DAY 43 PANAMA CANAL AND DAY 35 SERENITY

One of the aspects of cruising that we enjoy, is not only visiting and getting to know people from around the world when we are in port but also doing likewise with guests and members of the crew.  Usually, the crew comes from around 55 countries from around the World.  As to the guests, from time to time we get a letter to our room from World Cruise Hostess Stacey Huston, and the most recent letter had some statistics on the nationalities of those taking the full World Cruise.  We thought you might be interesting in seeing the breakdown which is as follows:  Australia (8), Austria (2), Brazil (1), Canada (63), Switzerland (2), Germany (6), Denmark (1), Great Britain (21), Japan (17), Mexico (11), Malta (1), New Zealand (2), USA (469).  Sometimes the itinerary comes into play even on the World Cruise, but it is interesting to see the breakout for this year.  

We had each received a card in our room the other night from the Salon about a promotion as part of Crystal Cruises Silver Anniversary.  We would receive a complimentary gift from the Salon if we stopped by with our card. When Keith had signed up for the Spin Class, a couple of the women were mentioning that the gifts were quite nice so Keith mentioned to Anne Marie that we should do it.  There was a gift for Men and one for Women and after looking at the samples we will likely try some of them.  In fact, Keith used the cleansing soap already.

Before dinner, we went to the Crystal Cove for a pre-dinner drink and to listen to the music of pianist John Mentis.

Anne Marie with Monica.

Anne Marie with John Mentis.

Sarah Hayes stopped by.  Sarah teams with Jonathan Hawkins and performs on the World Cruise and when on land Sarah plays with the Big Band Orchestra.

Afterwards, we were back at the Crystal Dining Room.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal.  

For starters, Anne Marie had a Mixed Green Salad and Keith had his standing order salad.

For our entrees, it was salmon for Keith and Anne Marie had a chopped salad entree which included crab meat, and chicken.

For dessert, Anne Marie had a sugar-free Chocolate Mousse Dessert and Keith had mixed berries.

The entertainment following dinner was by Elio Pace who is a Singer and Piano Player and he was accompanied by the Galaxy Orchestra.

When we arrived to our room, two pamphlets (one for each of us) with maps of the Panama Canal had been placed on our bed in preparation for today's transit.

We slept well as we made our way over towards Panama in preparation for today's transit of the Panama Canal.  Our first transit of the Panama Canal was not until 2007 but since then we have transited the Canal many times.  

Keith was up first and enjoyed another workout at the Fitness Center and then went to the Lido Cafe for coffee.  Usually, when Keith arrives there is just him and the Lido Deck Stewards and then over the course of the next hour a few people show up.  This morning around thirty people came through a few minutes after Keith arrived just to get some coffee as they were up early so that they could find spots on the open deck to enjoy the transit of the canal.

We had breakfast in our room earlier than we would on a sea day as Keith had an early appointment at the Salon for his second haircut of the cruise.  We guess in retrospect maybe he should not have scheduled it to conflict with the transit of the Canal but as we mentioned we have done the transit several times before.  While Keith was having his hair done, Anne Marie walked for an hour and enjoyed views of the Panama Canal.

Some people ask the cost for ships to transit the Canal and the cost is mainly driven by the tonnage or cargo carrying capacity below decks.  Our toll today was around $115,000.00.  

Some views early in the morning about thirty or more minutes before our scheduled arrival to Gatun Locks.

Keith took a photo of our Butler Rao.

Some of the wonderful Serenity Crew Members enjoying the transit.

Shortly after his haircut, Keith took his first Spin Class in several days.  The class was full which has been the case for almost all of the classes that have been taught.  In fact, on somedays because of demand two classes are being taught.  We decided we would call today's Class Spinning through the Panama Canal.

While Keith was in class Anne  Marie was watching Season 5 of Downton Abbey which a good friend of ours on board for the World Cruise leant to Anne Marie to watch.

Before we knew it, we had lunch at the Lido Cafe where we each had our usual which was a Salad Entree for each of us.  We saw with another couple who we met the first day of the World Cruise.

In the afternoon, Anne Marie walked while Keith played Paddle Tennis with one other guest.  Afterwards, Keith met up with Anne Marie and we walked the rest of the way together.   There was no Yoga on the program todays since the focus was the Panama Canal and the room that is normally used for Yoga, Palm Court, was available all day for those who wanted to view the Panama Canal from inside the Serenity.  Later, Keith got together with dear friend Bob.

This evening will be be attending a Crystal Society Dinner that we were invited to in Prego about a week ago, with a couple of other couples and will post about this tomorrow.

Former Major League Baseball Great known as "Mr. Cub" who played for the Chicago Cubs has passed away so we thought we would end today with  a couple of Thought's Of The Day in memory of Ernie Banks.

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

"The only way to prove you are a good sport is to lose." - Ernie Banks

"Loyalty and friendship, which is to me the same, created all the wealth that I've ever thought I'd have." - Ernie Banks

Keith & Anne Marie