A LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY
VISIT TO HUATULCO✔ VOLUNTOURISM SHORE EXCURSION✔ FIFTIETH MILESTONE RECOGNITION DINNER✔
A few of you have asked about the needle point that Anne Marie is working on. On each voyage, Crystal Cruises gives out a needle point kit to anyone who would like one. She has made a variety of items including several change purses which we use on these adventures. On the daily program when at sea there are also needle point get-togethers for those who would like to sit together to work on their respective needlepoint kits.
Before dinner last evening we went to the aft area (back of the ship) on Deck 9 where the Manager of the Photo Studio was taking Ocean View Portraits. Another couple was in front of us, so while we were waiting Keith took this photo of Anne Marie.
Afterwards, we sat at the Crystal Cove to enjoy pianist Scott Mitchel. There are several lounges where one can sit to enjoy a drink in the evening. We took this photo of Anne Marie with Lido Deck Steward Jun.
Then Jun was so very kind to take this photo of the two of us.
We dined at the Crystal Dining Room for dinner for the second night in a row.
We began our meal as we always do with a nice salad.
Since we enjoyed the sea bass so much that we had the night before on French Night we asked if it would be available for last evening which it was. It was just as moist and as tasty as the night before.
Christian, our sommelier, prepared two different wines for us. One was a white wine from Austria and the other was a red wine from Bordeaux which he decanted for us for a little over ninety minutes. The red wine was a mix of Cabernet and Merlot.
For dessert, we each had fruit as Keith had a bowl of mixed berries and Anne Marie had a bowl of blueberries.
While we dine in the middle of the Dining Room it gives us excellent views of other portions of the room including being able to see out some of the Dining Room window along one of the sides of the room. Only about one hour before we dines we were having our portraits taken outside and visibility was terrific and about fifteen minutes into dinner it was quite foggy outside.
We had a very enjoyable time in the Dining Room. It was far less busy than the night before so there was much more opportunity to speak with the wait staff and our sommelier along with another sommelier, Jeri, who has been our sommelier on several voyages. Our sommelier, Christian, was originally scheduled to go on vacation in mid-December but due to a health situation of a family member the Sommelier who was supposed to take his place could not return until mid-January. Christian will be going home for a well deserved vacation before this current voyage ends from Puerto Vallarta. It was very important for him to be home for his son's 15 birthday and he will. Each time we discuss his son it brings a bright smile to his face. We always enjoy talking to the crew about their lives at home including their family. Many ask about our family and several see photos that we place on FaceBook so they know about our family. On a related note, Jiri, will take care of us for when Christian leaves to go home although Jiri is going home in Los Angeles but will return in March as will Christian.
When we returned home (well back to the room) there was an invitation about the on-board World Cruise Gala which will be held on the ship on the very night that the World Cruise Gala is held on land for all of the full World Cruisers. There will be cocktails at Pulse which is one of the many lounges on the ship at 6:30 PM and dinner will follow at Prego.
We also spoke to JiJo who is now a butler and who was our Senior Waiter for the past few years.
We slept very well again last evening as we sailed to Huatulco, Mexico. We enjoyed very smooth seas.
Our routine for this morning was the same for each morning since we boarded the ship.
Every few days, Keith does the laundry since there is rarely ever anyone in the Laundry Room at this time of day.
He then walked up three flights of steps to the Fitness Center. You are probably asking does his shoes glow in the dark.
Keith then enjoyed his daily morning workout on the Elliptical Machine for his morning workout. He watched two lectures on the Television Monitor. He took a couple of photos to show you the screen which was not easy because at first he stopped moving after a few second there was nothing on the screen but pause. So, then he tried to lower his resistance level and slow it down and take a photo but then the track came onto the screen right away.
So, he took a couple of photos while still exercising but obviously at a much lower RPM (revolutions per minute) rate since he was trying to go as slow as he could so as to not shake the camera, yet to have the lectures remain on. So, this is the best he could do but hopefully you get the idea.
Coming soon, Crystal Cruises is rolling out the ability to watch all of the lectures on our iPads and also the ability to watch 150 movies on demand.
After his workout and getting the laundry all done, he enjoyed coffee at the Lido Cafe. For most of the time that Keith was there, it was just him and the Lido Deck Stewards.
A short while later he brought coffee back to the room for Anne Marie and then she went for a one hour walk.
We enjoyed our usual breakfast and then we prepared for our visit to Huatulco, Mexico.
Today, marked our third visit to Huatulco with all stops taking place the past couple of years. Huatulco was added as a port stop for both Crystal Cruises and several other cruise lines when violence and other harmful acts were taking place in some of the other Mexican ports of call.
It is located close to 400 miles from Acapulco and is an absolutely beautiful resort island. The local area were the ship docks pretty itself with a nice beach right there along with lots of restaurants and shops and the entire area is very safe. For those crew are off, it is great for them as they have no travel time to be right at the beach. There are also many water activities.
When we first arrived to the pier we decided that we should take a photo of the photographers since they are always taking them of us.
There were several fish near the pier and this was one of them.
Typically, once a voyage Crystal Cruises offers on volunteer shore excursion at no cost to those guests who want to participate. It is known as voluntourism and provides a nice opportunity for guests to spend a few hours helping others in need of assistance and just is part of discovery. We signed up for the one in Huatulco which was appropriately called Crystal Voluntourism Adventure Arts and Crafts Workshop.
As part of our visit we were driven to Tangalunda where we saw that Arts & Craft display and workshop. This is supported by the Bacaanda Foundation. The foundation provides a lot of support for the surrounding areas including two dental clinics.
As part of our visit we saw first hand how the local people craft their pieces using a variety of natural and receded products. We also had the opportunity to lend a hand by painting some of the items.
Anne Marie working on her project.
This are our final products. You probably can guess who made what.
It was a wonderful experience. We gave a donation and also purchased some items to help out. They do great work for the people who are in need.
We arrived back to the ship at around 1:00 PM so we ordered salad entrees with Butler Vincinte that we enjoyed in the room.
In the afternoon, Keith played some paddle tennis while Anne Marie walked and we both read and wrote. The operative word was hot and humid but we do prefer that over the cold so all good new!
Keith met up with good friend Bob as well later in the afternoon.
This evening we are celebrating our 50th cruise milestone with a special on board recognition dinner. We will let you know all about that tomorrow.
A few of you have asked about the needle point that Anne Marie is working on. On each voyage, Crystal Cruises gives out a needle point kit to anyone who would like one. She has made a variety of items including several change purses which we use on these adventures. On the daily program when at sea there are also needle point get-togethers for those who would like to sit together to work on their respective needlepoint kits.
Before dinner last evening we went to the aft area (back of the ship) on Deck 9 where the Manager of the Photo Studio was taking Ocean View Portraits. Another couple was in front of us, so while we were waiting Keith took this photo of Anne Marie.
Afterwards, we sat at the Crystal Cove to enjoy pianist Scott Mitchel. There are several lounges where one can sit to enjoy a drink in the evening. We took this photo of Anne Marie with Lido Deck Steward Jun.
Then Jun was so very kind to take this photo of the two of us.
We dined at the Crystal Dining Room for dinner for the second night in a row.
We began our meal as we always do with a nice salad.
Since we enjoyed the sea bass so much that we had the night before on French Night we asked if it would be available for last evening which it was. It was just as moist and as tasty as the night before.
Christian, our sommelier, prepared two different wines for us. One was a white wine from Austria and the other was a red wine from Bordeaux which he decanted for us for a little over ninety minutes. The red wine was a mix of Cabernet and Merlot.
For dessert, we each had fruit as Keith had a bowl of mixed berries and Anne Marie had a bowl of blueberries.
While we dine in the middle of the Dining Room it gives us excellent views of other portions of the room including being able to see out some of the Dining Room window along one of the sides of the room. Only about one hour before we dines we were having our portraits taken outside and visibility was terrific and about fifteen minutes into dinner it was quite foggy outside.
We had a very enjoyable time in the Dining Room. It was far less busy than the night before so there was much more opportunity to speak with the wait staff and our sommelier along with another sommelier, Jeri, who has been our sommelier on several voyages. Our sommelier, Christian, was originally scheduled to go on vacation in mid-December but due to a health situation of a family member the Sommelier who was supposed to take his place could not return until mid-January. Christian will be going home for a well deserved vacation before this current voyage ends from Puerto Vallarta. It was very important for him to be home for his son's 15 birthday and he will. Each time we discuss his son it brings a bright smile to his face. We always enjoy talking to the crew about their lives at home including their family. Many ask about our family and several see photos that we place on FaceBook so they know about our family. On a related note, Jiri, will take care of us for when Christian leaves to go home although Jiri is going home in Los Angeles but will return in March as will Christian.
When we returned home (well back to the room) there was an invitation about the on-board World Cruise Gala which will be held on the ship on the very night that the World Cruise Gala is held on land for all of the full World Cruisers. There will be cocktails at Pulse which is one of the many lounges on the ship at 6:30 PM and dinner will follow at Prego.
We also spoke to JiJo who is now a butler and who was our Senior Waiter for the past few years.
We slept very well again last evening as we sailed to Huatulco, Mexico. We enjoyed very smooth seas.
Our routine for this morning was the same for each morning since we boarded the ship.
Every few days, Keith does the laundry since there is rarely ever anyone in the Laundry Room at this time of day.
He then walked up three flights of steps to the Fitness Center. You are probably asking does his shoes glow in the dark.
Keith then enjoyed his daily morning workout on the Elliptical Machine for his morning workout. He watched two lectures on the Television Monitor. He took a couple of photos to show you the screen which was not easy because at first he stopped moving after a few second there was nothing on the screen but pause. So, then he tried to lower his resistance level and slow it down and take a photo but then the track came onto the screen right away.
So, he took a couple of photos while still exercising but obviously at a much lower RPM (revolutions per minute) rate since he was trying to go as slow as he could so as to not shake the camera, yet to have the lectures remain on. So, this is the best he could do but hopefully you get the idea.
Coming soon, Crystal Cruises is rolling out the ability to watch all of the lectures on our iPads and also the ability to watch 150 movies on demand.
After his workout and getting the laundry all done, he enjoyed coffee at the Lido Cafe. For most of the time that Keith was there, it was just him and the Lido Deck Stewards.
A short while later he brought coffee back to the room for Anne Marie and then she went for a one hour walk.
We enjoyed our usual breakfast and then we prepared for our visit to Huatulco, Mexico.
Today, marked our third visit to Huatulco with all stops taking place the past couple of years. Huatulco was added as a port stop for both Crystal Cruises and several other cruise lines when violence and other harmful acts were taking place in some of the other Mexican ports of call.
It is located close to 400 miles from Acapulco and is an absolutely beautiful resort island. The local area were the ship docks pretty itself with a nice beach right there along with lots of restaurants and shops and the entire area is very safe. For those crew are off, it is great for them as they have no travel time to be right at the beach. There are also many water activities.
When we first arrived to the pier we decided that we should take a photo of the photographers since they are always taking them of us.
There were several fish near the pier and this was one of them.
Typically, once a voyage Crystal Cruises offers on volunteer shore excursion at no cost to those guests who want to participate. It is known as voluntourism and provides a nice opportunity for guests to spend a few hours helping others in need of assistance and just is part of discovery. We signed up for the one in Huatulco which was appropriately called Crystal Voluntourism Adventure Arts and Crafts Workshop.
As part of our visit we were driven to Tangalunda where we saw that Arts & Craft display and workshop. This is supported by the Bacaanda Foundation. The foundation provides a lot of support for the surrounding areas including two dental clinics.
The next two photos show items that have been made here. The items in the first photo are for sale. Those items in the second photo which is Noah's Ark are not for sale.
As part of our visit we saw first hand how the local people craft their pieces using a variety of natural and receded products. We also had the opportunity to lend a hand by painting some of the items.
Anne Marie working on her project.
This are our final products. You probably can guess who made what.
It was a wonderful experience. We gave a donation and also purchased some items to help out. They do great work for the people who are in need.
We arrived back to the ship at around 1:00 PM so we ordered salad entrees with Butler Vincinte that we enjoyed in the room.
In the afternoon, Keith played some paddle tennis while Anne Marie walked and we both read and wrote. The operative word was hot and humid but we do prefer that over the cold so all good new!
Keith met up with good friend Bob as well later in the afternoon.
This evening we are celebrating our 50th cruise milestone with a special on board recognition dinner. We will let you know all about that tomorrow.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY............
“It takes many good deeds to build a reputation, and only
one bad one to lose it.” – Benjamin Franklin
Keith & Anne Marie
What a fun day! Love to see you both crafting, especially Dad!
ReplyDeleteGreat program ... something all cruise lines should consider offering.
ReplyDelete