Part of what makes Crystal so extraordinary is the company’s level of service. The hard-working crew members are attentive, enthusiastic and friendly, without being obsequious. They come from all over the world, and are eager to talk about their home countries. Our waiter, Taner, and his assistant, Fehmi, are from Turkey; and our butler, Simon, is from South Africa. In the bars, shops and restaurants, you’ll meet staff members from throughout Europe, South America, India and the Philippines.

The crew seems to enjoy Crystal as much as the passengers do, because the company has probably the lowest turnover rate in the industry. You encounter many of the same crew members year after year, and renewing those acquaintances becomes part of the fun.

On this final blog from this trip, I want to quickly mention some of my favorite spaces on board this ship. Last night, we returned for the second time to one of the Serenity’s two specialty restaurants, The Silk Road. It features the cuisine of celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa.

Say cheese: That's me posing stiffly in the Bistro Café.