First X Cruise:SILHOUETTE JAN 17 2016

[Jasperdo]

Enjoying your photo tour of the ship. As always, your photos are stunning! The Silhouette is a beautiful ship.

[jagoffee]

On decks 7 and 8 is another cosy spot

 

 

There are places to curl up into here so it's called the Hideaway. It has it's own coffee machines.

 

 

 

I'm heading down to deck 5 to snap something I don't want to forget

 

 

 

Next to Bistro on 5 is an art installation that always brings a smile- the video birds in their cages.

 

 

Norris, you waited long enough for our favorite one. We love this one.

[travelling8]

 

There are places to curl up into here so it's called the Hideaway. It has it's own coffee machines.

 

Kiesza might enjoy this place!

 

Kim :)

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I have followed along from day one as I did with your Emerald review. You are a master story teller thru words and photos and I greatly appreciate your efforts. As a loyal Princess cruiser your X adventure may just lead me to one of these ships in the near future.

 

Thanks for the great time and fabulous story.

 

Diana

 

Diana, thanks for following along and of course you get a Girl Scout badge for being a veteran of my Emerald Campaign.(we miss Italy...)

 

Thanks for the compliments!

 

I am a loyal Princess cruiser too but the new ships hold little appeal for me and I don't want to keep sailing the same ships to the same places. We will always look at the Princess brochures when looking for a cruise. But we'll look at the X ones too.

 

We took a chance on X and it paid off in spades so now we have two lines and 28 ships to choose from. Score!!!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hey there are my chocolates and you said you only had wrappers left. Norris are you holding out on me here? LOL!!!!!!!!

 

If it please the Court, let the Plaintiff be aware of the date on the Alcove reservation...January 23rd. The defendant will testify that the Pillow Chocolates shown were consumed on that very evening.

 

I rest my case.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Enjoying your photo tour of the ship. As always, your photos are stunning! The Silhouette is a beautiful ship.

 

Thank you and I am glad you are enjoying them.

 

I took 180 photos on the last day......before lunch!

 

The Silhouette is the most beautiful ship I have seen to date-and that includes surfing photos in reviews across CC and Beyondships.

 

Norris

[mom_to_wolfie]

Norris-

 

Question: I typically cruise with my mom. I'm thinking about a cruise for my husband and I for our anniversary. He does not like anything with crowds. I know it depends cruise to cruise, how do you feel this ship was for spreading people out? I think we would really like X, but i'm not sure if he would want to do a cruise. I think you may have briefly mentioned that it was crowed after shows, but other than that? Thoughts?

 

Marie

[tkere]

Wow, what a great review! Thank you so much. I am sailing on the same ship and itinerary in March and it was nice to see all the pics!

[Bimmer09]

Norris-

 

Question: I typically cruise with my mom. I'm thinking about a cruise for my husband and I for our anniversary. He does not like anything with crowds. I know it depends cruise to cruise, how do you feel this ship was for spreading people out? I think we would really like X, but i'm not sure if he would want to do a cruise. I think you may have briefly mentioned that it was crowed after shows, but other than that? Thoughts?

 

Marie

 

Marie, good to see you back again and thanks for the question.

 

I only experienced congestion Once and that was after the theater let out and we exited on deck 4 and walked past the shops and the casino. Had we exited on 5 as we usually did neither of those would have been a factor.

 

The ship is bigger than it needs to be to carry 2900 people: it offers a lot of space per passenger. It only has two big rooms on board-the MDR and the theater but a lot of small niche rooms that don't appeal to one and all at the same time.

So many restaurants and bars that spread everyone out. The Library, card room, Hideaway all provide relaxing alternatives to the bars.

 

The icing on the cake is three pools and one of them adult and indoors plus quiet decks with loungers away from the pools (forward and up) where you can read a book and tan at the same time.

 

The lawn is a wide open prairie that you don't find on most ships where any available space is given over to more loungers. You can find your own patch of grass for a lawn concert under the stars and the icing on the cake is the Lawn Club Grill where you can dine Outside pretty much and still stay comfortable.

 

There's a bar at the stern (half smoking) which stays open to 1 a.m and you can forget the rest of the ship back there. The buffet is huge and spacious and has outdoor seating.

 

There will be places you will have all to yourself or share with a few other quiet seekers.

 

The short answer is you'll forget there are 2900 people sharing the ship with you.

 

If tendering is involved that may not seem the case. Ditto at disembarkation to pier 25 (yikes!)

 

Hope this helps.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Wow, what a great review! Thank you so much. I am sailing on the same ship and itinerary in March and it was nice to see all the pics!

 

Thanks and welcome! I'm glad you came out of the shadows as I like to know who's reading along.

 

Enjoy your March cruise to the MAX!

 

Norris

[hockeyguru32]

If it please the Court, let the Plaintiff be aware of the date on the Alcove reservation...January 23rd. The defendant will testify that the Pillow Chocolates shown were consumed on that very evening.

 

I rest my case.

 

Norris

 

Well on that rebuttal I will let those chocolates reside or not reside where they may. I will have to plead to a higher court being the Deck Chair Queen I'm sure she can help me out next time. Right Carol?

[Sandyrella]

I have been loving your review since the beginning and feel so sad that it is coming to an end. Your beautiful pictures and highly entertaining narrative have kept me captivated. We are sailing this beautiful ship in two weeks and this has just added to our excitement. Thank-you for taking so much time to indulge us and for letting us live this cruise vicariously through your eyes.

 

I'm off to read your Emerald review for 3 reasons:

 

1. We sailed on the Emerald and can't wait to see your pictures of this gorgeous ship

2. We did almost the same itinerary on Celebrity Equinox last June so hoping to see beautiful pictures of some of the amazing place we visited

3. You create such amazing reviews, I will no doubt be entertained.

 

I'm trying to get my hubby to read one of your Alaskan reviews. Maybe it will finally convince him that we have to go there one day [emoji4]

[Texed]

We are sailing this beautiful ship in two weeks and this has just added to our excitement.

 

Hope y'all have a great cruise. :)

[travelling8]

Hope y'all have a great cruise. :)

 

Wish you and Jacquie were coming with us!

 

Kim :)

[Bimmer09]

I have been loving your review since the beginning and feel so sad that it is coming to an end. Your beautiful pictures and highly entertaining narrative have kept me captivated. We are sailing this beautiful ship in two weeks and this has just added to our excitement. Thank-you for taking so much time to indulge us and for letting us live this cruise vicariously through your eyes.

 

I'm off to read your Emerald review for 3 reasons:

 

1. We sailed on the Emerald and can't wait to see your pictures of this gorgeous ship

2. We did almost the same itinerary on Celebrity Equinox last June so hoping to see beautiful pictures of some of the amazing place we visited

3. You create such amazing reviews, I will no doubt be entertained.

 

I'm trying to get my hubby to read one of your Alaskan reviews. Maybe it will finally convince him that we have to go there one day [emoji4]

 

Thanks for the kind things you have said. I'm always happy when people get absorbed and follow the reviews. Epic reviews are not the norm nor for everyone and some folks actually don't like to laugh in something so SERIOUS as a cruise review.

 

The Emerald is indeed a beauty of a different kind than the Silhouette.

 

The review reeks of garlic, parmesan and strong cappuccino. Italy is an assault on the senses and hopefully I captured some of how it feels to be there. If not I'll try harder next time to put it into words.

 

Alaska has to be seen and I think either review is testament to that. We had more fun on the Diamond Princess (my favorite PCL ship) as we were seasoned by then. I would start with that one, personally.

 

Enjoy the Silhouette in two weeks and savor every moment on board!

 

Thanks again.

 

Norris

 

 

[puppyluv1]

Norris thank you for such an entertaining and fair review. I know you've only heard it a hundred times (or 45 pages worth) but the pics are really beautiful. We've sailed Celebrity the last three years and have really enjoyed it. I am surprising DH with a cruise on Silouette in Dec to celebrate a "big" birthday and your review has made me very happy with my choice of ship!

[Bimmer09]

Norris thank you for such an entertaining and fair review. I know you've only heard it a hundred times (or 45 pages worth) but the pics are really beautiful. We've sailed Celebrity the last three years and have really enjoyed it. I am surprising DH with a cruise on Silouette in Dec to celebrate a "big" birthday and your review has made me very happy with my choice of ship!

 

Hi, and welcome!

 

It's kind when people take the trouble to compliment the photos in print and justifies the time I spend moving around the ship. I had to see everything if not actually experience it but I knew from the moment my feet hit the deck that I would be smitten by the ship and that I would likely return to X as long as Carol liked it too. I am hoping that her hectic work schedule will ease long enough for her to post on here giving her "snapshot" impressions of her experiences. I am glad I can write "next time" and mean it. A cruise line has one chance to make a good first impression and Celebrity did just that.

 

The review goes on CC to add to our list and we can revisit anytime we want in the future now that we have a URL. I take photos and video of everywhere we go and have done so since 1994. Carol makes notes-a daily travel journal. Trips don't blur into each other or get forgotten this way.

 

I am pleased to see the word "Fair" used to describe the review. You will see criticism up ahead and that will be fair too. I don't look for faults but see them when they show themselves. I'm realistic.

 

I would think that most people who step onto the Silhouette are happy with their choice. The ship is a home-run. The only thing that can sour her beauty is the staff but the vast majority are on top of their game and add to the experience.

 

I am sure your husband will be thrilled by your surprise in December!

 

Thanks again for following along and letting me know you've enjoyed it!

 

Norris

 

[Bimmer09]

While I was up by the forward non-panoramic elevators I thought I'd take a quick look at the Kid's areas on the higher decks.

 

 

The rooms are locked and signs forbid taking photographs of the kids- a "welcome to the 21st Century" moment there. I was born at an earlier time when kids could run free and trust strangers they met.

 

 

 

Some more art along the way as I head back down to the open decks

 

 

[Bimmer09]

As you can see from this photo of our Alcove butler Rodrigo it was a cloudy morning on our last day at sea.

 

 

It was breezy too when we stood up but once seated the Alcove walls gave us shelter and we could enjoy our fruit plate.

 

I gave the camera a rest for a while. I had no major events to attend until 1.15 when there was going to be an Officers vs Guests pool volleyball game. That sounded like fun!

 

I didn't know (until I read the daily newsletter Celebrity Today) that restaurants such as Murano served lunch on sea days for $25 or half price-NEXT TIME!!

I found that out Yesterday 3 weeks after leaving the ship. Note to self (and I hope I listen) Read the daily News Sheet! There's so much going on and some of it is "Can't Miss!"

 

We spend time talking to Rodrigo as he is not busy-we are the only Alcove occupied this early under cloud cover. He's been everywhere but tells me he doesn't know how to enter the places he's been on TripAdvisor and as I write on TA I told him I would bring my laptop up later and show him.

 

* There's a decent wi-fi signal up by the Alcoves.

 

 

Sooner or later I had to go down and get the laptop and so I wandered off again.

 

Needless to say I would find something to photograph while I was gone...

[Bimmer09]

I check on the shops on deck 4 to see how the sale is getting along

 

 



 

One of the shop staff wearing a Viking Helmet (huh?) sees me and smiles for the camera. Viking Helmets on sale? Wow!! I need one of those! Doesn't everyone?





 



 

[Bimmer09]

Back on Deck 15 and I see a ship in the distance

 

 

Anyone recognise her profile? Something.. of the Seas.... Majesty? She's pretty old- 2 decks with balconies cut out of the hull.

 

 

Back to the Alcoves where I show Rodrigo TripAdvisor and then work on my photos-no wi fi needed for that.

 

Soon it's time for lunch and for me that means buffet again. Indian food and a beer. 1 pm rolls around and I need to get to the pool area to record this volleyball game.

 

There will follow a lot of pool photos-maybe you are in one?

 

 



 

 

The Officers have been introduced and are in the water doing battle with the guests. Sarah, with the loud voice, is the umpire and calling play by play.

The CD Paul is wearing a tuxedo and did the best dive of the day into the pool (video coming later).Paul may have some Dolphin ancestry. Everyone is playing hard and having fun.

 

[SOLIVITA LADY]

Great review Norris. We might consider the Silly for a cruise in the future although we tend to cruise Princess. It's nice to add choices to what ports and ships we use in the future.

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk HD

[Bimmer09]

Great review Norris. We might consider the Silly for a cruise in the future although we tend to cruise Princess. It's nice to add choices to what ports and ships we use in the future.

 

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk HD

 

Hi-glad you found me here! I'm glad you have been enjoying it-hang on until the end if you can.

 

We tend to cruise Princess too-but look what happened.

 

Norris

[Gail & Dan]

Norris

great review and really excellent pictures !

We normally cruise Princess as well

but we have Silhouette Booked for the British Isles in 6 Aug 2016

Your review ha been very informative and helpful

 

Thank you for taking time and work to do the review

 

Cheers Dan

[Bimmer09]

Norris

great review and really excellent pictures !

We normally cruise Princess as well

but we have Silhouette Booked for the British Isles in 6 Aug 2016

Your review ha been very informative and helpful

 

Thank you for taking time and work to do the review

 

Cheers Dan

 

Dan, thanks for stopping by and for the compliments!

 

Enjoy your Silhouette and the British Isles!

 

Thanks for reading along.

 

Norris