DAY 30 - CRUISING TO HONOLULU

Wonderful Time At Last Evening's World Cruise 2012 Welcome ✔  Fantastic Performance By USC Marching Band ✔ Enjoyed Seeing So Many Familiar Faces From Our Previous World Cruise Voyages And The Excitement Of Beginning This World Cruise Adventure ✔


Yesterday, was a major turnover day for the ship with over 900 guests getting off the ship and over 500 new guests joining the ship.   At the same time several crew members went on well deserved holidays while new members of the crew came on board in their place.


For us we were sorry to say goodbye to those guests who we sailed with on one or more of the last two voyages while at the same time there was great excitement and anticipation to welcome so many friends back to the ship.


The feeling on board the ship was similar to a family/high school and/or college reunion.


We wanted to mention that we were able to speak with our daughter, Jennifer, and our son, Eric on the phone so it was great to catch up with each of them.  We also spoke with friend Ricki and enjoyed catching up with her as well.  


The weather in Los Angeles was fabulous and just slightly below the normal highs you would expect for this time of year.  It was cool after the sun went down but by then we were back inside the ship.

This is a photo we took yesterday morning before the official start of the World Cruise.a  As we mentioned in the middle of the night the Crystal Cove area was transformed for the kickoff to the World Cruise.

Before we sailed from Los Angeles the USC Marching Band performed for all of us.  They were terrific and full of energy.  They played a wide range of songs from USC Football Songs to Lady Gaga.   This sendoff has become a real tradition for Crystal and this is the fourth time they have performed for us.  The performed at around 3:30 PM on board the ship on the pool deck and then later as the ship started to move they played for us from the pier. 


Complimentary Champagne was provided to toast the start of the World Cruise.


Anne Marie and Keith in the 2012 World Cruise Jackets that were on our beds in the afternoon.

USC Marching Band

Anne Marie with Jamie Brown who used to be the cruise sales consultant and before that a Crystal Society Hostess and is now responsible for on board guest services and quality evaluations

A little while later  we had dinner in the Crystal Dining Room and as this was the start of another voyage  (the World Cruise) the theme of the dinner was the Bon Voyage Dinner.


These are the menus from last evening.

The dining room was quieter than the last cruise.


We now have a new Senior Waiter, Salvatore, and Waiter, Marina, and our Headwaiter is Augustu.  We have had Augustu on several previous cruises.  Our Sommelier is Raphael.  This is a superb team.  Salvatore is from Italy and Marina is from Croatia.


Our friends John and Linda sit directly at the table adjacent to us so it was fun to catch up with them between coursesduring dinner and also earlier in the afternoon.


We each began with a salad.  Anne Marie ordered the Spinach Salad that was on the menu and Keith had a standing room salad.  


We each had the Fresh Ocean Perch for our entree.  Our Senior Waiter recommended it, and it was a nice choice.

Anne Marie had the non-fat Dutch Chocolate Yogurt.

 Keith had a bowl of berries. 


Yes, he had a rainbow cookie that friends Ricki and David gave us in Miami.


After dinner we attended the World Cruise 2012 Kickoff.  It was the most elaborate and enthusiastic kickoff we have ever attended.  Many from the crew entered the cove area from the steps and the lower level led by Captain Glenn with flutes of champagne.  There was dancing, and singing and the balloon drop was absolutely spectacular.  There was so much enthusiasm and excitement in the air.

 Cruise Director Rick Spath and World Cruise Hostess Elise Ivy

From Left To Right   Hotel Director Josef Lumetsberger, Captain Glenn Edvardsen, World Cruise Hostess Elise Ivy and Cruise Director Rick Spath

Several Guest and Members of the Crystal Cruises Crew

When we arrived back to our room there were two cookies on the bed.  This is one of them.

We spoke with so many members of the crew who came on board yesterday including Captain Glenn, Cruise Director Rick Spath, former World Cruise Hostess and current Director of the Crystal Loyalty Program Stacey Huston along with a countless number of other members of the crew and others from the Crystal Cruises Los Angeles Office.  We also spoke with so many guests who came on board yesterday who we know from many previous sailings.  It was a very exciting day.


We slept well last evening.  Anne Marie did wake up for a little while as the ship was moving around a bit more than it has and she went ahead and took a Bonine to be on the safe side.   This is typical of the Pacific Ocean and what you can expect the first day to two days after leaving California but overall it was not too rocky.


Keith and Anne Marie worked out in the morning.  It was too cool for Anne Marie to walk outside.  For about one third of the workout he chatted with fellow guest Brian. We enjoyed breakfast in our room as we normally do.


Today was a day to get everyone settled and ready for this long adventure.  About 45% of the guests on for this first leg are doing the full World Cruise and many others are doing one or more legs.  The total number of people doing the entire World Cruise is around 290 guest which is the second highest number of full World Cruisers in the history of Crystal Cruises.


During Captain Glenn's morning talk from the bridge he noted that we were going at over 20.0 knots per hour on four of our six engines.  On World Cruises Captain Glenn shares a thought of the day.  When we are able to write down these thoughts we will be sure to share them.  Today's thought of the day is about travel.  It goes like this.


"The destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things."


There was an open house held in the morning so that people could sign up for a wide range of programs and/or learn about them.  There are some programs not found on most voyages including a college level computer class (college credits are given our for those passing the course) and a memoir writing class.  A the same time there are many of the regular classes from bridge to golf to art, music, along with many others.


Something that has not been done before was a 25 minute presentation given by Cruise Director Rick Spath for those sailing with Crystal Cruises for the very first time.  It covered a range of items from what to expect when sailing with Crystal Cruises and for those who are doing a portion or more of the World Cruise what to expect during this cruise since there are some differences between a World Cruise and other voyages throughout the year.  While we are not "newbies" to Crystal we sat attended the talk and it was quite good and Rick also got some good questions from the audience.


There was a lecture given by Rob Warne that covered the many wonders of the Pacific Ocean.


At 11:00 AM the first indoor cycling (spin) class of the world cruise was given and Keith took the course.  As of this morning, Keith was the only person who had registered for the class but  three other people signed up sometime before class.


Keith clipping onto the Cycle

After enjoying a nice morning, we had lunch in the Lido Cafe and we both made very nice salad entrees.  It was too cool to sit outside.


When we arrived back to our room on the bed were two World Cruise Maps (one for each of us) which was a very nice touch.  We immediately hung one of them on the wall of our cabin.

Keith tried to play paddle tennis but it was too cool for that so he will give it a shot tomorrow.  Anne Marie worked out for an hour on the treadmill.  Keith met Bob later in the afternoon.


Throughout the day we kept running into others that we know from previous cruises and that includes not only passengers but also members of the Crystal Crew.


In the afternoon destination lecturer Dr. Gaviin McLean covered talked about the ocean liners that have sailed the Pacific  and also spoke about South Sea Islands.


This evening is the Captain's Welcome Reception for the start of this adventure followed by Formal Night in the Crystal Dining Room.  We will post more about this tomorrow.


Today has been a wonderful day.




TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY......


“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain.



Keith and Anne Marie