"Your eyes won't get much worse."
"Your back goes out more than you do."
"Your arms are almost too short to read the newspaper."
"You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it."
"Things you buy now won't wear out."
Well, now we'll get back to the journey.
Before dinner last evening, Keith had some fun with Anne Marie's accessories while she was getting ready. It's a plane. It's a train. It's a flying purse. No, it's superman. LOL.
Once again, before dinner last evening we sat at the Crystal Cove to listen to pianist Scott Mitchel perform while we enjoyed a pre-dinner drink.
We were back at the Crystal Dining Room for dinner.
We began our meal with salads. While Keith had his standing order salad, Anne Marie had a spinach salad.
Our next course was the main course. Anne Marie had the Sautéed Tiger Shrimp, which included Parmesan Grits, Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Broccoli and a Homemade Barbecue Sauce.
Keith decided to go with one of the traditional main fares which are available each evening which was the Salmon. I guess we could call it "naked" salmon as there were no sides. Actually, we had our normal sides which include three different sides and Keith also ordered a baked potato but just asked for the salmon to be plain. Keith could have ordered the salmon with a sauce and other items to accompany it.
After dinner, we spoke with Food & Beverage Manger Tayfun and Chief Financial Accountant Brigitte.
We then attended the Crystal Society Reception which recognizes each person who has sailed Crystal before and also recognizes those Crystal Cruisers who have taken many Crystal Voyages. We continued our talk with Tayfun for most of the time we were there. We also spoke with Hotel Director Hubert, Captain Birger, Crystal Society Hostess Jaque and Cruise Director Rick.
Three solo guests were recognized at the reception for major milestones including one person who had has sailed on around 46 voyages another one at around 80 voyages and yet another Crystal Society Member, Judy, who now lives on the ship and has over 130 voyages.
Afterwards, we called it a night and went back to our room. We slept very well as we were sailing to St. Maarten.
We began the morning as we normally do with Keith getting up first, working out at the Fitness Center, and then going to the Lido Cafe for coffee and to read and write.
We were asked if we could post some photos from the Lido Cafe Lunch and will will do our best to do this in the next few days.
In the meantime, we've posted some photos from Breakfast at the Lido Cafe.
When Keith first arrives to the Cafe, it is open for the early risers coffee and by the time he leave the set up includes a continental breakfast.
When Keith went back to take some additional photos, the Lido Cafe Team was preparing to put the hot food and other breakfast items out. These are some photos of them, but we didn't get them all as not everything was out. There are omelets cooked to order, french toast, pancakes, other prepared eggs, Japanese foods and several other items to enjoy.
Anne Marie got in her one hour walk before breakfast. Depending on the weather Anne Marie will either walk outside on the Promenade Deck or inside on deck six which is the deck with the stores (no she doesn't window shop during the walks), casino, photo studio, movie theatre, galaxy and the bistro. Coincidentally, Keith was walking up the steps back to the room having gone to deck 5 where shore excursions is located to pick up a port guide for today's port of call when he ran (well not literally) into Anne Marie who was on her walk inside the ship.
Anne Marie with the Hollywood Theatre on the right and the Photo Studio just ahead.
Smile, you are on candid camera.
Shortly after Anne Marie returned, we had breakfast in our room which was set up for us by Butler Almir.
We then began to get ready for our visit to St. Maarten. We arrived to St. Maarten at around 10:00 AM.
We visited St. Maarten quite a few times in the 1990's on sailings with our children and then we went over 15 years before we visited there again in 2013. We thought the local town looked quite a bit nicer on our last visit than in the 1990's as it had been rebuilt from one of the Hurricanes. For those desiring beaches there are many options on both the Dutch and French sides of the island. It is also a good place for shopping.
St. Maarten is situated in the Northeast of the Caribbean. It is actually the smallest inhabited sea island that is divided between two nations. It was on Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the West Indies that he spotted this island and names it Isla de San Martin after St. Martin of Tours because it was on November 11 of 1493 which happened to be St. Martin Day. Since Columbus didn't actually land there and Spain did not make the settlement of this island a top priority other countries claimed it.
The major economic driver of this island is tourism.
Shortly after the ship was cleared, we made our way onto the pier. We had already put on insect repellent but Crystal had repellent available on the ship and on the pier. As we mentioned the other day, there is a cautionary advisory about Chikungunya.
The big decision was where to go. Keith said in a serious voice "how about Orient Beach?" Being such a fan of beaches (NOT) Keith thought we should go.
Anne Marie said "are you kidding me?" "Read my lips" "We are not going to Orient Beach. " "No how. No way." LOL. We actually knew where we were going which was into town and Keith didn't suggest the beach.
Fast forward a few minutes into our walk and out of the corner of his eye (how could you miss this) Keith spotted a store. Keith said to Anne Marie. "How about stopping here?" "This looks like a fun store."
Anne Marie said, "are you kidding me?" "There is no way we are going in this store." Well......Yes, most of you know us very well and Keith didn't suggest we stop here. Well, maybe. Not. LOL. If he did, Anne Marie would very clearly have vetoed the thought.
This is what we really did.
We walked along a nice boardwalk at the pier which is lined with a wide range of shops. From there we walked on the sidewalk into town. The town has lots of streets with shops and restaurants on both sides. With so many ships visiting this port, the shops and restaurants are quite busy during the high season which is between December and April.
Some from the ship who were heading to town took the ferry which goes back and forth between town and pier for $7.00 per person.
Once we got to town we walked up the main street which is filled with stores and restaurants and some stores you see everywhere in the Caribbean.
Eventually, we came to the jewelry store where we had purchased something for Anne Marie in 2013. This time we were looking for three specific items for her major milestone birthday that we will be celebrating on board Serenity in 2015 later in the voyage.
Success!! They had two of the three items and the third should arrive when we return here in two weeks.
Afterwards, we continued to walk the town passing by the courthouse which was constructed in 1793 and a church before we headed onto old street and then to Great Bay Beach.
The weather changed back and forth a few times. It was breezy, then hot and humid, then breezy and then hot and humid. There were two other ships in port with us; Costa Magica and NCL Gem.
All in all we had a great time. We walked about five miles which isn't a whole lot for us but we do walk a lot on the ship and exercise too.
When we returned back to the ship, we had lunch in our room which we had pre-ordered with Butler Almir. We each had a tuna salad entree.
In the afternoon Keith went up to play some Paddle Tennis. He played with a few of the Senior Officers. In typical Caribbean fashion it was sunny when Keith arrived but eventually it began to drizzle and then pour and looking all around there were dark clouds everywhere. Sometimes, you will see daylight and if it is coming your way you just wait it out. As they say, there will be more paddle tennis tomorrow.
Keith read and wrote before he attended another Spin Class.
Anne Marie walked for an hour, and then used the weight lifting machines in the Fitness Center. She also worked on her knitting.
This evening we are dining, once again, at the Crystal Dining Room.
Pianist Mark Farris will be performing later this evening in the Galaxy Theatre and we plan to attend his performance.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.....
“Men's best successes come after their disappointments.” – Henry Ward Beecher.
Keith & Anne Marie
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