared a Ting Sting cocktail (carbonated grapefruit juice, bitters, and rum) before hurrying back to the bus.

Next, we toured the fort at the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, which has stunning views. Myron climbed to the top of the fort while I explored the lower level.

Days 9 and 10: At Sea

During our sea days, we relaxed while spending time in the spa and the casino. I finished taking photos of the ship, which I shared in my tour of the Equinox.

The highlight of our cruise, though, was the Chef’s Table, our first time enjoying this experience. Chef Denton of the Murano specialty restaurant hosted us for a small-group dining experience that is a must-do.

We started with a champagne welcome with amuse bouche, then took a tour through the galleys before being seated for dinner in a private room in Murano for a five-course meal with wine pairings. It was unbelievably good and an experience we want to enjoy again on future sailings.

Our full review of the Celebrity Chef’s Table experience is here.

Day 11: Disembarkation Day

After being teased by Myron during the cruise for leaving my phone in the taxi on the way to the port, I got a little redemption when he left his phone in the restroom of the airport terminal as we waited to fly home. Otherwise, our trip home was uneventful, which is the best you can hope for.

Final Thoughts on Our Southern Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Equinox

Overall, it was a great cruise. In the future, I’ll have to be more careful not to choose a cruise with all its port days in a row because it’s too exhausting for us old folks. Getting up at dawn to spend several hours in the heat and Caribbean sun made us feel our age on this trip.

Happy cruising!