Silhouette LIVE (1/12) w/ Side by Side: A Royal Week on Celebrity and MSC

[disfan123]

On 1/9/2023 at 11:48 AM, GenerationX said:

 

Next up, more info on working with shoreside concierge.

One of the best things in life is stumbling onto a genX cruise review.❤️

[swigso]

On 1/12/2023 at 11:32 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

We were last at Embassy Suites about 9 months ago in April.   I have to agree she is showing her age and even our TV's did not have HDMI connections - while all rooms we preciously had did have them.  At the high price I was surprised that when spending 2 nights they did no offer room being cleaned or serviced daily.  

 

I'll be doing some more looking but wanted Fort Lauderdale also I still have a no fee cancellation up until 72 hours prior to arrival.

Hi Jim

have a look at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas has great reviews and the corner tower rooms look really nice

[Ex-Airbalancer]

Was the bake potato cook? 
so often I find the bake potatoes under cooked 

[FLCruiser97]

6 hours ago, swigso said:

Hi Jim

have a look at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas has great reviews and the corner tower rooms look really nice

I stayed there once when I went to a wedding there. Nice place.

[GenerationX]

Good morning from disembarkation/embarkation day in Miami!

 

Ok guys, this just feels weird. So weird. It’s the end of my cruise but also the start of a cruise and I’m this weird mix of a little sad and a lot excited.

 

Im dressed in map dress #2 and having a breakfast snack in Luminae while filling out my health survey and luggage tags for Divina.  
 

On my elevator ride down a couple asked me “so when is your next cruise?” And it was so much fun to answer “Today.”
 

I’ll be staying onboard until the latest time possible (9:15 for this sailing) then will grab the worlds shortest cab ride to the MSC terminal.   
 

I know I still have a few catch up reports for this cruise to do and promise I’ll get them in during my time on Divina.
 

 

 

 

[FLCruiser97]

Lovely dress! It's a little cold in Florida today (by Florida standards). Take a jacket on your short travel to your next ship.

[Mrs_Tiki]

54 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Good morning from disembarkation/embarkation day in Miami!

 

Ok guys, this just feels weird. So weird. It’s the end of my cruise but also the start of a cruise and I’m this weird mix of a little sad and a lot excited.

 

Im dressed in map dress #2 and having a breakfast snack in Luminae while filling out my health survey and luggage tags for Divina.  
 

On my elevator ride down a couple asked me “so when is your next cruise?” And it was so much fun to answer “Today.”
 

I’ll be staying onboard until the latest time possible (9:15 for this sailing) then will grab the worlds shortest cab ride to the MSC terminal.   
 

I know I still have a few catch up reports for this cruise to do and promise I’ll get them in during my time on Divina.
 

 

 

 

So much fun to follow along, as always!

 

Are the MSC luggage tags similar in size to X? 

[GenerationX]

Ok so, [sigh] as a Celebrity loyalist, I’m somewhat regrettably admitting that MSC Yacht Club knows how to make a first impression. 

 

After I got off the Silhouette, I got a porter to help with my bags and when he found out I was just going 2 piers down to Divina, he offered to just walk me there with my bags and his dolly rather than mess with flagging a cab that would have to loop around the port to get back there.

 

When we got to the terminal after tipping him generously for the extra help, I saw the white tents outside for yacht club. As we walked up, I was greeted by a smiling face in a full suit and tie who waved over another porter to take my bags. He took down my stateroom number and then offered to take my rolling carryon bag and one of my totes for me as I embark and escorted me past a line waiting to be admitted to the terminal, through an empty security line marked “Yacht Club Only” and took me up to a small room in the terminal building where I was greeted by another smiling face, this one in a FULL TUXEDO with tails  (I suddenly felt under dressed), who got me seated, poured me a glass of champagne, delivered it on a silver platter and then confirmed my stateroom number and asked what newspaper if any I would like delivered to my stateroom each morning.

 

The lounge isn’t anywhere near as nice as the retreat boarding area in at terminal 25 in Fort Lauderdale.  But it’s on par with the one in Miami where we were when we boarded Silhouette. Plus champagne.  Served on a silver tray.

 

I got to the port about 9:45 and the butler who brought my champagne informed me that they expect to start the boarding process in about an hour pending customs sign off and zero count from the previous cruise.  In the mean time, I’m sitting here enjoying the bubbly and tea sandwiches.

 

More to come from onboard Divina.

 

 

[GenerationX]

42 minutes ago, Mrs_Tiki said:

So much fun to follow along, as always!

 

Are the MSC luggage tags similar in size to X? 

Unfortunately they are not. They’re much wider and shorter than the celebrity tags and when I tried to put them in the celebrity holders the width made it really hard to get them in and some of the info didn’t show, so I had to buy MSC holders on Amazon.

[FLCruiser97]

Charla, are we switching over to the MSC forum or staying on this forum for your next cruise?

[countess5]

Looking forward to hear more about your cruise. We are also looking for alternatives. Becoming Elite Plus on our winter cruises and never getting to Zenith it’s time to spread the wings. 

Only downside I have “heard” about MSC is the food quality so would be interested in that area. 

 

Cheers! 

[Jim_Iain]

A bubble bath and a glass of champagne (or red wine) will cure most maladies.   Now your hooked on a RS.  

 

Thanks for your all encompassing review and look forward to Part 2 - "The New Adventure"

[oh2cruise]

Anxious to read your continuing comments on Yacht Club.  We met you on board Silhouette ( Cardinals fans from STL). 

[cruzzzinma]

Can’t wait to hear part 2! Love the pink map dress.

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, FLCruiser97 said:

Charla, are we switching over to the MSC forum or staying on this forum for your next cruise?

We’re staying here! Mostly for selfish reasons as I think keeping two threads going will be too much of a time suck for me.

 

I’ll take no offense though if some want to drop out of following for the MSC half!

[FLCruiser97]

8 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

We’re staying here! Mostly for selfish reasons as I think keeping two threads going will be too much of a time suck for me.

 

I’ll take no offense though if some want to drop out of following for the MSC half!

Good enough for me. Just wanted to know where to find you on your next adventure.

[sbt518]

5 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

We’re staying here! Mostly for selfish reasons as I think keeping two threads going will be too much of a time suck for me.

 

I’ll take no offense though if some want to drop out of following for the MSC half!

Oh NO way, I for one am very curious about MSC Yacht Club and well invested in living vicariously through your travels when I am not booked until March.

 

Your review has been fantastic so far as all of your reviews are.  Thank you for sharing your vacation with us!

[GenerationX]

On 1/15/2023 at 10:40 AM, Stem to Stern said:

Charla,  Your turf and turf looks mouthwatering.  What wine did you pair?  I forget are your visits to the specialities complimentary because you are in an upper suite?  Enjoy your last day.  Looking forward to reading about MSC.

It was delicious! I wanted a Shiraz but they didn’t have one so I think I did a Mouton Cadet Bordeaux blend instead.  Yes in the royal and penthouse suites specialty restaurants are complimentary.

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, countess5 said:

Looking forward to hear more about your cruise. We are also looking for alternatives. Becoming Elite Plus on our winter cruises and never getting to Zenith it’s time to spread the wings. 

Only downside I have “heard” about MSC is the food quality so would be interested in that area. 

 

Cheers! 

This is my concern as well. I’ve heard very mixed reviews of the food.  But these days you see mixed food reviews on every cruise line and it is somewhat subjective.

 

A UK couple that we met on Reflection a few years ago sail MSC in Europe and told us that they’ll only do MSC in yacht club because the food in the main dining room was almost inedible but the yacht club restaurant and one pool food were wonderful.

 

I figure worst case if the food is a disappointment, I have a few pounds to shed from everything I ate on Silhouette anyway! 😂

[countess5]

4 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

This is my concern as well. I’ve heard very mixed reviews of the food.  But these days you see mixed food reviews on every cruise line and it is somewhat subjective.

 

A UK couple that we met on Reflection a few years ago sail MSC in Europe and told us that they’ll only do MSC in yacht club because the food in the main dining room was almost inedible but the yacht club restaurant and one pool food were wonderful.

 

I figure worst case if the food is a disappointment, I have a few pounds to shed from everything I ate on Silhouette anyway! 😂

Food is very subjective, but when you hear multiple reviews it becomes a bit of a concern. When we sail Celebrity all we do is specially dining.

 

Cheers! 

[GenerationX]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

A bubble bath and a glass of champagne (or red wine) will cure most maladies.   Now your hooked on a RS.  

 

Thanks for your all encompassing review and look forward to Part 2 - "The New Adventure"

Unless we start dipping into Gen Z’s college fund I don’t know that I can afford to be royal suite addicted!  
 

That being said, my luck in the casino continued on Silhouette and I decided to treat myself to a new handbag.  But I passed on the Louis Vuitton and went with a much less expensive (but still lovely, and likely to give Jeremy a heart attack if he ever sees the sale receipt) option,  so that I still have the budget to do a strong move up bid to a royal suite for my March cruise!

 

 

 

[bandp407]

Charla- thank you for taking us along again! We are Celebrity loyalists and actually sailing on a 10 night Silhouette in April. Suites are out of our budget, but we are fine with the balcony cabins on the “S” class ships.  We are very curious to hear about your MSC experience. On MSC we would somehow need to do the Yacht Club. Have seen some negative comments about the food. Look forward to your comments. 
 

we also enjoy the great Celebrity party bands & dancing. One of your photos looked like BR4 the house band from our July Equinox sailing? They were great and wonder how much longer they will be on Silhouette. Let’s see what music and dancing will be like on MSC! 
 

ENJOY! ENJOY! 

[dani negreanu]

7 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

I decided to treat myself to a new handbag.

 

Lovely. I like the design. That's one of the expenses you get to enjoy on a daily basis 😎

[HoosierCruzer19]

Following your live review with great pleasure and interest. Your experience in the RS sounded fantastic! Very intrigued as how you find the Divina YC to currently be in comparison as we are scheduled to board her in the YC this Friday as your journey returns to Miami. May you have a great week and smooth seas!

[GenerationX]

6 hours ago, Ex-Airbalancer said:

Was the bake potato cook? 
so often I find the bake potatoes under cooked 

It was cooked well, but it had almost no flavor. I really had to salt and pepper it and add a lot of sour cream and butter.  If they just brushed it with some olive oil and sprinkled it with sea salt before baking it would’ve made such a difference.

 

I only ate a few bites then saved the stomach space for steak and lamb.