Early Tuesday witnessed a significant event as Celebrity Cruises officially became a part of Port Canaveral's expanding cruise fleet. The Equinox, a renowned ship, sailed into the port during the pre-dawn darkness, marking the beginning of its operations from this port.

Discover the Allure of Celebrity Cruises at Port Canaveral

Expanding Cruise Offerings

The Equinox will be offering an impressive 20 sailings out of Port Canaveral, providing a wide range of travel opportunities. From now until April 19, cruise enthusiasts can look forward to seasonal services. Celebrity Cruises joining Port Canaveral makes it the seventh cruise line to base one or more ships here. It joins established cruise lines like Carnival, Disney, MSC, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean, as well as Princess, which started sailing from this port just last week. This diverse lineup caters to different travel preferences and styles.Cruise itineraries from Port Canaveral on the Equinox will take passengers to various exciting destinations. They will sail to the Bahamas, Belize, Grand Cayman, Mexico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and St. Maarten. Some sailings will even visit the private island of Perfect Day at Coco Cay, which boasts an adults-only Hideaway Beach area. Most sailings span seven nights, with convenient Saturday departures and returns, allowing travelers to plan their vacations more easily.

Size and Amenities of the Equinox

Compared to some of the mega-ships based at Port Canaveral, the Equinox is relatively smaller. It has 13 guest decks and 1,426 staterooms, with a double-occupancy capacity of 2,852 passengers and a full capacity of 3,148. The ship also has a crew of 1,290, ensuring excellent service. It offers an array of amenities including 10 dining venues, 13 bars and lounges, a 1,113-seat theater for Broadway-style shows, a casino, swimming pools, hot tubs, spa facilities, a fitness center, a jogging track, and a basketball court. The Equinox went into service in 2009 and was renovated in 2019, ensuring a modern and comfortable experience for passengers.

Future Sailing Plans

In the coming years, Celebrity has scheduled seven-night sailings of the Celebrity Apex out of Port Canaveral from November 2025 through April 2026, and again from November 2026 through April 2027. The Apex is slightly larger than the Equinox and is newer, having entered service in 2020. This shows Celebrity's commitment to providing continuous cruise options for travelers.

Providing an Intimate Cruise Experience

The Equinox is designed to offer cruise passengers a more "intimate" experience compared to some of the larger Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships, which have capacities of more than 6,000 passengers. Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge has described it as "resort travel at sea." Customers have expressed a desire for more Caribbean options, especially from domestic ports closer to home, allowing them to enjoy more frequent, year-round vacations.Port Canaveral offers numerous benefits for Celebrity Cruises. Its location is easily accessible worldwide via Orlando International Airport and major highways. It is also the closest port to the Central Florida theme park and attractions, making it a convenient choice for travelers."When discussing the cruise line's decision to base a ship at Port Canaveral, Hodges Bethge said, 'Bringing Celebrity Cruises to Port Canaveral will allow us to better serve a wide-range of travelers, from in-state cruisers to out-of-state travelers, and especially families and groups. We have had our eye on Port Canaveral for a while, and we are so excited to now bring Celebrity Equinox to the area.'"The Equinox sailed into a nearly deserted port at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, with only charter fishermen preparing to go out to sea. Additionally, Celebrity is also sailing from two other Florida ports - Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and Port Tampa Bay - during the winter 2024-25 season.Dave Berman is the business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. You can contact him at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54.