Saturday, March 13, 2010
NOTE: We included a few more pictures from our visit to Abu Dhabi.
We enjoyed another nice evening on the ship before we set sail to Dubai last evening.
Before dinner we attended Friday night Sabbath Services. As usual, the Rabbi conducted a great service. As we have said from time to time what is nice during these long voyages is that the ship truly feels like a community and that was evident at the services last evening. In just a few weeks holidays such as Easter and Passover will be celebrated on the ship which takes on even greater significance given where we will be sailing. Passover will be celebrated on the ship on the second night of Passover and on that night we will be sailing from Egypt to Israel.
We had dinner with friends Allen and Lynn at the Prego Italian Specialty Restaurant. We both enjoyed a nice salad and we each had a new seafood item, Broiled Fresh Branzino alla Livornese, which is a Mediterranean Sea Bass. We also enjoyed and began the meal with a terrific appetizer that was provided by the chef and of course we ended the meal with fruit for dessert. Service and cuisine were just perfect and the four of us enjoyed a wonderful conversation. At the conclusion of the World Cruise they will begin to feature a new menu at Prego with many new items. This change was made on the Crystal Symphony after the Prego restaurant was redone as part of the Dry-dock last Fall and as we understand the same menu will be rolled out with the first voyage following the World Cruise.
After dinner, we attended the early evening entertainment, which featured Specialty Entertainer Steve Stevens and Comedy ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger. Steve Stevens sang and played the trumpet and the ukulele. Lynn had us in stitches. At one point she had three guests up on stage who we know quite well and each time she tapped on their shoulders they were instructed to open and close their mouth and it was just hilarious. We have seen acts when one guest is brought on stage but it was just hilarious with three guests at once. Yes, we had tears rolling down our eyes.
Afterwards, we had drinks with one of the officers on the ship and had a wonderful conversation.
We departed Abu Dhabi on schedule at 10:00 PM and we are now sailing to our next port of call in Dubai.
Today is a sea day as we sail to Dubai.
Keith awoke early and enjoyed another great workout at the Fitness Center. Once again he arrived first to the center and worked out on the Elliptical Machine. He watched the lecture that we given just the other day on the history of the Ocean Liners for the second time. The talk is so very interesting by the on board lecturer and it is amazing not only about the time when each of these ships was in service but what happened to each of them when they were retired.
Afterwards, he stopped by the Lido Café for coffee, which he brought back to the room. Around the time that Keith got back to the room, Anne Marie went to the Fitness Center to workout on the treadmill. Like Keith, she brought coffee back to the room. Keith also did the remaining laundry.
We enjoyed breakfast in our room while we watched the Daily Morning Show featuring Cruise Director Rick Spath and World Cruise Hostess Stacey Huston.
During Captain Glenn’s morning talk from the bridge he noted that the weather outlook is quite good. Captain Glenn’s thought of the day was very appropriate to this and the next itinerary which is “An open mind is like an open window. It let’s the fresh air in.”
We began the morning by attending Rap With The Rabbi. It was another great session and the Rabbi had former Ambassador to Israel Sam Lewis attend. We have learned a great deal from him and greatly appreciate his talk with us today. It is so nice to have such talented and knowledgeable lecturers on the ship and to be able to talk with them in other settings to learn from them. After all, this is one of man reasons that make the enrichment program offered by Crystal Cruises so wonderful.
There were three excellent presentations, two of which were in the morning.
Special Interest Lecturer Adrian Kerr spoke about the rise of Island in the Middle East. He also spoke about the Christian crusades.
Special Interest Lecturer Dinesh D’Souza spoke about Islam and the West. He spoke about the current tensions in the context of historical circumstances. This lecturer just came on board the ship in Abu Dhabi and will be on for the next leg of the World Cruise.
Today was the American Classic Buffet featuring lots of delicious American Classic food items. We each made a nice salad entrée and we also ate with Allen and Lynn.
In the afternoon, Special Interest Lecturer Bill Miller presented sailing to the sun. He spoke about cruise history and folklore.
In the afternoon Anne Marie took another nice long walk on the Promenade Deck and then sat out by the pool. Keith did writing, reading and then spoke with some fellow passengers.
This evening we are dining with Allen and Lynn in the Main Dining Room. We have pre-ordered a special meal for the four of us. This evening is the final formal evening for this leg of the cruise so after dinner we will go to the Captain’s Farewell Reception. We will post more about our evening on board the ship tomorrow. Lynn and Allen will be departing the ship in Dubai. It has been wonderful to sail with them during this leg of the World Cruise and to have shared many nice meals, tours and wonderful talks with the two of them.
TODAY’S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY……
“Not all those who wander are lost”
Keith and Anne Marie
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