Staff stories: A Celebrity Silhouette mini cruise

I was lucky enough to join Celebrity Silhouette on her first call into Southampton for her maiden season home-porting from the UK. This two-night mini cruise sailed the Channel to arrive in Le Havre where, unfortunately, the weather wasn’t ideal for sightseeing. However, this did provide me with ample time to explore the ship at leisure. 

Public spaces on a ship are often overshadowed by other areas of a cruise ship which tend to stand out more, namely the dining areas, bars and swimming areas. Whilst all of these were exceptional onboard Celebrity Silhouette, it’s important to take the time to notice other features onboard and recognise them for, where Celebrity Cruises are concerned, the modern luxury design and ambience that they exude. 

My first glimpse of the library came when I was in the glass life en route to the Grand Cuvee Dining Room for dinner. As a book lover, I was delighted to see the endless reams of books set in far-reaching wooden bookcases and it was all I could do to not press my face against the glass as we whizzed past. That evening, I ensured that I made my way to Decks 10 & 11 to visit the library when it was mostly empty. As I wandered, I was struck by the decor - gloriously comfortable wing-backed chairs, lamps emitting a low light and a dark wooden coffee table all emanated a study vibe, as if you were in the library of a luxury country club. Not only this, but a tasteful sculpture adorned the wall between the bookshelves, striking the balance between innovative and traditional design. 

Sadly, the weather rather restricted my access to the Lawn Club - but I can tell you that what I did see impressed me. Located on Deck 15, you are first welcomed to the Lawn Club Grill, a restaurant hosting the finest grill dishes with all the fun of a classic BBQ. Once you’ve marvelled at the fantastic design of the grill itself, you should then turn your attention to The Lawn Club. Offering a lawn of real glass, the first and only at sea, The Lawn Club is the place to be on a summer’s day onboard Celebrity Silhouette. Including comfortable decking-like seating, giant garden chairs, bright colours and plenty of nooks to explore, The Lawn Club is a functional space, made stimulating. 

The Hideaway, reminiscent of childhood treehouses, injects an element of fun into Celebrity Silhouette’s design. Located on Deck 7, I was thrilled to come across four pods and two treehouse-like egg seats, split across two levels. Decorated in muted browns and greens, this beautiful area of the ship provides a quiet and serene space to relax and chat in or to recline in a pod with a good book. Perhaps one of the most modern-in-design areas of Celebrity Silhouette, I wasn’t surprised that whenever I was near The Hideaway, it was buzzing with an excited energy as guests enjoyed the surroundings.