Gerry Barker's Blog Archives

Wrap-up: Crystal Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise

January 9, 2020January 8, 2020 by Gerry Barker

If I had to choose one word to describe a cruise on Crystal Serenity, it would be “family.” Pam and I just completed our first cruise with Crystal, the “Haute Caribbean Holidays” voyage — 16 days, round-trip Miami — and from the guests to the crew, family is fundamental to the overall experience. First, consider how many of the nearly 1,000 guests onboard were repeat customers: Almost 70 percent. Among the senior officers and staff, many told …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Day 15

January 5, 2020 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_Today is the last full day of our holiday cruise, and that means one more port of call: Key West, the southernmost point of the United States, the home of Hemingway and his famous six-toed cats, a city that exudes both party and charm, where the fishing is spectacular, and so are the sunsets. There’s only one problem: We won’t be there. When we awoke, there was the ocean in all directions, and no sign …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Days 13 and 14

January 5, 2020January 4, 2020 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_With Tortola in our rear-view mirror, we have two days at sea as we make a heading for our next — and last — port of call, Key West. Besides still decompressing from all the New Year’s festivities, this time will allow us to be, among other things, culturally-enriched and join Mozart for afternoon tea. For the former, there are a number of “Enrichment Program” onboard lectures scheduled, ranging from science and shipwrecks to the …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Day 12

January 3, 2020January 2, 2020 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_No sleeping in today. We have arrived at the British Virgin Islands and are preparing to dock in Tortola, where we have an early tour booked. Heavy clouds hang low over the island’s lush green hills, bringing rain with them. Given it’s the tropics, it probably won’t last long, but if you’re out and about, it’s a good idea to take the umbrella this time of the year. Beside us is Norwegian Encore, several sizes …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Day 11 (New Year’s Day)

January 1, 2020 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_Happy New Year from the Caribbean! Today is a sea day as we make our way slowly to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. A good thing, too, since most of the ship is in a “Do Not Disturb” hangover from the late night partying that ushered in a new decade. Party central was the Crystal Cove atrium, where, at the stroke of midnight, 5,000 balloons, assembled and inflated by a crew of eight, were …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Day 10 (New Year’s Eve!)

December 31, 2019December 31, 2019 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_It’s here — the last day of 2019 — and Serenity is getting ready to PAR-TAY! Balloons are massed all over the Crystal Cove atrium, along with a giant 2020 Countdown Clock. Celebrations are planned ship-wide, starting with a comedy show in the Galaxy Lounge featuring John Joseph, who opened for Julio Iglesias for 10 years. The Crystal Quartet and Showband are performing in the Crystal Plaza, alongside the clock, starting at 8:45 and then …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Day 9

December 30, 2019 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_When we return from last night’s show and dinner, the red message light is blinking on our stateroom phone. It’s the shore excursion team, reminding us to make sure and eat a hearty breakfast since there won’t be a lunch opportunity on our Barbados tour today. Like the previous tour in St. Lucia, we have signed up for the “late risers” option, with a late morning start time. It’s nice not to set an alarm …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Day 8

December 29, 2019 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_Pinch me, please. Is it really the eighth day of our cruise already? It’s going by so fast. Outside our balcony door is the green, lush and tropical island of St. Lucia. Renowned for its natural beauty, it’s a picture postcard day, with high white clouds dotting an azure sky. The only thing that could spoil our day ashore is wearing CAMOUFLAGE. That’s right: Guests are advised that it is against the law in St. …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Day Seven

December 29, 2019December 28, 2019 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_Today we are docked at St. John’s, Antigua, and the weather is almost perfect. Little wind and calm seas, with highs in the mid-80s. This is our first visit to this small island, one of the Leeward Islands located 200 miles east of Puerto Rico. Antigua and its companion island, Barbuda, are part of the British Commonwealth. This is a stop we’ve been looking forward to, not because of its 365 snow-white beaches or sightseeing …

Serenity Haute Caribbean Holidays Cruise – Days Five and Six

December 27, 2019December 27, 2019 by Gerry Barker

ABOARD CRYSTAL SERENITY_We wake up to a view of the crystalline blue waters that surround the island-nations (plural) of St. Marteen, also known as Sint Marteen or St. Martin. This half-French, half-Dutch country is one of our favorite Caribbean stops. The Dutch call it Sint Marteen; the French, St. Martin. One supposes St. Marteen is the compromise between the two. While we have visited here a number of times, we’ve signed up for an island shore excursion …