On Friday 2nd July (2021) I was exceptionally lucky to be invited onboard Celebrity Silhouette before she set sail, taking guest around the British Isles, her first sailing in 15 months.
Having recently undergone a multi-million-pound re-fit, Celebrity Silhouette returns to Southampton this summer, offering new luxury cruises around The British Isles, to discerning British guests. She sails with a full crew (all fully vaccinated), guests over the age of 18 who have received both covid vaccinations and those under 18, with negative PCR tests. The number of guests on board will meet with government guidelines.
From bow to stern, the ship has been ‘revolutionised’, designed to ensure an unparalleled new luxury experience for guests needing to feed their love of travel. Having viewed all of the suites, which are spacious and beautifully appointed, I was exceptionally impressed by the three exclusive areas, only accessible to those staying in a suite. Penthouse suites, Royal suites, Sunset suites and Celebrity suites.
The Retreat is an exclusive open-air hideaway designed by award winning UK designer Kelly Hoppen CBE. Here you will find the ultimate all-inclusive area for Suite guests highlighted by The Retreat Sundeck, an exclusive sun-soaked hideaway featuring luxurious new cabanas, loungers, hot tub, bar and more. There is also an exclusive 24/7 Retreat Lounge with complimentary beverages, gourmet bites and concierge services, again only accessible for suite guests and finally access to a private restaurant, Luminae. Luminae is a culinary experience of modern, eclectic cuisine, where we experienced the most exquisite lunch that would rival many ‘starred’ restaurants.
A whole host of other features have been included since the re-fit, including The Lawn Club, featuring 8 refreshed alcove seating areas, an oversized outdoor movie screen and real grass! Great for watching large sporting events or movie night. The Solarium and Pool Deck have also had a refresh, taking relaxation to new heights on the open-air top deck.
In the afternoon we were treated to one of the ships signature shows ‘Life’ – a euphoric explosion of light and colour in a fun, funky pop art concert. The cast couldn’t contain their excitement at finally performing in front of a live audience and the feeling was mutual from the audience.
The upgraded Sunset Bar is perfect for kicking back, sipping cocktails and soaking up some of the best views around the world, with a new shaded lounge area complete with banquette seating and hammocks. We sipped on cocktails (non-alcoholic, of course) and enjoyed the late afternoon sun before we disembarked.
Covid has meant a change to the way that safety drills (muster drills) are conducted onboard. Once onboard, the Celebrity Cruises’ digitally advanced mobile app will transform the important safety drill into a faster, more personal approach that guests can complete from the ultimate comfort of their own luxury stateroom. Known as ‘eMuster’, key elements of the drill, including where to go in case of an emergency and instructions on how to properly use a life jacket, will be accessible to guests via their mobile devices and interactive stateroom TVs.
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems on Celebrity Cruises ships continuously supply 100% fresh, filtered ocean air.
Up until 19th July, only guests booked on curated shore excursions were permitted to leave the ship in ports of call, in compliance with UK government regulations. Post July 19th, it has been possible for guests to debark Celebrity Silhouette and explore independently in ports of call, where there are no restrictions put in place by port authorities or local government. Out of an abundance of caution, in order to go ashore while visiting all ports of call on British Isles sailings, Celebrity Silhouette guests will be still required to participate in tours curated by Celebrity Cruises.
Celebrity Silhouette will remain in Southampton, offering cruises around The British Isles until September. She will then sail to Spain, Portugal and The Canary Islands in October before she follows the sun and relocates to The Caribbean for the winter.
It was a absolute pleasure to spend the day on board this beautiful ship and I left wishing I was staying longer. As a mid-sized ship she is suitable for all, whether you are new to cruise, a family, couple or solo traveller, I guarantee your expectations will be exceeded and you will have a really wonderful trip!
To find out more about Celebrity Silhouette or any of the Celebrity fleet, please call 01428 658777 or email gemma@haslemeretravel.co.uk
