Just checking in with a quick note - the Voyager is everything we anticipated and more. We've just left Istanbul - what a fascinating city - but no matter how much we heard about it beforehand, you just aren't prepared for how large it is! And it is very chic - cosmopolitan - up and coming and ever growing. We stayed at the Conrad Hilton and loved the location, not too far from the bridge that connects Europe and Asia.

The ship has a new captain - Gianmario Sanguineti from near Portofino. He comes from Oceania. Everyone - crew and guests have been just lovely. We are in for a fabulous week. We've met up with Susan and Bob of LCT and have made so many new friends already.

The weather has been a little cool but still comfortable...half sun and half overcast. Looking forward to perhaps some warmer temps and LOTS of sun in the upcoming Greek isles! Mykonos tomorrow...

Kristin, it's sooo good to hear from you!! A new Captain??? Maybe you can stalk the poor man and take a picture of him for us to see!

I know you will have a wonderful week and thanks for checking in - I love the Voyager - Joanna

Have a wonderful trip, Kristin--and keep on sending the sea mail :)

This camera pans around the port of Mykonos, maybe we can catch a glimpse of Kristin tomorrow!

Karen,
Thanks for the link. I have never had the opportnity to see Mykonos in the evening. It is quite different than daytime and quite beautiful.

Susan, I can't figure out how to get the camera to pan again, I am thinking it might do it automatically?

Kristin, I so happy to hear your trip is off to such a great start. I agree with everything you said about Istanbul, it's amazing! Keep having a wonderful time and sending seamail!

:woh: Kristin; you and Greg have a great week. I knew you'd love the Voyager!

Kristin, thanks for reporting in. You know how we LOVE the SeaMail. Enjoy the beautiful Voyager,and all those wonderful ports, and report often!

Kristin, so nice to hear from you, and so glad you are loving Voyager! Very interesting we have a new Captain in the Regent family. Hope you will get to know him and send along a few pictures!

We sailed with Captain Gianmario Sanguineti on Oceania, he is a very nice man and a good captain. I think y'all will enjoy sailing with him.

Thanks so much, everyone...it has been a delight getting to know the ship and crew. We ate at Compass Rose the first night and LeVeranda last night - both were excellent. Lee left us some lobster, LOL! It was everywhere last night!

I am fighting some jet lag - I keep waking up at 1:00am and can't fall back asleep until the sun comes up! But the good thing is, that makes the trip seem longer ;)

I've sent a picture of the Captain to Karen which I am sure she will post when it gets to a decent hour back home.

We arrive in Mykonos at noon so maybe you'll be able to stalk us later today!

Dang Kristin, I didn't receive the picture?

Hi Kristin, so good to hear from you. We have nice seamail coming from the Voyager and the Navigator at the same time. Wonderful to get up to and read each day. Keep the reports coming and thanks for taking the time to post.

Hi Kristin - great to hear from you, sounds like your trip is off to a great start. One of these days we will have to do a cruise in or out of Istanbul.

Say hi to Bob and Susan with us. Tell Susan I went to my 50th runion a couple of weeks ago and it was great fun. Also that we saw Laura Le Smith Dreyfus and she said "hi".

Hi everyone,

We bumped into Kristen yesterday on the pool deck. It is great fun to see people you know on the ship. I agree with all she said; this is a great cruise.

Today we are in Mykanos. The weather is cool and windy, but NO rain. We will be leaving for Rhodes in about an hour. Looking forward to seeing the old city.

Hi to JoAnn. I'm glad Laura Lee was at your reunion also. :)
..................
Susan

Kristin - glad your trip is exceeding expectations. Can't wait to hear the next installment

The Green Bay Packers, to quote the press, recovered some of their swagger, beating Indianapolis 34-14 yesterday

Cheers, Anne

So glad to hear from the Voyager (we really are missing it). Yes -- it is hard to imagine how large the city is. Looking forward to more reports.

Jackie

Kristin resent the photo of her and the Captain, what a handsome couple!

WOW Kristen - you look beautiful and thanks for sending us that great pix - :lct: :lct:

Nice pic Kristin! :)

Uh Huh! Great Pic! Thanks Kristin!

Love your dress! great photo :app:

You look lovely, Kristin, thanks for posting the picture! Which one is he? Geez, all my Regent cruises, and I don't recognize him. I was hoping for Magnus from the Diamond(Just kidding)

I remember Magnus A plus anyone remember Capt from DDD????

Yes! But not the captain! He was always second in command. Think he has moved on to another line, unfortunately.

Olivia, you don't recognize him because he is new!

Kristin wrote:

Kristin! What a lovely photo... you look so happy. Who wouldn't be? You have a magical trip to look forward too....enjoy.

Great shot. Do LOVE the dress that is very striking.

You are all too kind! I thought the Captain looked a little frightened of me ;)

We had a great day in Mykonos yesterday and as previous visitors have said, it's easy to walk around the little streets. But do watch out for those tiny little pickup trucks which actually fit between the shops and tavernas - our friend nearly got pegged off by one as soon as he exited the shop!

It was very windy but somehow the crew were able to tender us all in. They used the "take a number" system which sounds unusual for a small ship, but it worked brilliantly. On the return tender the waves were crashing up over the boat! I was reminded of the Gilligan's Island theme - the tiny ship was tossed!

Speaking of which, this morning when we were arriving in Rhodes, the ship very abruptly went to the side and righted itself (I think there is a term for it - listed, maybe?). What an odd feeling that was, one minute I was over on Greg's side of the bed and the next back to my own. Not quite sure what happened there ;)

The food continues to be fantastic, and the beverages flow freely. I just have to make mention of my lunch yesterday in CR. It was sole stuffed with salmon mousse and it was one of the most incredible meals I've ever had!

Just waiting now for our butler, Arnel, to deliver breakfast. More after Rhodes!

Green, green, green - that's me! Hope you enjoy your cruise as much as we did ours. I didn't want to leave but they made me. Lee

Great picture Kristin.

Susan - Laura didn't go to my reunion, they live here in No Virginia near us, and we saw them last weekend and I told her the story about meeting you on B2B.

Trip sounds wonderful so far, kind of scary whatever happened in Rhodes Kristin, how weird.

Thanks for sharing Kristin. You look great, and I am sure you are having a wonderful time. I am glad you like Voyager. I am going to soak everything up like a sponge till I can get back on her in December.

Oh my, Rhodes was fantastic! I don't know what we were expecting, but this is one of my favorite ports we've sailed into all time. A sort of fortress surrounds a myriad of shops, restaurants, tavernas, etc. We walked around for hours taking pictures and marveling at everything, then when it came time for our "reward" (which is always a local beer), we stumbled upon a 3-story restaurant that had gorgeous views of the fortress and the ship. From the rooftop, we enjoyed grilled octopus (which is of course a Greek favorite) and meatballs (moutzoukakia - sp?) and our favorite Greek beer, Alpha, served in a big glass boot!

The weather was perfect, full-on sun with 70 degree temps. Not much to complain about here!

We had a fantastic dinner at Latitudes this evening. We're glad we had a chance to try this Indochine restaurant before it becomes the steakhouse we've heard about and will experience in May when we return to the Voyager.

Greg and I have each caught a cold but won't let that ruin anything! Tomorrow is Kusadasi. We've already toured Ephesus recently so we're going it on our own this time around. we hear there is an island nearby that is worth visiting, so will try that and report back!

Regent is throwing in some treats with this cruise (and the 2 subsequent itineraries) - a concert in Ephesus and 1:1 US dollar to Euro trade at the front desk (maximum $200 US per suite). If we can manage to stay out of the casino, we just might come out ahead! :p

Just had to comment that many people have been getting a cold on the Voyager the last three weeks -- wonder what that is all about?

Kusadasi was great fun to walk around (and, of course, get our Turkish bath). Looking forward to your next update.

Jackie

Kusadasi:If you like baklava, there is a nice shop in the little mall near the pier . . .

Did someone say baklava??? I live for baklava! Maybe it's time to go to Instanbul again!

I picked this up from another board.Wonder if it could be related to this .......

Very interesting, David!