lifeisrealygood

The 10 night Silhouette cruise out of Miami does in fact depart on Monday March 13, 2023.

As someone said earlier, there are five S-Class ships, all built between 2008 and 2012, with Reflection being the "newest", built ten years ago. All five S-class ships are similar, so if you like the Reflection, you will also like the other four. They are all pretty similar in layout, with your Reflection and the Silhouette having a different Lawn Club layout than the other three. But, for the most part, you would like any of the other four if you like the Reflection. It is our favorite class of ship. We still like the S-class over the new E-class ships which began rolling out a few years ago.

We have been on many Caribbean Cruises, but most sailed from Fort Lauderdale. We have had two or three cruises from Miami, but it has been a while. In March, we are cruising the Silhouette out of Miami. We have stayed at the Loew's Miami Beach Hotel in South Beach twice in the past. The location and hotel were great, but we were older than anyone else in South Beach by 30 or 40 years. So, we are done with South Beach. Great, but it was in our prior life. We have made reservations at the Hampton Inn Miami Brickell for four nights pre-cruise, The reviews on Trip Advisor are good, but many reflect pre-covid reviews. So, anyone have recent comments about the Hampton Inn Maim Brickell. Seems close to a lot of stuff. No need to comment about price. Rates are outrageous everywhere in March, so no need to comment on that. So, how's the Hampton Inn Brickell?

My two cents. We are loyal Celebrity cruisers. I guess just like Hertz or Avis, Hilton or Marriott, you pick one and stick with it if it seems okay. We have been on 30 plus Celebrity sailings, and one or two each on the other mainstream lines, with a few on Regent and Tauck's Swiss Emerald River cruises. We just like the feel of Celebrity and will stay with them. We are in our mid-seventies, and love cruising anywhere in the world. The three Regent cruises we were on were great, food was better than Celebrity, but the ships were just too small. And not a lot of activities to choose from on sea days. We like the 2,800 to 3,000 capacity of Celebrity's S-class, our favorite ships. The new mega ships do not interest us anymore either, as we do not need all the stuff going on, such as ice skating, wall climbing, bumper cars, water slides, needing to make reservations for on-board activities, and such. We still, however, like the entertainment, music, activities, and food on Celebrity, as the ships still have access to a lot of activities, without the crowds. Just not the amusement park atmosphere of the Mega Ships, which we probably would have liked if we were younger. We actually went to Disney World in its heyday, for twenty four years in a row, beginning when it opened in 1972. So, for us, it still is Celebrity. Oceania is just too small for us. We have said good-bye to the M-Class, nice ships, but getting a little old. And the E-Class, of which we have been on just two cruises, did not interest us either. We did not like the Infinite Balcony, and did not like pretty much everything being centered in the Grand Atrium area. We love the layout of the S-Class ships. We love music and dancing. And, on the S-Class, you have the Central area by the Passport Bar, the Martini Bar, one floor up, the new Beer Bar (formerly Cellar Masters) also on five, the Ensemble Lounge up on Deck five, the Sky Lounge up on top, the Sunset Bar, Aft, the stage at the pool. Many areas for music, dancing, or just relaxing, while on the E-class we found very few areas for such. We thought the Night Club atmosphere in their two story attempt at a night club on the E-Class did not feel inviting, no windows, dark, and you would not even know you were on a cruise ship. So, for us old couple, it is still Celebrity, but only the S-class. As even they are getting older too, I guess we will have to try something different, but NOT YET.

It really sucks getting old. This is the time of year when I go through a lot of paper work to clean up some files. This year, I came across an invoice for fixing our washing machine, which I thought was just done "not so long ago." That washing machine was repaired more than five years ago from the date on that document, which I swear just happened "not so long go." Life is moving too fast. My wife says that life is like a roll of Toilet Paper. When you open the roll, it takes a long time for the first strands to come off. But, by the time you get to the end of the roll, the paper just unwinds really quickly, just like life. We like catamarans. It seems that some catamaran excursions are now putting upper age limits as to who can sail on them. We are in our mid-seventies, and are in great shape, and have, hopefully, a lot of life yet to live. But, we can't sail on a catamaran, which we love???? That truly SUCKS. But, we live in a world where "IT IS WHAT IT IS".

My wife and I always have the premium drink package. We always will tip the bar servers who bring our drinks to the Black Jack table, for example. And I do not worry about carrying those one dollar bills around, as others have suggested. In the casino, I just give the servers a one dollar, or two one dollar chips, or a five dollar chip, depending on how things are rolling when my drink is being served. But I will always give them something in the casino. As far as other bartenders, we all seem to have our favorites onboard. I especially like it when the bartenders remember our drinks, and will say "the regular Mr or Mrs .......". that is a nice touch. Normally, these bartenders will always make sure that my white wine of choice is always available, another nice touch. I will give those bartenders, maybe two or three around the ship, a ten or twenty dollar bill a few times during the cruise. We normally cruise the S-Class, so we seem to always have a favorite bartender at the Passport Bar, at the Ensemble Bar, and in the Sky Lounge at night. Many times, even after we give our favorite bartender the money, they merely put it into a tip jar or box to be shared with his or her coworkers.

Agree. Click on the "plan my cruise", not the "manage reservation", and you should see all the shore excursions, or use the drop down menu for just the port you are interested in.

Fairmont Waterfront, hands down. We have stayed there three times, one for an Alaskan cruise on the Millennium and twice for land tours from Vancouver over to Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper with Tauck Tours. Pricey, yes, but the best location. It is right across the street from the cruise terminal. About a block away from the Olympic Flame and Memorial. A block away from the seaport where the seaplanes arrive and take off , mainly flying over to the island of Victoria, home to the famous Butchart Gardens. The hotel is right on the water, hence its name, and it is just a nice leisurely and beautiful walk along the shoreline up to Stanley Park, and Stanley Park is a nice way to spend a day just walking around, or bicycling. It is larger than Central Park in New York, and is named after Lord Stanley, the guy the Cup is named after. Just watching the seaplanes take off and land is a thrill. Happens about every 15 minutes throughout the day. Great, great, great location. If you have time, spend a few days in Vancouver. One day just walking around including Stanley Park. One day taking a boat ride over to Victoria to see Butchart Gardens, and taking a seaplane back, where you are only a few hundred feet off the water for the entire short ride back. Another day can be spent at Granville Island, a place to sightsee, shop, and eat. Spending just one day before the cruise here is a waste in my opinion. Enjoy this beautiful city, and no, I do not live there. I'm from the Chicago area, and a Bears fan, to my chagrin.

When is a sale a sale? My wife and I have three cruises booked, and for our March 2023 cruise on the Silhouette and our October 2023 on the Equinox, we have already purchased our shore excursions. And we purchased them more than a few months ago. I believe there was a sale back then when we ordered them. But, what we paid for our five excursions on the two cruises way back when was still cheaper than what is being offered now for the same excursions, that are ON SALE. Kind of like the fact that for our March 2024 cruise on the Silhouette, also booked maybe 10 months ago, when the Elevate Package was still available, we paid an amount just over $5,000 for the two of us for the ten night cruise, prime concierge cabin. That same cruise now, even with the 75% off second guest, and for "all included" just the classic package, it is well over $6,000. Some sale!!!!

Relax. You should not need to call anyone. If it is a Celebrity excursion, they will adjust the times. If, for whatever reason, the times do not work out, you will get an-email from Celebrity telling you about the cancellation, and a refund of your fees. If they do not say anything, then they will adjust it. Your cruise planner will show any time changes they will make. Take a look at your cruise planner calendar to see what it shows. If it is gone, look at your "billing summary" to see if it was refunded, I bet the times are just adjusted on your cruise calendar. Good luck, and do not worry.

Be patient. With the cruise that far out, Celebrity will be adding excursions even to the ports that already have some listed. Do you really think that a ship, any ship, would arrive in port and offer no excursions? These excursions are revenue generating for them. So, as many have said, just be patient. We are also on that same cruise. Never been to St Vincent before had one scheduled, but cancelled that cruise. We want to take the ships excursion over to Bequa Island, the second largest island in the Grenadines. It was what we had booked for our excursion in St Vincent before we canceled the cruise (due to Covid).

Hey Cruisestitch, I was wondering if there is a place to play pickleball on board. The old basketball court or maybe a place in the gym? My sister-in-law who is traveling with us next March asked if I knew. I do not.

I am cruising the Silhouette in March with my brother and sister-in-law. She is an avid pickleball player, plays four or five times a week in her Florida home. Has Celebrity turned any open space, such as the basketball court, into a pickleball court? So, does anyone know if you can play pickleball on the Silhouette?

Although "chic" nights may change, on most itineraries, the "chic" nights are the first full day of cruising, considered day 2, and the next to last day of sailing, which in your case would be day 6. We have been on 30 plus cruises, and this guideline is followed virtually on every cruise.

Hands down the best (but pricey) hotel is the Margaritaville Beach Resort on Hollywood Beach. It is also a water taxi stop, but the second route, not the main one around Fort Lauderdale. It is a newer hotel built around 2017 or 2018, and is just amazing. Three pools, all great, and on the ocean. The pools and the beach are basically adjoining one another, and there is a broadwalk of about two miles long that is great for shopping and eating. But, you really never need to leave the property. It is called a broadwalk, not a boardwalk, as it is not made of wood. Music venue is great with outdoor bands playing every night in the band shell right on the broadwalk. Can't say enough about this place. Found it by accident taking the second water taxi route just to see where it went, and it stopped at the Margaritaville Resort. so we got off and walked around. Have stayed there five times since before our cruises over the last few years.

Equinox - September - All self serve.

Hey OP, don't get all excited about how others dress for dinner. You are on a cruise. They are on a cruise. Different strokes for different.........whatever. My wife and I dress appropriately for dinner, but I could care less what others wear. And, by the way, I have a huge bald spot on the top of my head, and I wear baseball caps to protect it from the sun. Sometimes, I even wear my cap backwards. I cannot believe that that offends you. I do not cruise on the Queen Mary, but if I did, I would still wear baseball caps by the pool or on excursions if I were cruising the Caribbean. What is wrong with a baseball cap? And, I would not wear it to dinner, and I always remove it when eating lunch in the Oceanview Cafe.

Hey C4HCG, thanks for the info about the bands. Even though my wife and I are in our mid-seventies, we still like to dance, whether it be in the Grand Foyer before dinner or later at night, or in the sky lounge or wherever the silent disco is happening. And, we like the rock and roll stuff, not the ballroom dance stuff. We were in high school and college in the sixties, and music was great back then. I still am not a a very good dancer, but my wife really rocks. Play Footloose or anything from Dirty Dancing, and she still is amazing. I gotta believe that people who watch her dance, even at her age, are wondering "what is she dong with that guy?"

There seems to be very few tendered ports these days, but, even though many do not like ships excursions, too expensive, too crowded, whatever, I would take a ships excursion when tendering. Again, you said you are on vacation, and do not want to worry,. So, take a ships excursion. Easy off the ship, but in a lot of cases, coming back to the ship, you are in line with everyone else. But, you will get back to the ship. They will not leave people who are on the dock waiting to board the tender, unless of course the last tender has left. Which will not happen if people are still on the dock.

FWIW, Regardless of the cruise being 9 or 10 nights, the "chic" nights normally are your second evening, that is, the evening the next night after embarkation night, and the next to last night of the cruise. I think of them more as a 1) Welcome to our cruise, which is the first night excluding embarkation night, and 2) a thank you for coming, which is the next to last night, not the last night because everyone is packing and finalizing stuff. In the Theatre on these two evenings, they often have a a production show, but either way, the Captain normally shows up in the theatre to say "Hello" and "Good-Bye."

Was there both a house band and a party band that play around the ship, that is, at the pool, in the Sky Lounge, or in the Grand Foyer throughout the day and evening? Or was the DJ doing his thing rather than the one or two bands playing. I realize that members of the the Orchestra play at times around the ship, and there may be a jazz or classical duo or trio, and perhaps a guitarist. My question just relates to the party band or house band. I realize they play similar music, but on our Spring Caribbean cruises there have always been two such bands. Were there one or two such bands on your cruise?

We are elite plus, and, as others have said, we get two free bags of laundry per person on any cruise, regardless of length. You can not send out the laundry within two days of disembarkation. We only send undergarments, socks & t-shirts out. We still are really hesitant to send any really good stuff out, just what we do. We have never lost a single item, and nothing has been ruined in our more than 40 plus cruises on Celebrity. From time to time, they get delivered to a different room, but they make their way back to us. But, again, we do not send dress shirts, dress slacks, designer polo's. cocktail dresses, and the like. We always arrive in the embarkation city three days to a week ahead of time. The morning after we board the ship, we send out our first bag of laundry, then again about five days before the end of the cruise. Since we only send out what I said earlier, we really only use two bags for the both of us on any cruise. By the way, we agree that the cloth bags are quite large, are larger than they look, and really can hold a lot of stuff.

For cruises now departing to the Caribbean from Florida no longer require a negative test if vaccinated and cruise is 9 nights or shorter. I have just checked in for my September 17th cruise on the Equinox out of Fort Lauderdale. An e-mail I just received stated they will perform a "Wellness Check" at the terminal. Is this just the Health Questionnaire we fill out on the app the day before we arrive at the port, or is this something else? Temperature Check? Look into your eyes? Whatever? Who has been through this in the last week or so?

I agree with what Smmessineo said. I could not have said it better. By the way, one of the comments in comparing the S-Class of ships, of which the Equinox is one, with the new Edge class of ships, is that there are many more bars staged throughout the S-Class of ships, than the Edge class. The Edge class has a lot of bars, but many seem to be congregated around the main central part of the ship, not spread out throughout the ship. And, Smmessineo forgot to mention the Ensemble Lounge, which is a nice place to go to have a drink and listen to some soft romantic music later in the evening.

True, Celebrity NO LONGER mails out those wonderful luggage tags. They instruct you to print them out from the boarding pass section of your on-line reservation. They then suggest folding, then stapling or taping them to your luggage, or even having them laminated.