We wanted to continue today's Blog with some photos from the Sunday Brunch which was held from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, yesterday. The Sunday Brunch offers an array of items to enjoy. On selected that are of a certain length and with four or more sea days either a Sunday Brunch or a Grand Galla Buffet is offered.
The Wait Staff began setting up for the brunch at around 8:00 AM and the food preparation began the day before. So much hard work goes into this. Then at 1:30 PM begins the hard work of disposing of all of the food items and taking down all of the tables and putting away all of the accessories and then placing furniture back in its original spot and cleaning up the area. Kudos to all of those who are involved with this brunch.
Two of the staff who mans the Crystal Reception Desk. This is our first time sailing with Carolina. After just the first time we met her, she remembered our names. Just amazing.
Although we did not dine at the Crystal Dining Room last evening, the Guest Chef who prepared our meal at the Vintage Room oversaw the preparation of some menu items for last night's dinner in the Dining Room. The items he oversaw were:
Appetizer of Icelandic Salmon - Torched Salmon with Smoked Onion Apple Cream Cheese and Horseradish Flavored Aioli.
Main Course of Wild Caught Icelandic Cod, Noisette Barley, Cauliflower, Lemon, Icelandic Rye Bread, and Dill Infused Oil.
Dessert of Icelandic Skyr and Wile Blueberries: Skyr Lemon Ice Cream Served with Peanut-Blueberry Mousee, Spicy Crumble, Lemon Thyme Marshmallow & Wild Blueberries
Before dinner last evening we went to the Avenue Saloon. We actually first went to the Crystal Cove but it was very crowded with many there for pre dinner drinks before late seating as we were dining later last evening than we normally do. When we first arrived it was quiet at the Avenue Saloon since many people were at the Cove where John Mentis was playing the piano. We met a few other people while we were there who we conversed with and then we took a 30 minute walk around the ship before it was time for dinner.
Was last night Orange night? It was for us. LOL.
We then dined at Tastes with six other people. We were invited to Tastes by World Renowned Organist Hector to celebrate the Birthday of his lovely wife Lieve. We have seen Hector perform for a few years on selected Cruises and it was through Paddle Tennis that we first met Lieve. Keith played Paddle Tennis with Lieve on two different voyages last year and on one prior in the prior year, in addition to this voyage. Over the next eight months there is a good chance that we will sail with Hector and Lieve on three different voyages. We were honored to be included in Lieve's Birthday celebration. We did not know the others but they included the iMovie Instructor, a musician on land and a Doctor and his wife.
Since we were with a group we decided not to take photos of the food we ate but we had many of the courses that we shared with you the other day.
We did include a photo of Lieve with her Birthday Cake.
The good news is that although we dined later than we usually do, we did set the clocks back another hour after arriving back to our room. This is what we love when we sail East to West rather than West to East.
Keith was up early and after his workout he went to the Lido Cafe for coffee. The seas were a little calmer than the night.
The Lido Deck Stewards know that Keith has a favorite table to sit at and that he takes two cups of coffee over to the table in take out cups and how he arranges the table so after the first two days they started to arrange it for him. When Keith arrives he is usually the first guest at the Lido Cafe. LOL, but true. This shows how they had the table arranged for Keith so he could use his iPad and had room for the two cups of coffee as well.
Today was the third of four consecutive sea days as we are sailing to our next to last call in Halifax, Canada.
Once again there was lots of enrichment on the program including over 50 items on the schedule.
There were two very interesting and informative lectures.
Ambassader Marc Ginsberg gave his most challenging talk since it was about whether a two state solution is in the cards for Israel and the Palestinian's, given where we are today. The lecture was well attended and pretty much all seats occupied. We had seen this talk on the World Cruise but Marc updated it with more recent events with ISIS. He also covered items such as the Iran Nuclear Situation. We could probably see Marc deliver this presentation over and over and learn more each time we hear it. What is apparent to us is that with each passing decade, if not year, the entire situation is getting more complex as it involves so many parties. That is true of the Middle East as a whole.
In the afternoon, Jay Wolff who on this cruise is the destination lecturer spoke about Halifax with special emphasis on the Titanic Graves and the Immortal Legends. We watched Jay's lecture on the Television.
We dined at the Lido Cafe for lunch. It was fairly busy and we enjoyed our usual Salad Entrees.
During his talk from the bridge the Captain discussed the improving weather and also noted that the weather forecast for Halifax is even better than it was before with highs of around 64 degrees Fahrenheit forecasted as well as partial sun. Let's hope that the weather forecast comes close to what we will actually have that day. We all know about weather forecasts. LOL.
Since the outside weather conditions are still not conducive to Paddle Tennis, Keith worked out at the Fitness Center after lunch, while Anne Marie walked for an hour inside the ship.
Since this is a Food and Wine Themed Cruise, there was wine tasting in the afternoon and the focus was on red wines of California. In also keeping with this being a Golf Themed Cruise Golf Pro John Clark gave not one but two Golf Clinics. We have sailed with John and his lovely wife Pauline on many voyages as they have been on all of the World Cruises that we have been on with the exception of this year's World Cruise and they will be returning for World Cruise 2015.
Every afternoon we have some fruit delivered to our room rather than having canapés. If it is on certain days when our butler is off then another butler will deliver the fruit and change out the ice. Today, we had a nice visit from Jijo. Jijo had been our Senior Waiter for several voyages and a couple of years ago was promoted to one of the Butler positions.
This evening we are back at the Crystal Dining Room where we will dine for three of the next four nights before we disembark Serenity in Boston. We will be in Prego tomorrow night. This evening Jonathan Kane will perform two Production Shows appropriately titled Rocket Man which features the songs of Elton John. It's a wonderful show featuring so many memorable songs that Elton John has performed over the years.
All in all it has been another wonderful day sailing on the Crystal Serenity. Although the weather is still overcast outside, the sun shines inside the ship.
Keith & Anne Marie
Dear Keith and Ann Marie,
ReplyDeleteContinued happy sails to you. What cruise number were you celebrating with Crystal.
See you in January,
Ilene and Andy