Our daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Gui, grand baby, Violet less than one month, and our grand son Andre.
Our son Eric, daughter-in-law Kara, and just a few days young grand baby Jackson.
We received the most important gifts of the Christmas and Chanukah season with the births of two more grand babies with less than 30 days of one another. In the end, these are the best gifts anyone could ever want.
Speaking of Christmas, the Serenity is very much in the Christmas Spirit between Christmas Eve last night and Christmas Day today. There were many Christmas related activities for the guests and there were some very nice events for the crew including a get together late last night and a Christmas Dinner. All very nice.
Before dinner last evening we sat in the Crystal Cove and enjoyed a drink while listening to Pianist Scott Mitchel play several songs. On most evening's we have been able to sit at the table and chairs right next to Scott. He is one of those pianists who can talk and play the piano although we try to keep conversation to a minimum so as not to disturb his concentration. Scott also is able to go from one song to the next song without one pause. We did ask Scott to play some Christmas music which he did. Many people were dressed in red. One couple we were speaking with each had very large sunglasses with blinking lights all around the lenses on the frames.
Before sunset the Menorah was still lit representing the eighth full nights/days of Chanukah which came to a close after sunset last evening. It's nice when Chanukah and Christmas coincide, especially on a Holiday Cruise.
We then went to Silk Road which is the Japanese Specialty Restaurant. This was our first visit to Silk Road since boarding Serenity. From the first time we visited Silk Road in the Fall of 2005 on Serenity we have loved this restaurant. We enjoy the cuisine and the unique way many of the items are prepared.
We dined with Hotel Director Hubert. Hubert had a distinguished Career with Crystal Cruises for 15 years. Most recently Hubert returned to Crystal Cruises after serving as a Hotel Director with Seabourn for four years. Prior to that he served in a similar capacity with Silversea and prior to that he served in a similar capacity for about one year with Celebrity.
He returned in late April of 2014 while we were still on Serenity and we were on one additional voyage with him before we returned home. This was the first time we have dined with Hubert and it was a pleasure getting to know more about him. Our conversation never ceased except when we were chewing our food and we were together for more than two hours.
We were seated at this table by Sigi how is the Head Waiter of Silk Road and he stopped by to check on us for a couple of times. We have known Sigi for close to ten years, initially when he was one of the waiters in Silk Road before being promoted to Head Waiter.
The food was absolutely spectacular. Waiter Albert who we have also known for close to ten years and who has worked on Crystal Cruises for far longer than that, pre-ordered several items for us and the head chef prepared some items for us that we had not had before. We then ordered some sushi, sashimi and our entree. We didn't take any photos this time around but will the next time we return.
After dinner, we attended one of two evening performances that was prepared just for this Holiday Cruise. The show was appropriately called Music of the Season. We were first seated about 15 minutes before the show and the Romantica Strings were seated in a section in the audience where they played Christmas Music until the show began which really added a nice touch as we waited for the start of the show.
The show featured World Renowned Organist Maestro Hector Olivera who along with his wife Lieve are friends of ours and he was magnificent. At times you think you are listening to a 10 piece+ orchestra. The show also included Tony Award Winning Vocalist Michel Bell, Crystal Cruises Lead Vocalists Sara Story and Tom Lowe and the Crystal Ensemble of Dancers and both the Galaxy Orchestra and the Romantica Strings. The show included The Nutcracker Suite as well as a variety of holiday songs.
After the show we returned to our room and on our table was a plate of cookies and nuts and even a walnut cracker. Anne Marie remarked that this was the type of food that she would have on Christmas Eve growing up. For those who don't know this, we share the best of all worlds as Anne Marie is Catholic and Keith is Jewish so we celebrate both sets of holidays in our home.
We enjoyed a great night's sleep. Keith was up early and began the morning with his morning workout at the Fitness Center, followed by a visit to the Lido Cafe for coffee, and he also read and wrote. Before Breakfast, Anne Marie walked for one hour. We enjoyed Breakfast in our room as we do each morning.
The celebration of Christmas on the ship is always a delight. For that matter, it is a delight to celebrate all holiday's on the ship.
There were some additional activities since it is Christmas. At 10:30 AM, Santa arrived to the Palm Court which was a fun event for many of the junior cruisers on board.
Cruise Director Rick called out each child's name before they sat on Santa Claus and they were each given a wrapped present.
Then it was the adults turn. Santa asked Anne Marie if she has been naughty or nice this year?
Between 11:00 AM and Noon, Egg Nog was served in all of the Crystal Bars and Open Decks. At Noon, the Crystal Plaza featured the Christmas Grand Gala Buffet. Everything was set up by 11:30 so people could take photos and the Chefs were introduced at 11:45 AM. The effort and the detail that goes into all of this is amazing with so many personnel involved from the chefs to the senior waiters/waiters/head waiters to other areas such as housekeeping.
We will post more photos tomorrow from the Buffet.
At the same time, there were lots of enrichment programs and other activities throughout the day and afternoon.
There were three lectures. The first one was on the topic of Politics, Colonies and Sugar which was presented by Destination Lecturer Dr. Alexei Vranich. The second one was presented by someone who we have listened to on many cruises and that was given by Ambassador Marc Ginsberg who on land you will see often on various cable news networks speaking on issues related to the Middle East. With each passing year there are always changes and new events taking place in the Middle East so each time we hear Ambassador Ginsberg speak all of his lectures are new. For example, we had just seen him speak on Serenity in April but since that time there have been continued changes in the Middle East as well as other areas that he covers so today's presentation was new from what he covered in April. At today's lecture the Ambassador spoke about Obama, Putin and Castro. The Ambassador tells it as it is and we have learned so very much from him in prior talks as well as in today's talk. In the afternoon, Special Interest Lecturer Tom Eastwood spoke about the breaking of codes during World War II.
In addition to attending the morning lecture given by Ambassador, we read and wrote while we sat in the Crystal Plaza. Anne Marie also did some knitting.
Many people were in the Holiday Spirit such as Louisa from the Shore Excursion Team.
Later in the morning we went to view the Christmas Gala Buffet, before we had lunch at the Lido Cafe. We try to avoid the large buffets such as the Gala Buffets on long voyages although they are very tempting even for us. There were very few people at the Lido Cafe as most were at the buffet.
On a more serious note at 10:00 AM Captain Birger made an
announcement to the guests from the Bridge. The captain noted that due to a medical emergency we are
sailing at full speed to Guadalupe where there is a medical hospital and that a
helicopter would airlift the passenger at approximately noon. As such the top couple of outdoor decks
would be closed and any items that could blow around would be removed. In all our cruising there have been very few times that we have been on board for an airlift of a passenger. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to
the guest with the medical situation and we hope for a full recovery. This is another reminder to focus on the positive.
This evening we will dine at the Crystal Dining Room.
We have enjoyed another great day on board Crystal Serenity.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY........
"Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection." - Winston Churchill
Keith & Anne Marie
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