Cruising Guide: Celebrity Silhouette
Ahalf-hectare lawn seemed to get an inordinate amount of attention back in 2011 when Celebrity Silhouette first slid into the water.
That it was the first lawn at sea and could host sunbathers, picnickers, cabanas and bocce games was both quirky and impressive, but it was just one of the innovations on the new ship.
As the name hints, Celebrity cruises are for passengers who like a bit of glitz, style and pampering on their holidays at sea. And for them, the AquaClass suites are the perfect home away from home. There are 130 of these specially created cabins. Each has easy access to the AquaSpa by Elemis and passengers have unlimited use of the Relaxation Room and the Persian Garden aromatherapy steam room, and Blu restaurant - where the accent is on lighter fare such as grilled chicken, salads and tuna.
AquaSpa passengers who have the services of a Spa Concierge are also treated to fluffy bathrobes, slippers, a spa kit and an upgraded room-service menu.
Although Silhouette carries more than 2800 passengers, it's well regarded for its intimacy and sophistication, aided by the extensive art collection, luxury shopping arcade (think Bulgari and Michael Kors), the Lawn Club and the wide selection of restaurants.
Passengers can pair a cooking class with a chef with dinner to serve up a sizzling feast at the Lawn Club Grill, use the iPads to match food and wine at Qsine, dine under the shadow of an 1800-bottle wine tower in the Grand Cuvee dining room and indulge in lobster at the French/continental restaurant Murano, then wash it down at the creperie or with one of more than 50 beer varieties the ship has on rotation.
Celebrity Silhouette will cruise the Caribbean until April, when it embarks on a series of voyages around the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia and the British Isles. Travel agents and celebritycruises.com.
