En Route To St. Lucia - Day 2

We wanted to begin with some more details about last evening.

Before, dinner we met our stewardess Mihaela. We had seen her from time to time on the last voyage and she remembered seeing our family. She thought that Jennifer and Kara looked like sisters. Our assistant stewardess is Ritika who we had on our last voyage, and our butler continues to be Alexander. We are happy that Mihaela, Ritika and Alexander will be on for the entire World Cruise.

We began the evening with a wonderful dinner in the Main Dining Room. In recent years we have sat at two person tables located by a window in the corner of the Main Dining Room but decided to change it up for this year. Instead, we are sitting at a table on what is known as the ring. This is an area of the dining room that is on a one-foot platform that is circular in dimension. On the outside of the circle or the ring as it is known to many passengers are primarily two person tables. On the inside of the ring are tables of various sizes, many of which are hosted by an officer on Formal Nights. There are a few tables on the ring that can be configured as four person tables and we have one of them. This gives us the added plus of being able to have more space and also to invite one or two other passengers to dine with us from time to time.

We have a wonderful wait staff. This includes waiter, Therese, senior waiter, Petra, a wonderful sommelier and we have Augusto as our headwaiter for the very first time. Our waiter and senior waiter will be on for the duration of the world cruise. Augusto will be on for a portion of the cruise and the sommeliers will rotate to various sections within the dining room from voyage to voyage.

The service and the food and the ambience were all outstanding. We each enjoyed a nice salad, red snapper and, yes, fruit for our dessert. Petra quickly learned our desire to have the entrees accompanied each evening with a large bowl of steamed vegetables. The size is of a bowl that normally would be for tables of six or more guests.

After the dinner, we attended the 2010 World Cruise Welcome event that was held for all passengers between the early and late dining seating’s. Before the start of the event, we spoke with several guests who we know from previous voyages. It was nice to catch up with them. The event was kicked off with dancing and live music from The Galaxy Orchestra. The Orchestra music was probably the liveliest we have ever heard on the ship, which truly added to the festivity of the event. Complimentary flutes of champagne were handed out. Cruise Director Rick Spath hosted the event and he began with a very touching opening and then he introduced the officers staff from many of the departments who all walked down the steps from the floor above us which is all in an atrium and they too had flutes of champagne in the hands. Right after the toast tons of balloons and confetti were released from the ceiling. The confetti must have fallen for close to thirty minutes. It was amazing and a terrific way to kickoff the start of the World Cruise. We also spoke with some of the staff during the event including the Golf Pro and his lovely wife. While we do not golf, except for a little putt-putt, we have come to know them well.

We also received a message from our son that the family all arrived back home. We love them all with all our hearts and we miss them already.

This morning we began the day with a workout in the Fitness Center. Keith woke up a little earlier than planned and arrived to the Center at around 5:10 AM for a very long workout on the elliptical machine followed by some weight lifting on the various machines. During the workout around five other passengers later joined him. Friend John later joined him in the center as well. Anne Marie went up to the center at around 6: 45 AM for a nice hour workout on the treadmill.

Today is a sea day as we make our way to St. Lucia so there were many events.

During Captain Glenn’s morning report he noted that he had two choices when we left Miami yesterday. One involved sailing a slightly more direct route and the other route involved sailing a more sheltered route. He took the more sheltered route so that we could enjoy calmer seas and even thought it is slightly longer we are still on schedule for our first port of call.

Captain Glenn shares a thought for the day and we will try to note that whenever possible.

Today’s thought of the day from the Captain is:

The best and the most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched but must be felt with the heart.

There was a mandatory life board drill for those guests boarding the ship in Miami. Since we were already on board the ship it was necessary for us to attend.

We brought a gift for each of the Lido Deck Stewards so this morning and in the early afternoon we found each of the Lido Deck Stewards and gave them each a gift. They are some of the kindest individuals that we have ever known and many of them we have sailed with for many years. They bring joy to our hearts.

We attended lecture given by Destination Lecturer Ken Rees whose presentation was titled “Sugar Islands in the Caribbean Sun – Welcome to St. Lucia and Barbados. He told us a good deal about each of these two islands. This will be our first time to each island.

Ken Rees’ background makes him a perfect destination lecturer. He was a world-wife travelling correspondent for 25 years. He has covered many important events including the Lebanese civil war, the first Gulf War, the loss of the space shuttle Challenger, and the sectarian troubles that took place in Northern Ireland.

Later in the morning we attended a Bloody Mary Gathering with Cruise Director Rick Spath and the World Cruise Hostess Stacy. We did not partake in a Bloody Mary but we did have a wonderful time at the event.

Rick Spath also introduced the group called Vocal Quartet that will be on for the entire World Cruise. They are a fairly recent addition to Crystal and included singers David, Tiffany, Karen and Christopher.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a very nice lunch.

In the afternoon, Anne Marie attended needlepoint to pick up a complimentary kit provided by Crystal while Keith sat with a fellow passenger who he has known from previous cruises. He will be on the full world cruise and they enjoy talking about a variety of subjects.

From 5:15 PM to 6:00 PM there were complimentary Captain’s Welcome Aboard drinks in all bars. We did not partake but it was nice for those who wanted a drink.

This evening was the first formal night of the World Cruise.

As is tradition on the first formal night the menu includes fresh lobster which is one of Anne Marie’s favorite items so we each enjoyed lobster and others delicious items.

Since the passenger occupancy count was not very high instead of having two Captain’s Welcome Receptions with each one taking place before the respective dining times there was one reception held. This one took place right between early and late dining which was perfect for us. We will tell you more about the reception tomorrow.

Our Captain for the entire World Cruise voyage is Captain Glenn Edvardsen. Captain Glenn was our captain for the 2008 World Cruise and we really enjoy having him as the Captain of the Serenity. In 1998 Captain Glenn first was promoted to Captain with Crystal Cruises and has been a captain on all three Crystal Ships. This includes the former Crystal Harmony, the Crystal Symphony and of course the Crystal Serenity.

Today was a wonderful day at sea as this journey commences.

TODAYS THOUGHT OF THE DAY…..

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things”

Keith and Anne Marie