Remove the tile and start over with a cut tile instead of a whole tile. What required waterproofing system did you use under the tile? Cement board, tile, and grout are not waterproof.

I tried to attach a photo on mobile many times and apparently failed. Its a WEDI board, and it does overlap the shower lip. I didn't want to cut too much, but I did barely trim the tiles in the highest point of the tub. its probably 3/4" at the worst, and most of the surround is <3/8" and the some trimmed backer rod brings it out flush with the tile for easier/prettier caulking.

Does look better from further away, you can see the tiles in the back right trimmed just a bit to make it less noticeable

EDIT: I should say, working to get better, and I would remove and either re-set or replace the tub if I was to do it again, and learned throughout the process, especially with the niche. I believe it is still waterproofed well, and just has a slight lean from back of the tub towards the front.

If you want to do it right, as said before you need to remove the tile and start over. The bottom row needs to move down far enough so that you can cut the curve out of it. Also make the gap at the tub smaller than it is now (and make it the same width all the way around). Sorry, but that caulk line looks terrible. You should also aim for no slivers in the corners. It's also an opportunity to make the walls flat. It looks like there's quite a bit of lippage right now.

It's not a do-over. Polish up some color matched solid surface trim and silicone it in place.

Working over an unprotected tub almost always ensures that you get to buy a new tub and rip it all out and replace it all. That needs to happen anyway. If you were living there, you could probably live with it and just chalk it up to learning experience. And you’d do better next time with the next project. And the next. Until you worked your way around to redoing it at some point.

But in a house you are selling? Nope. Not acceptable. You need something less first time timer looking. Start over.

And examine that tub well to be sure you didn’t scratch or chip it. You want a 32” x59” piece of plywood cut and carpeted on one side to use to protect tubs on projects like this, and to provide a work platform for the higher stuff.

Get a laser level and tripod. One with 90 cross beam. It works for floors too. You start your first full level row of tile at a half tile width above the high spot. You cut the varying width cuts, with the proper angle, for your first row. For centering left to right, you shift your layout to get roughly equal cuts at the wall. Grid it out with a pencil to start. Get a good score and snap like a Montolit and learn to use it. You get less ragged cuts. Which needs to happen when you get near the edge where you want your Schluter or bullnose.

Get a multi tool and learn how to use it. Get a battery operated mini angle grinder and learn how to use it. That ear cut around the tub curve is not acceptable. It takes practice for cuts like that. Some people live the multi tool. Some love the angle grinder.

Skip the niche. You aren’t ready for it. And the accent tile just draws attention to it. Better to put it in the rear wall than a focal point if you absolutely have to have it. With matching tile. And bullnose on the exterior. That’s easier.

Tackling this the second time is your second year of college tuition. You’ll take it more seriously than the first. You’ll know it isn’t the cakewalk that you tried to breeze through your first time. You’ll try harder, with better tools. And you’ll get a better result.

Or. Hire a good pro for about 4-6K to come in and redo it correctly. They’ll already own the 1K of tools. But, I think you can do this, and can view those tools as an investment in future projects. Don’t forget to back butter everything. 90% coverage is required in wet area. Use matching grout. It’s more forgiving.

All, thanks for the answers and support. I shouldn't have said we're flipping it as that really isn't the case. 2 children under 3, and the house feels small (3 BR), but we don't have any immediate plans to move anytime soon. Its an old neighborhood, and they are selling well even without updating the 70s look, so if it doesn't get fixed perfectly for a while it should be okay. I do realize the silicone looks absolutely terrible, and that's the real reason for the thread, I was just thinking that the tub being unlevel was the reason. Someone on Houzz recommended the GE silicone as the whitest (correctly), but I'll special order the grout matching caulk as well, because its actually whiter than our "avalanche" grout.

Moving the tile down and cutting around the edge makes so much sense, that I'm not sure how I missed it. I think I read multiple places that said start with a single tile, but realize that a half tile is clearly the answer. I could have easily cut the bend into the tile between my old Dremel (and new awesome dewalt multitool) and it would have been perfect. FWIW, it was covered with a double layer of painters cloth, and fairly protected. I only took it off when thinking over this project to start on the new fixtures. The idea of a board, with some glued on foam to prevent scratching sounds brilliant. I had the painters cloth up to get the drain out and the overflow, as I have all new nickel fittings. I'm going to get the laser level and some larger tile for the next bathroom. I'm not positive why I had lippage on the first few rows, it looks infinitely better higher up, and I'd love to blame the walls but I think it was just gaining experience, and maybe a factor of how I mixed the thinset?

For now I'm going to find some trim, as that seems to make the most sense as a compromise. Joseph, you mean some of the white trim designed for the premade 3-panel wall trim? How can you polish it to make it match better? I like this idea as a compromise.

That tipping down of the front corner of the tub is going to be your nemesis. Water coming out behind the shower curtain and dripping onto the floor. I might have experience with this.......

Good first effort for tiling. I hope you found yours as rewarding as I found mine.