Silhouette LIVE (1/12) w/ Side by Side: A Royal Week on Celebrity and MSC

[Stem to Stern]

Rise and Shine and Bon Voyage, Charla.  Have a royal good time.  I will be curious to read your take on the rumored, newly abbreviated evening buffet in Oceanview Cafe (if you happen to make a swoop through there during your time on board.)  

I saw the horrific photos on a social media site showing empty counters for miles.  Curious what any officers' answers to this might include.  Supply issues???  😄

 

[GenerationX]

I could not ask for a more beautiful day to be getting on a cruise ship!

 

Last night for dinner, Red needed to rest up after her long day of flight strife so I went solo to dinner at La Mar. The restaurant is inside the Mandarin Oriental hotel (which I can see from my hotel room) and has beautiful views of the Brickell bay and Miami skyline.

 

I probably could have walked there but since I was solo and it was dark out I decided to take a quick $5 Uber each way.

 

The restaurant specializes in South American and Asian fusion. If you like ceviche definite check it out. There’s an entire page of the menu of nothing but ceviches!  I saw some going out and they looked far to huge for one person so instead I started with the scallops hot appetizer (topped with a ridiculous 24-month aged Parmesan foam) and then had a Peruvian fried rice (with tender sweet smoky pork and juicy shrimp) that was finished table side with a quail egg cracked into it and tossed in a sizzling hot Molcajete.  For dessert, I had the chefs special off menu dessert of the night: a massive slice of Peruvian chocolate cake with caramel dulce de leche filling and a candied strawberry.   

 

I actually skipped breakfast this morning and just munched on my cake leftovers and cold fried rice.  Don’t judge me.

 

This morning as I was watching the news and packing bags, I was surprised to see an MSC commercial on TV. I haven’t seen these back in STL but I see about 10 Celebrity commercials a night watching Bravo and Food Network. I guess MSC really is getting serious about getting competitive in the US market.

 

I have one more work call to make then Red and I are heading down to grab an Uber to port.  Next report will be from onboard the Silhouette!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FLCruiser97]

Bon Voyage, Charla and Fair Winds for you!

[mcclarke1]

Looking forward to your trip review!!  Brian and I haven’t sailed the Silhouette yet, but really want to.  We leave on a Southern Caribbean cruise on the Celebrity Edge on Friday and are currently in Ft. Lauderdale.  Yesterday was not a fun travel day, but thankful to have made it here. @bnurick

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, FLCruiser97 said:

Love tostones...any tostones. Were they as good as they looked?

Yes, yes they were!

 

The restaurant also has pork, beef and chicken tostones but we went with our bartender’s recommendation that the shrimp were the best and were not disappointed.

[GenerationX]

All dressed in my standard embarkation day ensemble.  I decided to go with the OG map dress for Silhouette and will be rocking the pink version next week when I board Divina!

 

[sdnich]

I look forward to following you along on both of your cruises! 
cheers

[FLCruiser97]

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

All dressed in my standard embarkation day ensemble.  I decided to go with the OG map dress for Silhouette and will be rocking the pink version next week when I board Divina!

 

Love that dress! Very Global Traveler!

[minnie mommie]

Bon Voyage safe travels and enjoy.  Will be interested to hear your thoughts on MSC. 

[Jim_Iain]

Really looks like a nice hotel.    We were talking about hotels for our April cruise (2 night FLL pre-cruise).    I booked Embassy Suites about 8 months ago at $400 a night and though it was extortion and was hoping the price would drop.   Low and behold the prices have only increased since then.   Embassy Suites is ok but not nearly as nice as your hotel.  We have just been staying there for year and like how many places are within walking distance. 

[Kandtcruisers]

I adore your style and attitude.  You’re an inspiration.  

[GenerationX]

First report from onboard Silhouette!

 

OMG GUYS!!!  I remember reading many reviews cautioning that sailing in royal and penthouse suites is dangerous because once you’ve experienced it (done properly, of course) it is very hard to go back down.

 

I am approximately 3 hours into royal suite life on Silhouette, and I’m already seeing how those warnings were not at all frivolous.

 

While there have already been a few minor kinks so far, it seems like this cruise is hitting its stride quickly.

 

Ok, let’s start with embarkation:

 

When we arrived at the pier, our Uber driver tried to drive all the way down to where the sign for suites curbside luggage was, but a traffic officer signaled him to pull in well short of it at an area marked unloading zone 8. I recall seeing posts pre COVID where the shoreside concierge gave a placard for transport that would allow people dropping off for upper level suites to go closer to the suite drop off area, but I didn’t receive one.

 

When our Uber driver unloaded our bags, the porter we were parked next to saw our suite luggage tags and said “oh suites, you have to take your bags down there to zone 11”.  

 

As we started to push our own bags away down towards the suite area, I overheard a supervisor suggest to said porter that he should help those two ladies get their luggage to the suite area.  The porter replied “why? So I can get maybe $5 tip for that long walk down there and back?”  

 

Little did that porter know but Red and I both have a great deal of appreciation for the curbside porters who do so much physical labor in the heat and we each usually tip our porter at least $20.  Oh well guy, that was actually a quick 800% of what you estimated earning that you just missed out on thanks to indifference and presumption.  At the end of the day though, not Celebrity’s fault either as I believe they have very limited control over pier staff behavior.

 

Nevertheless if you are sailing in suites on Silhouette soon and are at all mobility challenged or will have difficulty handling your own luggage, I’d suggest trying to pull in to unload as close to zone 11 as possible.

 

When we got to the suite area there was a sign and podium and a porter standing there who ran to greet us when he saw us coming and put our bags on a cart (and got our tip) and told us someone would be back shortly at the podium soon to assist us.  It turned out that the “someone” who came was William, our very friendly Retreat manager for this cruise, who took down Red and I’s stateroom numbers and escorted us through security and into the Retreat check in area.  

 

On our walk to the check in, he asked me to repeat my stateroom number then I  saw him quickly make 2 calls on his “bat phone” to whom I now know to be my butler and stateroom attendant confirming with them that my room was ready for my arrival.  I noted he did not do the same for Red (Celebrity Suite), so that must be a royal suite thing?

 

Anyway, after check in, William escorted Red and I onto the ship.

 

The last time I was on Silhouette was about 6 years ago (full disclosure, the cruise where on the first formal night, my now husband dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife, so this ship has a special place in my heart).  It’s so great to see her refurbished. I think the new Retreat lounge looks amazing.

 

After a stop at the lounge for any drinks we may want, William escorted us to our muster station so that we could complete our muster check ins then took me to my stateroom.

 

My stateroom. Y’all. MY STATEROOM!!!! 

 

For those fortunate enough to have done many high end cruises, maybe the Royal Suite won’t be very impressive to you.

 

To me, a woman who started life in an old house in a bad part of town, and started my cruising vacation experiences with a $300 per person spring break sailing on Mariner of the Seas in an inside stateroom shared with a fellow student loan encumbered, bartender/sever job trip funded, sorority sister, I walked into this room and completely forgot myself.

 

I think actually said out loud “you gotta be [expletive] kidding me? Are we sure this is room 1614?”

 

All doubt about whether I belonged here was removed though when I saw my specifically requested mini bar and alcohol preferences sitting waiting for me.

 

My butler apparently is taking no chances on me being thirsty and/or sober over the next 5 days because he also took the liberty of having extra beverages stocked in the wine fridge.

 

Speaking of my butler, his name is Clayton and based on first meeting he seems fantastic and head and shoulders above my butler in Celebrity Suite on Millennium last year.

 

It was interesting. After lunch I went with Red to see her Celebrity Suite and was there when she got her first introduction to her stateroom team, so I got essentially a side by side comparison of the celebrity suite and royal suite experience.

 

For Red, when her doorbell rang, it was her stateroom attendant who greeted her.  He seemed very nice and introduced himself and told her that her butler “would be along” and gave a brief overview about retreat amenities then asked how many suitcases she was still waiting for and if she needed anything right away then left.

 

In my royal suite, it was Clayton my butler who came first, and when he walked in the first thing asked was if he could make me a cocktail or pour me a glass of my (upgraded) champagne to sip while he introduced himself and gave me a tour of my room.  After pouring me some delicious bubbly, he walked me around the ridiculous suite and showed me where all the outlets and light switches were and how to operate my TWO DIFFERENT spa tubs.  

 

He also showed me how to operate my in room espresso machine and once I mentioned I’m an early riser and caffeine addict, he told me not to worry about filling it with water because he would handle making sure the water was replaced and refilled and cartridges restocked twice each day.

 

He told me he’d be checking in at least twice a day but also left me an extra card so that I’d have one in the room by the phone and one I could carry with me in my tote bag and told me not to hesitate to call him if from anywher on the ship if I need something.  I believe his exact words were “Ma’am I am your genie. Actually I’m better than a genie because a genie has to be in a tiny bottle and I have this whole ship to work to make magic for you. Just call and ask.”

 

I’m going to drink some more PJ while I do some unpacking then I guess I’ll pry myself out of Beverly Hills-I mean my suite, and go check out the sunset bar for my sailaway ritual.

 

Later tonight, a report on first impressions of Retreat lounge and Luminae lunch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hcat]

3 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Really looks like a nice hotel.    We were talking about hotels for our April cruise (2 night FLL pre-cruise).    I booked Embassy Suites about 8 months ago at $400 a night and though it was extortion and was hoping the price would drop.   Low and behold the prices have only increased since then.   Embassy Suites is ok but not nearly as nice as your hotel.  We have just been staying there for year and like how many places are within walking distance. 

hi Jim

When did you last stay at ES? 

We were there in Nov..after a few stays elsewhere. It is still a great location fir everything and same .good service  and breakfast buffet.   BUT it is very much  showing its age.

 

The furniture in our rm was very sad but the mattress was ok.  Lots of dust all around.. We were told they would get a full refurb  next yr, no date was given.

 

We are looking for something  diff  in same area for next Jan.  if you find a better price elsewhere..might be worth a try??

 

Hotel where Charla stayed looks  great and is in a very  good area..but we need Ft Laderdale!

[Quik2flip]

Girl!!! 💅🏼 yeeesssss!!! Love the pics. I hope one day to afford a suite…any suite!😂 Keep it coming!

[dock]

Wow. Living  the suite life vicariously through you! 

[Redking]

We're all packed for our cruise on Saturday so finally getting time to post.

 

Didn't know you were cruising again until I saw your insta!

 

Looking forward to your comparison. As for a solo in a Royal, I hope you totally max out and turn that place into your personal spa 🍸🥂👑🙏 Enjoy!

[Sadebud]

Hi Charla, looking forward to a comparison as well.  We are sailing MSC next week (although not in YC) for the first time.  Love your reports!  Enjoy your cruises1

[Redking]

RS 1614, snap!

 

Well different, unrevolutionesd ship and opposite side of the world. Either way, let the good times roll! 

[jark523]

1 hour ago, GenerationX said:

First report from onboard Silhouette!

 

OMG GUYS!!!  I remember reading many reviews cautioning that sailing in royal and penthouse suites is dangerous because once you’ve experienced it (done properly, of course) it is very hard to go back down.

 

I am approximately 3 hours into royal suite life on Silhouette, and I’m already seeing how those warnings were not at all frivolous.

 

While there have already been a few minor kinks so far, it seems like this cruise is hitting its stride quickly.

 

Ok, let’s start with embarkation:

 

When we arrived at the pier, our Uber driver tried to drive all the way down to where the sign for suites curbside luggage was, but a traffic officer signaled him to pull in well short of it at an area marked unloading zone 8. I recall seeing posts pre COVID where the shoreside concierge gave a placard for transport that would allow people dropping off for upper level suites to go closer to the suite drop off area, but I didn’t receive one.

 

When our Uber driver unloaded our bags, the porter we were parked next to saw our suite luggage tags and said “oh suites, you have to take your bags down there to zone 11”.  

 

As we started to push our own bags away down towards the suite area, I overheard a supervisor suggest to said porter that he should help those two ladies get their luggage to the suite area.  The porter replied “why? So I can get maybe $5 tip for that long walk down there and back?”  

 

Little did that porter know but Red and I both have a great deal of appreciation for the curbside porters who do so much physical labor in the heat and we each usually tip our porter at least $20.  Oh well guy, that was actually a quick 800% of what you estimated earning that you just missed out on thanks to indifference and presumption.  At the end of the day though, not Celebrity’s fault either as I believe they have very limited control over pier staff behavior.

 

Nevertheless if you are sailing in suites on Silhouette soon and are at all mobility challenged or will have difficulty handling your own luggage, I’d suggest trying to pull in to unload as close to zone 11 as possible.

 

When we got to the suite area there was a sign and podium and a porter standing there who ran to greet us when he saw us coming and put our bags on a cart (and got our tip) and told us someone would be back shortly at the podium soon to assist us.  It turned out that the “someone” who came was William, our very friendly Retreat manager for this cruise, who took down Red and I’s stateroom numbers and escorted us through security and into the Retreat check in area.  

 

On our walk to the check in, he asked me to repeat my stateroom number then I  saw him quickly make 2 calls on his “bat phone” to whom I now know to be my butler and stateroom attendant confirming with them that my room was ready for my arrival.  I noted he did not do the same for Red (Celebrity Suite), so that must be a royal suite thing?

 

Anyway, after check in, William escorted Red and I onto the ship.

 

The last time I was on Silhouette was about 6 years ago (full disclosure, the cruise where on the first formal night, my now husband dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife, so this ship has a special place in my heart).  It’s so great to see her refurbished. I think the new Retreat lounge looks amazing.

 

After a stop at the lounge for any drinks we may want, William escorted us to our muster station so that we could complete our muster check ins then took me to my stateroom.

 

My stateroom. Y’all. MY STATEROOM!!!! 

 

For those fortunate enough to have done many high end cruises, maybe the Royal Suite won’t be very impressive to you.

 

To me, a woman who started life in an old house in a bad part of town, and started my cruising vacation experiences with a $300 per person spring break sailing on Mariner of the Seas in an inside stateroom shared with a fellow student loan encumbered, bartender/sever job trip funded, sorority sister, I walked into this room and completely forgot myself.

 

I think actually said out loud “you gotta be [expletive] kidding me? Are we sure this is room 1614?”

 

All doubt about whether I belonged here was removed though when I saw my specifically requested mini bar and alcohol preferences sitting waiting for me.

 

My butler apparently is taking no chances on me being thirsty and/or sober over the next 5 days because he also took the liberty of having extra beverages stocked in the wine fridge.

 

Speaking of my butler, his name is Clayton and based on first meeting he seems fantastic and head and shoulders above my butler in Celebrity Suite on Millennium last year.

 

It was interesting. After lunch I went with Red to see her Celebrity Suite and was there when she got her first introduction to her stateroom team, so I got essentially a side by side comparison of the celebrity suite and royal suite experience.

 

For Red, when her doorbell rang, it was her stateroom attendant who greeted her.  He seemed very nice and introduced himself and told her that her butler “would be along” and gave a brief overview about retreat amenities then asked how many suitcases she was still waiting for and if she needed anything right away then left.

 

In my royal suite, it was Clayton my butler who came first, and when he walked in the first thing asked was if he could make me a cocktail or pour me a glass of my (upgraded) champagne to sip while he introduced himself and gave me a tour of my room.  After pouring me some delicious bubbly, he walked me around the ridiculous suite and showed me where all the outlets and light switches were and how to operate my TWO DIFFERENT spa tubs.  

 

He also showed me how to operate my in room espresso machine and once I mentioned I’m an early riser and caffeine addict, he told me not to worry about filling it with water because he would handle making sure the water was replaced and refilled and cartridges restocked twice each day.

 

He told me he’d be checking in at least twice a day but also left me an extra card so that I’d have one in the room by the phone and one I could carry with me in my tote bag and told me not to hesitate to call him if from anywher on the ship if I need something.  I believe his exact words were “Ma’am I am your genie. Actually I’m better than a genie because a genie has to be in a tiny bottle and I have this whole ship to work to make magic for you. Just call and ask.”

 

I’m going to drink some more PJ while I do some unpacking then I guess I’ll pry myself out of Beverly Hills-I mean my suite, and go check out the sunset bar for my sailaway ritual.

 

Later tonight, a report on first impressions of Retreat lounge and Luminae lunch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for your trip report. We are staying at the same hotel and exact stateroom in March!! 

[GenerationX]

36 minutes ago, Redking said:

We're all packed for our cruise on Saturday so finally getting time to post.

 

Didn't know you were cruising again until I saw your insta!

 

Looking forward to your comparison. As for a solo in a Royal, I hope you totally max out and turn that place into your personal spa 🍸🥂👑🙏 Enjoy!

 

Thank you! And I just discovered your live review of your upcoming Eclipse cruise! Wow, I’m very jealous of that itinerary and look forward to following along! 

 

The South Pacific is a bucket list exploration for Jeremy and I.  Rest assured I plan to fully take advantage of this sweet sweet royal suite life the next few days and will report on it all in perhaps gratuitous detail 😂

 

Safe travels and Bon Voyage!

[Robkat]

Enjoying your Live From tremendously! 

We love the S class ships, and are looking forward to our own cruise in 3 weeks on the Reflection ... albeit, not in the lavish, luscious RS, we will make do with an Aqua cabin.

 

Our first MSC YC cruise was on the Divina.  We loved it.  We decided to try the new (at the time) Seaside next, and we loved it even more!  Our subsequent YC cruises have been on the Seaside again and the Seashore.  

 

If, after your cruise, you really like the YC experience and would consider more, we'd highly recommend also trying out the newer MSC ships.  On those, everything is located within YC, so you really, truly get to experience the "ship within a ship" model.  On Divina, the dining room is at the other end of the ship.  We didn't mind it at all, but truly love and appreciate having all the amenities together.  

 

Have loads of fun, living the Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams cruise life!

 

[GenerationX]

A quick report on a completely foreign to me experience on Silhouette.  
 

As is my usual sailaway routine, I went up to the sunset bar for a bon voyage drink or 2 to watch Miami shrink into the distance.

 

As is also frequent, the bar was very busy when I arrived so I waited for an open space and then slid in to patiently wait for one of the 5 guys hustling to put out drinks to get to me in turn.

 

It was only a minute or two before one of the guys (who I’m fairly sure I’ve never seen before in my whole life) looks me in the eye, gives me a look of recognition and big smile says “yes ma’am what would you like?”

 

After he handed me my generously poured T&T, I went to dig in my bag for my SeaPass to hand him to scan like everyone else I’d seen him serve and he waved me off and said no ma’am Charla I don’t need your card, just let me know if you need anything else.
 

I’m pretty sure I never told him my name. 🤯

 

Similar thing happened shortly after when I was by the stern rail and watching the wake.  A drink server carrying a full tray of drinks ordered by others weaved his way through the whole crowd on the sunset deck before delivering them and asked me if he could bring ME anything.

 

Jeremy has always said that if we ever come into big money, when we cruise, he’s going to have posters with my photo printed up that say “Do Not Sell This Woman Luxury Jewelry or Handbags” and pass them out at the shops on the ships.

I’m beginning to wonder if somewhere on the Silhouette  there’s a poster of me that identifies me as a royal suite VIP.

 

Either way, I was all smiles at sailaway!

 

[$hip to $hore]

Charla, 

Love what you have shared so far - I'm curious about your thoughts on how the two lines compare. I'm sailing on the Infinity in March to South America, and then in June I'm sailing on the Seaview in YC to the Med. 

 

Have a wonderful trip!!!!

 

[STLCRUISIN]

Charla, your thread is great. Just like you we did an upper suite on the Equinox last February. It was the Penthouse and my wife had no idea we were staying there...it was a surprise for her. I actually got it on a Move-Up bid. We thought we died and went to heaven when we saw the suite. The highest category we've ever stayed in was a Sky Suite.

 

You'll love the pampering so take in every moment!! and YES, there is a picture of you that crew members see. We never got used to many of the crew that called us by name. We kept thinking "where do they know us from".

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, hcat said:

hi Jim

When did you last stay at ES? 

We were there in Nov..after a few stays elsewhere. It is still a great location fir everything and same .good service  and breakfast buffet.   BUT it is very much  showing its age.

 

The furniture in our rm was very sad but the mattress was ok.  Lots of dust all around.. We were told they would get a full refurb  next yr, no date was given.

 

We are looking for something  diff  in same area for next Jan.  if you find a better price elsewhere..might be worth a try??

 

Hotel where Charla stayed looks  great and is in a very  good area..but we need Ft Laderdale!

 

We were last at Embassy Suites about 9 months ago in April.   I have to agree she is showing her age and even our TV's did not have HDMI connections - while all rooms we preciously had did have them.  At the high price I was surprised that when spending 2 nights they did no offer room being cleaned or serviced daily.  

 

I'll be doing some more looking but wanted Fort Lauderdale also I still have a no fee cancellation up until 72 hours prior to arrival.