DAY 6 EMBARKATION DAY - DAY 1 CRYSTAL SERENITY

After a fun day of walking many miles in the morning, and then taking the three hour Beatles tour in the afternoon, we enjoyed a relaxing dinner in our room last evening rather than going out for dinner.  We each had salad entrees for dinner, in our room along with some bread and fruit for dessert.  We then packed most of our items in preparation for checking out of the hotel in the morning.

We have enjoyed a wonderful stay in London which as we have mentioned is one of our favorite cities around the world.  It is so very easy to get around by foot and/or by public transportation and a place that we feel very safe.  There is so much to do and it's one of those places that you can revisit many times and never get tire as there are new places to see as well as places to return to.  We were very pleased not only with the Hotel we stayed at but its location.

We had our last breakfast in the Executive Lounge shortly before checking out of the hotel.  These are some additional photos of the lounge.

The lounge is on two levels with the upstairs having some computers a reading area and some overflow tables for people to eat and/or drink while seated.

The downstairs area has several tables for dining, along with a couch and other chairs, a concierge area plus check in and check out desk and is where various foods are set up.  Each day we had cereal and coffee and one day Keith had a toasted bagel and smoked salmon but a full English Breakfast was available as well.

The lounge has a very tall ceiling before the entire floor became what is now the hotel in 2001 it was part of a large ball room in the sister Rubens Hotel.  Both hotels share the same building but have two separate entranceways and the hotel we stayed at other than the entrance is on one floor.  It just made for a very intimate stay.  The staff here comes the closest to being on a Crystal Cruise as any hotel we have ever stayed at.

For those of you who cruise, you know that feeling that comes over you when you wake up in the morning on embarkation day.  There is a great sense of excitement to be back cruising and to be back at sea.  

We are reminded of a quote from President John Fitzgerald Kennedy about sailing and the sea.  It goes like this.

"All of us have in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears.  And when we go back to the sea-- whether it is to sail or to watch it-- we are going back from whence we came."

The first time we crossed the North Atlantic was in 2004, almost to this date, on board Crystal Symphony, sister ship of the Serenity.  It was our third cruise with Crystal Cruises.  Today, marks the second time we will cross the North Atlantic on a Crystal Ship and our third crossing of this region.  We actually crossed the North Atlantic in May of this year.  

We met several some guests on that sailing who we are good friends with today including Joan and Mac and Helen and Allan and are following this Blog.  We wish each of you were embarking with us today.  

After enjoying our final breakfast at the Hotel, we freshened up and then we were met at the entrance of the hotel by another drivers and private van for our drive to Southampton where the beautiful Crystal Serenity awaits.  Our travel agent, Gerri, also arranged this transfer for us through Crystal Cruises and like the transfer from London Heathrow Airport to the Hotel, this transfer was also provided to us as part of two Crystal Cruises milestones that we are utilizing for this cruise.  Milestones are achieved a pre-determined thresholds based on the number of Crystal Cruises that one has completed.

The drive to Southampton took about two hours which is the usual driving distance.

Embarkation went very well and before we knew it we were back home on the Crystal Serenity.

As soon as we boarded the Crystal Serenity we had that wonderful feeling that we always do and that includes returning to our home away from home and seeing so many members of the wonderful Crystal Crew who we have known and traveled with for so many years.  Words cannot adequately describe the feeling that overcomes each of us.  In very short order we saw Hotel Director Josef and Food & Beverage Manager Tayfun.  Josef invited us to join him at Prego this evening which was very kind of him. We also saw Andrea who is Head of Housekeeping.

We made our way to our room.

One of the two milestones we used for this cruise provided us with an upgrade from a Penthouse to a Penthouse suite.  The room is a little larger with a small round table for meals.  We actually had this size room for the final voyage earlier this year when our son, Eric, and daughter in law, Kara joined us for a seven day Rome to Istanbul cruise.  The irony was that after spending 100+ days in the same room when we added that cruise about one year in advance not only was our room not available but we would have to have been wait listed for the same category.  We didn't want to wait list and thought the larger room would be nice with Eric and Kara on board when we would have them over to the room so we went with that and moved into that room for the final seven days.  It was an easy move thanks to Crystal Cruises.  We are located this time around right near where we were for that final voyage.  

A few minutes later, Butler, Rao stopped by and it was so great to sea Rao and catch up with him.  Our Stewardess also came by, Snehah, who we had in 2012 for the full World Cruise and we are so glad to have her again.  We just adore her

As we were leaving our room, Cruise Director, Rich Spath came by and after lunch we chatted with Rick for awhile.  

We stopped by the Computer University to get all set up with the internet and we were assisted by the terrific folks who man the university.

We enjoyed lunch in the Crystal Dining Room.  We had our traditional Cobb Salad which we always enjoy on Embarkation Day.

We also toasted the start of this voyage with Flutes of Champagne.

We spoke with so many members of the Wait Staff Team including Head Waiters Igor, Tall Peter (Peter is tall), Giuseppe, and Franz and also Head Sommelier Bart, and many members of the wait staff.

Afterwards, we saw Head Waiter, Augusto, who will be our Head Waiter for this Voyage.  On Embarkation Day Augusto is at the Gangway to assist guest and this is a photo of Anne Marie with Augusto.

Throughout the afternoon we ran into other members of the Crystal team too many to mention here.

When we boarded the Crystal Serenity we had that wonderful feeling that we always do and that includes returning to our home away from home and seeing so many members of the wonderful Crystal Crew who we have known and traveled with for so many years.  Words cannot adequately describe the feeling that overcomes each of us.

We also ran into several other people we know including Golf Pro John Clark and his lovely wife Pauline, and Destination Lecturer Jay Wolff and his lovely wife as well as several guests we know from our previous sailings.  

After we arrived back to our room from lunch all of our luggage was already in our room and the timing was just perfect.

After we are all settled we will continue to make our way around the ship.  We have the Lifeboat Drill at 5:00 PM and then dinner at Prego at 6:00 PM.  We will post tomorrow about all of this.

We are so very excited to be back on Serenity.

Keith & Anne Marie