WJ Tested: Celebrity Cruises Silhouette Transatlantic Cruise Review
WJ Tested: Celebrity Cruises Silhouette Transatlantic Cruise Review
WJ Tested: Celebrity Cruises Silhouette Transatlantic Cruise Review
By WAVEJourney
13-NIGHT TRADE WINDS TRANSATLANTIC CRUISE FROM FORT LAUDERDALE VIA NASSAU, BERMUDA & LISBON TO SOUTHAMPTON WITH CELEBRITY CRUISES CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE
WAVEJourney recently took our first voyage with Celebrity Cruises. Our 13-night cruise on Celebrity Silhouette from Florida to England was a terrific way to experience the ship, enjoy the first-class service from the fabulous officers and crew, as we made the transatlantic crossing with stops in the Bahamas, Bermuda and Portugal.
The included dining in the Oceanview Cafe (buffet), Grand Cuvee Restaurant (main dining room), Aqua Club Cafe (healthy breakfast and lunch options), and the Mast Grill (outdoor hamburgers, hot dogs and fries) offer passengers a large variety of culinary experiences each day. For those foodies that want to take their dining to another level of fine dining with specialized service, Celebrity Silhouette has an abundance of restaurants for an additional charge to suit all palates.
The multimillion-dollar artwork collection on Celebrity Silhouette is impressive. Take a self-tour of the ship to discover the various art and décor pieces, and see the live tree suspended in the atrium.
Want a real grass lawn on a cruise ship? Celebrity Silhouette has a half-acre lawn on deck 15! This exclusive area for guests booking The Alcove cabanas is a nice feature – even for those just wandering by to view the lawn.
Celebrity Silhouette – The Alcove Lawn
DISTANCE TRAVELLED
- During our voyage Silhouette travelled 4,578.75 nautical miles.
- Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas = 178.29 nm
- Nassau, Bahamas to Kings Wharf, Bermuda = 802.10 nm
- Kings Wharf, Bermuda to Lisbon, Portugal = 2707.59 nm
- Lisbon, Portugal to Southampton, England = 890.77
CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE SHIP FACTS
- Class – Solstice Class (fourth of five in this class)
- Launched – July 2011
- Registry – Malta
- Godmother – Michelle Morgan
- Gross Tonnage – 122,400
- Length – 1,047 ft.
- Draft – 27 ft.
- Top speed – 28 mph
- Crew – Approx. 1,250 – Over 630 food and beverage crew
- Passengers – 2,886
- Staterooms – Penthouse (2); Royal Suite (8); Celebrity Suite (12); Sky Suite (44); Family Ocean View (4); Aqua Class (130); Concierge Class (283); Sunset Veranda (24); Deluxe Ocean View (723); Ocean View (70); Interior (143)
- Stateroom Electricity – 2 x 110 v; 1 x 220 v
- Connecting Staterooms – 133
- Last refurbishment – January 2015
- Next refurbishment – January 2020
INTERIOR STATEROOM
WJ was in an inside stateroom – 8280. The cabin was spacious and in a quiet location, the bed comfortable, the shower was easy to operate and good water pressure (had doors = no shower curtain!).
Our stateroom attendant, Triyoho (Tre) from Indonesia, was excellent and took wonderful care of us for our entire cruise.
At first blush the cabin was terrific, but there were some practical deficiencies – no laundry line in the bathroom, no USB ports, no electrical outlet near the bed, not enough storage, no drawers in the night tables (just two shelves that items fell out of). The bed linens were good quality, but the bathroom towels were thin, not absorbent and not in great shape.
Plus, when the seas were rough there was a sloshing of water sound in the ceiling – that was strange and kept waking us up. Good news… Silhouette will have all staterooms refurbished in 2020, so hopefully these elements are improved.
View WJ’s Celebrity Silhouette interior stateroom 8280 tour here.
STATEROOM INTERACTIVE TELEVISION (I-TV SYSTEM)
- TV channels (MSNBC, SkyNews, BBC World News, CNBC, Fox, iTV Choice, Sports, HGTV, Travel Channel, Food Network)
- Check your onboard account
- Book shore excursions
- Order room service
- Movies – on demand free (very limited selection) and Pay-per-View movies
- Celebrity TV/Information/Excursions/etc. channels
CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE OFFICERS
- Captain – Athanasios Peppas from Piraeus, Greece has been with Celerity Cruises since 1984.
- Chief Engineer – Argyrios Poulakis from Chios Island in Greece has been with Celebrity Cruises since 1991.
- Staff Captain – Evangelos Saitis from Greece has been with Celebrity Cruises since 2002.
- Guest Relations Director – Eunice Teixeira from Lisbon, Portugal joined Celebrity Cruises in 2016.
- Hotel Director – Jamie Petts from Canterbury, England started his career on his first ship 17 years ago.
- Cruise Director – Rich Clesen from Chicago, Illinois has been a CD for 21 years.
- Food & Beverage Director – Loren Arsovski from Macedonia started his career in the cruise industry in 2000.
- Executive Chef – Edward Gomes from India joined Celebrity Cruises in 1997.
DRESS CODE & EVENING ATTIRE
Celebrity Silhouette Dinner Dress Code 2019
SMART CASUAL – Ladies: Skirt/pants with sweater/blouse; Men: Pants with sports shirt/sweater
EVENING CHIC – Ladies: Cocktail dress, skirt, pants, designer jeans with elegant top; Men: Pants or designer jeans with a dress shirt, button-down shirt or sweater. Optional sport coat or blazer.
Dress codes are in effect from 6 PM in all restaurants and the Celebrity Theater during evening performances. Beachwear, flip flops/bare feet, baseball caps are not permitted in ship’s restaurants at any time.
DINING INCLUDED IN CRUISE FARE
Included Dining – Oceanview Cafe Buffet
Oceanview Cafe – Deck 14 – Breakfast buffet, late breakfast, lunch buffet, ice cream, frozen yogurt, pasta, pizza, salad bar, Afternoon Tea (scones, sandwiches and cakes), dinner buffet, and Chef’s Late Night Selection. Excellent selection, variety, presentation and an abundance of menu options.
Grand Cuvee Restaurant – Decks 3 &4 – Breakfast and lunch on various days. Dinner is served at assigned tables on Deck 3 starting at 6 PM for the Early Seating, or 8:30 PM for Late Seating. Celebrity Select Dining on Deck 4 is seated between 5:30 PM and 9:30 PM.
WJ was assigned the early seating at a table for 8. This is not our preference, but as we booked this cruise after all the select dining tables were reserved we tried it once for dinner. The service was very good, the food was flavorful, but it wasn’t our scene so we didn’t return – even though the dining room crew tried their best to get us to visit them again.
Mast Grill – Deck 14 – weather permitting this outdoor option is open. Get your hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie and chicken burgers and fries here from 11:30-6 PM.
Aqua Club Cafe – Deck 12 – Light and healthy breakfast options available from 7-10 AM. Light and healthy lunch fare is available buffet style from Noon to 2 PM. Self-service soft-serve ice cream machine.
SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS – ADDITIONAL FEES APPLY
Additional Dining on Celebrity Silhouette
Various dining packages for specialty restaurants were available, or diners have the option to pay as you go.
Blu – Deck 5 (AquaClass Restaurant)
Luminae – Deck 3 (Suite Class Restaurant)
Cafe al Bacio & Gelateria – Deck 5 – Specialty coffees, pastries, desserts and Italian Gelato. Pastries, cookies and desserts on display at the coffee bar are included in the cruise fare (no additional fee), but if you order your Americano, cappuccino, or a scoop of gelato there will be fees charged to your SeaPass account.
Murano – Deck 5 – French Cuisine – open for lunch on select sea days ($30 fee), and fine dining dinner every night ($50). The Five Senses food and wine pairing dinner is $89 per person (all inclusive) and an exceptional value.
Tuscan Grille – Deck 15 – Contemporary Italian Steakhouse – Fee – Extensive and varied menu.
Qsine – Deck 5 – Le Petit Chef – Fee – A culinary journey created by James Beard featured Master Chef for an animated 3D character who appears on your plate and prepares each course right before your eyes.
Sushi on Five – Deck 5 – Modern Japanese and Sushi – a la carte pricing.
Lawn Club Grill – Deck 15 – Fee – Signature Burgers and Outdoor Grill open for lunch (depending on ports) and dinner where you can grill your own dinner, or leave it to the experts to cook for you.
The Porch – Deck 15 – Open for lunch (depending on itinerary) and dinner – Fee – Soups, sandwiches, paninis, salads, and seafood.
BARS & LOUNGES
Celebrity Silhouette – Bars & Lounges
- Cafe al Bacio – Deck 5
- Cellar Masters – Deck 4
- Il Secondo Bacio – Deck 14
- Ensemble Lounge – Deck 5
- Fortunes Casino Bar – Deck 4
- Martini Bar & Crush – Deck 4
- Mast Bar (weather permitting – outdoors) – Deck 14
- Passport Bar – Deck 3
- Pool Bar – (weather permitting – outdoors) – Deck 12
- Quasar – Deck 4
- Sky Lounge – Deck 14
- Sunset Bar – (weather permitting – outdoors) – Deck 15
- World Class Bar – Deck 5
- Michael’s Club – Deck 5
SPACES & PLACES
Spaces & Places on Celebrity Silhouette – Fitness Center
- The Alcoves – reserve for a fee
- Art Gallery – Park West art for sale/auction
- Canyon Ranch Spa – services for a fee
- Fitness Center – open 24 hours (complimentary fitness classes available as well as classes for a fee are available)
- Jogging Track – Deck 14
- Basketball Court – Deck 15
- Fortunes Casino – hours vary depending on ports
- Gift Shops – watches, jewelry, clothing, etc.
- Guest Relations – Deck 3 – open 24 hours
- iLounge – Apple certified staff and products. Open various hours during the day and evening on deck 6.
- Library – open 24 hours
- Medical Center – Deck 2 – hours vary (check Celebrity Today for times)
- Photo Gallery & Photo Studios – open various times
- Outdoor pools and whirlpools – open 7 AM to 10 PM (depending on weather)
- Solarium adult pool and whirlpools – open 7 AM to 11 PM (depending on weather)
- Shore Excursions – Deck 3 – various hours throughout the day
- The Hideaway – Quiet space on deck 7 (coffee and tea machine)
- Sun Decks – Decks 12, 14, 15, 16
- Port Shopping – Deck 3
- Future Cruise Vacations – Deck 4
- Captain’s Club – Deck 10
- Concierge – Deck 10
- Sky Conference Center – Deck 14
- The Lawn Club – Deck 15
- The Card Room – Deck 9
LIVE MUSIC
- Exceptional and varied live music performances daily around the ship.
- Guitar and vocal by Angie Vertti
- Celebrity Silhouette House Band
- Modern String Duo
- Silhouette Orchestra
WIFI/INTERNET – Xcelerate, High Speed Internet
Celebrity Silhouette 2019 – WiFi & Internet
- Basic Surf to Streaming with Xcelerate Unlimited Plan
- Prices range from $14 to $41/day depending on the plan and amount of days.
- Packages for the cruise duration are available at a discounted price.
- WJ had the Xcelerate Unlimited Plan thanks to Celebrity Cruises. During the transatlantic crossing, and between Lisbon and Southampton on sea days, the service was slow, didn’t load photos or videos quickly, and we couldn’t update apps on our phone. It was mainly useful for checking emails, reading websites/news online, and a little social media.
- A 1-Hour Xcelerate Package available to purchase to check in for your flight from your stateroom or other areas of the ship via your device.
KIDS & TEENS
- X Club – Deck 15
- Video Arcade – Deck 15
- Fun Factory – Deck 15
CAPTAIN’S CLUB
Captain’s Club exclusive events for past cruisers (and those receiving status from cruising with Royal Caribbean and/or Azamara) took place throughout the cruise (letter in stateroom and/or in Celebrity Today).
MISC INFO
- Onboard currency U.S. dollars
- Wine Allowance at Embarkation – 2 bottles (750 ml) are permitted to bring on board per stateroom free of charge.
- Alcohol Policy – Must be 21 or older to consume alcohol.
- SeaPass Card – Cashless payment system using your SeaPass Card is validated during embarkation.
- Corkage Fee – $25 corkage fee (per bottle) is charged in dining venues for wine bottles not purchased from the onboard wine list.
- Bar Service Charge – 20% service charge is automatically added for all bar purchases.
- Daily service fee/gratuity – $14.50 per passenger is automatically added to onboard accounts each day. The breakdown is: Dining Services Team = $9.39 per person per day; Stateroom Attendant = $3.59 per person per day; Housekeeping Services = $1.51 per person per day.
- Mini Bar in Stateroom – all items consumed will be charged to SeaPass account.
- Smoking – not permitted inside any stateroom, on any stateroom veranda or in any interior ship spaces. Designated outside public smoking spaces are plentiful.
- Casino – gaming open to guests 18 and older in Fortunes Casino.
EMBARKATION
Fifteen minutes from the time we stepped out of our ride to Terminal 29, dropped off our luggage with the porter, went through security, checked-in to have our SeaPass photos taken and handed the cards, to walking on the ship and being greeted with a glass of bubbly. That has to be the fastest and most efficient embarkation of any cruise we’ve experienced.
DISEMBARKATION
During the final two sea days between Lisbon and Southampton mandatory UK immigration with UK Border Agency on the ship took place. Passengers disembarking in Southampton (or wanting to go ashore if they were continuing on the next leg) had to take themselves, their passport and their SeaPass card to get an entry stamp in their passport. It only took a couple of minutes with the agent and he only asked us what our plans were once we got off the ship in Southampton.
Two nights before disembarkation, our stateroom attendant left us luggage tags and a letter with full disembarkation details. Clear and concise instructions.
PROS
- Lots of indoor and outdoor space to relax and enjoy the ship during sea days
- Casino is non-smoking
- Officers and crew are super friendly and helpful
- Excellent service
- Well-maintained and very clean ship
CONS
- Additional fees for specialty dining are high
- Laundry is expensive, and the wash, dry, fold service we used was terrible
BOTTOM LINE
WAVEJourney’s 13-night transatlantic cruise was the ideal opportunity to become acquainted with both Celebrity Cruises and Celebrity Silhouette. We enjoyed the design, features and layout of this mid-size ship, and were impressed by the friendly, professional and enthusiastic crew. WJ will definitely cruise with Celebrity Cruises again soon, and although we would happily sail aboard Celebrity Silhouette at any point in the future, Celebrity Edge is at the top of our next Celebrity cruise experience list.
Read the itinerary highlights from WJ’s Celebrity Silhouette Transatlantic crossing in April 2019.
NOTE: Celebrity Silhouette will undergo a complete refurbishment in January 2020
NOTES: WJ cruised with Celebrity Cruises on Silhouette from April 14-27, 2019.
