Celebrity Silhouette- Italy & Croatia Mediterranean Cruise

One of my goals had always been to sail from/into Venice on a luxury cruise ship so when Celebrity offered a cruise itinerary doing just that on their fabulous new ship Silhouette I was delighted to book it with my husband and two very good friends. On arrival in Venice it was just a 20 minute transfer from the airport to the Cruise terminal where we were soon being welcomed aboard with a glass of champagne. After unpacking, lunch and the obligatory safety drill it was time to make our way to the Sunset bar on the top deck for a sail away drink and a good position from which to take in the magnificent views as we slowly made our way out of the Cruise terminal and past the iconic buildings of Venice and ultimately out of the lagoon into the Adriatic sea.

The fourth of five ships in Celebrity’s Solstice class, Silhouette carries a maximum of 2,885 passengers and 1500 crew giving an excellent 2:1 service ratio. Accommodation comprises a choice from Suites, Balcony, Ocean View and Inside Staterooms. There is also a wide choice of options for food and drink with 12 different restaurants/cafes and 13 bars on offer. We dined most evenings in the main restaurant, Grand Cuvee, but also ate in two of the specialty options, Murano offering fine dining with a French influence and the Lawn Club grill offering huge steaks, chops and seafood outside in the unique lawn area on the top deck. There are a variety of activities on offer each day including superb gym and spa facilities, jogging track, dance classes, seminars, movies, internet café, wine tasting, cookery lessons and more. Or you can relax on a sun lounger with a good book and a cocktail and do absolutely nothing!!!!! In the evening the entertainment ranges from a West End style show or, cabaret in the elegant theatre, trying your luck in the Casino or taking in the live music on offer in many of the lounges/bars in various parts of the ship.

The first port of call on our itinerary was the Croatian City of Dubrovnik. We took a shuttle bus into the City and walked the walls of the old town which offered lovely views of the coastline and harbour. Other shore excursions offered the chance to explore further afield beyond the city vicinity.

After a day at sea we reached our next destination Civitavecchia the port for visiting Rome which is two hours away by coach or train for taking in the historic sights of the “eternal” city such as the Colosseum, Trevi fountain and the Vatican.

Next morning we opened the curtains on the port of Naples and a view of Mount Vesuvius. We chose to tour the spectacular Amalfi coast visiting Sorrento and Positano. Other options include taking a ferry to the beautiful island of Capri or a visit the ruins of Pompeii.

Our next port was Catania on the island of Sicily from where we chose to visit the lovely village of Taormina perched high up on a mountainside.

We then set sail for the Island of Malta and enjoyed a spectacular early morning arrival in Valletta Harbour. We took a half day tour which included Mdina the old town, St Paul’s bay area, St Julian’s bay area, central Valletta and Barracca gardens from where there are superb views of the Harbour.

After a day relaxing at sea we returned to Croatia to visit Split the second largest City. We took the tender ashore to explore the old town area and had an excellent seafood lunch around the harbour.

Next day we arrived at the Italian port of Ravenna. The main local attraction was again a tour of the old town area. Other excursions offered included a tour of the Ferrari factory and museum, visiting the city of Bologna or even further afield an all day trip to the city of Florence.

Finally it was time to return to Venice with the early morning arrival being just as spectacular as our late afternoon departure as we towered above the historic buildings on our way back to the cruise terminal.

A wonderful Cruise experience on a fantastic ship with memories that will last for ever especially sailing out of and back to Venice! Wow!