Silhouette Dec 13-24 Live Update

[Stealthdog]

1 hour ago, jagoffee said:

Nice.  I have done several Small group Kitchen tours, Bridge Tours, and Backstage theater tours.  As well as a Engine control room tour.  Do you think that it would be worthwhile for me to pay and take this tour?  Or is most of it a repeat.  I think the Kitchen tour lead by the Executive chef was my favorite.

 

Keep enjoying your cruise. 

 

If you have done all those, I probably wouldnt pay for it.  This was our first time doing something like this and it was really interesting, but i assume most ships operate the same way.  

[Stealthdog]

Blu dinner night 4 and Tuscan Grill menus.  Went to Tuscan last night - specialty dinning on the ship is 2 for 2.  It was fantastic and the service was probably the best we have seen on the ship.  Tuscan is also a great location - if you dine there, get a table by the windows that overlook off the back of the ship.

 

 

[Stealthdog]

Activities yesterday included Oregan wine tasting and casino.

 

Probably would not recommend people paying for the Oregon wine tasting.  It was seminar style with a slide show presentation, and understanding the sommelier was really difficult.  We are already really familiar with Oregon wines and would have preferred a more informal style where the guests collectively discuss the smells and tastes, and some nuts/chocolate to get samples of different flavors.  The tasting comes with a Pino Gris, Chardonay, and 3 Pinot Noirs.  All 5 were good quality wines.

 

The Casino is really small, but clean.  We have been to Vegas a few times since our last cruise, so our memory of other ships casinos may be flawed, but the one on the Silhouette seems smaller than others.  They have one craps table, a couple blackjack, a couple pokers (including hold em), and i think roulette.  The slot machines are all generic.  The staff at the casino is fantastic.  Because the ship is only 1/3 capacity, the Casino was not overcrowded - if the ship is at full, it would be interesting to see how it supports another 2k passengers.

Edited December 17, 2021 by Stealthdog

[parkey]

Thank You for sharing your cruise, we will be on in January.  Do you know if you have to have reservations for the heated loungers?

[Stealthdog]

4 minutes ago, parkey said:

Thank You for sharing your cruise, we will be on in January.  Do you know if you have to have reservations for the heated loungers?

 

Which loungers are you referring to and ill check it out for you.  

[parkey]

The ones in the persian gardens. I am reading on cc that some ships are only doing reservations.

[Stealthdog]

10 minutes ago, parkey said:

The ones in the persian gardens. I am reading on cc that some ships are only doing reservations.

 

I dont think they require reservations.  We havent used the loungers in there, but have used the rest of the Gardens twice already.  When we got our tour on the first day with Aqua Class they did not mention needing to reserve.  Ill verify with the Spa later today - will probably go after we get back from Cartagena this afternoon.

Edited December 17, 2021 by Stealthdog

[parkey]

Just now, Stealthdog said:

 

I dont think they require reservations.  We havent used the loungers in there, but have used the rest of the Gardens twice already.  When we got our tour on the first day with Aqua Class they did not mention needing to reserve.  Ill verify with the Spa later today - will probably go after we get back from Cartagena this afternoon.

Thank You-we will be paying for a pass if that makes a difference. Have a great day in port.

[Turtles06]

2 hours ago, Stealthdog said:

Went to Tuscan last night - specialty dinning on the ship is 2 for 2.  It was fantastic and the service was probably the best we have seen on the ship. 

We had an equally good experience there on the cruise before yours, which made us really happy because pre-pandemic we found Tuscan to be uneven in both food and service. We’d almost given up on it. 
 

I hope you have a good time in Cartagena. We enjoyed our two visits there. 

[Sheltielover73]

6 hours ago, parkey said:

Thank You for sharing your cruise, we will be on in January.  Do you know if you have to have reservations for the heated loungers?

Hi, we did not have to make a reservation for them. It wasnt very busy at all- very relaxing. 

[Stealthdog]

Day 5 Daily

[ela123]

Our lady Valentine are brilliant. Well worth a visit to the theatre 

[Stealthdog]

8 hours ago, parkey said:

Thank You-we will be paying for a pass if that makes a difference. Have a great day in port.

 

They said no reserved times.  Aqua class, those who buy day passes, and people waiting for spa services can all use.  Today it was fairly busy, other days really empty.  If you buy the pass when you get on the ship, id verify they havent changed.

[Stealthdog]

The Captain just announced about 15 minutes ago that one passenger has tested positive for COVID19 and is being isolated.  He said all close associates have tested negative. 

[Stealthdog]

Today the crew in Aqua serenaded me with Happy Birthday.  It was a very nice gesture and they seemed to have alot of fun doing it.  Also had this waiting for me in my cabin when we got back from excursion.

[parkey]

8 minutes ago, Stealthdog said:

 

They said no reserved times.  Aqua class, those who buy day passes, and people waiting for spa services can all use.  Today it was fairly busy, other days really empty.  If you buy the pass when you get on the ship, id verify they havent changed.

Thank You-I will check when we get on the ship. It was going to be tough to book times in advance. I like to use it spur of the moment.

[Stealthdog]

Today we did the Historical Cartagena and Coffee Tasting excursion.  Was our second time in Cartagena and really enjoy the old town.  Lots of traffic today though, so if you stop in Cartagena and go on your own, make sure to give yourself enough time to get back.

 

I think all the old town or historical trips go to the same places - by the city walls, walk some streets to see the balconies and flowers, the main square, and the fortress.  We did the coffee tasting to add something a little different - we got seated in one of of the main coffee company stores and were lead through smelling and tasting three coffees, after a short explanation on coffee trees, coffee cherries, and history of coffee in Colombia.  It was very educational.   If you have never been to Cartagena before and want to do a ship excursion, id just go with any of the historic options that sounds most interesting.

 

At the cruise ship dock, they also have an aviary with about a hundred birds and other animals.  Its fun to see all the peacocks, parrots, etc.  I could have spent an hour there alone, even though it was my second time there.

 

The Cartagena skyline is one of the most beautiful ive been to.  Its very nice being on deck for the departure as you sail through the harbor.  The pictures dont do it justice.

[Turtles06]

Happy Birthday!

 

And thanks for sharing Cartagena with us.  We've found it to be a very interesting city as well.  On our second visit, we took a cab on our own to the Fortress and toured it.  Very interesting.  Need to start that as early in the day as possible because of the heat and the climb up to the top walls.

 

The aviary at the pier is wonderful.  I think many folks miss it or don't spend enough time there.

 

1 hour ago, Stealthdog said:

The Captain just announced about 15 minutes ago that one passenger has tested positive for COVID19 and is being isolated.  He said all close associates have tested negative. 

 

I hope that passenger is okay, and everyone else too.   From what I've read on other threads, Celebrity has disembarked anyone testing positive and flown them home.  Was this announcement made after you left Cartagena?  

 

Stay safe.

[Stealthdog]

2 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

I hope that passenger is okay, and everyone else too.   From what I've read on other threads, Celebrity has disembarked anyone testing positive and flown them home.  Was this announcement made after you left Cartagena?  

 

Stay safe.

 

The announcement was made while we were still in port.  If we hear anything else, Ill pass it on.  As far as Im aware, the individual is still being isolated on the ship.

[sayvan]

I am not sure that you could actually board a plane if you were positive.  Most likely would have to wait out the virus or have tested negative a couple of time.  Unfortunate for sure. 

 

I am curious to know if one tests positive and their partner is negative what do they do about the accommodation as I assume the person who is positive is obviously quarantined to their room. 

 

Cartagena was very hot from what I recall when we were there before. Of course I say that as the weather where I am is -9 C which for my American friends is 15 F.  Thanks for the picture tour today. 

Edited December 18, 2021 by sayvan

[CruiserRob]

12 hours ago, sayvan said:

I am not sure that you could actually board a plane if you were positive.

It has been reported that Celebrity has been using private planes to fly people home if they test positive, although I'm not sure if that is still happening.

[Stealthdog]

Apologies but forgot to take photo of Blu last night.  We ate at Murano and here is their menu and some pics of the food there - warm goat cheese soufflé, pork belly, murano lobster, and rack of lamb .  Was not our favorite of the dinings we have had on the ship.  In our opinion they overcomplicated the lamb with too much seasonings and we prefer it very simple.  We definately should have gotten the chateaubriand, but this was the first time we have seen lobster so we went for it.  We are going back the last night, so will give it another try.

[Stealthdog]

25 minutes ago, CruiserRob said:

It has been reported that Celebrity has been using private planes to fly people home if they test positive, although I'm not sure if that is still happening.

 

I havent heard an announcement since yesterday, so not sure what will happen to the passenger on our ship.  We reach Aruba this afternoon.

[Stealthdog]

17 hours ago, ela123 said:

Our lady Valentine are brilliant. Well worth a visit to the theatre 

 

Sadly we didnt make it.  We just had too much going on.  I hope they will go again later in the cruise.

[Stealthdog]

Gavin prepped the room while we were out last night.  This is his first sailing and he has been outstanding taking care of everything we need.  Never would have guessed this was his first sailing.  Will definatley mention his name to the officers.