January 23, 2010 – Leaving Miami

"Dorothy is not in Kansas anymore"

Got on Delta and sat in the very front row. Nice seatmates who were going on a five day Royal Caribbean Cruise (I was marginally sad for them, knowing what I had in from of me!) Once in Miami, I was personally met by a Crystal Cruises person who knew me by name (her name was Sabine), she retrieved my luggage and we were off to the transfer bus. It was only half full (rumor has it the ship is only 65% full – about 650 guests and 535 crew ). Our ship was a quick 20 minutes away. Check in happened right away and we were guided to the boarding tunnel. The real world is behind you and the Emerald City of Oz appears before you. 3 minutes later I was on my way to my room, guided by a ship's officer, My cabin is 8056 on deck 8 - queensize bed, duvet, bathtub and shower, fancy bowls on cabinets as sinks, Aveda hair products, flat screen TV with channels from Japan, China, Germany and Italy (along with CNN and Fox News), the fridge is filled with Diet Coke, Diet Sprint and water. I have a bowl of pears and apples here, along with some fresh flowers.

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She's a beauty! While the afternoon slid buy, I stopped in at the Palm Court for a spot of tea, steeped in a small silver pot and poured into a Villeroy and Boch cup and saucer. No scones, clotted cream or small salmon sandwiches for me. Then comes dinner at 6 at a table for 8. I have folks from Mystic, Connecticut and Toronto and Phoenix at my dinner table and it’s the first Crystal Cruise for them – poor babies. I had grilled shrimp with a grilled salad, followed by a veal chop with grilled zucchini and Portobello mushrooms. Dessert was a sugar free mango pannacotta with strawberry slices. Delish all.

The entry foyer, complete with waterfall and piano player tickling his ivories.

Tea time table setting in the Palm Court.

My last order of business for today was to get the computer attached to their internet, Feel free to email me at my normal thudbear account. So far, everything is just fabulous. I have already received a $500 credit to my onboard credit from Crystal and another credit as a birthday gift from Dad and Joan, I’m using the Edmonds’ money to pay for the kayak adventure in Tortola. I took a few pictures today. I hope you enjoy them all as the days go buy.

So far, I think I would be the arm candy for most of the men on board. Average age is probably 80-85. There is one group of about 7 gals who are celebrating one of them having a 50th birthday and another pair of gals who are celebrating the divorce of one of them,. Me, I’m just celebrating how lucky I am that my physical and fiscal health is such that I have the opportunity to do this in the first place! Life is good!

Interesting reading matter on this ship!

I’m off to check out my bed pillow menu. After testing about 10 different pillows, we get to select the one we like best, I wonder if they have those pillows that are shaped like a man………