We recently returned from a 9-night Mediterranean cruise aboard the Celebrity Equinox, sailing from Barcelona and visiting Italy, France, and Spain—with an overnight in La Spezia (hello, Cinque Terre dream come true!). We noted several Celebrity Equinox pros & cons during our trip – spoiler alert, there were a lot of pros.
In this Celebrity Equinox review, I’ll break down our honest Celebrity Equinox pros & cons—from a guest perspective—so you can decide if this is the right ship for your next Mediterranean (or other itinerary) adventure. For reference, our travel group for this sailing consisted of four experienced cruisers in their 50s. (But we are young at heart. 😉)
The Equinox is part of Celebrity’s Solstice Class, and while she’s not the newest ship in the fleet, she’s certainly holding her own.
Celebrity Equinox Pros & Cons: What to Know Before You Book
🛳 A Few Quick Ship Facts:
- Inaugural Sailing: August 2009
- Guests: ~2,850
- Crew: ~1,250
- Class: Solstice
- Refurbished: 2019 (Celebrity Revolution updates)
✅ The Pros: Why We’d Sail Celebrity Equinox Again
Incredible Cruise Director & Staff
The cruise director and his team were one of the biggest highlights. From trivia to dance parties, everything felt thoughtfully planned and high-energy without being “too much.”
The ABBA sing-along/dance party was my favorite night on board—truly legendary. Everyone was on their feet, singing and dancing. The staff went above and beyond to keep everyone engaged and entertained—complete with elevator cameos. Yes, they popped into the glass elevators mid-song—truly iconic. Picture a crew member “making it rain” in the elevator during Abba’s “Money, Money, Money”. It was hilarious!
Friendly, Professional Crew
From our room steward to the dining room servers, every crew member we encountered was friendly, helpful, and seemed genuinely happy to be there. That kind of service makes all the difference. We really enjoy getting to know the staff and stopping by our favorite venues each morning or evening to say hello.
Clean & Well-Maintained
This ship is spotless. Public areas, restrooms, venues, our cabin—everything was exceptionally well cared for. It’s clear the crew takes pride in keeping the ship in top shape. Celebrity has always had a reputation for high quality, and the Equinox certainly lived up to that reputation. The restrooms even had real hand towels to dry your hands.
Dropping Bags off in the Cabin
On mainstream/family cruises, the staff is rushing to turn the cabins over for new guests. This means that cabin areas are closed to guests until approximately 1:00 p.m., when an announcement is made letting guests know that cabins are now available. If you have an early embarkation time (as we prefer), it can mean lugging any carry-on items around for 2-3 hours. Yes, there are exceptions to this rule. However, on Celebrity, guests are invited to quickly drop off any carry-on items they’d like in the cabin when they board. The crew is still finishing up their turnover duties, so guests are expected not to stay in their cabins, but this is an appreciated luxury that made embarkation day even easier!
Ideal Size & Layout
Celebrity Equinox is a mid-sized ship, and for this itinerary, it was perfect. The venues felt spacious, but it was never overwhelming. It was easy to navigate, and we never felt lost or overly crowded. Given our long port days, it was nice to come back to the ship in the evening and know our way around quickly.
Dining Room Sommelier
This was our first time experiencing a dedicated sommelier in the main dining room, and we were impressed. Since we had the drink package, he kept our glasses full, introduced us to new wines, and was a lot of fun to chat with. It elevated the whole dining experience and ended up being our favorite part of the main dining room.
Itinerary That Delivers
While itineraries vary by sailing, we specifically chose this one for the fantastic Mediterranean route. Stops included Italy, France, and Spain—with an overnight in La Spezia that made my Cinque Terre daydreams a reality. It was truly special!
👉 Read about our Cinque Terre cruise port day
Free Drink Moments
We loved the little touches on Celebrity, like the welcome aboard cocktail—a simple, but elevated way to start the vacation. Throughout the cruise, there were other moments (like the loyalty happy hour) that included complimentary drinks. The Captain’s Club events also featured passed hors d’oeuvres; these opportunities seem perfect for light drinkers who didn’t purchase the drink package. (More on that below—stay tuned.)
Side tidbit: Often, a Mimosa is offered on embarkation day. I don’t care for OJ, but I was excited to see an option that featured cranberry juice instead! It’s become a new favorite. Give it a try!
Ready for more Celebrity Equinox pros & cons?
Pool Deck Perks
A small but meaningful detail: no towel check-out system. Towels, sunscreen, and lotion were readily available on the pool deck. It just made relaxing easier—and felt like a thoughtful touch. Everyone seemed respectful about returning used towels. I even had the passing thought that, despite my love for Royal Caribbean, this system would probably be a hot mess on their ships.
The Lawn Club (Deck 15)
Not found on newer Celebrity ships, this is a bit of a hidden gem. Yes, it’s real grass! You can lay out a picnic, catch a movie, or just sip wine at sunset. The glassblowing venue is up here, too (though we didn’t catch it in action). Best of all? It was often empty—a true retreat. Celebrity did not continue this area on its newer ships, so if you are lucky enough to sail on Celebrity Equinox, it’s worth checking it out!
Entertainment Quality and Variety
We enjoyed everything from main stage production shows to smaller musical acts in the lounges. Nothing felt repetitive, and the quality was solid across the board. In fact, the main stage featured vocalists who were some of the best we have seen on a cruise. Although I’m a sucker for a Broadway-style show like Hairspray or Mamma Mia, I was really impressed with the variety offered on the Celebrity Equinox. Our sailing also featured three headliners, which were all quite good.
Sky Observation Lounge
Located forward on Deck 14, this multi-use lounge offered fantastic views, various seating areas, and held many of the ship’s activities. It was also just a great place to relax with a coffee or a cocktail.
Our Cabin: Sunset Concierge Balcony
We stayed in a Sunset Concierge Balcony Cabin, located at the very back of the ship. It was clean, well-maintained, and had a standard balcony with panoramic wake views. Concierge perks included:
- Welcome sparkling wine
- Daily canapés
- Access to the concierge team for assistance with reservations
Bonus tip: Celebrity stocks the minibar by default (items are charged), but your cabin steward will remove everything upon request so you can use the space for your items.
📹 Watch our Sunset Concierge Cabin Tour on YouTube
Celebrity Equinox Review: The Cons (A Few Surprises)
Drink Prices Are… Holy Cow.
If you’re paying à la carte, drinks are expensive. Cans of beer were upwards of $20 in some venues. We originally planned to stick with the loyalty happy hour, but after seeing the prices and limitations, we jumped on a last-minute drink package sale onboard.
Recommendation: If you enjoy even a few drinks a day, the drink package is worth considering.
Main Dining Room Variety
This was a surprise for our group. While the food was of good quality, we found the menu variety a bit limited. As Royal Caribbean regulars, we expected a broader range of offerings. It wasn’t bad—just not quite the “rave-worthy” experience we’d heard about from other Celebrity cruisers. However, this is why I’m not a food blogger – we all have our unique taste buds. Mine favor margarita pizza in Naples!
Related post: Naples – Wine Tasting at Mount Vesuvius
Loyalty Lounge (or lack thereof)
Ok, this is primarily for those with matching Royal Caribbean status. We are Diamond Plus on RCL and status-matched to Elite Plus on Celebrity. While that offers some nice perks, we genuinely missed the “Crown Lounge” available to us on Royal. We typically use this area as a quiet spot in the morning to enjoy coffee and get a couple of hours of work in before we enjoy another great cruise day. We had a very busy itinerary and only a couple of sea days, so it wasn’t a huge miss, but certainly was something we noted.
Daily Canapés (Concierge Perk)
A minor issue, but worth noting. The daily canapés were a nice gesture—but we often returned from long port days unsure of how long they’d been sitting in the cabin. Sushi and seafood snacks are lovely… but not after several hours at room temperature. We ended up tossing most, which felt wasteful.
Internet (and the Frustration of Minutes)
My last con: the internet package – specifically the “minutes” given to us via our loyalty match. While the Starlink Wi-Fi was strong, the minutes-based system felt clunky. Having to sign in and, more importantly, make sure we signed out, felt odd because we are used to an all-or-nothing package with Royal Caribbean.
Because we had complimentary minutes from loyalty status, we didn’t initially plan to purchase a package, and the per-day access felt too expensive for our needs, especially with so much time spent off the ship. However, next time, we’ll purchase the standard unlimited package and call it a day. It is an expense that most cruisers may not need, but for those of us who are small business owners, it’s become essential.
Final Thoughts for our Celebrity Equinox Review: Would We Cruise Celebrity Equinox Again?
Absolutely!
Celebrity Equinox delivered a relaxing, polished, and well-run cruise experience. The staff, service, and unique touches made it feel elevated without being overly formal. While we had a few very minor gripes (and those drink prices… yikes), the pros far outweighed the cons.
If you’re planning a Mediterranean cruise (or other itinerary) and want a ship that’s clean, well-staffed, and not overwhelming in size, Celebrity Equinox is a fantastic option.
If you’re wondering, there is a wide age range of cruisers on board. We saw people in their 80s, but also young couples on their honeymoon. That said, if you’re traveling with young kids or teens, you might want to look closer. While the ship has plenty of activities and entertainment, it doesn’t feature the water slides, bumper cars, or surf simulators that are popular on more family-focused lines.
Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or planning your first sailing, I hope this breakdown helps you decide if Celebrity Equinox is the right fit for you.
Worrier’s Guide:
- 🥂 Drinks are pricey — the package might save you money and may be included in your booking
- The crew was fantastic!
- Internet minutes are stressful — even if they are a loyalty perk
- Lots of activities, but it may not be the best ship choice for teens
- Aft cabins are scenic — but may have mild vibration and are a long walk down the hallway from the stairs/elevators
- Concierge perks are hit or miss — review before booking to see if the value is there for YOU.
- The buffet quality was a step above -check out the outdoor seating at the back of the ship!
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