April 7, 2015  @ sea enroute to Montevideo

Today there was so much going on.  They had the Beatles perform in the cove for a midday mixer.

Tonight the World Cruisers were invited to a “Walk Down Memory Lane” Officer’s Quarter’s Tour.  There were cocktails and canapés.  This was held before each dinner seating.  The officer’s quarters were decked out with all kinds of memorabila about Crystal and the early days.  In one of the cabins they were asking trivia questions and if you answered correctly you were given a prize.  I was asked what was the name of the Port for Falkland Islands.  I got it right Port Stanley and Bill and I were given pins saying greatest Grandma and Grandpa.  In the captain’s quarters they had life sized posters of some past captains.  In another they had a picture of the cruise directors from when they started!

It was a lovely pre dinner event.  We headed to dinner and the show after dinner  Bill headed then to the cigar room and I headed to the slots.  So far I have been holding my own with them up and down and just about even!

Tomorrow is another sea day!

Some pictures from A Walk down memory lane!

All our favorite Captains!

APRIL 5, 2015

Happy Easter to all my family and friends and Happy Passover to my Jewish friends and family.

In true Crystal fashion there were all kinds of chocolate bunnies and eggs outside the dining room this am.  When we went for breakfast early the table was overflowing.  By lunch it was almost empty and they were replenishing it by dinner it was gone!  Glad I grabbed my bunny early!

Today was day 1 of 7 continuous sea days with lots going on.  We had our computer course and I did not feel like going I told them I had bunnyitis but I also don’t want to get behind so I went.  There have been many lectures we have missed due to classes but hey we are learning things.

Yesterday they had  beautiful ostrich eggs that th crew hand decorated and we got to vote on them.  Today they had the results and the three I voted on won 1, 2 and 3^rd place.  They were beautiful unfortunately I am tired of dragging that camera with me so no pictures.

Since I am not reporting about food I will probably only do 1 or 2 days till we get to Montevideo.

Hope everyone enjoys their holiday and sweet dreams to all.

Bill enjoying Easter Sunday at sea

April 4, 2015

We are still in Cape Town but have to be back at the ship at 12:30pm for face to face inspection for immigrations.  Since we don’t have much time and since we have seen all of Cape Town thanks to Gaye and Graham we are headed  back over to the waterfront to shop a little.  With our shopping done we headed out to claim our VAT back.  We each bought clothes for the Safari  in Richards Bay since we could not get it home and have bought  a few things along the way.  I did get myself a beautiful African Doll so we went and claimed our tax back.  They said they will send us a visa card with the amount on there.  Australia credits t to your charge card makes we feel better!  We also have to go to our last muster drive this afternoon before we sail.  Geez so much to do and so little time.  We have loved Cape Town and know that we will come back.   Gaye and Graham were fabulous hosts and we hope to reciprocate when they come to USA.

We left Cape Town at 4pm we had a cocktail party with Mary Jean and Gerri from our travel agency, Cruise Professionals before dinner and after dinner there was an Out of Africa Theme show.  We switched things up and went to dinner earlier so we went to dinner and the early show and then the cocktail party.  We were so exhausted from our 4 day overland and our all day tour with Gaye and Graham we needed to go to bed early!

Tomorrow we start 7 straight sea days!  Some more pictures of beautiful Cape Town

Table Mountain

April 3, 2015 Cape Town South Africa

Can’t believe that in port we do not have Internet on the ship.  I was waiting to hear from Gaye so last night I had to call Becky in Florida and ask her to get in touch with Gaye and explain that the damn Internet is not working.  Nothing like having to go through the States to get in touch with someone in so. Africa.  I now have Gaye’s phone number in my phone all I had was her email before.  Becky gave her my cell phone number and she text me that they will “Fetch” us at 9:00am Just love that expression!  So we headed off the ship at 9am and there was Gaye’s smiling face.  We had to walk a tiny bit to get to the car and there was Graham.  We met Gaye on WC 12 her daughter Debbie worked in Shore Excursion and Gaye came on for one of the segments and she is just a delightful person.  Well we had never met Graham and after the introductions we felt like we have known him our lives.  Great great couple.  We headed up to Table Mountain and drove up as far as we could.  The Cable cars were not running today because of the wind (a good reason to have to come back)  We then headed along the beach road with them taking turns explaining what we were seeing.  We headed to some very pretty little towns and at one point we were the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean.  We next headed up to the wine country and I did no t know how beautiful it was until we got there.    They next took us to Cape Point.  There were tables set up all along the road and of course we stopped.  Gaye and I each got the most beautiful hand carved wooden bowls.  Bill saw a life size Elephant carved out of stone that he really wanted but I prevailed!!!!!  After Cape Point we went to see the Penguins.  Now you all know I just love those penguins they are my soul sisters!  We ran into lots of people from Crystal who were on an excursion to see the penguins.  We saw all of the places Crystal was offering and more.  We stopped at a lovely café in a cute town for lunch on Chapman’s Peak scenic drive and continued on we passed the Ostrich farm and saw them just hanging out.  We went to Stellenbach and the wineries and I bought a couple of bottles of wine a different one than I have ever had. 

We then went to Gaye and Graham’s house and got to see Debbie and her husband John and  their adorable little guy Matty!  We all headed back into town and had reservations for dinner on the waterfront.  Debbie was meeting a lot of her friends from the ship at the same restaurant.  Gaye handed me a shopping bag and Bill one.  Mine was nicely wrapped with wrapping paper with the big 5 on it.  I opened one of the packages and Gaye handmade us 8 placemats with the Big 5 on it.  I am so excited!  Bill’s bag had the most beautiful book all about South Africa and jerky!  What lovely reminders of our day with friends.  Our dinner was at a South African restaurant I am not that adventourus so I had Filet mignon and it was fabulous.  Little Matty had a bad cold and was not feeling well so Gaye told Debbie she would take him home so they could enjoy their night.  We were quite close to the ship and they dropped us off around 10pm.  It was a great day and we loved Cape Town.  We thank Gaye and Graham for spending so much time showing us around and we only hope that we can reciprocate in AZ or NY or both!  Cape Town is another place on our we would love to return to list!

We headed back on the ship and headed to bed.  Tomorrow is another day.  We were suppose to sail at 2pm but it has been changed to 4pm as we all have to go through face to face immigration tomorrow starting at 12 noon.  So we only have a ½ day tomorrow.  Want to go back to the waterfront to the shops!

Good night all pleasant dreams!

Wine Country

Prison where Nelson Mandela finished his term