Sunday, March 6, 2011
We enjoyed a wonderful time in the Crystal Dining Room last evening.
Before dinner, we watched the first of the Word Game Ceremonies. Every couple of evenings in the Crystal Cove medals and certificates are given out to the top three winners in each event while music is played and the two Olympians who are on board the ship place the medals over each winner’s head. We didn’t participate the first couple of days as the start time of the games we too close Trivia.
There was another great menu featuring lots of wonderful items.
Appetizers featured Seafood Samosa, Pastrami Cured Fresh Salmon and Poached White Asparagus. Other items we haven’t listed accompanied each appetizer. Soups fetured Creamy Tomato and Chicken Broth and Salads featured Farmer’s Vegetable Salad and Heart of Romaine Lettuce. The Past Special was a Short Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Roast Garlic, Chili, Parsley and Buffalo Mozzarella and the Salad Entrée was a Pink Roasted Pork Tenderloin. Main Fares featured Dover Sole Almondine , Apricot Basted Roast Cornish Game Hen, Walnut Shrimp Cantonese Style, and a Grilled Black Angus Filet Steak. Traditional Main Fares of Grilled Black Angus Sirloin Steak and Grilled Tasmanian Salmon Fillet were also available. The Vegetarian Selections included a Freshly Bake Pizza with Arugula Pesto, Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Artichokes, Sweet Peppers Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese. The Sweet Finale featured “Australian Summer” which is Forest Berry Crumble with Vanilla Ice Cream and a “Celebration of Gianduja” which is Gianduja Mousse with Caraibe Cream and Frangelico Flavored Sauce Anglaise and the Sugar-Free Desserts featured Vanilla Delight and a Strawberry Mille Feuille. There were also many Classic Dessert to choose from and of course one could order from the very nice selection of international cheese and premium crackers from the Cheese Trolley.
We remember the other night that on the menu which had the Australia theme that it included broiled Red Emperor Fish from Australia and since it was highly recommended we stopped by the Crystal Dining Room earlier in the morning to ask if it would be possible to order this fish. We knew that our headwaiter, Giuseppe is off in the morning as he works at the Afternoon Tea, so we spoke with our waiter Jijo and also to the Senior Headwaiter Frantz. Frantz happily checked with the Executive Chef and in the matter of a couple of minutes told us that this fish was still available so we special ordered it for this evening. They were happy to prepare it however we liked it and we just said that we would be happy to have it precisely as it was prepared the other evening.
We began the meal as we normally do with a toast to another wonderful evening on the Crystal Serenity along with our love for one another.
We then enjoyed nice salads. We both had the standing order of salad that Keith enjoys each evening.
We then enjoyed the delicious Red Emperor Fish, which was nicely prepared (Broiled). We are so very happy that we had the chance to try this fish as we really enjoyed it.. Keith didn’t have any French Fries (still haven’t had any if you are keeping track) but he did have a baked potato and we enjoyed the standing side order of vegetables. For dessert, Anne Marie had the Cookies n’ Cream Non-Fat Frozen Yogurt and Keith enjoyed a bowl of mixed berries and Anne Marie also had a decaffeinated coffee.
The service in the Crystal Dining Room was outstanding. Senior Waiter Jijo and Waiter Grenold took excellent care of us. We have said this throughout the cruise but they seem to anticipate everything. They know the standing orders we enjoy and even if it is not a standing order they can anticipate many of the items we may want to order just by looking over the menu in advance. Jijo has also made many fine recommendations to us, as he knows many of the items that we prefer. While they service other tables, they are always on top of each and every detail. We are never rushed and we never sit too long where something goes unattended. The timing works out perfectly for us. We spoke with Maitre d’ Leo Assmair a couple of times before and during dinner and our Headwaiter Giuseppe came by the table often. He was making Caesar Salad for a nearby table and asked if we would like some. We thanked him and instead of having it last night we have pre-ordered it for tomorrow. One of the items on last night menu was Dover Sole Almondine and each Headwaiter will remove the skin and bones on a cart that they position near the table. There is a table next to us that is hosted on the Formal nights by an officer and it was amazing to see that seven of the eight guests sitting there last evening ordered the Dover Sole and we watched as Giuseppe with the assistance of Jijo deboned all seven entrees. In spite of these efforts Giuseppe came to our table several times to check on us and to be sure that we were enjoying each course. Leo and Giuseppe each told us about their escapades on the Football (Soccer Field) earlier in the day as twelve members of the crew played Football (Soccer) for a couple of hours. We give them a lot of credit to get out on the field with the high Humidity. Keith was soaked from just playing Paddle Tennis for about ninety minutes and there is far more running in Football (Soccer) than in playing doubles Paddle Tennis.
We slept very well last evening as we now sail towards to Darwin, Australia, which is our last port of call in Australia that we will visit on this journey. The seas continued to be relatively calm but we find that the gentle rocking of the ship makes it easy to fall asleep.
Keith was up early for another wonderful workout on the Elliptical Machine. He put in another ninety-minute workout and then afterwards did some stretching. He worked out alone until just a little while before his workout ended. He stopped by the Lido Café to bring back some coffee to the room and he spoke with Lido Deck Stewards Ross and Nat.
During his workout he watched for the second time the lecture that was given the other day about World War II, which focused on certain aspects of the Pacific conflict. He found watching the lecture for the second time to be just as interesting as the first time as the lecturer presented so much information including items that we never knew about. He not only provided a lot of facts but also focused in on some of the selected battles and also spoke about the strategy that the United States adopted. Next year the Crystal Serenity will make several stops in Japan including stops in many cities that the lecturer spoke about.
Anne Marie took another long walk on the Promenade Deck for one hour. Just like clockwork, a few minutes after she arrived back to the room there was a knock on the door and it was Alexander with our breakfast.
We enjoyed breakfast as we watched the Crystal Morning Show which was hosted by Cruise Director Gary Hunter and World Cruise Hostess Stacey Huston.
At 9:00 AM Anne Marie participated in the Solitaire World Cruise Game Event and at 10:00 AM Keith participated in the Men’s Basketball. The luck was on Keith’s side given the wind everyone had to contend with and he finished with the Silver as he did last year.
Originally, Anne Marie planned to participate in the Ladies Basketball event but this conflicted with the talk given by Dorothy Hamill who also spoke at 11:00 AM so we both went to Dorothy Hamill’s talk.
At 12:00 Noon we played Team Trivia.
After Team Trivia had lunch in the Crystal Dining Room with World Cruise Hostess Stacey Huston and her parents. We first met Stacey’s parents when they came on for one leg of the World Cruise last year and we all had dinner together. We all enjoyed a wonderful lunch and a great conversation.
For lunch we both had the Chef’s Salad. This afternoon Anne Marie walked and we both read, wrote and spoke with fellow passengers.
This evening is a Formal Night and we will dine in the Prego Italian Restaurant with a special guest who we invited to join us for dinner. We’ll post about dinner tomorrow as well as about the Crystal Society Party.
The good new is that before we go to sleep this evening we will set the clocks back by thirty minutes (yes thirty) as we sail into yet another time zone.
We wanted to close today with two thoughts for the day. For us these are two very quotes that mean so much to us.
TODAY’S THOUGHT OF THE DAY……
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Elliot
“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why…” I dream of
things that never were, and ask why not? -Robert F. Kennedy
Keith and Anne Marie
Congrats on your silver medal!
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