We have been on board for nearly two weeks.  I don’t see any changes to the physical aspects of the ship, yet there is a subtle difference.  We (and probably others as well) seem to be the center of attention with the crew.  They practically fawn over us.  The Leo Assmair stops by our table almost every night, Franz and Guiseppi )(head waiters) visit at least twice at every meal, two or three waiters seem to climb over each other to supply water and  somebody is always there to open the back door for us when we leave the table.  When we encounter a behind the scenes crew member, most of them greet us by name, even though we have never seen them before.  I know Crystal conducts pax recognition classes, as we have seen it in other years, but it is even more evident this year.  BTW, last night was very cloudy! 

The ship seems deserted.  We are often in the dining room with only one or two tables occupied on our side.  First formal night, we were one of two tables the entire night in Prego.  Officers are permitted in the dining room on specified evenings.  At the Welcome Aboard Party, the Captain said we were about 200 WC and 200 segment cruisers.  I think he overstated the case, and Bruno in Prego later said it was about 150 segment plus clergy, entertainers and lecturers.  We are supposed to be even less on the Rio-Capetown segment.  Bad for Crystal but we are being treated like royalty.  We love it! 

Duke