🚢Silhouette 061426 New Jersey to Bermuda (R/T)

Sunset Sky Suite 6307 • Cruise #70 • Club Points: 4,469

Senior Officers & Crew Who Made This Sailing Shine Captain Morfis Passalis • Staff Captain Marios Flerianos • Hotel Director Nikola Moconja • HR Michelle • Revenue Marketing Director Aline Hollanda • GRM Giulio Andreetto • Chief Engineer Nikos Politsis • Executive Chef Joerg Linder • F&B Director Gjorgji Kuzev • Housekeeping Manager Milena Mandic • Cruise Director Mike Gibbons • Butler Dexter • Stateroom Attendant Kadek • LP Head Butler Valen • Maître d’ Hugo • Hostess Carolynann • Waiter Carlo • Assistant Waiter Marivic • Waiters Gerry, Putu, Nolan (whose baby girl arrives next month!) • Sommelier Erene • Sushi on 5 Maître d’ Mike & Server Sherwin • Lawn Club Maître d’ Yumi • Server Mr. J (Jayral) • Waiter Baron • Retreat Manager Jonathan Tuboro • Retreat Concierges Amnah & Hellen • Retreat Bartenders Anglique, Joel & Liza • Captain’s Club Concierge Laura L.

Click any photo to enlarge.

Day 1 — New Jersey Embarkation

I was up at 5:30, buzzing with that first day of vacation energy, but since it was Sunday, I turned on Mass and watched from bed. Randi was up by six, coffee went on, and the day officially began. Our car arrived at 9:20 for the easy

ride to Bayonne — no airport chaos this time, which already felt like a win. Retreat priority check‑in was smooth as butter: bags whisked away, documents scanned, and by 10:15 we were seated in the Retreat waiting area… where we

spotted Frank & Marilyn already there, grinning like they’d been waiting to spring a surprise. They joined our sailing without telling us — a perfect start. Boarding began at 10:40.

We headed straight to our stateroom. It was a Sunset Sky Suite, which we have sailed in before. It is a long spacious room but since it is located in the rear corner

of the ship on deck 6, it could be rough in heavy seas. We grabbed our keys, and unpacked our carry‑ons. Then it was off to

the Retreat Lounge for a welcome‑aboard cocktail and Wi‑Fi setup assistance by Amnah our Retreat Concierge — always a lifesaver. Lunch at Luminae felt like a homecoming. Our longtime

waiter Carlo was there, along with familiar faces Nolan, Gerry, and Putu. We were home! By the time we returned to the room, our big bags had arrived, so we knocked out a quick unpack before heading to the

Retreat Sundeck for sail away. We settled onto a couch across from Don and Doreen from Port St. Lucie and Clayton, NY. Sail away was gorgeous: up past the

Battery, Lady Liberty on our port side, a full 180° turn, then back past her again on starboard before slipping under the Verrazzano and out to sea. We cleaned up,

celebrated in the Retreat Lounge, picked up a shirt for cousin Allie in the shops, and went to the evening show — a comedian named Tom McTigue who was just

ok so we slipped out early and ended the night with dinner at Luminae before calling it a day.

Day 2 — Sea Day #1

I was awake on and off through the early morning, so the TV kept me company until our coffee arrived at 7:30. After a quick Wi‑Fi fix in the Retreat, we headed to breakfast with Carlo.

Randi went to the casino where she won! Notice the intense concentration. I

camped out in the quiet relaxation lounge overlooking the bow. Great views and good reading. Later I found Frank & Marilyn at the casino bar and joined them until Randi resurfaced. At 11:30 we

went to the Captain’s Welcome Toast in the Sky Lounge. As Zenith members, we were ushered in first — always a nice perk. Frank & Marilyn joined us, and we enjoyed the ceremony. The top cruiser was Mrs. Jodie

Shapiro with over 17,000 points. Incredible! Lunch at Luminae followed (shrimp po’boy + Cobb salad for me), brought from the galley by Ari. Then I grabbed a much‑needed nap while Randi returned to the

casino to win a little more. At 5:15 we attended the Officers’ Soirée in the Retreat — a lovely event with many officers present. We took a photo with the Captain and another with

our favorite GRM, Giulio, who at just 31, has risen through the ranks with impressive speed. A relaxing evening in the Retreat Lounge and a delicious dinner at Luminae wrapped up the day.

Day 3 — Sea Day #2

We moved the clocks forward an hour overnight, so we woke at 7:30 “new time.” Coffee in the room, then breakfast where we

chatted with Marcel and Rosemary at the next table. (not pictured here) Randi headed to the casino (pattern emerging), and I went to the Retreat to

write. At 10:30 we played Retreat Trivia and scored 8/20 — almost good enough for the basement prize. At noon we gathered in

Ensemble Lounge for the Zenith Lunch. The Captain, Hotel Director, Chief Engineer, and Giulio were all there, along with about 20 Zenith members. Once in the Blu restaurant, we sat

across from David Chin and Darlene Cruz from Williamsburg. The meal was excellent: Greek salad,

tomato caprese, charcuterie, Bronzino for me, lamb chops for Randi. Here is the picture of the true Zenith group. There was another lunch for the Royal Pinnacles.

Afterward we tried Country Music Trivia in the Sky Lounge and scored 10/20. Not our best showing. We split up until happy hour —

I listened to the Atlas Duo in the Grand Foyer (they were fantastic), while Randi continued her casino streak. Cocktails in the Retreat Lounge followed by dinner at Luminae. I ordered the pork loin from the main

dining room menu, which was surprisingly delicious. We browsed the art gallery afterward and nearly bought a walk‑off piece, but the frame was scratched, so we passed. Then we visited the Sunset Bar for the first time this cruise — fresh air,

with cloudy skies, and no stars, but still lovely. Returning to the room, we found a full “Happy Anniversary” setup: BIG sign, balloons, confetti, and cake. Very sweet… except it

wasn’t our anniversary. But hey — we’ll take the celebration. It was our 70th cruise, after all.

Day 4 — Bermuda (Day 1)

We sailed into The Royal Navy Dockyard, Heritage Wharf pier, Bermuda just after 8:00 AM and were cleared by 8:30.

Breakfast at Luminae included a great conversation with Debbie and Tom — he’s a former chief engineer at a nuclear plant, and they live near Poughkeepsie.

We walked the length of the area, browsed the shops, and picked up a shirt, a straw pocketbook (apparently the accessory this year), and a deck ornament.

By 11:15 we were back aboard and relaxing in the shade of the Retreat Sundeck.

Sushi on 5 called our names for lunch. Maître d’ Mike greeted us warmly and seated us with Sherwin, another familiar face. Randi ordered her beloved double dumplings, and I had spicy

tuna followed by lobster ramen — outstanding. After lunch we found lounge chairs on Deck 5 with a perfect sea breeze, ideal for a nap.

Later we headed to the Retreat Lounge for cocktails and ran into Frank & Marilyn in the elevator — the first time we’d seen them in days. Frank had been sick and even visited the infirmary for meds, but he was on the mend.

Dinner was outside at Lawn Club Grill at 6:30. Despite being told 7:00 was unavailable, the place was half empty at that time. Yumi, the maître d’, told us to book directly with him next time. Mr. J was our

server, and we also saw Baron, another familiar waiter. We shared a pepper flatbread, then both had ribeye steaks. Dessert was their signature warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream — We both walked away very happy. We ended the night in the Retreat Lounge chatting with our new friends from Queens.

Day 5 — Bermuda (Day 2)

We woke around 8:00 and eased into the morning with our pre‑breakfast coffee ritual. Dexter, our butler, stopped by to check on us and surprised us with a bottle of wine from the Hotel Director — a lovely touch!

At Luminae, Carlo was buzzing with stories from his overnight fishing adventure. He’d caught enough fish to feed thirty

crew members at a beach cookout. The man works all day, fishes all night, and still shows up smiling. We ordered eggs Benedict and chatted with Vinny and Vera, who are moving to Manalapan after the cruise.

Up on the Retreat Sundeck, we found a perfect couch overlooking the water. The sun was playing hide‑and‑seek behind the

clouds, but it was still a beautiful, breezy morning. After a couple of hours of relaxing and chatting with fellow guests, it was time

for Randi’s daily pilgrimage to Sushi on 5. Sherwin greeted us and even suggested an off‑menu lunch idea for the next day. I had a Kobe slider

and some dumplings, while Randi stayed loyal to her favorites. Back in the

stateroom, we intended to rest “for a few minutes” and promptly fell asleep. Later

we made our way to the Retreat Lounge for pre‑dinner cocktails, then to Luminae for another excellent meal, headed up by Hugo,

our maître d’, who greated us at the door. Randi had Caesar salad, burrata, salmon, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. I went for the wedge salad, burrata, tuna, and ricotta cavatelli. Everything was delicious.

After dinner, we returned to the Retreat Lounge for the silent disco — always a highlight. Watching people dance wildly to music only

they can hear is endlessly entertaining. We headed back to the room afterward, but around 2 AM Randi woke me, feeling sick — likely from some onion contamination. Thankfully, after that, episode she slept soundly.

Day 6 — Bermuda (Day 3)

Sleep and I were not on speaking terms last night. I finally drifted off just in time for the alarm to almost go off at 7:30.

We eased into the morning with coffee, watching the island slowly wake up with us. At breakfast, Carlos

proudly showed us photos of his late‑night fishing adventures — the second night in a row he’d been out. I don’t know how these crew members function on such little sleep. Then again… I should talk.

The Retreat Sundeck was calling, so we spent a peaceful morning soaking in the last bit of Bermuda

sunshine and chatting with our cruisemate buddies from Queens, NY. Before long, it was time for our special lunch at Sushi on Five.

Even though Sherwin was off, he left instructions for a custom meal — and wow, did they deliver. Two rolls: one avocado‑based, one salmon‑based, both unlike anything we’ve ever tasted. Then came a bowl of chicken and fried rice that was so good it should’ve come with a warning label!

After lunch, I attempted to reclaim some lost sleep while Randi curled up with her book. I woke just in time for the Captain’s 4 PM departure announcement.

We watched the sail‑away from our stateroom — the perfect farewell to Bermuda. We made our way to the Retreat Lounge

to see Angie, our favorite bartender, and for Randi to enjoy her beloved Hugo Spritz. At 7 PM we headed

to the theater for magician, Ryan Joyce. We’ve seen him before, and he’s always a crowd‑pleaser. Dinner in Luminae was another winner. Randi had

pre‑ordered the rack of lamb, and I went for the beef Wellington with lobster and scallops. The scallops were the only weak link, but the rest more than made up for it.

After dinner, Randi returned to the casino while I wandered to the Martini Bar, where I discovered Grey Goose Altus — smooth, elegant, and perfect for people‑watching with the buzz of the ship surrounding me.

Day 7 — Sea Day (Day 3)

The seas were rough overnight, and Randi definitely felt it in the morning. A light breakfast helped, but the real cure was the casino — funny how that works. I wrapped

up some last‑minute paperwork, visited both the Captain’s Club and Shore Excursions desks, and then reluctantly started packing. Lunch in Luminae was light and leisurely before we

headed to Ryan David’s (same guy, different stage name) hypnotist show. Watching people hop around like kangaroos never gets old.

Back in the suite, we filled out our additional tip envelopes — a small gesture for a crew that consistently goes above and beyond. We split up before

Ryan’s second show in Celebrity Central, “How Hypnosis Can Change Your Life,” then met again to freshen up before heading to the Retreat for live music with the Atlas duo. As we

were leaving, we ran into Frank and Marilyn and chatted before heading to Luminae for our final dinner. The filet mignon was excellent, but the real surprise was Carlos presenting us with his freshly caught whole sea bass — beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious. We ended the night with pistachio and stracciatella gelato. A sweet ending to a sweet cruise.

Day 8 — New Jersey & Disembarkation

We woke to a beautiful sunrise glowing over the water as the ship made her quiet return to New Jersey — the same place we’d started, though we were definitely not the same people who boarded eight days ago. After showers and a final round of packing, we headed

to Luminae for breakfast and one last chance to say goodbye to the team who had taken such good care of us. Carlo and Vic were still working right up until the end, even though they were disembarking today as well.

Their energy never seems to run out. Just as we were finishing up, our driver texted that he had arrived. We made our way to the Retreat Lounge for walk‑off disembarkation.

They began calling walk‑offs at 7:30, and by 8:00 we were off the ship, luggage in hand, breezing through facial‑recognition customs in seconds.

At Zone 6, our driver pulled up within two minutes. The roads were practically empty — except for one motorcycle tearing past at what had to be 100 mph, with police in full pursuit.

A little unexpected morning drama to wake us up. By 9 AM, we were home again, another wonderful adventure behind us and already thinking about the next one.

Survey Notes & Feedback

Dishes and Trays in Hallways

While I understand this can’t be completely prevented, perhaps Celebrity could better communicate that leaving dishes in hallways is not acceptable. It’s unsightly and can be a tripping hazard. A reminder in the cruise contract or in pre‑cruise materials might help.

Cape Liberty Itineraries

The season keeps getting shorter, even though sailings are mostly sold out. It would be wonderful if Celebrity could revisit deployment for this port — the largest tri‑state area in the world deserves more options.

Atlas Duo

One of the most pleasant‑sounding acts we’ve ever heard on Celebrity. We spent many hours enjoying their music.

Ryan Joyce

This was our second cruise seeing Ryan perform, and he continues to put on a spectacular show.

MOBILE APP MAYHEM: The Pre‑Cruise Mystery of the Missing Shows

Is it too much to ask for the Celebrity app to be fully loaded at least a week before the cruise? We rely on it — depend on it — to avoid the classic vacation dilemma: booking a specialty restaurant only to discover it conflicts with the one show we absolutely want to see.

This time, though, the app had other plans.

The day before the cruise, the headliner entertainment simply… vanished. Not a trace. No comedians, no production shows, no guest performers — just a big digital shrug. And to make things even more exciting, the listings didn’t magically reappear once we boarded, either. For a while, it felt like Celebrity was running a surprise‑theater‑roulette experience.

Trying to plan around invisible entertainment is like trying to pack for a trip without knowing the weather. You can do it, but you’re definitely going to overthink it.