Silhouette vs Allure

[copduo]

Hello all ! Looking to book a cruise for our 20th Anniversary. Looking at bothe Celebrity and RCI out of FLL. Looking for some updated reviews as the last time someone compared the two was 3+ years ago. Celebrity Silhoutte has been getting some mixed reviews. We are not huge party people but we are also not dead. We are a couple in our late forties. We will not be climbing the rock wall or riding the flow rider but I also won't be sitting around all day either. What say you ??? Allure or Silohutte !!!

[keesar]

Hello all ! Looking to book a cruise for our 20th Anniversary. Looking at bothe Celebrity and RCI out of FLL. Looking for some updated reviews as the last time someone compared the two was 3+ years ago. Celebrity Silhoutte has been getting some mixed reviews. We are not huge party people but we are also not dead. We are a couple in our late forties. We will not be climbing the rock wall or riding the flow rider but I also won't be sitting around all day either. What say you ??? Allure or Silohutte !!!

 

If you are going during a school vacation week, then I would look towards a Celebrity ship. The ship will most likely be loaded with children. You will probably find more and varied entertainment on the Allure. I would give Celebrity the nod with service and food.

[WEGL81]

It really depends on what you want out of a cruise. If you want entertainment and non-stop stuff to do with 5700 of your closest friends, choose Allure. If you want laid back with better food choose Celebrity. We had a great cruise on Allure but the ship is the attraction. Our Celebrity cruises are much more relaxing. And the poster above is correct, Allure is going to have a lot more kids.

[grandgeezer]

Our last four cruises were on the Silhouette and found the food and service in the main dining room to be nothing special. Next stop the Equinox in November.

[need2cruisesoon]

Our last four cruises were on the Silhouette and found the food and service in the main dining room to be nothing special. Next stop the Equinox in November.

 

Agreed, we were on the Silhouette last summer nothing special really about the food or specialty restaurants or service.

[Mr. Click]

We have been on both, the Allure about 3 years ago, the Silhouette last summer. Our experience on the Allure was not a good one. We did not enjoy being there with 5400 people, it was just too many. We found the staff overworked and not really helpful. This was our 4th cruise with Royal and our last. We really enjoyed the Silhouette, the staff was great, the smaller size was more to our liking and we did not miss the rock wall or the flow rider or the zip lines. We are booked on the Silhouette again in two months and in between have enjoyed Celebrity cruises on the Solstice and the Millie. Food, always subjective, we all have different tastes and needs. We found the food in the MDR on Celebrity to be head and shoulders above Royal. Not saying it was great but it was good and the service was great every night.

[nekzaadvakil]

Wow! Tough choice. The Silhouette was my favorite ship (as is apparent from my cruise history below); but we sailed on the Allure 2 months ago and honestly the Allure is now my favorite ship; while the Silhouette is yet DW's favorite.

 

Both are fantastic ships! The Allure has a lot going for it. The entertainment (Mamma Mia) stands out as the best show I've seen at sea (or land for that matter). We love the multiple neighborhoods on Allure - Central Park, Boardwalk, HUGE Royal Promenade and the Solarium is outstanding. However, Celebrity boasts of ultra modern rooms, really slick dining and entertainment venues and an amazing Pool deck with the Mast Grill (some of the best burgers at sea)

 

Celebrity also has a no smoking rule which they enforce which I prefer over Allure (the casino has a smoking section). Honestly you cannot go wrong with either of these ships. If I had to chose, it would come down to the price (along with perks) and see which one had the better deal. Also keep in mind that the Allure (Oasis class ships) sail out of fewer ports while the 5 S class ships of Celebrity (Silhouette included) will give you more choices in the future.

 

If it helps, there are 2 detailed reviews with lots of pictures of the Silhouette and the Allure (2015 and 2016 respectively) in my signature below.

 

Cheers!

 

Nick

[TheCount]

Experienced both. Allure entertainment, activity focused. Awesome experience. Silouhette less children, low kid count. Older demographic. Specialty dining good, smaller than allure and causes people congestion. No promenade on celebrity. Celebrity open green grass area (yup, grass lawn) for open air enjoyment.

 

Both equal, but very different.

:)

[gopro63]

Silhouette I go, Just me. we're on our next cruise. and yeah same ports different cruise line. And I will say this now. wow too many people.

[funship freddy]

Sailed Allure in April. Liked the ship and didn't feel crowded. Food was good.

Have sailed Reflection and Eclipse and am booked on Silhouette in January 2017. Liked the Lawn Club Grill. Celebrity is a notch above RCCL IMHO. I say Silhouette. :D:D

[steamboats]

I do know both ships and actually the Oasis Class ships are my favorites. I´ve been on the Allure last year in May and I just returned from a Baltic cruise on the Silhouette.

 

Anyway if it was my 20th anniversary I´d chose the Silhouette. Traveling with my DH and DD I´d chose the Allure (actually I will be on the Harmony in August).

 

The Silhouette is more quite than the Allure. So if you aren´t a big fan of Mamma Mia! and don´t mind seeing that show go for the Silhouette. Shows on the Allure are better (the new shows on the Silhouette are... technically, artistically perfect but ... let´s say yep, I heard this song on the radio, but don´t ask my the title or singer... that´s something my 16yo would be able to answer). Food in the MDR is way better on the Silhouette than on the Allure. Specialty restaurants are higher priced on the Silhouette but also way better (go for a package or ask for offers onboard).

 

steamboats

[keesar]

We did enjoy the night life and higher energy level on RCL. The shows were great and there was a younger crowd. On our cruise on RCL, there were a good amount of children. We found on some days kids would push the buttons so that elevators would stop at each floor. On one night, the Captain made an announcement for all children under a certain age to return to their rooms. So we will not cruise on RCL during vacation times.

 

We found that there have been fewer children on Celebrity. It is a slower pace on these ships with older cruisers. We have enjoyed the service and food on the Celebrity ships. The Specialty Restaurants on Celebrity are top notch.

[hcat]

Depends on what u are looking for in terms of size, amenities, activities etc..

Have enjoyed Silhouette twice and booked for another one...

 

We did not enjoy Oasis at all...too big, crowded, mall like. Had to pre reserve shows and events.,and still had lines. Food and dining service not equal to Celebrity...family oriented,

 

I'd go with Silho for a 20th Anniv Celebration...enjoy the dining, lounges etc..Congrats!

Edited July 21, 2016 by hcat

[karena1]

Agreed, we were on the Silhouette last summer nothing special really about the food or specialty restaurants or service.

 

we were on Silhouette in Dec and my husband thought the food was the best of any cruise he has ever taken (and we have taken alot)!! We absolutely loved Silhouette, gorgeous ship, service was fantastic, not many kids, just amazing.

 

I love Allure also, BUT for a 20th anniversary and the fact that you get the bev pkg or whatever perk you want with Celebrity and you don't get those with Royal, I would take Silhouette. I do not think you will be disappointed.

 

We have another Silhouette booked, which we booked on the ship as we enjoyed it so much

Edited July 21, 2016 by karena1

[riclop]

Hello all ! Looking to book a cruise for our 20th Anniversary. Looking at bothe Celebrity and RCI out of FLL. Looking for some updated reviews as the last time someone compared the two was 3+ years ago. Celebrity Silhoutte has been getting some mixed reviews. We are not huge party people but we are also not dead. We are a couple in our late forties. We will not be climbing the rock wall or riding the flow rider but I also won't be sitting around all day either. What say you ??? Allure or Silohutte !!!

 

That is an easy one ALLURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[H2OH!]

for a 20th anniversary I would do silhouette and book a suite.

 

sky suites are great, Celebrity Suite on the Hump (huge balcony) is fantastic! With these suites you get a butler and access to luminae (wonderful) and Michael's club.

 

more expensive- often by quite a bit- you could book a Royal Suite and get the above plus unlimited dining in spec. restaurants and beverage setup to your liking in your cabin. We booked reflection signature suite for the same perks as a RS. also both cabins have a Jacuzzi on the balcony.

 

We were on silhouette September 2015- dined in luminae and food, atmosphere etc was great. ship was in good condition. loved it.

 

good luck deciding!

Edited July 22, 2016 by H2OH!

[copduo]

Thank you all so much for the answers.. In the process of booking Celebrity in a Concierge cabin. Gonna save RCI for a family trip in spring...

 

Happy Cruising !!

[Andy]

Depends on what u are looking for in terms of size, amenities, activities etc..

Have enjoyed Silhouette twice and booked for another one...

 

We did not enjoy Oasis at all...too big, crowded, mall like. Had to pre reserve shows and events.,and still had lines. Food and dining service not equal to Celebrity...family oriented,

 

I'd go with Silho for a 20th Anniv Celebration...enjoy the dining, lounges etc..Congrats!

 

Totally agree with Hcat. We sailed on Allure last week, and had a very nice cruise. Unlike our Oasis experience last year, we did not enjoy this sailing as much - mostly due to a rather unhelpful Guest Relations team, and another weak Main Dining Room experience. Also, this time around, the ship felt very crowded, while we didnt feel it as much, when we sailed on Oasis. Also, had numerous issues sorting out specialty dining reservations, and I'd never book a dining package in advance again.

 

I'm not saying we'd never sail Allure or Oasis again, but with a Celebrity ship in the Caribbean next summer, it's a very easy choice for us - I'd highly recommend sailing on Sihouette - the S-Class are fantastic ships.... but I will sure miss the Kummelweck sandwich on the Oasis class ships. Wish Celebrity would consider offering it on their ships. Best sandwich at Sea !

 

Hope this helps !