Crossing The Equator - Day 10

NOTE: Picture of Captain Glenn and Hotel Director Herbert Dopler and another picture of Cruise Director Rick Spath from this morning ceremony of our ship crossing the Equator. Picture of the two of us last evening before attending the function at the Captain’s Quarters.

We had a wonderful evening on the ship last evening. The evening attire was informal (semi-formal) adding to the ambience all around the ship. We normally dine in the main (early) seating but last night we were night owls. Well, maybe not night owls but we dined later than normal.

We began the evening at the Captain’s Quarters where we enjoyed cocktails with several of our fellow passengers. Captain Glenn warmly greeted those guests who attended along with the Crystal Society Hostess Jacque Brown. Some of the other Senior Officers also attended including the Head of Housekeeping, the Hotel Director, the Cruise Director and the On Board Booking Consultant. There was tremendous spirit and enthusiasm in the room something that has been consistent throughout the ship since day one. We spoke with several passengers’ who we already know and several that we met for the very first time. We thoroughly enjoyed the reception.

Following cocktails, we joined Hotel Director Herbert Doppler, the Food and Beverage Manager Victor Conceicao and the Onboard Booking Consultant Jamie Brown for a very nice dinner at the Italian Specialty Restaurant Prego. We last dined with Herbert Doppler in 2008 and like the last time we enjoyed not only a wonderful dinner but also an equally enjoyable conversation. We talked about a very wide range of topics including life at home, coffee on the ship, all of the preparation that is required prior to each port of call with respect to the ship being cleared by the local authorities, the delivery and ordering of food items for the ship and many other topics.

As Hotel Director, Herbert oversees a very large operation whose responsibility includes the guest rooms, all of the lounges and bars, all of the dining rooms and other food venues on the ship, all of the entertainment, the casino, the sport facilities, the shore excursion desk, the reception desk and essentially all of the customer facing services. At the same time his department also oversees the crew area. This is an incredible responsibility. Herbert is a true professional and we appreciate the opportunity to dine with him. The dinner was fabulous. We both ordered a special that included swordfish and it was outstanding. In fact, we would say it was the best swordfish we have ever had at sea or on land. Evidently the portion of the swordfish that we enjoyed comes from an area of the swordfish, which is analogous to say a Filet Mignon. It was yummy!

We actually were the last to leave the restaurant at around 10:45 PM. As we were leaving we thanked Maitre d’ Antonio, Bruno who rotates from time to time between the Specialty Restaurant Maitre d’ and overseeing Prego, Mario the Senior Sommelier, along with our waiter for the evening for a wonderful meal. As usual food, service and ambience were second to none.

Although we had a late night, we still managed to keep to our morning routine. Once again, Keith began another new day with his morning workout on the Elliptical Machine and Anne Marie worked out on the treadmill. Keith noticed that the sunrise was earlier this morning than even yesterday reflecting the direction that the ship is heading.

A short while after we finished our workout we enjoyed another very nice breakfast in our room. We also managed to get two washes done on top of all of this.

Shortly afterwards, Keith visited the salon for his first haircut of the cruise. While some of the men on the cruise for the long-haul prefer to have their hair cut on land, Keith prefers to have it done on the ship as we know the facility is clean and employs experienced hair stylists. The stylist who cut his hair was on the 2008 World Cruise which is why we requested her this time around since she cut both Keith’s hair and Anne Marie’s hair on that cruise.

During Captain Glenn’s morning talk from the Bridge he noted that we had crossed the equator at 3:57 AM this morning. At 9:00 AM the outside temperature was 84 degrees Fahrenheit and the ocean temperature was a balmy 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Captain Glenn’s thought of the day was “The things that come to those that wait maybe are the things left for those who got there first.”

We attended Rap with the Rabbi in the morning after Keith returned from his haircut. As usual it was informative and lively and it was the most attended session of this young voyage.

At 10:00 AM Destination Lecturer Ken Rees presented “Runaway to Rio.” He discussed Ronnie Biggs who was Britain’s most notorious runaway and who was the Great train Robber who escaped to Brazil and lived the good life while avoiding arrest for thirty years. We enjoyed this presentation.

Today we enjoyed another nice sea day as we sail to Fortaleza, Brazil, which is our first stop in South America. Today also marked the ship crossing the equator for the first of two equator crossings on this World Cruise Voyage. As part of celebrating the crossing there was a mid day Mid-Earth Mixer Party held in the Palm Court from 11:15 to 11:45 AM. Complimentary Bloody Marys and Mimosas were available, along with music by Crystal’s Galaxy Orchestra with special appearances by King Neptune and Mermaid Queen. Since we are crossing the Equator twice during this voyage we think the pool area as in the past will hold the next crossing outside.

Anne Marie attended the ceremony while Keith played paddle ball with some of the passengers. Yes, he his enjoying the exercise and learning this game.

The ceremony for Crossing the Equator commemorates a sailor's first crossing of the Equator. The tradition was created as a test for seasoned sailors to ensure that their fellow shipmates were capable of handling the long rough times at seas.

The equator is the imaginary line that divides the Earth equally into what is known as the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Those locations on the equator experience the quickest rates of sunrise and sunset in the world.

The ceremony of Crossing the Line is an initiation rite in the Royal Nacy, the USA Navy and the USA Coast Guard.

Those sailors who previously crossed the equator are referred to as Shellbacks and are often referred to as "sons" of Neptune. Those who have not yet crossed the equator are nicknamed Pollywogs.

This crossing marks the forth time we have crossed the Equator on the Crystal Serenity.

Once again we enjoyed lunch up at the Lido Café and sat outside as it has been so nice and quiet out there.

The afternoon included another lectures given by Special Interest Lecturer Bill Toone who presented “Water – Our Perpetual Drought.” He discussed stories from the dry Chaco of Paraguay, to the Amazon basin of Brazil, to the veldts of Kenya and San Diego and the global water crisis. He also talked about how we got here, where it might go, and what our personal choices might mean.

Anne Marie also took a nice long walk on the Promenade Deck and also sat out at the pool while Keith played more (what else) Paddle Tennis. J

During the World Cruise from time to time some of the production shows that are normally shown on night are offered as a Matinee Production, allowing additional entertainers to perform at night. At 5:00 PM the Crystal Entertainers performed the production show Standing Room Only. This was the first time we have seen this show and thought it was very well done. In the evening, Comic Ventriloquist Mark Merchant performed.

After attending the production show we enjoyed a wonderful meal in the Main Dining Room.

Some people have asked us from time to time whether or not we get bored on the ship for so long on a world cruise?” While it is a good question the simple answer is that there is never a dull or boring moment and we hope that you are getting a sense as to how fun it is with all of the activity around the ship along with the wonderful amenities that we can enjoy each and every day.

In a moment, we’ll share our thought of the day with you. This thought is on the longer side but is one that we were touched with when we first heard it many years ago. It may, in fact, be one of the many reasons why we enjoy sailing in the sea and also viewing the sea from land.

TODAY’S THOUGHT OF THE DAY….

“I really don’t know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it’s because in addition to the fact that the sea changes, and the light changes, and ships change, it’s because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and therefore, we have salt in our blood, our sweat, and in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from whence we came.” – President John F. Kennedy, September 14, 1962.

Keith and Anne Marie