Celebrity Silhouette - Western Caribbean Review

[aquashark]

BACKGROUND

 

We’re a couple in our upper-20s/early-30s, cruising with Celebrity a third time and on the Silhouette for our second trip. Since we're enthusiastic fans of the Silhouette, we're going to focus this review on the things we didn't like or have changed negatively since our last sailing.

 

PRE-CRUISE

 

Aqua Hotel - Ft. Lauderdale

Overall, we’d describe this hotel as a “five star motel.” We were satisfied having a clean, modern place to rest our heads that is a block away from the beach and within walking distance to restaurants and nightlife. The rates here were not too much more than the dank motels from the 50’s lining A1A.

 

Transportation

During embarkation, taxis were sparse with so many cruisers competing to board their ships. Multiple uber drivers refused to take us to the port due to increased police attention facing uber drivers entering the port area. I recommend booking transportation to the cruise terminal in advance.

 

EMBARKATION

 

The person screening my carry-on luggage at the port was not familiar with Celebrity’s policy allowing two bottles of carry-on champagne/wine. A supervisor was required to come over to clear my champagne.

 

Embarkation was otherwise quick and easy--though since everything was so smooth, the priority embarkation line for Concierge class guests made no difference.

 

We checked a pallet of water to be delivered to our stateroom. On our last trip on the Silhouette (Mediterranean, Summer 2013), bottled water was provided on every shore excursion, but it was no longer furnished by the ship.

 

STATEROOM/CONCIERGE CLASS

Our 9th deck midship concierge class veranda cabin was quiet.

 

We didn’t find the concierge perks compelling. Most of the perks were valueless (weird afternoon canape plates that are only actually delivered to you if you are present in the stateroom in the mid-afternoon), were available to any stateroom for free upon request (in-room ice bucket) or for a nominal charge (fresh squeezed orange juice).

 

We also noticed that some of the concierge class room service selections (smoked salmon) were no longer included on the room service menu, but were offered to us upon our request.

 

THE SHIP

The Silhouette is our favorite ship.

 

DINING

 

spe Meals - We stuck with the spe meals in the main dining room and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety. While the portions were limited by cruise ship standards, we never felt like we were eating “diet” food.

 

Coffee - The coffee from room service was undrinkable. The coffee in the main dining room and the buffet is tolerable with some sugar and salt added. The coffee in the solarium’s AquaSpa cafe came from a different type of machine and is the only free drinkable coffee on the ship.

 

Room Service - Drinks can be ordered by the jug! This was very helpful for getting enough OJ to make mimosas or for keeping enough fluids in our stateroom to hydrate after a long day in port.

 

Formal Nights - Formal nights are becoming more casual. I saw only one tuxedo, and many men just wore a button down shirt and slacks.

 

PORTS

 

Cozumel - Playa Mia Resort - A wonderful day resort with a nice beach, water park, wifi, and shops. The buffet, however, looked unappetizing and we decided to eat “predinner” after returning to the ship.

 

Grand Cayman - Snuba - What a great port to dive! A shipwreck is visible mere feet from the dock, so you avoid the time-intensive trips on dive boats like other ports use that keep you waiting as people dive in shifts. DW and I also appreciated that snuba is less “fussy” than scuba diving, yet still offers the same beautiful experience of underwater exploration.

 

Falmouth, Jamaica - Bamboo Beach Club - A small, beautiful beach area and a decent lunch. The mixed drinks tasted weird, so we stuck with beer. Drink service was slow. The guide did try to push us on buying photos and getting massages from the beach club, and on the return trip, the guide had our bus stop at the weirdest gift shop for twenty minutes filled with overpriced touristy kitsch.

 

Labadee, Haiti - Dragon Coaster - A very fun trip, and this is from someone who hates roller coasters. Riders have a stop/go lever, so you are in total control of your speed throughout the trip.

 

Labadee, Haiti - Barefoot Beach Cabana - We were invited by another wonderful couple we met on CC to join them in their cabana. We loved being able to access this restricted part of Labadee, which was quiet and provided nice views of the ship--all while being served by an attentive cabin steward.

 

Labadee, Haiti - Overall, this was a nice port. But the nicely manicured private island had an artificial quality to it. For example, all the food and drink came off the ship--there were no opportunities to order a local beer, sample local food, or otherwise experience the local culture.

 

ACTIVITIES

We noticed the cutbacks in the activities. There were times where we felt there was nothing to do. Activities staff also help direct guests to shore excursions, and the cutback has resulted in a visible shortage of help when locating excursion meeting points in port.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

The entertainment was very good. Our favorite show was Solomon Jaye, a talented crowd-pleasing performer who had the versatility to rock songs as classic as “Nature Boy” and as poppy as “Locked Out of Heaven.”

 

OVERALL

This remains our favorite ship, and we booked another voyage on the Silhouette!

[Texed]

Shark,

 

Thanks for posting. :)

[A1A]

Nice review Shark!

One question, when did you go? Since you did not mention propulsion issues I assume you just disembarked yesterday?

Thanks Again!

Ken

[aquashark]

Nice review Shark!

One question, when did you go? Since you did not mention propulsion issues I assume you just disembarked yesterday?

Thanks Again!

Ken

 

Yes, this was a post-drydock trip, and there were no propulsion issues.

[bakcd]

We were on this sailing as well and enjoyed the trip. Do you remember the name of the comedian on the last evening?

[aquashark]

We were on this sailing as well and enjoyed the trip. Do you remember the name of the comedian on the last evening?

 

 

Louis Johnson -- he was a blast!

[zlotych]

Nice review Shark!

One question, when did you go? Since you did not mention propulsion issues I ass5ume youre just disembarked yesterday?

Thanks Again!

Ken

 

 

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[erinpdx]

Can I ask how long it took to get a tender to Grand Cayman? People on previous sailings said it took hours. Did you arrive on time to your ports?

[cruise47]

Thanks for sharing your review.

[aquashark]

Can I ask how long it took to get a tender to Grand Cayman? People on previous sailings said it took hours. Did you arrive on time to your ports?

 

It wasn't too miserable, but we had the benefit of staying on the ship until a mid-afternoon excursion. To save time, I recommend getting tender tickets before breakfast instead of when you're actually ready to board the tender boat.

[erinpdx]

I will definitely get in line early to get tender tickets. Thanks!

[cruisecat1965]

Can I ask how long it took to get a tender to Grand Cayman? People on previous sailings said it took hours. Did you arrive on time to your ports?

 

We were on the catamaran scuba excursion and got on an orange ship provided tender at 8:30 with no wait. They were banging them out pretty fast.

 

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[cruisecat1965]

Oh and thanks for the review. We were also in a concierge room. I'm in the middle of doing a similar review but thought I would respond to some of your points. We also felt the afternoon "snack" was silly and a waste. I wish we would have know about getting drinks by the pitcher though. That's a great tip. We pretty much agree with your appraisal of the cruise and was wondering what cruise you signed up for.

 

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[ConnCruise]

i'm on the same cruise next week. Your information will be put to good use.

 

Funny about Concierge class. a few years back we booked a C Class on the Constellation (my favorite ship out of 12 cruises) for a Med cruise. We paid practically nothing extra so we figured what the heck. We found all the perks pretty much useless, but we did get a few good chuckles. They had a deluxe pillow selection, so there were about 20 pillows on our bed-no room to sleep- I had to throw a few over board-but each day they returned-a little exaggeration and I really didn't toss any in the drink, but way more pillows than 2 humans could possibly need.

 

Then there was the supplied golf umbrella. Fortunately, I had my own Totes, but could you imagine walking around Rome with a big ass green and white golf umbrella. (About 3x the size of a normal one) Wouldn't have gone well.

 

Anyway, we liked the pillows and the umbrella so much, we booked another C Class, (actually a cheaper rate than the standard)

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Thanks for the review. I hope we have good theater entertainment on our upcoming sailing on Silhouette. We have booked the Lawn Grill for the first formal night. If we like it, we'll book it for the next formal night too.

 

I hope there was plenty of enjoyable live music. I have been reading about cutbacks and don't like what I am reading in this regard.

 

We watched Silhouette leave Fort Lauderdale Sunday and it was exciting knowing we would be there next Sunday. We really like Eclipse, but it will be our first sailing on Silhouette. I can't wait.

[ailetoile]

Thank you so much for the review! It sounds like you guys could be me and my husband right down to the ages. We're taking this exact itinerary at the end of March and you've given a great glimpse of what to expect. :)

[Happy2cruise]

Does anyone know if the perk "wine" given in the CC class be switched for something else or a different brand of wine? Thanks.

[TeaBag]

Does anyone know if the perk "wine" given in the CC class be switched for something else or a different brand of wine? Thanks.

Yes, it can. You will get $28 credit toward what you choose. I have read of some who were refused so I hope you are successful.

[TeaBag]

Thanks for the review. I hope we have good theater entertainment on our upcoming sailing on Silhouette. We have booked the Lawn Grill for the first formal night. If we like it, we'll book it for the next formal night too.

 

The Lawn Grill is a great choice. I know food is subjective but as far as I am concerned it is the best restaurant on all the Celebrity ships. We tried ti and went back again, it was so good. Just a tip, don't go overboard on the flat bread. It can turn into a pizza really fast! Then you are too stuffed to finish the great steaks!

[TeaBag]

OP, thank you for the great review. Silhouette is also our favorite ship.

[hurwitz5]

We will sail on the Silhouette this Sunday, January 25. We are Elite and as I understand it, we will have priority tender tickets. We have friends traveling with us who are NOT Elite. Will they be able to get priority tender tickets

since they are with us?

[cruisecat1965]

We will sail on the Silhouette this Sunday, January 25. We are Elite and as I understand it, we will have priority tender tickets. We have friends traveling with us who are NOT Elite. Will they be able to get priority tender tickets

since they are with us?

 

Even if there is not a formal policy, keeping high level customers happy is generally the norm. Many times it only takes a face to face with a concierge to get things done. We regularly ask hotels for "help" with traveling companions that don't have gold or platinum access and usually get decent results.

 

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[aquashark]

Oh and thanks for the review. We were also in a concierge room. I'm in the middle of doing a similar review but thought I would respond to some of your points. We also felt the afternoon "snack" was silly and a waste. I wish we would have know about getting drinks by the pitcher though. That's a great tip. We pretty much agree with your appraisal of the cruise and was wondering what cruise you signed up for.

 

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We signed up for a "placeholder" cruise we can reschedule to get on-board booking benefits while me and DW coordinate our work schedules. I expect we'd repeat the same itinerary the same week next year or try the Eastern Carribean one the prior week.

[aquashark]

Also, we're classic members on X's captains club and never got an invite the reception. I heard that folks were invited by vm to their cabin, but I surmise they were higher level members than we were.

[farkibi1984]

Hi

I hope somebody can answer to me,somebody who was on shilulette last cruise, this month. So my questino is abauth wifi conection, was everything ok? or was it difficult to conect, or no internet at all? thank you for ansver :)