Another Wonderful Time In Japan✔ Terrific Day At Sea ✔
Ilene and Andy commented about the cake. The pastry is very similar to a Napoleon and it had a chocolate filling. It was delicious. The cake was indeed beautiful.
A few photos that we took in the area within a five to ten minute walk of the ship where we were docked in Osaka.
There was a very nice aquarium located adjacent to the Cruise Ship terminal.
There was also a theatre nearby.
There was a small shopping area (two level) near the terminal.
When our daughter was young she loved Hello Kitty. Here are a couple of photos from a store that carried only Hello Kitty products. Our daughter Jennifer could spend hours as a young child looking at all of the items trying to pick out one of them.
We had a great time on the Crystal Serenity last evening.
Yesterday late afternoon we attended the mandatory immigration inspection with the local Japanese immigration facilities who were on the ship to meet with every guest. It was very organized with absolutely no lines and we were in and out the door in about one minute. We showed them our passports which we were required to carry with us in Osaka and they removed one piece of a temporary like visa, stamped the passport, returned it to us, and we then turned it into one of the Crystal personnel right before we exited the room.
A short while later we attended the mandatory lifeboat drill which was for all guests including those such as ourselves who have been on the ship for quite awhile. The vast majority of guests showed up for the session and those who were there listened attentively to the instructions.
Before we went to dinner, Captain Glenn announced what time we would be departing and mentioned that there could be some choppiness and recommended that guests remove glassware/bottles from shelves where they might be apt to fall. We moved the wine we have in our cabin as the Captain recommended.
Just before we went to dinner we watched the local band that played for us in preparation for our departure from Osaka. There were throngs of locals looking on and waving to us as we got ready to depart the pier. It was a very nice send off as was the case when we left Nagasaki.
We dined in the Crystal Dining Room and these are the dinner menus.
Dinner was fabulous with wonderful cuisine and service. With only around 550 guests on board for this final leg of the World Cruise the dining room was fairly quiet although there are many more guests, like us, who have Main (early seating) relative to those who have late seating.
We each began our meal with Salads. Keith had his standing salad while Anne Marie had the Boston Lettuce waled which was accompanied by a Roasted Pear, Celery and Caramelized Walnuts. This is a photo of that salad.
For our main course, we each enjoyed the Grilled Fresh Swordfish. It was very moist and tasty. We also had our standing order of steamed vegetables plus we shared a very small portion of Hazelnut Potato Balls and Keith had some Grilled Onions on the side as well.
For dessert, Keith had mixed berries and Anne Marie had a sugar-free Apple Compote with Diet Ice Cream. It was very tasty.
After dinner, we attended a Banjo Virtuoso Show featuring Buddy Wachter. He played a wide range of songs from classical to even contemporary songs and he was accompanied by the Galaxy Orchestra. We enjoyed the performance and we sat with friends Bob and Glo.
Before we went to bed last evening, we forwarded the clock one hour. This will become part of the regular routine as we sail from Japan to the West Coast of Canada/United States. We understand that on one of the sea days we will move the clock forward two different times.
We fell asleep quickly and slept very well.
Keith was up first and back to the Fitness Center. About 30 minutes later Brian arrived and they chatted for a little while. They were alone for most of the time but within about 15 minutes about seven other people arrived for their workouts including both the Pilates and Fitness Center instructors and a few other guests.
Other than the Fitness Center, it was still very quiet when Keith made his way over to the Lido Cafe where he was the only one there until about a minute before he left when Destination Lecturer Ken Rees arrived. Keith chatted with Ken for a few minutes. Keith also spoke with several of the Lido Deck Stewards including Nat, Alvin and Jun.
Anne Marie worked out in the Fitness Center and then afterwards we enjoyed breakfast in our room as we listened to the Daily Morning Show hosted by Cruise Director Rick Spath and World Cruise Hostess Elise Ivy. One of the items that Rick and Elise spoke about was forwarding the clock as we sail into new time zones. We will be forwarding the clock seven times before arriving to Alaska.
Today marked the first of many sea days on this final leg of the World Cruise.
Shortly before 10:00 AM Captain Glenn made an announcement to all guests from the bridge. He said that due to the weather situation and after careful thought and review that we would be bypassing the next port of call in Petropavlovsk, Russia and instead would sail directly to Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Rather than reaching Dutch Harbor at the originally scheduled arrival time of 1:00 PM on Sunday, April 8, the plan is for us to arrive at approximately 8:00 AM on Sunday. While there is always some disappointment about a schedule change we fully understand that the safety and welfare of everyone is always the number one priority and we are thankful that priority is indeed based on this fact.
Ken Rees gave a very good presentation about the Russians and Alaska and discussed how the Russians won and then lost Alaska and the the Tsar sold Alaska to the United States.
Keith went to the first of several indoor cycling classes on this leg of the World Cruise. In addition to these classes being offered on just about all of the sea days in the morning on some days they added a second class at 4:00 PM. There were three people in the class including Keith. It was a challenging class that Fitness Director, Rob taught.
Those feet are starting to Spin.
Keith sharing a happy moment before the class begins. Joe Kita (friend and memoir writer instructor) is to the left of Keith. Alongside Joe is a guest who joined the ship the other day in Osaka.
Later in the morning, we attended a Cruise Critic Meet and Mingle Party which is hosted by Crystal Cruises. We had a very nice turnout, plus Captain Glenn, Cruise Director Rick, Hotel Director Josef and Cruise Sales Consultant Nikki and Crystal Society Hostess attended as well.
Standing L-R Pat and Becky and Elaine with Anne Marie
Helen, Allan and Dwight
Shirley and Rudy
L-R Celeste and Peggy
Captain Glenn with Dwight
Elaine, Pat, Hotel Director Josef and Becky
Anne Marie with Cruise Director Rick
Anne Marie with Cruise Sales Consultant Nikki Andrew
Since this was a sea day, we also had Team Trivia today. Our team came in first place by answering all fifteen questions correctly. This is the first time since the World Cruise began that we got a perfect score.
Afterwards, we enjoyed a very nice salad entree for lunch.
Keith played Paddle Tennis after lunch.
In the afternoon there was another lecture and this one was also on Russia. It was presented by lecturers Professor D. Blanche Iliff and Dr. Charles H. Iliff and focused on daily life in Russia subsequent to the collapse of communism.
Later in the afternoon Keith met up with friend Bob and Anne Marie walked on the Promenade Deck.
This evening we will dine in the Crystal Dining Room and we have two very nice people joining us. Afterwards, we will attend the Captain's Welcome Reception. We will post all about this tomorrow.
Keith and Anne Marie
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