After years of Royal Caribbean cruises, this summer marked my first foray into the world of Celebrity cruises. It was a journey filled with both excitement and a few unexpected lessons. Here's what I wish I had known before setting foot on that ship.

Uncover the Secrets of Celebrity Cruising

Loyalty Perks: The Fine Print Matters

Before embarking on my Celebrity cruise, I took the initiative to match my loyalty status with Royal Caribbean to Celebrity Cruises. The two lines offer a status matching program, and my Diamond Plus status with Royal Caribbean qualified me for Elite Plus, the second highest tier in Celebrity's Captain's Club program. As an Elite Plus member, I enjoyed excellent perks like free drinks during the ship's daily happy hour, access to exclusive events, and discounts on extras like specialty dining and wifi packages. However, if I had read the fine print more carefully, I would have had a better understanding of the limitations. For example, the happy hour only offered a very limited menu of beverages, and not every bar onboard participated in the daily event. Additionally, while I could receive two complimentary bags of laundry with my status, I didn't realize that the benefit expired within three days of disembarkation. It's crucial to be aware of these details to make the most of loyalty perks.

Exploring New Venues: Don't Wait Until the End

Like many modern cruise ships, Celebrity Silhouette boasts a plethora of bars, lounges, entertainment venues, and onboard activities. During my weeklong cruise, I found myself sticking to the same familiar venues, such as Craft Social and the Sunset Bar. It wasn't until the final night that I discovered the Ensemble Lounge, a low-key, cozy bar with live music and an elegant cocktail menu. This lounge was far less crowded than others like the Martini Bar and Café al Bacio. I regretted not finding it sooner and realized that I had missed out on a lot by sticking to the same routine. On my next Celebrity cruise, I'll make it a point to explore more venues at the beginning of the trip rather than waiting until the end.

Pricing: Comparable to Royal Caribbean

Celebrity Cruises is known as a premium cruise line, often considered above mass market lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean. I expected their fares to be higher, so I initially wrote them off as too expensive. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Celebrity's pricing was comparable to Royal Caribbean's. When I first booked the cruise, I paid just $1,830 for two guests in an interior cabin, which was similar to what I spent on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Europe two years prior. Even after adding a third guest and upgrading to a balcony, I was still impressed with the pricing. It's important to check Celebrity Cruises' prices for previous cruises instead of assuming they are out of budget.

Diverse Cooking Stations at the Buffet

One of my regrets from the cruise was not being aware of all the diverse cooking stations at Oceanview Cafe, the cruise line's signature buffet. Buffets are a staple on cruise ships, but Celebrity's buffet stands out with its wide selection of made-to-order stations. From a panini station to custom pastas and charred-to-order crème brûlées, there was a lot to choose from. I overlooked these stations during my first few buffet meals, but later realized the variety available. Next time, I'll make sure to try all the different stations to customize my dining experience.

Specialty Restaurants: Don't Miss Out

When it comes to dining, I regretted not trying one of Celebrity Cruises' specialty restaurants. Like most cruise ships, Celebrity Silhouette offers a mix of included and extra-charge restaurants. I usually treat myself to specialty dining during cruises but decided against it on my first Celebrity sailing to save money. However, I soon realized the variety of options available, such as technology-focused meals at Le Petit Chef and outdoor dining at The Porch. If I had known earlier, I would have budgeted for a few specialty meals or purchased a dining package in advance.

Storage in the Cabin: Limited but Manageable

My balcony cabin on Celebrity Silhouette was comfortable overall, despite a slight obstructed view. However, the storage space was a bit of a disappointment. Although the cabin was built in 2012 and was expected to have modern features, there were only three drawers in the dresser and two high shelves above the bed for additional storage. Sharing the cabin with relatives made it difficult to keep our belongings organized. Looking back, I wish I had brought easy-to-pack items like a hanging shoe organizer and magnetic hooks to make the cabin less cluttered.

Arriving at Activities Earlier

Having cruised with Royal Caribbean many times, I was accustomed to their scheduled programming. On my first Celebrity cruise, I was excited to see new activities like the Musical Murder Mystery game show and Olympic curling. But if I had known, I would have arrived at these activities significantly earlier. For example, when I tried to attend the watercolor painting class, I was turned away because it reached maximum capacity. On my next cruise, I'll make sure to arrive at least twenty minutes before activities start to avoid missing out.