Shortly after our last post yesterday we arrived to Yokohama, Japan.
Unfortunately, Keith was still under the weather and not feeling as well as last night so we decided it was not wise to go into the city yesterday afternoon. On top of not feeling too well he had gotten very little sleep the night before from the howling of the wind.
There was some snow on the ground but it was sunny with little wind and the high around low 50's F.
While watching our arrival into port we were having lunch at the Lido Cafe. We actually arrived into port earlier than the original schedule, so they opened the Lido Cafe earlier than normal so people could get a start into port. Some excursions were offered today and many people were going to explore on their own.
When we returned to the room, we received some information on some additional tours that have been added to the schedule resulting from the removal of Bangkok from the itinerary due to safety concerns and the addition of another overnight in Ho Chi Minh City as well as a couple of other related changes. We also received our new guest identification/key card fro this segment of the cruise.
When we returned to the room, we received some information on some additional tours that have been added to the schedule resulting from the removal of Bangkok from the itinerary due to safety concerns and the addition of another overnight in Ho Chi Minh City as well as a couple of other related changes. We also received our new guest identification/key card fro this segment of the cruise.
Keith rested the entire afternoon in the room and when Rao came by with our fruit he asked if Keith would like some tea. He made a special tea for Keith that includes a mixtures of many different teas along with several other ingredients and Keith found this to be very soothing.
Anne Marie finished another needlepoint kit while Keith rested.
Before dinner we sat at the Crystal Plaza and eventually good friends Johns and Linda sat with us. It was quite busy as several local people were on board the ship.
We posed with Louisa from Shore Excursions.
We asked Max to join in for a photo.
We dined at the Crystal Dining Room last evening and will be there for two additional consecutive nights.
We posed with Louisa from Shore Excursions.
We asked Max to join in for a photo.
We dined at the Crystal Dining Room last evening and will be there for two additional consecutive nights.
We asked Rao to order a couple of items with Head Waiter Bojan which were not on the menu for the evening but are on the menu from time to time. This included Matzah Ball Soup as well as Kosher Chicken as these are items that we might have if someone is not feeling so well or of course on any occasion.
We began with our salads and then we had the Matzah Ball soup which we both enjoyed.
We began with our salads and then we had the Matzah Ball soup which we both enjoyed.
We then had Chicken for our entree which Bojan carved for us table side. We ordered several sides including Baked Potato for Keith, Mashed Potatoes for Anne Marie, along with Asparagus and Peas and Bojan had pre-ordered us some Grilled Vegetables.
The food was terrific. For dessert, Keith had some fruit and Anne Marie had a Sugar Free Mango Ricotta Budino which we both thought tasted delicious.
We spoke with Maitre d' Leo (an Austrian won a Gold Medal in the Olympics so we heard all about that), and we chatted with Head Waiter, Bojan, Waiter Nenad and Senior Waiter, Ayan. The dining room was fairly full but was not loud and service was great.
The food was terrific. For dessert, Keith had some fruit and Anne Marie had a Sugar Free Mango Ricotta Budino which we both thought tasted delicious.
We spoke with Maitre d' Leo (an Austrian won a Gold Medal in the Olympics so we heard all about that), and we chatted with Head Waiter, Bojan, Waiter Nenad and Senior Waiter, Ayan. The dining room was fairly full but was not loud and service was great.
We did not attend but wanted to note that Cruise Director Rick with the help of the entertainment team revised the evening program taking into account that the production show starring Jonathan Kane had to be cancelled due to the rough sea conditions. As such, last evening, the Local Show featuring local musicians was held at 7:45 PM as one show only and then at 10:15 PM the Production show called Rocket Man which is a tribute to Elton John was performed by Jonathan Kane and also features the Crystal Ensemble of Singers and Dancers. It was so nice that both shows could be offered. We look forward to attending the next performance of Rocket Man as well as the next local show that is brought onto the ship as we sail this area of the world.
Keith slept much better last night as there was no howling of the wind and he needed the sleep. Anne Marie slept well too. Keith actually slept about ninety minutes later than he normally does and felt a little better.
He returned to the Fitness Center for an abbreviated workout. As part of his regular routine he stopped by the Lid Cafe for coffee, spoke with some of the Lido Deck Stewards and brought some coffee back to the room for Anne Marie.
Anne Marie walked for an hour and then we had breakfast in our room. Keith had asked Rao if he could make the same tea this morning that he brought for him yesterday afternoon. Rao did and added two additional ingredients, ginger and garlic, which he didn't have at the butler's galley when he made the tea yesterday. The tea is a combination of several types of tea and then he added some sliced apples and juice from an Orange and bolded it all together. We really appreciate Rao doing this for us.
We wanted to note that today marks the end of the first segment of the World Cruise. We traveled from Los Angeles, California to Yokohama, Japan and we traveled a distance of 7,993 nautical miles or the equivalent of approximately 9,191 land miles. We believe somewhere around 275 guests will disembark today and about the same number will embark. This was a great first segment of the World Cruise with lots of sea days and some nice ports and lots of great enrichment and entertainment. We met many nice guests not only those who are on for the full World Cruise but others who were on for the first segment only.
Our original plan was to take a train into Tokyo. Keith has been to Tokyo before on business but Anne Marie has not been to downtown Tokyo before. However, with Keith still under the weather we decided it best to just explore the nearby area of Yokohama which is Japan's second largest city in terms of population. Yokohama is located on the Tokyo Bay and is located South of Tokyo. It is Japan's largest international port and actually many foreigners live there and it boasts a very large Chinatown.
We walked off the ship in the morning and the temperature was around 45 degrees fahrenheit. We used the map provided by Crystal Cruises to assist us during our walk and we also received a map from one of the local information representatives.
We both dresses for the cooler weather and it became a little windy when as we continued our walk so we felt that we dressed well. We had our hats and glove on along with our North Face Jackets and a Fleece and we each used our hiking shoes. There was snow on the ground and some sidewalks needed to be shoveled.
We walked over to China Town. There are two entrances to the area. After we walked over to the first entrance and into China Town we walked back the same way we entered the area and then went over to the other entrance. As those of you know who have visited Japan and we know from the past it is very orderly and very well organized and people are very friendly and courteous and that was the case on our walk this morning.
During our walk we visited a couple of parks and we stopped by the Statue Of The Protectorate/God Of Water.
We walked by the Yokohama Stadium which is a baseball stadium. As many know, baseball is very popular in Japan.
We were not the only people who were dressed for the cooler weather.
We walked for over ninety minutes. We also stopped off at a couple of different stores and other little places such as a candy store just to admire the various local items.
After returning to the ship, we read and wrote and spoke with some fellow guests and members of the crew.
We decided to have lunch at the Crystal Dining Room. It was not very crowded. We think part of the reason is that some of the guest embarking might be delayed as we understood that because of the snow it was challenging to get from Tokyo to Yokohama and it appeared that the best alternative was the train. We spoke with Maitre d' Leo, Head Waiters Bojan and Tall Peter and Food & Beverage Manager Norbert came by.
We each ordered a Chicken Broth Soup with Profiterole and a Tuna Chopped Salad.
Shortly after lunch we ventured off the ship and made our way back to a different area of the city.
We first walked over to the NYK Maritime Museum. NYK is the owner of Crystal Cruises.
We made our way over to the Yokohama Cosmoworld.
We then visited the Yokohama World Porters and inside was a shopping mall.
The Japanese are still formal in dress.
A view of some of the nearby buildings from the mall.
Next stop was an outdoor ice skating rink.
We then made our easy over to the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. These are former warehouse buildings that are now home to a wide range of stores and restaurants. We plan to revisit this area tomorrow.
Young children from around the world are always cute. These two were adorable.
With our home in sight, we walked over to the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal and back home to the Crystal Serenity and our room.
Between our two walks we ended up walking three hours and around ten miles. While we didn't make it to Tokyo, we had a lovely day in Yokohama.
This evening we will dine again at the Crystal Dining Room and will post about that tomorrow.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY………...
We walked off the ship in the morning and the temperature was around 45 degrees fahrenheit. We used the map provided by Crystal Cruises to assist us during our walk and we also received a map from one of the local information representatives.
We both dresses for the cooler weather and it became a little windy when as we continued our walk so we felt that we dressed well. We had our hats and glove on along with our North Face Jackets and a Fleece and we each used our hiking shoes. There was snow on the ground and some sidewalks needed to be shoveled.
We walked over to China Town. There are two entrances to the area. After we walked over to the first entrance and into China Town we walked back the same way we entered the area and then went over to the other entrance. As those of you know who have visited Japan and we know from the past it is very orderly and very well organized and people are very friendly and courteous and that was the case on our walk this morning.
During our walk we visited a couple of parks and we stopped by the Statue Of The Protectorate/God Of Water.
We walked by the Yokohama Stadium which is a baseball stadium. As many know, baseball is very popular in Japan.
We were not the only people who were dressed for the cooler weather.
We walked for over ninety minutes. We also stopped off at a couple of different stores and other little places such as a candy store just to admire the various local items.
After returning to the ship, we read and wrote and spoke with some fellow guests and members of the crew.
We decided to have lunch at the Crystal Dining Room. It was not very crowded. We think part of the reason is that some of the guest embarking might be delayed as we understood that because of the snow it was challenging to get from Tokyo to Yokohama and it appeared that the best alternative was the train. We spoke with Maitre d' Leo, Head Waiters Bojan and Tall Peter and Food & Beverage Manager Norbert came by.
We each ordered a Chicken Broth Soup with Profiterole and a Tuna Chopped Salad.
Shortly after lunch we ventured off the ship and made our way back to a different area of the city.
We first walked over to the NYK Maritime Museum. NYK is the owner of Crystal Cruises.
We made our way over to the Yokohama Cosmoworld.
We then visited the Yokohama World Porters and inside was a shopping mall.
The Japanese are still formal in dress.
A view of some of the nearby buildings from the mall.
We then made our easy over to the Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse. These are former warehouse buildings that are now home to a wide range of stores and restaurants. We plan to revisit this area tomorrow.
Young children from around the world are always cute. These two were adorable.
This evening we will dine again at the Crystal Dining Room and will post about that tomorrow.
TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY………...
"In the end the love you take, is equal to the love you make." - Paul McCartney
"The Beatles created something that never trailed off. What a gift that was to their fans. If you're into the Beatles, you loved them from the beginning." - Jerry Seinfeld
"I will never forget watching the Beatles with my family on our Black & White TV performing on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was my introduction to Rock N' Roll Music and my love for their music. There they were George, Paul and George and Ringo. It does only seem like yesterday." - Keith
Keith & Anne Marie
You missed a fabulous CBS special on the 50th anniversary of the Beatles last night (Sun). I hope somebody recorded it for you. I kinda doubt that it would still be available on demand by the time you get home. A superb lineup of guest musicians; vintage video footage & interviews w/ a lot of women who squealed & cried all the way through the 60's. Lots of fun & great memories.....really got the juices flowing.
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