DAY 7 - GREAT EXUMA

Good news.  Here is todays daily Reflections Program 

The good news is most of the Internet problems have been resolved.  There were a few issues that were mainly hardware including the Satellite so hopefully we are back in business.

Let's begin from yesterday.  We had a wonderful day with the kind of weather we expected and that was terrific.   We walked a lot on the Promenade Deck and Keith got in a few hours of Paddle Tennis which he loves.  He met some people for the first time and played with a few people we know from previous cruses.  

Earlier in the day on the Promenade Deck and Keith wearing his red, white and blue sports shoes.

Dinner last night in our suite where we enjoyed the wonderful cuisine from Umi Uma.  Food as usual was amazing and we were taken excellent care of by Frederick.   

Keith got in an early workout this morning.  He goes up early before anyone gets there.  If our home Fitness Center was 7x24 he would do likewise.  LOL.

He brought back coffee from Marketplace.  The change you see on the tables is the paper placemats as part of the Crystal Health+ protocols.  

We enjoyed breakfast in the room and then walked on the Promenade Deck.  At 7:00 AM we were anchored off our first port of call of Exuma, Bahamas.  

To get over there required a ships tender and for those not on tour a shuttle was available to take them to Farmer's Hill Beach which is a public beach.   We stayed on the ship because of Anne Marie's situation.  Possibly next week Keith will go over there.  

We took along walk on the Promenade Deck.  We remarked with all of the concern some had with going to thee Bahama's in the summer how pleasant it was to be outside in The Bahamas but with the shade on one side which the Promenade Deck provides.  

We ran into Dr. Jay Wolff and his lovely wife Carol whom we have known for years and chatted for awhile.  We also saw a very nice fellow guest who we have sailed with several times and we enjoyed a nice conversation.

The tours were running.   The seas looked a bit choppy and the tenders were going up and down.

While many people went off to the Island including those who wanted to swim with the pigs, we enjoyed the ship.   Anne Marie sat out on the verandah and read.  Keith did one of the things he loves best which is to play Paddle Tennis.  There is a small group of people some of whom Keith knows from previous sailings and they  were kind enough to invite him to play.

The group included Mrs. Bacardi and Keith had played many times with the late Mr. Bacardi and always enjoyed being his partner.  Keith remembered another man who he would play against when he patterned with Jorge and he also remember the Bacardi's nephew.   It was lots of fun and good exercise too.  

We enjoyed lunch at the room with the freshest salad wee have had in 16 months.

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We wanted to close with things you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.  We will update this toward the end of the cruise.
 
Who’s on Board?
 
Captain Birger Vorland, Cruise Director Rick Spath, Vice Captain Miho Radulic, Chief Engineer Robert Bayfield, Hotel Director Scott Peterson, Ship’s Doctor Andrii Shvets,  Crystal Society Host Andrew, Cruise Sales Consultant Paula Jean, Chief Concierge Marco, Concierge Ariella, Restaurant Manager Leo, Food & Beverage Manager Svein Specialty Restaurant Maitre d’ Paolo, and hundred more of an amazing crew we have sailed with many times.
 
Golf Pro Joe Hubert
Pilates & Yoga Instructor Tammy Gibson
Bridge Instructors Bill Young & Debbie Hoveland
CY @ Sea Instructor Tim  Grey
Odyssey Art at Sea Instructor Maureen Schmidt
Fitness Director Dragan Milovancevic (he was on last years World Cruise)
 
Avenue Saloon Pianist Joel Spire
DJ Viviano
Guitarist Carlos
Richard & Irina 
Duo Julie & Andy
Crystal Cove Pianist Steepheen Roberts
Irina Guskova
 
Crystal Magicians at Seea Christopher Tracy (10 shows twice a day 4:00 PM and 5:30 PM)
 
Shows/Entertainment so far
 
Rock & Pop-A-Mania Show featuring Tom Lowe & Elizabeth  Combs  with Serena,  Holly, Rachael, Natasha, Gabor, Bohdan, Dmitri, & Breett
 
Crystal Showband under the direction of Raphaeel.
 
My Life – James Fox
 
70’s and 80’s Tribute Dance Hour
 
Theee Graet American Songbook with Bruce Hammond, Tom Lowe & Sarah Combs with the Crystal Showband.
 
Crystal White Extravaganza (two shows for the first time)
 
Lecturers
 
Dr. Jay Wolff (destination lecturer)
Dr. Jeffrey  Hoffman (former astronaut)
General Nick Halleey
 
If your flight is before 3:00 PM shared transfer to the airport is $50.00 per person.
 
After 3:00 PM Nassau Highlights and Airport Transfer $59.00 per person.
 
Comedian John Joseph
Vocalist Karin Kovacova
Comedian Steve Stevens

Cheers,

Anne Marie & Keith
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