Adriatic Cruise Aboard the Celebrity Silhouette

It's no surprise that D and I LOVE cruising. It's also no surprise that we adore the Celebirty Cruises fleet of cruise ships and the impeccable service & itineraries they provide. That's why when it came time to plan our very last big European trip before moving back to America, choosing a 14-day sailing with Celebrity was a total no brainer. We already knew we'd love the ship and the cruise line…and when we saw the itinerary, hitting ports in countries like Slovenia, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, Greece, and Malta…I couldn't book it fast enough! And because it was our last European cruise (for now, at least), we went all out. A vacation to remember for more reasons than one!

Our floating resort for those 14 exciting days was the Celebrity Silhouette, a Solstice class, 2,886 occupancy dream ship that was just recently voted Best Mediterranean (large ship) Cruise by Cruise Critics' 2014 Cruisers Choice Awards. We had already sailed on the Reflection, the Silhouette's sister ship, for our very first cruise in May of 2013. Having already experienced the first-class service provided by Celebrity once before, we knew we were in for 2 weeks of unparalleled pampering, relaxation, and exploring.

Naturally, we weren't disappointed. From the friendly and courteous staff, delicious food, and never-ending plethora of fun activities, all the way to the the plush accommodations and sleek atmosphere, it was easy to let go of the real world and be totally blissed out. D and I took advantage of one of Celebrity's greatest deals, the 1,2,3 GO! promo, and scored a free drink package for 2, $300 in on board credit, and free prepaid gratuities when we upgraded our balcony stateroom to a the Concierge Class rooms (the upgrade was a little Valentine's Day gift to D). But, more on that later...

...As I mentioned before, the Silhouette looked almost identical to the Reflection, so I didn't feel the need to roam around the ship snapping a million photos as soon as I stepped on board. I did, however, take note of my favorite parts of the ship...which I'll highlight throughout the rest of this post.

Celebrity Silhouette Dining & Nightlife While our most favorite parts of the cruise were exploring all the European port cities we stopped in, when we were on the ship, we were either enjoying the pools, eating at one of the ship's 10 restaurants (Qsine & Lawn Club Grill were our favorites!), lounging on our balcony, or having a cocktail at one of the ship's 12 bars. There is definitely no shortage of things to see and enjoy on any of the Celebrity ships! Here's a short photo essay of all the Silhouette goodness...

Molecular Bar This bar! You guys...it's the coolest bar on the high seas. The concept? Stimulating the senses with the art molecular mixology. Fun, right? We spent wayyyy too many hours here sipping unique, hand-crafted cocktails and making friends with 2 super funny bartenders. Our goal was to try every drink on the menu...and while we didn't quite try them all in 14-days, we did find that every drink was delicious (Coming Up Roses is still my all time fave!) and worth upgrading to the Premium Beverage package to enjoy without limits. :)

Concierge Class Stateroom & Services Even though our stateroom looked identical to the veranda room we had on the Reflection, we had at least a dozen extra luxurious perks with the Concierge Class (like priority check-in, express luggage delivery, personalized concierge service, a welcome bottle of champagne, daily fresh fruit & canapes, expanded room service menus, extra plus bathrobes & custom-blended bath amenities...just to name a few). These little treats took our cruise experience to a whole new level. We felt like we were living the luxurious life without paying luxurious prices (or feeling that stuffy "I don't belong here" feeling). That's the great thing about Celebrity...they provide a high-end experience without the pretentiousness. We felt totally comfortable, laid back, and free to enjoy being spoiled a bit! They've got modern luxury down to a science!

Would I recommend a Celebrity Cruise to my friends and family? OF COURSE! I'm constantly singing their praises and recommending them to anyone looking to upgrade their cruising game. The Solstice Class of ships is on point, but every vessel in their fleet features similar accommodations and fun. You really can't go wrong with this cruise line. Just so you guys know...this post isn't sponsored by Celebrity and I was in no way compensated for this recap. We just really, really adore Celebrity and have had exceptional experiences with them every single sailing. I want to spread the cruising love to everyone I know! In fact, we're booked on another fabulous Celebrity sailing in October! This time to Southern Caribbean ports. I'm counting down the days already!

And because I wouldn't be a good travel agent if I didn't at least mention my biz once in this review...if you're looking to sail the Seven Seas the Modern Luxury way, email me at [email protected]! Celebrity is currently running a SPRING PROMO that should not be missed!

So, thus begins the start of my Adriatic cruise recaps! Up first...Slovenia!
Stay tuned!