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Page 2 of 9 |
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Click here
for The Bistro's Coffee & Tea Menu |
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Page 2 of 9 |
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Rise and shine! At precisely 8:00 am each morning, a look down
from my balcony reveals a steady trail of guests walking briskly
around the gorgeous teak Promenade Deck, many of them wearing
peculiar black vests with W.O.W. written on the back. What is
going on?
I quickly find out that the wrap-around Promenade Deck is
Crystal Serenity's
social hub.
With no lifeboats to block the view this is the place to catch
up on some gossip with fellow shipmates, burn calories or
simply stand and gaze at the sea.
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Crystal
Serenity's design is unique when it comes to the placement
of her life-saving equipment. The designers cleverly moved the
usual clutter of lifeboats and rafts down in the ship and thus
created the most beautiful Promenade Deck afloat. Overlooked
by rows of balconies (no restricted views here!), many guests
can be
seen putting on their Walk On Water vests, getting
ready for
their morning exercise at 8:00 am sharp. Devised by Debbie Rocker, the cotton vest has
weight pockets around the waistline and is designed to
maximize the benefits of walking. Unique to Crystal
Cruises, the vests can be picked up at no extra charge at the start of
the cruise from the Sports Director. Then it is up to you:
join in any of the organized Walkathons (1 lap is 0.5 km), or
simply Walk On Water at your leisure. |
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After my own morning walk (no vest needed
- I'm heavy enough as it is!)
I'm off to one of my favorite places on the whole ship and another Crystal
Cruises exclusive: The Bistro. Why other lines haven't followed suit with this
very successful concept is beyond me. Modeled after a European
"Grand Café", the Bistro is located on deck 6 overlooking |
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Crystal Plaza, the
heart of the ship. The design team did a terrific
job here. On one side of the Crystal Plaza, you will find the Pursers Office,
Concierge Desk, Shore Excursions Desk, Cruise Sales Consultant
and Crystal Society Hostess. On the other side, there is an attractive
atrium piano bar called Crystal Cove. Each evening, Richard
Berman can be seen here tinkling the ivories and chatting away
with guests. And around the corner is the entrance to the
Crystal Dining Room. A grand staircase leads to the upper
level of the Crystal Plaza, with numerous shopping
possibilities and ... The Bistro. |
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During my cruise, I often make my way to the Bistro
mid-morning and order a frothy cappuccino from the special tea and coffee menu.
On Crystal Serenity all food and all non-alcoholic drinks on board are included in the cruise fare and
the delicious coffee specialties served in The Bistro are no exception.
So why not order a second one? |
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Feeling
like I have landed in a Crystal Cruises commercial, I sit
here in beautiful whicker furniture, sipping coffee,
browsing through the day's issue of the Reflections daily
program and simply
enjoy the good life. An important feature of The Bistro is its buffet table, which is filled to the brim with goodies all day long.
In the morning, look out for freshly toasted bagels. Later in
the day,
munch away on yummy cakes and pastries, perhaps accompanied by a pot
of Leaves of Provence tea. And in the afternoon, order
a glass of wine from the wine menu and grab a cracker and some
blue cheese. The Bistro is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
and has my vote for "Shipboard Space of the Year". |
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