More energetic and with more extra-fee attractions than its three Solstice-class predecessors, the 122,400-ton Celebrity Silhouette debuted in July 2011 as the fourth of five ships in the now-iconic series. It has since been “revolutionized”, as the cruise line likes to call its vessel upgrades, and it is now an extraordinary cruise ship offering top-of-the-line dining, sleekly styled spaces, and wonderful entertainment.
Celebrity Cruises’ Silhouette is a sophisticated experience for a ship carrying nearly 3,000 passengers, without being overly stuffy. The cruise line does a commendable job of keeping the pretentiousness quota in check by inserting playful touches, like an ice-topped martini bar that features juggling bartenders, a cook-your-own steakhouse and another restaurantwhere passengers watch a fun animation called “Le Petit Chef”.
Solstice-class stalwarts won't miss a beat, and for first-timers, the Celebrity Silhouette cruise ship will showcase why the series was an innovator in modern cruising.
The Celebrity Silhouette refurbishment came in 2020. This bow-to-stern update saw a number of new features added from the line’s newer Edge-class ships. The Solstice signatures -- a stable of themed dining venues, a public hub that smells of waffle cones, a strikingly green and grass-covered deck space, the use of glass and marble throughout -- are all there. But Silhouette also reflects a handful of significant modifications to the blueprint.
The most visible are found on the Lawn Club, a square of real grass that tops every Solstice-class ship's stern sun deck area. On Silhouette, the public park has become something of a gated village green, and the space is much more exclusive -- and expensive -- to use than those planted on Solstice, Eclipse and Equinox. However, the addition of a giant screen showing movies and games has given this space a more egalitarian feel.
Further exclusivity extends to the Retreat Deck (Deck 16), an exclusive key-card access only sundeck for suite passengers, and the Retreat Lounge (Deck 5), also for suite passengers only. Both of these new spaces are lifted from the line’s Edge-class ships.
Still, despite these distinctions, this ship is nothing if not quintessential Solstice Class. The deck plans of Celebrity Silhouette are pretty much the same as those of its sister ships Celebrity Solstice, Equinox, Eclipse and Reflection. Most cabins and suites are on decks 6 through 12, while the pools are on Deck 14. The rest of the ship’s decks house restaurants, bars and entertainment and wellness venues.
Main dining rooms, the buffet and select other eateries.
All theater shows and the comedy club
Use of table tennis and the pickleball court
Most daily activities unless noted below
Use of the gym, but not most classes
Gratuities
Automatic beverage and spa tips
All drinks beyond water, tea (including iced-tea), coffee and select juices in the buffet
Spa treatments
Shore excursions
Wi-Fi, except for Retreat passengers
Photos and art work
Celebrity draws a wide range of upper-middle-class couples and groups, with the average age of passengers being in the mid-50s. On cruises from Southampton (the ship splits its time between the Caribbean and Europe), expect a majority of Brits. The ratio of families with kids to couples may increase during the Caribbean season and the European summer season, bringing the average age down.
Daytime: Casual, with T-shirts, workout gear and shorts the norm.
Evening: Celebrity passengers tend to dress up for dinner -- typically button-down or dressy collared shirts and slacks for men and dresses or smart-casual pants for women. Evening Chic (twice a cruise) equals sport coat and collared shirt, with smart jeans. Women can wear cocktail dresses, sundresses or designer jeans or nice pants. In the buffet, almost any form of dress is allowed except swimwear, flip-flops, spa robes and bare feet.
Not permitted: T-shirts, tank tops and flip-flops are not allowed in the main dining room at any time; shorts are not allowed at dinner (although this rule isn't always enforced).
For more information, visit Cruise Line Dress Codes: Celebrity Cruises.
Exceptional "Value for Money" Premium Cruising
many10+ Cruises
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Age 65s
few6-10 Cruises
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Age 73s
Back to the Baltic on Celebrity
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Age 25s
Great Cruise - food needs to improve
many10+ Cruises
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Age 74s