Royal Caribbean
This premium large ship has contemporary decor and style
The Ship. Celebrity Silhouette looks sleek, with its two slim funnels. Behind them is the great outdoors and Lawn Club, an area with real Bermudan grass. You can putt, play croquet or bocce ball (similar to boules), picnic on the grass, and enjoy walking around barefoot. Part of the Lawn Club is an interactive Lawn Club Grill, while The Porch is a 48-seat eatery overlooking the lawn, for complimentary breakfast and lunches, plus specialty coffees, wine, and beer (at extra cost).
Near the Lawn Club entrance is an Art Studio, for demonstrations and classes on various topics. Some are free, some cost extra.
Resort Deck has several water-play areas, one within a glass-roofed solarium. However, deck space around the two pools is small considering the number of passengers carried. For open deck privacy, try ‘The Alcoves’; these are garden cabanas for two to four persons, positioned on the lawn (naturally, they cost extra).
Michael’s Club, an intimate lounge with classic English leather club chairs and a handsome fireplace, is for suite-grade occupants only.
Most entertainment rooms are positioned forward, with dining venues located aft. There’s a wine bar; a jazz-age cocktail lounge; a bar with the look of an ocean-going yacht; Quasar, a bar with a nightly light show synchronized to music; and an observation lounge with a dance floor.
The two-deck library is a delightful open-ended space. The card room – located in the center of the ship – has no ocean-view windows to distract players, but it attracts noise from adjacent areas, so it’s almost useless as a serious card playing room. Fortunes Casino (non-smoking) has gaming tables and slot machines.
Celebrity’s signature Martini Bar carries over 100 varieties of vodka, as well as Martinis. There’s also a small alcove called Crush with an ice-filled table where you can participate in caviar- and vodka-tasting, or host a private party. It’s noisy and congested, but can be a lot of fun.
Passenger niggles include lack of usable drawer space in cabins; inadequate children’s facilities and staff during school holidays; congestion when you exit the showlounge; and noise in all areas of the lobby when the Martini Bar is busy.
Gratuities are charged to your onboard account.
Accommodation. The accommodation is both practical and comfortable. There are numerous price grades, depending on size and location.
In non-suite-grade cabins there is little space between the bed and the wall, but all accommodation includes twin beds convertible to a queen- or king-size bed with premium bedding, sitting area, and vanity desk with hairdryer, but little drawer space. Although closets have good hanging space, other storage space is limited. Bathrooms have a shower enclosure, toilet, and tiny washbasin. A charge for room service applies between 11pm and 6am.
Note that cabins 1551–1597 on the port side and 1556–1602 on the starboard side on Penthouse Deck (Deck 11) suffer from ‘aircraft carrier’ syndrome because they are directly under the overhanging Resort Deck. They have little exposure to sun or light, so sunbathing is out of the question. Many thick supporting struts ruin the view from these cabins, which are otherwise pleasant enough.
Other cabin accommodation grades are: Veranda; Family Veranda; Concierge; Ocean View; and Interior (no view). Suite-grade categories are: Aqua; Sky; Celebrity; Royal; and Penthouse. Suites have much more space, plus larger balconies with good-quality sunloungers, and more personal amenities than standard cabins.
Dining. Eating at Grand Cuvée, the ship’s 1,430-seat main dining room, is included in the cruise price. It is spread over two decks, with ocean views on the port and starboard sides and at the stern, and its contemporary design is stunning. Towards the aft section, a two-deck-high wine tower provides a focal point.
Suite occupants can dine in the exclusive setting of Luminae, a restaurant offering tableside preparation of signature dishes, an eclectic menu, and a selection of over 400 wines.
Blu is a 128-seat specialty restaurant, with tablecloths, exclusively for Aqua-class cabin occupants. It has pleasing but rather cool decor.
Murano is an extra-cost, reservations-required, 70-seat dinner venue (with tablecloths), offering high-quality traditional dining with a French flair and gorgeous table settings. The cuisine and service are extremely good.
Tuscan Grille is an extra-cost, tablecloth-free venue, for Italian cuisine, Kobe beef and premium-quality steaks. It has nicely curved archways – like a high-tech winery. Large aft-facing windows offer a great view.
Qsine is a 90-seat ‘fun-food’ venue. The food consists of multi-flavored, multi-colored, quirky small-bite items. The food is presented in quirky fashion – even on sticks – sort of ‘lollipop’ cuisine.
Sushi on Five features extra-cost sushi and cooked items including noodle and hot pot dishes. Close by is Café al Bacio & Gelateria, a coffeehouse featuring Lavazza Italian coffee.
Oceanview Café and Grill is a casual, tray-free self-serve buffet venue with a number of food islands and decent signage.
AquaSpa Café is for light, healthier options (solarium fare).
The Mast Bar Grill and Bar is an outside fast-food venue.
Entertainment. Celebrity Theater is a three-deck-high, 900-seat venue for production shows and major cabaret acts.
Theme nights are held in the Observation Lounge (whose daytime bland and minimalist decor comes alive at night), while 200-seat Celebrity Central hosts comedy, cooking demonstrations, lectures, and films.
An Entertainment Court showcases street performers, psychics, and caricaturists; it’s in the center of the ship, linked to Quasar, a high-pulse, high-volume nightclub, while Ensemble Lounge is a big-band-era cocktail lounge with live music.
Spa/Fitness. Canyon Ranch SpaClub at Sea measures 24,219 sq ft (2,250 sq m). It includes a large thalassotherapy pool under a solarium glass dome, with health bar for light food and fresh squeezed juices.
Facilities include 25 treatment rooms, including one for wheelchair passengers. There’s also an aerobics room, a gymnasium, large men’s and women’s saunas with a sizable ocean-view window, and a beauty salon.
An extra-cost (free to occupants of Aqua-grade accommodation) unisex thermal suite contains several steam and shower mist rooms and a glacial ice fountain, plus a calming relaxation area with heated tiled beds.