We thought we would begin with a few additional photos from our visit to Grand Turk yesterday.
This is the beach area adjacent to the dock.
One of some of the small shops that we saw during our tour of the island.
Before dinner last evening we attended the Captain's Farewell Reception. This was the fourth and final formal night for the Holiday Cruise. Since we continue on the next voyage, this is not our farewell party but we know our time will eventually come. We each had a glass of wine and spoke with some of our fellow guests, enjoyed the live music and dancing and listened to Captain Okland.
We sat in an area with extra seats and a nice couple who live in Florida asked to join us. We had never met them before and we struck up a terrific conversation ranging from Crystal Cruises, to family to tennis. If we had met them earlier in the cruise we would have enjoyed getting together with them again.
Anne Marie with Lido Deck Stewards Jun on her left and Alvin on her right. The Lido Deck Stewards assist at each reception serving all sorts of canapes and assisting with beverages.
After the reception, we had dinner in the Crystal Dining Room last evening. We each began with salads. Keith had his standing order salad and Anne Marie had the "Commander's Salad". Since we dined in Silk Road on Sunday night when fresh swordfish was on the menu and we do enjoy this fish we had arranged in advance to have the swordfish as our entree. At the same time we also shared the Broiled Rock Lobster Tails which were on the menu. The entrees were delicious. The Swordfish may have been the best swordfish we have ever head. The caponata added a lot of nice flavor to the swordfish. We also enjoyed David Bruce Pinot Noir with our meal.
Photo with Pierre who is a Sommelier. He has been wonderful. As we mentioned another time, he doesn't pour too much or too little and is very observant and on top of things. For example, last night he checked with us at one point to see if we wanted anymore wine because he wanted to put the cork back into the Pinot Noir as soon as possible so that it kept well for this evening.
This is the salad that Anne Marie had while Keith had his standard salad. Normally, it would be topped off with orange slices but Anne Maris is allergic to oranges.
This is the swordfish entree. We thought it was one of the most delicious swordfish entrees we have ever eaten.
This is the Lobster Tail Entree. Although it had been frozen had the consistency and the taste of fresh lobster.
Keith had berries as his dessert and Anne Marie had the sugar free Vanilla Cream Swan and she let Keith try some of it.
These are the menus. Sorry that one of them is not aligned properly.
After dinner, we stopped by the second Captain's Reception just so we could see some friends who dine in the late seating. We sat for a long time with friends Bob and Glo and their daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren. They are a lovely family. We also spoke briefly with Assistant Cruise Director Scott Mitchel and we look forward to sailing with him for this entire voyage.
Last night, we received a letter explaining how the process will work for in-transit guests (if you stay on for another cruise you are considered in-transit) when we clear customs and immigration in Miami. We will be in the last group that will be escorted off the ship at around 10:00 AM tomorrow morning. We can either go into Miami (which we plan to do) or likely get back on the ship at around 11:00 AM. The precise time is not in Crystal Cruises control but is determined by the immigration officials.
We slept well as we sailed towards Miami, Florida.
We both worked out at the Fitness Center this morning and, once again, enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast in our room. Keith was able to watch Ambassador Marc Ginsberg's final presentation from New Years Day about the spring uprising in the Middle East. The Ambassador provides a lot of information in his talks that is easy to comprehend, and is presented passionately and with conviction. Coincidentally, we ran into the Ambassador and his wife (his wife joined the ship the other day) and he had asked if we had plans for lunch today, but unfortunately we do. They will be back on the ship for the last leg of the World Cruise so we will plan to have dinner with them.
Today marks the final full day on the ship for the Holiday Cruise prior to arriving to Miami, Florida tomorrow morning.
For many people leaving the ship, they will spend time packing today.
We had moderately rough seas throughout the day and it was cooler outside.
The Fitness Center added in another indoor cycling class so Keith attended that class. Unfortunately, no one else did, but Keith decided to do the class himself. There is no question it's better to have other classmates, but it was still good exercise.
While Keith was taking the class, Anne Marie organized some items in the room and pulled together what we need to take with us when we go into Miami for a short time tomorrow along with the final list of items we hope to purchase.
When Keith walked back to the room from the Fitness Center at a few minutes before 11:00 AM he saw that someone had already placed two pieces of luggage outside their room. It's not often that you see someone do this so early in the day.
We had lunch today with Cruise Director Gary Hunter and his lovely wife, Kelly. Gary had invited us to join him and Kelly for New Years Day dinner, but that was not possible as we already had dinner plans with Ashley and Kelly so we agreed on having lunch today. We first met Gary on a back to back cruise we did on board the Serenity in the Fall of 2005. We enjoyed a great conversation with both Gary and Kelly.
In the afternoon, Anne Marie walked for an hour on the treadmill as it was cool out on the open deck and the seas were somewhat rough. Keith sat with some fellow guests and also read and wrote this afternoon.
This evening there will be an early variety show at 5:00 PM which Gary will be appearing in along with several other entertainers. The reason that it is early is to allow those passengers getting off in Miami to have time to tend to last minute items this evening.
We will post about that and dinner tomorrow.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.....
This is the beach area adjacent to the dock.
One of some of the small shops that we saw during our tour of the island.
Before dinner last evening we attended the Captain's Farewell Reception. This was the fourth and final formal night for the Holiday Cruise. Since we continue on the next voyage, this is not our farewell party but we know our time will eventually come. We each had a glass of wine and spoke with some of our fellow guests, enjoyed the live music and dancing and listened to Captain Okland.
We sat in an area with extra seats and a nice couple who live in Florida asked to join us. We had never met them before and we struck up a terrific conversation ranging from Crystal Cruises, to family to tennis. If we had met them earlier in the cruise we would have enjoyed getting together with them again.
Anne Marie with Lido Deck Stewards Jun on her left and Alvin on her right. The Lido Deck Stewards assist at each reception serving all sorts of canapes and assisting with beverages.
After the reception, we had dinner in the Crystal Dining Room last evening. We each began with salads. Keith had his standing order salad and Anne Marie had the "Commander's Salad". Since we dined in Silk Road on Sunday night when fresh swordfish was on the menu and we do enjoy this fish we had arranged in advance to have the swordfish as our entree. At the same time we also shared the Broiled Rock Lobster Tails which were on the menu. The entrees were delicious. The Swordfish may have been the best swordfish we have ever head. The caponata added a lot of nice flavor to the swordfish. We also enjoyed David Bruce Pinot Noir with our meal.
Photo with Pierre who is a Sommelier. He has been wonderful. As we mentioned another time, he doesn't pour too much or too little and is very observant and on top of things. For example, last night he checked with us at one point to see if we wanted anymore wine because he wanted to put the cork back into the Pinot Noir as soon as possible so that it kept well for this evening.
This is the salad that Anne Marie had while Keith had his standard salad. Normally, it would be topped off with orange slices but Anne Maris is allergic to oranges.
This is the swordfish entree. We thought it was one of the most delicious swordfish entrees we have ever eaten.
This is the Lobster Tail Entree. Although it had been frozen had the consistency and the taste of fresh lobster.
Keith had berries as his dessert and Anne Marie had the sugar free Vanilla Cream Swan and she let Keith try some of it.
These are the menus. Sorry that one of them is not aligned properly.
After dinner, we stopped by the second Captain's Reception just so we could see some friends who dine in the late seating. We sat for a long time with friends Bob and Glo and their daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren. They are a lovely family. We also spoke briefly with Assistant Cruise Director Scott Mitchel and we look forward to sailing with him for this entire voyage.
Last night, we received a letter explaining how the process will work for in-transit guests (if you stay on for another cruise you are considered in-transit) when we clear customs and immigration in Miami. We will be in the last group that will be escorted off the ship at around 10:00 AM tomorrow morning. We can either go into Miami (which we plan to do) or likely get back on the ship at around 11:00 AM. The precise time is not in Crystal Cruises control but is determined by the immigration officials.
We slept well as we sailed towards Miami, Florida.
We both worked out at the Fitness Center this morning and, once again, enjoyed a nice quiet breakfast in our room. Keith was able to watch Ambassador Marc Ginsberg's final presentation from New Years Day about the spring uprising in the Middle East. The Ambassador provides a lot of information in his talks that is easy to comprehend, and is presented passionately and with conviction. Coincidentally, we ran into the Ambassador and his wife (his wife joined the ship the other day) and he had asked if we had plans for lunch today, but unfortunately we do. They will be back on the ship for the last leg of the World Cruise so we will plan to have dinner with them.
Today marks the final full day on the ship for the Holiday Cruise prior to arriving to Miami, Florida tomorrow morning.
For many people leaving the ship, they will spend time packing today.
We had moderately rough seas throughout the day and it was cooler outside.
The Fitness Center added in another indoor cycling class so Keith attended that class. Unfortunately, no one else did, but Keith decided to do the class himself. There is no question it's better to have other classmates, but it was still good exercise.
While Keith was taking the class, Anne Marie organized some items in the room and pulled together what we need to take with us when we go into Miami for a short time tomorrow along with the final list of items we hope to purchase.
When Keith walked back to the room from the Fitness Center at a few minutes before 11:00 AM he saw that someone had already placed two pieces of luggage outside their room. It's not often that you see someone do this so early in the day.
We had lunch today with Cruise Director Gary Hunter and his lovely wife, Kelly. Gary had invited us to join him and Kelly for New Years Day dinner, but that was not possible as we already had dinner plans with Ashley and Kelly so we agreed on having lunch today. We first met Gary on a back to back cruise we did on board the Serenity in the Fall of 2005. We enjoyed a great conversation with both Gary and Kelly.
In the afternoon, Anne Marie walked for an hour on the treadmill as it was cool out on the open deck and the seas were somewhat rough. Keith sat with some fellow guests and also read and wrote this afternoon.
This evening there will be an early variety show at 5:00 PM which Gary will be appearing in along with several other entertainers. The reason that it is early is to allow those passengers getting off in Miami to have time to tend to last minute items this evening.
We will post about that and dinner tomorrow.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.....
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” – Albert Einstein
Keith and Anne Marie
Anne Marie your dresses are just beautiful. Night after night you have another exquisite gown. Of course Keith always looks good too. Enjoy your day in Miami.
ReplyDeleteI hear it is cold in Miami!!
ReplyDeleteBonnie, you are correct. The low was forecasted at around 39.
ReplyDeleteMary, thank you so very much for the very nice comments.
Keith and Anne Marie