DAY 26 - DAY 20 CRYTAL SERENITY

OUT TO SEA

Julie...Thank you for your comments and we look forward to sailing with you and Bob again when you board Serenity for World Cruise 2019.

Oops.  Out to Sea....Wasn't that a title to a movie which took place on another cruise line.  LOL.  Like Crystal they at the time the movie was made they had dance hosts on all their sailings.  Today we are at sea.  More about that in a moment.

These are the dinner menus from last evening for Waterside.
  

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We hosted friends who live in the San Francisco/Bay Area to visit us yesterday.  Friends Ashley and Kelly and Patty and Michael arrived to the ship at 4:00 PM.  Patty and Michael visited the ship a couple of voyages ago.  This was Ashley and Kelly's first visit since the makeover of Crystal Serenity in the recent dry-dock.

While we waited for our friends to arrive to the ship, we saw many crew members returning from San Francisco.  Many had bags from shopping at Ross.  The store is located near the shopping mall we visited yesterday.

​Sommelier Crew member Ross returned to the ship and guess what he had a Ross bag too.
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We toured everyone around the ship and then went to Palm Court for a pre-dinner drink.  There was a live band playing and the lounge was busy.  We had clear skies and had a beautiful view of the skyline.  Our friends pointed out certain buildings to us including where one of our friends work, and where two of them live.  We also learned that although not publicized that many buildings are required to have parks on their rooftops that are open to the public.
 
One of the buildings we viewed is the Salesforce Tower.  It stands at 1,070 feet making it the 13th tallest building in the United States of America.  It is 200+ feet taller than the second tallest building in the city which is the Transamerica Pyramid.  It is also the second tallest building west of the Mississippi.
 
While we were viewing the Salesforce Tower the top portion of it was a beautiful blue.  Later this changed to a lighter color with an image of a woman dancing.  
 
We also could see the Bay Bridge all lit up in one color and its color also changed.

Afterwards we went to Prego and had an amazing meal.  Several courses.  We pre-ordered two items for everyone and also provided a special red wine.  We enjoyed lots of non-stop conversation and exceptional service and cuisine.  We dined for three hours.  It was so nice to see everyone.

The Prego waitstaff was amazing and took such wonderful care of all of this.  We were having so much fun that we stayed for three hours.

Jiri came by the table in his new outfit as he has been promoted to swing Head Sommelier.  When Tilmar goes on holiday following this voyage Jiri will fill his position until Tilmar returns.  We had Jiri on several voyages as our sommelier in the former Crystal Dining Room and the past couple of years he has been the Sommelier in Prego.

​These are the Prego Menus.

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Last evening we the first bumpy ride of the cruise.  Some might say there was some rough seas returning from Hawaii but we are used to that.  We did wake up for a couple of minutes shortly after leaving the port of San Francisco at midnight to one item that fell off the shelf.    We have sailed through much worse seas but this was the night and morning to be careful walking around the room and the ship.  

While writing portions of this post early this morning the two draws below one of the desks in our room kept opening and closing on their own to the movement of the ship.  

Before breakfast Keith worked out at the Fitness Center and was very careful as I walked from our room towards the back of the ship and up three flights to the Fitness Center.  Working out on the Elliptical Machine Keith felt  very secure. 

​We enjoyed breakfast in our room and then went on a one hour walk inside the ship.  Keith held Anne Marie's arm for most of the walk just to be on the safe side.  There were a few moments when you could feel strong movement of the sea.  

Today is our one sea day of this cruise. 

Below is the daily Reflections Program.

They combined lots of food, enrichment and entertainment related items into this one sea day. 
 
Marketplace featured an Asian Buffet for lunch and there was a Galley Tour later in the afternoon.  The popular Mozart Afternoon Tea with those delicious desserts was on the schedule.
 
Enrichment included the lecture; classes on fitness, bridge, golf, computers, dance, and art.
 
Crystal On Broadway was featured at 4:30 PM hosted by Tony Award Winning Broadway Producer Kevin McCollum which included Broadway Star Heidi Blickenstaff singing a song from the new Musical Mrs. Doubtfire.  In the Hollywood Theatre they showed the movie Mrs. Doubtfire featuring the late Robin Williams along with Sally Field and Pierce Bronsman. 
 
The entertainment continues into the evening with two showing by a comedian, music featuring a tribute to The Beatles, Irish Pub Night at the Avenue Saloon featuring an Irish couple, and live entertainment in four lounges.  
There were lots of activities on the Reflections Program. 

Usually the Crystal Society Party is held in the evening but today it was held at 11:15 AM.  Captain Birger said we made history today with the first morning Crystal Society Party.  It was well attended and some people remained for Team Trivia.

As we were leaving we saw Crystal Society Hostess and friend Stacy Huston.  Stacey boarded Serenity yesterday.  

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We enjoyed lunch at Marketplace.  It was the Asian Buffet.

​As we were eating we listened to Captain Birger's talk from the bridge.  He noted that to keep the ship calm for this evening we would be entering the channel in Santa Barbara as we make our way to Ensenada.

It was too cold with some drizzle to play Paddle Tennis so we both walking inside the ship.  We are enjoying a leisurely afternoon.
 
Next up: A return to Ensenada, Mexico tomorrow morning.

​Anne Marie & Keith