Forteleza was a time of great excitement. We were all taken to the theatre where we had a modern dance/ballet oresentation by children off the street who are being educated while they learn the discipline of dance. After their part, we went to the beautiful tree covered patio and sat at white-covered tables for drinks and snacks while the vibrant African dances were performed by a group of twenty or more men and women. It was great.

That evening was the full cruisers time to g
o to Signatures, have a set menu, and then go into Horizon for the Forbidden Broadway. We laughed until tears ran. They sang parodies of many Broadway shows, had SO many changes of costumes and did a great job. The following two or three nights were open for those on the segment. I don't know if they have been on Voyager yet but I know it is planned.

Today is Salvador de Bahia and the antique upper city which is a World Heritage Site.

Ardis

Forbidden Broadway has not been on the Voyager yet but I know they are expected. Glad to hear they are great!

Rhonda Burchmore is here now - we go tonight so I can't comment.

When the Mariner gets to the NZ/Au area Black Tie - a terrific Australian group - will be on. Not for Dinner and a Show but on the Main Stage.

The entertainment/lecturers has been good this year . . .

Peggy

Yes, Peggy, we are noticing a great improvement in entertainment. We are now having a comedien, Yakov Smirnoff, who not only makes you laugh, he brings you to the brink of tears, too. Yesterday afternoon we had a folkloric group from Salvador de Bahia who put on a very African performance, colorful and very active.

We are having lots of games, at least four a day of active games and one sit down game plus Trivia. John has matured so much since we first met him and is doing a really great job.

Our equator crossing was difficult since the seas were somewhat rough so the action was in the small pool (I can't spell the word} not the large pool which had been drained. All the victims were dressed in black and white prison stripes.

Ardis

I am so happy to hear these reports from the Mariner and Voyager.

We were told at the Regent Council in LAX that an increased budget and more focus was dedicated to improving the entertainment. It sounds like this is working well. The dinner and a show concept seems to be a hit from the reports I have had from guests.

They also mentioned how popular they knew Trivia was so were looking at games for those who like Token opportunities. Sounds like they are doing that now also.

Very happy to hear that their efforts are paying off - keep having fun and reporting in.

20 day and we will be flying out to meet the ship and all of you onboard and our fellow KOALA cruisers. Can't wait!!

Carolyn

Geaux Devils!!

this month's Andrew Harper has an article on Easter Islnad. Not greatly informative but any information on Easter Island is welcomed.

So much is happening! The cruise so far has not only met expectations but gone far beyond, John Barron is doing an excellent job. Since we first met him, he has matured greatly and is providing more on-board entertainment than other cruise directors have.

Rio de Janeiro is such an exciting city yet low-key at the same time. The traffic is not to be believed and you expect accidents at any moment. Sunday the beaches were SO full. Both Sunday and Monday there was so much activity. You have the feeling of a city doing well and not affected by the bad economy.
To the contrary, Buenos Aires gave the impression of being empty both of tourists and residents.

Our second day there was turnover day and we now have approximately 500 guests. The day they embarked we had a late afternoon performance by a family plus musicians. The father and mother and their six adult children all danced for us. A musical group from the hills provided marvelous music using instruments not too familiar such as the two-layered flute. Country dances and tangos were performed but my favorite above all else is the gaucho dancing. It is so lively and the rhythm of their boots just keeps you wiggling in your seat. That day Stan and I had gone to an estancia where there was supposed to be gaucho dancing and they actually did it on grass which was so disappointing. There was no rhythm at all.

Montevideo is great. The people are so friendly and helpful. Stan and I walked the city and stopped from time to time to ask questions of natives. Each one went out of his way to give us the information we wanted. We love the many statues with their patina of blue-green.

Tonight is the Full Cruisers night at Dinner and a Show, a Tango e Tango show. Regent is setting a very high standard so far and are going to have a very hard time continuing it.

I have not previously mentioned the weather but it has been ideal! As we head south we expect cooler weather. The pool deck has been getting a lot of business because of the sun which has not been too hot or too cool, just right.

Ardis

Ardis,I'm glad your cruise sounds near perfect! Thanks for reporting. Keep having fun!

Ardis, so happy your trip is going so well. We had many of the same stops and same staff on our Mariner 2006 South America circumnavigation and LOVED it ! It was our very favorite cruise. Everything will keep going great for you.

I have always found John Barron to be one class act and a fantastic CD.

me too Betty....he was fantastic from the first time we met him on VJ7 when he was assistant CD. This was when he and Lynsay got engaged.

We think John is an outstanding CD. He is talented, extremely personable, very involved CD. Have fond memories of cruising with John and his lovely wife, Lydsay. If we were debating over two similar trips John, as the CD, would tip the scales for us.

For those joining ROF for the Koala segment, check to make sure you got your AMEX Platinum shipboard credit (if you qualify for it.) They didn't have ours on the account but got it added after I checked with Reception. They were very nice about taking care of it and it appeared to have been a mistake by AMEX. For those new to the interactive system, you can check your account anytime on the TV in the suite.

There's a new bar policy that they only have one choice of each type of wine (cabernet, chardonnay etc) and it's the same in each bar. Unfortunately the current chardonnay choice is an Italian which isn't very well liked. There are still multiple choices in the restaurants.

One bottle of each type in each bar...hmmmm Jim, this doesn't sound good for more select wine drinkers (not me).

I've been following the Welden's blog. Lots of good photos too. Mary Welden mentioned that Coach Don Shula is now on board and a guest speaker. I bet that would be very interesting. This is the website for their blog.
http://worldwideweldens.blogspot.com/2008/12/antarctica-jan-12th-2009-and-ring-of.html

Marcie, That just means the wine drinkers will have to go from bar to bar to get their favorite bottle!! Bar hopping without driving.

Very good Beth! :D I think Jim means one choice of each type of wine not one bottle - we were told on Navigator in December this was about to happen (or was happening, slowly) BUT bartenders took great care of our before dinner wine requests at bar. Maybe choices came from their stash that had not been removed and they were not enforcing the new policy, then. It would never impact us as we drink wine in the evenings and here's to wine drinking

Wow, I recall on our last trip(samba) that we had tons of options. The bartenders also knew what we liked and somehow managed to find it. That would be something if we only had one choice.

Boy oh boy did we have some times at that Navigator lounge...Beth, Crystal, Joanna, Marcie, sweet Carla....memories. isn't this always the way after a trip? I want to go back now.

Correct Joanna, it's the same wine in every bar.

The new Staff Captain, Felice Patruno, is a real delight. He came from Carnival and is very visible and outgoing like John McNeill. He's on the Mariner to get used to Regent and then will go to the Navigator to split the Captain duties with McNeill. He really likes the Regent style and is glad to be away from the younger set with the "party party" atmosphere.

The staff says that the Company doesn't tell them in advance how many guests to expect on upcoming segments but they are expecting fewer than 300 for Koala - perhaps as few as 250. Tough for the company but great for the guests. Shouldn't be any problem getting into Prime 7.

Jim and Pat--glad you're having a good time on the ROF. Intersting about the wine--we pretty much could get whatever wine we wanted at the bars on the Navigator cruise we just left. I guess it could be I just liked the wines they had, but it definitely wasn't an Italian chardonnay (I'd have balked at that for sure since I like the California chardonnays)-- they had Haywood. I know they also had Poilly Fuse (sp?) which I'll drink in a pinch even though it's French--one of the friends we met drank that. I also know that if they didn't have something at one bar, they'd go get it at another one (e.g Rose's lime juice).

sounds like with these few numbers we won't have a chaise hog problem. Yeah. with lots of sea days this could have been irritating.

I noticed that when they introduced wine/liquer included they served Conundrum from California and Chateau Neuf du Pape from France....no extra charges....on our last cruise on Mariner...NO Conundrum,even to BUY. They did have Sancerre and a not too bad reisling.

Since I don't really care for Chardonny(ABC)it looks like I'll be paying for wine on Captains cruise.

Wonder when they will start JUST serving "bar booze" for free and not the good stuff (Grey Goose...for me).....Time will tell.

Peggy...I'm with you, I will drink Pouilly Fusee if I have to(used to love it but my tastes have changed over the years).

NO chaise hog problems. There are literally dozens upon dozens of unusued chaises. The weather is also changing for the worst and we can expect higher seas for the next four or five days which may affect both Stanley and beyond.

Ardis

Weather reversed itself and today is sunny but cool in Port Stanley!

Ardis

I started up a travelogue which will cover segments 2 thru 5 (Buenos Aires to Hong Kong) on the ROF. It's available at: http://bittleringoffire.blogspot.com
and photos are at: http://bittleringoffirecruise.shutterfly.com

Jim

Sounds and looks like you are having a great time. We just signed up for 2010 South America (Ft Lauderdale to BA) and your descriptions will help us with several ports.

Wish we were there!

Jan and Fred

Jim, love reading your blog and seeing your photos. You two are off to a fantastic start.

The weather held today in Port Stanley and it was shirtsleeve weather from about 10:00 on. we had lunch in the Malvina House Hotel and saw a couple looking for a place to sit and invited them to join us. It turned out to be Barbara & Don (Regent AZ Traveller) and we had a good time getting to know each other. They're friends of Ardis & Stan (McKeever) whom they introduced us to at trivia. Neither couple has a photo on their posts so I didn't know who to look for before. It will be fun on Koala when the LCT invasion comes aboard. Even though we're a small group this time we'll still be a presence since the ship will be fairly empty.
Jim

Jim,
I always enjoy your blogs and appreciate your taking the time!!

I am so enjoying the posts and the jbittle blog for this cruise. You sound as thogh you are having a spectaular trip! I'm particularly impressed by all of the entertainment offerings...they sound fabulous..but I'm somewhat disappointed to learn that Regent is apparently offering one white and one red wine at their bars. They don't offer only 1 vodka or 1 scotch,etc. And wine is generally less expensive than hard liquor.

They do offer more than 1 red & 1 white, it's one of each type (such as chardonnay, merlot, cab sav etc) but it's only standard types. No others like malbec. It used to be that if you didn't like the California merlot you could request an South American or Australian for instance. No requests now - what they have is what you get. I hope a lot of guests make comments about it on the comment cards.

Jim, is there more assortment in the dining room (without cost)? For example, previously, if I didn't want to have a Chardonnay, I usually didn't have much trouble getting a Sancerre. I assume I'd have no trouble getting a generic Sauvignon Blanc.

------------

Eugene

There is no change in the dining rooms - you can still order any other wines on the complimentary list. I was told today by John Barron that Franc, the F&B Mgr is going to contact me about the wine selection problem in the bars. I hope it is to say alternatives will be available. I'll post the result once I talk to him.
Jim

Just after making the previous post I received a call from Franc and it was as a result of my mid-segment comment card. He said the one of each type of wine was a new company policy but he discussed it with the Bar Mgr and they agreed that we can request wines at a bar and it will be available the next day. He agreed with the comments and will send them on to The Puzzle Palace (AKA Corporate Office.) I know that several of you who have responded to my posts as well as others who are wine appreciators would like the options so..... emails from you to Mark Conroy at mconroy@rssc.com may help. Mark has always listened to guests concerns and tries to address them in a positive way and he also reads LCT from time to time so maybe we can get our message through.
Cheers,
Jim

Jim, Thank you for carrying the ball on this. Carol and I like wine vs other options and prefer a nice Chardonay. If we do not care for what is being poured we often ask for a California Chardonay which for the most part is acceptable. It tends to be what style of wine you prefer. It is not just a red vs white decison.

Hopefully Regent is reading these posts and reponds with the a guest positive response.

Thats good news Jim. I was a little dismayed at the posts regarding this since I prefer and generally drink Pinot Grigio and would be very disappointed if all I could get in the bars was Chardonnay, as generally I find most of them kind of heavy, although I can and do drink many wines, I prefer much lighter Chardonnay's, which I don't often find on ships, so have just gotten into Pinot Grigio. Besides, it just seems to me that its nice to have a selection of two or three reds and whites in the bars as everyone does not drink or like the exact same things. Similar to the comment above about Gin or Vodka, or such. Wine has become a very popular bar drink over the years and it does seem strange to not offer a choice.

I have to admit, I was surprised by what I was reading about the decision about wines at the bar, too. I agree with you, JoAnn, that even just 2 or 3 each of red and white would be satisfactory, and I don't think it's asking too much of Regent. Thank God that the wine with dinner policy remains the same, or I think there would be a mutiny!

BTW, I am very much a Pinot Grigio fan, too, JoAnn! :) And not so much a fan of Chardonnay...I find it too buttery!

Thank you, Jim, for voicing your concerns over this!

Even though they were offering 1 bottle of each type of red and each type of white e.g. one chardonnay, one pinot grigio and one sauvignon blanc (not 1 red and one white) I still don't think this is satisfactory, and I'm glad Jim has voiced his concerns. To request a certain brand that is in the inventory and be denied that at a bar goes against what a luxury ship is all about, especially since Regent keeps saying that they continue to "enhance" services for their customer. The limitation under the new
rules" makes me feel like Regent is saying "NO".

Jim, thanks for your wine pressing efforts.

JoAnne, Kristin; have you ever tried an unoaked
chard...I also find Chard too fat/buttery, but there are some good unoaked Chards...as the saying goes, try it..you'll like it...suggest
Razor's Edge Aussie unwooded chard is good and only $12 or so. And if you like Pinot Grigio, bet you'll love Pinot Gris...best out there imo, is King's Estate PGris.

Cheers,

Wes

r/wes

Oh yes I do like Pinot Gris. I am usually easily satisfied, but some of the CA chardonnays, especially, just seem so heavy that I almost get a headache within a sip or two. However, we recently joined a CA wine club, and the first shipment included an very nice light Chardonnay, and I liked it so much that during the current wine sale I ordered another bottle. We also a couple of weeks ago, went to a VA wine festival and I found two or three light Chardonnay's that I liked and we brought home a couple of bottles.

I will consider trying an uncoorked one Wes, I'll try anything when it comes to wine, at least once.

So Kristin, sounds like we need to hook up on a cruise someday, somewhere and enjoy Pinot Grigio!!

Well, it seem that one thing is pretty clear: Regent, don't mess with the wine