Pre cruise (March 27-March 29th):

We can't wait to board the Voyager this Friday for this magical & iconic middle east/Greece itinerary. Port highlights: Egypt (Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh, Cairo (Pyramids), Jordan (Aqaba), Transit Suez Canal, , Israel (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem) Greece ( Athens, Santorini, Kavala, Rhodes, Mykonos,) and Turkey (Ephesus, Istanbul),

We begin our journey w/our two day pre cruise tonight, flying to Dubai from Atlanta. Pictured below, we're toasting to our good fortune, "bon voyage" in British Airways (BA) first class lounge in the Atlanta airport. Our next stop London/Heathrow we will have a brief layover (3 hrs) then we continue flying BA to Dubai where we arrive very late Wednesday nite. On Thursday, March 29th, we plan on visiting the Spice souk (thanks for this tip Fogmalkin/Suzanne) for fresh saffron. After, the Spice souk we head to Burj Khalifa (tallest bldg in the World) for a sunset observation deck tour. At the Khalifa, we look forward to meeting two other CC couples sailing with us (Witt's End (John & Katie) and WalJul (Walter and Julie). We're hopeful longtime LCTr, count Florida can have their IC hotel concierge work his/her magic to get the count Khalifa tour tix to join us. Pls see links for general information on the Spice Souk and Khalifa below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_Spice_Souk

http://www.burjkhalifa.ae/

<img src="http://i1197.phot...;0" alt="Photobucket">

Wes, glad you are on your way! Hope you have a great time in Dubai, and keep us updated on your adventures. And yes, hope Mike and Pat will join you. Would love to see pix of this new Burj Kahlifa!

Wes, hope you and Ida have a wonderful cruise. Looking forward to reading your seamail.

Wes & Ida:

http://www.jacquielawson.com/notecards/pickup/3416597232161?source=jl999

Wes and Ida, have a wonderful cruise!

what a lovely couple

Have a wonderful time. You look so happy and ready to begin your adventure!

Sounds very exciting, Wes! We hope you and Ida have a wonderful trip!

Wes: Is it legal to bring fresh saffron back into the USA?

Thanks Olivia,Beth, Ray, Karen, Diane, Im, JoAnna, and David for you well wishes. David it is dried saffron (so ok to take back to US) pix below; fist shows us leaving Grand Hyatt, next Ida is all smiles after buying 1/2 pound of saffron, finally some pix from "on top of the world" Burj Khalifa tallest bldg in the world:

Ida looks younger every time I see her!

What wonderful pictures Wes. You're off to a GREAT trip, I'd be queasy looking down from that high! Thanks for checking in.

Love your pictures Wes. I think my hands would sweat looking down from that height - but would definitely try it. Looking forward to all your posts.

Wow! Amazing photos. I am positively GREEN with envy. This is our dream trip. Really looking forward to hearing more from you, Wes! You and Ida must enjoy every second!

few pix http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/colonelwes/muscat009.jpgor Cruise critic get together. Kudos to Regent for providing outstanding spt; mention in passages, signage in/outside obsvn lounge; GM, CD, Cruise Consultant (Gudrun), F&B mgr, all dancers/singers attended:

More pix from tonight's Captains's reception; pix of Voyager officers; count Florida (Mike & Pat) Ida and I:

Nice photos, Wes. Looking forward to more as you sail on.

excellent

Nice photos, Wes. Ida looks smashing in that red dress!

Wes, tell Ida I have that same dress in hot pink. The red one is really beautiful too.

Enjoying the photos and comments Wes.
thank you

Thanks for your kind words Betty, Leslie, Diane, Rachel and Jim. Will let Ida know about your pink dress Rachel--then again maybe not--she may go out and buy it.

Last night we had our first dinner in Compass Rose--outstanding. Noteworthy was the wine service by Ricardo, sommelier--we enjoyed a Gavi with our seafood (shrimp risotto) course, then one of our fav comp pours Emiliana (Chilean) Syrah (wonderful body) with (pork medallions). We have a large (about 70) gospel/singing ("Festival at Sea") group on board who had their own DJ last night in the Horizon Lounge--was motown nite.

Today is the first of three sea days enroute to Luxor. Jam packed day of activities; two enrichment lecturers (on the middle east); cooking demonstration, dance class with Dieter and Ilse; international buffet on the pool deck, Flambe Tea Time, spinning class. Tonight we go back to P7 for dinner and the vocalist Paul Roberts will provide tonight's entertainment. Last night we had an exceptional guitarist, Vicenzo--we enjoyed his playing so much--will buy his CD when we get home. We also will relish the hour we get to turn our clocks back.

Wes and Ida you both look absolutely smashing!!! Have a wonderful cruise!!!!

wonderful report and pixs Wes - yes Ida looks lovely...Tony takes scenery pixs I take people pixs - of course just ones of people I know - I would not want pixs of people who'd prefer bags over their heads

great pix, wes. ida looks lovely. good to see you're both enjoying your much anticipated cruise. continue to enjoy. best from alan and me.

Sue, Joanna, Denise (Happy Passover), thanks for your kind words.

Another wonderfully relaxing sea day yesterday; with dance class (Tango) with the Voyager's outstanding dance instructors, Dieter and Ilsa. Below is a pix of Ida and I spinning, we call it spinning for veal scallopine at La Veranda (out of 2 nites at P7, 2 nites in Signatures and 2 in CR, we enjoyed our best meal in LV last nite) We're minutes from docking in Safaga, then we're off on the Desert Jeep Safari..more later.

Pls enjoy a few pix from our fabulous stops in Luxor and Petra:

Thanks Wes, I can never get enough Petra pix!

Loving your reports and the photos are terrific - thanks!

Thanks for the great pictures and reports, Wes. We love this itinerary and will hopefully get to do it again someday.

Wes and Ida thanks so much for taking time from your special trip to keep us "entertained and enthralled" ... Tony and I love reading your refeshing posts and seeing pixs - just wonderful

Hi Wes and Ida! Looks like we left the Voyager in good hands. We too loved Dubai, and I am the proud owner of a big pile of saffron!
Have a fabulous time, I'm so happy YOU are so good about the picture posting. Im afraid I spent much too much time in the shade at the pool with a book, and at Trivia with Linda and Ron!

You look so happy! It is wonderful to see someone so excited about a trip. Enjoy every moment!

Wes, enjoying your great posts so much. Keep having a wonderful time and please keep sending reports!

Continued great reporting and photos, Wes! This cruise looks to be far exceeding your wildest expectations, yes?

Wes & Ida, Just found this topic...beautiful photo's that bring back so many exciting memories. I told you it would be a sensory overload! Pleasant start to my morning! Enjoy the rest of your cruise and thanks again for sending me the book,I've been wrapped up in that as an excuse for not checking in. Ida looks beautiful

Sure has been enjoyable following along on seamail Wes. Thank you for keeping us informed. :app:

Karen, Kathy, Joanna, Cindy, Betty, Denise, Suzie, and Jim; thank you for your very kind words, glad you are enjoying our photos. As Suzie so aptly described above, more pix from our sensory overload cruise--first pix tho is of the terrific Voyager crew clapping and welcoming us home after a long bus ride to/from Cairo--

Wes, we had the same warm welcome home on Silver Sea , I remember limping up the gangway barefooted, my feet wouldn't work anymore ;)Photo's are merveilleux!!

Greetings Col. and Maj:

Retired military now enjoying ACTIVE lifestyle. You deserve it.

Am enjoying your photos and happy faces.

Cheers! Ray & Penny

Thanks for taking us along - continue to enjoy!

Thanks for posting the photos, Wes! Seems like I was just there. OH! That's right! I was!! LOL... Great to see you and Ida enjoying the awesome sites. Looks like the dust storms cleared for the time you were there. Awesome. Continue to enjoy the rest of your cruise!

For more pix from Israel (Jerusalem, pls look below) We took only Regent excursions in Israel (both included and both exceptionally outstanding with fabulous guides--one was tied with the best guide we have had this cruise). Methinks on some exotic itineraries (e.g. Asia, Middle east) Regent really shines as a lux cruise product
with their handling of included excursions. We talked with a Regent Destinations pro who switches back and forth from Oceania and Regent. Ida asked her which line she prefers--she said Regent as the guests are so much more relaxed (not having to pay extra for drinks or excursions). Just spoke with count Florida (Mike and Pat are happy, they just got upgraded to a Seven Seas Voyager suite for Athens to Istanbul).

Jerusalem panaoramic shot:



Taken from the Gardens of Gethsemane:





In Jerusalem (Western Wall (Wailing)



On Via Dolorosa (believed to be route Jesus followed carrying the Cross to Calvary)



Picture taken in the Holy Sepulcher:



Inside the Church of Nativity (birthplace of Jesus)

Wes, the photo's are stunning....you're turning into a pro :app: Thanks for taking us along.

Supercalafragalistcexpealadocious!

I am loving all your photos and posts. Have now added this itinerary to my must do list.

Ok this hilarious. In the picture inside the church, there are 2 men sitting on the benches on the left side. The younger one with the blue shirt looks just like Jon my youngest. Son, and the bald guy looks like George my husband.

wonderful all

Thanks Suzie, Ray, Betty (you will absolutely love this itinerary) Rachel, Diane for your very kind comments. A few pix from crew kapers performed last night:

Oh, Krew Kapers...... a sad goodbye.

We had a great day in Athens with five fellow cruise critic couples including LCTr's Mike & Pat, pix below:







[IMG]http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436







We had a warm cruise critic/regent get together our first day on board, here is pix of beaming Mike & Pat



Ida and some CCr's:

Col:

You and your camera are certainly not doing any injustice to the fascinating sites you're seeing.

Nice to have a fun group to travel with as well.


Cheers! Ray & Penny

Ray & Penny, Thank you.

Here are some pix from Santorini:








And here are pix taken today at Ephesus (Terrace Houses)

Stunning photo's. Anxious to hear how you compare this cruise and ports to your other many travels. Keep having fun and I look forward to more cruise news and pic's.

Thank you Suzie, we absolutely love this middle east and Aegean itinerary. Our second fav cruise out of 16.

Quick note on the absolutely outstanding (intuitive) service we are receiving using my a.m routine to highlight. As I went to the coffee corner to get Ida's morning cafe latte, first had some OJ, then walked up to the bar and Galina handed me the cafe latte without me having to ask (she saw me in the miirror as I entered the coffee bar).
At breakfast, Sylvester one of the Maitre'D's at La Veranda had a steaming cappuccino put in front of me just as I finished my morning fruit/nut plate (again without asking). Guess these shining examples of anticipatory service are one of the benefits of now being on board the Voyager for 21 days.

Today, we are in Mykonos. We took the Island Delos excursion this morning. Below are some pix of this beautiful Island taken from the Voyager, and then pix taken on Delos. The island is covered with ruins, fallen columns, sections of the famous mosaics that once adorned the houses of the rich. According to Greek mythology, Leto gave birth to Artermis and Appollo here. Ida tricked me into climbing (I jogged up/down) the sacred Mount Cynthus, saying lets go...we only had about 40 min left before we had to re board the tender--so I quickly took off with Ida behind me (so I thought). Twenty min later it was just me hoofing it up Mount Cynthus.

Two of the pix at next post below are taken when I made it to the top.
Mount Cynthus back story:

Mount Cynthus
The Cynthion, the Sanctuary sacred to Athena Cynthia and Zeus Cynthus, is located at the highest point of the island, a venerable spot already in the archaic period and much enlarged in the late 2nd century BCE.

The visitor can climb up eastwards in order to see the Sanctuaries on the summit of mount Cynthus. He follows the best preserved of the three paths which can be seen easily from afar.

Pls enjoy these Delos & Mykonos pix:





Sacred Way




Terrace of Lions guarding the Sanctuary to Apollo:



House of Dionysus floor mosaic

More Delos and Mount Cythus pix:

Column with phallus at the Stoivadeion



Delos ruins:



Mount Cythus pix:

Interesting photos Wes. Have never seen photos of these sites before. I simply must get to the Greek Isles one of these days. This has been quite an adventure for you and Ida. Would have loved to sailed along.

Wes and Ida. Such a trip

I'm enjoying every post as well. For sure I could never keep up with Wes and Ida and all the activity they fit in each day!

I am so impressed. Thank you Wes and Ida for sharing this with us.

Totally magnificent trip reporting and pics! You and Ida look like you are having the time of your lives and you truly deserve it! Have a safe journey back home!!! :)

Great photos and loving your posts here and on cc, Wes. It sounds like you and Ida area really enjoying this cruise.

Breathtaking contrast in colors in Mykonis, photo's sharp, clear and I might add, um-m-m-m interesting. Thanks again

Hi Betty, Diane, Olivia (sure you can keep up with us--we need to plan a cruise together), Jim, Sue/Tom, Beth, Suzie;

Thanks again for your very kind words.

A few pix from yesterday's stop in Kavala, Greece (no ruins per se, but a wonderful seaside port to meander around)







A few pix taken from the Voyager of Instanbul this morning as we sailed in (now docked):

Thanks so much for posting your reports and pictures - David and I are doing a very similar iyinerary on the Voyager in April 2013, and we are really looking forward to it!