NOTE: We have removed the capability to post comments on this Blog. We were sorry to do this as we really enjoyed receiving comments from those of you posted, but unfortunately, we noticed that someone who we do not know was posting comments trying to direct folks to some other web site. We do enjoy hearing from you, so please be sure to e mail us with any comments, questions and other thoughts you have.
We wanted to mention that yesterday there were two ships on port. There was the Sapphire Princess and a very large Ferry that goes between Melbourne and Tasmania. Today, there is another Ferry that goes to Tasmania as well.
Last evening we were reading the Program (Reflections) that Crystal provides each of its passengers on a daily basis. The program included a chart on the Beaufort Scale. Almost every morning, the Captain discussed the wind during his morning talk and mentions a number, which is a number on the Beaufort Scale. IN 1858, British admiral, mariner, and amateur meteorologist Sir Francis Beaufort invented this scale in which number 0 to 12 indicates the force of the wind. Zero (0) refers to the calmest of winds and Twelve (12) refers to hurricane force winds. The evening that we sailed into Melbourne, we had winds of number 10 on the Beaufort Scale which refers to storm winds so hopefully this gives you a sense as to how severe the winds were.
Keith awoke early this morning and went to the Fitness Center to workout on the elliptical machine. Keith was the first one in the Center and a little while later Mary arrived to the center. Anne Marie is in the middle of some type of cold so she got a well-deserved rest and slept in a later this morning while Keith worked out. Before not too long, John also arrived at the Center. There were very few people in the Center today since we are in port and many passengers are booked on either a morning or afternoon tour. Keith chatted with Mary for much of the workout. After Keith’s workout we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast in our room.
Originally, we were booked on a complimentary excursion through Crystal but decided last evening to forgo this excursion. We so thoroughly enjoyed our time in Melbourne on Sunday and since it is a great walking city we decided that we would go out again on our own today. Also, with several passengers still sick we thought it might be better not to sit with so many people on a bus. We also figured that it would be good to get as much fresh air as possible.
We started walking at around 9:00 AM. We began by walking on a street that is by the beach and the ocean and then after about a mile we took another street that would eventually lead us to the downtown area. On our way, we passed by several restaurants, bakeries, designer clothing stores, food stores, cafes, and an assortment of other businesses. We also walked thru a few different neighborhoods. We walked for several hours and did not return to the ship until lunchtime.
We ended up walking ten miles and enjoyed the sights of Melbourne. Our walk also included time in the Financial District, and we also saw the various judicial buildings and also through Flagstaff Gardens which is a very nice park/garden area. The weather was on the cooler side for most of our walk so we each wore a fleece and were quite comfortable. Between this walk and Keith’s 13 mile workout on the Elliptical Machine sis morning he went over 23 miles today.
Melbourne is a very easy city to navigate on your own. It is a very cosmopolitan city and it offers much in the way of daytime sightseeing including various museums, the aquarium, the botanical gardens, the zoo and many others interesting places to visit. At the same time it offers a very nice nightlife from lots of restaurants serving a variety of cuisines to nightclubs and other evening entertainment. It is also a very clean city, and a city that appears to be very safe for both locals and tourists alike. As we mentioned yesterday, it has the feel of many cities in the United States during the 1950s and the 1960s. It is a great walking city with very well marked street signs, lots of pedestrian traffic crossings and very polite/considerate motorists.
We wanted to add a few other observations. The McDonald’s Restaurants that we saw had signage that also said McCafé. It’s not often that we think of this fast food establishment as a café. ☺ As we were walking by the judicial courts we saw both male and female lawyers all wearing wigs in keeping with their British Heritage. Unlike, what we observe in many cities around the world, motorists do not honk their car horns and seem to show much more patience than many drivers from other large cities.
As we were returning back to the ship we first ran into the Maitre D of the Main Dining Room Leo Assmair and a few minutes later our Butler, Alexanader. They each were going on a nice walk. They are both wonderful and very professional and we have enjoyed our talks with each of them during the course of this cruise. As was the case on last years cruise, Leo will be on the first half of this cruise and then when he goes on vacation another Maitre D will come on for the second half of the World Cruise. Our butler will be on for another few segments of the cruise before he returns to his home country of Serbia. As we have mentioned before, overtime those on the ship, passengers and crew alike, become like a small hometown community.
When we arrived back at the ship we enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the Main Dining Room. From the window in the Main Dining Room we could see lots of Jelly Fish swimming around the ship. Let’s hope we don’t see them on the dinner menu. ☺
After lunch we took it easy and stayed on the ship. We took care of some errands and enjoyed the quiet time since some passengers were spending part or all of the afternoon in port. Passengers were asked to be back on board the ship by 5:30 PM for the 6:00 PM sail away.
Before dinner, we attended a special performance of the World Cruise Chorus. We believe this is the first performance since the World Cruise began. Last year there was a concert on each segment but for some reason this year it took until the third segment for their first concert. The performance included a combination of those on the full World Cruise and those on one or more segments. In addition to various passengers, the performance also included the acappella quartet known as Full Sail and Tony Award Nominated Broadway Vocalist Michel Bell who has performed on several cruises we have taken with Crystal Cruises.
This evening we had our table in the Main Dining Room expanded from a two person to a four-person table so that the Rabbi and his lovely wife could join us for dinner. This is the second time they have dined with us during the course of the cruise. They are wonderful people and we greatly enjoy our talks with them. They have a wonderful outlook on life and it is always a pleasure to see them. The food and service was outstanding as it always is. Keith enjoyed an entrée of broiled fresh Tasmanian salmon. He selected this since it is not only fresh but is from the area of the world we are sailing in. Anne Marie enjoyed a Halibut Fillet. We mainly have seafood for dinner and we have enjoyed a variety of wonderful seafood entrees on board the ship.
Tomorrow we will be at sea before this third segment of the World Cruise concludes the following day in Sydney, Australia. Approximately 400 passengers will be getting off the ship in Sydney, while some new passengers will be joining the ship in the afternoon. The ship will not be as full as it was on our current segment of the World Cruise and we believe there will be around 150 less passengers on this segment of the cruise. The upcoming segment has lots of sea days.
Keith & Anne Marie
