We slept very well last evening as the sea was relatively calm. We woke early this morning. Keith was the first one in the Fitness Center and Anne Marie and Mary, wife of the computer instructor, arrived about 30 minutes later. We enjoyed a great workout and Keith and Mary talked about many of the ports of call that we will visit during the course of the cruise. We are very much looking forward to visiting so many ports that we will visit for the very first time.
After the workout, we went to the Lido Café for breakfast. Midway through breakfast, two others fellow passengers sat with us and we had a great conversation with each of them. We were all remarking about how much we enjoy the ship and the outstanding service. So far, everything has been outstanding.
When we got back to our room we spoke with the butler for a few minutes. We feel so very fortunate to have a truly outstanding butler, stewardess, and assistant stewardess. They are very personable, very hard working and top notch in the service that they provide.
Today’s quote from the captain. “Even though we come from all over the world, we laugh in the same language”. This is so true.
In the morning, we attended another session of Rap with the Rabbi. These sessions are held every other day on sea days. Today’s session was very well attended and there was a good deal of participation. This will be our last session for this segment of the World Cruise.
We attended another lecture given by Destination Lecturer Dr. Jay Wolff. The topic was “Rally Round The Flag”. We learned that a vocal minority in Hawaii is pushing the view that the last state in will be the first state out. Dr. Wolff is a wonderful speaker and we look forward to his lectures throughout the World Cruise.
Later in the morning, we crossed the equator and, as such, Crystal conducted what is known as the Equator Crossing Ceremony, which involves some of the officers and crew on the ship. It is always a lot of fun. It was a little windy before the ceremony began, but it appears that the ship was turned a bit so it was lots less windy during the ceremony. Complimentary champagne and mimosas were provided to the passengers. It was a little too early in the day for us to have these drinks so we each enjoyed a Perrier instead. ☺
For lunch we dined in the main dining room with our Cruise Director, Rick Spath. This is our first sailing with Rick and we think he is wonderful. He is very friendly and very thoughtful and we feel so very fortunate to be sailing with him. We had a wonderful conversation with him and agreed that we would do this again. The other night when we spoke with him we learned that his first job on a cruise lines was with The Home Lines which happened to be the first cruise line that Keith sailed on as a youngster and one that Anne Marie’s mom sailed on several years later. It was an Italian Cruise Line, which stopped operating many years ago.
Before dinner, we attended a reception held in the Captain’s Quarters with some of our fellow cruisers. We had a great time and it provided a wonderful opportunity to talk with the Captain and to converse with many of our fellow passengers and Officers of the Crystal Serenity.
This evening we dined in the Silk Road Specialty Restaurant with computer instructor, Stan, and his lovely wife, Mary. We first met them on last years World Cruise and they are wonderful people. We enjoyed a great meal and had a wonderful conversation.
Each day we have met many new passengers who we did not know before this cruise as well as talking with those who we knew from last year and from other prior cruises. We continue to enjoy each moment of this adventure.
Keith & Anne Marie
