AquaSpa offers cutting-edge treatments such as a '24-Carat Gold Facial'. AquaSpa offers cutting-edge treatments such as a '24-Carat Gold Facial'.

Specialty dining
Celebrity Equinox boasts 10 dining venues, four of which are specialty restaurants — Murano (classic and modern continental cuisine); Tuscan Grille (Italian and steakhouse); Silk Harvest Restaurant (Asian fusion); and Blu (clean cuisine designed for AquaClass guests).

Guests wishing to dine in the specialty restaurants pay a small surcharge. Other F&B outlets include the Silhouette Dining Room; Oceanview Café and Bar; Bistro on Five; AquaSpa Café, Mast Grill & Bar; and ATN’s favourite, the Café al Bacio and Gelataria for tea, coffee, cake and ice-cream.

Shopping
There are 18 shops — 10 at the Galleria Boutiques, seven at the Shops on the Boulevard and the Lawn Club Shop. Guests can choose from handbags, jewellery, ornaments, clothing, ship merchandise, practical items such as camera film and much more.

There’s also ‘The Showcase’ featuring glass merchandise from The Corning Museum of Glass and Riedel Gallery as well as ‘Serendipity’ selling destination-driven merchandise such as local arts and crafts.

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Hot Glass Show
The Hot Glass Show was first showcased on sister ship Celebrity Solstice and proved so popular that it was incorporated into the Lawn Club area on Deck 15 of Celebrity Equinox.

Celebrity Cruises has teamed up with The Corning Museum of Glass from New York state to create this show, which uses sophisticated equipment worth US $1million. Master glassblowers (‘gaffers’) from the museum showcase their skills and get the audience involved. Some of the work is exhibited on board the ship.

Lawn Club
Celebrity Equinox is the first ship to have laid down real grass at its Lawn Club on Deck 15, which spans just over half an acre (2130m²) and features the Sunset Bar, The Hot Glass Show, lawn bowling, a three-hole putting course and the Lawn Club Shop.

Celebrity Equinox
Some fast facts you should know:

  • Double occupancy: 2850 guests
  • Guest decks: 13
  • Staterooms: 1426
  • Verandas: 85% of inventory
  • Ocean view: 90% of inventory
  • Inside: 10% of inventory
  • Staterooms accommodating three or four, guests: 418
  • Connecting staterooms: 121
  • Staterooms are 15% larger on average than other Celebrity ships
  • Dining outlets: 10

Itinerary highlights
(2009-2010)

  • Ancient Empires sailings: 13 and 14 nights from Rome until October 23.
  • Transatlantic voyage: from Rome to Fort Lau-derdale – 14 nights from November 5.
  • Ultimate Caribbean: 10-night roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale – December 4 and Feb 26.
  • Transatlantic voyage: from Fort Lauderdale to Rome – 14 nights from April 19.
  • Eastern Mediterranean: 10- and 11-night roundtrips from Rome from May until August.
  • Classic Meditteranean: a nine-night from Venice to Athens on August 16 and an eight- night from Athens to Barcelona on August 25.

Who to sell to
This ship does offer kids clubs and babysitting services but Celebrity Equinox is best suited to couples and groups of adults, as well as corporate gatherings and special occasions. One of the ship’s key target markets is ‘Boomer Women’ aged 40 to 60 who enjoy fine food and pampering, hence the inclusion of 130 AquaClass cabins.

However, for any adult aged 21 plus there is plenty to keep you occupied. This is great for honeymooners, empty nesters, mothers and daughters, groups of women seeking spa treatments and ‘Clean Cuisine’ and also for families with grown-up kids.

Prices
The 13-night Ancient Empires cruises


Cabin category               Prices starting from
Interior                              $2410
Ocean View                     $2560
Premium Balcony          $2610
Aqua Class                     $3160
Suites                               $6610
Prices are per person based on double occupancy and exclude all port handling charges, taxes and service charges.

To book
Call +9714 3314285; email ldurai@royalcaribbean-arabia.com or visit www.royalcaribbean-arabia.com and www.celebrity.com