Nov 2, Day 1

Day 1 Cruise

What a glorious but cold day in New York today.  Betty and Joe picked us up at 10:45am and after all of Bill’s worrying everything fit into their car.  Off to the NY Passenger Terminal we went.  No traffic I guess I should thank Election Day for this.  We sailed through and arrived about 11:20.  Check in was a snap and we were in the Main Dining Room having lunch by noon. Spinach Fettucine Primavira for an appetizer Filet Mingon, roasted new potatoes and root vegetables, champagne and creme carmel for dessert.  Not a bad lunch at all.  Bill had the pasta, broiled Salmon and sugar free chocolate mouse.  I drank his champagne.  Bill headed to the connoisseur club for his cigar and I unpacked our suitcases.  By this time it was time for our lifeboat drill.  We then headed up to the Lido deck for our sailaway party.  More champagne.  Some man told me I was going to get a ticket for speeding on my scooter I said no I am going to get a ticket for a DUI.  Anyway it has been fabulous so far.  Now I know we all know what a small world it is but Bill and I went to get a hot chocolate up on deck because it was soooooo cold and low and behold he runs into a fellow he knows from Arizona.  He and his wife are on this cruise.  Talk about a small world. When we went for the hot chocolate one of the Lido guys came over and recognized me and even remembered our name the last time we sailed with Ricky was when we stopped in Newport and Marrianne and Gerry got on, do you remember the fellow who was calling us all over Newport?  Anyway then we went to dinner and the head waiter that we had on our first cruise remembered us and gave us hugs and kisses.  It is like returning to a family gathering.

This cruise is the 20th Anniversary of Crystal and the Crystal Society sailing.  The Crystal Society is anyone who has sailed Crystal before.  Tonight after our sail away party and before dinner they had more champagne (free of course) in the Crystal Cove which is the main area on Deck 5 they had entertainment and dancing and then they dropped hundreds of balloons.  It was like New Year’s Eve.  We had another great meal in the dining room and I am so proud of Bill he is opting for the sugar free desserts.  Tonight I did not get dessert since I had it at lunch. The show was a small sampling of what’s to come and now it is time to hit the hay.