Celebrity Equinox

The 2009-built Celebrity Equinox cruise ship is the second of the Solstice-class Celebrity liners, with sisterships Eclipse, Silhouette, Solstice, and Reflection. The Celebrity Equinox was scheduled for her "Celebrity Revolution" drydock refurbishment on May 25, 2019.

The vessel (IMO number 9372456) is currently Malta-flagged (MMSI 249667000) and registered in Valletta.

History - construction and ownership

Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 as the Greece-based Chandris Line (which operated cruise ships between 1974–1996). In 1997, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) merged with "Celebrity Cruises Ltd" to form "Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd" (RCCL). The "X" logo on the funnels represents the Greek letter chi, symbolizing "Chandris."

Signature features of Celebrity Cruises ships include aft-located glass-walled dining rooms, specialty dining venues, bars and lounges, spacious atriums, a high percentage of balcony cabins, expansive sundecks with pools, The Retreat (adults-only sundeck with pool, Jacuzzi, cabanas, bar service), Rooftop Terrace (lounge-restaurant-cinema), large Spa with Thermal Suites, and premium boutiques offering top-brand merchandise.

The 2,900-passenger Celebrity Equinox began her inaugural voyage on July 31, 2009. The ship offers a wide variety of stateroom categories, including the exclusive Concierge Class and AquaClass. Notable features include a large theater, multiple dining options, a specialty restaurant for AquaClass guests, The Patio on the Lawn, numerous bars and lounges, the Solstice Deck, youth and teen facilities, and Online@Celebrity. Unique attractions include glass-blowing demonstrations and The Lawn Club – a real grass lawn on the top deck between the funnels.

Decks and Cabins

Celebrity Equinox staterooms (1,426 total in 30 categories) include 66 Suites, 1,150 Balcony, 70 Oceanview, and 140 Inside cabins. Most are sized at 195 ft² (18 m²), and around 85% have private step-out balconies, typically 55 ft² (5 m²) in size. There are 30 wheelchair-accessible cabins. The largest accommodations are the Penthouse Suites, measuring 1,290 ft² (120 m²) with a 390 ft² (36 m²) terrace.

The ship has 15 decks, 14 of which are accessible to passengers, with 8 decks housing staterooms.

The 2019 refurbishment introduced refreshed accommodations featuring Celebrity’s exclusive eXhale bedding collection with king-sized Cashmere mattresses.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Celebrity Equinox offers numerous dining options. Complimentary venues include The Silhouette Restaurant (Main Dining Room) and the Oceanview Cafe buffet. Blu is reserved for AquaClass and suite guests. Specialty dining venues available for a fee include the Italian-American Tuscan Grille, French-themed Murano, and the pan-Asian Qsine (formerly Silk Harvest).

Additional casual venues include Cafe al Bacio, Bistro on Five, Gelateria, Mast Grill, and AquaSpa Cafe.

Full list of Celebrity Equinox restaurants and food bars:

• Murano – 78-seat French specialty restaurant with tasting menus and Champagne High Tea
• Silhouette Restaurant – 1,402-seat main dining room offering open-seating breakfast and lunch, afternoon tea, and fixed or flexible dinner seating
• Bistro on Five – 68-seat creperie with all-you-can-eat menu
• Qsine – 88-seat Asian specialty restaurant with Le Petit Chef 4K projection dining experience
• Blu – 130-seat exclusive restaurant for AquaClass guests (suites may dine based on availability)
• AquaSpa Cafe – 28-seat healthy dining venue in the Solarium
• Oceanview Cafe & Bar – 768-seat buffet with extended hours (6:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.)
• Tuscan Grille – 130-seat steakhouse and seafood venue
• Mast Bar – Poolside burger grill

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

For entertainment, visit The Lawn Club for live glass-blowing shows, or the Sunset Bar nearby. The Sin City burlesque show and late-night comedy on Deck 4 provide adult evening entertainment. The Equinox Theatre hosts two nightly shows after dinner. Additional performers include singers, musicians, magicians, and theatrical productions.

The 2019 refurbishment added S.T.E.M.-focused activities through a partnership with the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, offered via the Camp at Sea program. The ship was digitally upgraded with RFID key technology, Xcelerate Wi-Fi, and Celebrity Cruises app features such as expedited boarding, facial recognition, digital room keys, and chat.

Complete list of Celebrity Equinox entertainment venues:

• Equinox Theatre – 1,115-seat show lounge for musicals, movies, trivia, bingo, and classes
• Grand Foyer Atrium with live music and nearby duty-free shops and boutiques
• Passport Bar – Atrium bar with live entertainment
• Craft Social – Casual bar with 40+ beers, food, flat-screen TVs
• Entertainment Court – Live shows and dance parties
• Quasar – Nightclub disco
• Celebrity Central – 200-seat lounge for movies, shows, classes
• The Retreat Lounge (formerly Michael’s Club) – Piano and cocktail bar
• Martini Bar, Crush Bar, Ensemble Lounge, Molecular Bar, Cellar Masters Wine Bar
• Cafe al Bacio & Gelateria – 54-seat café and ice cream shop
• Photo Gallery, Art Gallery, Library
• Equinox Fortunes Casino
• Celebrity iLounge – 24-hour Apple computer center with internet and classes
• Team Earth – Environmental awareness club
• Game On – Card room
• Sky Observation Lounge – Bar and dance venue with panoramic views
• The Spa by Canyon Ranch – With new treatments introduced in 2019, including couples’ massages, Dyson blowouts, facial treatments
• Aquaspa & Fitness Complex – Includes Persian Garden Thermal Suite, salon, gym, and Solarium
• Multiple pools – Solarium (adults-only), Sports Pool, Family Pool, and a children's Wet Zone
• Sunset Bar and Patio on the Lawn
• The Lawn Club – Real grass lawn space for relaxation and lawn games
• Kids Clubs – Fun Factory (3–11), X-Club for teens, age-appropriate activities and zones
• Video Arcade, Pickleball Court (added fleetwide in 2023), Jogging Track, Mini Golf, Bocce, Shuffleboard, and Multi-sports Court

Pickleball is played at the sports court (Deck 15), with complimentary equipment and scheduled sessions for adults and families (children 6+).

Itineraries

Celebrity Equinox operates seasonal itineraries in the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Europe (Mediterranean). Homeports include Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Piraeus-Athens, Istanbul, and Barcelona. Repositioning voyages are offered seasonally (Transatlantic).

In summer 2017, Equinox began year-round Caribbean operations from Miami. For winter 2024–2025 (Nov 21–Mar 1), she was originally scheduled for South America (Buenos Aires), but plans changed in August 2023. The ship was instead assigned to Caribbean voyages from Port Canaveral—a first for Celebrity Cruises. The winter 2024–2025 schedule includes 20 roundtrips to Belize, Mexico, Grand Cayman, The Bahamas, San Juan, and St Maarten, including visits to CocoCay on two March 2025 sailings.

The vessel (Meyer Werft Papenburg yard/hull number 107630) has a volume of 121,878 GT, DWT of 9,500 tons, and a maximum draught of 8.6 m. The powerplant consists of Wartsila marine diesel engines (models 16V46 and 14V48/60CR) with a combined power output of 67.2 MW. The registered shipowner is CELEBRITY EQUINOX INC, and the ship is managed by CELEBRITY CRUISES INC.

Celebrity Equinox is part of the Solstice-class, along with sisterships Eclipse, Reflection, Silhouette, and Solstice. The Equinox was built at a cost of USD 750 million.

The vessel was delivered on July 16, 2009. The christening ceremony was held in Port Southampton (England, UK) on July 30, led by godmother Nina Barough (Founder and CEO of the Walk the Walk breast cancer charity). The maiden voyage—an 8-day Norwegian Fjords itinerary—departed on July 31. Following the inaugural cruise, Celebrity Equinox was repositioned to the Mediterranean and later to the Caribbean via Transatlantic crossing.

As a Solstice-class vessel, Equinox is among the industry's most environmentally friendly ships, using up to 30% less energy than typical cruise ships. This is achieved through its efficient hull design, hull coating with light-emitting diodes, and a photovoltaic solar panel system.

Stateroom categories include the signature ConciergeClass and AquaClass accommodations. Approximately 85% of all passenger cabins feature private balconies. The deck layout provides a practical configuration with entertainment venues located forward and dining venues aft. The ship offers 10 diverse dining venues and spacious cabins, with Inside rooms starting at 185 ft² (17 m²).

Equinox was originally scheduled for the 2017 summer season in Europe (Mediterranean), but the ship was instead redeployed to the USA for Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from PortMiami, Florida during June, July, and August 2017.

In July 2016, Celebrity Cruises announced that beginning in 2017, Equinox would offer year-round Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami. Starting in April 2017, the ship, which usually repositioned to Europe for the summer, operated 24 departures from PortMiami. These included 7-night cruises (June through August) and 10- to 11-night roundtrip sailings for the remainder of the year.

• To launch its first-ever summer Caribbean program, Equinox hosted a special 11-night cruise with two overnight stays in New Orleans during the city's famous Jazz Festival (starting April 24).
• The summer 2017 Caribbean season concluded with a "President's Cruise" (departing August 27). During this 8-night Eastern Caribbean voyage, Celebrity Cruises President Lisa Lutoff-Perlo joined guests for shore excursions and special onboard events.
• In 2018, the ship was again repositioned to Europe (Mediterranean) for the summer season.

FRIENDS-Themed Cruise 2022

In mid-June 2022, it was announced that the "Fana World Travel" agency had chartered the Equinox for a "Cruise with Friends" themed voyage for fans of the FRIENDS TV series (which aired 1994–2004).

This 6-day Caribbean roundtrip from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) was scheduled to depart on May 15 and return May 21, 2022, with stops in Key West, Florida, George Town (Grand Cayman), and Cozumel, Mexico.

The themed cruise featured trivia games, a costume contest, and other FRIENDS-inspired activities. Promotional material encouraged guests to "eat like Joey, joke like Chandler, cook like Monica, shop like Rachel, yoga like Phoebe, and dig like Ross."

Prices ranged from USD 1,650 (EUR 1,360) for Inside cabins to USD 3,050 (EUR 2,520) for Sky Suites. Rates included government taxes, port fees, gratuities, a premium beverage package, unlimited Wi-Fi, and a USD 150 shore excursion credit.

Celebrity Equinox Refurbishment 2019 Review

The ship’s drydock in May 2019 took place in Freeport, Bahamas as part of Celebrity Cruises’ USD 70 million "Celebrity Revolution" fleetwide modernization program.

Renovations included the addition of new staterooms (including Sunset Suites), upgraded cabins with new furnishings, RFID door locks (wristband/card access), Bluetooth, and revamped bathrooms. The Retreat Sundeck was added exclusively for suite guests, replacing the former Solstice Deck. Oceanview Cafe (Deck 14) was fully redesigned. Additional updates included new LED lighting, carpeting, drapes, bed linens, and artwork throughout the ship.

The Lawn Club was enhanced with 8 Alcoves and a large outdoor LED movie screen. Sunset Bar was redesigned with shaded lounges, banquette seating, and hammocks. Xcelerate Wi-Fi was implemented shipwide. The Fitness Center received new Technogym equipment. Retail spaces were refreshed with the addition of boutiques including What Goes Around Comes Around (luxury vintage), TARBAY (Venezuelan jewelry), Lemlem (African apparel/accessories), Tao Company Jewelry by Vanessa Arcila (Colombian jewelry), Point B (destination shop), Hublot (Swiss watches), and Shinola (watches, jewelry, leather goods).

Additional renovations were completed in the Photo Gallery, Art Gallery, iLounge, Casino Lounge and Bar, Library, Solarium, and Pool Deck (Deck 10). Crew areas (cabins, gym, recreation lounge, outdoor bar, laundry) were also upgraded.

The "Celebrity Revolution" initiative (USD 500 million across 9 ships) includes:

• Complete stateroom and public area renovations to match Edge-class standards, designed by HBA (Hirsch Bedner Associates, USA) and Kelly Hoppen (UK).
• eXhale bedding (cashmere mattresses) and tech enhancements like RFID locks, Bluetooth, and Xcelerate Wi-Fi added to all cabins.
• The Retreat – an adults-only sundeck with full-size pool, two Jacuzzis, private cabanas, padded loungers, and poolside food and drink service.
• Redesigned Luminae Restaurant (Suites-only) with new menus by Chef Cornelius Gallagher.
• Qsine Restaurant introduced "Le Petit Chef" – a virtual dining experience created by Skullmapping and presented by TableMation Studios.
• Main Dining Rooms, Oceanview Cafe, and Sunset Bar fully redesigned, along with other public areas.
• The SPA complex was expanded with a larger SEA Thermal Suite.

Retail offerings were expanded to include brands such as Hublot and Shinola, enhancing the onboard shopping experience.