Last Call

Here are some tidbits of info for you! 

Call or text me at 352-552-8066 should you need to reach me.

Friends of Bubbles

Our group name is sponsored by "Bubbles" my pink toy Flamingo, often seen photographed in my photos.  

Your Sea Pass is needed everywhere on the ship.  It opens your cabin door, it acts as a charge card to purchase drinks, gets you in the exercise facility, and allows you to purchase from the shops. So having a pocket, a lanyard, or a wristlet purse, keeps it easily at hand.

Fortunes Casino accepts cash or your onboard credit for gambling.  If you wish to "charge" your gambling to your credit card on file, the casino will charge a small service fee...do ask.  Be prepared!

The Canyon Ranch Spa holds an open house and will be available for tours prior to the lifeboat drill. You can register for their drawing, but you must be present to win.  This drawing gives each of the spa services a time to present their specialties.  There is a fee to use the spa thermal suite.

Room Service is almost always free. (Some items or hours may be for a fee). Tipping is not required, but a $1 tip is always appreciated.

Feel free to bring your own thermal cup or refillable bottle.  When using the buffet water or beverage dispensers, ALWAYS dispense liquid into the ship's cups, then pour into yours (to help keep down contaminants).

Should you return to the buffet, be sure to start with a clean plate each time.  Your used plate will disappear from the table when you go back to the buffet.

Be meticulous. Wash your hands before and after every meal.  Just because someone is sick doesn't mean they will postpone their vacation....so reduce your risk by using the hand disinfectors found around the ship.

Plan to use your Onboard Credit no later than 10pm on Tuesday night....

after then it disappears!  Use it or lose it!

Taking the Coach on Saturday: it's an early morning!

Departing Rural King at 6:45am sharp!  Florida Cruise Express bus by Yankee Trails.

Bring your snacks, beverages (non-alcoholic & non-breakable), and entertainment.

Dress warm.

On board are: Karen & Grant, Rosemary, Mary, Juanita & Dennis, Delores & Wayne, John & Anna, Mina & Larry, Maryann & Brian, and Alex & Mary.

Rural King Address - 1715 N. Citrus Blvd (Hwy 441/27) Leesburg, FL 34748

Return trip > coach is now boarding in Miami between 8:30am-9:30am

Given this earlier boarding time on Wednesday, 10 January 2018, with a 5 hour in transit time,

expect to arrive back to Rural King around 2:30pm.

Let's Eat!

Table Allocation & Dining Room Etiquette

Celebrity Equinox is sailing completely full for our sailing. 
The "Friends of Bubbles" group has the early seating for the main dining room. 
The first night (on Saturday) you have been assigned as such:

The dining is on 2 levels.
Now we know our table numbers, which you can tell the dining room greeter as you arrive for dinner.

Table 1 is #218: Carl/Barbara, Dennis/Kathy, Jim/Nancy, Brian/Maryann
Table 2 is #213 : Grant/Karen, Don/Chris, Dennis/Juanita, Wayne/Delores
Table 3 is #214: Jerry/Grace, Tom/Julie, John/Shu
Table 4 is #212: Mina/Larry, Alex/Mary, Rosemary & Mary, John/Ana

AFTER the first night we will be allowed to move to any of our 4 designated tables (this is called round robin).  You will be able to sit with anyone from OUR GROUP, but only with our group.  The reason for this is the ship is sold out, and if you invite someone to sit at our tables, then there will be someone from our group WITHOUT seating.

Here is what you can do. Should you wish to sit with someone you just met, OR in the case of the Rauchs, with friends they know will be on the ship, you must use the ANYTIME seating and arrange to book your individual table nightly with the maitre d'.  

This means you do NOT save seats for anyone.  If you want to dine together, enter the dining room together and choose one of our tables.  It will NOT be acceptable to turn anyone away from our tables or to ask anyone to move.  This has happened in the past on previous cruises, it is very embarrassing, and this is why I find it necessary to post this message. I do not wish any of my friends to be disrespected in this manner.

You may decide NOT to dine at the main dining room each night, and that is certainly acceptable. All of the venues are in competition for your business. The servers receive tips based on how many times you dine at each place. There are many great places to eat, including the wonderful Oceanview Café/Buffet. 

Check the menu of the dining room either on your television or posted outside the dining room. If you like something particularly well, you may ask the server to make it available to you the next evening as well.  If you decide you want two appetizers and no main entrée, you can ask for one of the appetizers to be made in an entrée portion. You may even ask for seconds.

If you have any food allergies, are lactose intolerant, or need a vegan menu please let me know NOW as the ships prefer advance notice! And the waiters will also be asking you again on the first night about allergies.

And don't forget, you will be making your Specialty Dining reservation once aboard the ship, using the vouchers which will be in your stateroom, for one of the four nights.  I highly recommend the final night, but it is your choice.  It is also your choice whether to dine alone as a couple, or to pair up with others in our group.  Be aware, the specialty dining venues publish they do not accept reservations for parties greater than 8.  This is to maintain the intimacy of the venue.

The seating arrangement is a timely and complicated procedure to seat 1400+ guests in each of the two seatings each night. The ship requested our dining preferences several months ago and I am still awaiting our table numbers. 

Let's Get Together

Book Club

Ladies, we will be meeting on Sunday aboard Equinox in the Specialty restaurant Blu for our discussion of The Woman in Cabin 10.

Plan on meeting me at for an hour long get-together.  Bring your beverage of choice. I expect the poker game will be over by this time.

Location: Blu, Deck 5 Aft 2:30-3:30

Cards are in the air!

Calling all Texas Hold'Em poker players.

We have arranged with the ship to supply prizes for our private poker tournament. If time permits, there may be two tournaments each day.  All funds go to the prize pool; there is no rake. $20 buys a starting chip stack of 33,500 betting units:

10 white, 5 black, 5 red, 5 green. During the first break, remaining players may buy an extra 10K (1 blue chip) for $5. This makes the optional/extended starting chip stack 43,500.

With 11 or more players, the top 3 win.

Should we have the estimated 16 players, with 8 players opting for the extra blue chip, the payouts would be:

1st - $180

2nd - $110

3rd - $70

* See more details on the Tournament Schedule

Chip Values:

100 White

500 Black

1000 Red

5,000 Green

10,000 Blue

Grant is Tournament Director

Tournament Structure handout for all players

Location: Quasar Nightclub, Deck 4 Forward

Sunday 10am-3pm and Tuesday 10am-3pm

 * You may bring food for lunch or snacks into the venue.

Getting to Know Celebrity

Here's a peek at Celebrity Equinox   

Click here for a quick tour of Equinox  I found this video on You Tube.

     And click here to see a snippet of the entertainment. 

Spectacular costumes.

          

And amazing aerial performances. 

See an aerial athlete at work, click here.

Are you ready to dance? This video was made on Equinox's sister ship Constellation.
I've got this feeling you will LOVE Celebrity! Click here.