The Celebrity Silhouette was launched earlier this year on the other side of the Atlantic, but arrived at Cape Liberty, New Jersey last Wednesday morning for her stateside inaugural party. Travel agents from Direct Line Cruises were invited onboard for the celebration and the chance to give her a once over. Now we’d like to share with you our five favorite things….
The Design & Décor: Many of us believe this class of ship to be the most beautiful we’ve ever seen! The Silhouette is the fourth of the Solstice class ships…a class defined by its modern design and sophisticated décor. Public areas have an upscale, contemporary feel infused with natural light. Expansive open gathering spots flow seamlessly into one another through the use of color and complimentary design. Shades of whites, creams, and grays are offset by the iciness of shiny chrome or the warmth of golden metal finishes. Discriminately used punches of color; tangerine, kiwi and turquoise keep the look fresh and not overly monochromatic. Stateroom design is much like a trendy boutique hotel room, incorporating both style and functionality. The restrained palette of earthy colors and warm “sunset” toned accents is lovely.
The Lawn Club: It was nice to see how this iconic Solstice-class feature has evolved from an underutilized “spot of grass” to the vibrant and purposeful “hot spot” of the ship. In addition to the lawn games such as bocce and croquet offered on previous cruse ships of the same class, the Silhouette features luxurious alcoves complete with wifi and waiter service. Restaurants were also added to the area.The Lawn Club Grill is a small outdoor restaurant that is much like a backyard barbecue party, enabling amateur chefs to grill their own food using professional grade equipment accompanied by tips from master chefs. If you don't feel like cooking, one of the chefs will do if for you, but you’d be missing out on half the fun! The Porch is a quaint little spot open for breakfast and lunch. For those of you that have been on a Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ship, you’ll know what we mean when we say it was reminiscent of the Central Park Café. And there’s no better place to watch the sun sink into the horizon than the Sunset Bar at the aft of the deck!
The Solarium: Serene, peaceful, tranquil…everyone loved it here…a lot! The glass ceiling, adults-only area has a lap pool, cushioned teak lounge chairs, and a sparkling waterfall that induces relaxation. Solar panels keep it comfortably warm year round; a real advantage when cruising out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey during the winter months! The relaxing vibe spills over to the small Aqua Spa Café, open for breakfast and lunch. We recommend trying the shrimp and avocado salad drizzled in a lite Catalina dressing…so good many of us ordered two!
The Martini Bar: Oh my gosh, hanging out here was amazing! With 26 different martini cocktails made from over 200 varieties of vodka, there's bound to be one that suits every taste! But that’s only the half of it! The razzle-dazzle performance by the bartenders is the real lure here! Three amazing bartenders that would throw, catch, spin, flip, balance and pour our icy, rainbow colored drinks all without a spill, awed us! We all agreed we had never seen anything like this!
The Nooks & Crannies: When you’re traveling with close to 3000 other passengers it nice to know you can find a special spot for solitude! We discovered several…. from the hammocks up on the lawn, perfect for a mid afternoon nap to the nest-like Hideaway, just the place to curl up with a book! And speaking of books, the library is the perfect place for a quiet retreat. But even in the most public venues, it was easy to find areas that had the feeling of seclusion. Sharing a glass of wine with someone special in the dim corners of Cellar Masters was quite cozy. And the strategically hung lace around the couches in the martini bar gave the open space a more intimate feeling.
There is so much more about the Celebrity Silhouette that we enjoyed and it was hard to choose our favorites. What will be your? The 2,886 passenger Celebrity Silhouette will be cruising out of Cape Liberty, New Jersey through April 2012. She will be alternating between 12-night Eastern Caribbean and 12-night Southern Caribbean itineraries. After that she heads across the Atlantic for a summer and fall season in the Mediterranean. For more information or rates for the Celebrity Silhouette contact Direct Line Cruises at 1 (800) 352-8088 or visit our website at www.DirectLineCruises.com.
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