DAY 57 - DAY FORTY NINE ON THE CRYSTAL SERENITY -

As many times as we have visited Hong Kong we still cannot get over the number of people on the streets, the quantity and variety of stores, and the number of people who shop.  It has the feel of Christmas shopping.  Within a five block radius there are seven Rolex Stores.  There are lines of people waiting to get into Cartier, and the same was Chanel.  Maybe this is where they got the saying shop until you drop.  

As you walk up and down the streets you constantly hear "copy watch", "purses", "tailor", "suits", etc.  

It's a very lively and vibrant city and certainly there is also much to see in the way of tourism and there are many fine restaurants and hotels.  

Last evening we attended the first of two shoreside World Cruise events.  The second one will be held in Singapore.  We were taken by bus to The Aberdeen Marina Club which is located on Hong Kong Island.  Drinks, Cold and Hot Canapés as well as Dessert, Coffee and Tea were served.  The suggested attire was Elegant Casual.

The outside weather was nice.  We walked from the ship through the terminal to a different area outside where the buses were waiting for us.  

This was our table.  Number 13 is a lucky Chinese Number so that was good.  The boxes were gifts for each of us.

Cruise Director Rick Spath

The Executive of Hong Kong Tourism who sat at our table.

Captain Birger who also sat at our table.

One of the Dragons.

These are two views from the back of the venue.  The views were spectacular and we are sorry we could not capture them with the camera.  In the back of the venue there is also the largest restaurant in the world which is not affiliated with the club.

The drive to the venue took around one hour due to heavy traffic, but the time went quickly as the tour guide we had was not only very informative but was so very funny.  She taught us some Chinese both what is spoken in Hong Kong as well as a couple of the languages spoken in Mainland China.  One word with just a small change in tone can have three distance meanings.  We also learned that the number 4 is unlucky so we asked her why were we on bus number 4.  But, since we learned that the number 13 is lucky were were happy to be seated at table 13. She told us that some building do not name floors that have a four in them similar to in the USA many multi-floor complexes skipping 13.  

The venue was absolutely beautiful from the time we entered it and then walked up about 35 steps (elevators were available for those who could not walk the steps.  The venue was beautiful with several chandeliers from the ceiling and the tables were decorated beautifully as well.  All of this just  made for a very special evening.

We enjoyed the people at our table which included friends Judy and Jim who Anne Marie first met in the laundry room in 2007 and whom we have sailed on four different world cruises with.  They sat right next to Anne Marie and to the left of Keith was someone who we first met in 2007 and who became a widow in 2009 and has continued to sail on each World Cruise, including all the ones we have sailed with.   Captain Birger was also seated at our table along with the Executive Director of Hong Kong Tourism.  It was a fun table.  

The entertainment included a LED Dragon Dance, a Chinese Drum Show, a Children Opera Show, a Peacock Dance and a Face Changing Show.  The costumes were beautiful and so was the dance and song.  The children opera show featured children of school age and they were adorable in their costumes.  

The menu included the following samplers:  

Deep fried Dim sum.

Steamed Dim sum

Assorted meat

Wonton soup with a tasty broth

Fried Rice Yeung Chow

Red Bean Cream

Chinese Petits Fours

A white and a red wine were served as well as beverages such as juices and sodas and of course water.

These are the gifts that we received last night.

The Chinese Year of the Horse.

The drive back to the ship took less than 30 minutes.  The tour guide who we used for our private tour both this time around and in 2012 was the guide on that bus so we spoke with him a few times.  

When we arrived to the ship, Hotel Director Josef was at the entranceway to welcome us back on the ship.  He had been at the venue as well.  Other members of the crew were at the entranceway offering both cold towels for us as well as flutes of Champagne.  There was also a buffet set up for us.

We each took some salad and also a Monte Christo sandwich and there were other sandwiches available, vegetables, and meat items such as beef that was being sliced.  There was also a nice dessert table.

Waiters were available to take our plates and to seat us in the dining room.  One of the Head Waiters, Frantz, who just returned to the ship from Holiday came up to greet us.  As Frantz said, for him it was like returning back to family.  Our sommelier was there and he stopped by to speak with us too.  It was a very nice way to finish up the evening.

We often talk about making memories which will last a lifetime and last night was one of those memories.  In fact, on the drive back to the ship we both spoke about the wonderful shoreside events and experiences we have had including in 2007 three evenings including being at a ranch in the wine valley in Chile, attending the first group event at night at Pompeii, and attending an event in a beautiful venue in Athens when we danced to Greek Music in a circle with several guests and some of the Crystal Executives from Los Angeles.  In 2008 we had a special evening in Sydney and a very old venue was secured near the Vatican in Rome where we enjoyed a beautiful dinner and also beautiful song and dance.  Our daughter and son in law were on that segment of the World Cruise and were allowed to attend with us as well.  2010 featured a special event at the race track in Abu Dhabi and one of the most memorable events was outside Jerusalem in very historic caves featuring not only a very special cocktail event but when the curtains opened we were escorted into another area of the cave with tables that were set as beautiful as we have ever seen with food served family style and lots of local dancing and music.  We were the last group allowed in that venue. In 2012 we had two other very special events and last year we attended what was the history of Tango in Buenos Aires and we went to a very special winery in the Casablanca Wine Region of Chile.  

After a very fun evening, we slept very well as we continued to remain docked at Ocean Terminal.  Keith woke a tad later than normal, so he did not work out but instead put up a wash and went to the Lido Cafe for some coffee. The same team of Lido Deck Stewards from the last cruise is working the Cafe for breakfast so he spoke with some of them including Ross, Joe and Benjamin.

As he was getting ready to leave he brought coffee back to the room for Anne Marie.  Since we planned to walk in the morning off the ship we didn't walk on the ship as we have been doing. Instead, we got ready for breakfast which once again we had earlier than normal.

Rao setting up our breakfast.

Shortly after breakfast we walked off the ship to enjoy our last full day in Hong Kong.

We really enjoyed ourselves as we walked around today. The weather was the best we have ever had in all our visits to Hong Kong.  The skies were blue, no fog or pollution, very few clouds and the temperature was very nice.

We first walked to the Jade Market as a destination.  There we saw some guys playing basketball right next to the market and then we walked the market.  We made one purchase which is a gift for our hairdresser at home as she wanted always wanted a jade bracelet.

We then walked through one of the downtown markets which we have visited before which feature fruits and vegetables, seafood and meat and also they sell in some spots clothing.  There were lots of locals there in the morning.

We then worked our way up and down various streets and we stopped on occasion at some stores just to look around.  We went into a few department stores which was amazing.

We then spend about 45 minutes walking Ocean Terminal.  There are hundreds of stores there, many of which are very high end. We saw some fellow guests and crewmembers.

This has been a great few days for everyone.  We had the best weather since first arriving to Japan and then Shanghai, China and the overnights allow one to really enjoy the city without the pressure of having to run back to the ship.  They are also great for the crew because this one does not involve shuttle buses.  If you only have an hour you can see things if you are a member of the crew and at night after they are off you can either walk to places or take a taxi for a relatively low price.  If you are looking for something there are obviously lots of shopping choices.  The city always seems very safe but like any city be observant.

As to tourism about 70% of the tourists visit Hong Kong from Mainland China.  The remaining top five countries with the most tourists visiting Hong Kong are from the United States,  Taiwan, Korea and Japan followed by the United Kingdom.

 Views as we began our walk.

Guys playing hoops right adjacent to the Jade Market

One of many rows of tables where people sell all sorts of Jade.

Nice looking sweet rolls.

We had lunch back on the ship and we dined at the Lido Cafe.  It was very quiet.  We saw Elaine and her daughter Janice.  Janice was getting ready to leave the ship as she will be returning home.

In the afternoon, Anne Marie walked for one hour outside on the Promenade Deck.  

Keith played Paddle Tennis for the very first time since not only his Medical incident but a few days before that it was too cold to play.  He had a great time and felt as if he had not missed a beat.  One of the people he played with is someone that Keith last saw on the 2011 World Cruise and also on the 2010 World Cruise. He is from Brazil and comes on with his children and grandchildren around this time of the year since they are still out of school.  Tomorrow is a sea day so hopefully there will be more tennis to play.  Afternoon temperatures were a delight.

Keith also met up with friend Bob later in the afternoon.

This evening we have a mandatory Lifeboat drill for all guests regardless of when one joined the ship.

We will dine at the Crystal Dining Room.

We also have a Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle Party.

TODAY'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY…...

"Travel is very subjective.  What one person loves, another loathes."  - Robin Leach

Keith & Anne Marie