A cruise for the holidays? I say YES!
It’s the perfect time for families with kids in school. Whether your kids have two full weeks off at the end of the year or just a few days there are several options for a magical family vacation.
In 2023 we spent Christmas and New Year’s on a small expedition ship in Antarctica and last year, just before Christmas, we embarked on a 4-night cruise on the Celebrity Silhouette. Both experiences were truly magical during the holidays. People dress up, everyone is excited to be on vacation and the ships are decorated most beautifully. It doesn’t get much better. Revist my Antarctica trip.
Our Celebrity Silhouette Experience
Our adventure on the Celebrity Silhouette was our third cruise, but the first with Celebrity. Going into it, we knew this was a family-friendly cruise line, without being exclusively family-focused. I was a little worried, but also excited because it meant the ship wouldn’t be nearly as crazy. It ended up being wonderful!
We chose a Bahamas cruise to Nassau and Bimini and explored the various amenities that the cruise ship offers, including dining, activities, and our accommodations.
Sunset Sky Suite Accommodations
We stayed in a Sunset Sky Suite, part of the “Retreat.” Our suite was quite large and beautiful. We were in the aft of the ship on the corner, so in addition to the sliding door to the veranda, we also had a large porthole. Our son loved sitting in the porthole and closing the curtains – it made for a small private escape. The room had a king-size bed, a sofa, and a comfortable chair. There was a lot of room to spread out. The veranda was large and had a table and chairs. We didn’t spend as much time on the veranda as I had hoped due to the weather, but it was great to have the extra option for space.
Our porthole was such a nice addition! It was so fun to sit, relax, and look out on the ocean.
Benefits of The Retreat
By staying in the Retreat you get exclusive access to the Luminae restaurant which is smaller than the main dining room, which made the experience much more relaxing and quiet. While the restaurant had its own menu, it also served from the main dining room giving us a wide array of options. The food was delicious and the service was amazing and very personalized.
Having a suite in the Retreat also gets you private access to the Retreat Lounge (or Michael’s Club on some ships) and the Retreat Sundeck. On the newer ships, the sundeck has a lovely pool and hot tub, though ours only had the hot tub. We didn’t use the hot tub, but we did enjoy the sundeck. One morning we were enjoying some quiet time lounging and they brought around fruit kabobs and a glass of champagne.
Kids Club Activities
Our son loved the kids club onboard. The director called herself Ella Umbrella and was so welcoming to all of the children. It was apparent she truly enjoyed her job - at least on the outside! They played lots of games - one of the favorites was called GaGa Ball--I won’t even pretend to know what that is. They played musical chairs, had a ping pong tournament, and had scavenger hunts around the ship.
Swimming Pools and Relaxation
There were two small pools right next to each other. When we were there the pools were never full—though the hot tubs always had people in them. One time G, our son, had the pool completely to himself and another time it was him and maybe 5 other kids. It was never loud and crazy. The Celebrity ships do not come with massive water slides or other entertainment like go-karts and climbing walls, so it’s much more relaxing.
Specialty Dining Experiences
We tried two specialty restaurants while on board - Tuscan Grill and The Lawn Club Grill. I highly recommend the Tuscan Grill for really tasty Italian food. I started with the Minestrone Soup and a shared flatbread pizza. For my main dish, I had the Strozzapreti Carbonara and for dessert, lemon cheesecake, which was so light, tangy, and delicious. I also loved The Lawn Club Grill. The restaurant is on the top of the ship with the grassy lawn just outside. You are covered and enclosed in the restaurant so it was warm even with it being chilly outside. They have burgers, a refreshing salad bar, and other options. BUT, the burger I had was incredible. Even with getting it extremely well done, it was still nice and juicy.
Fun Onboard Experiences
While at sea there are many activities to choose from including shows in the theatre, live music in various locations on the ship, and many other activities. Our two favorite activities we participated in were trivia in the lounge and a mixology class in the World Class Bar. Trivia happened several times a day and had various themes. Some were significantly hard, but we managed to win one round! In the mixology class, we learned how to make and taste several different drinks. The bartenders were extremely knowledgeable and engaging.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we loved our cruise on the Celebrity Silhouette and will cruise them again. It made for a wonderful, relaxing, and memorable family vacation full of fun, food, and many activities. It was a great experience that I recommend to anyone, especially families looking for an alternative to Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Disney Cruise Line.
After The Cruise
Our vacation was not over after the cruise, thank goodness. We took an Uber from the port to the Brightline station and continued up the coast to Orlando for our next adventure. Stay Tuned.
Where do you like to travel for the holidays? Leave me a comment!
Traveled by: Plane, Uber, and Cruise Ship
Airport used: Sea-Tac Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Cruise Line and Ship: Celebrity Silhouette