DAY 152 - DAY 7 MOZART

CRUISING THE DANUBE ON THE ROAD TO BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA

​Before  the evening began we enjoyed scenic  cruising.

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We attended the Crystal Society  Party  held  before dinner last night.  All guests  were invited to the party which was held in Palm Court.  While seated at the Palm Court we also enjoyed scenic views.  Palm Court is located near the front of the ship so it provided the opportunity to see one of the locks before and as we entered it.

There was a large turnout for the party.  A difference is that Caviar is served and a very generous portion indeed.  It is served by waiters and already in a dish.  

Mark Farris entertained before, during and after the recognition of guests with the highest number of milestones on this voyage.  

Alexandra Stanga,  the Crystal Society Hostess and Future Sales Consultant, gave a very nice speech.  She spoke about Crystal Cruises &  Crystal Society and noted that there are 1 Million Members  of  Crystal Society.  Members  are any guest  who  has sailed once ore more times with Crystal Cruises on Ocean, River, and Yacht Vessels.  

Three parties were recognized by Alexandria. She noted  the number of milestones and the number of  days sailed with Crystal Cruises, the  voyage, month and year of the   first sailing with Crystal Cruises, home city and country, and the top reason  they  enjoying sailing with Crystal Cruises.

The first couple had somewhere between 10 and 20 Crystal Milestones (we can't remember the precise number) and are from Bermuda.  We spoke with them afterwards and reminisced about Bermuda where we visited for our honeymoon.  They are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on-board Mozart.

The second recognition is for a woman traveling solo who we know from previous cruise on Serenity and we have some friends in common.  She is from Hong Kong and celebrating her 23rd Crystal Society Milestone. 

We were recognized last with the highest number of Crystal Society Milestones on this voyage.  

At  the  conclusion of the recognition, Hotel Director surprised us with a gift.

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We enjoyed dinner at Waterside.  We arrived about ten minutes after it opened and there were already many guests seated.

​This is the dinner menu.

There were lots of good choices on the menu.  Decisions.  Decisions.  LOL.

Before our appetizer arrived at one point we could smell some type of burning wood.  We couldn't figure out if it was coming from outside the ship on shore or from the kitchen.  We soon learned what it was.

For appetizers Anne Marie had the consommé and Keith had the Applewood Smoked Alpine Beef Crudo.  When the waiter brought it to the table and lifted the cover smoke came out along with a delightful applewood odor.  This was what we smelled when a fellow guest seated somewhere nearby had this appetizer.  It was delicious.  

We both had salads and changed out the Arugula for Spinach.  This was the first time we changed up the salad recognizing for lunch they one of the items they were serving was Spinach which likely had just been brought on-board in Passau.   It was accompanied by different slices of fruit and vegetables.  Another winner.  

​For our entree it was Veal Scallopini for  Anne Marie.  She  enjoyed  the veal and the sauce which accompanied it.  The sauce was tasty and unique from what she normally has on the Ocean  Vessel such as at Prego.  For Keith it  was Dorade Royal fish which he enjoyed. We should have stopped at three  courses but Anne Marie had a small scoop of Ice Cream and Keith had a Cheese Plate.  Each evening the dinner menu includes which cheese will be served on the cheese plate which we appreciate.  We had  a wonderful time.  Service was marvelous.

We also enjoyed beautiful views from our table and we went through a lock.

Following dinner a DJ played music from the 1950's to the 1970's.

We slept very well.  We got to bed later than usual and the wine helps too.  LOL.

We began the day  as  you are accustomed to with an early morning  workout  for Keith, followed by  coffee  from  the Pantry.  Anne Marie had coffee that she made in the room and we both had breakfast.  A great way to start the day.

We enjoyed scenic cruising in the morning followed by lunch at Waterside.  Waterside luncheon dining begins either at Noon or at 12:30 PM.  Typically when arriving to a port in the afternoon like today it opens at Noon whereas when already in a port like yesterday it opens at 12:30 PM.

We are posting early today. Originally a tour that Keith booked had a start time of 3:30 PM.  It has been moved up to 2:30 PM with an earlier arrival to Bratislava.  We learned that the arrival time can vary depending on congestion in the locks.  We were fortunate to be ahead of schedule and prefer the earlier start time of the tour.

Cheers, 

Anne Marie & Keith