DAY 109 - CRUISING TO DUTCH HARBOR

Thoroughly Enjoyed Last Evenings Passover Seder  ✔   Another Terrific Day At Sea ✔  


Happy Passover


While we attended the Passover Seder last evening, these were the dining menus in the Crystal Dining Room.  Dinner in the dining room was open seating and guests could arrive anytime between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

Often we talk about the feeling of community and a village like feeling on-board a World Cruise and last night was another fine example of that feeling as we celebrated Passover with fellow guests and crew.  All of this made for a very special evening.


The Passover Seder was wonderful.  This was the fourth time we have celebrated Passover on the Crystal Serenity.


Approximately 120 guests and some senior officers of various religious faiths attended the Seder.   


The Seder was hold in the Prego Specialty Restaurant.  It is a perfect venue for the Seder as the acoustics are excellent in order to hear the Rabbi and most everyone could easily see Rabbi Morrie lead the Passover Seder.  On top of this it provides just a wonderful atmosphere and a feeling of being with friends and family.


As Rabbie Morrie mentioned, think of the tables having been one very large table that was divided into smaller table sizes.  Wherever one sat they could feel that sense of family and community spirit.


We wanted to thank Rabbi Morrie and his lovely wife Gerri for all they did to prepare for the Seder.  In preparation for the Seder they worked very closely with Crystal Cruises  Food and Beverage Department weeks or even months ahead of time to be sure that everything was the way it should be including the preparation of the many foods that accompanied the Seder.


We also want to thank the many individuals and departments at Crystal Cruises for all they did to make the Passover Seder so very special.  This included Hotel Director Josef and his team including Food and Beverage Manager Victor, Specialty Restaurant Maitre d' Antonio, Prego Head Waiter Bruno, Head Sommelier Bart and his two Prego Sommelier's, the entire Prego Waitstaff, Head Prego Chef Christian and his entire team in the Prego Galley, along with countless others from the ship.  Much thanks for those in the Los Angeles Corporate Office from departments such as Procurement whose efforts also contributed to a special evening on board the ship. We also thank Captain Glenn and Cruise Director Rick Spath for their welcome to the Seder including Captain Glenn's welcome words as well as Hotel Director Josef for being at the entire Seder.


There was also lots of participation in the Seder by everyone in attendance as there were many parts to the Seder in which we all read out loud together and even parts where the Rabbi alternated between groups of tables to read out loud.


We even kept to tradition by having the youngest in attendance read the Passover four questions as one of the ships former photographers who is now working for the special on board Jeweler who is on board for the entire World Cruise read the four questions.  


The tables were set in Prego to accommodate varying numbers of people based on table size.  We sat with friends Bob and Glo at a table that was initially set for five people but was reset for the four of us since the extra place setting was not needed.

Friends Bob and Glo with Glo holding up the Passover Haggadah that is used during the Seder to tell the story.  This is a more condensed Haggadah but very appropriate for the Seder on the ship.  The Seder including the meal was held from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

This is Charoset which is A sweet, brown, pebbly paste of fruits and nuts, representing the mortar used by the Jewish slaves to build the storehouses of Egypt.


Passover Seder Dinner Menu

Charoset

Passover Matzah

On each table was a tray with items that are part of the Passover Seder.

Hard Boiled Eggs symbolizing the Festival Sacrifice that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem and then eaten as part of the meal on Seder night.

Bitter Herbs symbolizing the bitterness and harshness of the slavery which the Jews endured in Ancient Egypt.

Parsley which is another vegetable other than bitter herbs that is dipped into Salt Water.

A Roasted Lamb Bone, symbolizing a sacrifice which was a lamb offered in the Temple in Jerusalem.


Wine Glasses were also on the table as one drinks four glasses or just takes a sip four different times, as part of the Passover Seder.

The dinner included the traditional Matzah Ball soup.  It was delicious and was served hot exactly the way we like it.

In the past, a half chicken was served to everyone but most people couldn't eat it all so the food was wasted.  This year each plate had smaller portions of white and dark meat and then the waitstaff came around with large platters of chicken for those who wanted more.

This dessert featured Fresh Strawberries, and Orange-Passion Fruit Sherbet with Coconut Macaroons.


Since Anne Marie is allergic to Oranges, she was able to get another Dessert item in  lieu of the Sherbet.

The menu consisted of:


Gefilte Fish on MIxed Lettuce with Red Horseradish.


Chicken Broth with Matzo Balls and Chives.


Roasted Kosher Chicken which was accompanied by Rosemary Gravy, Carrots, Broccoli and Roasted Potatoes


Fresh Strawberries and Orange Passion Fresh Sherbet with Coconut Macarrons. 


Passover Wines were served:


Chardonnay, Baron Herzog,Central Coast, California 2007


Cabernet Sauvignon, Baron Herzog, Central Coast,California 2007

Before retiring to bed last evening, we set the clocks forward another hour.  The good news is we only have to do this one more time before arriving to our first port of call in   As they say, we are almost there.......


We slept very well last evening as we continued to sail to Dutch Harbor. Unlike the evening before, we didn't hear any howling wind.  The ship was pretty much swaying from side to side as it did for a good portion of yesterday.  It did feel a bit like "rock a bye baby".


In spite of the continual forwarding of the clocks, Keith was up bright and early to begin yet another glorious day on the ship with his morning workout.   However, getting up this morning was more challenging than at any point since we boarded the ship on December 21.  In spite of this, when he got up to the Center Brian was already working out and likely was up there about 45 minutes before Keith.  Brian said that he is almost back on East Coast time where he lives.  


After enjoying a great workout on the Elliptical Machine and also lifting some weights, Keith had coffee at the Lido Cafe.  As each of the Lido Deck Stewards came out of the kitchen to set up the various cold foods for the buffet each of them would say good morning to Keith by name.  In turn, Keith would say the same good morning to them by name and then he chatted with some of them.  


Anne Marie slept a little later this morning knowing that she could workout after breakfast.


Rao brought us breakfast a few minutes before 8:00 AM and just a few minutes before the start of the Daily Morning Show.  We wanted to mention that the introduction of the Daily Morning Show includes the recording of The Beatles singing "Here Comes The Sun" along with video from the day before of guests participating in various activities.  Keith correctly called into the show to answer one of the trivia questions which was who has hosted Saturday Night Live more than anyone else.  The answer: Alec Baldwin. We also learned during the show that Shore Excursion Manager 


We had two lectures this morning.  The first was given by Special Interest Lecturer Doug Capra who spoke about American Painter Rockwell Kent who had traveled to Alaska in 1918.  Since this lecture conflicted with Keith's Spin (indoor cycling class) we watched it later in the afternoon on one of the television stations which is used to rebroadcast each lecture.




Anne Marie also wrote out some thank you cards related to yesterdays Seder.  From time to time we sent thank you notes to various members of the crew and others who including others on board the ship to express our thanks.


During Captain Glenn's morning talk from the bridge he noted that we are on schedule to get to Dutch Harbor by 8:00 AM tomorrow morning.  He spoke about today's weather and the outlook for tomorrow.


Captain Glenn also shared his thought of the day which goes as follows:


"You aren't learning much when your mouth is moving."


Keith was hoping to participate in the Spin Class.  However, after he arrived to the Fitness Center, one of the Fitness Directors informed Keith and one other guest that they had cancelled the class because of concern that the seas could have for each participants safety.  While disappointed, Keith certainly understood and respected this decision knowing that it was made with the best interests of each guest in mind. Fortunately, we have more sea days and more classes on the schedule.  Keith ended up working out on the Elliptical again while Anne Marie worked out on the Treadmill.


Later in the morning, Special Interest Lecturer Joe Kess spoke about who wond the Great Pig War between Canada, Britain and the United States.  This involved a 19 year stalemate in the Pacific Northwest.


With another sea day, we had Team Trivia at Noon.  After having done poorly yesterday we rebounded today and had the highest number with thirteen of fifteen questions answered correctly. We are now two points from first place.


The Captain had said that the forecast is that the wind would pick up later today and he was right.  After Trivia, the ship was rocking more from the wind.


For lunch we each enjoyed a nice Salad Entree with Keith having a Tuna Fish Entree and Anne Marie having a Chicken Salad.


Later in the afternoon, Anne Marie read,wrote and also worked out at the Fitness Center while Keith read, wrote and met with friend Bob.


This evening we have been invited to Prego to join Bob and Glo along with some other people to celebrate Bob and Glo's 50th Milestone Cruise.  We'll post about that tomorrow.


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

"Paradise is where I am." - Voltaire


Keith and Anne Marie