En Route To Marmagao, India - Day 49

SUNDAY, February 28, 2010

NOTE: We included a picture from last evening where we dined at Silk Road with the Rabbi and his lovely wife.

We also included a picture taken last evening of The Crystal Trio playing music in front of the fountain in the Crystal Cove. On most evenings they also play a song at each of the tables at the Main Dining Room. Guests can request a song and they normally know each of them. We enjoy their music. The first few pictures were taken at this afternoons Buffet.

We wanted to begin by saying that our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to all of those individuals and families who have been impacted by the catastrophic earthquake in Chili. We know that words cannot describe the magnitude of this event nor the challenges that many people will face over the coming, days, weeks, and months.

Today is Sunday, February 28 and we have enjoyed a wonderful day at sea. The sea has been very calm. We are nine hours and thirty minutes ahead of those of you on the east coast of the United States of America.

We wanted to mention that late yesterday we finally got a chance to watch the broadcast of The Liar’s Club which was held this past Thursday evening. This has to be one if not the funniest one we have seen. Cruise Director Rick Spath emceed this event and the panel was comprised of Dr. Jay Wolff, Ken Rees, Barbara Rinella and Rabbi Morrie Hershman. For those of you who have never seen a Liar’s Club the audience is broken into various teams who tries to figure out which of the panelists has given the correct definition for a particular word. Of course, these words are not ones that one see often if ever. Here’s an example of one of the words. “Jentacular”

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with the Rabbi and his lovely wife last evening at Silk Road. Everything was wonderful including the conversation, service and the food. It is always so nice to spend time with Rabbi Morrie and Gerri. We first sailed with them on the 2007 and the 2008 World Cruises and we also sailed with them in the Fall of 2007 on a New York City to Montreal cruise and again last spring when we sailed from New York City to Hong Kong.

What was funny was that for a few minutes we had three of the four members from Liar’s Club all at Silk Road. There was the Rabbi at our table. At the adjacent table was Barbara Rinella. Finally, Dr. Jay Wolff was sitting at the table right adjacent to the one that Barbara was dining at. All we needed was Destination Lecturer Ken Rees to walk into Silk Road and we could have had another Liar’s Club event. J

While we did not attend the buffet, there was a special buffet also offered last evening on the Lido Deck. This buffet featured many food items from India as well as a variety of other items including Seafood, Beef and Chicken and many other delicious items. At the same time there was open seating in the Main Dining Room so there was lots of nice dining options for people to choose from.

Today, we sail to Marmagao, India, which will be our first visit to this port of call. On Friday evening we learned that due to a docking restriction time window in Mumbai that the Serenity will now dock in this port of call from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM rather than from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Those who had private shore excursions were advised to contact the reception desk if they needed assistance to try to change those tours.

Keith awoke early for another workout at the Fitness Center. He was not the first one to arrive as fellow passenger Brian was already working out. For the first time three days after injuring his ankle when he temporarily gave up the elliptical machine, Keith was back on the elliptical machine today. He worked out for 75 minutes and overall the ankle felt very good. So, we will hope that continues. Fellow passenger John was also working out as was another passenger and the Executive Chef. Keith stopped by the Lido Café and Lido Deck Steward Ross helped Keith with the coffee and they chatted for a little while.

Anne Marie also enjoyed another nice one-hour workout on the treadmill and once she finished she also stopped by the Lid Café for coffee.

We enjoyed another nice breakfast in the room. Since today was a sea day we watched the Daily Morning Show hosted by Cruise Directors Rick Spat and World Cruise Hostess Stacey Huston. One item we haven’t mentioned is that during morning, afternoon and evenings that someone from the audio/video department takes videos of passengers and on each show small snippets are showed from these videos.

There have been lots of activities throughout the day and afternoon hours. It’s always fun to look for passengers we know and see them on television.

There was a very touching moment on the show. Our cruise director called home and spoke very briefly to three of his four children and his wife. As he spoke with each of them we viewed a pictures of his lovely children. This was very touching. What a beautiful and loving family.

During Captain Glenn’s morning talk from the bridge he noted that the seas were calm and good weather in the forecast and that we are on schedule for tomorrows port of call. We were cruising along the coast of India.

Today’s’ thought of the day from the Captain was “In order to achieve big goals in the future we must achieve our small goals so why worry about work tomorrow when this is work to be done today.”

We attended the Rap With the Rabbi. It was another nice session and the last one for this leg of the World Cruise.

Afterwards, there was a Travel Channel Academy Film Festival. This program featured those passengers who participated in this program during the cruise where the participants edited and produced their own films about the trip.

Later in the morning, a lecture was given by Bob Warne who presented “War with al Qaeda Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the roles of India and Iran.” This presentation covered the fact that this involves a different kind of war and the kind of skills that are required on the part of NATO and others.

Dr. Jay Wolff gave the final presentation of the morning. The topic of this presentation was “The Buck Stops Here – The Story of Harry S. Truman.”

Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch on the Lido Deck. We attended the Nuevo Latino Luncheon Buffet, which featured popular and classic cuisine from Latin nations south of the USA border. We were able to make a nice salad entrée for ourselves.

In the afternoon, Anne Marie enjoyed another nice long walk on the Promenade Deck and she also sat out by the pool. Keith read and wrote and also talked with a couple of fellow passengers.

We’ve mentioned this before but there are so many activities to enjoy on days at sea with Crystal Cruises. We counted close to sixty formal activities including entertainment.

Health and Fitness Activities included Nordic Walking with the Fitness Director, Morning Walk on Water with a Water Vest with the Fitness Director, Fitness Stretch and Fitness Sit and Be Fit Classes, Fitness Indoor Cycling, Skincare Seminar, Shuttleboard and Table Tennis open play, Golf Clinic, Paddle Tennis Open Play, not one but two different Yoga Classes, Pilates, afternoon Walk with Fitness Director, Afternoon Walk with the Walking Polls. Of course there is the Fitness Center and the Swimming Pools and the Promenade Deck.

Several different classes including Piano Class, Beginners, and other Bridge Classes, Spanish Class, Computer Class, a second Music Class, Dance Class, and a Video Workshop offered by the Travel Channel.

In terms of religion there was the Rap With the Rabbi, A Catholic Mass, and a Protestant Workshop Mass.

Other activities included three lectures and one program on videos, afternoon listening to piano music, team trivia, complimentary gaming lessons in the casino, poolside music by a live band two movies in a movie cinema, needlepoint get together, and several more that we haven’t listed. This afternoon like every day on board the ship is also a very nice afternoon tea.

In the evening there is the Captain’s Farewell Reception, live piano music in not one but two different venues, live music by a band and by the trio members. There was also a production show called Curtain Call with two performances, and late night Karaoke. Of course there are many lounges and the Casino. On top of this are many dining options.

This evening was formal night and we will be dining by ourselves at the Prego Italian Specialty Restaurant. Afterwards, we will attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception for this leg of the World Cruise.

Tomorrow, we will be sure to also post comment about this evening.

TODAY’S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it”

Keith and Anne Marie