We have left Tauranga, NZ and are now heading to Picton, NZ. So a day at sea is the perfect opportunity to cover some, of the many, features of Crystal Serenity that I feel are worth noting; features that one may not find on other ships of this class.

First… and my favorite is the Library aboard the Crystal Serenity. This is a library like no other. This library has a librarian (Liezl) who is amazing and knows each and every book. The cabinets are filled with current NY Times best sellers and not the lending or swap unstaffed libraries one typically finds at sea.

This is also the first place we go when we board the Serenity. There are categories for every reader and if reading is not for you, nestle into one of the many cozy chairs and slip on a set of Bose Headphones equipped at each station and just chill out and listen to music or an audio book.

I have checked out two books for the remainder of our trip back to Miami, hoping to squeeze these in by the end of our trip (90 days). Along with this blog, final editing of my novel (Silversides), shore excursions, entertainment, the lectures and language classes (Italian, Spanish & French)…. My head hurts already and it’s not from the necklace of bars conveniently located between venues.

Another feature that sets this ship apart from its peers (or is it piers?) is the computer facility. Serenity’s computer network is second to no other. There are two sections that fill this 800+ sq. ft. section of the ship. One section equipped with eight MS Windows workstations, a printer/scanner and a lab of twenty-three Apple iMacs, a teaching lectern for daily computer classes–– everything from from how to use your iPhone to AI for photographers. There are three IT professionals and a guest instructor (Tanya) aboard.

This is where I pen my daily posts and the guys have been so accommodating by dedicating a station for me in the corner by the window.

Finally, there is the concierge lounge, which is reminiscent of an old British smoking club; the air filled with the sweet scent of Dominican wrappers, and stale scotch. The cabinets are stocked with choice cigars and single-malts & bourbons of your choice. Do you here that Scott L.?

Even if you do not smoke, the atmosphere begs you to sit and say things like, “Bully!” or “There I was… out on the Serengeti, when a white rhino began to charge. What was I to do? I did what any man would do… I danced the dance of dances, lulling the beast into tranquility to where I tipped it over with just a finger.”

And the dress + 1 (#4)