Well, we are now on a new segment and new people on board. Last night we dined with the doctor and met new people who have been onboard since Monte Carlo and Athens we'd not met before. We all decided we'd been in hiding.

Dubia is a great city, filled be lots of construction. Crystal and I tood the Big Red Bus (HOHO) both days and feel we got a very good overview and views of the city. The red line took in the old town with tickets to the Dubai Museum-a must see- and the creek ride. We also walked through the souks, gold and spice. The blue line was new Dubai and the shopping malls. The Ski Dubai was really fun to see.

Now on our way to Bahrain and this afternoon is the Cocktails and Formula One event for all cruisers.

More later.....

Can you explain the "Segment 3" thing? I saw Athens to Dubai called Segment 2, but I thought this was the start of the Discover Collection. Obviously I'm wrong, but just wonder, since the Voyager Discover Collection is listed as starting in Athens next year.

Wendy - the Discover Collection is being marketed like the World Cruise. There are multiple segments, so you can book a portion or the full Discovery Collection cruise. Mumbai to Cape Town is Segment 4; Cape town to Rio Segment 5 and Rio to Fort Lauderdale Segment 6.

Details on segments are on p. 4 of the brochure at this link:
2008 Discovery Cruise

Cheers, Anne

Wendy, The Discovery Collection started in Monte Carlo, though first advertised from Athens, Regent added on another segment to begin. I think the Voyager 2009 does begin in Athens.

Just to let you all know, we have received two pillow gifts. The first was a pen & pencil set and the second is a set of binoculars. We have also received a Voyage of Discovery pin.

Our friends Ken and Shirley's cabin is just down the hall from the "stash room." They say the cabin is filled with boxes upon boxes!!!!

Thanks Beth, didn't know that. Hope you're still having a great time, chugging your way to Mumbai I guess! I'm enjoying both your blogs.

Beth and Crystal:

Keep on keeping on!

Regent must have quite a stash of these gifts. The clocks at home were our 3rd & 4th. The pen sets were also 3rd & 4th. The binoculars were 5 & 6. At least the pins have this cruise printed on them so they're new. Still waiting for Dodi to print up the door plaques...

Captain McNeill got word this morning that he's leaving in Cape Town and Fabrizio is coming from the Mariner and being promoted to captain to finish the DC. We'll really miss John.
Jim

It is sad that Capt. McNeill will be leaving us in CT. The SAMBAites won't have the pleasure of sailing with him.

The offical Voyage of Discovery jackets arrived today!

In a few hours, two sea days and then Mumbai. Getting ready for Peggy and Jerry to join us.

And we can hardly wait!!! :3smile:

Happy Birthday, Jan

Today is the first of two sea days prior to us arriving in Mumbai on Friday. This is a nice respite after 6 days in the hot, sandy Arabian desert.

Taj Mahal Failure...
69 of us left the ship at 7:30 for the airport for a charter flight to Agra and to visit the Taj Mahal on an overnight excursion. We circled the Agra airport for about 40 minutes waiting for a fog to lift. with fuel low we diverted to New Delhi, refueled the plane and waited on the tarmac for 2 hours waiting for the fog to lift. At 3:00 we deplaned, walked from the arrival terminal to the departure terminal and had an Indian lunch in an upstairs restaurant and waited for the fog in Agra to lift. At 4:00 the decision was made to return to the ship. The Agra airport is a military field and closes at 5:00, a bus trip would have taken 5 1/2 hours and there was no guarantee that the fog would lift the next day. We made it back to the ship at 9:00pm where the Compass Rose restaurant was kept open for us. Those of us who went to the Halloween party went dressed as "Cruise Ship Passengers." More details of the journey will be on my blog when I get time to post it. We're off to explore a bit of Mumbai today.
Jim

Hi Jim,
How disappointing for you all!! All the time and aggravation might have been worth it had you actually arrived at the Taj Mahal! So sorry.....

Love your reports...thanks!

So sorry to hear about your day Jim. That's such a disappointment. With the chartered plane, it was a very costly day for Regent !

Sorry that you didn't make it to the Taj Mahal, Jim. That must have been very disappointing. Boo hiss on the weather gods.