We are happily on board the beautiful Mariner. This is the first time we've seen the new and improved coffee corner. Very nice! We also are in one of the cabins with the great showers, for the first time.

The weather could be a bit better. As Luke reported, we missed our first port in Princess Cay. They just felt that the wind was too strong for tendering to be safe. They did the island bbq on the deck instead.

We enjoyed a nice lunch yesterday with Lindy & Mark, who were on the previous cruise and agreed to hang around and have lunch with Larry I on board. Great to see them both.

It's been fun seeing Luke and Paula and their friends around the ship.

We enjoyed a nice visit with John Barron yesterday. What a nice guy!!! He says he will be on the ship for the next eight weeks.

More later.....

Thanks for reporting in, Betty. Glad to hear your cruise has gotten off to a wonderful start.

Hi Betty! Mark and I wish we could be with you on your cruise but it sounds like you are having enough fun without us!

Hi Betty, I'll hold the jokes until you return ;) Sorry to hear you missed the beach but I'd settle for the ships' pool and bbq. Tell John the sistah's say Hi!

Hi Betty, thanks for report in! Glad to hear all is well. Send my regards to Larry.

Nancy

Hi, Betty & Larry - Mark and I so enjoyed our lunch with you yesterday! The only unhappy note, of course, was that we weren't sailing with you and Larry. :banana:

HI Betty - enjoy enjoy -

Betty, don't mean to leave you out. I know you too will have a fantastic cruise and love the Mariner. So many of us wish we were with you.
Send more reports - I know there are good times being had by all.

Hi Betty and Larry, glad you're having a great time on Mariner! Too bad you missed Princess Cays *again*! Hope the weather improves.

Betty - so glad to hear you are off and cruising and sounds like you are having a great time. Thanks for checking in.

I also love the Mariner. Like Goldilocks said,"not too small,not too big, but just right"

Last night's Captain's Party was not very well attended. As we should have realized, spring break time, lots of families with young children on board.

Dinner last night was great. Followed Rommel's suggestion and ordered lobster tail and beef wellington. Some nice wine and we were Happy Campers.

Larry and I had a chance to visit with Captain Delavault and Brian O'Brien last night. They both asked me to deliver their regards to LCT. :)

Today is a scheduled sea day, so our plan for the day is to "park it" in a deck chair. Lunch is the fish bbq on deck. Always one of my favorites.

This cruise is the first in awhile, we had no block party on the first day. I'll try to remember to ask someone if that is unique to this cruise.

On to San Juan!

Are they doing block parties on the Mariner?
Thought I read somewhere that they tried it but did not work very well because of the double hall ways so stopped doing it.
We did not have one on "AMAZON" or "LAMB"

No block parties this week .... I agree that the double hallways limit the effectiveness of such an event.

Hi, Betty & Larry - We've been envying your week onboard Mariner! We hope you'll post more Mariner moments so we can continue our vicarious voyage with you!!!! :hello1:

They didn't have block parties on the Mariner before because Barry didn't like them. We had one on Mayans and it is a bit restricted with the double hallways, but we got a group from both hallways into the stairway crossover between hallways and it worked well. I guess it's CD choice to have them or not.
Jim

On Circle South America, they had a block party on the first sailaway for every new segment. Agree it must have to do with the cruise director. Also, agree they were not as successful on Mariner as on Voyager due to the hallway configuration. Debbie

We enjoyed a very nice couple of days in San Juan, and St. Thomas. Hot…as to be expected.

In San Juan, Larry and I grabbed a cab over to Isla Verde and the El San Juan Hotel. Our friend, John Paul runs the hotel. Interesting old hotel, remarkably beautiful. John Paul tells me it is “party central” with spring break in full swing. Their bars stay open until 5:00 a.m. OH MY!

Yesterday, St. Thomas! We took a cab to downtown where t-shirt, linen & crystal, and jewelry shops line the streets. We wandered into a shop that we know, and to Larry’s surprise (well maybe not completely) a pretty little ring (rose gold with pink mother of pearl settings) somehow jumped onto my finger, and just did not want to leave me! :)

Dinner night before last was in Latitudes. I think it gets better and better. Our favorite was the Sweet & Sour Snapper. Last night was Compass Rose……wonderful Dover Sole. Tonight it’s the Steakhouse in La Veranda. The food has been outstanding, so far IMHO.

Yesterday afternoon I paid a visit to the spa, while Larry enjoyed a long lazy nap. Oh yeah!!!

Saw Luke & Paula and the Dallasites at breakfast. Today is Paula’s b’day, and they were all sporting happy b’day hats. Very cute!


On our way to Grand Turk. Perfect sunny day, so far. We arrive about 2:00. Perfect timing to visit Margaretville, ya think?

Betty, I can't believe your cruise is coming to a n end already! I am going to miss your seamail!!

Yes, Karen, We came back from breakfast this morning to find the dreaded luggage thingy on the bed. :(

"Luggage on the bed" = not so subtle hint

Luke & Betty
I don't know which is worse - luggage tags on the door or that awful mat on the bed. Neither will ever make me happy. Safe travels home with good memories of a wonderful trip.

Just visited with Betty and Larry at the "Chocolate Tea Time." Their AmEx Platinum event was unique and Betty will have a LOT to report.

Can't wait to hear about it, Betty!

Have so enjoyed your seamail. Betty, and looking forward to the remaining details!

Just a few finishing notes...

As I mentioned before, this cruise was somewhat different than any Regent cruise we've been on. According to Elsa, the Social Hostess, they did not have the block party or the big Capt's farewell party because of the big groups that were on board. There was just a different "flavor", but the fine Mariner crew, from Captain Delavault and his officers to our cabin attendant did their very best to see that we enjoyed our sailing.

The AMX function was an invitation to a "Back of the House" tour. The Human Resources Mgr., Deborah Bennett took us to the galley, the bakery, the officers mess, the crew mess & crew bar, the engine room, and the laundry. (They have a big machine there. They feed in wet sheets and duvet covers and it drys them, irons them, and folds them.) We really enjoyed the tour. Much more fun than a cocktail party, don't ya think? ;)

Last night, we enjoyed a great Compass Rose dinner that we had asked Rommel to special order for us. Rack of Lamb for Larry, and Lobster Tails for me. First time I've been served more lobster than I could eat. :)

We really enjoyed cruising with Luke & Paula, and the other Dallasites. Happy we will get to do it again, God willing, March '09 on FUN!

We absolutely LOVE John Barron, the Cruise Director. He is just the VERY best! And Elsa McLean, the Social Hostess, is about the cutest thing you ever saw. They are both so good at what they do!

Betty we will have fun on FUN lots of fun - the AMX function oh my - you know how long I would have lasted?? I hate my own laundry room/kitchen much less Regents - ugh!!! I am so not into engine rooms - my garage??? - Thank goodness no big groups for us to date ...well LCT OK!!! JB is simply the BEST

We had the "back of the house" AMX tour when we sailed from Seward to Osaka last fall. Only four of us showed up, so it was like having a private tour. We enjoyed it--especially the bread just out of the oven in the bakery and the cocktails in the laundry. It was actually a very interesting experience--it was great seeing where the crew hangs out.

Peggy, I agree, we really enjoyed it too. However, I do remember wondering what they will think of to do next time. Joanna has a point. I thought it was lots of fun to do, but I'm not sure I'd do it again. But now, if they want to invite me to one of those fun crew parties, I'll be there!

Maybe they'll start doing the "Jimbo's Truck Stop" on cruises other than just the WC. That's a lot of fun when the passengers dress up (trailer trashy) and eat, dance, etc. in the crew cafeteria/crew bar (Jimbo's Diner). The Captain, and officers act as bartenders, etc. It's been loads of fun and a change of venue.
I'm not sure this would go over very well on a short cruise though..

"Jimbo's" is just the on Voyager because it's Jamie's gig. On the Navigator several years ago (in the days of Harry Bernberger) they just called it "Truck Stop Diner" and held it in Portifino and it was a lot of fun. I think it's usually done just on long cruises.
Jim