Day 1 of our beautiful cruise!!!

Up early this morning as we had to leave for our 9.30 am flight from Catania to Rome. Lucky we did leave early as they had only two checkins open and the queue was very long. After a short 50 minute flight we arrived in Rome. We were unsure whether we would take a taxi or train to the port, it depended on us arriving on time in Rome to allow us the time to take the train. And so we did have plenty of time.... We asked about the taxi transfer and it was going to cost €120!!!! So we then went to another counter to enquire about the cost of the train?? €11 each!!! So €22...... Easy decision to make! So off we went to the train...which is right at the airport. (Pity Melbourne couldn't have made the decision years ago to have the airport train!). We had to change trains at Travestare for the one to the port of Civitivecchia. We arrived in plenty of time at about 2.30pm. We then walked to the shuttle bus which took us out to the waiting ship. OMG!!! It was huge!!!

Celebrity Silhouette is 1063 feet long and weighs 122,200 tonne, with up to 2886 guests! It is a very new ship, her first season was 2011. Just like a huge floating hotel!!

Check in was very quick and easy, a lot quicker than our Alitalia flight this morning! And soon we were in our room. Just beautiful! We have a king size bed and a couch, lovely bathroom and wonderful balcony! Just love it! After a safety drill we set sail from Rome right on time at 5pm. Sea is very calm and weather is cloudy but very warm about 30 degrees.

Sat up in one of the top outdoor bars for a drink or two. We got a great deal with this cruise that includes all our drinks which is fantastic. We have the second sitting for dinner which is at 8.30 which we prefer. Dinner was wonderful, had rib eye steak, just superb as well as entree and cheesecake for dessert. The wine was very good as well. We were sitting next to a couple from New York who were very nice and easy to chat to. A lot of the staff are from Bali including our dinner waiter Gedye who is great fun. There are also a lot of staff from Jamaica who are all good. One of them is named Melbourne and another Sydney so we had a great laugh about that! The atmosphere on the ship is so happy and fun, and there are all age groups which makes it even better. A few children, not heaps though, teenagers, and from 20's all the way up to 80 or so. And from many different countries. Seems like no real dominant nationality. There are a few Australians, Americans, Canadians, British, German, Mexican, Chinese.... You name it. Like the United Nations!

After dinner we went and saw the end of a comedy act..unfortunately missed most of it..he was a funny guy so hopefully we will get to see him again later. And then went to a bar or two before bed. Wonderful start to our cruise!!!