First X Cruise:SILHOUETTE JAN 17 2016

[Bimmer09]

 

I noticed a box of glasses sitting at a waiter's station and was curious to see what they're using.

 

 

 

I have to move on and leave by the entrance on deck 3

 

 

I walk briskly as a rule and take photos quickly. When you take pictures of furniture that's easy as the furniture doesn't move around (unless you're at a seance) and doesn't have to stop to fix it's hair.

 

Can I hit the Casino and the shops and still make it to Blu for breakfast?

[Bimmer09]

On the other side from the Grand Cuvee deck 3 entrance is Luminae.

 

 

Onward to the Casino!

 

It's on Deck 4

 

 

Elevator call buttons are stand-alone and stylish!

 

 

 

 

Lots o' Slots

 

[SheriffJoe]

Hello again Norris, get those Alaskan flights booked yet? LOL Anyway, We also LOVE X's dining rooms and you can see why that after our first cruises on X when then next we sailed Princess how disappointed we were in the 1 floor Princess dining rooms, they almost feel like caves to us after the grandeur of Celebrity dining rooms. Maybe if we has sailed Princess first it would have seemed less dramatic. Regardless we enjoy Princess as our 2nd fav line after X, each has its plusses and minuses but in the MDR comparison X wins going away.

[TeaBag]

Thank you again Norris for all your wonderful posts and pictures, plus the laughs. Sorry you have to go, but the last day always comes and much too soon usually. You just have to book another and start planning, which I know you've done.

 

You make me wish our cruise next month was on an S class, however, I know we will enjoy it immensely because it is a cruise.

 

Have you ever thought of making coffee table books of your various cruises? We have just finished one of the Baltics......83 pages!

[5:00_Somewhere]

I may have snapped one of those up :X

So you'll have to stop by and say hello!

 

I sailed on the Eclipse a few years back and was obsessed with the lawn, one of my criteria for this cruise was that it be the Silhouette or the Reflection so we could give the Alcoves a try!

 

Yeah, I'm obsessed with the lawn, too. We're going to try and get on the wait list, as you suggested. We may see you there. ;)

 

That is amazing. I have never seen too many of them being used. Did you notice if they were all occupied on the cruise?

 

We don't sail until this coming Sunday; I'll letcha know. :)

[Bimmer09]

Hello again Norris, get those Alaskan flights booked yet? LOL Anyway, We also LOVE X's dining rooms and you can see why that after our first cruises on X when then next we sailed Princess how disappointed we were in the 1 floor Princess dining rooms, they almost feel like caves to us after the grandeur of Celebrity dining rooms. Maybe if we has sailed Princess first it would have seemed less dramatic. Regardless we enjoy Princess as our 2nd fav line after X, each has its plusses and minuses but in the MDR comparison X wins going away.

 

Joe, agreed on the visual impact of the Grand Cuvee. It's a WOW.

 

That's true of the S Class ships too. Non-stop WOW.

 

Norris

 

[Bimmer09]

Thank you again Norris for all your wonderful posts and pictures, plus the laughs. Sorry you have to go, but the last day always comes and much too soon usually. You just have to book another and start planning, which I know you've done.

 

You make me wish our cruise next month was on an S class, however, I know we will enjoy it immensely because it is a cruise.

 

Have you ever thought of making coffee table books of your various cruises? We have just finished one of the Baltics......83 pages!

 

Thank you TeaBag for reading and enjoying it and for letting me know that.

 

While it's the last full day on the ship it will be a full one with lots of pics and more video. Then there are two more days...Sunday and Monday before I'm done.

 

What's the title and author of the Baltic Book? Baltic cruise is on our bucket list.

 

Norris

[carolerwo]

Absolutely loving your review Norris-appreciate your positive take on things. Your photos are wonderful and I love that you are up and about early-my favourite time of day on the ship.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Namelocg]

There are several options for your flight, here is a link....just spoke with the owner/pilot last week to secure our ressies for May 31st!

 

http://www.mountainflyingservice.com/haines-skagway-glacier-bay-flightseeing-tours

 

 

Flight line and office is a 10 minute walk from the cruise dock....perfect scenario..oh and its planes, not helicopters....much less expensive then a helo...

 

Norris,

Don't want to hijack your thread but I wanted to thank Sheriff Joe for this post. We were looking for something to do in Skagway that all 4 of us could agree upon and would't have to rob a bank to afford it. Emailed them on Wednesday night and was booked by noon yesterday. We are only doing #1 with the snow field landing but if the excursion is as good as their service it should be an awesome adventure. I'll try to write a review when we get back. We sail on the Solstice on May 13th with this flight on the 17th.

Gale

[SheriffJoe]

Norris,

Don't want to hijack your thread but I wanted to thank Sheriff Joe for this post. We were looking for something to do in Skagway that all 4 of us could agree upon and would't have to rob a bank to afford it. Emailed them on Wednesday night and was booked by noon yesterday. We are only doing #1 with the snow field landing but if the excursion is as good as their service it should be an awesome adventure. I'll try to write a review when we get back. We sail on the Solstice on May 13th with this flight on the 17th.

Gale

 

My pleasure and I agree being able to call, speak with and book directly with the pilot is great even though when I called I interrupted him unloading his groceries! :p We have done just about every other excursion in Alaska we ever wanted but this one so we are really excited to fly all over Glacier Bay National park.

[PrincessDano]

Hi Norris, followed your Emerald review last year and enjoyed it so of course had to follow this one. The ship looks beautiful inside especially the wow of the MDR. Enjoying the reading and pictures thoroughly.

 

Diane

[Bimmer09]

Absolutely loving your review Norris-appreciate your positive take on things. Your photos are wonderful and I love that you are up and about early-my favourite time of day on the ship.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Hi and welcome.

 

Thanks for the compliments and your observation that I have a positive attitude- until something egregious happens and then it suddenly becomes a Tarantino movie with sarcasm guns blasting away and blood everywhere. LOL! There will be a hint of that when I submit my report on the MDR experience....

 

I think I see the good and the bad but really on a cruise ship that is run by career professionals the bad is only First World bad which is nothing to the vast majority of people on Earth; those who've never had a toilet back-up as they have never seen a toilet and never will or those whose lights don't flicker-because they live in the dark. Those who can't send an entree back and order something else without having to go out and hunt a fresher squirrel themselves etc.

 

Let's face it-cruise ships (the worthy ones run by thinking, industrious pros) are where we can all get a taste of the good life for a week and enjoy the sea in a way that you can't standing on a beach looking out at the horizon.

 

Early is the best, especially on a crowded ship.

 

Thanks again,

 

Norris

[steve3857]

Thanks for all the entertainment on this review. It's made us very excited to board next week. Your outlook very much mirrors ours. Surely any day on a cruise is better than any day at work. Food beer wine beaches entertainment we are lucky people.

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

Don't want to hijack your thread but I wanted to thank Sheriff Joe for this post. We were looking for something to do in Skagway that all 4 of us could agree upon and would't have to rob a bank to afford it. Emailed them on Wednesday night and was booked by noon yesterday. We are only doing #1 with the snow field landing but if the excursion is as good as their service it should be an awesome adventure. I'll try to write a review when we get back. We sail on the Solstice on May 13th with this flight on the 17th.

Gale

 

Gale, there's no such thing as highjacking a Norris thread. If people meet here and have questions of each other that don't involve me that's well and good.

 

The only thing that would get my panties in a bunch (oh, oh-soapbox time!)

is when people complain about having to suffer Old people and people in wheelchairs on a cruise.

 

I have found out after intensive study that those Old People (anyone ever 50 it seems) were once young people!! And as young people they went on cruises, loved them and continued sailing year in year out. It was the people in the 1970s and 80's regardless of age who built RCCL and Carnival fortunes so that now between them they own half the cruise ships in the world.

 

If you ask a wheelchair user if they would rather be up and walking I think I know the answer you would get. I wouldn't trade places with them for an hour.

If anyone deserves to enjoy a cruise ship it is someone in a wheelchair or someone who is blind or otherwise disadvantaged.

 

When I worked on the Song of Norway in 86 there was a mix of ages-more young folks than I see on PCL or X today. There were fewer ships to choose then.

Everyone had fun even though the ships were like a Roman Galley compared to the glitzy hotels like the Silhouette. I remember the reaction of everyone in the My Fair Lady lounge as we sailed by the causeway in Miami one afternoon when the CD made a toast to an elderly gentleman, white haired and stooped but full of life, called Victor who was celebrating his 17th voyage on that ship-young and old cheered and applauded him and so it should be.

 

I played waltzes when couples celebrating 50th anniversaries were toasted and felt a lump in my throat at the affection shown by the crowd, young and old.

 

I salute anyone who buys a cruise ticket as long as they show some respect for their fellow passengers. We're all in the same boat and don't have the luxury of choosing those who sail with us.

 

Oops- soapbox meter has run out!

 

Cheers,

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hi Norris, followed your Emerald review last year and enjoyed it so of course had to follow this one. The ship looks beautiful inside especially the wow of the MDR. Enjoying the reading and pictures thoroughly.

 

Diane

 

Hi Diane and welcome aboard. I've eaten the last cyber muffin-sorry about that.

 

I'm glad you read the Emerald review-that stands high in my memories even now and I long to get back to Italy and spoil myself again. Carol feels the same way.

We have met so many nice people in Rome and beyond.

 

Glad you found me here!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Thanks for all the entertainment on this review. It's made us very excited to board next week. Your outlook very much mirrors ours. Surely any day on a cruise is better than any day at work. Food beer wine beaches entertainment we are lucky people.

 

Steve-thanks for stopping in again.

 

Agreed on cruises vs work- I didn't even have to think twice.

 

You will not be unhappy on this ship.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Slots

 

 

The same slots after a visit to the Martini Bar

 

 

 

 

 

More..

[Bimmer09]

 

 

The Casino is non smoking as it is in the middle of deck with with a walkway on either side so is an open venue. I don't gamble-even though we have been to Las Vegas 7 times and stay in a hotel (Bellagio) where you have to walk through the casino to get to your room. I like them though- they feel exciting and lively and people are focused on enjoying themselves and there's nothing wrong with that in my book (currently at the printers).It's a way to step out of your normal life and feel James-Bond glamorous although Bond would never wear a baseball cap backwards or drink Bud out of a bottle.

 

I check my watch. Still time to take a few shots of some shops before breakfast.

See how much you can get done if you are up early?

 

Shops next.

[MustBCruzn]

I think I see the good and the bad but really on a cruise ship that is run by career professionals the bad is only First World bad which is nothing to the vast majority of people on Earth; those who've never had a toilet back-up as they have never seen a toilet and never will or those whose lights don't flicker-because they live in the dark. Those who can't send an entree back and order something else without having to go out and hunt a fresher squirrel themselves etc. Let's face it-cruise ships (the worthy ones run by thinking, industrious pros) are where we can all get a taste of the good life for a week and enjoy the sea in a way that you can't standing on a beach looking out at the horizon. Norris

 

Norris,

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this wonderful "journal." I've loved every page and every photo. I cruised on the Silhouette this past September from Amsterdam to Rome (11 incredible days!) and your pictures took me right back. I couldn't agree with you more about the "first world bad." More people should remember how fortunate we are to cruise, and what an incredible experience it really is. Thanks again.

 

Diane

[cirpi]

Gale, there's no such thing as highjacking a Norris thread. If people meet here and have questions of each other that don't involve me that's well and good.

 

The only thing that would get my panties in a bunch (oh, oh-soapbox time!)

is when people complain about having to suffer Old people and people in wheelchairs on a cruise.

 

I have found out after intensive study that those Old People (anyone ever 50 it seems) were once young people!! And as young people they went on cruises, loved them and continued sailing year in year out. It was the people in the 1970s and 80's regardless of age who built RCCL and Carnival fortunes so that now between them they own half the cruise ships in the world.

 

If you ask a wheelchair user if they would rather be up and walking I think I know the answer you would get. I wouldn't trade places with them for an hour.

If anyone deserves to enjoy a cruise ship it is someone in a wheelchair or someone who is blind or otherwise disadvantaged.

 

When I worked on the Song of Norway in 86 there was a mix of ages-more young folks than I see on PCL or X today. There were fewer ships to choose then.

Everyone had fun even though the ships were like a Roman Galley compared to the glitzy hotels like the Silhouette. I remember the reaction of everyone in the My Fair Lady lounge as we sailed by the causeway in Miami one afternoon when the CD made a toast to an elderly gentleman, white haired and stooped but full of life, called Victor who was celebrating his 17th voyage on that ship-young and old cheered and applauded him and so it should be.

 

I played waltzes when couples celebrating 50th anniversaries were toasted and felt a lump in my throat at the affection shown by the crowd, young and old.

 

I salute anyone who buys a cruise ticket as long as they show some respect for their fellow passengers. We're all in the same boat and don't have the luxury of choosing those who sail with us.

 

Oops- soapbox meter has run out!

 

Cheers,

 

Norris

 

Norris,

A huge thanks for standing up for us old folks who decades ago were getting our first taste of the good life at sea. We sailed on the Silhouette on her first transatlantic and we have sailed four more times on the beautiful S-Class ships, so it was a delight to revisit the Silhouette through your camera lens. If you did mention the camera and lenses you used, I somehow missed it. Since I am a bit of a camera buff, I would like to know what equipment you used.

[tigerbeth]

Hi Diane and welcome aboard. I've eaten the last cyber muffin-sorry about that.

 

I'm glad you read the Emerald review-that stands high in my memories even now and I long to get back to Italy and spoil myself again. Carol feels the same way.

We have met so many nice people in Rome and beyond.

 

Glad you found me here!

 

Norris

 

Thanks for another great review Norris I will look forward to the final verdict with interest , as we have sailed on the Ruby Princess (Med) & the Grand Princess (Alaska), Celebrity may be another great option!

 

However no cruise this year as we are heading back to Italy !!! Yay!!

Spending 4 days in Rome before joining a small group tour .

I can't wait I'm so excited !

I'll have to reread your review to take take note of some of your fav restaurants

You experienced in Rome, I also want to stay close to the Pantheon .

 

Thanks for taking us along for a great cruise , I'll just have one more wine though !!

😎🍷🍕

[nurseer]

Hi Norris:

 

I have enjoyed your review. I also read one of the Princess reviews in your signature. Now, I have a tough decision to make. My husband and I want to try a new cruise line--I am platinum on Carnival but I think it is time to venture out and try something new. Both of your reviews are so good, I can't decide between Princess or Celebrity!!! :eek: I may have to flip a coin.

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

A huge thanks for standing up for us old folks who decades ago were getting our first taste of the good life at sea. We sailed on the Silhouette on her first transatlantic and we have sailed four more times on the beautiful S-Class ships, so it was a delight to revisit the Silhouette through your camera lens. If you did mention the camera and lenses you used, I somehow missed it. Since I am a bit of a camera buff, I would like to know what equipment you used.

 

Hi and welcome! Thanks for the interest in the cameras- the main one used was a

Canon Eos Rebel model T3i- a low end model from a line that gets really serious as the dollar climbs. It has helped me get interested in taking better photos.

 

Most used lens for interiors, food and wide ship shots-Canon Ultra Wide Lens 10 -22 mm

 

Zoom lens Canon 55 - 250 mm for theater and distant ship shots plus sunrises and sunsets and the moon.

 

Occasionally used Canon 22-55 mm lens

 

GoPro Hero 3+ for the Segway shots and some sail-away shots.

 

Sony HDR PJ810 HD camcorder for videos (Sugar Train, all ship videos and San Juan and Port Everglades video).

 

iPhone 5 for airport and airplane shots.

 

I left at home a Canon SD 880 pocket camera that I use for long bus rides.

 

Effects shots (fisheye and miniatures) are done in the camera.

 

No flash was ever used. Tripods were a portable 39 inch Sony and a flexible Joby for attaching the GoPro to the balcony railing. Head and wrist mounts for the Go Pro and that's about it.

 

Everything is edited in Lightroom 5 by Adobe.

 

Glad you enjoyed the photos!

 

My camera bag weighed 7 lbs and it never left my side on the ship or on shore.

 

Norris

[deliver42]

Norris, thank you so much for your review, your sense of humor, and your pictures. I've been following this since the beginning, and subscribed to you on You Tube.We are going on the Silhouette for a 9 day next year, and can't wait.

[cirpi]

Hi and welcome! Thanks for the interest in the cameras- the main one used was a

Canon Eos Rebel model T3i- a low end model from a line that gets really serious as the dollar climbs. It has helped me get interested in taking better photos.

 

Most used lens for interiors, food and wide ship shots-Canon Ultra Wide Lens 10 -22 mm

 

Zoom lens Canon 55 - 250 mm for theater and distant ship shots plus sunrises and sunsets and the moon.

 

Occasionally used Canon 22-55 mm lens

 

GoPro Hero 3+ for the Segway shots and some sail-away shots.

 

Sony HDR PJ810 HD camcorder for videos (Sugar Train, all ship videos and San Juan and Port Everglades video).

 

iPhone 5 for airport and airplane shots.

 

I left at home a Canon SD 880 pocket camera that I use for long bus rides.

 

Effects shots (fisheye and miniatures) are done in the camera.

 

No flash was ever used. Tripods were a portable 39 inch Sony and a flexible Joby for attaching the GoPro to the balcony railing. Head and wrist mounts for the Go Pro and that's about it.

 

Everything is edited in Lightroom 5 by Adobe.

 

Glad you enjoyed the photos!

 

My camera bag weighed 7 lbs and it never left my side on the ship or on shore.

 

Norris

 

Norris,

Thanks for the swift reply. My gear is similar to yours, though I am a Nikon guy. I do fine with people and scenics, but have not nailed interior shots as well as you have. Your comment on Italian fare on Celebrity was spot on. The Tuscan Grill is in dire need of a classically trained Italian chef at the helm.