Thursday, February 10, 2011
After we posted yesterday, we attended the World Cruise Choir Performance. During the course of the World Cruise there are choir practices for those passengers who would like to sing for their fellow passengers and a few selected entertainers are added to the choir. They performed their first performance of the World Cruise for all of us. The choir included passengers, the Crystal Serenity Full Sail singers and a few members of the enrichment staff.
Following this performance, we dined at the Prego Italian Specialty Restaurant with Cruise Director Gary Hunter, Assistant Cruise Director Scott Mitchel and World Cruise Hostess Stacey Huston and with friends Bob and Glo. It was wonderful to all be together. We first sailed with Gary in 2005 and with Scott and Stacey in 2010. All three are very talented people and participate in some of the special shows that are performed during the World Cruise and Gary will also perform from time to time throughout the year since he is also a ventriloquist.
Dinner was wonderful. We each enjoyed our standing order salad that they have for us in this venue, the seafood special for the evening, side orders of vegetables and fruit for Keith’s dessert and a fat free yogurt for Anne Marie’s dessert, along with decaffeinated cappuccino coffee. The fish was a Rock Fish, was quite moist and tasty, and also was accompanied by Spinach Gnocchi and a Red Sauce that was prepared beautifully. The entire entrée was delicious and once again the Prego executive chef Christian came out to our table to see what we thought of tonight’s dinner. Six of the seven of us had the special seafood entrée and our response was to applaud for him. We asked him about the type of fish they will be bringing on board after we arrive in Auckland.
We also enjoyed a wonderful conversation that touched on a whole array of subjects. Our hosts are not only consummate professionals in all that they do but they are very warm and very special people.
It was a special dinner and we greatly appreciate Gary, Stacey and Scott joining the four of us for dinner.
After dinner, we stopped by a reception that was held for those passengers whose travel agents are part of the Signature Travel Network. They have been having two receptions per leg of the World Cruise. Unfortunately, we have had some conflicts that precluded us to making these receptions with the exception of getting to one of them a few minutes before its end so we were happy to arrive just a few minutes late. The Reception was held in Pulse, which is also used for Karaoke on some evenings on board the ship, and complementary cocktails and wine along with canapés were available. It was fairly well attended.
The entertainment featured concert pianist Naki Ataman who was clearly a hit with the audience.
When we arrived back to the room we saw that Alexander had left us with confirmations for reservations we have made for the next leg of the World Cruise at the Specialty Restaurants.
It seemed that as soon as we put our head on the pillow that we immediately fell asleep since we were up so late the night before. We slept well throughout the night. Once again, Keith was up early to begin another workout in the Fitness Center. He worked out on the Elliptical Machine for ninety minutes while he watched some cable news and also watched one of the recorded lectures that he missed from the previous day.
He was alone for the majority of the workout. Roy stopped by to chat for a couple of minutes and about fifteen minutes before finishing the workout Mary began her workout and another couple he has seen often arrived for their morning stretching.
After the workout, Keith stopped by the Lido Café to bring some coffee back to the room. He chatted with Lido Deck Steward Mel for a few minutes.
Around the time that Keith got back to the room Anne Marie got ready for her one hour walk on the Promenade Deck.
Right around 8:00 AM we had a knock on the door and it was Alexander who was here with hour breakfast. We enjoyed a nice breakfast and since this was a sea day we watched the morning show with Cruise Director Gary Hunter and World Cruise Hostess Stacey Huston.
During the show, Gary called the leader of the Galaxy Orchestra Raphael Derkson and they spoke about this evening’s performance that will be given by Wayne Newton. As Raphael mentioned those guests who have seen the Crystal Serenity Pops which is performed towards the end of the World Cruise will see some similarities as this performance is supposed to include eighteen performers. Evidently, they have rebuilt the Galaxy Lounge Stage for this performance. We have heard that they have been performing countless hours getting ready for tonight.
Today was the last sea day of this leg of the World Cruise since we will arrive in Auckland, New Zealand tomorrow and enjoy an overnight in this wonderful city before those passengers departing the ship leave the following morning.
Before the first lecture at 10:00 AM, we sat on deck 5 in a nice spot that we sit quite often while the Stewardess cleans our room. Several of our fellow passengers stopped by to say hi and we also read the two daily newspapers that we get on board the ship. We also spoke with some members of the crew. Everyone is looking forward to this evening’s performance starting Wayne Newton.
There were three lectures. Special Interest Lecturer David Davenport who spoke about Healthcare Reform gave the first one. Destination Lecturer Ken Rees who spoke about New Zealand gave the second one. He provided lots of wonderful information in his lecture as he does in each and every lecture. Joel Zuckerman who spoke about golf gave the final lectures. We see as many of these lectures that we can in person and if we cannot attend one of them we watch them when they are repeated the Crystal television stations.
At 12:00 Noon we attended the final Team Trivia game of this leg of the World Cruise. Our team ended up finishing in first place for this leg of the World Cruise.
For lunch we each enjoyed a wonderful salad entrée.
In the afternoon, Keith continued to play Paddle Tennis. He is really enjoying the tennis and has made a lot of progress since he first started playing it last year
Anne Marie took another hour walk on the Promenade Deck.
This evening we will attend the Captain’s Farewell Reception and then we will dine in the Main Dining Room. Other than the first formal night we usually do not dine in the Main Dining Room but decided to on this formal night of the cruise since we over the last several nights we have only been in the Main Dining Room one night. After dinner, we plan to attend Wayne Newton’s performance, which is supposed to also include several members of the Crystal Entertainment Team.
TODAY’S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY………
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” - Milton Berle
Keith and Anne Marie
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