How Silhouette coped with an almost full ship(93%capacity).

[upwarduk]

Southampton 

The journey from Huddersfield to Southampton on Friday 29 July took 7 hours.

Our Sat. Nav wasn’t talking to us, after we turned it on again after stopping at a Service Station, so we went into another Services to fix it. We were then taken out in the wrong direction, due to Rd works,

North instead of South.

Eventually it found the way to the A34 to Oxford, which is a dual carriageway, so many roundabouts. Slow, but no lengthy queues.

 

Chilworth Manor

Not sure what I ate, but I was up at 3am and didn’t get back to sleep. We had to be out of the room at 10am, but not too bad, as the taxi was booked for10.45.

HOWEVER, the Taxi was just short of 2 hours late, Southampton was a night mare. The Taxi driver said it’s worst day in his 18 years of driving. This could have be a combination of  Train strikes, 

5 ships in port+ Cowes week - 30 July - 6 th August.

 

 

 

[upwarduk]

So, we were late getting on the ship ( 2 pm instead of 11.30) & were sent straight to Muster, we not even allowed time to go to our room , so no idea if there was a Safety film on the TV. They just ticked us off, but no instructions, or questions, except for the Captain blasting the horn before we left port. Later talking to people they were questioned about whether they knew how to put a life jacket on.

Last year, we were instructed to watch a video, 24 hours beforehand and there was also one on the cabin TV when we arrived.

No similar instructions this year. Not good for Newbies. When I woke up, on Sunday morning, I had a message asking me what  I thought about the Muster training. I tried to fill it in ,but the internet was off line and later couldn’t find it, so I don’t have the opportunity to let them know. If we had been in a Concierge cabin, we would have missed the lunch!😱

 

 

[upwarduk]

Sunday 31/07/22

The day started in Tuscan, for the Elite breakfast, as we had no need to rush off the ship. I do enjoy looking at the wake as I am eating. We choose a Smoked Salmon plate each and a fruit plate to share.

 

We then went to the Theatre to listen to an overview of Excursions. As we had already booked most, I was only interested in any short excursion in Civitavecchia. There were none.

 

 

As we are Elite, we went to the Captain’s Club office on 5 to book a place on the Back Stage tour. We were told it was full, as the ship was full,  well, 2700 passengers (93%).

We were put on a wait list and when we got back to the cabin that night, there was a message to say another tour had been arranged for 10am on the next to last sea day (09/08/22).

 

At noon, we attended an overview of the Life of Matt Monro, given by his daughter Michelle. She was giving the On the Podium lectures, during this cruise, in Celebrity Central, but as this was a comprehensive lecture, we weren’t interested in going again.

 

We then went to the MDR for lunch and unlike in the past I was told I should have pre ordered. I have never done this for lunch in the past, as we are not always sure what we are doing during a Sea Day.

We were given menus and my husband said, ‘oh you can have cream of mushroom soup, there’s no dairy symbol by it.’ There was a symbol by the item on my menu.

We pointed this out to the waiter, who brought another menu to check. The faulty menu was taken away.This is the first time that I have seen this error.

 

Chic Night

Standards have certainly slipped, more like smart casual. Time was when you were turned out of the MDR if you weren’t wearing a jacket.Very few jackets, well at least in our section of the dining room. 
 

I saw guests in SHORTS in the MDR and button up tee shirts too. I assume the staff are not wanting to upset passengers. It could also be said that the weather was very hot, but it’s not hot in the dining room!

 

As I am Dairy Intolerant, I am served meals that have been adapted and pre order my evening meal before I leave the MDR every night.

I was brought a menu after my main course and the Maitre’D took my order before the specially adapted sweat was brought.

 

 

[Cheshire Blue]

Thanks for this - so far.  Am looking forward to hearing more of the cruise 

[helen haywood]

Could you post in a slightly smaller font?

[mahdnc]

2 minutes ago, helen haywood said:

Could you post in a slightly smaller font?

 

Yes, another request to reduce the font  size of your post unless this is the only way you can see it. Perhaps you are writing your review first on another application and then cutting and pasting it onto Cruise Critic?

 

Otherwise, I like the review and photos!

[Barwick Cruiser]

Sounds like a rough start to your cruise, hoping it got better 🤞 By the way, what is a “specially adapted sweat”?  I am also dairy intolerant (can handle lactose free items) and have found the staff in the MDR very accommodating in preparing appropriate foods when given advance notice. Symbol or not, anything that says ‘cream of’ I avoid lol. 

[upwarduk]

13 minutes ago, Barwick Cruiser said:

Sounds like a rough start to your cruise, hoping it got better 🤞 By the way, what is a “specially adapted sweat”?

All my food was especially adapted for me. For instance, one night I was offered ice cream, which I refused. I was then told that the ice cream was made especially for me with Soya milk?

In the past, the only option was a sorbet, which I found too cold.

[upwarduk]

I made notes each evening about the previous day. Unfortunately, I couldn’t upload while we were on the cruise, as the internet was poor, especially when we were in the Atlantic.

Monday

10 am talk in the Theatre by CD Eddy Jenkins:

‘10 things you didn’t know about various pop stars.’  These included Shirley Bassey and Tom Jones, both of course who are Welsh.
Eddy spoke without notes. I found the talks interesting.

 

After Eddy’s talk, we visited the iLounge, with the intention of buying an iPad with our OBC, which we had been given as a result of Celebrity’s Price Promise.

I had taken a screenshot of the prices offered about 3 weeks after I had paid. These prices had come down for our cabin grade and there were a few cabins available. Surprisingly, about 4 days after I had contacted the TA, I was informed that we had been given $1100 OBC. The bad news was that all iPads had been sold in April and were not due to be replaced until September, but no actual date was given.

 

It became misty as we travelled south, so we couldn’t see the coast of Portugal, which was a shame, as I had hoped that our family who were on holiday in Portugal might see us sailing south.

Evening 

We choose to go to the Ensemble lounge, for our pre dinner drinks. A large group gathered around the bar had with children with them who were running around. This spoilt the atmosphere in the lounge. They left at 6 pm for their meal. At no point did I see any bar staff speak to the parents about the children’s behaviour.

Evening meal - Prawn Cocktail and Fish & Chips which were very good.

Another ‘Special sweet.’

Edited August 14, 2022 by upwarduk

[kwokpot]

7 hours ago, upwarduk said:

We then went to the MDR for lunch and unlike in the past I was told I should have pre ordered. I have never done this for lunch in the past, as we are not always sure what we are doing during a Sea Day.

I am assuming this is because of your food allergy? You didn't specify but otherwise it makes no sense.

[Jim_Iain]

Enjoying reading your review. Hope things improve.   

[upwarduk]

3 hours ago, kwokpot said:

I am assuming this is because of your food allergy? You didn't specify but otherwise it makes no sense.

Yes , because of my Dairy Intolerance.

[upwarduk]

 

Tuesday 02/08/23

Early 8am start today for our tour of Cadiz & the Jerez wine cellars. Room service breakfast ordered for 6.30-7am. Delivered at 6.40, which helped as it meant we didn’t have rush eating it. One comment , I wasn’t happy that my Lactose Free milk wasn’t labelled.We were provided with x3 different milks, a box of Semi skimmed( clear enough) but a jug and a beaker. How did I know which was which without it being written on the cover which was put over the beaker?

I mentioned this in the questionnaire that I filled in about the food and about a week later I had a phone call from a Maitre’D who explained that the milk in the jug was for the coffee and the beaker was the Lactose free. But there was no indication of that for me.

 

The title of the tour was Seville (Cadiz)Jerez and Wine Cellars. We went no where near Seville. I mentioned this to the guide and he said it’s too hot in Seville. So why put it in the tour title? 

We had a brief bus tour of Cadiz then on to a village where we had free time for a coffee and use of toilet facilities.

Cadiz

 

 

 

 

 

El Arenal

 

River bed.

 

 

Then on to the wine cellars with a guide and later tasting.

 

Vines grow across the street.

The Royal barrel at Jerez wine cellars.

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2022 by upwarduk

[upwarduk]

Wednesday

Sea day

Listened to CD presenting 10 places to go on Celebrity cruises.

We had been to all except S.America& Antarctica.

 

 

Later we went to Deck15, near the sunset bar. It was difficult to find seats in the shade.

But, it is more pleasant than Deck12 near the pool.

Loungers are now crammed next to each other without a table in between, as they used to be. Certainly no hope of social distancing. Or indeed getting on to a lounger, if you have mobility issues, as I do. I was so glad that we had a balcony cabin, as we used our balcony in the afternoon of sea days

[sgmn]

On 8/14/2022 at 3:16 PM, helen haywood said:

Could you post in a slightly smaller font?

Loving the bigger font  😍 

[helen haywood]

Thanks for the smaller font.  Enjoying following!

[upwarduk]

Thursday Cagliari,

Sardinia 11 am.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Beach transfer.

Absolute shambles getting off the ship, as those passengers without tours were getting off at the same time. No escort was provided to guide us to the exit, as had happened for our first excursion.

We queued on the stairs for at least half an hour.

This meant we had less time at the beach.

We were taken to ‘The family beach,’ complex, where we had to pay €20 for 2 loungers, but we had  vouchers a free drink included.

 

 

Someone on the coach brought 2 towels with them, which were given to them by their butler. Our beach towels were provided in the late evening, too late for us to use on the beach.😱 

 

Later that day, it was our 2 nd Chic night.

We met someone who trained at the same Teacher Training College as us, but 10 years later than us. He also knew a friend of ours,who is a regular at reunions.

[abbydancer2003]

Thanks.  I'm on the Silhouette in October for her trip back to the US. I'm enjoying this.

[mahdnc]

Thanks for posting this review.

[upwarduk]

Friday

Naples

We started the day with breakfast in the cabin, as it means we have a more leisurely start to the day. It arrived promptly. I cannot fault the service, but again, my Lactose free milk was not indicated. We were booked on a ‘Priority Access tour, which went to Sorrento, & Pompeii.’

Last port of call was Pompeii- crazy when it was a Priority Access tour . I think my understanding of Priority access needs to change to no queuing for tickets not first entry ( as we have had in St Petersburg).

The sensible thing would have been to take us to Pompeii first, instead of a farmhouse where we watched them make cheese, then Sorrento, where we had just 1 hour for lunch. We just had a drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pompeii visit was impossible for me, as I struggled to walk, so we gave up and returned to the meeting place - The cafe Victoria, where I had a Salad .

We sat in the shade for more than an hour, before the main party returned.

[upwarduk]

Civitavecchia 

Fortunately, we don’t have anything booked for today, as we have been to Rome numerous times. So, we have had a quiet day.

At first we decided to fill a bag of laundry- good idea, except there was no list in the bag, so DH had to phone for one, which was brought by our cabin steward -Calvin.

Fortunately, the bags are now cloth, so we were able to get 44 items in.

Not sure how many days it takes, hopefully only 2 as DH only has one pair of underwear left.

 

 

At last I persuaded DH to go to the Porch for lunch- we would have spent the money had gone out!! He is of the opinion that the food in the MDR is more than adequate.

It was a 4 course meal, the nicest part was the Chicken wing starters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by upwarduk

[upwarduk]

Sunday

Tuscan Farm House Experience.
1.30 pm start, so another late start. We went to the Elite breakfast in the Tuscan grill.

 

 

DH at last found the piece of paper with the QR code, to give our experience of the excursions. 

Unfortunately, I can’t scan it ( folds maybe preventing it)? 

I would certainly have had quite a few comments!!

 

The description of the tour was not accurate. On the ticket it said we had to walk on uneven surfaces & the steps were only into the horse drawn carriage, so much easier than the ticket indicated.At first we had drove through the Apennines and saw the quarry   where the stone for the statues in Florence is mined.

 

Then we had a ride in a horse drawn truck to the place where we ate. One of the trucks took 10+ people, the other one 30 or so. Some people decided to stay on the coach and ride to the farmhouse that way.

 

 

 

 

The farmhouse provided food and drink all made by them. It was superb.

 

 

 

Edited August 16, 2022 by upwarduk

[upwarduk]

Apologies for the duplicate photo, I cannot delete by’ deleting or x ‘Cut’ or taking the image out of the uploads.😱

2 hours ago, deliver42 said:

Was the OP expecting a private yacht?

Trouble was, we virtually had that last summer when we did the ‘Round Britain Cruise in August 2021.

If you look at the title, you will see that I am comparing an almost full Celebrity ship post Pandemic, to the standards that Celebrity maintained pre pandemic.

You will also see if you look at my list of previous cruises, that I have plenty to compare.

 

[C4HCG]

10 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

Apologies for the duplicate photo, I cannot delete by’ deleting or x ‘Cut’ or taking the image out of the uploads.😱

Trouble was, we virtually had that last summer when we did the ‘Round Britain Cruise in August 2021.

If you look at the title, you will see that I am comparing an almost full Celebrity ship post Pandemic, to the standards that Celebrity maintained pre pandemic.

You will also see if you look at my list of previous cruises, that I have plenty to compare.

 

I must admit I was confused not realising you were comparing it to an almost empty ship. Everything you were saying about queuing to get off the ship, busy round the pool etc is what we always experience and have no issue with. 

[upwarduk]

Monday 08/08/22

Marseilles 

 

Open Top bus tour

 

We have been to Marseilles before, but this time I thought we would see more if we were transported, rather than walk.

I managed to get up the stairs on the bus , but when we had a 40 minute shopping break, we stayed put.

A very helpful chap showed us where to attach the audio- it was under the unit, so very difficult to see.