Monday, January 30, 2012

Well today has been another glorious day at sea.  I ate so much celery today.  We went to a lecture by Bruce McGill he is the actor on board and he did Shakespere let me tell you that man has talent and it is not utilized on TV!  after that we went up to the Palm Court.  The Palm Court is our favorite place on the ship it is at the very top in the front all windows and has trees growing in the middle.  This is where they have the high tea ever day and where they have the cocktail parties.  We crossed the Equator the other night so today they had a mid-day, mid-earth celebration there.  Not as funny as when they throw all the pollywogs into the pool but it was cute.  Did I mention that I was eating a lot of celery?  Did I happen to mention that they were in all the bloody mary’s I had?  Anyway after lunch I came back to the room to do some laundry (waiting for one load to finish drying and the other to finish washing so I can go to my memoir writing class can’t wait to see Joe’s comment on my last assignment.  Hey this is work it is like being in school.  Last night Augusto our head waiter came over and placed Bill’s napkin on around his neck.  “I have made you a special pasta he said.”  I don’t know why I asked Chetlan please make sure it does not have sea food in it.  Sure enough it had lobster.  Augusto was so upset he didn’t know I had this allergy.  So Bill had the cream of butternut squash soup instead.  I skipped soup or salad or pasta and just had the roast beef and mashed potatoes and string beans.  They had another early show last night he was a comedian, juggler and he was pretty good.  Tonight there is a magician.  Not sure if we will make that one or not.  Anyway I will post pictures .  We will lose a day tomorrow as we cross the International Dateline tonight and we go right to February 1st,  I told Rick, the cruise director, I wanted a rebate if I was losing a day he assured me that we will get it back on the way home we will have two April 6ths.  Kinda like the movie Groundhog Day.

Boy this memoir writing class is intense  I haven’t seen such red marks on a paper in a long time.  Tomorrow there is no class some people have not not written anything yet, me I have done two drafts and keep adding pages.  He loves my story he says its funny and you want to keep reading to find out what else is going to happen to me.  

We have just had another meeting with James he is the shore excursion manager and he is working on a side trip to Toyko for us.  They found the Datsun museum and also a Nissan Motor museum  Bill is in his glory!  We will be in New Caledonia and we did have a tour planned but we are going to cancel as it will interefere with Superbowl so I will just walk around myself for a little while.  No biggie I know that Bill want to see the game.  I am so happy about them having the Datsun museum he can go to.    Well we could not get into our cabin it just kept making a noise like a vacuum even I could hear it.  So  Here I am after class walking aorund with my clean underwear in my tote bag got back to the room and Security was there they had to change the lock and give us new keys.  Well folks I have to get ready for the show I hope you all enjoy Jan 31st we aren’t having it

here are some pictures from today’s party and Bill last night at dinner.  I am with Elise she is the World Cruise Hostess and David he is also entertainmet.

Bill with napkin tucked in byAugusto 

Sunday January 29, 2012
Wow we have been so busy.  My memoir writing class is coming along.  Joe Kita who is a published journalist and has written 3 memoirs is the teacher.  He read the  start of mine and told me I needed to expand more, more details and descriptions.  Are you hearing this Chris, Melissa and Luke who never listen to my messages just call back because they say "you go on and on".  There are 3 lectures each day and the last two days have just been packed with even more stuff to do.  Today there was a fashion show from Hubert the Jeweler( he designed my emerald pendant) I also got my black pearls from him,  Unfortunately it was at the same time as Memoir writing so I did not go.  The other day was the Grand Gala Buffet and I will post a few pictures.  Last night was a formal night sorry no pictures.  We had a cocktail party before for the Crystal Society members.  These are the people who have sailed with Crystal before they honor you when you hit a milestone.  One lady who is always on just hit her 220th cruise!  She just about lives on the ship!  Dinner was the french dinner.  Onion soup and I had Veal Cordon Blue, Bill had Rack of Lamb!  And for desserts they had the Grand marnier souffles.  Now note to self.  2 grey goose dirty martinis is at least 1 to many.  By the time we got to the dining room I was swaying of course our waiter and senior waiter said it was not me it was the ship!  So they poured all this Grand Marnier into the souffle.  The show was a headliner from Las Vegas who sounded just like Nat King Cole and sang all his songs.  He was wonderful.  Tonight will be a comedian.  Today is a casual day. Every other day we get a letter from the World Cruise Hostess Elise Ivey.  I want that girl's enthusiam and energy. Today she meet with us and I have an appointment with her tomorrow.  They want to know what they can do to make your cruise experience better.  I did tell her I hate the new chocolate covered dried apples!  What to my wonderous eyes should appear last night.  Real chocolate truffles~!!!!!!!  As I write this I have finished my 6th book and have taken out one from library a memoir.  Will have to read a few of these to get the hint.  Actually Joe loved my title and thought what I wrote so far was really good and funny just needed more description.  So I am editing this and trying to inject more descriptions into it.  Bill has finally finished the book he took with us like 4 cruises ago.  yeah Bill.
We crossed the equator last night around 10pm so no party but they are having a mid-day mid-earth party tomorrow.  When I came back from my class in our mailbox was an invitation for cocktails in the Capain's quarters on Wednesday more to follow.  Will I will upload a couple of pictures from the gala buffet and then get ready for dinner.
Good night and God bless

Thanks for the comments I at least know 4 of you are reading this and just so you know there is a counter on there telling me how many read it.

Wow another great day at sea and my second memoir writing class.  I have already written the start of one chapter and beware I am naming names.  They will not be changed to protect the innocent!  Since none of you are innocent!  Really enjoying this class hopefully I will learn a lot. This afternoon was the Grand Gala Buffet and I took some pictures but they did not come out well at all so you are saved.    Tonight our head waiter Augusto made us a special pasta again.  This one was just as good as the one the other night.  Cheltan our senior waiter is from India and he just rejoined the ship in LA after his long break.  He said it was hard this time as he is leaving behind his wife and a 2 month old little girl in India.  Our waiter is Javier he is from Spain and the first time he has ever worked on a cruise ship.  He also joined the ship in LA and he is the best waiter (bus boy) I think we have ever had.  He is just so sweet and accommodating.  Cheltan knows I like chocolate not good he finds me some all the time now.  After our pasta I had the filet mignon it had to be at least 10 ounces I ate 1/3 of it and Bill had a taste and there still was  a lot left.  Then Augusto had them make us chocolate souffles for dessert.  With chocolate sauce of course.  I could not even finish it.  I know what is happening to me.  Cheltan came over and said he had two more for us I said I'll have it for breakfast now I am afraid to see him in the am he might just take me up on that.  I am so stuffed and there is no show tonight.  There was one show earlier and to be honest we forgot to go!  Well we went into the casino and picked out our squares for the superbowl!
As I said earlier we gain another hour tonight we have gained 4 hours since we left Arizona and all I can think about is the return trip when we have to give all this back.  Well Bill is in the cigar lounge and I am going to read my 5th book since I boarded the ship on the 18th.  ALL THIS RELAXING IS EXHAUSTING!
So Good Night and God Bless

Yesterday was the first of 7 sea days and there was so much to do that Bill missed his first class on the IPAD oh well.  Thank goodness Elise Ivey the world cruise hostess stopped and spoke to us yesterday and said that they were going to repeat the classes.  I started a class that I will be taking every sea day it is called Memoir Writing.  So watch out all I am naming names.  Today is just as busy we have an appointment to meet with James he is the Excursion Manager and we are working up something to go to Tokyo when we are in Japan. There is a the class on the IPAD then the Grand Gala Buffet and then my memoir writing.  Wow I need a vacation!

Last night was an informal night on the ship and my favorite meal wiener schnitzel,  it was excellent as usual.  For dessert Augusto made us crepes suzette and our head waiter Cheltan insisted that we have some of the bread pudding with vanilla sauce and caramel ice cream.  So I told them they needed to get a hand truck to deliver me to my cabin.  I went to the show and Bill went for his cigar.  I have seen this show before but still enjoy going.  Tonight we will put our clocks back another hour so we will be 6 hours behind New York and 4 hours behind AZ.

Well lots to do and so little time.  Here are a couple of pictures I took yesterday.

Crepes Suzette

Bread Pudding with Vanilla sauce and carmel ice cream

Bill and I outside dining room

Wednesday January 25, 2012 Maui Hawaii

The pictures are from last's night party, luau.  They were passing out Mai Ties I had one and Pina Coladas.  (I had a couple of those) slept very well.

We spent the day today in Maui.  We tendered in and walked around.  We have been here many times before therefore we did not do a tour.  We walked up and down the main street actually looking for a place for free internet so that we could skype with the kids but none to be found.  We even stopped at two different visitor informations and nothing so after about 2 hours we were headed back to the ship and ran into Keith and AnneMarie carrying Safeway bags so we asked them where the Safeway was as I needed to get some innersoles for a new pair of shoes that are a little big.  It was a distance and since I had already walked up and down Front Street we took a taxi and the driver waited for us.  Got some other items also and we headed back to the ship.

As we arrived at the tender it was waiting for us and we got back on board and decided to have lunch in the dining room.  One of the tours that people took today was Whale watching.  Well as we were eating our fabulous lunch right out the window the Whales were jumping and playing.  Unfortunately, we had already put the camera in the room.  After lunch we came back to the room and called Chris’ family.  All three kids are sick as well as Melissa so it wouldn’t have worked to skype anyway.  Please get better soon!  I then spoke with Dorothy as I called her earlier and she wasn’t home so she returned the call..  I then called Marrianne and Gerry.  Marrianne sounded awful she has pnuemoia.  Tomorrow Thursday is Gerry’s birthday so Happy Birthday to you Gerry.  After all this I was exhausted and headed for my nap Bill to the cigar lounge.

We did not get to bed till very late last night.  They had an Hawaiian Luau last night up on deck and those of you who love fish and sea food would have loved it.  Macadamia nut crusted shrimp, Mahi Mahi, ahi tuna, lobster tails, as well as filet mignon, lamb, chicken and more.  Our waiter from the dining room was working up there and he went to get us dessert Pineapple Fritters and a chocolate macademia nut cake. Outstanding!  my grandmother use to make apple fritters for dessert and corn or aspargas fritters for a side dish these were really really good and the chocolate sauce that accompanied them was great. One of the other waiters who we know since 2004 came running over with Tapioca for us.  After dinner they had hula dancers and fire dancers.   The show did not end until almost midnight when we set sail for Maui.  It was a wonderful night under the warm stars.

We both slept well.  Tonight there is one show a violinist and I don’t think we will go.  I have read two books and downloaded two more at the apple store. 

Augusto is making us a special pasta that he made for us the last time.  I don’t remember it hell I am not remembering much lately Im on vacation!!!!!!  We will be at sea for seven days until our next port of call.  

Today was a somber day.  We visited the USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor).  They show a movie about what led up to us being attacked and it was quite sad.  Then you board a boat and they take you right over to the memorial itself.  You can still smell oil.  Bill asked and they said that it is still leaking 4-5 quarts a day and it has been 70 years but it never seemed right to disturb it since it is a cemetery for 1100+ men.  It made you realize what our parents went through and the comparison to 9/11 was startling.  Japan attacked the US over oil the film says.  We put am embargo on Japan because they were invading China and the rest of the Pacific and they were too proud to back down so they attacked us.  Wow where have I heard about other wars over oil?

After this we had a bus trip around Honolulu first we went to the Punchbowl National Cemetery but we didn't get out of the bus.  Next onto China town, Captial building and supreme court.  We were back at the ship in time for lunch and quick call to the grandkids.  Tomorrow we will be in Maui and we intend to find a place with wifi so we can either skype or face time!  Miss them all  We spoke with Chris, Melissa and Luke yesterday after our trip to Apple!
Tonight there is an Hawaiian Luau up on deck and that at 9:30 they will have dancers for us.  We set sail from Honolulu at midnight for our next port of call  Maui.

Well Captain Glen has a thought of the day we were gone early this morning and did not hear it but yesterdays was kind of cute.
"If you don't know where you are going you will wind up somewhere else"
So off to the Luau we go and I will post either later tonight or tomorrow.
Good night and God Bless

 Bill with Bruce McGill

 View from our Veranda as we sailed into Honolulu

 Honolulu from our Veranda

Well we had another great day aboard the ship.  We started to see land around 2pm ut we were just drifting.  We docked at 4pm and were off the ship in no time.  Got on the 1st shuttle bus to get to the Apple Store.  We spend 2 1/2 hours there where they set up Bill's IPAD and synched my IPAD, IPHONE and IMAC all together so now all my contacts are on each and my calendars.....  We then walked around the mall a little and took the shuttle back to the ship.

Tomorrow we have a tour of the USArizona (Pearl Harbor) and Punchbowl cemetery as well as a tour around the city of Honolulu. More on that tomorrow.

This afternoon Bruce McGill gave a great lecture on being a character actor.  Bruce has starred in over 140 movies.  He was in Animal House, My cousin Vinny (sheriff) Runaway Jury (Judge) .  He explained how he and his wife were at LAX and a women kept starring and pointing at him when he boarded the plane the flight attendant came over and said" A passenger in the back thinks you are someone important, are you?  He was funny and posed for a picture with Bill.

Bill and I have been playing backgammon and I know Elaine asked.  We have played 8 games and so far the score is
Celeste 6  Bill 2.  The Maitre D Leo loves backgammon and wants   to play us.  I told him Bill would love to play and he needs the practice.  Bill keeps saying I have Elaine's luck.  Can't help it if I am a better player than he is.  Anyway enough for today we have an early early morning wake up 6:30am.  Tomorrow evening they are having a Hawaiian luau upstairs by the pool and at 9:30 local entertainment will be on.  We set sail at midnight for Maui.  Right now we are 5 hours behind NY, 3 hours behind AZ.
So more tomorrow.  If you want to comment you need to go to where it says comment and click on it.  If you do not have a google (gmail account) you can still go in as annonymous but please sign so I know who is saying what.  Thanks
Good night and God Bless.

Today was another splendid day at sea.  The weather is warming up nicely.  We had breakfast outside on the lido deck.  It was nice and warm.  After breakfast we went to an introductory class for the iPAD 2.  I went to keep Bill company but I did sign up for some photo lessons.  I signed Bill up for all the classes.  Tomorrow (Monday) we will arrive in Honolulu around 4pm local time.  They made an appointment for me at the apple store will bring all the IPADS, IPHONE and IMAC and they will synch them what ever the hell that means!  Just want them to put my email and books on the new one!  Bill left right after the class to go watch the football games.  I walked around the ship from one end to the other 4 times today. And that is not counting going to places in between.  I just walked back and forth 4 times on top of all the other walking.  I am trying to build it up to 6 we will see because right now I am hurting.  Day 5 and I have not used the scooter yet!!!!!!!  YEAH.  Hopefully the advil will help tonight because it is really hurting.

Another great meal in the main dining room tonight.  Sorry no pictures forgot my camera.  Before dinner we had to go to the bridge lounge to have our picture taken for the World Cruise Photo album.  Bill had the sole meunier and I had the prime rib.  I must rememeber to tell them half portions because I can not finish all the meat they give you.

So when we arrive in Honolulu they will have a shuttle to take us to the mall.  The apple store is in the mall.  We will go a look around we need a few toiletries so hopefully there will be some kind of pharmacy or something.  We are over night in Honolulu and have an early morning excursion on Tuesday to Pearl Harbor.  We have not seen this before so we felt it would be a good time.  Wednesday we will be in Maui and do not have any excursions as we have been here many times before.

So hopefully tomorrow night I will be able to update from my new IPAD.
So I am getting ready to go to the show and I leave you with these words.  2008 we were on board the Crystal Serenity and New England played the Giants in the super bowl and won.  Fast forward to 2012 and New England will play the Giants again in the superbowl.  GO GIANTS!

Another great day at sea.  We are changing our clocks once again 1 hour back so we will now be 5 hours behind NY and 3 hours behind Arizona.  

Today we had to take our IPAD 2 to get it authorized.  Tomorrow there will be a short lesson on how to use it and then we can sign up for more lessons depending on what we want to learn.

Lunch today was a Latin Buffet.  We opted for the dining room instead and Bill had the striped bass and I had a pasta dish.  Then we went up to the Palm Court to read and before we knew it it was tea time.  I do enjoy the tea.

We had a great dinner tonight.  Augusto, (our head waiter) made us a fabulous fettucine pasta with black truffles.  Now most of you know I don't like mushrooms and I have never eaten a truffle before but this is the second time in a week that I have had black truffles and have loved each dish.  It was delicious.  We then had Caesar salad and Augusto first made this dish for Bill back in 07 it is a veal chop that has been butterflied, pounded, breaded and fried on top of Bill's he put Arugula salad.  I opted out of the arugula as I don't like it.   I had a nice Oregon Pinot Noir to go with it.  Not as good as the Chianti I had last night but good never the less.  Well folks I am exhausted all this relaxing is truly exhausting.  I know you don't want pictures but too bad you are getting them.  Well I hope that the Giants win tomorrow but good luck to all teams.  Bill  will be watching the first game starts at 10am. Giants are on at 1:30.  

Good night and God bless!

Today was a Oh My God day.  We had a nice breakfast in Lido Cafe.  First time so far on this cruise.  Our senior waiter from dinner served us and we relaxed.  There are only about 600 people on this segment so nothing is crowded.There is also 600 crew members so that is a 1 to 1 ration.   We went to a lecture this morning by Harm de Blij he is a Author, Professor and Television personality (Good morning America) who is a professional geographer.  I will be honest I was not going I thought he would be boring but he was absolutely fabulous.  After his lecture went to the shops to see if there was anything new and by that time it was time to go the Meet & Greet cocktail party for full World Cruisers.  Bloody Marys, and Mimosas were flowing as was shrimp, procuitto and melon and mozzerella and tomatoes.  They had dancing and all the senior officers were there.  World Cruise Hostess Elise Ivey spoke and said that instead of sending a few gifts to the house this year they were changing it up and as we were there housekeeping was delivering to each cabin an IPAD 2 for each World Cruise Guest.  Yes, you heard right. They each came with an engraved leather case and pen.  After all the shouts of joy they also said they will be giving lessons on how to use them.  Everyone was really excited especially me as I was going to go and buy myself and Bill one before we left but didn't have time so this was fabulous. Bill said he felt like we were on Oprah or Ellen's show!

After our afternoon cocktail party I had a 50 minute hot stone massage and Bill had a 90 minute deep tissue massage.  Came back to the cabin Bill napped and I sent a few emails.  Before you knew it it was time to get dressed up and go to yet another cocktail party for cruise critic!  I only got one picture of Bill, myself and Becky as we were too busy talking to get pictures taken.  Captain Glen, Rick (Cruise Director), James, excursion manager and a few other senior officers attended the Cruise Critic meet and mingle.  We spoke to James about a few of the excursions we are signed up for and he is going to reserve the first seat on the buses for us so that I won't have to walk to the back.  We have sailed with James many many times before and I must say all of the excursion department is really great.  They go that extra mile and w spoke about this.  He mentioned that most cruise lines they are on commission and therefore have to sell the tours but not at Crystal and that they would rather have the guest happy.  This is what happened to me in the Falkland Islands  I was called up by Storme in excursions and she told me that she really didn't think I could do the excursions out to the penquins  and she didn't want me upset.  Bill went on that one alone and said that I could never have gotten in the 4 x 4 WE then went to eat in Prego Italian Restaurant.  I had a caesar salad, gnocchi with buffalo mozzerella and fresh tomatoes for an appi and Veal parmgaiana for dinner.  Pictures to follow.  Bill had the same except he had the mushroom soup in a bread bowl instead of the pasta.  He had gelato for dessert I had dark chocolate mousse with strawberry tartofo.  It was fabulous.  Went to casino and gave back the money I won yesterday by hitting 4 aces on the poker machine.  Time to call it a night.  We turned our clocks back last night and will do it again tomorrow night but with all the excitment and the massage I am tired.

Well I know that this was a really special day.  We have received a World Cruise hat, jacket, a beautiful engraved map of where were are going  and now the IPAD2 we know we will get WC shirts as we had to tell them our size and I hear scuttlebutt about some kind of backpack or tote.  Wow it's been a fun day.  So to each of you reading this you can make comments if you do and it is annonymous just sign it so I know who it is.....

God night and God bless!

The I Pad2 on the bed

The letter telling us where to go to get it hooked up

Becky Bill and I @ cruise critic party

We had a relaxing day today and tomorrow should be just as relaxing.  We have a Meet and Greet Welcome Party for all the World Cruisers tomorrow at  11:45 till 12:30.  I have a 50 minute hot stone massage at 1pm.  Bill has a 90 minute deep tissue massage at 2pm and we have our Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle at 5pm-6pm and dinner in Prego at 7pm.  Wow!  Tonight was the first formal of this cruise and it was special as usual.  I am trying to upload a couple of pictures but it is not letting me.  Not sure if it is me or the internet connection as it has been sporadic.

The great news is that I walked all over the ship today NO SCOOTER.  Except for using it last night to go to the computer room I have not used it at all!  This is so exciting as when we were on in Jan/Feb 11 I was not able to walk at all.  So hopefully this will keep up.  My feet tonight are quite swollen so time to take my water pills.  We have 2 more sea days until Honolulu we arrive on Sunday at 4pm Hawaii time.

  

Night all!

 We had a great time at the Gala last night and had a good sleep.  I of course was up really early and tried the internet which was so slow I gave up.  We were picked up by Limo at 11:45 just in time to have lunch in the main dining room. We arrived at the pier and they asked me if I wanted a wheelchair but I refused I need to walk right.  Only problem is it was about a 10 block walk I was 1/3 of the way and they came with a wheelchair so I got in.   We had a great lunch Bill had the salmon I had the pasta and my 2 glasses  of  champagne and then we went to our cabin.  Well if you had seen our cabin we could not even walk in.  Just picture three suitcases on the bed, 5 on the floor and now they are bringing the 4 carryons.  Luggage Luggage everywhere.  So since I was stuck in there and my feet were so swollen I decided to unpack to find my sneakers now I knew they were in one of two suitcases but alas they were still on the floor and no where to put the three on the bed so they had to be done first. 

Our stewardess, Indre  God bless her  came in and brought us a lot more hangers.  So we went to work.  We had three suitcases done in no time.  Of course now there is so much stuff on the bed that we can’t even sit.  We do 2 more suitcases and there are my sneakers so I am happy. Indre comes back and puts the three empty suitcases under the bed for us and tells us she will take the rest to storage. Just let her know when we are ready.  We can’t put them outside our door because my scooter is there ready and waiting.  We get the carryons done so that they can go into the bigger suitcases for storage and we finish the rest of the suitcases.  

There is still a lot of stuff on the bed but Bill went for his cigar and organized where the stuff that was not being hung up would go.  Bill returned and was pleased he didn’t have to do anymore.  

We go out by the pool as the USC marching band is going to play for us.  They were awesome I think Bill enjoyed the cheer leaders a little too much!  After this they had a champagne sailaway.  We go back to our cabin and by now I am hurting and want to bring the laptop to the computer lab to be configured so I hop on my scooter and we go.  INTERNET IS DOWN.  Oh well I was able to get my log-on anyway.  We go back to the cabin so I can do a quick change and down to the Cove we go to have a pre-dinner cocktail.  We get a great seat and I have a martini Bill has his usual club soda and cranberry juice.  The band is playing, people are dancing .The cove is filled with balloons.  Rick gets on stage and then introduces the captain.  Now they are passing out champagne and the crew is arriving with a glass of champagne in their hands and we all stand up and they do a countdown just like New Year’s Eve.  All the balloons fall and all this confetti starts falling down.  It was quite exciting.  When this ends it is time for us to go for dinner.  We are both so exhausted.  We have a head waiter that we had uyears ago when Judy and Eddie came with us Augusto from Rome.  He remembered us and stayed and talked to us for a long time.  We didn’t even have tea or coffee at the end of the meal and we came right back to our cabin.  We were in bed by 10:30 that is a first for me!  All in all it was a great day, exhausting but great!  Tomorrow should be even better no unpacking to do!

Today we slept in and I signed up for memoir writing course got two books from the library and got my needlepoint kit.  Tonight is the first formal night with the Captain's welcome aboard cocktail party then the french dinner followed by the production show Curtain Call  will report on that tomorrow.  Hope you are all well we are doing great!