Enjoyable Sea Day Sailing To Kodiak, Alaska. ✔
With the cruise beginning its wind-down we wanted to do a call-out each day to recognize one or more crew members. Today, we want to recognized the housekeeping department.
This department works diligently throughout the day and night time hours to keep the ship looking in top shape. The stewardesses work long hours to clean each of the staterooms and penthouses on the ship. For the penthouses they are assisted by a stewardess in training. When we leave our room our stewardess and assistant stewardess are on top of everything as most of the other stewardesses are. Just like clock-work it isn't too long after we have left the room in the morning and in the evening when they begin their work and when we get back to the room the bed is made (morning), bed turned down (evening), new towels and facecloths are places in the bathroom, carpeting is vacuumed (morning), other areas are cleaned and they are always on the lookout for any problems. For example, unlike most hotels if say one of the light bulbs goes bad you don't even have to say anything to them. They will notice it right away, report it, and the bulb will be replaced that day by someone from the maintenance department. There are times that they are waiting in the hallway for other guests to leave their rooms and they do this with a smile. They also clean the hallways and that includes dusting and vacuuming all areas including the where the wall meets the ceiling. There are also assistant chief housekeepers who each had entire floor(s) that they are responsible for and on a routine basis they will check each guest room to be sure that everything has been done and done consistently and that includes how each bed is made. Even today, Anne Marie observed the Chief Housekeeper and the New Hotel Director who replaces the late Herbert Doppler and who will be solo on the next cruise, were on our deck inspecting various areas throughout the hallway. Attention to detail is alway a wonderful trait that all successful businesses have. We think the world of our Stewardess, Sneha, Trainee Stewardess, and Viktoria who is the Stewardess who assisted us in December whom we also see on a regular basis.
These are four additional photos from our visit to Dutch Harbor. We wanted to comment about this little town. While it is Alaska's eleventh largest city, we are only talking about a little over 4,000 residents who live there. It definitely has the feel and look of a small town.
We found the locals who we spoke with to be very friendly and what we liked most about the town is that it is the Alaska of the past. By that we mean that certain cities in Alaska have become very tourist centric during the Summer months such as those found on most of the Alaskan Cruise Line Itineraries such as Ketchikan, and Juneau. In many ways, those ports have become in the Summer what the Caribbean has become in the Winter months. In fact, on our last visit to Alaska this past Summer we learned that many of the people who work in those large Jewelry stores which now have become a big part of the larger cities, work in Alaska during the cruise line season from May thru September and then they are transferred to stores throughout the Caribbean.
While we had some reservations about visiting Alaska in April we were pleased to be able to visit a port of call so North that most cruise lines never stop there and to visit it before the start of the tourist season. It was definitely on the cooler side for our visit to Dutch Harbor and it seemed even cooler due to the wind chill factor but in spite of this and the fact that we were in town on Easter Sunday it provided a nice opportunity to experience small town Alaska.
Likewise, we look forward to our next stop in Kodiak which will also be a first for us.
By the way, while we saw many Eagles during our walk and also several from our Verandah when we were back on the ship, we were told that during the height of the fishing season that one can see many more Eagles.
Interesting nesting home of this Eagle.
This Safeway was a popular destination for some guests and for those crew who made it off the ship.
Before dinner last evening, Captain Glenn noted that we would be departing Dutch Harbor at 6:00 PM. He said that the weather could be on the windy side and asked the guests to use extra caution as they walk around the ship and to be sure that everything was secured in their cabins. He noted that it is always better to be safe than sorry. Captain Glenn has done a terrific job in his communications throughout the voyage and we always appreciate these communications and the care that he takes for the safety of all of us.
These are the dinner menus from last evening in the Crystal Dining Room.
The theme was "Easter Dinner".
It was nice to be back in the Crystal Dining Room after being away for the past couple of nights. We asked many of the waitstaff in the Dining Room if they went into port and most did not. This was because immigration delayed the U.S Immigration and Customs Inspection for the Crew from the morning to the afternoon and it was not completed until around 2:00 PM. We suspect that it is not very often that immigration in Dutch Harbor has to deal with so many people at once. On top of this, many crew members used the time off to catch up on their sleep given all of the changes in time.
As we sailed from Dutch Harbor we could see beautiful views of the scenery even from our table in the Crystal Dining Room which is located in the center of the dining room. The snow covered mountains were absolutely beautiful.
We began our meal with salads and then for our entree we each had one of the traditional main fares which was the Broiled Fillet Of Sea Bass. The items that accompanied the Sea Bass really enhanced its overall flavor. We also had our standing order of steamed vegetables and also added to the order sauteed mushrooms which were also on the menu.
While Keith had fresh berries for Dessert, Anne Marie ordered the Sugar-Free Vanilla Ice Cream Puff. This was another very tasty dessert and one that we would not have guessed that it was sugar-free.
After dinner, we went to the Variety Show which featured three different acts. It included a comedian Steve Stevens, the dancing duo of Beverly and Curtis, and vocal impressionist Scott Record. Our favorites were Beverly and Curtis who are marvelous dancers.
We enjoyed Beverly and Curtis and Scott Record the most. Assistant Cruise Director Scott Mitchel accompanied Beverly and Curtis on the piano for their last dance and we really enjoyed Scott's piano playing as we did Beverly and Curtis' dancing.
It was daylight out later than we expected with the sun setting at around 10:00 PM at night.
It was nice not to forward the clocks one hour when we went to bed last evening. We were definitely tired so we fell asleep relatively easy. Captain Glenn was absolutely correct about the seas. Keith woke up from time to time throughout the night. Maybe it was a combination of the seas and also all of the time changes that we have had since leaving Osaka, Japan.
When Keith woke up in the morning the ship was rocking a bit more and reminiscent of some of the days we had only a few days ago. Overall, though it was moderate so it was not too bothersome. He enjoyed a good workout and caught up on the news and appreciated being closer to the time zone of the Continental USA. Anne Marie worked out later in the morning.
As we do on each sea day, we watched the Daily Morning Show with Rick Spath and Elise Ivy as we had breakfast in our room. Keith answered one of the questions correctly so we will get another prize. The videos they showed were great. One of the items that Rick kidded around was how throughout the day yesterday the table outside the dining room with all of the Easter Candy was replenished throughout. A few minutes later when the were showing the video from yesterday they show a clip from last evening where Rick is picking up candy rabbits and trying to be conspicuous as he stuffs several of them one at a time into his officers uniform. We both laughed quite hard from that one.
During Captain Glenn's morning talk from the bridge he noted that we were cruising at 17 knts or the equivalent of around 20 miles per hour and that we would continue at that speed. This will as Captain Glenn often notes give us a little for the pocket and help to ensure that we arrived to Kodiak on schedule tomorrow. He also noted that our sister ship, the Crystal Symphony was in the Mediterranean on its current voyage from Barcelona to Monte Carlo.
We liked Captain Glenn's Thought For The Day.
"We should be thankful for what we've "got"; not unhappy for what we "not".
Hip Hip Hooray. Hip Hip Hooray. After about a week of withdrawal due to the Spin Classes which had been cancelled due to the rough seas, today Keith got to take Spin (Indoor Cycling). He was the happy camper. Fitness Director Juli taught the class and the good news is she played a new CD for us. Joe Kita and Maria Kita (they both teach Yoga and Joe teaches Memoir Writing) were able to take the class as well since there was only one other guest, Gwen, in the class with Keith. The workout was great! By the way the outside temperature during class was 34 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a great class.
After class we could see some Whale from the windows in the Fitness Center.
The morning also featured two very strong lectures.
Ken Rees was on first and he spoke about Vancouver and San Francisco which are two ports of call that we will visit on this final leg of the World Cruise. Ken is a unique destination lecturer as he is able to provide very useful information and do so with great wit. We really have enjoyed his lectures.
Later in the morning, General Hugh Shelton who just joined the ship in Dutch Harbo spoke about the threats to America's National Security.
At Noon, it was off to Team Trivia. We did answer 12 of 15 questions correctly but are now three behind the first team.
Although Easter was yesterday it was not forgotten today as there was a special Easter Gala Buffet. We passed on this buffet, preferring to have our salad entrees. If we were on the ship for one voyage we would likely partake in the buffets but we prefer to have regular lunch portions when on the ship for so long.
More candy was added to the table outside the Crystal Dining Room.
There were so many beautiful displays. Executive Pastry Chef Harald Neufang at work.
To us, the Desserts and all of the displays are a work of art.
Pastry Chef Harald Neufang looking on as each piece of dessert is carefully put on the serving tray.
The Creative Quartet performed for the guest at the Easter Buffet.
Anne Marie worked out again in the afternoon and did some needlepoint. Keith met up with friend Bob and also read and wrote.
It's been another great day on board the Crystal Serenity
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY......
"A wise traveler never despises his own country." - Carlo Goldoni
Keith and Anne Marie
No comments:
Post a Comment