We also wanted to mention how much we have enjoyed our time in New Zealand and Australia. When people ask us from time to time what is our favorite place in the world or favorite region we always respond by saying we do not have one favorite. Rather, we have several that we enjoy and certainly New Zealand and Australia are some of our favorite places to visit. We look forward to visiting them again in the future.
As we walked around the ship yesterday afternoon and last evening we were reminded that we have already been on Serenity for quite awhile when it is us who are welcoming some members of the crew back to Serenity who either left Serenity on January 4 or January 14 before the start of the World Cruise to go on well-deserved holidays. We believe around 75 crew members either left Serenity yesterday to go on Holiday with an equal number of crew members returning.
Before dinner we went to the Crystal Cove for a pre-dinner drink and dear friends John and Linda sat with us.
Afterwards, we were back at the Crystal Dining Room for dinner.
We each began our meal with salads. Anne Marie had a spinach salad and Keith had his standing order salad with spinach as well.
We enjoyed some nice wines and we were taken great care of by our Sommelier Ivana.
For our entree, we both had the Pan Seared Tasmanian Barramundi which Head Waiter Augusto and Senior Waiter Ayhan recommended. This was a very tasty fish, and we liked the thick cut. We enjoyed the sauce which accompanied it.
For dessert, it was blueberries for Anne Marie and mixed berries for Keith.
Afterwards, we just walked around the ship for awhile saying hello to fellow guests and to members of the crew.
We slept well last evening. We were fortunate that we left on schedule and that we were not in port the next day where we might have had poor weather from the Cyclone. The seas were indeed relatively calm.
Keith was up first and enjoyed another nice workout at the Fitness Center. After he worked out and then went to the Lido Cafe for coffee, Anne Marie went on a one hour walk.
We enjoyed breakfast in our room thanks to Rao.
Keith took an indoor cycling class which was taught by Fitness Director Leanne. Leanne does a wonderful job of pushing the class.
A few minutes before Keith's class began, Anne Marie took Yoga taught by Maria and Joe Kita. Anne Marie loves taking the Yoga and thoroughly enjoys the instruction provided by Maria and Joe.
Anne Marie also attended the knitting class.
One of the special treats on each World Cruise occurs on the long crossing as we have on this segment of the World Cruise. It is during this very long segment that Crystal Cruises hosts what is known as the World Cruise Games. During the coming days there will be a kickoff ceremony and then guests will have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of games from bridge to solitaire on the computer to basketball foul shooting to paddle tennis. There is one game that mixed crew and guests and the crew also has their own set of games. The top three winners receive a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal respectively and there is a former Olympian on board the ship who will participate in the medal ceremonies that are held every couple of nights.
Today was the registration for the World Cruise Games. As part of the registration process each guest selects the games they will play in and also picks up World Cruise Games shirt. We each signed up as well. It was the most organized of any of the signups ever.
Today was the first of six consecutive sea days.
There were three lectures on the schedule.
World Affairs Lecturer Tom Faranda spoke about Global Realities and his prediction for the next ten year.
Next up was Tom DeFrank who we had on one of the cruises before the World Cruise and he spoke about President Obama and the Republicans.
In the afternoon, Dr. Donald Behnke spoke about the Lovely Ladies of Broadway.
We had lunch at the Lido Cafe and made our usual salad entrees.
In the afternoon, Keith played Paddle Tennis for a couple of hours. The weather was perfect with a nice breeze and the sun shining with very few clouds. Lots of guests were playing. While Keith was playing, Anne Marie walked for an hour.
Later in the afternoon, Keith met up with dear friend Bob and Anne Marie worked on her knitting projects.
This evening we are back at the Crystal Dining Room for dinner. It is a Black Tie Optional evening in terms of attire.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.......
"Great power involves great responsibility." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Keith & Anne Marie
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