We enjoyed our 11-night Caribbean holiday cruise on the Celebrity Silhouette. This ship was decorated in a festive manner and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day masses were offered. The food in all of the various venues was well-prepared and fresh. We were privileged to travel in an Aqua Class suite and therefore could eat in Blu restaurant, which was excellent. The Oceanview Grill (buffet) offered a wide variety of food which catered to international travelers as well as travelers with special dietary needs and preferences.
The activities and entertainment were enjoyable. They were very well planned and executed. The excursions were interesting. Some of the walks to the buses were quite lengthy and pier shuttles were not always provided as an option. While this is fine for most people, for those who have mobility issues, it could be a challenge, especially if the excursion description indicates that the effort is low/mild. On one excursion, our bus dropped us off in an area that required us to walk about 12-15 minutes through a shopping mall before we reached the pier. However, at the pier, there was a shuttle that you could choose to use or not. This was a good thing since we barely made it back on board on time.
The cabins were small, but comfortable. Storage was limited but seemed adequate. We always take magnetic hooks which really helped make the small space more manageable. The mattresses are exceptionally comfortable, and the sheets were like butter. Bathrooms were cleaned several times a day. The room steward was available as needed but did his work when we were out of the room, which we appreciated.
Although laundry service is available, there is no laundry available for passengers to use. It would have been better to have one. We had taken a cruise several months before this one on a cruise line that offered a laundry facility and it was very helpful.
The Silhouette crew was excellent. Everyone, regardless of their role, was cheerful, friendly and helpful and always offered as much time as you needed to address any questions or issues. Their energy level remained high for the entire cruise which helped to make us feel pampered and appreciated.
Unfortunately, I had to visit the sick bay while on the cruise. It was easy and quick to get an appointment. The facility was not fancy but was very clean and well-equipped. The nurse and doctor managed my case quickly and expertly by running some tests and assessing my overall condition. Fortunately, I had only the common cold and did not have to restrict my activities. I was given some over-the-counter medications which helped me feel better fast.
Overall, we had a great cruise and will probably plan another. It's just hard to choose where to go next. There are so many choices!
