DAY 11 - VISIT TO CRYSTAL SERENITY

VISITING THE CRYSTAL SERENITY

Greetings from "down under".  We enjoyed a nice evening in the hotel and began our day with breakfast in the club lounge.  We could see Crystal Serenity from the lounge and we are including a photo of Crystal Symphony that we viewed from our room.

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We then got ready for our day on Crystal Serenity.

Today was a first for us.  We first sailed with on Crystal Serenity on two back-to-back cruises starting in September of 2005.  Two years later we sailed on the full 2007 World Cruise and have had the honor of sailing Serenity many times over the years including sailing last May with our family.  This time we were visitors for the day having been sponsored to visit the ship by our friends Bob and Glo. 

This is a view of Serenity when we last visited Sydney as part of World Cruise 2015.

With another ship requiring docking at Circular Quay early morning Saturday Crystal Serenity was moved and anchored.  With the first segment of the World Cruise ending today and the second segment starting today those guests disembarking were taken over to White Bay terminal to go through Australian Customs.  The vast majority departed from there.  Those guests who were embarking sister ship Crystal Symphony embarked Symphony who was docked at this terminal.  Those guests who are staying on-board Serenity for the next cruise along with those visiting the ship such as ourselves took dedicated ferry's that ran between St. Ives Steps in downtown Sydney and Crystal Serenity.  This day clearly involved lots of challenging logistics.  

On top of all of this those guests on-board both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity who are taking the full World Cruise left each ship in the afternoon to attend a special World Cruise gala event in Sydney.

After leaving the hotel and walking about fifteen minutes we arrived to St. Ives steps and waited for the ferry to take us over to Serenity.   

We were able to take the first ferry over at 7:45 am and in very short order arrived to Serenity. 

From the moment we arrived to the Ferry location we felt back at hone as we were greeted by the Security Officer.

We have seen many guests we know from previous Crystal Cruises. We have also seen so many wonderful members of Team Crystal Serenity including the Captain, Hotel Director, Cruise Director, both Maitre D’s, several Head EIters, members of the Conciege and Shore Excursion teams, one of our former Stewardesses, several butlers, the Librarian, several waiters and senior waiters, Lido Deck Stewards, Chefs, Beverly and Curtis and others. All have been very welcoming,


Had lunch at Lido Cafe. It was relatively quiet. Walked around for quite awhile and visited with many members of the crew and guest who we know.

We spent part of the afternoon with dear friends Bob and Glo and then had dinner with them in Silk Road.

Took the 8:15 ferry back to Sydney.  As we walked back to the Hotel we viewed fireworks.

​Some photos from our glorious day visiting Crystal Serenity.

Anne Marie & Keith