The Lawn Ranger! Celebrity’s New Silhouette

In 2008, Celebrity Cruises raised the bar for five-star cruising with the introduction of Celebrity Solstice, the first of their new class of 122,000-ton vessels. These innovative ships have become, among the mega-ships, the epitome of style and good taste.

Celebrity Silhouette, the penultimate in the five-ship series, joined the fleet this summer after a grand naming ceremony in Hamburg. At 14ft longer than her sisters, she also has a number of new features that improve the already high standard of facilities aboard these impressive vessels.

When Celebrity announced it was featuring a real grass lawn on its Solstice-class ships, the news was met with a great deal of scepticism. However, what has been done with the Lawn Club on Deck 15 is probably one of the most extraordinary features ever installed on a cruise ship.  

Wrapped around the bases of the two funnels is a 23,000sq ft area of grass. The Lawn Club offers a unique area for relaxation and fun and, in place of the Corning Museum glass-blowing studio on the first three Solstice-class ships, the Lawn Club Grill is one of the new features on Silhouette.  

In the first outdoor interactive grill area at sea, diners are offered the opportunity to participate in the creation of their meal with the help of trained chefs. Alternatively, you can request your choice of meat to be cooked just how you want it while you sit back with your favourite drink and watch the sun setting over the unusual half-acre of lawn at sea.

Another new aspect of Silhouette’s Lawn Club is the Alcoves. These are eight four-seater semi-private cabanas, which are available from 9am to 9pm. Here, guests can relax and unwind in comfortable seating under a retractable sun canopy. 
Cold towels, water and fresh fruit are available and, if you require more, your own dedicated alcove attendant is a phone-call away. He or she can also provide a well-stocked picnic with selections from Silhouette’s speciality restaurants or arrange a cheese-and-wine evening under the stars.  

Each cabana also has an iPad dock, and an iPad can be borrowed for your time in the cabana.  This comes with an impressive playlist of almost 2,000 songs, as well as films, magazines and games. Wi-Fi access is also on hand if you feel the urge to return to the real world! However, all this comes at an extra cost, with charges varying according to sea days and those in port. 
For those who do not wish to splash out on a cabana, there are eight free-to-use hammocks and two enormous Adirondack-style chairs. Many people enjoyed sitting in these oversized wooden plank chairs and being photographed.  

Close by on either side of the Grill are two more new Lawn Club features, both located in partially enclosed veranda settings. On the starboard side is the Porch, a 48-seater casual dining area with stunning sea views. Open for breakfast and lunch, this laid-back café offers a variety of sandwiches, paninis, soups and salads. To keep numbers down, there is a $5 per person surcharge.  
On the port side is an area with comfortable wicker chairs and tables and Celebrity’s first Art Studio. Here, two artists in residence from the ArtCenter/South Florida, Leslie LaCombe and Armando Droulers, teach drawing, watercolours and even jewellery-making.

For more than 15 years, contemporary art has been a major part of the Celebrity experience, with each ship showcasing a collection of enjoyable and often unusual artwork. This tradition continues on Silhouette with works by established and emerging artists.  

Many of the pieces were specially commissioned for the ship while a number came from the 1997-built Celebrity Mercury, which has been sold, along with sister Galaxy, to German tour operator TUI.  

Among these is ‘Mirror,’ a large stainless steel sculpture by famous Indian artist Anish Kapoor. Situated on the corridor for the speciality restaurants, the reflective surface of this object is constantly changing and reflects the transient nature of life.  
One of the most spectacular works is in the Grand Foyer and features a real ficus tree suspended in mid-air by a stainless steel construction clad in lacquered aluminium. 

However, the core vision of the collection, ‘The Sensuality of a Silhouette,’ can be found in the forward and aft stairwells. Works here include photographs and etchings by various artists and a colourful two-dimensional cut-out by Tom Wesselman, one of the founders of the 1960s’ American Pop Art movement. An iPad tour of the art on board is available for guests and Celebrity has produced a book on Silhouette’s artwork.  

Whilst other mega-ships feature faux design aspects that hark back to an earlier era, Silhouette is proud of being a modern, international vessel. This is reflected in her contemporary and stylish décor, not only in the public areas but also in her comfortable suites and staterooms, the majority of which have verandas.  

There are again 1,443 cabins with considerable choice for guests, ranging from inside cabins (just 10 per cent of the total) to two large penthouse suites. All cabins have Egyptian cotton bedding while 30 have wheelchair access.

The 67 aft suites, especially those in Aqua and Concierge Class, are highly recommended, not only for their extra features but also the privacy of their verandas. Sitting on one of these is akin to being on a private yacht. It is also possible to keep the sliding doors open at night without too much concern about wind, which is often a problem with side veranda cabins.  

The ship is extremely quiet, with little noise or vibration from the engine room, while announcements are kept to the minimum. In fact, peace and tranquillity is one of the great features of the Solstice-class ships.  

There are numerous cool areas, in both senses of the word, where one can escape to read a book or listen to music on your personal stereo. The two-deck-high library overlooking the Grand Foyer is well lit and has high-back retro-style chairs for relaxation or pleasant conversation.  

On the deck below is a card room and below that is another unusual new feature on Silhouette, The Hideaway. Here, you can find a quiet retreat to relax with your book or laptop in the relative privacy of a meshed cocoon-like structure that juts out over the deck below, giving the impression of being in a tree-house. There are complimentary coffee and tea-making facilities close at hand so you don’t have to fly your nest for refreshments!  

And, if you would like a sea-view with your indoor relaxation, there is always the Sky Observation Lounge high up on Deck 14 with its forward-facing panoramic views of the sea.

Although the ship is primarily designed for adults, children are well catered for and have an exclusive area on Deck 15. The junior cruising experience begins early as parents can bring under 3s to play with toys and interact with other toddlers.  

From this age upwards there are various age-related clubs, including for teens up to 17 years old. The enthusiastic staff actively encourage participation and provide a flexible experience, from building blocks, games, craft activities, themed parties and discos to a more educational theme, which could even include crew members being invited to talk about their jobs on board. There is also a basketball court for family games.   

The visual and taste experiences of the food and drink aboard is as enjoyable as the stylish surroundings. Even in the 781-seater Oceanview Café casual dining restaurant, the presentation and variety on offer is phenomenal, from Madras beef curry to sushi and from paella to shepherd’s pie.  

There is even an ice-cream station offering many different flavours. And, if all you want is bread and cheese, there is still plenty to choose from. However, for a real treat why not experience the decadence of a Champagne tea served in the elegance of the Murano restaurant? 

Costing $25 per person, this is another first aboard Silhouette and is a white-gloved waiter service affair, offering a fabulous choice of select loose teas served alongside delicious pastries, savouries, scones and cakes, all beautifully presented on fine Wedgwood bone china.  Sit back and relax listening to a string quartet as you sip your glass of champagne or refreshing cup of tea.

Whilst the speciality restaurants, including the quirky Qsine with its iPad menu, are similar to those on the other Solstice-class ships, one popular venue aboard Silhouette has been restyled. 

Michael’s Club has changed from being a type of gentleman’s club to more of an upmarket pub and sports bar. Not only does it have 46-inch TV screens for sporting events, it also offers an international range of more than 60 beers in addition to a selection of premium branded spirits.

After a summer season in the Mediterranean, Silhouette will be based this winter in Cape Liberty, Bayonne (New Jersey), offering 14-night Caribbean cruises. She returns to the Med in April and will undertake cruises from Venice and Civitavecchia.  
In October, she will be joined by Celebrity Reflection, the last of the Solstice-class, which will have an additional deck for Aqua Class passengers. As we have seen with Silhouette, this new ship will no doubt provide at least one or two more pleasant surprises.

CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE FACTFILE
Maiden Voyage: July 2011
Tonnage: 122,400
Length: 1,047ft
Beam: 121ft
Draft: 27ft
Speed: 24 knots
Passengers: 2,886
Passenger decks: 13

MORE INFO: In the UK, call 0844 493 2043 or visit www.celebritycruises.co.uk; in the US, call 1800 647 2251 or www.celebritycruises.com.