Since our last update it has rained. A lot! We had a lovely day’s sail down the St. Lawrence to Charlottetown with high hopes that the sunny weather would hold up…but more on that later.
On Sunday, we finally met all of our tablemates. On Friday we sat at a separate table (right beside our regular one) with Michael and on Saturday the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle party was scheduled in such a way that we would have had to rush dinner. We had our butler, Victor, make a reservation for us at Silk Road instead, and we had Sushi and such after the party. The people at the table include a doctor from LA who is traveling with her mother-in-law (yes, people DO ask how either of them can do it!) and two other couples. It’s a great table and we’ve managed to be almost the last out of the dining room on both occasions so far!!
Monday was the first formal night, and being the President’s Cruise, it was also our first opportunity to meet Gregg Michel, the president of Crystal Cruises. Guest photos with the captain on this occasion also include Gregg. He will be on board until New York and involved in many of the guest parties and events. This isn't the greatest photo of a photo, but you get the idea.
Back to the weather. Tuesday dawned with heavy cloud but no rain that we could see at first glance. Of course, once we left the ship to go into Charlottetown it started sprinkling. By the time we got off the shuttle bus, well, let’s just say that the driver of the bus bore a striking resemblance to Noah (of Ark fame). The original plan had been to walk around town, stay for lunch and then come back to the ship. But after an hour in the rain, we decided that PEI mussels and oysters weren’t worth drowning for. You know it was bad when the high point of our visit to Charlottetown was taking money out of the Green Machine.
Back on board, we decided to hit the gym. Imagine our surprise to find Paolo, the maitre d’ of specialty restaurants (Prego and Silk Road) working out as well. The irony of sweating off the pounds in the company of the man responsible for making reservations so we can put the pounds on in the first place was not lost on us, as he reminded us at breakfast this morning.
Today is the last full sea day of this cruise, with a half-day between Halifax and Boston. It seems really odd to have this day so close to the middle of the cruise, and it is causing havoc with the lecture and sea day activities as they’ve had to squeeze them all in to a relatively short period. Even the Grand Gala Buffet was held today - see the photos. As usual it did not disappoint.
This afternoon, Gregg Michel and Thomas Mazloum, the senior vice president in charge of hotel operations, held a presentation and Question and Answer session where they talked about Symphony’s recent drydock, future plans for the ships and upcoming itineraries.
Much of Crystal’s senior management attends the President’s Cruise and uses it as an opportunity to talk to Crystal Society members. One way they do this is to host dining tables throughout the cruise so they get some time with small groups. We have been invited to have dinner with the Director of the Crystal Society on Saturday. Not sure what “qualified” us for this honour, (after all the “top” Society member onboard is celebrating his 193rd Crystal cruise!!!) but it should be interesting.
Well, time to start getting ready for the evening. Victor should be showing up any time now with pre-dinner snacks. (We’ll post his photo soon). It certainly is nice to have a butler to take care of the little things! And as our friend Keith warned us would happen, we are rapidly getting used to it!!!
1 comment:
The cruse sounds wonderful. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the butler. Maybe, you could bring him home.
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