DAY 48 DAY 36 SERENITY

ON THE WAY TO NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA - DAY 3

We returned to thee Crystal Cove for a pre-dinner drink.
Pianist Richard Pucci entertained and as usual played a wonderful array of tunes.

These are the menus from Waterside where we dined.

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We enjoyed a delicious meal.   Appetizers of Tuna Tartare for Keith & Soup for Anne Marie. We both had salads.  Entrees of Turkey for Anne Marie and Pompano Fillet for Keith.

The evening entertainment included two different shows each performed two times.

The production show was Icons In Concert Shown at 7:45 and 9:45 PM and Comedian Steve Caouettee who performed at 8:45 and 10:45 PM.

We slept well and began our day as we always do. This included a workout for Keith, breakfast in our room followed by a walk together.

Speaking of walking:

​The other day we posted photos about the route we take inside the ship when we walk.  We thought we would add photos from  walking the outside of the ship on the promenade deck.

Crystal Ocean Vessels represent only a few ships offering a full wrap-around Promenade Deck which is all on one level with no steps involved.  The one on Serenity is wide enough to accommodate three people walking shoulder to shoulder or two people walking tougher with a third  person running by them.  It provides beautiful views when  at sea and many times when anchored or docked in port.  

Our first time on Serenity was in 2005 on two back-to-back cruises  totaling 24 days.  Up until that time it was our longest time on a cruise ship.  

In fact, when we made the decision to take our first World Cruise while on board Serenity in  2005, the Promenade Deck was one of several factors which contributed to our  decision  to book the cruise.  We saw the Promenade Deck as a great  way to get exercise, to take walks together or by  ourselves, to enjoy the beauty  around the ship and to get some quiet time.  There are times when no one is out on the deck creating the feeling you are on the ship by oneself.  

​These are photos which show where we walk outside ether ship on the Promenade Deck.    Wee've also included photos we posted the other day showing the area we walk  inside the ship.

We began our day as we always do.   Workout for Keith, Breakfast and a walk for both of us.   

We then got ready to visit Nuku'alofa, Tonga.

However, this changed  when we learned Crystal  Serenity and  three other ships were denied stopping due to concerns about Coronavirus.

Captain Birger mentioned Serenity learned the news at early in  the  morning from the local authorities.

Shortly  after Captain Birger spoke for the second time Cruise Director Rick spoke to everyone highlight  some of the program changes  and a new program would be out within an hour.

This would've  been  our second visit to this area as we were here back in 2011.

Although we  didn't visit we thought we would share some information.

Nuku'alofa has a population of 25,000 residents. It is a small South Pacific Kingdom of the Commonwealth.  

Major attractions include:

Talamahu Market located downtown which has a large section of local goods including jewelry and mats.

Free Church of Tonga.  The church was established in 1885 by King George Tupou I and Reverent Shirley Waldemar Barker.

Anahulu Cave which is made up of a network of large limestone caverns as well as Tongapapu's only freshwater pools.

Royal Tombs has been the resting place of the royals since 1893.  

Basilica of St Anthony was build in 1977 and completed three years later in 1980.  

​These are photos from our last visit.

We enjoyed another unplanned sea day between the enrichment and other activities on-board the ship.  We  got in our walks, Anne Marie went to Knitting and Keith played  Paddle  Tennis  in the  morning and aftertoon.

​We are just happy  to be here.

Following is the daily Reflections Program.

Cheers,

Anne Marie & Keith