Catching up after a lovely afternoon at the Boone Hall Plantation here in Charleston. This is as close to home as I will get on this cruise, since Savannah was cancelled, but it looks pretty darn close to what I grew up with. Tonight we head out for a nighttime walking tour, so dinner will probably be just something from room service. And for anyone who isn't sure Mike is really on this cruise with me, since all the photos have been of me, here's one to prove his existence!!

I love Charleston. Will the walking tour be around the main downtown square?

And Cindy, loved the video.

I think the tour is through the historic district. I know there is no bus involved, so it must be around there. Will know more in about an hour!

Cindy, I'll have to look at the video when I get home and have "real" Internet!

Sorry, double post!

Cindy that video was so very cute!!!!

Cindy my video quit I guess right before "kiss" - you two look great and Happy Anniv LATE :) :)

Update...Teo Srdelic has taken over as the Captain of the Navigator, as of today. Don't know how long he'll be the master of the ship.

COLD day in Charleston, after a miserable rainy night. Mike and I did do the walking tour, but ended up absolutely soaked before it was all over. Our tour guide was very nice, but really, really bad (couldn't keep a train of thought, didn't really tell us any real "ghost" stories, or any other decent stories for that matter, and didn't bring umbrellas for everyone like all the other groups' guides did). Suffice it to say that we started with 12 people in our group on the tour, and ended with only 4.

We did see an example of a truly ugly traveler, and it was quite embarrassing. An older man who obviously did not want to be on the tour just kept complaining, using foul language and being just a general nuisance. His poor wife obviously wanted to do the tour, but after about 15 minutes, during which a downpour started and we were all huddled under the overhang of a church to try to keep dry (unsuccessfully!!!!!) he finally left. But not before his parting shot of, "Charleston and everyone here stinks, and I'll never come back." It was completely uncalled for, and I can only say, as a Southerner myself, that his type is the reason the phrase "Damn Yankee" is still so prevalent in the South 150 years after the Civil War!!

The rain stopped sometime last night, but then the cold front came through. It was 50 outside this morning when we boarded the boat for Fort Sumpter, and windy as all get out. I'm still not sure it was the smartest thing for me to do, staying on the tour, as I didn't really learn that much more than I had learned on yesterday's tour, but I just couldn't see staying on the ship all day. I honestly couldn't get back on the Navigator fast enough though!! Mike and I didn't bring any jackets or sweats...I had no idea pool towels could make such great ponchos!!!!

Ok that guy was a real jerk! I would have probably left the tour though if the guide was that bad. Ft sumpter would be interesting though. Were you not allowed to explore on your own there?

Rachel, we probably could have just done our own thing on Sumpter, but our guide seemed to really know his stuff and we figured we'd learn more staying with him. Not sure if it was the smartest move, but the place was really crowded and it seemed the like the right thing to do at the time.

Now for the really sad news...we will not be docking at Wilmington tomorrow. The weather front that brought all this bad weather is moving north, and it would have been too windy and dangerous to try to get in there. We will be rocking and rolling tomorrow as it is, as we ride the tail of this front to Bermuda. I am sad to not see Wilmington, but more upset for those poor people who had so been looking forward to seeing the Navigator dock there for the first time in 2 years. It just breaks my heart to think of all those people who were so excited to show off their city that their local paper had an article about us coming. Sigh.

What a shame!, especially for the city, as you said, but also you, the pax.

We were spared the worst of this front, but will have MUCH cooler temps as a result, low tonight supposed to be 47 and the next week cooler, when we've been breaking high temp records the last few weeks. Wacky weather!

I'm honestly more concerned about the people of Wilmington...I can always fly back here someday if I so choose...but who recoups the costs of prepping for a ship coming into port? So sad.

I'm honestly more concerned about the people of Wilmington...I can always fly back here someday if I so choose...but who recoups the costs of prepping for a ship coming into port? So sad.

How odd, I just checked the weather and it says nothing about wind for Wilmington. Tami, I hope you have a smooth while riding the front!

Tami, I thought of another question, how is the AC on the ship? Is it nice and cold in your cabin and the public areas?

Karen, I actally had to turn the heat on yesterday in Charleston, that's how cold it was!! But the AC seems to be working fine, now. When we first got onboard, we had some problems at night with our cabin getting too warm for the first couple of nights. I don't know if the cooler weather helped get it back on track, or it someone worked on it, but everywhere seems nice and cool now. I'll let you know if we encounter any problems when we get to warmer climates.

Climate control is the least of our issues at the moment. We are fighting our way through 12 plus foot swells that cause the ship to actually shudder at times. Mike and I are sporting our Sea Bands, are popping our homeopathic motion sickness pills every hour, and are laying out on the pool deck to get fresh air. So far so good, but walking around in my heels tonight to get to Prime 7 is going to be an adventure!

Speaking of Prime 7, we were able to get two seats at a table for 6 last night there at the last minute. We haven't shared a table in years, but it was reallly, really enjoyable. One tablemate was there with his 94 year old mother, and she was a hoot. Truthfully, I'd have to say the average age onboard this cruise is about 75 (no, that's no exaggeration), and Mike and I feel like a couple of teenagers! So much so that we actually stayed up late, late last night and went to Stars to dance to jukebox music. It was hilarious, as Mike can't dance! But there were others there who danced with me too, and it ended up being just a wonderful, "social" night for us. I have to say, the passengers on Regent are by far the best we've ever cruised with.

They've got a jazz band playing out here by the pool, and they are fabulous! I hope they're around for FUN3...they're so good they're making me forget about how much we're being tossed around!!

Thanks Tami, I hope it continues to stay cool in your cabin when you get to the warmer temps.

Sorry to hear you have hit some rough seas!!!!

wow Tami some high seas! I hope the a/c is frosty when you hit those warmer temps - I like cabin very cold when it's hot outside!

Karen and Cindy, I spoke with Franco yesterday, and gave him your respective hellos. He send his regards to each of you (and Karen, it does sound like he'll be onboard for FUN3).

Well that just makes my day! Thanks for saying hi to Franco for me!

As everyone here onboard says, "My pleasure!". What a lovely phrase!

Tami I'll have to practice that phrase when I do Tony's laundry and run his errands - and learn how to do it with a smile!!!

Here comes Tami!

We're here!!!

Thanks Tami for saying Howdy to Franco for us - he may actually wish he never sees us again! (Although I hope NOT!!)

Cindy, he didn't seem too perturbed when I mentioned you and "the kiss!" So I think all is well!

We had a great day yesterday, touring Tucker's Town and visiting the Crystal Caves. I really like how the tours are done here in Bermuda...we are put into 6 passenger (or less) vans and driven around almost as if it is a personal tour. Very, very well done.

Today we had an even better tour of the western end of Bermuda, including going to the Dockyard area, where a Royal Caribbean ship is docked (thank you, NO!). Our van today only had 4 of us, and we had met the other couple yesterday at the pool bar, so it was a very friendly, comfortable tour. Plus, the driver was in no hurry, and neither were any of us, so he tacked on an extra 30 minutes and took us to some other, out of the way places (ie...Sea Glass Beach).

The winds are picking up pretty badly, so we're not going to be able to sail into St. Georges. However, we're staying here in Hamilton tomorrow until 2:00, so most of the tours are still on for St. Georges. I'm not sure we'll be taking ours, however...we've seen 90% of Bermuda as it is, and are a bit "toured out." We like it here so much that we're talking about coming back someday, so I'm not too worried about missing seeing that last 10%. This place really, really is beautiful...I had no idea!!

Here's Mike with the Navigator docked in Hamilton



The Crystal Caves



Elbow Beach


Oh, I am going to be so sorry when this cruise ends!

pretty woman

I agree Diane and she is as sweet as she is pretty!

AND FUN!!!!!! Tami hope we get to cruise with you and Mike again!! Last one was too short

You have inspired me to want to do this cruise even more! Husband would love the really small excursion vans ,

Y'all are just tooooo nice! I also hope Mike and I can cruise with you all again...just let us know when FUN4 rolls around!

Rachel, this has been an amazing cruise. Even with all the rocking and rolling to get here to Bermuda, and even with the cancellation of Savannah and Wilmington, this one definitely ranks right up there as one of the best we've ever done.

Sadly, however, I think my days of posting pictures has probably come to an end. Mike was determined to do laundry last night for some reason (he obviously had too much wine at dinner) and forgot that his brand new iPhone 4s was still in the pocket of the pants he was washing. We've been using the phone as our camera, so not only have we lost most of the pictures and video he took, but we now also have no way of taking any more pictures. Not to mention no cell phone now either. It would be almost funny if it weren't so darn tragic. Oh well, gives me an excuse to do this cruise again someday!

Tami, unfortunate about Mike's iPhone. Sounds like something I might do. FYI ...don't ever put your jeans in the dryer with lipstick in the pocket. :)

So glad your cruise was such a success. Thanks for your reports and photos!

Tami that is sad about phone - and yes I have done lipstick in the dryer :mecry: :mecry: :mecry:

My husband says "sorry about the iPhone". He goes through them really fast.

I have done the same thing with the phone in the laundry too. So easy to do when you are preoccupied with other things. (Not lipstick yet though Joanna!!) At least you have your memories, right?

Thanks Rachel. I'm most concerned about the fact that it is Mike's work phone (his company paid for it) and he now has to explain how he ruined it after only having it for 2 weeks!!! We've had it in dry rice for a day now, and he did get a vibration out of it when he tried turning it on, so we're hoping Apple or one of his IT guys can at least retrieve the date (pictures and video) off of it.

I just finished the backstage tour...it was really interesting and quite amazing to see how little space those entertainers have to change costumes in. Speaking of entertainment, you all on FUN3 are in for a real treat. This group of entertainers are the absolute best I have ever seen on any cruise (and we've done lines like Norwegian and Holland America, with big stages and big productions). Their contract is up in a month, so they only have FUN3 and maybe one more before a new group is brought in. The lead female singer is amazing, and the male opera singer belongs on Broadway or in London...he is just that good. Honestly, the entertainment is one of the reasons I am now saying that this is the best cruise we've ever been on.

Another reason is the crew itself. Much like the entertainers, this crew is by far the best I have ever encountered. I went to the Navigator Lounge yesterday by myself, and as soon as I walked up, George the bartender asked, "Where is Mike?" That doesn't sound too amazing until you realize that the last time Mike and I were at that bar with George was the second night of the cruise, 9 days ago! How in the world he remembered my husband (without him even being there with me), I'll never know.

I wanted to book another cruise while onboard, but quite frankly, the cruise consultant is not very good. I asked for some quotes, and what was sent to me was not what I asked for (wrong cabin category, didn't include with and without air, etc). Am I correct in thinking that if I book within 30 days of the end of this cruise, we will still get the onboard booking discount? I'd much rather have Linda at B&K book for me, as she seems way more knowledgable that Regent's own representative!!!!

So, so sad it is about to end. But we have dinner tonight with the General Manager and his wife, so that should be fun (and informative).

If you book within 30 days, you will still get the discount. I have not been all that I,pressed with some of the cruise consultants. Much prefer just dealing with B& K.

more stories please

Diane, as soon as we get home and I can download the photos from my phone (as Mike's is currently inop!) I will post the photo of the pretty little Navigator stuck between the Norwegian Epic and the Monstrosity of the Seas (Oasis, that is) in Nassau. One of the funniest shots I have ever taken. All of us on the port side saluted the Oasis passengers as we were leaving port with a raise of our champagne glasses...but I'm betting they didn't get the irony.

Tami, it sure is nice to have another Navigator lover here. Many folks think her public rooms are too small and there is the lack of specialty restaurants. Those things don't bother me at all. I love the small size of the Navigator and how the staff and crew get to know you much easier...she has more of a sense of community. Glad you like her, too!