Transatlantic Anyone?

It is the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, with a depth of just over 15,000 feet. Surrounded by a deep blue sea frosted with white foamy caps, we are on our way to Ponte Delgada, the capital of the Portuguese Islands of the Azores. For two days, the wind has been blowing hard, negating venturing to an outside deck for exercise.

Our travel adventures throw us strange curves sometimes and this was no exception as we arrived here in the middle of nowhere unexpectedly. We had been planning to fly to Europe but discovered that Celebrity Cruise Lines offered the cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Amsterdam for less money than the flights we were looking at. This is a “re-positioning” cruise lines offer on those ships they need to relocate for seasonal itineraries, i.e., Caribbean to Europe, Alaska, and Canada/New England, and in the Fall, they offer transitional cruises back to the Caribbean. I was somewhat hesitant at first as we normally only consider a cruise that functions as our floating hotel with an intensive port itinerary and as few sea days as possible. Two weeks with only three stops is a major change from that concept unless, unlike me, you love the sea days. 

However, the timing was perfect for our plans in Europe, and although the Celebrity Silhouette, introduced in 2011, is a rather old ship considering today’s standards of multiple new ships being introduced every year, the Silhouette was new to us. We had only sailed on this cruise line many years ago when it was called Chandris. And that was long before it was owned by Royal Caribbean International as one of their slightly upscale lines.

In 1982, my very first two cruises were on their ship, the “Britanis.” Those were the days of rooms with bunk beds and a small porthole with a cover that was shut with huge screws from the outside when bad weather was expected and, in effect, converting the outside cabin with a tiny sea view to an inside. Piping and cables for water, sewer, and electricity ran along the ceiling and all along the narrow, dimly lit, dark-colored corridors. But we had a great time on a Caribbean family cruise as everything was so much smaller so that guests and crew got to know each other and partied together. When we walked on board for our second “Britanis” adventure a year later, our children were welcomed back and hugged by the crew as long-lost family. Some ten years later, when Celebrity Cruises had taken control of the company, I sailed twice on the “Galileo” that later went into dry-dock for a major upgrade and was renamed the “Meridian.” Until today, that has been one of my favorite ships with all the old dark wood, red velvet upholstery, and copper railings decorating the cozy corners of bars, restaurants, and staterooms reminiscent of the vintage ocean liners. 

That was before she was sold to Sun Cruises and rebranded as “Sun Vista.” Regretfully, she sank in the Strait of Malacca in 1999 after a major engine room fire combined with extreme weather. Our present ship, the “Silhouette,” is part of Celebrity “Solstice Class” ships and was inaugurated in 2011. However, in our two weeks on the high seas we came to discover that the exceptionally friendly and efficient service from “Chandris” was still the norm on Celebrity. 

Unlike many cruise lines decommissioning ships during the Covid years to limit operating costs, Celebrity used the time in 2020 to totally redo the Silhouette. 

The results were remarkable and now four years later, the ship is kept spotless and still looks new. I observed constant cleaning and cleaning inspections throughout the ship. 

In our effort to get some exercise, we walked the stairs of 15 decks several times a day, where we interacted daily with a friendly French-speaking Haitian stair and railing cleaning crew who were constantly dusting and polishing the glass sides of the stairwells and railings.

The crew ratio of one to three and the care of the maximum 2,900 passengers on the Silhouette is outstanding for the class of cruise ship and the prices charged. At a gross tonnage of 122,210, it is the fourth ship in the “Solstice” class, preceded by the Solstice, Equinox, and Eclipse, but larger and just slightly longer. 

The newest ships the company has built are part of the “Edge Class” and include five innovative “outward facing” ships with “infinitive” staterooms. The “Xcel,” being the latest, is expected to join the fleet next year.

The only memory of the old “Chandris” line is the distinctive “X” that is the Celebrity logo and is the first letter of the name Chandris in the Greek alphabet. It was named after its original owner and shipping magnate, who operated cargo vessels, ocean liners and cruise ships between 1960 and 1996.

Arriving on board in the central atrium of the ship is very impressive as a giant tree shoots up in the center starting from deck seven. It does sway considerably in rough weather. Much of the smaller group entertainment happens right there in the middle of the plaza and can be viewed from multiple decks. As a matter of fact, there were many types of entertainment at various venues throughout the ship, in addition to performances at the beautiful and comfortable theater. We boarded early and unlike on most other cruise lines I have sailed on, we were offered to drop off our carry-on luggage in our stateroom, even though the room stewards had not finished their deep cleaning. This eliminated dragging carry-ons to a restaurant or bar while waiting for the room to be ready. Congratulations to Celebrity for eliminating this inconvenience.

Four glass elevators in the central atrium take passengers to the different decks with regular elevators towards the bow of the ship to keep waiting times to a minimum. 

The main dining venue is the “Grand Cuvee” restaurant on two levels. Especially in the evening, the multiple small bulb lighting offers a sparkling atmosphere on both levels and the very wide-open area separating the top dining room creates a spacious ambiance with views of the sea. Most of the time on this transatlantic sailing the view is limited to endless water with an occasional tanker or giant cargo ship proving we are not alone. “Sushi on Five,” “Tuscan Grille,” Murano,” and “Petit Chef at Qsine” are four specialty restaurants available at the rather steep upcharge of $60 per person, especially considering the food in the main restaurant is perhaps not gourmet, but certainly quite good. Chefs on board are also quite flexible to please their guests any way they can. The ship offers two more exclusive restaurants, “Luminae” and “Blu,” for passengers in higher end “Suite Class” and “AquaClass staterooms. On several levels in the middle section of the ship self-service free coffee and tea is available and the excellent  “Café al Bacio” offers specialty coffees and outstanding fresh pastries at an extra charge. The “Ocean View Café” on deck 14 is for those who prefer buffet service, and the “Mast Grill” is an al fresco limited seating area great for people watching with a cool glass of wine or a beer, as well as burgers, hot dogs, and ice-cream. It overlooks the main pool deck and jacuzzis below.

To top off the multiple choices for meals and drinks, the Silhouette boasts the “Lawn Club Grill“ and “The Porch,” with a relaxing atmosphere around a large lawn with multiple plants, a large movie screen, and private alcoves accessible at an extra charge. The intimate Spa Café” is on deck 12 next to the large spa facilities. 

A variety of bars and lounges are spread throughout the ship. The “Sky Lounge” on deck fourteen with floor-to-ceiling windows at the bow of the ship, which features superb views when sailing in and out of ports. But the “Martini Bar” on deck five is my favorite. The top of the actual bar is covered in cold thick frost, creating a unique feel that is further enhanced by very professional bartenders performing a show, preparing and serving drinks. In the galleria of exclusive shops and boutiques, one also finds a casino with its own cozy bar and free drinks for players. The multitude of places for cocktails, beer, and wine includes a total of seven bars spread around the ship. Boasting four swimming pools, an adult-only solarium with a retractable roof, and six hot tubs, there are plenty of spaces to relax outside when the weather permits. However, what is most impressive on the Silhouette is the interaction with the crew. On this transatlantic cruise, we were one of the few first-time Celebrity cruisers. Guests from the United States, Australia, and the UK amicably boasted about the multiple times they had sailed with Celebrity as well as their plans for many more future Celebrity cruises. Many people enjoy transatlantic sailings in both directions to spend the summer in Europe, and winter in the U.S. One lady was recognized by the captain for sailing on her 110th cruise with Celebrity. I could not imagine cruising for so long even if we had the financial means and time, but I can certainly see us on another Celebrity cruise.

Celebrity’s hospitality philosophy originated with Chandris. Interaction between crew and passengers creates a warm, friendly atmosphere. Practically every smiling crew member makes eye contact with passengers and offers assistance, a service outperforming several ships in the luxury category I have sailed on. 

And affable captain, Nigel Smyth, who hails from Ireland but lives in the UK, leads by example with his open friendliness interacting with crew and guests alike.

Staterooms range from the 1,200 square feet Penthouse suite and the Royal Suite with floor-to-ceiling windows and the “Retreat” with luxury suites, an exclusive lounge, and sundeck to Veranda rooms with balconies. We opted for the latter and the space was adequate, with a small but manageable bathroom and shower that featured plenty of toiletry cabinet space.

Overall, the Silhouette is a perfect ship for the money if one is interested in going up a notch from cruising with sister company Royal Caribbean. One will not find spectacular waterslides, ice skating, zip lining, and bumper cars, but Celebrity does offer free kid programs. Cabins are still attended to by room stewards twice a day, unlike a couple other premium lines that have eliminated the evening turn-down service. 

Overall, the Transatlantic experience, with all the sea days, was way more pleasant than expected, especially in our case, as we only had some rough weather for two days out of two weeks. But as previously stated, the most impressive aspect on the Celebrity Silhouette is the service and kindness of the crew, including those normally not dealing with the passengers on a daily basis. Officers were seen mingling and chatting with guests throughout the ship. 

Captain Nigel Smyth set the perfect example as he finished his daily morning briefing over the general sound system. “In case you have any questions or just want to say “Hello,” I am now going down to Café El Bacio for my morning coffee.”