DAY 45 - EN ROUTE TO NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA

Had A Wonderful Time At Last Evenings World Cruise Event  ✔  Enjoyed Another Day At Sea ✔  


We were asked by Ilene and Andy about yesterdays tours.  Many were cancelled due to the weather but some of them ran. There was one that included going into the hills and also seeing an aquarium and we heard excellent feedback from several guests we spoke with who  took the tour.


Anne Marie enjoyed seeing the movie yesterday afternoon, titled Midnight in Paris.  It featured Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams.  She watched it with friends Bob and Glo.  Keith passed on the movie and did reading and writing. 


Ironically, as we left Nomea, the sun came out and the views of the Island were beautiful.  In spite of the rainy weather we still were glad to have the day in port and it will be an excuse to cruise there again on another voyage.  We realize we can't have perfect weather in each and every port.  We have been fortunate that since we boarded the ship on December 21 that we have enjoyed nice weather in most ports.

About a minute before we departed Noumea Captain Glenn gave us an update noting that about 45 minutes after departure we will be in the open seas and that we will likely encounter some swells that will continue into the night.  He noted that he will do his best to navigate the ship on a route to minimize impact on all of us.

We enjoyed another great evening on the ship last evening starting off with dinner.

We began our evening with Dinner at the Crystal Dining Room.


These were the menus from dinner.

We had looked at the dinner menus the night before and it showed that for the fish entree that it would include a Broiled, Fresh Local Catch served on Shrimp-Fried Rice, Bok Choy and Lilikoi-Mango Glaze. The fish turned out to be a Pacific Emperor which is like a Snapper.  It is more of a plain type of fish in terms of taste but the glaze gave it a nice taste.


Pacific Emperor Entree

Keith's Standing Order Salad.  Anne Marie ordered a mixed green salad which was on the menu.

Sugar Free Swan Dessert which Anne Marie ordered for the two of us.  Like some of the other sugar free desserts we couldn't tell that it was sugar-free.

After dinner, we went to a special World Cruise event held on the ship.  This was a 45 minute themed cocktail party which featured complimentary drinks and a skit that included singing and acting and dancing and live music created and performed by key members from the entertainment group along with Cruise Director Rick Spath and World Cruise Hostess Elise Levy.   


As we were entering the showroom, one of the ships photographers was dressed in a themed costume and we had our photo take of the three of us by another of the ships photographers.


As we made our way to find our seats we saw that each member of the Galaxy Orchestra was dressed in officer clothing.


Band Leader Raphael dressed in Officer Clothing.

Our Dear Friends Bob and Glo. We all sat together in the front row.

Silk Road Waiter Brian.  Several crew members who were taking and serving drink orders were in costumes similar to what Brian was wearing.

Lido Deck Stewards Martin and Raymond also wearing these cute costumes.  They offered us a couple of drinks such as Mai Tai's but we could also order something else so Anne Marie had Chardonnay while Keith had Cabernet wine.  They also came around with Canapes as well as some small desserts.

There was dancing before the show started on stage.  Some of the Ambassador Hosts were on hand to dance with solo ladies and a few other couples danced.  We even danced to one song.

After the dancing, the show commenced and it was another one of those very special and amazing shows.  Many months before the World Cruise begins the theme for each of these events are set so that props and costumes can be ordered.  Once on board the ship the entertainment team begins to write out the script, choreograph the dance routines and pull together the songs. It is a true team effort and it amazes us how this team can pull this all together, memorize their lines, the songs and their moves on stage.  These are true professionals in all ways.  


This was one of the best events we have seen on the ship.   All we can say is Bravo to the entire team.  The Crystal entertainers are the best we have seen at sea.


World Cruise Hostess Elise Levy

Several members of the cast.  They were adorable.

Dancers Beverly and Curtis.  Their performance was a wow.  They are simply the best!

Keep in mind that all of the entertainers performed while the ship was rolling to some extent from the sea swells.  Even when the two of us were dancing on stage we could feel the movement of the ship and we were just doing a slow dance.

Cruise Director Rick Spath concluded the show by saying that the entertainers would be available outside for photos.

Keith took this photo of Anne Marie with several of the entertainers and then Keith jumped into a photo with Anne Marie that one of the ships photographers took of us.  We told them how much we loved the show.  Anne Marie has also sent thank you card to Cruise Director Rick Spath to give our thanks to the entertainment team that put this special event together for us.  Also, special thanks goes to the Food and Beverage team.

We wanted to mention that while this event was going on that for those guests who are on one or more legs of the World Cruise that they were invited for complimentary drinks at the Crystal Cove and that the Sextet Band performed at the Cove and one could listen or dance to their music.


Last evening they also showed two showings of a film of the dry-dock of the Crystal Serenity which took place in Hamburg, Germany last May.  They will also show this on television during each leg of this years World Cruise.  It is a very fascinating film which shows all of the planning and implementation that goes into a dry dock.  If this was a land based hotel, the hotel would likely be closed for several months or even close to a year.  The dry dock also included maintenance related items including stripping off the exterior paint and also replacing one of the pods.  It's a great film and it is amazing how much work was accomplished in the dry dock including redoing each of the staterooms on the ship.  


We slept very well last evening as we sail to our next port of call in New Castle, Australia.  The seas were not too bad and for us can make it much easier to fall asleep.


Keith was up first and enjoyed a great workout in the Fitness Center.  For one of the few times all four elliptical machines were in use for a portion of Keith's workout including ones used by John and Brian.   Anne Marie woke earlier than usual and she ended up walking on the Promenade Deck. 


We had breakfast in our room as we watched the Morning Show.


After breakfast, Keith went for a scheduled haircut appointment up at the Salon with Wendy who has been cutting both Keith and Anne Marie's hair.  Anne Marie used Wendy last year as well.  Wendy got Keith's hair all done in record time and he than went right off to Spin Class.


Today, Matt was the instructor and he pushed us very hard.  For those from Keith's Spin-Its he misses you all very much.  For those who spin you know how "no bounce" can be very traveling and today there were several "no bounce" routines so there was quite a bit of burning.  Class was great and everyone worked very hard.  This is the last Spin Class of this leg of the World Cruise.

If you look closely you can see Bob and Glo in the background.

During Captain Glenn's morning talk from the bridge he noted that we were traveling at 17 knots per hour or the equivalent of 19.5 miles per hour using three engines.  The weather is nice with just a little movement of the ship and Captain Glenn expects this to stay the same until we reach New Castle, Australia.


Captain Glenn shared his thought of the day which is" People may forget what you told them, or what you did for them, but they will never forget how you made them feel."


We played team trivia at Noon.  


As we are now sailing to Australia one of the three lectures that was offered today was given by Dr. Gavin McLean who spoke about the sory of Australia from the Aborigines who represent one of the world's oldest civilizations.


We had a salad entree for lunch today.  We did want to mention that today was also the American Classic Buffet which features a wide array of classic American items.  It is always a popular buffet with so many items to choose from.


Anne Marie had a Cobb Salad.

 Keith had the Captain's Favorite Seafood Salad which included Salmon, Scallops and Halibut.  We also shared a bowl of Butter Lettuce.

Food was delicious.

In the afternoon Bruce McGill gave a question and answer session.  As we mentioned he has been in hundreds of movies and he is the actor that was on the motorcycle in Animal House.  Once you figure out who he is then you will recognize him given all of these movies he has performed in.


In between everything we also had to go through Australian Customs/Immigration at 2:45 PM. Keith also played Paddle Tennis.  The temperature was quite nice but it was quite windy.  Later on he met up with Bob. Anne Marie walked and also worked out at the Fitness Center on the Elliptical Machine and also sat out for awhile.


This evening we will dine at the Prego Italian Specialty Restaurant and then attend some of the evening entertainment.


It has been a fun and busy day.  There is so much to do and lots of decisions to make.


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

“The person who gets the farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The sure-thing boat never gets far from shore.” - Dale Carnegie 


Keith and Anne Marie