We first went on Silhouette five years ago and have cruised with Celebrity (and others) every year since. We find that Celebrity offer good food, entertainment and service with good ports of call so we tend to look for balcony offers. We chose this cruise for the ports of call and were really looking forward to Russia. We embarked within 10 minutes of arriving at Southampton port. We then could make the most of an early lunch in the MDR and relax before the muster call. Unlike others who have criticised the new format, I think Celebrity have tried to follow the BA example of making a boring legal requirement more interesting by showing a funny film during the drill. That done we could relax. We loved Bruge- the shuttle was reasonable. We then enjoyed Copenhagen and Stockholm. Tallinn was walkable from the port but we took the shuttle as it was 30 degrees. St Petersburg was our highlight and we loved the 3 days there. We agree Rostock is a bit of a weird port but a quiet day is a good call after Russia. I would agree the shuttle service here was poor - we took it to Warnemunde but we were not told we had arrived! We sat on the bus while a man from the shuttle company got on and told us all to get off! We refused as the sign outside said Rostock! He then said Rostock, yes! Warnemunde yes! Eventually someone on the bus explained that we were there as the two merge together and that we should get off. It was the low point of our cruise but a small gripe really. Shuttle prices are well advertised and tbh if you are going on a cruise surely you research the ports and know what might cost you money when you get there? We had researched excursions at Russia and used Alla who were fabulous - no complaints about them. They were £60 cheaper than Celebrity for a similar 2 day itinery. Drinks and food service were excellent on board. Speciality dining at Murano and Tuscan Grille well worth it. Cruise Director new to us but did a sound job although we didn't see him around ship often as we have with others but we were off ship alot. We had been on Reflection with Sue Denning so were sad to find out she got off Silhouette as we got on!!! Actiivities Manager Kate worked really hard and the two other guys, Steven and Jaz, were fun at quizzes which were well attended. The buffet was really good with themed evenings when you were tired or late back. We enjoyed the Indian selection and trifle day was fabulous. Shows in theatre were very varied and worth attending. The magician was stunning and we only went to stay for a bit before going to the German band - we missed that as he took our breath away!! He was a British magician and he was amazing. The flexible dining approach in MDR was good as my mother had to have low fat food and they accomodated this well - giving us the menu a day ahead to ensure they could prepare for her needs. Also, they allow you to swap bits of each meal if you want to which was great e.g. swap potatoes for rice or pasta for jacket potato. Service there was exceptional - the Maitre D came to every table every night and developed a rapport with most people. The waiters were great too - Jeson and Theresa. They couldn't do enough to help us choose the food we wanted from the offers. The house band were not as good as others on other ships - they seem to have a limited repertoire. The classical one was good and Devico were too. There were never enough seats in the Sky Lounge or main foyer for all the fun things they planned e.g Abba night, 60s night. However, we had a great cruise with good service and we would chose Celebrity every time. Read Less

We picked the cruise for the itinerary in particular the 3 days in St Petersburg with the chance to visit Moscow and a day trip to Berlin. The itinerary was well paced and as we prefer small groups we did not use Celebrities tours. Embarkation was a breeze, it was less than an hour from arriving at check in to being allowed on board. Disembarkation was just as smooth. Shore excursions: We used an independent company in Stockholm, St Petersburg including a day trip to Moscow and Berlin as we wanted to be in a small group. We went on the ships tour of the Palaces and Castles of Copenhagen and it was well organised. Disembarkation at St Petersburg: at St Petersburg the ship tours meet in a designated place on the ship and disembark first and then the independent tours are allowed to disembark. We were anxious that we would be late off the ship as disembarkation is controlled by the port authorities but we got to our designated meeting space, on each day, with at least 20 minutes to spare. People we chatted to told us the ships shore excursions were good. Bars: There is more than enough choice for everyone and every bar can deliver almost any drink. There is an assumption you will visit the Sky Observation Lounge with the quizzes and silent discos but we liked Ensemble Lounge with the jazz, soul and classical musicians. The Sunset Bar was a nice place to sit and watch the sea and the grassed area is open to everyone. My only criticism is that I struggled to find a Classic drinks menu and so I stuck to the same few drinks. If you have the classic package and are looking forward to trying a different cocktail each day there is plenty to pick from but you need to know what you want. Restaurants: Grand Cuvee: as Concierge Class we had our embarkation lunch here and our first meal was not a disappointment. We ate here most nights and while the choice may not be as huge in your local favourite restaurant there is something for everyone, although vegetarians were limited. The staff were attentive, polite and made an effort to get to know us, they even remembered our favourite drink and we both looked forward to having them delivered to us as we pondered the menu. Speciality restaurants: we had a 3 speciality dining package and had 2 meals in Tuscan Grill and 1 in Murano. The first night we paid extra and ate in the Lawn Grill. Every course was a delight to the taste buds, the flat bread melted in the mouth and the grilled foods were presented and cooked perfectly. Tuscan Grille: Italian food at its best in a relaxed atmosphere. Murano: Some people may avoid it thinking it is a bit more up market and they might worry that they will feel uncomfortable, but there is no need to avoid it as the waiters are really helpful. We had a lovely meal. Oceanview Cafe: my first impression was ‘my gosh, this is so busy’ but if you get there at the right time there are few queues and you can get a table quite easily. If you pick prime time you will be queuing with everyone else. There are meats, curries, stir fries, soups, salads, fish and kiddies picks. Fruits, breads and cakes. A 3.30 there is a self-serve afternoon cream tea and after 10pm there was always something for those who might be hungry or late back from a tour. My only quibble is that other than providing an excuse for getting dressed up and having an expensive photograph taken (that you are not obliged to buy) there appears to be no point of the Chic evenings. When sailed on the Princess Coral and there was a champagne reception for everyone who made the effort to get dressed up and the captain and crew mixed and mingled with everyone. If the itinerary is right we will sail with Celebrity again but we probably won’t bother with the chic evenings and will eat in the Ocean View on those nights especially if luggage allowance is an issue. Read Less

Over a year ago, our friends got us drunk and convinced us to go on our first cruise ever. As 'youngin's' - in our late 30's - we were worried that we would be bored or not like cruising, since it is 'for old people' - HA. Boy, were we wrong, and now we are hooked! The boat, the itinerary, the staff/service, the food... everything was beyond amazing! We are now totally spoiled, as part of the 'convincing' from our friends was do get a suite and all of the suite class benefits - so now we cannot imagine having anything less. Luminae, the suite class restaurant was outstanding with new and breathtaking menu offerings each day. Having a butler (whose name was Alfred, by the way) whenever we needed him, not to mention a gorgeous room, made us never want to leave the ship. But of course, the real reason we were there was the itinerary. I am pretty sure we will never be Caribbean cruisers, but being able to unpack once and see places like Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Estonia and Russia with ease of travel, was a dream. We were of course excited initially by Stockholm, Copenhagen and St. Petersburg, but did not really know what to expect from Brugges, Tallin and Warnamunde - all three of which were also an absolute delight, and much more relaxing and just perfect for a pint and people watching. Read Less

We choose the cruise because of the Ports which were visited. Check in at Southampton was smooth and efficient (what a contrast to airports !!!), we were on the ship having our first drink 30 minutes after arriving at the Port. As a Concierge passenger the dedicated first day lunch was appreciated as later in the cruise there were times when it was difficult to find 5 seats together in the Ocean Vew Cafe for lunch. Cabin was well fitted out, ample space and our room steward was excellent. Dining was a real highlight of the tour with our waiters making us feel special every night.Food in the main dining room was very good as was the choice. Meal in Sushi on 5 was also good but there was a little too much pushing to get us to book the specialty restaurants. Entertainment was good particularly the guest artists but the ship cast were not quite as good as we have had previously on a Royal Carribean Cruise. Shore excursions we booked with the ship were goog particularly Ghent however we did book some with TJ Travel and appreciated the much smaller numbers on those trips Overall we can recommend this cruise and Celebrity Cruises Read Less

We had sailed with Celebrity six years ago and loved it. We wanted to return for a Baltic Cruise to St Petersburg and this one coincided with our Golden Wedding Anniversary. We moved heaven and earth to make this cruise. Our insurance was pulled after a routine blood pressure check revealed a possible heart problem (and the policy small print says they must be notified if there is a change to your health. BEWARE - check YOUR policy!)). We paid £1000+ for quick private medical tests in the week prior so that it became a "diagnosed condition" (atrial fibrillation). An extra £90 (on top of the £800 we had already paid) reinstated the policy on the morning before we sailed. And the car broke down on the way! (Thank heavens for the AA) So we were pretty stressed by the time we boarded. Embarkation went smoothly and we were delighted with the cabin (3141 - ocean view - just off the foyer). But they were playing loud jazzy music which we hate - little did we know that this would be a constant companion for the whole cruise. For us this negated all the good things about the Silhouette. So the gripes (most were small niggles really): 1) Muster Drill. We were squashed into a small area and had to crane to see the screens. There was an infantile animation for 10 minutes on how to wash our hands! And then came the serious business of what to do on the order "Abandon Ship"... a ridiculous spy spoof film no less!! The comments by the guests are unprintable! 2) There was no map/layout guide to the ship - we were totally disorientated for a couple of days. The plastic cut-outs by the lifts were inadequate. 3) There was no information folder about the drinks package or the ship or the menus or the destinations or the TV or anything. A daily sheet was delivered the evening prior and the TV had promotional channels - for most things you needed to know you had to queue at Guest Relations.. 4) There was a welcoming bottle of water and a box of Pringles in the cabin. Nice touch we thought...til we found the fill-in price sheet at $6.50 and $4.00 respectively. This cruise was going to be about selling! 5) There were not enough seats on sea days and evenings though we identified lots of nooks and crannies and areas where they could have placed them. 6) Don't forget any basic essentials (soap;shampoo; sun cream; sewing kit; stationery; paperback etc.) Lots of posh shops selling posh stuff but no "ordinary" shop. 7) The ship often docked miles from civilisation e.g Rostock and Stockholm. And they did not supply a free shuttle. The ship's charges for transport were high - and this was particularly annoying as local arrangements were not given until the daily newspaper the evening prior. e.g cost of Celebrity shuttle £37 - local shuttle 8 Euros. 8)The entertainment/activity program consisted mainly of inane quizzes and games or were geared to selling - art auctions;spa treatments; speciality restaurants; wine cellars etc. There was an interesting series of talks about Matt Monroe (oh that lovely gentle melodic music!). And as for ..... 9) THAT MUSIC!!. Everything was loud and beat and blues and jazzy. Not one public corner of the ship was spared. Some was live (and even described as "classical"); jazzed up versions played with amplification enough to deafen you. (Just once we heard a pure classical duet.) Some was "background" piped over the lounges; sundecks; bars and cafes. Even the library was not a quiet zone as it was open-plan to the foyer. We yearned for familiar melodies and ballads. Even upbeat tunes - how about some Carpenters; Sinatra; Elvis; Abba: Beatles; Beach Boys; Shadows; Simon & Garfunkel etc. some recognizable golden oldies? And at volumes we could listen to and hum along with or talk over? 10) SHOWTIME - the best and the worst! A lovely 60s band - "The Revolvers" (the only musical act we really enjoyed); a great comedian; authentic Russian Cossack dancers. But the MUSIC in the rest..... again acts were ruined by the volume. Even the soft songs started well but rose to the inevitable ear-splitting climax. The most talented act "The Barricade Boys" was drowned out. Their lovely harmonious voices had to compete with the Silhouette Band. The drummer of this terrible group thought he was the star of the show and the rest obviously believed their job was to compete with the main act. The term "accompanists" did not apply. An unbalanced out-of-tune cacophony of noise! And what we DID enjoy:- 1) The cabin (our refuge of silence). Comfortable beds and good storage. Hospitality tray. Great cabin steward. Only ocean view but the best we've ever had. 2) The main restaurant. Excellent food and wonderful service. Absolutely no complaints. 3) The lifts were amazing. And almost never any queue except on mass exits from the theatre. 4) Everywhere was spotlessly clean. 5) The service was prompt and polite and efficient. The staff would try to fulfil every request and we loved being treated like royalty. 6) The Oceanview cafe/restaurant had lots of choice (although we would have liked more fish) and we could usually find a seat. We learned to visit early or late to avoid the crush! The temptation was to eat too much. 7) We booked this cruise when there was a good deal available (including drinks package) and we think we got excellent value thanks to the advice of the agent at Iglu. We visited a balcony and a concierge cabin and did not think the extra price tag was worth it. (£1000 pp extra for the concierge). 7) The ports of call were all first-time for us. We loved St Petersburg and hope to return to all the cities. As we have restricted mobility we took Celebrity's "mild activity" ones. Somewhat expensive and often too short but generally enjoyable with knowledgeable guides. Now we've had a taster we hope to learn much more before our next cruise. Will it be with Celebrity? As you can tell from this review the music was a HUGH turn-off for us. Because of this issue alone the answer is (unfortunately) probably not. Because of this we will not give the 5 stars the rest of the holiday deserved. We will do some careful research before we choose our next ship. (PS Whilst on a guided tour we were told about the flood prevention barriers. She explained that hey had been deployed during the high winds two weeks earlier thus preventing the previous cruise ship docking in St Petersburg. So possibly not the Captain's fault?). Read Less

Celebrity Silhouette - Scandinavia and Russia - 7th July. Embarkation at Southampton was the fastest we’ve ever experienced. We arrived early around 10 am, and were able to walk straight up to check in, and board immediately. Our cabin balcony 9105 was overlooked by the bridge, and did have a web cam potentially looking over you, not something that worried us, but might some of you. The Silhouette soft furnishings are looking tired, however her staff make up it with their seemingly endless energy. Everyone attentive, and friendly, nothing too much trouble. The MDR restaurants now have a vegetarian menu on request which gives a slightly better choice for those not eating meat or fish. I wonder when this was introduced as we were not offered it back in December. I consequently wrote to Celebrity with this suggestion, and would be really impressed if that had been actioned as a result! The food in the MDR was good, and the buffet although following a similar theme each day, did have changes of dishes every day. Our Classic Drinks package gave us more than enough choice, and the bar staff will make you up cocktails not listed on the drinks list, if you ask. Entertainment on the cruise was just that, show times for us were too late, at 8:30 and 10:30, our preference is to go to the early show, then dine, this is almost impossible when last orders at the restaurants is 9:30 unless you leave the theatre as the act takes their final bow! The itinerary for the cruise was on the whole excellent, the only downside being some of the ports we docked in where a long way from the city/town being visited. Stockholm was 60 minutes journey, and Rostock was 20 minutes, both had shuttles laid on, but at $20 each for the Rostock one, it seemed expensive, I don’t know the Stockholm price as we had done our homework and took the train in, which was very easy to do. Rostock did not have much to offer the visitor, however after 3 days in St Petersburg, most people we spoke to said they were happy to have an unchallenging day. Disembarkation was quick too, having chosen to carry our own bags off, we were at our car within 20 minutes. Read Less

We chose this cruise because of the destinations. The embarkation was smooth and we were on the ship in no time. The cabin was spacious including both interior and balcony space and was kept impeccably by our cabin steward. All the staff were friendly and helpful. The dining in the main restaurant was enjoyable as the food was to a high standard most of the time. The entertainment was a bit mixed as you expect on cruises as you cant please everyone all the time. It was a very enjoyable cruise however there were some annoying niggles for one the ship berthed in remote moorings in both Stockholm (an hours drive to the city) which missed out sailing past the small islands leading to the port and also in Copenhagen where it berthed in an industrial site miles from the city whereas we could see when we got to town that Queen Victoria was berthed within walking distance of the town. The ship itself lists it has room for 2800 guests however we were informed by the entertainment staff there were 3055 guests on board which compared to other cruises every bit of public space was crowded. There was little room to breathe on the open decks as passengers were packed like sardines on what were very stained cushions used for the sun loungers. Finally the desire to squeeze the last dollar from you would not have been out of place in the old double glazing world. On a positive note seeing past these niggles we had a fantastic time the crew were great but I dont think I would use Celebrity again. Read Less

Baltic cruise. Great food, nice cabin, lovely ship. At the halfway point in port at Estonia I received a message that my dad had collapsed and was dying in the UK. The crew offered no support at all with help booking flights, wouldn't even order a taxi. Our ship cards were taken off us at the dockside as if we were being thrown off. We had to walk around with cases dockside to find a taxi. Eventually a shop assistant helped us. We made it home just before dad passed away. Shame I think some training is required. Could have helped with packing our cases. Could have offered advise on airport booking. Should have ordered a taxi to the airport.. Got the impression that we were an inconvenience.shame because we were having the best time ever. We requested the bags to be kept on board until Southampton because of the weight. This was refused. Cost us for overweight luggage on the flights. Read Less

Cruse selected because of the scheduled 2 days in St. Petersburg, but due to excessive wind outside St Petersburg ship, Silhouette was unable to enter the harbour. The result was 2 boring days spent on an overcrowded ship in poor weather conditions, not a pleasant experience. The public areas of the ship were so crowded that it was impossible to find seats in the Bars or the Buffet. Certainly not 4 *service more like a cheap all inclusive hotel. Even the Library was full!!! The remains ports were interesting and the weather was certainly better, but this could not make up for missing the Jewel In the Crown. Silhouette compared with Constellation and Millennium appears to have lost a lot of public space on the upper decks. The introduction of the Lawn Club and the Basketball Court has resulted in insufficient sun beds for relaxing when weather is good and outdoor seats in bars to enjoy the sunshine and a drink! Result a struggle to find a space! Read Less

We chose this cruise following a very pleasant cruise with Celebrity on the Equinox at Christmas and New year 2016/17. We thought the standards would be the same but what a mistake Although the layout of the ship is the same as the Equinox the service and standards were certainly nowhere near as good. As we stayed in a suite we ate most nights in Luminae . The food was tasty but the selection was somewhat lacking. My wife is glutton free and on the Equinox the chef went out of his way to help whereas on the Sillouhette we never even saw the chef. The standard of service from the waiters was nearly as good but the Somelier was not so good . It was a good job we were able to use Michael's bar as this was the only bar on the ship that was able to make my wife's favourite cocktail a bbc ( Bailey's, banana and coconut). We chose this cruise mainly because we wanted to see St Petersburg and we chose Celebrity because of our very good previous experience on the Equinox. However double disappointment we never go to see St Petersburg as the ship failed to dock due to high winds and we were disappointed with the ship. Six days in ports and eight days at sea was not what we signed up for Read Less