First X Cruise:SILHOUETTE JAN 17 2016

[Jasperdo]

You know the shower scene in the movie Psycho? That sound when the knife is stabbing Tippy Hedren? Just louder.

That was actually Janet Leigh in the shower scene. I'm a movie nerd as well as a cruise ship nerd :)

[Bimmer09]

Once up in our room on the 6th floor we looked down upon a business group called Stryker dining below.

 

 

Noisy, so we had our room changed to one on the 12th floor where we couldn't hear them discussing their Core Competencies nor the "Takeaways" from Tim's "Dynamite Power Point Presentation"

 

The Room Embarkation routine is always like this. Carol unpacks immediately and I get "out of her way" which means "I am going downstairs to smoke".

 

We head to our favorite spot- Sealevel which is one of the 3 hotel restaurants and has outdoor seating overlooking the sea.

 

 

We order food and drinks which makes perfect sense in a restaurant.

 

If you are a server there and I don't order Crab Salsa as my starter then please ask to see I.D as it obviously isn't me at the table.

 

If there is such a thing as reincarnation (and there isn't) then I would want to come back as some sea creature with jaws strong enough to crack crab and lobster shells. Shrimp are fair game too.

 

Next up my burger and fries, washed down with Heineken (not my favorite beer but all they had that wasn't from a micro brewery.) I like GIANT breweries in Dublin, Munich or Prague not things like Polecat Pete's Hazelnut Cissy Beer.

 

 

Carol's delicious Grouper Reuben sandwich with coleslaw

 

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

That was actually Janet Leigh in the shower scene. I'm a movie nerd as well as a cruise ship nerd :)

 

Thanks Jasperdo! Tippy was of course the woman pecked to death by crows while taking a shower in the movie The Birds.

 

I am always happy to have a fact-checker. For instance I called this review Celebrity Silhouette but my cruise was actually on the Eurodam. I get confused easily.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

I'm allergic to Cheerios tossers. I break out in a rash whenever they are near.

 

LOL Tom!

 

Norris

[Tommy3putts]

 

 

 

I am always happy to have a fact-checker. For instance I called this review Celebrity Silhouette but my cruise was actually on the Eurodam. I get confused easily.

 

 

 

Norris

 

 

 

Now that's funny. Love this review!

[Bimmer09]

We will be on Silhouette April 2017 but doing her Western Caribbean itinerary. Looking forward to hearing about the food venues since we are planning on doing the Ultimate Dining Plan in order to avoid the MDR.

 

Hi, I'll show food from the following;

 

Luminae

Blu

Bistro on 5

Murano

Tuscan Grille

Lawn Club Grill

Oceanview Cafe (buffet)

 

and the MDR

 

We didn't eat in Q sine or the Mast Bar.

 

Norris

Edited January 26, 2016 by Bimmer09
spelling

[Bimmer09]

Thanks for taking time to review.

 

I will be interested in your observations of the differences to other cruise lines that you sail on.

 

We are elite plus on X, and just booked a cruise on a different line for the first time! I know the grass is always greener, but we have come to the conclusion that it is time to see what else is out there.

 

Can I ask which line and ship you have booked?

 

Norris

[perfect match]

Nancy!! Hi- I think you have featured in all of the reviews I have written on CC so a double welcome to you. I have much to say on Celebrity

 

I am certainly counting on you having much to say about Celebrity. That's why I love your reviews, even more so since I am currently suffering the symptoms of major cruise withdrawal combined with the discomfort of recovery from bilateral knee replacement surgery. At least by the time our next cruise finally gets here, I should be walking pretty well as I will have learned to operate all the bionic parts I've had implanted in my body over the past year. In the meantime, I'll enjoy cruising along with you and Carol. :D

[Bimmer09]

[quote name=5:00_Somewhere;48885274- We are sailing on the Silhouette' date=' doing the same itinerary.

 

And so, here we are, waiting very impatiently for our sail away in just under 3 weeks. In the meantime, I will content myself enjoying another of your always entertaining reviews. Pray continue, good sir. :D

[/quote]

 

Thank you both for responding this morning.

 

Your choice of the Silly and that itinerary gets a thumbs-up from me. You will not be unhappy...

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

So you were at home for 10 minutes before starting the review? Seems selfish for you to make us wait so long. Too good to use the Cruise Critic app on your phone while in the airport? Don't you know we've been waiting?

subscribed

 

Yep-10 long minutes. Knowing how long it takes to write and edit photos and videos I had to get cracking but first had to meditate (read-have a beer)

 

Great to see you joining in! Welcome.

 

Norris

[dodger1964]

Can I ask which line and ship you have booked?

 

Norris

 

MSC out of southampton.

 

We cruise differently from almost all others we have met...More of a hotel on water, vs needing to be entertained or involved with activities...It works great for us...

 

Cruise is very inexpensive and goes to ports that we really wanted to visit.

[Jasperdo]

Thanks Jasperdo! Tippy was of course the woman pecked to death by crows while taking a shower in the movie The Birds.

Which naturally led to Cary Grant being attacked by a crop duster. Glad we finally got our movies straightened out. Edited January 26, 2016 by Jasperdo

[Bimmer09]

Hello Bimmer09! I am a Celebrity cruiser, but was curious about the Princess product, so I was lurking on the Princess boards when I ran across your Emerald review. I actually marked my calendar to follow for your Celebrity review, as I love your writing style, your photographs and your food porn. Hooray, you're finally here! Can't wait to read about your experience.

 

You read the Emerald epic? It took me 9 hours to read in 3 sittings. Yikes!

 

FOOD PORN galore in your future....

 

Thanks for joining us here.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Thanks for posting. Following along for some vicarious pleasure. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Only had one cruise on Eclipse & now hooked!

 

Thanks for letting me know you are reading along. You will see some Eclipse shots here.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris, another.

 

 

What cabin were you in? We were starboard corner aft deck 12. Perhaps my wife has a picture of you. This are just my IPad pictures.

 

By the way how do you get more than one attachment on a single post?

 

Jim

 

Jim, thanks for responding. I like feedback.

 

My cabin would have faced yours in port. I was deck 7 corner port aft. I took pics that will show your cabin. Video too, including the horn battles.

 

Norris

[dthomaso]

Heading out on Silhouette March 27th. Been on her 3 times and love the 's' class ships. Looking forward to your experience and views as a first time Celebrity cruiser.

[Bimmer09]

Heading out on Silhouette March 27th. Been on her 3 times and love the 's' class ships. Looking forward to your experience and views as a first time Celebrity cruiser.

 

Lucky you!

 

I hope to get to the ship later today. The writing forecast is looking good.

Sailaway should happen tomorrow but I have to edit video before then and a lot of photos.

 

Thanks for joining in!

 

Norris

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

Loving the review!! Thanks for taking the time to do it!!

[Bimmer09]

FYI all the airplane/O'Hare/taxi pics were taken on an iPhone 5.

I switched to the Canon DSLR for the Marriott snaps.

 

As we finished lunch at Sealevel we saw the ships coming from the harbor...

 

CORAL PRINCESS

 

 

INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS

 

 

WESTERDAM

 

 

OASIS OF THE SEAS

 

 

NICE CLOUD FORMATION!!

 

 

In prior Januarys I have walked the half mile along the beach to shoot these pics from the rocks at the mouth of the channel but not today. I was saving my walk for the next morning to photograph the ships coming home in the dark.

 

Norris

[jlf1]

Norris,

 

I can't believe that I'm so late to this party and you only started your review last night.

 

Can't wait for more. But now I'm off back to page 3 to catch up.

 

Judy

[morning13]

Ok, if you are not familiar with my reviews here's how they work (or don't depending on your expectations).

 

 

 

I write chronologically so every day is different and you see the progression of events/ports/excursions.

 

 

 

I photograph every meal that comes our way.

 

 

 

I record sail aways and entering ports.

 

 

 

I visit every room on the ship where I am allowed to be and take photos-most of this is done before the ship is awake. Rooms that I don't use on the ship will be shown in their entirety before moving on to the next. If you were on the Silhouette and saw the guy with the 7 lbs of camera bag on his shoulder before the sun came up-that was me and I probably said hello to you.

 

 

 

Some parts of the ship I visit everyday so that passengers think I work there. I have no qualms about accepting tips if you do.

 

 

 

I record and photograph all our excursions so that others can see what they look like and whether they are worth doing.

 

 

 

I photograph other ships in port as I am a boat nerd and son of a Ship's Captain.

 

 

 

I photograph the ship's art (not the Park West stuff)

 

 

 

I answer everyone who takes the time to respond and answer (and welcome) any questions.

 

 

 

I rely on the excellent notes taken by my constant companion Carol, whom you will meet during this review.

 

 

 

I am fair minded, but critical when I need to be. I defend a Cruise Line's right to make as much money as they can-Capitalism and Competition rule in my book but I am not fond of nickel and diming.

 

 

 

You'll see all this as we progress along this voyage and I hope you'll find the review interesting and informative.

 

 

 

Norris

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Norris, I just discovered this review because I am considering my first Celebrity cruise on the Silhouette. I am also a Princess regular. But I need to know now---Do I book on Celebrity?? Yes or no?

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

 

I can't believe that I'm so late to this party and you only started your review last night.

 

Can't wait for more. But now I'm off back to page 3 to catch up.

 

Judy

 

Never too late, Judy!

 

Welcome.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Hi Norris, I just discovered this review because I am considering my first Celebrity cruise on the Silhouette. I am also a Princess regular. But I need to know now---Do I book on Celebrity?? Yes or no?

 

 

YES

 

Norris

[morning13]

Never too late, Judy!

 

 

 

Welcome.

 

 

 

Norris

 

 

Norris, since you are so knowledgeable, we booked a Princess land cruise of Macchu Pichu and a cruise around the cape on the Crown Princess. Do you have any suggestions or worries for that itinerary? Thanks for your help. Annette

[Bimmer09]

For those of you wondering "when do we see the ship?" here is what stands between you and it.

 

Dinner in the hotel

Sleep (not photographed)

Ships arriving at 4 a.m....an hour early due to storm warnings

Breakfast

 

Embarkation.

 

Hang in there or relax and enjoy the ride.

 

My thanks to some of the great photo reviewers who have helped whet my appetite for the Silhouette/S Class over the years;

 

Scubacruiser2x (Tom)

FRMPEI (Kevin Reid the Gopro master)

GAMBEE (Oscar for best cocktail photos)

Miaminice (Oliver)

 

and really anyone who picks up a camera while on board any ship-with a special shout out to Deladane and Little Miss Magic, plus Jim Zimmerlin-great photographers all . Thanks!

 

Norris