Jim and I just returned from another Celebrity cruise, this time on the Silhouette.  We can now say we have traveled on all five Solstice class ships in Celebrity’s fleet.  As usual, Celebrity did not disappoint.  The ship was beautiful, a wine tower in the main dining room, lounges where you could hang out and talk or read, a library that was old world elegant, and of course, the iced Martini Bar and the Sky Lounge.  Live music abounded from the pool band to a jazz band, one of Celebrity’s hallmarks.

I admit that this time I was nervous.  I had read reviews of the Silhouette that weren’t all favorable, certainly not what I’ve come to expect from Celebrity.  One of the main complaints in the reviews was about service.  I remember that on our last Celebrity cruise, the food had been good, but not the stellar quality we normally expect.  Now I read complaints about the service.  So, would Celebrity live up to the reviews I already wrote, or would we be looking for a new favorite cruise line?

It seems Celebrity paid attention to the reviews.  Service was impeccable.  We travel concierge class, which I recommend, and our cabin steward was very attentive.  He made sure he delivered canapés every day and made sure we had anything we wanted or needed.  One night, his assistant forgot to turn down the bed.  He apologized it seemed a million times and gave us each a Celebrity tote bag.  Room service was wonderful and right on time.  One morning, when we weren’t in a hurry to get off the ship, we sat on the veranda in our robes and drank coffee as we watched the boats around Key West. We had breakfast delivered in Cozumel as we needed to be off the ship early for an excursion.  I was amazed that they could deliver soft boiled eggs done just right with gluten free toast, but they did.  The eggs were perfect, and the toast was tasty even though it was gluten free.  The staff in the dining room were wonderful and accommodated my gluten free diet.

The cuisine was fabulous.  They offered fish dishes for me and beef for Jim.  In the buffet, they even offered gluten free pizza made to order, which is hard to do.  Most gluten free pizza has a hard, cracker-like crust.  I had some of the best gluten free pizza I have ever eaten aboard the Silhouette.  We had onboard credit, so we indulged in three of the specialty restaurants, Murano, Tuscan and Sushi on 5.  All three specialty restaurants were delightful.  The calamari was fabulous at the Tuscan.  Jim is normally not a seafood person but he loved it.  Murano, the French style restaurant, was elegant and of course rich and flavorful with goat cheese soufflé, lobster in cream, and of course, dark chocolate and Grand Marnier soufflé’ for desert.  Sushi on 5 was fresh and innovative.  I had a spicy tuna roll with avocado which was fresh and delicious.  I am from Florida so I refuse to eat any sushi that isn’t fresh.  Jim had a Kobe beef slider on a bed of fried ramen noodles which he said was ingenious.  The cuisine exceeded our expectations.

As we are Captain’s Club members with this being our fifth Celebrity Cruise and eighth cruise overall, we were treated to a cocktail party with a live jazz band and champagne on the helicopter pad as we sailed away from Costa Maya, a wine tasting, and a high tea.

In addition to the cuisine, there was always live music, from the pool band to the nightly shows to the jazz band. The jazz band played during the dinner hours in the atrium and in the evening.  A classical string duet played in the ensemble lounge.  The jazz band on this cruise and the last was particularly good.  There is nothing quite like drinking a martini and listening to a good jazz band.

Celebrity Cruises did not disappoint.  Music, cuisine, and service was all phenomenal.  Jim and I are eagerly awaiting Celebrity’s new ship, the Edge.