DAY 8

DAY 4 CRYSTAL SYMPHONY

These are the lunch and dinner menus from yesterday at Waterside.  Please note that we only had one of the three dinner menus on line.

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We dined at Umi Uma which used to be called Silk Road.  This is the Japanese Specialty Restaurant.  These are the menus. The menus reflect some changes from the last time we dined at this venue on Serenity.  
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Before dinner we enjoyed a pre-dinner drink at the Crystal Cove.  We sat with a very nice couple who we met a couple of years ago when they took their first Crystal Cruise.

It seems that with each passing day we run into a crew member who we know from our last Crystal Symphony cruise or who we know from Serenity.  Before dinner we stopped into one of the stores and sure enough one of the employees is someone who used to work on Serenity in a couple of different departments and after leaving Serenity transferred to the company that runs the stores on the Crystal Ocean Vessels.  It was so nice to see her.  

We first dined at Umi Uma (Silk Road on Serenity) when we cruised on Crystal Serenity in 2005 and loved the cuisine.  These restaurants are under the direction of Nobu Matushisa and reflect unique ingredients that make the cuisine unique.  Early in Nobu's career he was a chef in Lima, Peru and his experience in Peru is reflected in this cuisine.  He opened his first restaurant in 1987 in Beverly Hills, California under the restaurant name Nobu.  There are twenty two Nobu restaurants located throughout the world.  His restaurants at sea and on land serve a wide range of items.

The evening included lots of entertainment.  Bob Arno performed a combination of comedy along with tips about how one could be pickpocketed.  We have seen him on past cruises and while some of what he demonstrates is in good fun it is a reminder how easy it is for those skilled in this field to remove a wallet or other possessions from someone without them even know they have been pickpocketed.

In keeping with Crystal Cruises expanded entertainment program Rock & Pop-A-Mania was performed twice at 8:30 PM and 10:30 PM.  This included the talented Crystal Ensemble of Singers and Dancer accompanied by the Crystal Showband.  The performance was uplifting and truly showcased the diversity of these performers.

For those who enjoy a movie two showings of the documentary Jane were played in the Hollywood Theatre.  The movie is about the life and work of primatology scientist, Jan Goodall, with emphasis on her research of chimpanzees.

Before going to sleep we moved the clocks back an hour for the second consecutive night.  

We began today with our normal routine.  Keith was up early and worked out at the Fitness Center and returned to the room to read and write.  The suites have coffee makers so Keith enjoyed coffee.  The coffee maker uses coffee pods as you find at some land based hotels.  

We had breakfast in our room keeping to a simple and healthy breakfast.  Keith took his first indoor cycling class of the cruise.  He always enjoys taking these classes with various instructors at sea and on land even though he himself teaches cycling at home.  In fact, Keith learned one new move from the instructor which he might use at home. Symphony has six bikes and with six guests the instructor gave up his bike.  

If Christeen and a few of Keith's other spin buddies from previous cruises are reading this, the playlist for today was the same one we heard 30 or so times on World Cruise 15 and subsequent cruises.  The class was lots of fun and the instructor did a terrific job and gave up his bike as we had one guest without a bike.

Anne Marie walked for an hour and took the Yoga class taught by a dedicated Yoga instructor who is on board for this cruise.  It attracted a full house of guests.

Keith also visited with the on board booking consultant to make a booking for a future cruise.  

Lots on today's program.  This included three lectures.  First one was by Retired Brig. General Joe Shaefer who provided a comparison between Western and Middle East and China cultures.  Keith attended that talk.  The General was knowledgeable and passionate and was a pleasure to listen to.  There was lots to learn and it reenforced the idea that the world is made up of many cultures and while one value is accepted and practiced in one area of the world a completely different value is accepted in another part of the world.  He took questions at the end and by the time he began every seat was taken in the Galaxy Lounge.

This was followed by a talk given by Michael Bishay who spoke about Courtroom Drama.  In the afternoon a talk was given by Bob Arno who entertained last night and this was about the adventures of a Thirfhunter.  We caught both of these talks on the television in our room.

Our afternoon include:

Lunch at Marketplace.

Three hours of paddle tennis for Keith.

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Walking for Anne Marie plus sitting outside by the pool. 

When we first went outside after lunch it was overcast and in very short order the sun came out.  The weather was wonderful.

Watching the lectures.

Anne Marie also made a visit to the library and found two books of interest and has begun reading one of them.

This evening we dine at Waterside Restaurant for the second time of this cruise.  

Another great day.

​Anne Marie & Keith