Silhouette ABC Island Live Review 11/22-12/1... A Royal Suite Experience

[Georgia_Peaches]

21 minutes ago, groryjm said:

yesin October we had Natalia and in August a man called Jackie

I thought so. We currently have Natalia and she has been such a delight. Like a tiny ninja!

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 hour ago, FRMPEI said:

Enjoying your recount of your days! The golf carts are a neat idea. Where they gas or electric?

 

Regards,

Kevin Reid

Thank you!  The carts ran on gas but were very quiet. 

[hcat]

Catching up on this very nice review..

Great pics and info.  

 

On Bonaire last week we enjoyed a great lunch at Karels..the indoor side with AC.  Great Service, food made to order,  and  bevs.  Toured  the Island last time..j

 

It was so hot, we ust wanted a nice day to shop and have lunch

 

Hope your anniv Celeb has been Special!🌹        🌹        🌹         🌹

[dani negreanu]

On 11/28/2019 at 10:36 PM, Georgia_Peaches said:

Third Port: Bonaire

 

 

 

 

Beautiful pics.

My son is a keen windsurfer, and traveled all the way from Israel to surf on this tiny and beautiful island. I also remember the mounds of salt from his pics.

Glad you've found a new destination to enjoy in your future cruises😍.

[dani negreanu]

23 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Thanksgiving Day...

Shortly before dinner, I looked at the threads on the Celebrity board to see what I've missed. It was then that I came across hcat's thread sharing the sad news about the passing of VTcruising....Marilyn.  I was shocked by the news and although I didn't know her personally, I appreciated her passion for cruising and felt that had we ever had an opportunity to meet, we would have had much in common.  The news reminded me that taking pictures of what I ate for dinner was not nearly as important as spending undivided time with my BHE.  So I left the phone in the room.  It is in that spirit that I will leave the rest of my review until we disembark. And only then to summarize a few thoughts about our suite, Celebrity's service, and the Silhouette experience in general.  Thank you to all who have followed and chimed in along the way...

 

 

A different view on life, isn't it?

[hcat]

6 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

A different view on life, isn't it?

AMEN!

Sorry my post was upsetting.....but the family asked me  to reach out.  I have also suspended the Art Tour Review for a few more days as Marilyn was a big help in getting X to offer it!

Edited November 30, 2019 by hcat

[dani negreanu]

48 minutes ago, hcat said:

AMEN!

Sorry my post was upsetting.....but the family asked me  to reach out.  

 

And you did right. The sad news in the post were upsetting.

 

Would you kindly post a link to Marilyn inaugural posts about Edge -- the "search" function is so useless... Thanks in advance.

[Quo Vadis?]

The Edge and Silhouette in grand Cayman yesterday.

[Georgia_Peaches]

21 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

A different view on life, isn't it?

Most definitely!  

[Georgia_Peaches]

14 hours ago, hcat said:

AMEN!

Sorry my post was upsetting.....but the family asked me  to reach out.  I have also suspended the Art Tour Review for a few more days as Marilyn was a big help in getting X to offer it!

I’m so glad you did. Marilyn was too much of a trusted and valued CC member to not have her remembered on these boards. 

[hcat]

14 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

And you did right. The sad news in the post were upsetting.

 

Would you kindly post a link to Marilyn inaugural posts about Edge -- the "search" function is so useless... Thanks in advance.

This is not very easy ( for me) because at a certain point, Cruise Critic established a sep Board for posts about the EDGE.  That  sep thread  facilitated  a fairly close bonding of the " EDGIES" and others......Lloyd and crew with photos,..etc.  At a certain point  the EDGE subthreads on that Board were integrated back into the main Celeb Board. We adjusted!

 

I am lo tech myself but maybe go to the review section and search there or post on the CC help board for guidance!

 

 Georgia  Peaches: Glad you  understand.   I hate making people sad esp when  you were Celebrating a  significant event!

[Caribbean Chris]

Georgia Peaches, your review has been wonderful. We were on Silhouette for the Nov. 12 sailing, same itinerary - wished I’d had your port tips before we sailed! Must find that dress shop in Curaçao next time.  We loved the ship and staff.

 

Luminae’s food has always been hit or miss for us, but the same old menu is getting more boring as the years roll on, and I think the presentation and flavor has gone downhill. Food in Blu was better on Edge last January. The only Luminae choice I actually remember favorably from this cruise was a tasty steak frites one sea day at lunch. Our party of four often ordered dishes from the main dining room menu. We did have very very good service from the wait staff, though the wine steward always seemed rushed.

 

I can see why you chose the specialty restaurants - the food in  those photos look delicious, with superior presentation. Our friends (long time Cunard cruisers, first time on Celebrity) went to Tuscan one night and loved it. 

 

P.S. I hope your husband’s ring turned up.

 

Edited December 1, 2019 by Caribbean Chris

[Georgia_Peaches]

Deep sigh...debarkation day.  Am sitting at MIA with a cup of coffee reflecting on what could easily be described as the best cruising experience we've ever had with Celebrity.  It's hard to say if this was because we were in a Royal Suite or if the crew on the Silhouette are just that good.  I'm going with the latter as everyone we spoke with about their experience had nothing but positive things to say.  That's not to say that we didn't receive the "royal" treatment because we most certainly did...and I'll detail that in a sec.

 

First, as I recap that last few days on the ship I can say that we thoroughly enjoyed the Veuve Cliequot dinner and champagne pairing that was held in Tuscan Grille.  We were joined by two other couples and had a really nice time getting to know some new people.  The food was some of the best we've ever had in Tuscan and the service was equally exceptional.  It's a pricey experience at $150 pp but not as expensive as the Chef's Table ($199 pp) and I would say that it is worth doing at least once.

 

We stayed on the ship in Grand Cayman opting to hide away in the Solarium instead.  There were plenty of available loungers and for a long period of time, we had the pool and hot tubs to ourselves.  Anchored nearby was the Edge and I enjoyed getting a look at her from the Solarium window.  As a side note, BHE and I encountered a woman who was in a huff as she lamented that all the "good" loungers had already been claimed by "chair hogs".  Mind you, there were more loungers open than I've ever seen even with the few that were clearly claimed by some who had arrived early to get the "best spots".  She promptly put her towel and book on the lounger in front of us and then turned to us and said, "there, I've just staked my claim and now I'm going to breakfast.  I dare anyone to move my things."  BHE and I stared in amazement and couldn't help but laugh as she had just done the very thing she was complaining about.

 

Our last sea day was uneventful, albeit very relaxing even though we tried to pack in as many one more time things as we could.  We made rounds to the Passport bar for one more Bourbon and Peaches, the martini bar for one more Sunset, the World Class Bar for one more Mojhito, and to Cafe Al Bacio for one more gelato.  

 

The last show was called Euphoria and was different from most shows we've seen.  The show featured the amazing talents of the acrobats with aerials, ropes, and scarves.  They were nothing short of amazing.  Cruise Director, Sue ended the show with some remarks that reminded me that she had been very engaged with the passengers throughout the entire vacation.  I was impressed with her from beginning to end and feel as though Celebrity made sure that service, quality, and entertainment remained top notch to the very end.

 

The Royal Suite Experience

...was simply amazing!  Our suite, 1118 was on deck 10 just near the elevators.  It was clean, quiet, and very comfortable.  Our bar set up was waiting for us just as we requested and was filled daily.  We received ice twice a day along with our preferred afternoon cheese and cracker plate.  Our cabin steward and our Butler, Natalia left no detail overlooked.  

The Michale's Club concierge, Lara was one of the most attentive we've ever experienced.  From an invitation to a semi-private bridge tour, helipad sail away in Bonaire, and even private car arrangements back to MIA, she never missed a beat.  

 

Silhouette the Ship

...was beautiful.  She was our third S class ship to try and is now, by far, our favorite.  As I mentioned earlier, I am a little sad to learn the Cellar Masters will become a sports bar with the dry dock.  In my humble opinion, Qusar, a nearly empty karaoke bar, would be a much better sports bar option.  I rarely saw anyone in this venue and think that it's a perfect spot for a sports bar due to it's proximity to the casino as well as the Celebrity Central atrium where they have frequent game shows and activities.  

I've read some reviews indicating that Silhouette is showing some signs of wear...I didn't see that except for some of the seating in some areas, like the lounge cushions in the solarium and perhaps in the theater.  Over all, her charm still has a great deal of luster.

 

Service on board was some of the friendliest we'd seen.  I didn't encounter anyone who seemed unhappy with their role on the ship and was pleased to see some many of the "off duty" crew enjoying some of the venues like the theater and the specialty restaurants.  Our impression is that Celebrity treats its employees well and that treatment tends to translate into better customer satisfaction.

 

Things I wouldn't do again...

1.  Dine at the Porch...too slow and I found the seating to be uncomfortable.

2.  Purchase a pass to Persian Gardens...there wasn't enough in there to justify the cost IMO.  We used the steam room almost daily but the only other offerings were the stone loungers and the aroma therapy room.  Both were hit or miss.  I recall on Reflection that there was a "snow" room and a dry heat sauna (maybe I'm wrong on that...can't remember) in addition to other things that weren't available on Silhouette.  There was a dry heat sauna in the locker rooms that I would use instead.

 

In conclusion, it was a fabulous vacation!  The thought of returning to the real world in Atlanta is softened by the memories we've made on a really great ship!  Thanks for following along...

 

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2019 by Georgia_Peaches

[Georgia_Peaches]

43 minutes ago, Caribbean Chris said:

Georgia Peaches, your review has been wonderful. We were on Silhouette for the Nov. 12 sailing, same itinerary - wished I’d had your port tips before we sailed! Must find that dress shop in Curaçao next time.  We loved the ship and staff.

 

Luminae’s food has always been hit or miss for us, but the same old menu is getting more boring as the years roll on, and I think the presentation and flavor has gone downhill. Food in Blu was better on Edge last January. The only Luminae choice I actually remember favorably from this cruise was a tasty steak frites one sea day at lunch. Our party of four often ordered dishes from the main dining room menu. We did have very very good service from the wait staff, though the wine steward always seemed rushed.

 

I can see why you chose the specialty restaurants - the food in  those photos look delicious, with superior presentation. Our friends (long time Cunard cruisers, first time on Celebrity) went to Tuscan one night and loved it. 

 

P.S. I hope your husband’s ring turned up.

 

Thank you!  Sadly, the ring did not turn up.  We made a report with Guest Relations just in case it does but it looks like we'll be heading to the jewelry store once we get home.  The ring itself was pretty basic and easy to replace.  The sad part is the engraving inside.  Funny story, before we got married I took the ring to have it engraved.  It was supposed to say Soulmates.  But the jeweler misspelled the engraving to read Solemates instead.  From that point since my BHE and I have been "fish-mates" as indicated by the jeweler.  That's the hard part...replacing silly stuff like that...

Thank you for following along!

Christina

Edited December 1, 2019 by Georgia_Peaches

[Hshag]

Thank you for sharing your trip. I also did the Bonaire Cruises Golf Cart. It' a great way to see the island. My wife and I started with the south route but we got rained out of the north route. I've enclosed a few pictures of the south route. Thanks again for a great report and enjoy your cruise.

Harry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2019 by Hshag

[dani negreanu]

3 hours ago, hcat said:

This is not very easy ( for me) because at a certain point, Cruise Critic established a sep Board for posts about the EDGE.  That  sep thread  facilitated  a fairly close bonding of the " EDGIES" and others......Lloyd and crew with photos,..etc.  At a certain point  the EDGE subthreads on that Board were integrated back into the main Celeb Board. We adjusted!

 

I am low tech myself but maybe go to the review section and search there or post on the CC help board for guidance!

 

 

Thanks. I'll try to find them. At the time, given the very high prices for the Europe season, I didn't follow since I couldn't afford them. Luckily, Marilyn advertised that a 4 day "taster" is offered, and I've snatched it immediately. Still, the price for a 4 days cruise is exorbitant, but is "cheaper" than a 7 days cruise, with an itinerary I've already been to....

[Jim_Iain]

19 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

And you did right. The sad news in the post were upsetting.

 

Would you kindly post a link to Marilyn inaugural posts about Edge -- the "search" function is so useless... Thanks in advance.

 

Don't want to step on the wonderful review but thought I would post the link Marilyn's.     I will miss her dearly.

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

oops.... posted the wrong review -  Great review anyway.

 

 

 

[dani negreanu]

8 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

oops.... posted the wrong review -  Great review anyway.

 

Thanks, Jim, much appreciated.

I was just puzzling over the Silkroad’s review (indeed, great as u said), wondering what was I missing 😳😳😳

[Silkroad]

Thanks for posting your great review. I'm catching up on it now, as I pack for a similar itinerary on Reflection next week.

 

Michelle

 

 

Edited December 1, 2019 by Silkroad

[Georgia_Peaches]

3 minutes ago, Silkroad said:

Thanks for posting your great review. I'm catching up on it now, as I pack for a similar itinerary on Reflection next week.

 

Michelle

 

 

The ABC itinerary is now officially my favorite in the Caribbean. Have a wonderful time!  

[Silkroad]

1 minute ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

The ABC itinerary is now officially my favorite in the Caribbean. Have a wonderful time!  

Thank you😊 This will be our first Caribbean cruise, and we've wanted to go to the ABCs for some time. Love your photos btw🌺

[thjessop]

Awesome review! We are boarding on Friday and this got me even more excited (if that is possible). Do you happen to know who the Captain's Club Host was on board? 

[Georgia_Peaches]

6 minutes ago, thjessop said:

Awesome review! We are boarding on Friday and this got me even more excited (if that is possible). Do you happen to know who the Captain's Club Host was on board? 

Thank you! ... and I'm so sorry, I don't know the name of the CC host.  In Michael's Club it was Lara. I hope you have an awesome time!  I would do this exact trip again in a heartbeat!

[thjessop]

Thanks so much!