En Route To Cape Town - Day 26

NOTE: We three pictures from last evening including two taken at the Silk Road Japanese Restaurant. One of these pictures is of the sushi/sashimi platter that we ordered. Yes, very yummy! J

We included a few of picture from lunchtime yesterday with Anne Marie and three of the Lido Deck Stewards and two from today showing Anne Marie getting her salad and Alberto (who is also one of the waiters at Silk Road) cutting chicken for us.

There is also a picture from the Bistro where our sommelier from the Main Dining Room was working in the Bistro this morning.

Last night was another wonderful evening on board the Crystal Serenity. Aren’t they all? J

Before dinner last evening we were sitting at the Crystal Cove Bar having sparkling water when the lead musician from the Crystal Trio of musicians came by to talk with us. On most evenings the quartet plays requests from passenger’s at the various Main Dining Room tables and he had remembered that the other evening we had mentioned him how much we love the Philippine Song “Prodigal Son” and our difficulty finding the recording. Tonight he gave us a CD with five different songs including this one and he also gave us the lyrics in both English and in the language of the Philippines’. We were thrilled and have already played the song on our computer. Over the last few years, this is usually the song we request when they play for us although once in a while if someone has just requested it as was the case a few weeks ago we select another song. The trio’s are always amazing as there are very few requests that they likely have not heard of.

Last evening we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with friends Bob and Glo. We dined at the Silk Road Japanese Specialty Restaurant. Once again, Alberto was our waiter. We have known Alberto for several years so he knows our preferences. The food was outstanding and we all remarked about the care that goes into not only preparation of each item but in terms of its presentation. Each item is presented so nicely. Essentially, each item and each dish is a work of art. We included a picture of the sushi/sashimi platter. Over the years we have become familiar faces to the Silk Road Staff.

Like several other passengers who cruise on Crystal, on most nights when we enter the restaurant and are escorted to the table or we leave the restaurant at the end of the meal almost every person on the staff knows our name. Their ability to remember the names of so many guests amazes us and truly adds to the feeling of family and community on the ship. While this occurs on each and every voyage the bond that takes place between everyone on a Crystal World Cruise or other very long cruises such as the Grand Voyage is even more amazing.

We do bow to show our respect and as we are getting ready to leave the restaurant we do thank each of the Sushi Chefs who are working their magic at the Sushi Bar. We had a lovely evening with Bob and Glo and we dined for over two hours enjoying an outstanding conversation. After all, this is part of the overall cruising experience. About 15 minutes before we left the restaurant filled up with passengers as many had come from the party that was offered to all guest last evening. This was one of the few parties of this type we have missed.

Like the movie Groundhog Day we forwarded our watches and clocks one additional hour as we sail into yet another time zone. At this point in time we are six hours ahead of the East Coast of the United States and this evening we will continue this pattern by forwarding the clocks/watches again by another hour as we continue to sail towards Cape Town, South Africa. We may have mentioned this before but when the Super Bowl is showed live on the ship it will begin at 1:00 AM Ship Local Time. The actual kickoff will begin at around 1:25 AM. We can assure you that we will not be up at that hour. J

Once again, Keith woke early this morning. His ankle is less swollen than it was the other day and each day is making progress. His foot is not the prettiest site (of course it was not a work of art before the injury J ) as all of the small toes have turned purple. This is not unusual and is all part of the healing process. We do know that with each passing day the ankle and the foot and even those toes will heal and our hope is that he will be better than ever in due course. Focusing on the positive, the injury could have been worse and we are fortunate to have all of the sea days for him to rest and heal and maybe with all of the upper body weight lifting he will be selected to model for a fitness magazine. No way on the modeling. J

After Keith lifted weights in the Fitness Center he stopped by the Lido Café to get some coffee to bring back to the room. The staff outnumbered the guests as there were only two other passengers sitting there. Keith spoke with each of the Lido Deck Stewards who were on duty at that time. Anne Marie worked out on the Treadmill for an hour and also stopped by the Lido Café for some coffee.

We enjoyed breakfast in the room and spoke with the Butler, Alexander for a while.

While enjoying Breakfast, we watched the Crystal Morning Show and when they got to the Trivia Questions Keith called once to correctly answer one of the questions.

During Captain Glenn’s morning announcement from the bridge he noted that the swell of the sea had increased last evening and will continue to increase during the course of the sea due to windy weather particularly further South of the ship. Captain Glenn’s thought of the day was, “If you are not having fun then you are not doing it right.”

The Captain is so right and is a very wise man. We remember when at the start of the World Cruise Captain said those passenger’s who want to have a great time will have a great time and those passenger’s who do not want to have a good time will likely not have a good time.

The key for us is to have a great time. We pinch ourselves every day because each and every day is a glorious day for each of us.

There was one lecture this morning as at 10:00 AM there was the weekly crew fire and lifeboat drill. The crew is required to have one of these a week and usually has them on days the ship is in port but with so many sea days that was not possible this time around.

With the continuation of the forwarding of the clocks it was good timing not to have the first lecture until 11:00 AM since many of the passenger’s probably appreciated waking up a little later in the morning. There was still plenty for everyone to do prior to the lecture.

Like Cruise Director Rick Spath, Keith had a great interest in sports trivia so for about 30 minutes this morning two of them were recounting sports trivia from the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Originally one of the guest lecturers on one of the legs of the World Cruise was supposed to be Johnny Bench and Keith showed Rick three baseball cards Keith had brought with him including Johnny Bench’s Rookie Of The Year Card. The recounted how they used to buy baseball cards and used to flip them in their younger years.

This mornings lecture was given by Destination Lecturer Ken Rees who presented “Diamonds are Forever – The History of Cape Town and South Africa.” An insignificant harbor at the bottom of Africa, Cape Town became a city of three million and the cradle of freedom for a nation. During Ken’s presentation he traced the history of South Africa and he also highlighted what to see and what to do in Cape Town. Ken’s presentations continue to be outstanding. He has the ability to present a good deal of information in a very interesting and humorous manner.

After Ken’s presentation it was time for lunch so we once again went up to the Lido Café to make ourselves a salad entrée and to enjoy the beauty of being at sea from this vantage point.

In the afternoon, Anne Marie took a nice long walk for over an hour on the Promenade Deck while Keith did reading and writing in the room and also took care of a few errands around the ship. Later in the afternoon Anne Marie attended the Odyssey Art at Sea class and made some other jewelry items. She has made quite a few bracelets, necklaces and earrings and has already worn several of the pieces.

Keith sat and spoke with a couple of passenger’s in their continuing efforts to come up with solutions for some of the key challenges facing the world.

We also attended the lecture given by Special Interest Lecturer Rex Zisk who presented James Cook’s Third Voyage from 1776 to 1779. This presentation was about Captain James Cook’s mission to find the Northwest Passage. James Cook discovered Hawaii, Nootka and due mainly to the fact that his ship was unseaworthy this resulted in the end to his career at a very young age. This was an outstanding presentation as Rex Zisk has a very unique way of lecturing. This was Rex Zisk’s forth and final lecture of this leg of the world cruise.

Yes, Keith is counting those days until he can start to get back to exercise. He will likely begin by taking some long walks and then build back slowly.

Before dinner, we went to the Matinee to see one of Crystal’s Production Shows Gotta Dance. We had a wonderful time and it was a great way to start the evening.

Afterwards, we enjoyed another wonderful meal in the Main Dining Room after having not been their for two evenings.

After dinner, we went to another concert and will share more information about it tomorrow.

We will forward the clocks forward one hour this evening and as we understand this is the last time we will forward the time on this specific World Cruise Voyage as this will put us on the same time as Cape Town. We will move the clocks forward a few more times during the course of the World Cruise but no more for this voyage. J

TODAY’S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY….

“Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”

Keith and Anne Marie