Well, we are on our way to San Diego and the cruise is winding down. As David reported, we are rocking and rolling a bit, a good wind has come up and the temperature outside is now in the 60s. The pool deck is empty. Trivia is packed. And we are eagerly awaiting the last of the four new productions our entertainers have prepared. The third production was very well received by a full theater and, IMO, the best so far. Two nights ago we were entertained by Marty Henne, a delightful singer-pianist I've seen before, and last night a great comedian followed by liars club in a packed to the rafters Galileo Lounge. Captain John McNeill was one of the liars, and very funny indeed, as was Terry Breen, our security officer Steve, and Marty Henne. The evening was a hoot. So I'm going to wrap it up for semail unless something unusual happens.

We leave the ship very pleased with the tours we have enjoyed. Good guides, comfortable first class busses, largely good fellow travelers, and well done port stops. Fred and I are not resort travelers so we had very low expectations for the Mexican ports we visited. All were interesting and a pleasant surprise. We won't likely be coming back but we enjoyed each visit. We found Cabo stunningly beautiful and the port of Huatulco, the rising star of Mexican destinations (after the recession ends) surprisingly charming and classy. We leave Mexico amused that Mexican immigration to the north is viewed here as natural "migration" whereas Guatamalan immigration north is "illegal" and "a serious problem."

We have been sailing on a full ship with a good and highly interesting group fellow cruisers. A cross dresser boarded in Puntarenas. He is a new experience for us on a Regent ship. He appeared to have boarded with the intent of pushing the envelope as far as he could. A visit to trivia in pool deck attire apparently did the trick and a meeting with the ship's authorities soon followed. I would guess that he was presented with limits and choices. Soon thereafter I saw him dressed as a man on a ship tour. He continues to dress otherwise on board but more tastefully than before. Every time I've seen him in CR he was dining alone. We also have a chap on board who steps up to "conduct" our pianist Constantine and also our fine band when they are playing on the pool deck. They really don't need his help. Most of the rest of us are just ordinary happy campers as far as I can tell. We have a lone ten-year-old on board who is comfortable with adults, into cruising big time, and a delight to behold. Yesterday we walked into CR for breakfast and there was Jacob having breakfast alone. His mom and dad apparently had chosen room service. Jacob prefers dining in class! What a kid!

This cruise is getting an A+ from us in all categories. Perfect? Of course not. But we would be fools to expect perfection from any cruise ship. Most impressive has been the crew. On a scale of one to five I would give them a six, a six as individuals as well as a team. Franck Galsy, who has worked his way up the ranks at Regent starting on Navigator on her first day in service, has just been promoted to General Manager and has pulled together apparently the best of the lot from among Regent's employees and they sparkle! The dining room crew really shine, but how could they not under Franco's esteemed leadership. And Captain John McNeill is second to none. His smiling face seems to appear everywhere all the time. I was sitting in the Navigator lounge sipping coffee one morning at about seven watching a crew member trying to adjust a large picture hanging on the wall in the hallway. He was struggling with the task. McNeill walked by, saw the man was having difficulty, gave him a warm smile, put his arm around the man's shoulder, and leaned in and set about helping him with his task. Here was the guy at the top spontaneously pitching in to assist a fellow crew member no doubt very low in the pecking order. If that isn't great leadership I guess I don't know what it is. The can do spirit starts at the top on this ship. Everyone has it.

I've forgotten what you LCTers about to board this ship in San Francisco call your cruise. You are in for a delightful treat. I will be keenly interested to learn of you agree with me. If we afre lucky, Fred and I will be driving to Victoria to have lunch on board when you dock. Pat