Have any of you tried Celebrity Equinox or Silhouette??

[Bigplanner]

We went on the silhouette last year during our daughter's spring break in march and given the chance to do any ncl or rccl cruise, se insisted we go on the same celebrity ship again (but different itinerary). She's similar to your son in that she feels comfortable meeting people and has said that the fact that there are not a ton of teenagers on celebrity actually makes that very easy. Forgive the pun but "they are all on the same boat". On lines with tons of kids and families, people travel together making it harder to meet people. She also loved the size of the silhouette, the special treatment, and the food. She also loves that there aren't a lot of crying babies/toddlers or wild elementary age kids. Every day we went together on excursions and had dinner together and then she met up with her new friends and they had a great time. During the at-sea days, they spent the day in the pool and playing basketball. She still talks to several of them and may visit one while we are in Florida before our cruise later this week. So as long as your son isn't looking for a ton of activities/shows/entertainment, I would highly recommend celebrity! While they might not really be seen or heard (which is probably a good thing), I promise you that there will be plenty of other teenagers on the cruise!

 

 

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[Tatka]

We loved Silhouette. Great cruise from all perspectives, except for strange assistant waiter.

Quality at least as good as on Princess and way ahead of Carnival.

[Yvonne]

We are planning to try a different cruise line for our next cruise, so I'm starting to research Celebrity (as well as Princess, possibly for an Alaskan cruise).

 

We began our cruise life on the Disney Magic, to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We have also cruised on Royal, and several with Carnival (with family). We have decided it's time to try something else. Carnival has a great price, but that's about all. Too many cutbacks, too many kids and too many obnoxious drunks on our last one.

 

Looking for something more quiet, geared more for adults (we both turn 60 this year) and fewer children. No, we don't hate children as we have two adult ones of our own and 7 awesome grandchildren whom we dearly love. Other people's children, not so much, ha ha! Especially ones that are not supervised.

 

I read Bimmer09's extensive review of his latest Celebrity cruise, and have looked at other reviews and really like what I'm reading, and seeing photos of. We probably will not cruise again until 2019, but to me research is half the fun of a cruise so I will enjoy reading reviews and savoring people's photos until we make the decision of when and where we want to cruise next.

[Tatka]

I'd rather cruise in the cheapest cabin on Celebrity than in suites on Carnival.

Overall experience is just so much better on Celebrity.

[Pickels]

Hello everyone:) We have never cruised Celebrity before and are looking at either the Celebrity Equinox or Celebrity Silhouette next March 2018. Yes, I know, I'm waaayyy ahead of the game but we know we definately want to try this line and we already know our kids proposed school break and we like the idea of booking well ahead of time. My daughter will be first year college and it will actually be the same time as our high school, I'm so pumped!!!! I'm going away with my teenage son to Cuba on Monday with my sis in law and family friends. My hubby and daughter are staying behind to work. My hubby does not like resorts, he/we LOVE to cruise!!! he has a very busy week of work. My daughter is a server/supervisor at a local restaurant and we have a big week long hockey tournament this week so she wanted to stay back and work and make extra money for school (pretty darn proud of her for that, BUT, this will be my first march break in about 10 years, that I have not had her with me) We have sailed Carnival x 4, Princess x 2, and RCCL x 2 and now time to try Celebrity:) I'm just trying to compare the two. We are leaning toward equinox because of the itinerary, love grand caymen and cozumel. It goes out of Miami but we already know we would stay in fort lauderdale and take a transfer. we lOVE fort lauderdale!!!! I'm also just not sure of how many teenagers will be on board. We have a 15 year old boy (will be almost 16 at time of sailing) and our daughter will be 19. I'm hoping there will be a few teens on board. A lot of high schools in Canada have different spring breaks than us. Anyway, sorry for the book, lol!! any info would be great!! thanks so much!! -Kathy

 

Been on both, love them; keep in mind the Equinox and the Silhouette are sister ships, identical in layout, so the only consideration would be which itinerary you would like.

Happy Cruising!

[pepster1]

Got off Silhouette last week. March 12 sailing to st. Thomas, marten, and San Juan. Great ship. Specialty restaurant, Muranos. Fantastic . Have to have their Muranos Lobster. Absolutely great.

Their buffets are better than RCL for sure. We are D+ with RCCL, but now sail Celebrity. Two notches above RCL. Details, e.g. Linen Towels in

restrooms, China at the buffets, no plastic, towels on deck chairs already there, no checking them out. Etc, etc.

 

 

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[Shadow9612]

Their buffets are better than RCL for sure. We are D+ with RCCL, but now sail Celebrity. Two notches above RCL. Details, e.g. Linen Towels in

restrooms, China at the buffets, no plastic, towels on deck chairs already there, no checking them out. Etc, etc.

 

I have never sailed Royal, but regularly sail on X. Royal uses plastic cutlery at buffet?

[Tatka]

No, forks, knifes, spoons are definitely not plastic.

Plates are.

Pools loungers are definitely much better and with towels on X.

[Crusin Kelly]

sailing on Silhouette this summer, been on Equinox... as earlier poster indicated, kids will find kids. It sounds like yours don't actually mind being with their parents, so the 4 of you will all have a good time. That said, I would choose based on the activities available at each port. I love St Marten, but I go for the rum. I would look at your proposed port stops for zip lines, animal encounters(snorkles or swimming with dolphins), ATV or horseback riding, waterfalls, etc.

 

just my 2 cents worth.

[grandgeezer]

Been on both, love them; keep in mind the Equinox and the Silhouette are sister ships, identical in layout, so the only consideration would be which itinerary you would like.

Happy Cruising!

One huge difference, the Equinox has glass blowing and the Silhouette has a specialty dining area in the same location.

[kelbre]

Thank you everyone for your input, I appreciate it!!:) We just returned from a week all inclusive in Cuba yesterday. It was a good vacation, however, I definately figured out that we are cruise people, not resort people. Not that there is anything wrong with resorts, it's just a personal preferance. . I am even more sure that no matter if there are only a handful of teens on ship next March, my son will make the best of it. We are still hoping that my sister in law and her family come with us (we did the RCCL cruise two years ago with them and this most recent trip with them), My son's exact words were "Mom, I don't even care if no one comes with us next year, we are definately doing the Celebrity ship!!!", lol! I think he's also excited that there is a basketball court (I think?), It was also just him & I that went, we tagged along with sis in law and our neighbours & I really missed having my hubby & daughter with us. I know it's a year ahead but I'm going to call Celebrity tomorrow and get some pricing information, etc:) Sorry for rambling again, I am just really excited lol!! Thanks again to all of you who chimed it, much appreciated!!!

[rain_bowbrite]

Thank you everyone for your input, I appreciate it!!:) We just returned from a week all inclusive in Cuba yesterday. It was a good vacation, however, I definately figured out that we are cruise people, not resort people.

 

Welcome back! We did the AI resort thing and decided we are cruise people as well. We're trying our first Celebrity cruise in Dec. on Equinox so I can't help you with ship choice, but we've done both itineraries multiple times and the Rhino Safari Excursion on St. Maarten (just google Rhino riders St. Maarten) has to still be my favorite ever for water sport type excursions. I think your teens would absolutely love it!

[aml3679]

My husband and I just returned from a wonderful cruise about the Celebrity Equinox (4/3-14) the Ultimate Caribbean - Fort Lauderdale - Costa Rica - Panama - Columbia - Grand Cayman and Cozumel. We had the best vacation ever. As a surprise for my husband's 60th - I booked our first ever Suite about the Silouette in March 2019 going to the Southern Caribbean.

 

We sailed concierge (C3) and had a great cabin with staterooms being above and below us. The food was wonderful (except the Gastro Pub where they refunded our money). We ate in Murano's twice, the Tuscan Grill once, Silk Harvest twice and Sushi on Five twice.

 

There were a lot of kids on our ship due to spring break in the United States. The only nuisance was there were a bunch of kids running in the library which was directly above our cabin. Other than that, not a problem.

 

My husband has taken up cigar smoking and loved Deck 15 where he could smoke, socialize and drink bourbon.

 

My favorite area was the Solarium pool - nice and peaceful.

 

Looking forward to our next cruise which will be almost 2 years from now but we are moving to Florida next year and need time to get settled in our new home and jobs.

[cheeseheads4ever]

We just got off Silly yesterday. Went on a 7 night to San Juan, St T and St M.

We had 8 of us and I will do a review on CC later but just too tired and exhausted. You are supposed to rest on a cruise right?

All in all a fabulous cruise. Food, service in MDR top shelf and friendliness of staff was ok. Many never greeted you but some did..Room steward David was incredible but what was not upto par and lacking was bar service.

Attended Martini Bar every night, casino Bar and Pool bar.

There always seemed to be a lack of bartenders. At least one missing. People standing aggravated and waiting to flag down a bartender. Totally unacceptaptable.

Im not saying the bartenders there were not working they were working as hard as you could ever expect. Just always a bartender short. On top of that in Martini Bar they do the flights which actually takes out a bartender for 15 minutes.

Im a very patient person but as I looked around the bar I noticed people in disgust and grumbling under thier breath..

That was my only complaint....

[Welly09]

Hello everyone:) We have never cruised Celebrity before and are looking at either the Celebrity Equinox or Celebrity Silhouette next March 2018. Yes, I know, I'm waaayyy ahead of the game but we know we definately want to try this line and we already know our kids proposed school break and we like the idea of booking well ahead of time. My daughter will be first year college and it will actually be the same time as our high school, I'm so pumped!!!! I'm going away with my teenage son to Cuba on Monday with my sis in law and family friends. My hubby and daughter are staying behind to work. My hubby does not like resorts, he/we LOVE to cruise!!! he has a very busy week of work. My daughter is a server/supervisor at a local restaurant and we have a big week long hockey tournament this week so she wanted to stay back and work and make extra money for school (pretty darn proud of her for that, BUT, this will be my first march break in about 10 years, that I have not had her with me) We have sailed Carnival x 4, Princess x 2, and RCCL x 2 and now time to try Celebrity:) I'm just trying to compare the two. We are leaning toward equinox because of the itinerary, love grand caymen and cozumel. It goes out of Miami but we already know we would stay in fort lauderdale and take a transfer. we lOVE fort lauderdale!!!! I'm also just not sure of how many teenagers will be on board. We have a 15 year old boy (will be almost 16 at time of sailing) and our daughter will be 19. I'm hoping there will be a few teens on board. A lot of high schools in Canada have different spring breaks than us. Anyway, sorry for the book, lol!! any info would be great!! thanks so much!! -Kathy

 

As a 32 year old who sailed on Silhouette in January/February 2016, I can tell you there were NO young people. That may be a bit of an exaggeration as I'm sure there were SOME, but really, the ship was predominantly older people. And when I say "older", I don't mean 50s and 60s; I mean 80s and 90s. It was a huge disappointment and surprising as I've sailed with Celebrity several times in the summer months and never found this to be the case. I know this sounds like ageism and I apologize if my tone is harsh, but to me, one of the best things about traveling is the people you meet. With few couples our age, it was really hard to do that. After 10:30 pm or so, the halls and public areas were more empty than I'd been used to and overall, it felt more like a retirement community than a vacation I was used to. I should also add that my very young 62 year old uncle and also active 70 year old mother also sailed and felt the same way. Again, I've sailed with Celebrity many times before and I know the line skews older. This was just very out-of-the-norm. Having said ALL of this, vacations are also what you make of them. Hope this helps!

[CruisingGatorGirl]

the Equinox has the Hot Glass Blowing area on the lawn club deck. The staff that run it are young interns and there are several sessions( not just one show repeated) so your teens and young adult might find it interesting and also might engage these young people in conversation and might be able to socialize later, as these folks are not equinox staff. .

 

I can say this is true from experience. My husband and I were 26 on our last X cruise and made friends with the hot glass gaffers and hung out with them almost every day starting on day 3 or 4 of our 10 night cruise. We still stay in touch with them to this day :cool: We don't mind the cruise passengers being "older." We just like the quality one on one time- we are a "table for 2" type of diners.

[Softball20]

We took our daughters on Celebrity for the first time when they were in their early teens and they loved it. They went again in their late teens and also had a great time! In fact, they have always preferred their Celebrity cruises over the couple we tried on Royal, which didn't do anything for any of us. During the time you are thinking of for next year, there will likely be others their age since it is school break time. I'm sure you will all have a great time!