Keith1010

There is a saying time flies when you are having fun and this resonates with me as I believe it does with several of you. Twenty years ago we were sailing Crystal Harmony on a San Francisco R/T cruise of Alaska for the very first time. We board on July 16 and one year ago we were in Ketchikan. I remember the cruise and many details as if it was yesterday. Brought our family with us including future son-in-law. Back when we lived in the Bay Area I would see ads for Crystal Cruises in the San Francisco Newspaper Sunday Travel Section and had hoped when the children were the right age we would sail Crystal. And we did. Crystalized within one hour as I needed help from the Concierge who clearly took ownership of the issue, recognized me by name and resolved the problem. We even sailed when another member from this board was on-board. We didn't meet but she watched the video a couple of years ago she recognized Anne Marie and myself. It is a small world after all. In someways the feeling back then is the feeling I have today. Back then we were so sure we would enjoy sailing Crystal a couple of months before boarding we booked a cruise for the following Summer on Crystal Symphony sailing Dover to Rouen. I think this was my first contribution to the board as I learned you could book a second cruise and you would get the on-board booking discount once on-board. Back then you just needed to stop by to see the on-board booking consultant. Today, we don't know what the ships will look like after dry dock nor what the experience will be like, but I am confident that we will enjoy it that we plan to book more than one Crystal Cruise when the itineraries come out.

So I have a couple of observations. This says Men working. Is this how men work? I ask because where are the men? Maybe, having coffee. Or maybe a beer. My other question is if there was one or more women on the work crew would the sign still say men working? 🤔 I suspect if it said women working we might see some work getting done. Keith

Yummy plus a good New York CIty Knish, and Hot Dogs, but hold the french fries. Just saying. 🤔

Yes but we know Houston has the reputation for cheating. Oh maybe not this year but........... OK I'm running out of here now. 🥰

OK. So let's talk sports. For those of you who are "American" Football Fans (this is real football) did you know the season started last night with the New England Patriots getting blown out by 23 points. Oh, I am so sorry. I am mistaken. This was actually a baseball game. It was the Boston Red Sox and they lost a close game to the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 28 to 5. When I say a close game I mean as it started it was 0 to 0. Keith

Thank you. When things improve a bit maybe we will get there. Keith

May I ask which restaurant? Keirh.

Roy No for sure Symphony is not racing. Serenity was just going slower. Also they are not even close to dry docks. There is a lot to do in terms of planning let alone all of the other things that are required. We all have to remember that Manfredi didn't get the cruise line. He got assets and the key is to get people in place to do the planning and all of the other functions. Keith

For those of you who have sat at the bar at the Avenue Saloon on Crystal Serenity did you ever look underneath and saw to letters. If you did, who would have seen a K and an A. Full disclosure Anne Marie and I can't take credit for that but it could make a good story. Keith

Thank you very much Hank. Keith

A friend of mine says Ryan Bishop has been promoted from ACD to CD and wants to know what ship he will be on or is on? Keith

Can't wait to sail again. A few photos follow taken at sea, on land, and during the day and very early (for me) or for some late in the evening as we sailed Crystal Cruises several times last year.

Real or Painted Art Work. Just asking?

Some of you know I can eat just one or even none. How about you?

Yes. It wasn't the Homeric I was on. It was the second Homeric which Holland purchased from Home Lines (2 years young at the time) and the Atlantic from Home Lines in April 1988 and Home Lines ceased operation later that year. The one I sailed was built in 1931 and was part of Home Lines from 1954 to 1973. She was scrapped in 1974. At the time I sailed Homeric there was the Homeric, Oceanic and Doric. Eventually the newer ship was the Atlantic. As to the Big Red Boat is was part of Premier Cruise line and had an affiliation with Disney were it could use their characters. We sailed for four nights and had three nights at Walt Disney World or you could book a cruise with three nights and four nights at Disney World. You have to start somewhere and that is where we started cruising with our children. Just as was the case when we sailed Homeric we had assigned seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The morning of debarkation I remember two things. The waiters were not friendly for breakfast maybe because they knew they already had our tips. And, we were not allowed to wait in our rooms to debark and I just remember it was standing room only in the corridors as we waited to debark. Back then we didn't plan vacations very far in advance. Two years laster we went to a cruising agency about two months before we wanted to cruise. She pushed us on Royal Caribbean but there wasn't much choice. As she was speaking with RCI reservation by phone, I saw she had this book called Ocean Cruising by Douglas Ward and as I am flipping through it I come to Celebrity Zenith and Horizon and the writeup was very positive so I said what about one of these ships. She seemed reluctant (I suspect they were getting accelerators from Royal Caribbean but in the ned we sailed the Zenith. After this we sailed at least yearly and went on Horizon for two cruises of Bermuda in consecutive years than we sailed Celebrity Century, Galaxy and Mercury in the year each ship went into service. They each had a Royal Suites which was perfect for the family. And yes the rest was history. Keith

I would love to hear about your first cruise; when, where, cruise line, memories, etc. For me. 1967, not even a teen. Home Lines (Italian Line) Homeric 13 Night New York City R/T visiting Caribbean and Carribbean Memories: Visitors could board on embarkation day and there were all sorts of parties. We threw paper confetti before we departed NYC. Assigned table for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. The next day was the first time I remember seeing this beautiful blue water for the very first time in my life. On Long Island it was gray/green looking. Emphasis on Italian Cuisine. I remember having Pizza as an appetizer for dinner. Yummy. For whatever tip my father gave, we had our own set of deck chairs in a shady area. I remember the name of the crew member (Pino) who got everything set for us each day. Skeet Shooting. I remember my father participated. Not many kids on board but a couple of Junior Counselors. We would play what I think they called it donut tennis. You would throw something that looked like a donut which was rubber over the next and the other person had to catch it and throw it back. Costume Party. I wore a paper mache over my face with holes for the eyes. My mom drew a woman on my stomach and I guess covered neck down to that area. Yes, first place. We had a great time. Tried to convince Anne Marie to go on a cruise for our honeymoon in 1977 but not interested so we spent a week in Bermuda. Fourteen years later my wish cam true and we took the kids on the Big Red Boat. The Oceanic which was a sister of Homeric for Home Lines and we had gone onto the ship to get her mom settled for a cruise she went on. As they say the rest is history. I do still have the passenger list from the Home Lines Cruise. A keeper for sure. Keith

Well I got the others right didn't I? LOL. Man if you thought 100 was hot 1001 is worse than an over. LOL. Please send us cooler weather from your end. And if you don't we are going to send you a lot of hot air and I'm not talking about CC but our air. 🤣

This reminds me of the cruise director saying in the old days on ships "people ask what time the midnight buffet is?" I could go though. I would be waking up for the buffet. Do you think it would have breakfast. LOL. The last midnight buffets I went to was on Celebrity Cruises in the 1990's. I remember on one of the night it would be all the normal stuff and an extravaganza of fancy desserts. This was back in the day when we would come on for 7 days for our only cruise of the year with the exception of one year where we did three seven day cruises with different lines and in the seven days would gain 7 to 10 pounds. I would say those midnight buffets contributed to half of the weight gain. 🤔 Keith

I prefer heat over cold when it comes to outside temperature and sometimes wonder how I ever grew up in the East Coast. But,.........While I like it hot we are on track to break previous records for the most days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and yesterday we hit 105, and starting today the forecast has highs of 106, 105, 103, 103, 1001 and 100 for the next six days. We get a cold front when the forecast says a week from today our high is only 99. So, for me to get all my miles in I have to go outside early when it is dark and it is me and the wildlife. After taking a break I go back outside in the daylight but I try to go on our trail system which in our community now total 17+ miles. While hot I get benefit of some shade from trees while enjoying its overall beauty. As Roy Rogers would sing Happy Trails................. Keith

Who would have thought I would have had to sail all the way on Crystal Serenity to Montenegro to find a Beatles Album I am missing from my collection. The things we do when we are fans of a particular band. Keith

I told them to make the game even we needed a fourth player and they could take the person for their side. Just saying. 🤣 Keith

One year ago today we celebrated the 4th of July on Crystal Serenity.

How many of you have been to Señor Frogs? Oh do tell. We'll keep it just between us and the tens of thousands of Cruise Critic members who visit this page daily. 🤣 Actually, it was on a Holland America Cruise when we sent with another family that we got introduced to Señor Frogs. And I promise you I am not making this up. The two families totaling seven people were seated at a table with the Catholic Priest. At first we didn't believe he was the priest because of all the stories he told including when we has a runner for the Mafia before he became a priest. With that said, he knew where each of the Señor Frog locations were located for each of our port stops in the Western Caribbean. So, yes we went there and we were younger and we ended up on one of those lines dancing as they gave you some type of watered down tequila drink. Oh those were the days. With that said, I can assure you there was no sign about it being a swingers club. Now for those of you who might want to know which island I took this photo on I can message you discreetly the address. After all, this is a luxury cruise line board so I wouldn't want to ruin anyone's reputation. Just saying. And while it is for swingers remember no smoking including you know what. Keith

Well let's try something a little different today. Now before you make comments these are holiday cards but I know your mind was thinking............🤣 Keith