DAY 106 - CRUISING THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN

Continued Rock And Rolling ✔  Thoroughly Enjoyed Last Evening On The Ship✔  Terrific Day At Sea ✔  


We wanted to begin by answering some questions that Ilene and Andy posted. 


1) In the third photo from yesterday we were not wearing lapel pins even though it looks that way.  During the block party as we walked into the Officer's Rooms we were given stickers to wear and Keith didn't remove them before that photo was taken.  


2) The number at the bottom of the screen for the Daily Morning Show is the phone number to call when calling to answer one of the trivia questions.  After the show is shown live, it is also shown throughout the morning and they will add something at the bottom of the screen showing that it was previously recorded so that people do not call in but when it is live the number is used for guests to call in for the trivial questions.  


3) We look forward to sailing with you on a future Crystal Cruises Cruise.


Before dinner last evening we attended two cocktail parties hosted by friends and then as part of the second party we all went to Prego.


At 5:00 PM we attended a party in one of the guest rooms of a couple who we have sailed with on previous cruises and who has been on this years Full World Cruise.  Six other people attended and they had lots of nice canapes along with various beverages to enjoy.  Their butler is Alex who was our butler on the last few World Cruises we have sailed on.


Ironically, Sandy and Mike who were hosting the second cocktail party along with Brian and his daughter were also there.  


We also were introduced to another couple who we had seen from time to time on this sailing but whom we had not had a lengthily conversation with so it was very nice to get to talk with them last evening.  We left at around 6:15 PM to get ready for the next cocktail party.


Although we did not dine at the Crystal Dining Room last evening, these are the dinner menus.

At 6:30 PM we went to friends Mike and Sandy for the start of a special evening with our Trivia Team.   Last year, they also hosted a similar cocktail party followed by dinner for our trivia team.


When we arrived at their room, there was a beautiful mask on the door. Sandy and Glo participate in the art classes and on the last voyage they each made beautiful masks which each of them has displayed on the door to their respective rooms.


Beautiful Mask by Sandy

Beautiful Mask by Glo

In total, there were ten of us at the party and this included the seven members (one member didn't make it as she was not up to it because of the semi-rough seas) of our trivia team; Sandy, Bob and Glo, Arlene, Brian and of course the two of us plus Mike, Brian's daughter Emma and Marvin who had sat in for Bob and Glo for a few games when they were on their overlands and for us when we were not available to play for one of the games.  


We greatly enjoyed the cocktail party in Sandy and Mike's suite.  They have one of the four largest suites on the ship which is known as the Crystal Penthouse (CP) Suite.  These suites are absolutely beautiful.


There was an array of canapes and several appetizers for us to enjoy; some of which were prepared at Silk Road as well as the Crystal Dining Room Kitchen.  There was also wine and other beverages including spirits, soft drinks and bottled water were available.    Keith enjoyed some sashimi and wine and Anne Marie enjoyed some seafood and water.


We then enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Prego Italian Specialty Restaurant.  All of us went to dinner except for Brian's daughter Emma.  Marvin also didn't come to dinner as he already had another dinner commitment.


Maitre d' Antonio and Headwaiter Bruno sat each of us at the table and while there was one lead waiter taking the food orders and serving the meal he also had assistance from a couple of the other Prego waiters.


Bob and Glo

Sandy and Mike

Arlene and Brian

Head Waiter Bruno who served each of us Eggplant Parmigiana

This is the Eggplant .  It was delicious.

We both had the swordfish as our entree.

Bob and Mike each had Butterfly Veal Chop for their entrees

Anne Marie had a Gilato for her dessert and Keith had a fruit plate and also part of the dish of Spumoni (photo below) Ice Cream for his dessert.

We have really enjoyed playing on this team which includes seven of us from last years team plus Brian.  For us this is a fun team and a very good natured team.  We all enjoy the game whether we win or lose and we will applaud each winning team.  We all recognized that win or lose it's just trivia.


This is a photo from the previous nights Block Party.  We posed with World Cruise Hostess Elise Ivy and Cruise Director Rick Spath.

We forwarded the clocks again by one hour before we went to sleep.  We will continue to do this before we reach our next port of call in Alaska


The seas were a good deal calmer than they were in the morning and we both slept very well.  We went to sleep around 11:30 PM but Keith was up quite early and back in the Fitness Center for his daily workout.  He worked out on the Elliptical Machine.


When Keith walked up to the Fitness Center he thought that the seas were worse than they were yesterday morning.  These two signs are at the entrance of the Fitness Center.

 The good news is that Keith felt very safe when working out on the Elliptical Machine since he has to hold on with both hands anyway.  He enjoyed a very long workout and was alone for most of the workout.


After the workout he stopped by the Lido Cafe for some coffee. He spoke with several of the Lido Deck Stewards while they were setting up for the morning breakfast.  This included Alvin, Nat and Jun.


Anne Marie did not work out at the center until later in the morning.  We both enjoyed a nice breakfast in our room as we watched the Daily Morning Show. During the Morning Show Rick Spath and Elise Ivy notes some schedule changes due to the rough seas.  Morning fitness classes that were scheduled in the Fitness Center including Keith's Spin Class were cancelled.  In addition, Team Trivia was moved from the Palm Court to the Stardust Lounge.  They also noted that some of the evening activities would likely be moved to rooms that would be less impacted from the rough seas. For example, dancing was moved from the Palm Court over to the Crystal Cove.


During the show Rick and Elise will ask some trivia questions and today Keith called in to answer two of them correctly.  At the same time they do some puzzler and spellbinder questions.  This is an example of a puzzler question.  In this case we were asked to name the movie from this puzzler.  Do you know the answer?

During Captain Glenn's talk from the bridge he noted that the while the wind had decreased that the sea conditions were heavy and that we were south of the center of the low pressure system.  Captain Glenn expected that sea conditions would be a little better later in the day.  The Captain reminded everyone to use caution when walking around the ship.  Captain Glenn noted that the Lido Deck (Lido Cafe, Tastes, etc.) had been closed for safety reasons.  Lunch would be served in the Crystal Dining Room along with the Afternoon Tea which was moved from the Palm Court over to the dining room.


We sat in the Crystal Cove for awhile and we could get some views of the ocean.  The waves were quite choppy.  We are reminded that those who explored the world such as Captain Cook sailed in relatively small boats without all of the conveniences, safety apparatus and communications devices that in many ways we all take for granted.  They were true heroes and clearly played a critical role in shaping the future (now the history) of the world in which we live in.


There were a couple of lectures in the morning.  This included Joe Kess who spoke about the discovery of the Pacific Northwest.  He was followed by special interest lecturer Dr Louis Rene Beres who spoke about the changing balance of world power that has followed the death of Osama bin Laden.


Around Noon, Cruise Director Rick Spath made an announcement noting that the Fitness Center would be closed due to safety.  In addition, rather than having another a third consecutive informal night, this evening will now be casual.  This will make it easier for people to dress and in particular will allow most of the women to wear flat shoes rather than wearing heal should the attire have remained informal.


We had Team Trivia at Noon. Today, we answered ten of fifteen questions correctly.  If we had a doctor on the team we may have gotten twelve right.  We are two behind the first place team.


For lunch we once again enjoyed a salad entree.  


In the afternoon Anne Marie read and wrote while Keith met up with friend Bob.


As we post today's Blog, the weather has improved and the seas are a bit calmer than earlier today.


This evening we will be dining in Prego for the third consecutive night with one of the ships senior officers.


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


 “You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one. “ - The Beatles

Keith and Anne Marie