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Semi-Live Silhouette review - Nov 8 2019 sailing

DebInAntigua

By DebInAntigua,
in Celebrity Cruises

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DebInAntigua

DebInAntigua

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Boarded today and overall ship is lovely and spotless. Except one oddity. The center tree between the elevators seems dead. Perhaps it’s deciduous and this is just a seasonal thing, but it looks really sad. Maybe it is dead and they plan to replace it during the upcoming renovation, but in the meantime just stringing some white lights on it would help it set a nicer mood. 
 

Had a delightful dinner at Lawn Club Grill. Perfect way to start a cruise, dining on steak watching the Florida shoreline recede. DH loved it so much we plan to go back the final night of the cruise as well. 
 

The staff on Silhouette seem totally perplexed by the “Drinks & More” package, aka the Premium Plus package. We upgraded both of us in the room but only received 2 bottles of wine and one $50 casino credit. Went to Guest Services and at first they didn’t even know what it was. Tried to get it straightened out only to be told that since we’re on a linked reservation in the same room, we only get one set of wine and one casino credit, not one each. I was pretty unhappy that X has changed the rules on this package and asked to have it escalated for resolution. It’s priced per person, not per room or per couple. 
 

Seems when you buy for 2 adults in the same room, Celebrity giveth the minibar only to taketh two bottles of wine back and $50 of the casino credit, too. Not cool, X. 
 

Speaking of the minibar, our room steward knew nothing about the Premium Plus package either. He insisted over and over that our minibar was not included in any package. We had to show him our seapass cards with the + on them to get him to even agree to talk to his supervisor and look into it. The minibar was already missing both Kind bars but otherwise is stocked with the abbreviated listing recently posted here on CC. 

Guest Services told us that out of the entire ship, only 24 people had upgraded to Premium Plus this cruise. The package includes multiple departments (casino, beverage, housekeeping, etc) and I got the impression that there hasn’t been clear communication from the X marketing team about how to deliver it. 
 

Concierge service has been nice so far. Our luggage showed up by 1:30 pm and after dinner when we returned to the room there was a little plate of truffles waiting for us. 
 
Of course we’d indulged in the divine chocolate chip cookie at LCG for dinner (with ice cream on the side), so OMG no more sweets tonight!

 

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Cdresser

Cdresser

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That is distressing to hear that you are getting the run around on the drinks and more package. Other people on this forum have reported getting 4 bottles of wine and casino credit on both cards. I bought the package for our cruise next month so I will be interested to know the final resolution. If the casino credit and 2 bottles of wine are per stateroom and not per person then I will cancel because I don't think it will be worth the money.

 

Thanks for taking us along on your trip.

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GastroGnome

GastroGnome

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Sadly the tree is dead.  We were on Silhouette in August and it still had a couple of leaves; but by the time we were back in October there was nothing.  (It was alive when we were on her in 2018)  We did speak with a couple of directors about it - the company who placed it thinks it was the watering system that was at fault.  We asked about putting lights on it too - but apparently there is no way to reach it once it was installed so it just has to stay that way until the ship is re-furbed.  

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ipeeinthepool

ipeeinthepool

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21 minutes ago, GastroGnome said:

Sadly the tree is dead.  We were on Silhouette in August and it still had a couple of leaves; but by the time we were back in October there was nothing.  (It was alive when we were on her in 2018)  We did speak with a couple of directors about it - the company who placed it thinks it was the watering system that was at fault.  We asked about putting lights on it too - but apparently there is no way to reach it once it was installed so it just has to stay that way until the ship is re-furbed.  

 

I'll bet a couple of good tree guys and a chain saw could remove the tree in about an hour.

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GastroGnome

GastroGnome

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Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 

I'll bet a couple of good tree guys and a chain saw could remove the tree in about an hour.

 

Yes - probably less actually, it isn't big.  But it is suspended hundreds of feet up in the air with no access or safe hitch points.  There is a sort of lattice work which supports the watering system and the planter.  But no access point onto it or tie points for a safety harness.  And once you cut it - where do you drop it?  Its about level with floor 11 and a straight fall to the grand foyer at floor 3.

 

Draping it with lights would definitely be the easier and safer option - but staff can't get to it.   There is no abseil point above and it is well above the maximum height of a cherry picker. There is no point for someone to climb out onto the gantries - or for them to be safe whilst there. 

 

I can only guess no-one thought the poor thing would die.  The others on the S classes are OK I understand.

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Edited by GastroGnome
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ipeeinthepool

ipeeinthepool

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3 minutes ago, GastroGnome said:

 

Yes - probably less actually, it isn't big.  But it is suspended hundreds of feet up in the air with no access or safe hitch points.  There is a sort of lattice work which supports the watering system and the planter.  But no access point onto it (the gantries project from the back of the lift assembly if memory serves)  or tie points for a safety harness.  And once you cut it - where do you drop it?  Its about level with floor 11 and a straight fall to the grand foyer at floor 3.

 

Draping it with lights would definitely be the easier and safer option - but staff can't get to it.   There is no abseil point above and it is well above the maximum height of a cherry picker. There is no point for someone to climb out onto the gantries - or for them to be safe whilst there. 

 

I can only guess no-one thought the poor thing would die.  The others on the S classes are OK I understand.

 

Maybe you've never seen some good tree guys work.  I'm sure there are some attachment points some where in the area.  The good tree guys can suspend them themselves in a harness and tie ropes to the branches they are going to cut.  They support the branches as they are cut and then slowly lower them to the ground or in this case almost any deck.

 

I really wasn't suggesting that someone goes in there with a saw and yells "Timber"  😉

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hcat "Live from...." Rare

hcat

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Hi ..

Forgot you were b2b with the Nov 15th EDGE cruise!  Have a great trip and see you soon! 

Received e mail  notice  that EDGE  boarding is suggested for 12:30 to 2:30 due to  Customs and Immig and a Coast Guard inspection.  They still say sail away will be 3:30...tight schedule.  Were you delayed at all for Silho?

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Georgia_Peaches "Live from...." Rare

Georgia_Peaches

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Following along with you as we on the 21st.  It is a little concerning to learn of your issues with the Premium + package.  Maybe has something to do with this crew being over seas for the last several months...maybe not...have you been able to get a sense of whether or not the crew has turned over with new since the ship has returned to FLL?

 

Also, after reading a few comments about where to eat on the first night, we are set to try LCG...if for nothing else, the cookie and ice cream...looks divine!

 

I hate that the tree is completely dead.  Like others, I suggested lights as well.  I get the logistics with that but it is a shame that they haven't put their heads together to think of a solution to the eyesore...if we can do it here on CC, surely they can think of something.  Anyway, hope you have a wonderful cruise!

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upwarduk

upwarduk

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Quote

have you been able to get a sense of whether or not the crew has turned over with new since the ship has returned to FLL?

I know CD Sue Denning joined the ship on 8th Nov. I was quite surprised that she flew out on Thursday ( learnt via her Instagram account) rather than sail on the TA from Southampton.

 

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DebInAntigua

DebInAntigua

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4 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Deb,

 

Just out of curiosity, when did they start boarding?  Sometimes there are delays after the TA even when they make previous stops in the US.


We arrived at the terminal around 10:30ish. Checked in with barely any line, walked to the side and they began boarding right around that time. We were online by 11 am and had 30 minutes to wander up to the Sky Lounge before the Concierge lunch in the MDR. 

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DebInAntigua

DebInAntigua

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Just got a voice mail from Guest Services that I was correct and we do indeed each get a $50 casino credit and 2 bottles of wine. 

Likewise our room steward confirmed that the minibar is included and it was restocked this morning. 
 

If I wasn’t a regular CC reader I probably wouldn’t have known to insist that our situation be escalated when they tried to combine our benefits. Glad people have shared their experiences here! 

Edited by DebInAntigua
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2flacruisers

2flacruisers

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Sorry to hear about the tree...it was beautiful when we were on her last.  The staff is always confused a bit on the first day out from the return crossing...it should be better as the trip goes on.  We'll be on the Silhouette on Dec. 13th and so looking forward to our cruise..enjoy yours!

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DebInAntigua

DebInAntigua

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Today there was a special fixed price menu in Tuscan Grill for lunch ($40).  We snagged a window seat and enjoyed the gorgeous wake view. 
 

Food was quite good but oddly they didn’t ask how we wanted our meat cooked and I strongly prefer medium rare over the medium they brought by default. Had to ask for medium rare to be cooked special (which allowed DH to score a second filet when they offered him my medium one, hehe.) 

 

DH enjoyed the steak and lamb best and I loved the seafood except for the mussels (not a fan).

 

The sommelier was running ragged and failed to promptly handle my request for a creative wine pairing. The waiter was very apologetic and recommended the white and red “Roxanne” featured wines and we enjoyed them. Also had a late harvest wine with the creme brûlée for dessert. 
 

It started raining just a bit as we ate dessert, but that was over in a few minutes. 

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DebInAntigua

DebInAntigua

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8 minutes ago, cheeseheads4ever said:

Do you think the Land and sea lunch in Tuscan Grill would be included in the Specialty Dining Trio Package? 


Not sure but I would bet yes. I’m a planner so I pre-booked everything in the CP rather than get a package. 

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