Crystal Cruises


After spending a week on Crystal Cruises I have to say I was impressed. The service was by far superior to that of any cruise I have been on before. From the time we boarded the ship to the day we left I was astounded at the relaxing atmosphere and attention to detail. When boarding the ship I was quickly checked in and in less than 5 minutes had my key card and was ready for my week on the sea. It was obvious that the cruise staff to ship guest ratio is high as there were people everywhere ready to assist and serve the passengers. The ship was spotless and there was never a time when anything seemed to be out of place.


Our itinerary started in Athens and ended in Rome with stops in...

Day 1 - Dec 1, 2005 - Getting there from Quito Ecuador

Today was a big travel day. After having breakfast at the hotel's restaurant, we took off for the airport at 6:45 am. The drive was only about 20 minutes but our GAP representative had to direct us to have our bags x-rayed, tagged and then checked in. We were told we could only check in 7kg of baggage but I think everyone went a little bit over. Kirsten and my baggage alone was 40kg plus our day packs.

I think the main reason for the limit was not the airline but rather how we were to get to our boat and the storage capacity on the boat touring us around the Galapagos Islands. We waited...

Part 5: April 7 - 13, 2007 - Voyage on the Aranui 3 to the Marquesas - Week 1


Day 1: April 7 - Depart Papeete

We had to wake up very early in the morning from Bora Bora (4:30 AM) in order to get to Papeete in time for the start of our trip to the Marquesas. Because we were to board the ship between 7:30 and 10 AM we scheduled ourselves to leave on the first 50 minute flight from Bora Bora at 7 AM. Since the airport in Bora Bora is on an island this meant the shuttle boat was to leave at 5:45 in the morning from the main town. Although the 20 minute shuttle didn't really leave until 6 AM we had plenty of time to check in for our flight and purchase a few postcards at the airport gift shop.
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Part 6: April 14 - 20, 2007 - The Aranui 3

Voyage on the Aranui 3 to the Marquesas - Week 2

Day 8: April 14 - Hiva Oa: Puamau and Hanaiapa

Our arrival in Hiva Oa was as beautiful as ever. Although the mountains were not towering over us in this little harbour, there was one unique feature in the pointed rock that jutted out of the water about one third of the distance across the entrance to the harbour. This pillar stood alone in the water behind where the Aranui was anchored by the time we woke up in the morning.

The true adventure however started when it came time for us to disembark the whaleboats when we arrived on shore. It was perhaps the most trecharous landing so far as the...