We woke up earlier than usual this morning since we set the clocks back one hour last evening. Keith arrived at the Fitness Center at around 5:20 AM and Anne Marie made it over there by 6:00 AM. By around 6:30 AM all of the treadmills were in use. Keith worked out on the elliptical for about an hour and forty minutes, while Anne Marie worked out for an hour. We saw a number of the regulars working out along with others that we met for the very first time. Keith enjoyed a nice long conversation with someone who is sailing on the first segment of the World Cruise.
Last evening, we learned that the first segment of the World Cruise has 748 guests with a Crew of 650. That is a wonderful ratio of crew to passengers. Since the ship could accommodate well over 1,000 passengers the ship does not feel full. Since several passengers sail solo usually the ship does not feel full. We did learn that the main seating in the dining room for dinner is full with lots of room in the second seating. Our experience is that the itinerary has a lot to do with which seating is more popular. On voyages that are more port intensive the late seating tends to be more popular so that passengers can spend more time in port and have time when they get back to get ready for dinner. On voyages that have more sea days many times the early seating is busier.
After breakfast, we enjoyed a nice breakfast in the Lido Café. We saw many familiar faces and sat with a woman who we first met on the first segment of last years world cruise. Her husband eventually joined us. They enjoyed the first segment of last years cruise so much that this year they signed up for half of the World Cruise. We will be dining with them in Silk Road this evening.
We heard that our stewardess from last years cruise, Jasmina, is working on the ship so we stopped by the deck she is working on to see her. She remembered us and gave us each a big hug. She had heard from our stewardess that we were back on the ship.
We attended Rap with the Rabbi this morning. The Rabbi was on last years world cruise with his charming wife and we also sailed with them in September. It will be nice to sail with them again. At each session of Rap with the Rabbi he selects a new topic that we will cover and it provides a nice opportunity to share various viewpoints on many different items. Today’s session was very well attended and there was a good deal of participation.
Afterwards, Anne Marie went to the needlepoint session where they hand out a complimentary needlepoint kit and then we both attended a lecture given by Richard Klein who is the past President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His presentation was on the Oscar and offered an insiders look at the organization as it prepares for this year’s Oscar nominations.
Later in the morning we attended a World Cruise Overview presented by the Cruise Director and the World Cruise Hostess. They provided an excellent overview of some of the events that will take place during the course of the cruise. While there will be various events for the World Cruisers it was nice to hear that there will be a number of special events for all those on each segment of the world cruise. We also learned that there are indeed 342 full World Cruisers, which is the most ever for Crystal. At the end of the event, about 100 personnel from many of the departments across the ship marched into the room accompanied by the theme from the Superman The Movie which for us is very appropriate theme as they are all super.
We had a wonderful lunch in the main dining room. In the afternoon Keith tried his luck at a complimentary slot tournament, but was not one of the winners. ☹ He had a wonderful time anyway. ☺
Later in the afternoon we attended a get together with those on the ship who post on Cruise Critic that Keith had organized. We met in the Palm Court during the afternoon tea and Crystal had set up a special section for us and had sent out invitations ahead of time to each of them. It was wonderful to meet those who we had not met before and to also see those that we already know.
This evening we had dinner in the Japanese Specialty Restaurant, Silk Road, with a very nice couple that we first met last year as they did the first segment of last years World Cruise. Since that time we have corresponded with them regularly and this time around they are on the ship for half the World Cruise. The dinner was wonderful. We had several items that were especially made for us by the chef who came out to our table several times.
We are having a wonderful time on our adventure as we sail to our first port of call, Honolulu, Hawaii. We are literally enjoying every minute on the ship.
Keith & Anne Marie
