Cruise Spotlight
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Celebrity Equinox vs Celebrity Silhouette
The Celebrity Equinox was built in 2009. It was renovated in 2019. It's 2 years older than the Silhouette, which was built in 2011 and renovated in 2020. While the Celebrity Silhouette has a lawn club like most of it's sister ships, it's mostly exclusive to suite guests or those willing to pay extra.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Equinox is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,033 feet long and 121 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.9 football fields, as wide as 2.3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. The Equinox and the Silhouette are in the same class, which means they're sister ships. For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout; although they may have different features and attractions on board.
Number of Passengers
Celebrity Equinox holds about the same number of passengers as the Silhouette based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Equinox has more space per person compared to the Silhouette. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.
| Celebrity Equinox | Celebrity Silhouette | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Solstice | Solstice |
| Gross Tonnage | 122,000 | 122,000 |
| Length | 1,033 | 1,033 |
| Beam/Width | 121 | 121 |
| Passenger Decks | 13 | 13 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 2,852 | 2,886 |
| Crew | 1,290 | 1,285 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.2 | 2.2 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 43 | 42 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Equinox has 15 different dining options like Sushi on Five, Mast Grill, and AquaSpa Cafe. Of those options, 9 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 6 options have an additional fee.
The Silhouette has 2 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Main Dining Room, Lawn Club Grill, and Murano. 8 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 9 have an additional fee.
If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Silhouette might be a better choice. It has 13% more dining options than the Equinox.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Equinox might be a better choice then the Silhouette. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
Restaurants on Celebrity Equinox & Silhouette
| Celebrity Equinox | Celebrity Silhouette | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| AquaSpa Cafe | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Blu | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Craft Social | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Lawn Club Grill | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Le Petit Chef at Qsine | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Luminae | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Main Dining Room | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Mast Grill | ✓ | ✗ | Learn More |
| Murano | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Oceanview Cafe | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Sushi on Five | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
| The Porch | ✗ | ✓ | Learn More |
| Tuscan Grille | ✓ | ✓ | Learn More |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The Celebrity Equinox has a total of 3 pools and 6 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.
The Celebrity Silhouette has the same number of pools as the Equinox and the same number of hot tubs.
| Celebrity Equinox | Celebrity Silhouette | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 3 | 3 |
| Pools - General Access | 2 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | 1 |
| Pools - Exclusive | ||
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 6 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | 2 |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Equinox, 67% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Silhouette, only 56% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Celebrity Equinox | Celebrity Silhouette | |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | ✓ | ✗ |
| Beyond the Podium Talk Series | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bingo | ✓ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hot Glass Show | ✓ | ✗ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lawn Club | ✓ | ✓ |
| Outdoor movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Celebrity is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit Celebrity's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Celebrity ship.
| Celebrity | |
|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $18.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 20% |
| Soda Price | $4.00 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $8.00 |
| Drink Package Price | $60 - $125 |
| Internet Plan | $20 to $30 per device per day |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | |
Celebrity Cruise Lines offers an "All Included" program. Guests who book a cruise using this promotion will have wifi and alcohol included. Some sailings are available without this program so pay attention when booking. Typically prices are lower if they don't include "Always Included." The wifi and alcohol package are the base levels and can be upgraded for an additional cost.
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