Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 by Peter Knego
Peter Knego heads off to Celebrity Cruises’ latest SOLSTICE Class ship, the 122,000 gt, 2,886 guest MV CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE for her naming at the historic port of Hamburg and a two night inaugural cruise into the North Sea.
All photos by and copyright Peter Knego 2011 unless otherwise noted. Please click on image to view a larger version.
Tuesday/Wednesday, July 20/21, 2011
Theme Restaurant, Los Angeles International Airport.
What better apparition to start off this latest trek than LAX’s landmark 1961-built Theme Building, a daring, sleek example of MidCentury architecture that enjoys increasing acclaim with the passage of time. At the adjacent Bradley International Terminal, I boarded a series of flights to Hamburg, Germany, where the Theme Building’s modern maritime equivalent, Celebrity Cruises’ new CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE, was being named.
Dining room, East Hotel, Hamburg.
Upon arrival in Hamburg, I was transferred along with a group of fellow cruise media to the East Hotel, an edgy new venue built in the shell of an old factory in the heart of the Red Light District. Its handsome MidCentury-inspired decor was yet another preamble to the CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE.
The lights are off but somebody's home!
However, unlike the SILHOUETTE and her SOLSTICE class sisters, the hotel was a maze to navigate and once I finally located my room (a striking space with a diagonally-situated island of a bed), trying to operate lights and air conditioning was enigmatic at best. No matter, after a quick refreshment in the lobby, I was off on a short walk down to the bustling River Elbe.
Brucken number 4.
At Brücke 4 in the historic Landungsbrücken, I boarded one of the harbor cruise boats for a 14 Euro circuit of Hamburg’s waterfront. It was a warm, sunny day with a network of clouds that provided intermittent shade during the ninety or so minute tour of Europe’s second largest port.
The 1906-built Landungsbrücken clock tower and departure time.
At 4:20 PM, the departure sign was hoisted on board and the by-then-mostly-full vessel began to rumble into the the waterway.
MV CAP SAN DIEGO at Hamburg.
One of my favorite attractions adjacent to Hamburg’s landing stage is the 1961-built Hamburg-Sud cargo liner CAP SAN DIEGO. The Georg Manner-designed vessel was equipped with luxurious accommodation for twelve lucky passengers on her regular sailings to South America. Rescued from a sale to the breakers in 1986, the CAP SAN DIEGO is immaculately maintained, serving as an hotel ship, museum and attraction that can still operate under her own power.
Hamburg waterfront. The three masted green sailing barque is the preserved RICKMER RICKMERS of 1896.
Soon, the spires of central Hamburg began to peek over the banks of the Elbe. The historic port was once home to some of the world’s most celebrated liners and remains Germany’s premier North Sea cruising hub.
MV COSTA MAGICA.
Although my main intent was to get some footage and images of the CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE, I didn’t mind the collateral bonus of capturing the Concordia Class COSTA MAGICA at the Altona Cruise Terminal.
MV COSCO PACIFIC at Hamburg.
Our boat turned into the sheltered Kuhwerder Hafen container port and passed directly underneath the towering bow of the 10,000 TEU container capacity, 2008-built COSCO PACIFIC, one of the new generation of mega container ships.
Blohm and Voss drydock #10.
And then, we were back into the main portion of the river, sailing past the impressive Blohm and Voss shipyard with its flotilla of massive drydocks.
Uncommon Platform: MV CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE at Hamburg.
Finally, our course was set for the CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE, tucked away at a cargo pier in the Kleiner Grasbrook section of the harbor prior to her scheduled move to the Hamburg Cruise Terminal that evening. Although this is the fourth in a series of five mega cruise ships in the Celebrity fleet, my awe for the SOLSTICE Class increases with the delivery of each vessel. The more I see and experience these inspired, monolithic beauties, the more convinced I am that they are the benchmark of what today’s Premium class post Panamax cruise ship should be. The competition would do well by studying these ships very, very closely…
MV CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE at Hamburg, ctd.
Our craft sailed past at a reasonable distance and then circled back for a close up view of the SILHOUETTE’s multi-faceted and futuristic features. This would be my only chance to obtain unobstructed views of the ship since I would actually be spending the next two days on board.
MV EUROPA at Hamburg.
Another unexpected bonus was being able to get some footage of Hapag-Lloyd’s top-rated MV EUROPA, which I had the pleasure of experiencing on an all-too-short cruise to the Black Sea last fall.
Some ten minutes later, I was disembarking the tour boat and heading back to the hotel for a delicious dinner and an early night’s rest.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Embarking MV CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE.
Our relatively small press group was an hour or so ahead of the big crunch that would board the ship for the gala naming at 5:00 PM, followed by a two night inaugural cruise into the North Sea. It would be a tall order to try and document the entire ship in this short window but my plan was to cover the interior spaces from the bottom up and then head outside for the deck areas in the afternoon.
Aquaclass Cabin 1635, facing port.
But first, I would need to drop off my luggage at Aquaclass Cabin 1635, a very handsomely furnished and sensibly laid out 194 square foot abode on port Deck 11. More on all the accommodation categories in the upcoming CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE Decked! feature but it boasted floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, a sitting area with sofa, 32 inch LCD TV, queen-sized bed and vanity.
So much balcony, so little time...
The 54 square foot verandah was furnished with lounge seating and a glass balcony for unobstructed views.
Aqua Spa cabin 1635 bathroom.
The spacious bathroom was fitted with a Hansgrohe shower, wood-toned cabinetry and tile surfacing.
Shower side jets in action.
Massaging side jets and a rainforest shower head as well as a bar for leg-shavers are all part of the Aquaclass shower experience on the SILHOUETTE.
Blu Restaurant, facing port.
Systematically, I worked my way up from the Grand Foyer on Deck 3 through all of the public spaces. One of my very favorite rooms is the Blu Restaurant on aft Deck 5, with its rose-embossed molding, colorful honeycomb of a room divider and elegant table settings. The deep blue and white color scheme is more like the Blu on board the SOLSTICE versus the turquoise hues in the same room on the ECLIPSE.
Grand Lobby, facing port from Deck 5.
In the Grand Lobby, the staircase enjoys a curvaceous descent to the bottom level and the addition of a crystal chandelier is meant to evoke the grandeur of liners past. But the liner-like ambiance is not exclusive to just the SILHOUETTE’s Grand Lobby.
Virtual canary art.
As with all of the SOLSTICE Class ships, the SILHOUETTE features intriguing, sometimes interactive artwork, such as the cages of virtual canaries just outside of the Bistro On Five on the Deck 5 terrace of the Grand Foyer.
Hovering over the Hideaway.
Overlooking the Deck 7 and 8 balconies of the Grand Foyer, there is the tree house-inspired Hideaway Lounge, which complements the ficus tree suspended in a double helix-shaped planter in the heart of the atrium.
Temple of Tan: Main pool area, facing forward from Deck 12.
The open air lidos on the SOLSTICE Class Deck 12 have two large pools that are surrounded by both shaded and exposed seating. Architectural surfaces are multi-faceted and angular, with an almost Mayan or Egyptian symmetry. On the SILHOUETTE, the dancing fountains at the foot of the bandstand have been eliminated to provide more deck space.
Spa spiral, Deck 12.
The vast AquaSpas on these ships occupy the forward portion of Decks 11 and 12. Dual levels are linked by a helix-shaped staircase with exotic, Persian-inspired mosaics.
Under canvas wings.
In the Lawn Club area with its authentic grass (the concept sounds a bit silly until it is actually experienced underfoot), magnificent canvas wings that would make Eero Saarinen (or even the Theme Building’s architect, Paul Williams) proud, add a dynamic twist.
Lawn Club Grill, facing port.
In lieu of the Corning Museum of Glass attraction on the three prior SOLSTICE ships, the SILHOUETTE has the Lawn Club Grill, a new extra tariff ($30) eatery where guests have the option of selecting, seasoning and grilling their own cuts (under the tutelage of a “guide”) or having it done for them. More on that later….
An alcove perspective.
The SILHOUETTE also introduces handsome, cabana-like, inward-facing Alcoves to the Lawn Club area.
Aft/port section of the Lawn Club, facing forward.
The portions of the Lawn Club that line either side of the aft funnel casing are similar to those on the prior ships.
Blogger with CELEBRITY SOLSTICE Godmother Sharon Smith. Photo by Anne Kalosh.
Miraculously, by 3:30 that afternoon , I had completed about ninety percent of my photography. In need of some revitalization, I headed to the Garden Cafe, where I was delighted to find SeaTrade Insider’s charming and intrepid Anne Kalosh chatting away with Sharon Smith, the Godmother of the CELEBRITY SOLSTICE. Professor Smith, a biological oceanographer and humanitarian, was kind enough to pose for a quick photo with yours truly.
Garden Cafe Salad Bar selections.
Celebrity’s Garden Cafe salad bars are pure ambrosia to my uninhibited grazing sensibilities, offering an impressive variety of well-presented ingredients and large cruets of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to douse it all in.
Pastiche of pasta toppings, Garden Cafe.
The pasta bar is also a mini-nirvana of choices, from cream, pesto, bolognese and tomato sauces to a couple dozen toppings and select herbs and spices as well as bountiful amounts of freshly grated parmesan. You select and they cook it up…
Caramel Pecan preparation.
When I rejoined Anne, her newest table companion was none other than Royal Caribbean International’s CEO and President, Richard Fain. I was thrilled to tell Mr. Fain (who insists on being called “Richard”) just how much I am in awe of the SOLSTICE Class ships. He credited his design team, headed by the uber-brilliant Harri Kulovaara, for all the magnificence enveloping us. We then enjoyed conversing about architecture in general, the Fibonacci Sequence, gardens and gazebos before it was time to go “spritz up” and don formal attire for the naming ceremony. On the way out, I could not resist a delicious scoop of caramel pecan ice cream…
Cafe al Bacio baristas in action.
Alas, instead of “11”, where my cabin was located, my finger pushed “5” on the elevator panel, allowing me to make a quick beeline to the ever-buzzing Cafe al Bacio for a jet lag-defying cappuccino pick-me-up.
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Stellar (CELEBRITY) ECLIPSE Sea Treks
End Of Part One.
Kevin
July 27, 2011 at 8:10 pm
There is just something so interesting about the designs Celebrity has done with this class of vessels. There are so many details to take in, many are unexpected, the number of surprises in the images are refreshing. Well done Celebrity.
Kalle Id
July 28, 2011 at 12:12 am
Peter, your entries just keep getting better and better! (Or maybe I just always forget how good the previous ones were and hence am always pleasantly surprised). The SILHOUETTE seems like a fascinating ship indeed, I’m very much looking forward to reading the subsequent parts of this (and the Decked! of course).
Relatedly, I can’t help feeling a little bit of nationalistic pride when the entry mentions not one but two brilliant Finnish architects, Saarinen and Kulovaara.
Peter Knego
July 28, 2011 at 2:07 am
Thank you, Kalle! It’s nice to be back. As someone who has greatly enjoyed your contributions to MaritimeMatters, I blush accordingly…
And yes, you should feel very proud and nationalistic about these great architects. There must be something in the Finnish water! I hope Kulovaara gets the recognition he is due as time marches onward.
Peter Newall
July 28, 2011 at 2:54 am
Bravo Peter for producing your usual fascinating insight into a fabulous ship. With this class, Celebrity has moved the goal posts once again. They are a celebration of what is possible for a large modern cruise ship. I am aboard for the two-nighter this weekend ex-Civitavecchia so shall use your guide as my guide!
Peter
Kalle Id
July 28, 2011 at 10:27 am
Peter: We have blushing all around then.
Your water theory might have a point to it… our tap water is, after all, sold as bottled water in other parts of the world (this is not a joke, it even won a medal as the best bottled water someplace). Someone should conduct a study if drinking the said water stimulates artistic skills.
Kenneth Eden
July 29, 2011 at 6:01 am
Say what we will, and we can certainly say what we feel, about this and all other new builds, one thing is for sure and is certain: they are being built!!
We all have our favs, be it large, small or super sized, be it a formal or casual ship, whatever, our needs are met, and new demands are endless, in an idustry that struggles to “top the next” new ship.
Once cruise and liner lovers were short supplied, with only a dozen, say, “cruise ships”, old liners or rebuilds, that catered to a small and elite cruising clientel, late ’60′ and ’70′s. Sure, we had the QE2 and FRANCE, two last breaths of liner loving then. I relish those good old days, and have embraced several of the new ships of today. I wonder how Paquet or, say, Incres Line would fare in todays sea of ships?
Lets just hope that the industry can survive the worldly recession, and keep the quality or atmosphere on the given cruise products we have today, without any cutting back, as there seems to be noticiable cutting back in quaility and nickle and diming on some brands.
In order for more ships and new experiences on them we must support them, by booking and sailing.
Kalle Id
July 29, 2011 at 12:38 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with Kenneth’s sentiment. That said, the relative sparcity of cruise ships in the 1960s and 70s was offset by the large number of ships (mostly ferries) used on off-season cruising in a way that has now completely disappeared and has been forgotten. For instance Hapag-Lloyd ran winter-season Caribbean cruises using two chartered Yugoslavian ferries as late as 1980 (possibly later still, my information only covers that year).
Certainly many of these ships weren’t up to the standards of even that day’s cruise ships (but then again, many also were) but still, looking at just the “real” cruise ships for that era misses an important element of what was cruising and importantly the not-elite cruising of the era.
Kenneth Eden
July 30, 2011 at 5:11 am
I wish to give some insight to my use of the term “elite cruising clientel”
Back then I was a teenager, lucky to travel without parents on my back. I could not afford luxury digs, but, I had a travel agent that could point me in the right direction at a very LOW price, thus, I sailed in the worst cabin(s), upper/lower berths, deplorable baths (never deplorable on QE2). – imagine sailing the first leg of the SS FRANCES world cruise, in the cheapest cabin,for 14/16 days? $25.00 for head to toe tux rental for the entire length of the voyage? Now, that is what it is all about for me, as these “elitist” ships gave me the entry to a wolrd of wonder that I can not imagine not having had as an integral, part of my life.
In the states, ferries were not used as cruise ships at least not with gereat frequency. . I do remember the BOHEME, never sailed her. FINNJET was the PEARL of SCANDINAVIA. Paquets’ AZUR and MASSALIA remained in Europe.
Yes, by the by, inside upper/lower berths were indeed on the QE2 and SS FRANCE. The FRANCE even had cabins witout private baths! Refits on the QE2 changed those cabins to dedicated single cabins, as NORWAY, they were completely refitted.
Kalle Id
July 30, 2011 at 2:05 pm
I believe you’re confusing the FINNJET (which was never used for cruising, at least not outside the Baltic) with the FINNSTAR that did indeed later become the PEARL OF SCANDINAVIA . She was converted to a full cruise ship as the PEARL, but she cruise extensively already as the FINNSTAR. And speaking of other Finns, FINNPARTNER, BORE STAR and ILMATAR were all ferries that did off-season cruising.
The BOHEME, as it happens, was not a ferry. She was laid own as one but changed to a full cruise ship during construction. Her ferry-sisters PRINS HAMLET and PRINCESA MARISSA (ex-FINNHANSA) did do cruises. Two other Commodore ships, BOLERO and CARIBE (ex-FREEPORT now DISCOVERY SUN) were ferries. I also believe Discovery Cruises’ first ship DISCOVERY I retained her car deck while in service with them.
Sundance Cruises’ SUNDANCER (ex-SVEA CORONA and future PEGASUS) and STARDANCER (ex-SCANDINAVIA) were both ferries. Fred. Olsen’s BLACK WATCH and BLACK PRINCE of 1966 were both originally built as ferries with off-season cruises in mind. NCL’s SUNWARD and STARWARD were both ferries and even carried cars on their early cruises with NCL. Star Cruises STAR PISCES and STAR AQUARIUS were (and are) both ferries.
Then there are many ferries that were chartered out to travel agencies for cruising and in these cases very little information remains. When researching my Master’s Thesis I came across numerous travel agencies that were, in the late 70s/early 80s routinely chartering ferries for wintertime cruising. Since the archival sources I was using were only interested in whether or not the agencies would charter their ferry, I have very little idea what ships they were using. I do know that the Soviet Union extensively chartered their GRUZIYA and DMITRIY SHOSTAKOVICH -classes out for cruising (six and seven ships, respectively), but I’d say there almost certainly have got to be more.
Apologies if this sounded like a lecture.
Kenneth Eden
July 31, 2011 at 6:14 am
A ferry is a ferry is a ferrry – can’t change the looks , for sure.
The obvious usage of ferries to -from – the United States was the primary comment above, as there were very few in evidence at the time.
There were high hopes and lots of hoopla for the SCANDINAVIA a hopefull entity – a shame it did not catch on over here – not pretty on the outside, and drab inside, with poor prep for on – off auto facilities, especially in NY. Passengers will vomit their way to and from the Caribbean when they sail from the Northeast in the winter on a bon fide cruise ship, yet, screamed bloody blue murder when they sailed the SCANDINAVIA and were sick. How odd.