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

[GenerationX]

44 minutes ago, countess5 said:

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! 

 

I agree. For the most part we do specialty dinning if not in suite or aqua with the better dinning rooms.  There are a few dishes in the main dining room that I still love (like the escargot and lamb chops), but for the most part it seems like the food quality and atmosphere in the MDR remind me a little too much of being at a big, moderate budget, wedding banquet.

 

I thought it was much better though in the smaller MDR’s on the Edge. But I heard a lot of rough feedback on the MDR’s on Beyond (I didn’t try them personally as I was in Aqua), so maybe that’s not a full solution either.

[raudacruise]

Charla, your reviews are such fun I’ll continue following regardless of ship and cruise line.

 

Yay Map Dress! 🚢🥂🍾

[LouChamp]

Aloha.  Your Celebrity review was excellent as always especially the food pictures!  Looking forward to your MSC review as well.  We are black status with MSC but haven’t cruised with them in a while. The only way to go is yacht club and I’m sure you will enjoy it.  As an italian I did have my bit of disappointment with some of the food but by no means unhappy.  

Have a wonderful voyage and thank you again for taking the time to share your fun with us!!!

[GenerationX]

Hello from onboard Divina!  When it was time to board, several butlers came to the lounge and escorted the yacht club passengers in small groups of 8-10 people onto the ship. The butler who escorted me insisted on carrying my luggage so it was “follow the man with my new Gucci bag”!

 

When we got onboard the butler took us to the yacht club lounge where waiters came around to take drink orders and there was a buffet of hot canapés.

 

My first impression is that Divina is a beautifully kept up ship, but the design aesthetics aren’t as much my style as Celebrity’s. Just a little too ornate and overstated.  I texted Red at the airport and told her that I feel a little like I’m in Scarface’s mansion. 😂

 

It took me a little while to find my way here from the yacht club lounge, but I’ve just settled in for lunch at the Le Muse Yacht Club restaurant (whose decor reminds me a lot of a high end version of Olive Garden).  

 

To get here I had to cross both the indoor pool (which seems much bigger than the solarium on Celebrity) and the outdoor main pool (which seems much smaller than the main pool on Celebrity).

 

A report on my first meal on MSC to come soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LouChamp]

Aloha. I forgot to mention that as a Diamond (Black Card) holder with MSC  they have great perks when combined with the Yacht Club provides fantastic amenities. Totally curious as to your opinions which I respect!

[swigso]

3 hours 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!

Hi Charla,

fantastic review as always I recently followed a celebrity cruiser doing a Cunard cruise and comparing each. He posted a link on the Cunard board for those that wished to follow along, as you seem quite tech savvy I am sure you can do that so the MCs cruisers can follow your fantastic cruising blogs.

You really make it seem like we are all sailing with you, we sailed last September for the first time in a sky suite. Needless to say all our 6 future cruises have been upgraded. But I am determined to keep my dear wife away from the suites with the big brown doors, enjoy you next leg 

[TheGuys16]

Zero chance of me getting the husband to splurge on any suite, so I am enjoying your reviews of the suite life!  Thanks for taking us along with you!

[Stem to Stern]

Um....what year was MSC Divina built and last refurbished?  This scene looks like the last dry dock turned everything gray, but this truly tragic table lamp and coordinating recessed planters were overlooked.

[Jim_Iain]

9 hours 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!

 

I think it's working just keeping a single thread.    That way we can all go back an compare.

 

Looks like a very comfortable Side by Side.

[Jim_Iain]

8 hours ago, GenerationX said:

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!

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful little gift to yourself.  

 

I guess we are lucky in that all 3 kids are through College and mostly on their own.  Collage does take a major hit but just think of all the extra money you will have when Gen Z graduates as a Doctor and keeps you in the style yo deserve.

 

LOL --- Best advise I can give anyone that wants to cruise more in Retirement  is to Marry Iain and have him put you on a Financial Budget Plan.   When I first met him the kids were still in school and I had a bit of debt.   Initial plan was pay off Credit Card and never carry a balance again.   Next pay off all of our real estate and cars and finally enter retirement owning our own home and two rentals debt free.  

 

We don't live extravagantly and have one car that is 15 years old but only use it every two weeks for grocery shopping.  The rest of the time I pick up what we need when out walking. 

[cinderellen]

So happy to log on tonight and read your latest review! Looking forward to part 2.

[GenerationX]

8 minutes ago, Stem to Stern said:

Um....what year was MSC Divina built and last refurbished?  This scene looks like the last dry dock turned everything gray, but this truly tragic table lamp and coordinating recessed planters were overlooked.

Not to put spoilers in my own review, but from a style and design perspective, it gets worse.  There’s also a planter in the yacht club that has what I’m pretty sure is a real Sonoran cactus in it.  I didn’t think you could even grow cactuses like that indoors. 
 

Full post about my stateroom to come, but my bed has a mauve velour headboard with matching two-toned zebra print duvet and curtains.

[Stem to Stern]

5 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Full post about my stateroom to come, but my bed has a mauve velour headboard with matching two-toned zebra print duvet and curtains.

Oh.  Em.  Gee.

I can't even....

[bjahil47]

On 1/15/2023 at 10:11 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

Thanks Joan -   I went ahead and booked Hyatt Place  also as both are refundable.    The other day I ran it by Iain and he poo-pooed it ... He may just have to live with what I choose.  LOL    If you say the rooms are nice I trust your opinion.

 

Coming from the West Coast we usually get in around 11:30 - 1:00 AM so in these times we are coming in 2 days early (which is really only one day early), just costs us an extra day. 

 

I looked at the Marina that everyone recommends but it is now up to $575 a night.    I might as well fly in early and take a cheap 3 night cruise.

Jim, we stayed at Hyatt Place in October.  Right next to Outback Steakhouse.  Also a 5 minute walk to a plaza with a large grocery store.  Hyatt Place was clean.  We would stay there again.

[Jim_Iain]

Can't wait for more pictures.  

 

Just to get a feel to a Celebrity Ship, I checed on CruiseDeckplans - 

 

Diva was built in 2012.    She is 139,000 Ton and 1751 Cabins.   Occupancy 3500 (2 per cabin).   

 

That would make her about the size of Assent and Beyond but they have 1646 cabins and Occupancy of 3276 (2 per cabin)

 

 

[maggieq]

On 1/11/2023 at 10:16 AM, GenerationX said:

Ok guys I have good news and bad news.

 

The good (and most important) news is that I am currently 30,000 feet above Tennessee headed south to Miami!

 

In other somewhat good news, after more smoked salmon bagels, dry turkey sandwiches and fruit platters than I can count (I know, first world problems) AA has FINALLY brought back hot meal service in first class for this route.

 

The bad news is that my Tex-Mex omelette is way overdone and I hope to heaven that there aren’t any British passengers in first class, because these so called “scones” are not doing my country’s reputation any favors.
 

In fairness to the omelette though, sitting in a warmer for 3 extra hours probably never does an egg dish any favors.

 

Nevertheless, I’m not gonna be too salty about any of it  because I’m just glad to be in the air and on my way!

 

Last word from Red in Indy was that her plane was also boarding and cleared to fly by FAA, they were just waiting for a takeoff position in line from the tower.

 

More to come from Miami in a couple of hours!

 

 

Thanks again for doing this live review.  Your meal and drink could give United first a run for their money.  Our first class experiences seem to be getting worse in the last year or so.   We used to receive such great service.  With the exception of one flight to Aruba last September, if you get offered one drink at all you are lucky. 😊 

[GenerationX]

Good evening from the Divina!  
 

A quick story from dinner tonight:

 

When I got to the suite restaurant I saw a big ornate cheese cart (like the one celebrity used to have in Murano before they went to just giving you a plate of pre-cut cheese).

 

Being a naive rookie, I asked the hostess “is that cheese cart just something special for the first night? Or is it an up charge thing?” (I’m so used to paying for a specialty restaurant to get a formal cheese service.)

 

She responded “no Ma’am Charla [sidebar: all the crew in the restaurant remembered my name after me only being there for like an hour at lunch] in yacht club a cheese cart service is complimentary at every dinner.”
 

I responded, half joking with:  “wow, that’s wonderful. Cheese is my love language.”

 

Flash forward to about 20 minutes ago when heading to my stateroom to turn in after a little live music in the Jazz bar.  My butler Kevin was in the hallway and saw me coming and opened my door for me and said “I left you a little something that I heard that you really enjoy.”

 

Sure enough, a cheese plate with accompaniments was waiting for me.

 

While I’m lying in bed consuming said turn down treats, I’m pulling together pictures and notes from the rest of my first day onboard, so please prepare for a brief posting frenzy.

 

[maggieq]

On 1/12/2023 at 3:36 PM, GenerationX said:

First report from onboard Silhouette!

 

OMG GUYS!!!  I remember reading many reviews cautioning that sailing in royal and penthouse suites is dangerous because once you’ve experienced it (done properly, of course) it is very hard to go back down.

 

I am approximately 3 hours into royal suite life on Silhouette, and I’m already seeing how those warnings were not at all frivolous.

 

While there have already been a few minor kinks so far, it seems like this cruise is hitting its stride quickly.

 

Ok, let’s start with embarkation:

 

When we arrived at the pier, our Uber driver tried to drive all the way down to where the sign for suites curbside luggage was, but a traffic officer signaled him to pull in well short of it at an area marked unloading zone 8. I recall seeing posts pre COVID where the shoreside concierge gave a placard for transport that would allow people dropping off for upper level suites to go closer to the suite drop off area, but I didn’t receive one.

 

When our Uber driver unloaded our bags, the porter we were parked next to saw our suite luggage tags and said “oh suites, you have to take your bags down there to zone 11”.  

 

As we started to push our own bags away down towards the suite area, I overheard a supervisor suggest to said porter that he should help those two ladies get their luggage to the suite area.  The porter replied “why? So I can get maybe $5 tip for that long walk down there and back?”  

 

Little did that porter know but Red and I both have a great deal of appreciation for the curbside porters who do so much physical labor in the heat and we each usually tip our porter at least $20.  Oh well guy, that was actually a quick 800% of what you estimated earning that you just missed out on thanks to indifference and presumption.  At the end of the day though, not Celebrity’s fault either as I believe they have very limited control over pier staff behavior.

 

Nevertheless if you are sailing in suites on Silhouette soon and are at all mobility challenged or will have difficulty handling your own luggage, I’d suggest trying to pull in to unload as close to zone 11 as possible.

 

When we got to the suite area there was a sign and podium and a porter standing there who ran to greet us when he saw us coming and put our bags on a cart (and got our tip) and told us someone would be back shortly at the podium soon to assist us.  It turned out that the “someone” who came was William, our very friendly Retreat manager for this cruise, who took down Red and I’s stateroom numbers and escorted us through security and into the Retreat check in area.  

 

On our walk to the check in, he asked me to repeat my stateroom number then I  saw him quickly make 2 calls on his “bat phone” to whom I now know to be my butler and stateroom attendant confirming with them that my room was ready for my arrival.  I noted he did not do the same for Red (Celebrity Suite), so that must be a royal suite thing?

 

Anyway, after check in, William escorted Red and I onto the ship.

 

The last time I was on Silhouette was about 6 years ago (full disclosure, the cruise where on the first formal night, my now husband dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife, so this ship has a special place in my heart).  It’s so great to see her refurbished. I think the new Retreat lounge looks amazing.

 

After a stop at the lounge for any drinks we may want, William escorted us to our muster station so that we could complete our muster check ins then took me to my stateroom.

 

My stateroom. Y’all. MY STATEROOM!!!! 

 

For those fortunate enough to have done many high end cruises, maybe the Royal Suite won’t be very impressive to you.

 

To me, a woman who started life in an old house in a bad part of town, and started my cruising vacation experiences with a $300 per person spring break sailing on Mariner of the Seas in an inside stateroom shared with a fellow student loan encumbered, bartender/sever job trip funded, sorority sister, I walked into this room and completely forgot myself.

 

I think actually said out loud “you gotta be [expletive] kidding me? Are we sure this is room 1614?”

 

All doubt about whether I belonged here was removed though when I saw my specifically requested mini bar and alcohol preferences sitting waiting for me.

 

My butler apparently is taking no chances on me being thirsty and/or sober over the next 5 days because he also took the liberty of having extra beverages stocked in the wine fridge.

 

Speaking of my butler, his name is Clayton and based on first meeting he seems fantastic and head and shoulders above my butler in Celebrity Suite on Millennium last year.

 

It was interesting. After lunch I went with Red to see her Celebrity Suite and was there when she got her first introduction to her stateroom team, so I got essentially a side by side comparison of the celebrity suite and royal suite experience.

 

For Red, when her doorbell rang, it was her stateroom attendant who greeted her.  He seemed very nice and introduced himself and told her that her butler “would be along” and gave a brief overview about retreat amenities then asked how many suitcases she was still waiting for and if she needed anything right away then left.

 

In my royal suite, it was Clayton my butler who came first, and when he walked in the first thing asked was if he could make me a cocktail or pour me a glass of my (upgraded) champagne to sip while he introduced himself and gave me a tour of my room.  After pouring me some delicious bubbly, he walked me around the ridiculous suite and showed me where all the outlets and light switches were and how to operate my TWO DIFFERENT spa tubs.  

 

He also showed me how to operate my in room espresso machine and once I mentioned I’m an early riser and caffeine addict, he told me not to worry about filling it with water because he would handle making sure the water was replaced and refilled and cartridges restocked twice each day.

 

He told me he’d be checking in at least twice a day but also left me an extra card so that I’d have one in the room by the phone and one I could carry with me in my tote bag and told me not to hesitate to call him if from anywher on the ship if I need something.  I believe his exact words were “Ma’am I am your genie. Actually I’m better than a genie because a genie has to be in a tiny bottle and I have this whole ship to work to make magic for you. Just call and ask.”

 

I’m going to drink some more PJ while I do some unpacking then I guess I’ll pry myself out of Beverly Hills-I mean my suite, and go check out the sunset bar for my sailaway ritual.

 

Later tonight, a report on first impressions of Retreat lounge and Luminae lunch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow just wow 🤩 

[Luvmypups]

Just getting caught up!!  Ready for the next leg. Happy sailing and have a safe voyage. Love the pink map dress btw.
 

Thanks for taking us with you!

[Stem to Stern]

8 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

“I left you a little something that I heard that you really enjoy.”

I thought you were going to walk into your stateroom and find the whole cheese cart.

Seriously though I am gathering that this crew is bringing you their Service A-Game.

Or maybe they are always this on point?

8 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Cheese is my love language

 

Edited January 17, 2023 by Stem to Stern

[cruzzzinma]

28 minutes ago, GenerationX said:

Full post about my stateroom to come, but my bed has a mauve velour headboard with matching two-toned zebra print duvet and curtains.

Oh my, I can’t even form a coherent sentence.

[GenerationX]

So in the old world of cruising, in the last few weeks pre-cruise, when I’d workout at I made a point of including 20 minutes on the stair machine at the gym (or at home 20 minutes going up and down our basement stairs) so I was in show condition for the inevitable stair climbing endurance challenge involved in the muster drill.

 

With Celebrity’s new post-COVID muster protocol abandoning said communal stair climb, I accordingly abandoned said training.  

 

This is a decision I currently deeply regretted this afternoon as the stair climb (8 decks up back to my room from my muster station to be precise) is still very much a part of the drill on the Divina.

 

I’m ok with it though because I definitely needed the workout after my lunch.

 

Speaking of which let’s talk Le Muse lunch.  First of all, it was night and day to the busy hectic atmosphere in Luminae on embarkation day. Even at peak 12:30 lunch hour there were only about 7 tables occupied.  I think the generous hot appetizer offerings over lunch in the lounge and the second lunch location offered up at the yacht club pool (more details below) helped to distribute diners around the club.

 

I’d read reviews saying that meal service on MSC runs really slow (which I actually would expect from a European cruise line, eat and get out quick seems more of an American culture thing) but that wasn’t the case for me.  My 3 course lunch was done in an hour and that was with me taking time to linger and sip extra glasses of wine and chat with neighboring diners. 

 

My waiter and assistant waiter were so friendly, relaxed and smiling.  You could tell they didn’t feel rushed or stressed and were very focused on me.  

 

As for food, my chicken ceasar salad entree was good. The chicken could’ve been seasoned better but it was properly chilled. I LOVED the fresh made pasta main course. The cheesecake dessert was nothing special but not bad either. 

 

While at lunch I chatted with two gentlemen at the table next to me who seem to be the MSC edition of Red and I.  American men who met on an MSC cruise, are big fans of the cruise line, plan to sail the same cruises but in separate cabins, and have dozens of sailings under their belts.

 

When they found out it was my first MSC cruise they offered to show me the ropes a little and took me up to see the yacht club pool area.

 

Once again, I’m reluctantly admitting Celebrity has competition.  The pool area is much bigger than the retreat pool areas on Silhouette were and I think even bigger than the retreat deck on the Edge.

 

The bar and dinning area were huge and there was a very good looking lunch buffet set up, complete with salmon and steaks.

 

Looks like MSC isn’t scaling back their buffet offerings.  I guess when passenger cruising shuts down for over a year, it helps to have a multi-billion dollar cargo shipping business to keep the bills paid (and no shareholders to answer to).

 

Next up (depending on when my cheese coma hits): a report on my afternoon ship explorations and dinner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[zgscl]

So much fun to compare side by side, MSC yacht club has been on my list to try so this is extremely helpful. As were the Celebrity posts - glad to know it is not all doom & gloom!

[LMaxwell]

3 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Not to put spoilers in my own review, but from a style and design perspective, it gets worse.  There’s also a planter in the yacht club that has what I’m pretty sure is a real Sonoran cactus in it.  I didn’t think you could even grow cactuses like that indoors. 
 

Full post about my stateroom to come, but my bed has a mauve velour headboard with matching two-toned zebra print duvet and curtains.

Eyes open; there is a Tex-Mex theme throughout the ship including signage to a defunct latin specialty restaurant; the decor remains around the ship though. That won't be the only cactus you see on Divina! 

 

Hidden treats - all the way aft on both sides of ship are exterior stairs with big open area; perfect for photos. Check out the cake bar in the Piazza. 

[hcat]

8 hours ago, GenerationX said:

Not to put spoilers in my own review, but from a style and design perspective, it gets worse.  There’s also a planter in the yacht club that has what I’m pretty sure is a real Sonoran cactus in it.  I didn’t think you could even grow cactuses like that indoors. 
 

Full post about my stateroom to come, but my bed has a mauve velour headboard with matching two-toned zebra print duvet and curtains.

you have focused on what I was wondering about...ornate decorl

.Can u overlook it or is it a distraction?

We are not Hoppen fans but do like a sleek look..

 

Also, is it crowded in the suite area only places?