By GERRY BARKER
Splash Magazines Worldwide

Since its beginnings in the late 1980s, Crystal Cruises has been among the most honored and awarded cruise lines in history. And the secret to their success is not-so-secret: Their service. Just ask Hubert Buelacher, a 40-year veteran of the hospitality industry, now serving as hotel director on Crystal Serenity.

“The hallmark of Crystal has been, and always will be, the crew,” he said in an interview during a recent sailing from Miami to Puerto Rico.

READ MORE.

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

As cruise director for Crystal Serenity, Raphael Derkson is responsible for overseeing both the entertainment and daily activities, as well as insuring guests have the time of their lives. Working on a cruise ship has been his passion for over 30 years, and it all started when 8-year-old Derkson picked up a trumpet in a Montreal boarding school.

"I think I chose the trumpet because it was so shiny," he told me in an interview aboard Crystal Serenity as we sailed from Miami to Puerto Rico.

From that simple beginning, Derkson went on to play in his high school band and afterwards, was accepted to Montreal's Conservatory of Music, where he got a master's degree. Next, he did a stint with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and traveled all over Europe, and was also in "the French Canadian version of the Canadian Brass." 

His career as a freelance musician was flourishing, but there was one thing he wasn't crazy about: The cold. With snowy Canadian winters that can hit temperatures of minus 40, "getting stuck in traffic for two hours was not uncommon, going to gigs that paid $100 or $50 that took the whole day."

Then destiny stepped in. "One winter day I got a call about doing a cruise ship gig," he said. "It just so happens the call came at a time where I couldn't find my car because it was buried in snow." Suddenly a trip to the Caribbean didn't sound so bad.

One of the stops on our recent cruise on Crystal Serenity was St. Kitts, where we took the "Highlights of St. Kitts" shore excursion.  There were stops at Caribelle Batik, housed at the historic Romney House and adjacent to Wingfield Estate, dating to 1625. Both were first owned by Sam Jefferson II, Thomas Jefferson's great-great-great grandfather. Another stop was the Fairview Great House and Botanical Gardens, a French Colonial manor dating from 1701.

​Jump on the tour bus and join in:

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Breach Life

It's called Brimstone Hill Fortress. Located in St. Kitts on a rocky hill almost a thousand feet above the Caribbean Sea, built by slave labor and British engineers in the 1700s, it earned its nickname of the "Gibraltar of the Caribbean." Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its cannons still stand at the ready, waiting to defend against any and any comers.

These days, the comers are all mostly tourists and locals, and people on shore excursions from cruise ships. We fell into the latter, where the fort was a stop on our Crystal Serenity "Highlights of St. Kitts" tour.

It's hard to imagine the sheer amount of work and effort it took to build by hand this sprawling defensive monument. Even walking the steep pathway to the top will test your stamina. But once there, the view of the surrounding islands is well worth the effort. Take a look:

(PRESS RELEASE)_Seattle, Wash., Dec. 21, 2023 — Morimoto By Sea, Holland America Line’s newest specialty restaurant, officially opened its doors aboard Nieuw Amsterdam Dec. 21. Morimoto By Sea is the first stand-alone restaurant at sea by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, who also serves as the cruise line’s Fresh Fish Ambassador, which is part of the brand’s global fresh fish program. Chef Morimoto was present for opening night, along with Holland America Line executives and Nieuw Amsterdam guests. 
 
During the opening celebration, Chef Morimoto conducted a traditional sake barrel ceremony where he cracked open the barrel and shared the sake with opening-night attendees for a toast. ​

(PRESS RELEASE)_MIAMI-DADE ( December 21, 2023 )– Miami-Dade County’s PortMiami has been named “Best North American Homeport” by Cruise Critic. The seaport is receiving a 2023 Editors’ Picks Award for its commitment to excellence in servicing the global cruise industry and providing a world-class experience for passengers and cruise lines. 

“This award is a testament to PortMiami’s unwavering dedication to innovation and customer service, solidifying its position as the ‘cruise capital of the world,’” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava. “I congratulate PortMiami Director and CEO Hydi Webb and her team on keeping our seaport in the forefront of the cruise industry.” 

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

Exploring new places is always high on our travel list, and on our recent cruise on Crystal Serenity, we had the opportunity to tick another box on our Caribbean Islands checklist -- Jost Van Dyke.

Named for a Dutch settler -- some might say a pirate -- it's one of the four main islands that comprise the British Virgin islands. Only three square miles in size, with a population of just over 300, it's nonetheless a popular destination for its sparkling waters, sandy beaches and bars.

Our shore excursion would start in Road Town, the capital of Tortola, where we boarded a boat for the 5-mile, 40-minute trek over to Jost Van Dyke. From there, we took a short bus ride over winding roads to White Bay Beach, where lounge chairs and cold, Carib beer was waiting for us.

It was a picture perfect, postcard kind of day. Trade winds kept the palm trees swaying as guests soaked up sun and surf on the aptly-named beach, with its sugary, white sands. Among the bars that line the beach is the famed Soggy Dollar Bar, home of the "Painkiller." 

Ready for a Caribbean escape? Take a look:

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

Our recent voyage on Crystal Serenity included two sea days. While some guests prefer a port of call, a sea day for me is a great time to relax by the pool, read or chill in my favorite lounge. Unless ... my significant other spots something that catches her interest in the daytime activities guide.

"Look here," she exclaimed, as I gathered my book and sunglasses to head for one of the couches by the pool. "There's a dance class for learning the slow waltz starting in 10 minutes at the Palm Court. Let's go!"

It's not that I don't love to dance -- I do. But I guess you could say I'm more freelance than formal. I just move whatever body part in whatever direction as the beat takes me. But when it comes to programmed dancing, be it the cha cha, the waltz, the tango (yes, we have taken tango classes in the past) or ballroom dancing, my feet seem to fail me. 

Pam, on the other hand, is an excellent dancer. Her dance moves are like a work of art. And God bless her, she has done her best over the years to bring me along. She is convinced even I can master the slow waltz. So off we go.

​The class was already in session when we got there, led by two of the ship's resident dancers, Alexandra Toronya and Mate Telek. They were lean, graceful and beautiful -- even when they weren't dancing. The class also featured two Ambassadors -- hosts aboard Crystal that dance with ladies without partners. 

We started by learning a basic box step. Men went to one side of the dance area, women on the other. It was fairly simple: Forward - side - back and repeat to a count of 1,2,3 ...4,5,6. Over and over and over. And surprise! I got it. Then we practiced to music.

Things were going along nicely until suddenly Pam realized she had a blowout. The sole of one of her shoes had come off and was flapping in the dance breeze.  Class stopped momentarily while she surveyed the damage and even resulted in an impromptu kickline as we all decided to join Pam and show off our shoes.

It was clear Pam's footwear was in no shape for slow waltzing, so we had to make our apologies and head back to our stateroom. But on the way I was counting 1,2,3 ... 4,5,6 as I boxed-stepped down the hallway. Who says i can't dance?