We're Ready

Keith & Anne Marie With Our Friends Mehrdad & Sonia





Anne Marie In Hotel Lobby

Aerial view of the Port of Los Angeles




Although we set the clocks forward last evening before we went to bed we ended up waking up fairly early this morning. That is the good part about traveling east to west. We enjoyed breakfast at the hotel and then afterwards we went to the Fitness Center for a nice workout.

We spent a good portion of today with two friends of ours who moved from Texas to the Los Angeles area a few years ago. We last saw them when we were here in January of 2008. It was so nice to visit and catch up with them. Later in the day we once again met Miles and Dan at the Hotel Lounge and also a woman who they had sailed with on a recent voyage and who was on our World Cruise sailing in 2008. Ironically, she sat at the table we were assigned to at last years World Cruise Gala. We had a wonderful time talking with them this evening.

Tomorrow we begin our cruise on board the Crystal Symphony. We plan to arrive at the Los Angeles Cruise Ship Terminal around 11:00 AM. Assuming all is on schedule, boarding should commence by 12:00 Noon. We were last at this port in January of 2008 when we boarded the sister ship of the Crystal Symphony, the Crystal Serenity. Typically, one-to-three passenger cruise ships are docked at this terminal at any given time.

This port is a gateway for passenger cruise ships in the Los Angeles area. Many cruise ships using this port sail to a variety of places including the Mexican Riviera, The Panama Canal, and Westward to places such as Hawaii, Hong Kong, Australi and New Zealand. Over 1 million passengers sail here annually. The passenger cruise ship terminal is part of the Port of Los Angeles' World Cruise Center. This was the homeport to the television series "The Love Boat".

We are scheduled to leave out of Berth 92. Berths 91 and 92 are adjacent to one-another. The combined facility is fairly large with around 18,000 square feet of space for luggage. It can be converted to support upwards of 40 check-in booths for those passengers embarking a cruise. The depth of the water is 35 feet.

One other cruise ship is scheduled to be in port at the same time as us and that is the Coral Princess which will be docked at Berth 93.

No matter how many times we have cruised, we always look forward with great anticipaton and excitement for the start of the next cruise. Our cruise tomorrow is certainly no exception.

Keith took his first cruise at the young age of 12 on the Homeric passenger cruise ship which was part of Home Lines. Home Lines was an Italian passenger shipping company whose operations included passengers ocean liners and other cruise ships. The company was founded in 1946, and it ceased operations in 1988 when merged into Holland America Line.

At the time the ship seemed enormous, but at only a little of 18,000 tons would be considered small by today's standards. The Homeric was built in 1931 and had its maiden voyage in 1932 but as part of another cruise line. In World War II, she served the United States, transporting troops to many areas of the World. In 1947 the ship was mothballed for six years at which time she was bought by Home Lines, reconstructed and placed in their fleet. She ended her service in 1973 and was scrapped the following year.

The cruise on the Homeric was thirteen days in length, leaving out of New York City. It took place at a time when on the day of embarkation friends and family would come on board to wish those cruising a bon voyage. There would be parties in most cabins. Keith remembers the confetti that passengers were given to throw to the well-wishes who were standing on the pier as the ship was readying to pull away from the dock.

Ironically, a year before we were married Anne Marie's Mom sailed on one of the Homeric's sister ships and on the day of embarkation we drove her to the Cruise Ship terminal, helped her get settled in her cabin, and then spent a few hours on board the ship prior to its departure. The first cruise we both took together and also included our children was on the sister ship, the Oceanic, which at that point in time was part of another cruise line. The Oceanic was approximately 26,000 tons and when it was built in 1965 was very modern for its time having some cabins with verandahs and even a retractable roof over the pool. The ship was still sailing in 2008 and entered dry-dock in January of 2009.

This first family cruise was in 1991. Beginning with this very cruise, we knew that cruising was perfect for our family and we have been very fortunate to have cruised on a regular basis ever since that time.

Let the journey begin.

Keith & Anne Marie