DAY 4 EMBARKATION DAY & DAY 1 CRYSTAL SERENITY

We enjoyed a nice dinner at a restaurant located one of the sister hotels of the one we are staying at called Rubens at the Plaza. We went to this restaurant last year as they offer a pre-theatre dinner and while there was no theatre in our plans this year (we did attend two plays last year) we enjoyed the convenience of this restaurant as well as its cuisine.  

We each had two courses; A Salad and a Salmon Entree but the photos of the Salmon Entree did not come out.  Long story on that one.

Once again, we slept well and both were up relatively early so that we had plenty of time to freshen up, have breakfast and get ready to check out of the Hotel.

We were met on-time by our driver whom the hotel had arranged to take us from the Hotel over to the cruise ship docks in Dover where we would embark the lovely Crystal Serenity.

This was our first time to board in Dover since we took a North Atlantic Ocean Crossing on the Crystal Symphony in 2004 and the prior year a British Isles cruise with Jennifer and Eric  All of our other Embarkations/Disembarkations have been in Southampton other than one disembarkation in London by the London Tower Bridge on board a relatively small vessel on another cruise line in 2005.

On that last Crystal Symphony Voyage we stayed at a pre-cruise Crystal Hotel and enjoyed a pre-embarkation transfer and tour which included a tour of the Dover Cliffs and that is where we met friends Joan and Mac and once on board Symphony through Joan and Mac we met friends Allan and Helen and as they say the rest is history.

The drive from our London Hotel over to Dover turned out great.  We driver had called the hotel and asked if he could pick us up 15 minutes earlier because they were warned of long backups on the regular route and we were going to take a more lengthily route but one that would avoid the long delay.  We were glad to oblige and we were to the port in less than two hours.  Our driver, John, was the same driver who had taken us the other day from London Heathrow to the 41 hotel and is a real gentleman.

Embarkation was a breeze and in no time we were back home on board Crystal Serenity. We ran into several crew members who were getting ready to go on Holiday including Fitness Director Leanne and Caroline of Prego and Head Waiter Frantz.

Shortly after we boarded we were welcomed back home by Butler Rao who himself had gotten back today after a very well deserved Holiday.  

We enjoyed a very nice welcome lunch at the Crystal Dining Room. Yes, we had our traditional Cobb Salad along with a flute of Champagne.

We even sat at the table which we sit at for at dinner.

Cobb Salad

Sommelier Ivana came by to say hello.

Senior Waiter took excellent care of us.  She was our Senior Waiter when our Son Eric and our Daughter-In-Law joined us for a cruise in May of 2014.

In the afternoon, we got settled in our room and all unpacked.  This was much easier for us than the World Cruise where we have so much more luggage.  Normally we spend the entire afternoon unpacking but that was not the case today.

We ran into lots of members of the crew throughout the afternoon.  We saw Specialty Restaurant Maitre d' Antonio, Prego Head Waiter Mario, Prego waiter Morley and Silk Road Waiters Sheila, Albert and Ruel, Tastes Head Waiter Luigi and Waiter Deirdre, Clearance Officer Anne, Assistant Shore Excursion Manager Joyce, Chief Concierge and Concierge Natalia and Luisa, Receptionist Hayley and Max, Pianist Scott, Salon Manager Rachel, Hair Stylist Darko, Fitness Directors Claire and Thomas who we had not yet met before and tens upon tens of other crew members who we adore and know so well.  Keith spoke with Hotel Director Hubert and Cruise Director Gary and Food & Beverage Manager Tayfun too.  We ran into some familiar guests including Pauline who is one of the women who lives on-board Serenity.  They are part of our extended Crystal Family.

Keith also signed up for tomorrow's Indoor Cycling Class.  

This evening we will dine at the Crystal Dining Room and before dinner we will attend the Mandatory Lifeboat Drill.

We are thrilled to be home on board Crystal Serenity.

Since the main reason that we booked this cruise was because we sail to Liverpool we want to close with video footage from 1962 when The Beatles were performing at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.  We will include other photos and video footage of The Beatles from time-to-time during this voyage.

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

"Better three hours too soon than a minute late." - William Shakespeare

Keith & Anne Marie