GOLDEN STATE DISCOVERY - DAY 1: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

​DAY 1 - THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

As our journey begins, we want to thank some people.

Thank you to our wonderful travel specialist Gerri and her team for all of their expert advice, knowledge, thoroughness, ability to cut thru red tape.  This began  with our booking when Gerri analyzed how to optimize our our reservation taking into account that we booked four rooms for nine of us.  This continued until just days ago as Gerri followup up on last minute details for us.  Thank you so much.

We also want to thank the land-based Crystal Cruises personnel and those on-board Crystal Serenity for their assistance.  We pre-arranged a couple of on-board events and everyone has been wonderful assisting us in their planning.  Thank you team Crystal Cruises so very much.

L-R Mary Jean, Anne Marie & Gerri

laOur adventure began today, one day before our early morning flight.  As we did earlier this year we are spending  the night at the hotel adjacent to our regional airport.  This will make everything much simpler the morning of our flight.

We were met at our home by a driver of a private SUV and driven approximately one hour to the hotel.  We received a  call that our driver was running late by thirty minutes.  This is an example of why we didn't want to arrange for a pickup at the middle of the night.  In addition, at that hour you really have to wonder if the driver might fall asleep while driving us to the airport.  As they say, better to play it safe then be sorry.  

Once we arrived to the hotel our room was ready.  We will enjoy dinner at the hotel and just sit back and read and write and catch up on the days news.  
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Ready For The Start Of This Special Family Adventure

A View Of The Hotel Lobby

We often say each and every travel experience is different even when they are repeated.  For example, we find that each cruise takes on its own characteristics based on many factors including itinerary, weather, chemistry of the guests, percent occupancy and other variables including the stewardess assigned to your room and the wait staff. 

In this case having our family on hand,including the three grandchildren, will contribute to our overall experience.  Similarly this past January our experience was somewhat influenced while we were traveling with dear friends who were also on their first Crystal Cruise.  This allows us to see the cruise through the experience of others.  

We mention this because as we Blog we expect some of our observations and thoughts will be shaped from having the family with us.

TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We love to travel and are grateful for the opportunity to visit many places around the world. When we married forty years ago, we never thought we would cruise as much as we have, let alone sailing a cruise line as luxurious as Crystal Cruises

Whether you travel a few miles or thousands of miles, there's much to discover. The key is open your eyes, be open-minded, focus on small and large details, make time to smell the roses, don’t pre-judge others, and look closely at all that surrounds you and is literally in front of your own nose. 
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Anne Marie & Keith
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