Celebrity Silhouette earns a solid 4.1 out of 5 from cruisers overall, with especially strong marks for dining and service, and more mixed feedback on cabin size and the ship’s age. Launched in 2011 and refreshed in 2020, she still delivers a premium, adults-leaning cruise experience, but she’s not for anyone chasing a brand-new mega-ship with water slides and flashy features. Below, we break down exactly what real passengers are saying, section by section, so you know precisely what you’re booking.
What Cruisers Are Saying Right Now
Pull back the curtain on recent 2026 sailings and a pattern shows up fast: this ship earns loyalty, but she doesn’t earn it from everyone equally.
Passengers coming from Royal Caribbean or Disney often find Celebrity Silhouette ship reviews quieter and more restrained than what they’re used to, and a few say that muted style reads as “just fair” rather than special. Long-time Celebrity loyalists, on the other hand, tend to rave. One repeat cruiser on a recent Bermuda sailing described giving up on rock climbing walls and Waveriders entirely, calling the ship’s calmer pace and smoke-free casino exactly what an empty-nester wants.
There’s also a clear split around cabin comfort versus cabin size. Several 2026 reviewers praised the crew by name (cabin stewards and cruise directors show up constantly in the raves) while, in the same breath, criticizing how tight standard staterooms feel compared to the price. That combination, excellent people and dated hardware, is the most consistent theme across the last year of feedback.
Itinerary matters too. Iceland and Greenland repositioning cruises pulled in some of the highest praise of any 2026 sailings, while shorter Caribbean and Bermuda runs generated more of the “could have been better” reviews, often tied to embarkation hiccups or inconsistent specialty dining execution rather than the ship itself.
Editor’s take: When you see wildly different star ratings for the same ship, look at what itinerary and cabin category the reviewer booked. A Retreat-class Iceland sailing and a budget interior cabin on a 4-night Caribbean run are almost two different products wearing the same name.
Cabins: Comfortable Crew, Tight Squeeze
If there’s one recurring criticism on this ship, it’s stateroom size. Standard balcony cabins run smaller than what you’ll find on newer Edge-class ships, and a few 2026 reviewers called them “cramped” for the price point, particularly families sailing with a toddler or a third guest sharing the room.
That said, over 85% of Silhouette’s cabins have private balconies, so if outdoor space matters more to you than square footage inside, the math still works in your favor. A Deck 7 Deluxe Oceanview Balcony stateroom gets consistent praise for smart storage and a genuinely comfortable bed, with a shower space that feels roomier than you’d expect on a ship this age.
Cabins to avoid on Celebrity Silhouette:
- Obstructed-view cabins on lower decks near lifeboats or tender platforms, which block natural light
- Cabins directly beneath the Oceanview Café or pool deck, where early-morning chair-dragging and cleaning noise travels down
- Interior cabins near the theater or nightclub on Decks 3 to 5, which can pick up bass from evening entertainment
- Cabins near crew or service elevators, flagged by several reviewers for door noise late at night
If you want quiet and space over budget, the Retreat suite class (Sky Suites and above) consistently earns the strongest praise, including 24/7 butler service and a private restaurant, Luminae, though even that venue drew one detailed complaint in 2026 comparing it unfavorably to the same restaurant on Celebrity Summit.
Celebrity Silhouette Ship Reviews Show Dining Is a Genuine Strength
Food is one area where Celebrity Silhouette ship reviews consistently stand out from those of mainstream competitors. Even when independent reviewers disagree about other aspects of the ship, dining is one of the areas that receives frequent praise.
The main dining room delivers consistent quality without making meals feel rushed, while specialty venues such as Murano and Tuscan Grille feel more like standalone restaurants than typical cruise upcharge options. Tuscan Grille’s filet steak and lobster pappardelle are repeatedly mentioned as standout dishes, while Café al Bacio remains a popular daytime stop for a proper espresso rather than standard ship coffee.
Specialty dining cover charges range from roughly $7.50 to $50, depending on the venue. Some restaurants also offer small tastings on embarkation day, giving guests a chance to sample the food before deciding where to spend their dining budget.
Opinions become more mixed when it comes to Luminae, the Retreat-exclusive restaurant. Most Retreat guests rate it highly, but one detailed 2026 review reported a noticeable drop in quality compared with a Luminae experience on a sister ship two years earlier. The reviewer pointed to inconsistent plating and slower service during a sailing with high suite occupancy. It’s a useful reminder that even premium dining experiences can vary from one sailing to another.
Entertainment and Atmosphere: Relaxed by Design
Set your expectations correctly here: Celebrity Silhouette ship reviews is not a party ship, and reviewers who go in expecting one tend to come away disappointed.
What you actually get is a genuinely well-balanced schedule. Two theater shows run nightly in a venue built for 1,500 guests, all included in your fare, alongside live music, trivia and themed evenings. None of it feels forced, and quiet corners are easy to find if you’d rather skip the crowd entirely.
The half-acre real grass Lawn Club remains one of the ship’s most distinctive features almost nobody else in the mainstream cruise market offers, and the Sunset Bar during sail-away is repeatedly named a highlight moment across multiple independent reviews. Outdoor cabanas near the lawn cost around $99 in port and $149 on sea days, and come with iPad access and dedicated waiter service.
Karaoke and late-night entertainment get mixed feedback on timing. One 2026 honeymoon review specifically flagged karaoke starting too late most nights (closer to 9:45pm), which cut into the evening for guests hoping to sing earlier.
Service: Where the Ship Consistently Delivers
Across nearly every review we cross-checked, from luxury-focused blogs to critical Cruise Critic entries, service is the one category that rarely gets a bad word.
Cabin stewards and specific waitstaff get named directly and praised for being attentive without hovering. Even reviewers who were unimpressed with cabin size or ship age still tend to soften their overall rating because the crew treated them well. That said, it’s not flawless: one 2026 review specifically cited a “poor cabin attendant” experience on a repeat sailing, a reminder that individual crew performance can vary sailing to sailing even on a ship known for strong service.
Celebrity Silhouette Ship Reviews Reveal If She’s Showing Her Age
This is one of the biggest questions surrounding Celebrity Silhouette, and the honest answer is yes and no. The ship has been around for more than a decade, but her age is not necessarily a deal-breaker for most cruisers.
Built in 2011 and refreshed under the $500 million Celebrity Revolution program in 2020, Silhouette received upgraded bedding, new flatscreen TVs, six additional staterooms, and cosmetic updates across many public spaces. Celebrity Silhouette ship reviews from passengers who experienced the ship before and after the refurbishment generally suggest that she looks and feels younger than her age would imply.
Still, “well-maintained” and “brand new” are two very different things. Several 2026 reviews describe parts of the ship as “old” or “weathered,” particularly cabin bathrooms and some older mechanical systems, while still praising the overall cleanliness and upkeep. One passenger summed up the contrast particularly well by saying she “wears her rust well” — the ship’s age is visible in places, but the maintenance keeps it from feeling neglected.
| Quick Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year built / entered service | 2011 (Solstice-class, 4th of 5 sister ships) |
| Major refurbishment | 2020, Celebrity Revolution program |
| Gross tonnage | 122,400 GT |
| Passenger capacity | 2,886 (double occupancy), up to ~3,300 at max |
| Total staterooms | 1,451 |
| Cabins with balconies | Over 85% |
| Crew members | Approximately 1,250 to 1,500 |
| Editor rating (aggregate) | 4.1 to 4.5 out of 5 |
Celebrity Silhouette Ship Reviews Reveal Who This Ship Is Best For
Based on the pattern across dozens of independent reviews, this ship suits:
- Couples and adult travelers who want a calmer, more polished atmosphere over high-energy activities
- Cruisers who prioritize food quality and service above cabin square footage
- First-time Celebrity guests curious about the brand without paying luxury-line prices
- Repeat cruisers loyal to the smoke-free casino and quieter public spaces
It’s a tougher fit for large families needing bigger connecting cabins, thrill-seekers wanting water slides and rock climbing walls, or travelers who specifically want the newest technology and design found on Edge-class ships like Celebrity Beyond or Ascent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrity Silhouette Ship Reviews
Is the Celebrity Silhouette a good ship?
Yes, based on aggregate ratings around 4.1 to 4.5 out of 5. She’s particularly strong on dining and service, with the main criticism centered on cabin size and signs of age in mechanical and bathroom fittings.
Is the Celebrity Silhouette an old ship?
She entered service in 2011, making her one of the older ships in the Celebrity fleet, though a 2020 refurbishment under the Celebrity Revolution program updated staterooms, bedding and public spaces.
What is the overall rating of Celebrity Silhouette?
Cruise Critic’s aggregate member rating sits around 4.1 out of 5 based on thousands of verified reviews, with an editor rating closer to 4.5.
What’s the worst rated cruise ship in the Celebrity fleet?
Ratings shift over time as fleets change, so check current Cruise Critic or Tripadvisor rankings directly for the most accurate comparison, since older, smaller ships without recent refurbishments tend to score lower than newer Edge-class vessels.
Which Celebrity Silhouette cabins should I avoid?
Skip obstructed-view cabins near lifeboats, rooms directly under the pool deck or Oceanview Café, and cabins near crew elevators or the theater and nightclub, all flagged repeatedly for noise or blocked views.
How many passengers does Celebrity Silhouette carry?
At double occupancy she carries 2,886 guests, with a maximum capacity closer to 3,300 to 3,482 when every berth is filled.
Does Celebrity Silhouette have good food?
Yes, dining is consistently rated as one of the ship’s strongest features, especially specialty venues like Murano and Tuscan Grille, though Retreat-exclusive Luminae has had at least one inconsistent review in 2026.
Where can I check Celebrity Silhouette deck plans before booking?
Celebrity Cruises’ official site and third-party sites like Cruise Deck Plans publish full interactive layouts by deck, which is the most reliable way to check cabin location against noise sources before you book.