When it came to the fourth Solstice-class vessel, all the Lawn Club reconfiguration sprang from a desire to improve on a winning concept, not dissatisfaction with the space. ‘The Lawn Club is one of the big successes on the earlier ships. Our team felt they could make it even more special,’ Fain said, adding that everyone loves the Corning Museum of Glass Hot Glass Show but it’s something people may see only once per cruise. ‘Now The Lawn Club has been activated in a very nice way,’ he said.
Fain is perhaps the biggest champion of the interactive Lawn Club Grill, the brainchild of Jacques Van Staden, vp food and beverage. ‘Nobody has this on land or sea. We’re pioneers,’ Van Staden asserted.Fain got a big kick out of strapping on a ‘grill master’ apron and cooking a pizza, a filet and veggie kebabs for his table on a night he described as ‘magical … It was just so much fun.’
Another party at the Lawn Club Grill included Meyer Werft managing partner Bernard Meyer. He was served by Andreas Rahe of KfW IPEX-Bank, which arranged the financing for Celebrity Silhouette.Rahe prepared a mixed grill selection including steaks and bratwurst. ‘This was a little extra dividend,’ he quipped. ‘It was a great experience.’
The eight cabanas, or ‘Alcoves’ that flank the Lawn Club ‘are another thing that really came out nicely,’ in Fain’s view. They are stylish, partially enclosed by planters and topped with canvas shades. Each has a phone to summon the Alcove valet. The Lawn Club also has eight hammocks and two huge Adirondack chairs that were a popular photo opp during the inaugural.
Another new feature is The Art Studio, an indoor/outdoor spot where resident artists teach classes. One of the teachers said he would dispatch students to the lawn to sketch.
And The Porch, a casual spot for breakfast and lunch, is new at The Lawn Club. It serves pastries, salads, panini, couscous and desserts. ‘I like the view,’ said Celebrity president and ceo Dan Hanrahan, who had breakfast with his son there during the inaugural. Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, svp hotel operations, said The Porch had been on her wish list since the first Solstice ship. Fain credited her with championing The Lawn Club changes.
Inside the ship, Michael’s Club—originally Celebrity’s cigar bar—has transformed on Silhouette into a pub/sports bar with a beer focus. There are 64 brews, including some unusual craft beers and ales, and the top-of-the-line Deus ‘Champagne beer’ is $49 a bottle. Tastings and classes are planned.
On Deck 7 and open to the soaring Grand Foyer with the Solstice-class trademark live tree suspended in the center is The Hideaway. It replaces the little-used Team Earth on earlier ships. Lutoff-Perlo credited Fain for sparking the idea that led to the new room when he suggested the Solstice ships needed a quiet place to read. ‘We went back and thought about it. Dan [Hanrahan] said “Let’s take our inspiration from the tree.”’ The Hideaway has cushioned nooks, comfy chairs, a coffee machine and a pair of ‘tree houses’ that are not reached by ladders but simply stepped into from Deck 8. During the inaugural, The Hideaway was always packed.
Apart from the new lounges, 17 staterooms were added to Celebrity Silhouette, raising the double-occupancy capacity to 2,886 passengers. Reservations for all departures are availalbe from your cruise specialist.
