Sunday Jan 9, 2011 at sea

We had another great day today.  We were able to attend two of the three lectures.  And there was a great Jazz brunch.  The music was great as was the food.  I had 3 mimosa's mmmm.  This evening before dinner we at our Cruise Critic Meet and mingle cocktail party.  We had a nice turnout and the 2 dirty martinis were really good.  Dinner I tried to eat light I had the turkey with cauliflower and creamed peas and onions.  No appetizer or soup or pasta.  Then I was going to pass on dessert except Albert our head waiter made us crepes suzette with vanilla ice cream............  Now I am happy I only had  non fat yogurt for breakfast!  Tomorrow is the third sea day in a row and there are lots of activities planned.  The mechanics on board are trying to fix the scooter I rented (and not from Crystal) in the meantime I still ride around in the dead women's scooter!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday January 8, 2011 somewhere over the rainbow

Okay no pictures of food today I promise.  I have bigger fish to fry today!

We had a great sea day and tonight we both had the Wiener Schitznel and it was probably the best I have ever had.  

That’s it for food.  I think I told you yesterday that my RENTED Scooter konked out by the elevator on our way to Prego the speciality Italian restaurant.  Well this morning the bell hop comes up and tells me that my scooter will not charge and it is not working.  I am not a happy camper after walking all over the ship last night I had a terrible night of pain and up and down.  And we don’t get into a port until Tuesday so 4 days of no scooter.  I already sent an email to the travel agent telling her to notify them and that I am not paying for days I can’t use! 

But the bellhop came to my aid.  He said we happen to have a spare scooter.  It is not as heavy duty as yours but you can use it. When I saw the scooter it  jarred my memory and then I remember when we were on in November I spoke to the women who owned this scooter.  She was a lovely women but quite sick and was traveling with a nurse!  Low and Behold she is the woman who DIED on the last full day of the cruise!  Crap I am now driving the scooter of the dead women and if that wasn’t bad enough there was her luggage tag from AA airlines.  Angela---.  So just remember if you are having a bad it could be worse you could be driving a dead women’s scooter!

Now I just hope that this scooter is not cursed.  So from now on if I post food pictures or any pictures you are all to suck it up because I could be the next casualty on Crystal!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight was our first informal night and we both looked good and I wanted to get someone to take our picture but Bill was on a mission to eat as fast as he could and get to the cigar lounge to watch the Jets/Colts game.  I on the other hand went to the casino where my friend Natalie she has been on the ship almost every time we are on including Serenity.  She is a casino manager she verified that I was driving a dead women’t scooter..........  After loosing my money I decided enough of this maybe I will just retire to the room update my blog and read.  Bill has just come in to tell me that the Jets won with no time left on the clock.  Whatever the hell that means.  Go Jets!  Luke and Logan and Chris you guys must be excited!  So I am going to sign off now and relax!!!!!  All I can say is taking prednisone while on a cruise is not a good thing!!!!!!!!!!!

Good night all.

Friday Jan 7, 2011 Cabo San Lucas

What a great day we had.  We started the day with breakfast on our veranda and then went into Cabo.  When we were here in November I didn’t ask about the scooter and the pier is sooooooo long that I couldn’t make it to the shops and headed back to the tender and ship.  Today I asked and the great crew carried my scooter down the flight of steps and right onto the tender for me.  It was great I scooted all over Cabo and went to look at a new pair of diamond earrings to replace the one I lost.

  I decided to wait since I can’t have the ear fixed anyway so I will wait till the summer and go see Sal!  We then had lunch as I promised Bill he could have his fish taco since he didn’t get it in November because of the timing.  So he had a great fish taco and I had chicken fajiatas I must say they were the best I have ever had!  We then went for cigars and headed back to the ship.  Once onboard the ship we stopped and spoke to some people we met last night at the Captain’s party and then it was time to change for dinner in Prego!  Prego is the Italian restaurant on board and it is under the direction of Piero Selvaggio of Valentino restaurant in LA and Las Vegas.  On our way to dinner the scooter just stopped it had run out of power even though it still showed green so we pushed it into the corner by the elevator and called the great bell hops who came and took it downstairs to charge and they will deliver it outside my stateroom in the am.We had a great dinner.  Bill had linguine with clam sauce, proscuitto and arrugala.  I had the favorite Veal Parmagian.  After dinner we hit the casino and didn’t do to well so we went to the show.  Tonight was a comedian and musician and it was quite good.  After the show we went into the casino again and pooled our money and hit enough to play for awhile.  When we left I had lost 7 dollars.  Not bad.  Too many days on this ship to gamble alot too often!

Tonight we have been informed that the course we are taking we will probably lose our internet and tv reception so if you don’t hear from us that is the reason.

Tomorrow evening I have a feeling it is going to be a rushed dinner as the Jets are being shown on tv at 7pm and dinner starts at 7pm.  GO JETS!  We are starting our 3 days in a row sea days so I should have plenty of rest.  What I don’t understand is that I am relaxing and sleeping much more than I do at home and I am still tired.  All this relaxing is exhausting!  I am not posting any pictures of Cabo since I posted them on my November trip so I only have pictures of food.  Hey Chris, Luke and Melissa there is nothing else here I promise when we get to the penquins no food!  Chris and Luke this veal was to die for!  Well I am going to wrap it up as this is the second night out of 5 that we have to move our clocks ahead one hour!  so goodnight all.

For some reason I am not able to upload photos tonight so you luck out.  good night all

Thursday, January 6, 2011 at sea enroute to Cabo San Lucas

What a relaxing day on board today.  We had a late breakfast and went to the first lecture by Jay Wolf who we first heard speak on our 55 day cruise in 2008l  He is a wonderful historian and story teller.  We were about 10 minutes late this morning.  We forgot to turn our clocks ahead one hour so we got there at almost 10:10 thinking we were getting there  at 9:10 early to save a seat and then go see what was new in the shops since we were here in November!  Oh well we won’t forgot to do that next time.  We then went to the Palm Court and read.  We were the only ones there!  I picked up my needlepoint kit and will have to attend the lesson as I haven’t done it in so long I forget.

Bill went for a deep tissue massage and I went to get my hair done as it was the first formal night and the Captain’s welcome aboard party.  Followed by a wonderful dinner especially if you like caviar, lobster and crab.  I stuck to the chatauebriand  as did Bill.  Then hit the casino we have been playing on the same $100 since yesterday but I decided to try the tables and played 3 cared poker and lost!  Oh well!  The production show tonight was Million dollar musical and even though we have seen it before it was awesome.  Now it is time to hit the hay.  Tomorrow we will be in Cabo and I haven’t decided if I am going to get off the ship or not.  We tender in and it is a real long walk from the pier to the town and we were just here in November.  Maybe I will see what is playing at the movies!  And Luke, Chris and Melissa one of these pictures is just for you guys!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 Welcome Aboard

We are off to a good start of our trip.  Our limo driver arrived almost 40 minutes early.  He figured we would have a lot of luggage and need the extra time to load up the trunk.  Had a nice ride to the airport no traffic and arrived 2 hours before our flight.  Had my “pat down” and we had a light breakfast.  Plane on time.  Good flight but I must say that this is the second time Crystal has put us on a “commuter plane” from LA.  And I must say even though we were in what they call coach plus these planes remind me of the Little People Plane that the kids play with.  We had plenty of leg room but let me tell you these planes are not meant for ‘big’ people”.  Tight tight tight was the word but it was only for a 55 minute flight so it was manageable.  Just reminded me for the world cruise in 2012 that I did the right thing by getting my own air!  Arrived in LAX where we were greeted by  Crystal staff who saw to our luggage as we waited for the bus.  Meet some very nice people from Tucson AZ.  Arrived at the ship in time for our traditional lunch in the main dining room with our glasses of champagne.  Of course I had two since Bill does not drink.  Bill had the salmon and I had the filet mignon.  Diane I thought of you when I had the creme carmel!  We then went to our stateroom and low and behold all five checked bags and our two carryons where there.  This trip was a little different.  Bill usually heads to the cigar bar and I unpack but he helped me and we had the room whipped into shape in no time.  Decided to leave all the cold weather clothes in the duffel bag and had our stewardess Rubi put it in storage for us until the next leg of this journey.

After a trip to the computer room to have my laptop configured it was time for dinner.  There are only 400 people on board so they are doing an open seating 7-9pm anytime you want to eat.  You have the same table each night which I love because the waiters and senior waiters learn all your prefrences and they are waiting for.  We have the same waiter we had on our November Panama canal cruise Zolton and he was fabulous.  After being hugged and kissed by Remi the maitre d’hotel we had a great meal.  Not that hungry after our big lunch so I opted for pasta.   Now I know my kids are going to be extremely disappointed but no food pictures, actually no pictures at all as I forgot to put my small  camera in my bag.  Oh well.  Anyway we headed to the casino for a little while and I mean little I lost my $100 in no time squeesed out another $10 and won my $110 back.  Good for tonight we are exhausted.  Headed to bed by 10pm this is a first for me!  The funny thing got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and walked right into the wall.  Thought I was home and had a ways to go to my bathroom not so here.  So no pictures and today is a nice relaxing sea day.  Tonight is the first formal night!

Tuesday, January 4, 2012

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go!  Leaving on a cruise!!!!!!!!

Monday, Jan 3, 2011

Well the time is getting close and if I could just get everything packed we would be in good shape.  But instead we went out to dinner with friends tonight.  tomorrow it will get done it must get done.  I work so much better under pressure.  Today I went to the orthopedic doctor for a shot of cortisone in my hip.  He gave me two prescriptions one for cortisone pills to take for 6 days and then after I finish those pills I have to take 2 pills a day for the swelling. he feels the pills in conjuction with the shot will give me enough relief to enjoy the cruise and walk out to the penquins who I am feel are my soul sisters as we walk the same!