Pleasantly surprised

First time with Celebrity after over 30 cruises with P & O and seeing year on year gradual reduction in standards with them (cost cutting obviously). Arriving 4 hours before guideline checking time (they advised to be early due to a boat show in Southampton) we were delighted to be boarded immediately and quickly. Helpful check in staff answered the few questions raised.

I always believe that a ships reception/customer care (in Celebrity) is often a good reflection of what is to come and, again the two matters raised were dealt with in an efficient and friendly manner. P & O Reception staff always seem rather po faced and unhappy these days and even minor matters can seem an inconvenience to them. Passengers divided 50/50 Uk and American.

Service standards generally were high and the ship, Silhouette is well designed with a good lift system. The covered pool area and spa is comfortable and unlike P & O incurs no extra charge. The other outside pools are a bit on the small side. The food in the buffet is sumptuous with so much choice. To observe sailing through the Fjords when departure times were early evening we often ate there at dinner rather than the restaurant. The little points make a difference such as there being disposable flannel towels in the general toilet areas which were always spotless. There are just two areas of niggle (there has to be something), firstly the food, apart from the cooked while you wait for steak and fish in the buffet, could be hotter (this applies also in the restaurant). Secondly, although the individual acts in the main theatre were superb the shows featuring full dance company were not up to P & O standard as regards content and production. Having said that we have already booked again to travel with Celebrity esp as the classic drinks package included in our first cruise is again included in the cost, otherwise, they did look a bit expensive.