Welcome To Rarotonga, Cook Island - Day 30

Photos From Today's Visit To The Rainforest.

It was raining at the Rainforest.

The Crystal Serenity Anchored Off Rarotonaga

Photo From The Captains Welcome Reception. Several passengers noticed that the color of Keith's Bow Tie was similar to the color of Anne Marie's Formal Gown.

Photos Of Keith With Lido Deck Steward Clark (alias Superman) and Anne Marie With Clark.

The Wonderful Lobster Entree

Anne Marie with Our Wonderful Senior Waiter Jijo.

Welcome To Rarotonga, Cook Island – Day 30

Highlights From Yesterday and Today.

The Wonderful Crystal Cruises Team

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We had a very nice time on Rarotonga but the highlight for us was the professionalism of the Crystal crew. The sea was quite choppy and when we boarded the tender and also arrived back from the tender the tender was going up and down by about three feet in each direction. The crew helped each of us so that we got on and off the tender at the correct time. On our tender coming back from the Island was a man in a wheelchair. Once we arrived back we all waited for the crew to lift the man and his wheelchair out of the tender. Four members of the crew lifted the passenger. This can be a challenge in itself but was significantly more of a challenge given the roughness of the sea. They way in which the men lifted the passenger in his wheelchair while the tender was rocking the way it was is truly remarkable and is just another fine example of the crew working together as one coherent team.

Last evening was the first formal night for this leg of the World Cruise. We just love formal nights on board the ship.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the Main Dining Room. The theme for the menu was the Gala Welcome Dinner and what a wonderful dinner it was.

The Appetizers included Ice American Malossol Caviar, Ragout of Porcine, Chicken and Fava Beans, and Fresh Oysters.

The Soups and Salads included Cream of Celeriac soup as well as Clear Oxtail Soup. The Captain’s Salad was the featured salad and it included selected Bouquet of Fresh Garden Greens with Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Fresh Sprouts, Butter Beans, Taro Chips and Honey Lime Dressing.

The Pasta Special was Artichoke Ravioli and the Salad Entrée was Beef Tenderloin Salad.

The Main Fares included Broiled Fresh Lobster from Maine, Grilled Fillet of Halibut, Chateaubriand, and Pink Roasted Squab Breast. Traditional Fares also included Grilled Black Angus Sirloin Steak and Plain Grilled Chicken Breast.

As usual there was lots of side orders to choose from along with Vegetarian and Lighter Side items.

For dessert, there was a large selection of Classic Desserts on the menu including Chocolate Ooze Cake a la Mode, Crème Caramel with Fresh Berries, Apple Crumble art with Vanilla Ice Cream, Vanilla, Cookies ‘n’ Cream, Coffee or Strawberry Ice Cream with several toppings to choose from, Freshly Frozen Nonfat Raspberry or Butter Pecan Yogurt, Refreshing Pomegranate Champagne Sherbet and Petits Fours & Truffles and Seasonal Fruit.

The Sweet Finale Desserts included “Chocolate Delice” which was a White Chocolate Truffle Cake, Raspberry Jell-O and Frozen Raspberry Yogurt and also “Mocha Bean” which was a Mocha Crème Brulee, Kona Coffee Ice Cream and Pistachio Biscotti.

We each had a nice salad to begin the meal. Anne Marie had the Captain’s Salad while Keith had his standing order Salad. What do you think we had for the entrée? Yes, we enjoyed Anne Marie’s favorite entrée of the first formal night, which is the Broiled Fresh Maine Lobster entrée, which was served with Green Squash, Melon Balls and Citrus-Champagne Risotto. We also had the nice standing order of vegetables. Keith enjoyed fruit for his dessert while Anne Marie had the Chocolate Profiteroles sugar free dessert, which she loved along with a decaffeinated cappuccino coffee. When the waiter came around with a tray of petit fours and other little desserts Anne Marie selected a couple of them for Keith which he did enjoy.

Everything was perfect and we had just a wonderful dinner.

We attended both the early and the late Captain’s Formal Receptions. From time to time we will do this so that we can see more of our fellow passengers who we might not otherwise have a chance to see or to talk with as often as we would like. We sat with a couple that we first met in 2010 at the early Captain’s Reception and enjoyed a wonderful talk with them. They are from Canada and there first cruise with Crystal was the 2010 World Cruise and they enjoyed it so much they are back not only for this years World Cruise but have also booked the 2012 World Cruise. At the late Captain’s Reception we sat with friends Bob and Glo and we also sat with Patricia and her husband who we first met the other night at the Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle Party. We enjoyed a very nice conversation with everyone. We also spoke with other friends including Vincent and Pauline who we first met in 2007. Vincent and Keith talked about playing some Paddle Tennis together. We also walked around at the earlier reception and spoke to several other guests. At both receptions we also spoke with several officers.

During each reception the Captain noted that the seas could be rough for the tenders during today’s visit to Rarotonga. Unlike many islands there is no reef to provide protection from the rougher seas.

We slept very well last evening as we sailed towards Ratonga.

Keith was up very early as he does each and every day and he worked out at the Fitness Center. He enjoyed a wonderful workout on the Elliptical Machine. He was alone for a good portion of his workout until Mary arrived for her daily workout. Roy stopped by and chatted with Keith for a few minutes before he walked on the Promenade Deck.

Afterwards, he stopped by the Lido Café for some coffee. Anne Marie didn’t workout since we had the morning shore excursion.

Afterwards, we enjoyed breakfast in our room, which has served, by our butler, Alexander.

This is our first visit to Rarotonga of the Cook Islands. This is the main island of the Cook group of Islands. This chain of islands was names after celebrated explorer Captain James Cook.

Rarotonga’s mountains rise 2,000 feet above it beautiful white-sand beaches.

Today we took an excursion, which involved a hike of the Takitumu Rainforest.

Now, what do you think it does at the Rainforest? Yes, it rains and today was no exception. At one point there was a major downpour. We did hike up and down a hill that was a challenge at times but we all made it up and down the hill, with only one person falling once but she was OK.

We were taken by motor coach to the Takitumu Conservation Area. We had a very scenic ride as we had beautiful views of the coast and rainforest. Once we arrived we proceeded on foot to look at the rainforest. Local landowners to protect the indigenous created this private reserve and endangered flycatcher know as the Karerori and to offer visitors the opportunity to enjoy this most beautiful area.

We had a nice group on the tour of around eighteen people and while were wet and muddy we had a very nice time.

When we arrived back to the ship, we had lunch at the Lido Café.

Later in the afternoon we washed our clothes and our shoes and did reading and writing.

This evening we will dine at Silk Road with friends Bill and Sandra.

We also plan to attend the show after dinner this evening which features Soprano Fiona Jessica Wilson who will be accompanied by The Galaxy Orchestra.

TODAY’S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY……….

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Keith and Anne Marie