chicagopaul Posted December 11, 2019 #1 Share Posted December 11, 2019 It is time for another live cruise blog! Please join us as we escape bitter cold Chicago and make our way down to Miami to join the Celebrity Silhouette for 9 nights cruising the Southern Caribbean. We booked this cruise in the summer time as we figured we needed something in between our recent transpacific cruise and our cruise next April. We had originally planned to take this cruise with a friend but unfortunately she could not make it. We originally started by booing this cruise in a concierge class cabin and then jumped on a Sky Suite GTY at the end of October. Instagram: Feel free to follow me on Instagram to keep up with daily picture posts and my video stories. You can follow me at PaulKBlackburn If you see a photo of me in a suit and a bunch of pictures of either cruises or liquor then you’ve found the right profile! In case you have not followed us before, I’ll introduce ourselves. My name is Paul and my partner is Edward. We are 32 and 37. We’ve been together for 9 years and our first trip together was a cruise on Celebrity. This cruise will mark our 20th cruise with Celebrity. As always I am here to answer ANY questions you may have. I will also be fully transparent in all pricing, how we booked, and even what credit cards we used to book with what and how many points we earn on each card. Each day I will post all the daily papers for you, in addition to 10 daily photos on here of everything from the ship to food, etc. Daily short videos will be posted on Instagram story since it is so easy to upload. I'll walk you through everything we do each day whether it is a sea day or a port day. I'll let you know who the staff is, who our favorites are, and our favorite places around the ship. Let us start off by looking at our cruise itinerary! Celebrity Silhouette 9 Night Southern Caribbean Cruise Day 1 - Port of Miami Day 2 - At Sea Day 3 - At Sea Day 4 - Aruba Day 5 - Curacao Day 6 - Bonaire Day 7 - At Sea Day 8 - Grand Cayman Day 9 - At Sea Day 10 - Fort Lauderdale Cabin Class: Suite Guarantee and we were given a Sky Suite. $2,507/pp Including ALL Perks (Premium Drink Package, Internet Package, Pre-Paid Gratuities and OBC). $775 OBC which is a combination of perk offer, booking on board offer, and from out TA. Airfare American Airlines booked through Flights by Celebrity Class: Main Cabin Economy, upgraded to Main Cabin Extra Baggage Fees: None due to Gold status with American Departure: Non-Stop ORD to MIA (Silhouette is departing from Port of Miami) Return: Non-Stop FLL to ORD (Silhouette is returning to Port Everglades) Cost: $447/pp Round Trip Hotel Stay Loews South BeachCost: $327.54 including taxes & resort fee. This was booked directly through Loews and we are getting a $75 Food & Beverage credit to spend at the hotel. Travel Insurance We have travel insurance through our credit card (see info below) but we STILL ALWAYS buy travel medical insurance which includes evacuation. Even though some of this may be included by our card, the limits and policies of what is included can be tricky. So here is what we purchased. We used InsureMyTrip to buy a GeoBlu travel policy. The cost was $21 per person which includes $500,000 of medical evacuation PLUS $500,000 of medical coverage. Deductible is $250. Credit Card: We booked everything above, including the hotel with our Chase Sapphire Reserve, earning us a total of 3x points on travel. This means from this trip we will earn a total of 18,706 points ($6,235.54 x 3). We value Chase points at roughly 2 cents each meaning we’re looking at around $374 value in points. In addition to getting points this card provides some wonderful travel protection, including trip cancellation protection up to $10,000, lost baggage, fly delay protection, etc. Different Embarkation / Debarkation So if you looked closely at the itinerary you may notice something strange. The Silhouette is debarking from Miami! Well there was a port scheduling mix up that has forced the Silhouette to port out of Miami for the past couple of weeks. This cruise the ship is leaving Miami but is returning to Fort Lauderdale. When we booked this cruise it was suppose to leave from FLL so our flights were into and out of FLL. HOWEVER, we had booked refundable through Choice Air (Flights By Celebrity) and had chosen the option of paying for our flights with final payment which means we were still able to change the flights. We ended up moving the flight down to Miami on the way there without a problem. Please feel free to ask as many questions as you’d like, regardless of what they are. The more involve you all are the more enjoyable this blog is for me. This blog helps me take a step back each day during the cruise and appreciate where I am and all of you are very much a part of that experience. So that’s my boring introduction! I promise to keep everything else much more lively, answer your questions, give you my critiques of everything (but usually with a positive vibe), and offer you all a brief respite from work or perhaps the impetus to book another cruise! 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barneyboy Posted December 11, 2019 #2 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Looking forward to another great cruise report. I also follow you on Instagram. That was a great price for a suite with all perks. Wish we got offers like that in the U.K. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaDo Posted December 11, 2019 #3 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Yeah, I enjoy reading your blogs. Have fun. Cindy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awhfy Posted December 11, 2019 #4 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Oh yay! Another Paul & Edward Grand Adventure! We don’t cruise till February (Reflection MardiGras & b2b with Cartagena), this’ll keep me going! Looking forward to your blog/review. Melody 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lola2013 Posted December 11, 2019 #5 Share Posted December 11, 2019 (edited) I just returned from Edge three days ago and already have cruise withdrawal. Reading about your adventures will get me through the dreary Chicago days ahead..... I've booked a similar itinerary on Equinox for September. I'll be very interested to see what you have planned for Bonaire. Thanks for taking us along. Susan Edited December 11, 2019 by lola2013 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike981 Posted December 11, 2019 #6 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Wonderful! This is just what I need to hold me over to our 1/10/20 cruise. Only the best wishes for your trip and thank you for all of your time and hard work. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bretty Posted December 11, 2019 #7 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Hi Paul & Edward, Looking forward to this blog with great anticipation. I read (retrospectively) your last blog on the Millennium Transpacific and found it extremely informative and fun. Your openness about costs etc is refreshing and your attention to detail, but also your genuine appreciation for where you are and for other people. I’m grabbing some chocolate and a good *ahem* gin martini to settle down in my PJs (I’m bougie like that) and live vicariously through you for a few days, not at all jealous because my hubby only wanted to take one vacation this year, and we had it in May!! (a wonderful cruise through the Norwegian Fjords with HAL). I’m looking forward to my first Celebrity cruise on the post-revolution Silhouette next May and this blog will help me dream of sea days and martinis... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Chrissi3010 Posted December 11, 2019 #8 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Here you go again! 🙂 Love to follow your blog, especially because we returned from a b2b cruise on the Summit 10 days ago and this cruise also went to the ABC Islands. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfkcruiser Posted December 11, 2019 #9 Share Posted December 11, 2019 We will leave silhouette as you board. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thon Posted December 11, 2019 #10 Share Posted December 11, 2019 We will be visiting these same ports on Silhouette in late March so I will follow along your blog Paul. I’ve enjoyed your other ones. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hcat Posted December 11, 2019 #11 Share Posted December 11, 2019 We just returned from an ABC Island Cruise on EDGE...popular itin these days! Will be following.....Silhouette is one of our fav ships! Anticipating another great review! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted December 11, 2019 #12 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Look forward to your lively blog. Hope the weather rewards you with lots of sun and warm temperatures. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie.1008 Posted December 11, 2019 #13 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Oh Boy, I will be following another great review. I will go with the girls on the Edge in January and then look forward to cruising with you in April out of Honolulu 🍹 Cheers, Heather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallyhooked Posted December 11, 2019 #14 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Will be on in March on a 12nt. Enjoy reading your reviews. Looking forward to following along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnschultzy Posted December 11, 2019 #15 Share Posted December 11, 2019 So happy to see a new blog from you guys! Looking forward to your updates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zencruisers Posted December 11, 2019 #16 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Following along. I always enjoy your review and pictures. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janthere Posted December 11, 2019 #17 Share Posted December 11, 2019 We will be on the Silhouette with you and are excited for everything about this itinerary! You got a great deal on the sky suite. The martini bar is our favourite place on the ship so I am sure we will run into you! Cheers! Janess & Michael 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swigso Posted December 11, 2019 #18 Share Posted December 11, 2019 Hi Edward when you go to Aruba try the Renaissance day pass fabulous 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magellan321 Posted December 11, 2019 #19 Share Posted December 11, 2019 So excited to see your post!! Can't wait to follow along 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHOPPERTESTER Posted December 11, 2019 #20 Share Posted December 11, 2019 48 minutes ago, swigso said: Hi Edward when you go to Aruba try the Renaissance day pass fabulous Thumbs up. Iguana or Flamingo Beach? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecslady Posted December 12, 2019 #21 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Looking forward to another live thread. One of my favorite X ships and itinerary as well. Enjoy! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixiedust777 Posted December 12, 2019 #22 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Absolutely LOVE your reports!!! cant wait for some new reading material 🍸 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamondys Posted December 12, 2019 #23 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Can't wait to hear all about it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandp407 Posted December 12, 2019 #24 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Wish we were sailing with you & Edward on the Silhouette- one of our favorite! Looking forward to following along . Have another GREAT cruise! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare garyl62 Posted December 12, 2019 #25 Share Posted December 12, 2019 Looking forward to following along and learning about the ABC's from your experience. Heading there on the Summit in March and trying to plan for our days there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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