Review of Celebrity Cruises our favourite cruise line.

So why is Celebrity Cruises our favourite cruise line ?

Well before I get to that let's go back a decade, and if you had asked me at that point if I wanted to go on a cruise holiday ?

My honest reply would have been. " Are you mad no chance, can't think of anything worse"

Now its fair to say I had never been on a cruise ship at that point but like many who have not,

I had preconceived ideas, along the lines of , "why would I want to go on a floating over crowded tin can that you can't get off !! " Well how wrong was I.

Fast forward those 10 years to the present Day and enjoying a cruise is one of favourite forms of holiday.

So why Celebrity ? We have experienced other Cruise Lines, and enjoyed them but for us Celebrity just hits the spot. The company's sales pitch calls there style of cruiseing as

"Modern Luxury" and for myself and my ,Logistics Manager, Christine thats exactly what it is.

So up until now its our go to line when we plan a cruise holiday, but its fair to say we have recently been looking at other options and I will cover that later. However Celebrity is still a product we enjoy.

Solstice Class ship.

Celebrity Apex the company's latest ship.

So what do Celebrity offer, well they have 4 classes of ships: 2 of the newest Edge class ships.

5 Solstice class ships, 4 Millennium class ships and 3 smaller Galapagos ships that concentrate on those unique islands.

We have experienced all the classes with the exception of the Galapagos ships.

Now the Millennium and Solstice class ships share some features and experience and in general terms are a similar in design with the Solstice being the bigger ships with extra attractions, features and restaurants etc.

The new Edge class, of which there are currently only two ships operating, The Edge & Apex ships, with more to follow, are a complete departure from the previous Celebrity ships in terms of design, layout and concept. They also have a new ithos in terms of Entertainment and also were the flagship used to introduced the companies policy of giving suit paying passengers additional and exclusive access areas. This policy is being rolled out across the fleet as the ships get refitted under the marketing branding of "Revolutioning"

Its fair to say from the start that having been on the Edge ship itself, I am NOT a convert to this new design or ithos, my experience on it was ok but felt some of the entertainment was pretentious and the ship was all about design and less about functionality. However do I believe in giving everything a fair chance so if a itinerary becomes available on any of the Edge class ships we would give it another try, because even though I am not a fan of the design etc we still had a good holiday.

On a positive we do love and prefer the Millennium and Solstice class ships, with the larger Solstice class ships being our No 1 pick, and in particular the Silhouette ship. Why her, well like her sister ship the Reflection ( which we have also enjoyed) she is slightly bigger than her other sisters ( Eclipse Equnox & Solstice) and as a result has a couple of extra restaurants to enjoy.

So I will do this review by referring in the main to the Silhouette.

Celebrity Silhouette has 16 decks of which 13 are directly accessible by passengers, it has 66 suites, 1147 balcony staterooms, 70 Ocenview Staterooms and 140 Interior Staterooms giving you a total guest capacity of 2886.

Now something I do enjoy about the Celebrity product is the Silhouette and all the ships in the fleet don't have the distracting amenities that some the more recent theme park type ships are famous for, so no water slides, flow riders, go kart tracks or zip wires. Remember that "Modern Luxury" tag well the ship is more about refined and elegant relaxation. However it and its sisters still have plenty enticing offerings to enjoy , including the adults only Solarium where you can relax during the day, the Spa and Persian Garden Thermal Suite to pamper your own Logistics Manager or indeed your self. Then there are a host of speciality restaurants to choose from as well as the Main Dining room and exclusive dining rooms for both Suite guests and Aqua Room guests. Thats before you consider the various bars onboard all with there own style and feel, then of course you have the entertainment, but we will cover that later.

Another unique feature on all the Solstice class ships is that up on deck they have the Lawn Club, what this is a full real grass lawn at sea. Here you can play bouls or practice your putting or at night enjoy a film on the large screen.

Chair on the lawnclub 😁

The Lawn

More of the lawn.

So don't think you will be bored or struggle go find things to pass your time you won't. But the good thing is you can be as active or relaxed as you want it is you who has total control of that.

Atrium of the ship

Main Dining room

Logistics Manager at the Martini Bar

Floor description inside the lifts

Pool area at night

One of my favourite times relaxing on my balcony at sunset

Inside the ship looking up from the aitrum

Floor description model you find these on most floors.

Celebrity Central space directly outside main Theatre.

STATEROOMS

Suite

There are a number of options here ranging from the exclusive Silhouette suite or Penthouse vis Celebrity Suite to the Sky suite. Depending on what you choose and of course the price you will qualify for extra perks from All inclusive drinks packages to priority seating in the theatre and access to suite guests only restaurant and lounge area. Suite guests also have butler service attached to there rooms as well as a dedicated concierge.

Aqua

These rooms are just the same as a balcony room but with a few extras such as Canapes delivered daily to your room, exclusive access to the Persian Gardens Thermal Beds, and your own Aqua guests only dining room known as Blu with its own menus.

Concierge

Again same room as a balcony stateroom but with some extra amenities and exclusive lunch in the Main Dining Room on the day of Embarkation.

Balcony

As it says stateroom with its own balcony so you can enjoy those sea days, breakfast or watching the sun set.

Oceanview

Stateroom with a large oceanview window, room size wise very similar to a balcony.

Interior

Again as described a room that is on the inside of the ship with no window.

Aqua Stateroom

Another view of stateroom showing TV and balcony

Bathroom

Balcony

Enjoying a sea day on the balcony

Breakfast on the balcony

RESTAURANTS

Main Dining Room (MDR)

One area Celebrity prides itself on and I honestly cannot fault its food and restaurants. The Main Diniing room is the largest on the ship and comes as part of your fair, the service, choice and quality matches anything in any 5 star hotel it is a major plus about cruising. There are two sittings each night, and you can choose to have fixed dining where your are allocated either a table on your own or with others ( great way to meet new people) or you can choose to do select dining where you decide to go to either sitting depending on what fits in with your plans for the day. Smart casual is the dress code in the restaurant in other words, No shorts or beachware allowed in here at night in fact same go's for all the restaurants except the buffet.

Luminae

This is the suite guests only restaurant with its own menu, but you can if you choose ask specifically for something off the MDR menu that day if its a favourite of yours.

Blu

This is the Aqua guests only restaurant again it has its own menu which based on more healthy options. I have to confess here this is one of my favourite restaurants always had a good meal here so Aqua class is a personal recommendation if you are not wanting to pay more for a suite.

Oceanview

In short this is the buffet restaurant, its open all day and late into the night, there are loads to choose from in here and if you want you can use it for your evening meal if you want a more casual dining experience.

THE MDR

Ocenview Buffet

More of Oceanview

Buffet

SPECIALITY RESTAURANTS

The speciality restaurants are other restaurants onboard that you can on any night make a reservation to dine at. There is a upcharged for these restaurants but in my opinion its very reasonable and you do get a different experience in each one. I will give my own view and description of them.

Murano

Decided to start with in my opinion the best this is a Classic French dining experiance, with a menu to match. Have never had a bad meal here so can't recommend it more. It should be noted this is the most expensive of the speciality options.

Set Gourmet menu you can select.

Murano restaurant

Meal cooked at your table

More options

Tuscan Grill

This is a Italian Grill themed restaurant, this also benefits from a great setting right at the aft of the ship with floor to ceiling windows that give a great view of the wake.

View from the Tuscan Grill

Entrance to the Tuscan Grill

Menu example from Tuscan Grill

Lawnclub Grill

This restaurant is only available on the Silhouette and Reflection ships, but it is another favourite of mine. Its a open air grill restaurant which in inter active, you get to make your own flat breads then pick your own main meal option, you can even get involved with its grilling if you want, or you can sit back and let the chefs on hand grill it to your instructions. We have always enjoyed this restaurant and make a point of booking it if we are on Silhouette or Reflection.

Lawnclub Grill

Lawnclub Grill menu

Sushi on 5

As it says in the name a Sushi restaurant. So if you like Sushi you will like this. We enjoy it.

Sushi on 5 roll selection

The Porch

This is another restaurant exclusive to the Silhouette and Reflection it is also situated up top on deck near to the lawn club. However this features on Seafood though you can get a burger or chicken option if seafood is not your thing. A personal recommendation from the Logistics Manager who knows her seafood is to try the Seafood Tower from the menu she loved it.

Porch seafood tower.

La Petit Chef

This is a very unique restaurant experience, there are land restaurants from this brand in London and Dubai but only on Celebrity can you experience it at sea. So what is it, well think Disney cartoon meets meal time... Basically your sitting at your tabel when the show starts and in front of your eyes on your plate a mini chef appears and proceeds to go through a routine whist preparing each course of your meal and as he finishes like clockwork the waiters present the meal prepared by the mini chef to you. It has to be seen !!! Now I am going to be honest here some guests rave about this unique experience but I personally having done it once, would not be in a rush to do it again thats as much as I can say. I would not say don't do it, its very different and unique. Just not one of my favourites.

Other options.

Well think now is a good time to mention Room service. Yes there is a full menu you can enjoy in your room from breakfast till evening. Breakfast in your room on the balcony at least once on your cruise is a recommendation. Just be aware there is a extra approx $5 charge for room service after 11 pm.

Cafe al Bacio

This is not a restaurant its a Coffee and Pastry cafe, now don't think there has been ship I have been on and this Cafe has not been possible the busiest spot on the ship.... with good reason it serves good coffee and has some excellent pastries and cakes.

Pastry choice in Cafe al Bacio

Cafe al Bacio

Bar's

So one thing its good to look forward to is that first cold beer, special drink or cocktail at your favourite bar onboard. The good thing is you have plenty of choice to pick from they are all around the ship and much like the restaurants all have there own vibe. Three of the more popular bars are the Martini Bar ( personal favourite) the World Class Bar and the Sunset Bar.

Sunset Bar

This bar is on the top deck aft and gives great views of the wake. Its surrounded by the lawn club and its a good spot on a sunny day to chill or enjoy a cooling drink. It was redesigned for the Celebrity Reflection so it is still in the same spot just a different design.

Sunset Bar on Reflection

Sunset Bar

World Class Bar

This is a excellent cocktail bar where all the drinks are made by expert mixologists. It suffers a little bit from lack of atmosphere which is more to do with its location on the ship but the drinks cannot be faulted.

World Class Bar

Martini Bar

This is another personal favourite of mine, have had some great nights here and around this bar we have met new friends who we are to this day still in contact with. The bar itself is topped with real ice, which is a bit of a novelty and always a talking point. The bar has a great vibe due to the friendly and entertaining bar staff who all have various tricks and novelty pours to keep you entertained, this is one bar that pre dinner and after the theatre shows finish can get busy especially if there is late night entertainment on in the aitrum which is open and only one deck below. So for me this is my go to bar, but as I have said there are plenty others to choose from and you will find one that you like.

Martini Barmen Ari

Ari & Kadek doing there tricks at the bar.

Me in my happy place the Martini Bar

Top service.

Martini Bar with ice on top.

Agus on Celebrity Reflection, a few years ago now but its still the same vibe.

Entertainment

All the Celebrity ships in common with most cruise ships have a large West End / Broadway style theater where some night's the on ship professional entertainers present production shows and on other special Headline guests perform there show. These shows can vary in content and style but there all very well done and the main feature of the nights entertainment. There are 2 shows per night so there is no problem getting to see the show.

Main Theatre

Now the theatre is the main entertainment that Celebrity concentrate on, but its not the only entertainment, they have a full programme all day long. Including House Band, Guitar players string quarters, and DJ's. So for example and particular on sea days you will find musical entertainment at various bars and spots including poolside all day. At night outwith the theatre times entertainment is also provide in the Sky Lounge Quasar nightclub, Aitrum and at the Ensemble bar. On some nights they will also organise the likes of a Silent Disco which has to be experienced and is good fun or pool parties with the officers and crew. Now I have one dislike with Celebrities entertainment policy, thats the annoying habit of not letting anything run more than a hour before stopping it and moving to another part of the ship, have never understood that and it is negative not a deal breaker but something I find personally annoying.

But if you prefer just to relax there are quiet spots to just relax because the ship also has areas such as the Library, Card Room or Hideaway where you can simply relax.

Pool bar at night

Nighttime on top deck

Seaday entertainment on pool deck

Nightclub Quasar

Casino

Like many ships you can play the tables at sea. All the ships have a casino with a selection of tables and slots as well as a Casino bar.

Casino

Logistics Manager trying to win our next cruise

Gym

Now the food is so good, its difficult to say no, so to help with the calories the good news is the ship has a very well appointed Gym and there are also classes run by the personal trainers in the Gym. So no excuse to burn off those extra pounds....

Other activities

There are other activities to get involved with every day you are onboard and each day there is a detailed programme printed and published on the ship board app ( only few ships have the app but its being rolled out). These range from Talks with officers and staff, to learning how to make a cocktail from a top mixologists, to behind the scenes tours of the ship and theatre or why not learn to dance. Then again you can simply sit back and relax

One other thing that I find unusual but is on all the ships, is art auctions, yes new original art pices are auctioned off with various sales taking place each cruise, there art experts/sales people on hand to explain the pieces. It should be noted the ships are all decorated by unique art pieces belonging to the company.

Art on the ships.

Conclusion

So thats my review of our Favourite Cruise Line, but as I mentioned at the start, all of the ships are being updated as they get refitted, one in my opinion, sad fact of this and I do think its a poor backward step by the company is there closing off a section of the upper deck for suite guests only.

That is wrong. I want to make it clear I have no problem with people paying more getting extra perks, exclusive restaurants or bars. But on a closed ship no part of the open deck and therefore air and sun space should be restricted. Its a form of two tier class cruiseing I thought had been left behind. I do understand some top hotels do likewise but its not a fair comparison in this case because you can walk out a hotel at anytime to increase your options you cannot do that on ship at sea.

Is this a deal breaker, no its not, as I type this I have other crusies booked with Celebrity but its part of the reason after being loyal to Celebrity we have started to look around particularly as we have done most of the itineraries before.

So I have been honest with my thoughts on Celebrity but please do give them a try if you are thinking of taking a cruise, overall they provide a great product, and have some of the friendliest staff at sea, with great impressive ships. They remain our favourite cruise line.