Well, the cruise continues to be wonderful.
But off the ship - well, let's just say that today was a little "adventure" that had us worried that we might not get out of Guatemala.

Arlene put on her bathing suit the other day, but, oops - wrong one. The one she packed by mistake was from about 12 years ago - not a good fit now.
Store onboard had only 1 or 2 suits - and didn't fit.
So we were going shopping for a bathing suit today. But we were not going to give up seeing Santo Tomas either. Hired a taxi for a couple of hours, the driver did npt speak english (none do we learned), but, I was so impressed with Arlene's Spanish. Until today she probably remembered about 5 words of spanish from when she spent 6 months in Mexico in 1975. But amazingly, it all came back to her today, and she & the driver were conversing for the 2 hours.
He understood her need to make a stop to find a bathing suit, so he took us to a few places where she might be able to get one. No luck. At the last stop, however, is when the "trouble" happened.
He pulled onto the curb (the accepted way to park) so she could get out to go into a store. Arlene was seated on the driver's side of the back seat. She opened her door to get out, thinking she was safely on the curb, and at that moment a local girl was riding by on her bike. SLAM!!!!! Arlene hit her bike, knocking the girl onto the street, and into a mudpuddle. She came up a little bloody & full of mud! Arlene's command of spanish also suddenly disappeared, as she could not think of how to say I AM SORRY. SHe tried with gesturing, body language, and in english - she felt awful.
Many of the people in the street were staring at the "ugly american." The taxi driver took the girl home in our cab - on some little street barely wide enough for the taxi to fit through. He explained to the girl's mother what happened. She was not too happy. We noticed several young men in front of her house who did not look all too happy either. A little scary. The cab driver left his nmae with the family, and we then drove back to the pier, with the friendly banter now gone.
When we left the girl, it was clear that she was going to be fine, excpet for some scratches on her arm & her lip. We hope the cab driver did not get into trouble for taking us places we were probably not supposed tp be going as part of the "Two Hour City Tour." We did tip him well.

Time for Trivia.

My goodness Gil and Arlene that was a scary situation. I bet that was a very uncomfortable experience and not being able to communicate makes it even worse.

Glad you are back safely on the ship and that the little girl is going to be okay.

Agree, I would have been terrified - glad you are back in the safe haven of the ship and that the girl is ok.

Jamie & Dana will be on the WC, Barry & Paul & Regerio will be on the SA and Hal Frasier is on the Mariner.

I'm hoping that while at Pricess Cay island we are able to visit both ships. We'd love to get to go see Rogerio and other friends on the Mariner.

See ya in a few days Marcie! :app:

Me too, Marcia. Just found out that the bus from Mia will stop at Port Everglades parking lot. The one opposite shed 21,26. Time about midnight !!
Also that Sen. Graham will definitely be aboard.

The Continuing Adventures of Gil & Arlene:

Our excursions are certainly not boring! :D

After yesterday's adventure, today we took a Ship's Excursion to Snorkel with the Sharks & Rays. As we arrived at the pier, a tiny tiny boat pulled up to the dock, and we were told to get in. IN THIS? It was basically a rowboat with an engine.
14 of us climbed in, most not very gracefully.
We were told the trip to the reef would be about 1 - 1 1/2 hours, and we would be bouncing ALOT.
BUT - (Here comes the "WHY US?") - we got about 5 minutes out, when the engine decided it didn't want to do this trip! So we had to go back to the dock, and we waited about 15 minutes until they got a different boat for us. A Better One! LArger. TWO engines. Covered area.

Out we go - at about 10:30 we get to the reef (Not bad - only abt 15 mins later than we should). The Snorkel guide told us that the currents were unusually heavy, so he was going to require everyone to wear a lifevest, and even he wore one. So 14 of us jump ship, into the water. Heavy Current? A major understatement. Many of the people on this excursion were serious & experienced snorkelers or divers. But of the 14, only FOUR were able to swin against the current and get to the reef. Well, yesterday, Arlene's abilities to converse so well in spanish impressed me. Today it was her swimming strength. She was one of the 4 who made it. MACHO ARLENE she is now called!
She said that the snorkeling there was the best ever. Saw many sharks, barracuda, rays, other fish & plant life. We took an underwater camera with us, but guess who had the camera - Yes, me. So no pictures.

TOmorrow we snorkel Palancar Reef in Cozumel. What shall tomorrow bring in the never-ending saga of Arlene & Gil.
(This time, Arlene carries the camera}

P.S. I forgot to discuss last night's dinner.
It was WONDERFUL! What a greta time, and great food. But will post more later, as we are expected for cocktails in a suite of the person who was the President of the company I worked at when a recent college grad. Small World, Isn't It.

Gil, it sounds like my experiences cruising the Baltics. Some cruises are just like that.
Lynn

Gil and Arlene, thanks for sharing your adventures with us. Macho Arlene, you go girl!

We read Gil's enthusiastic reports re: NYEve w.
envy. We currently are aboard Mariner for the NY cruise. When Passages noted that the NY's Eve celebration would be held in the Constellation Theater & Observation many pax objected & wrote/spoke to the Hotel Director. He told me that if we were out on deck there would be 'a breeze'. By noon there was an announcement that the events would be held on deck. Yes, it was announced as 'black & white' and yes, there was a champagne toast but I saw NONE of the other
things posted re: Voyager [e.g. ice carvings]. The word on deck on 1/1 was that it wasn't much of anything & that the ship hadn't extended itself to make it special. This is a shame as many were looking forward to it.

After the first few days of chill & rough seas, we have been blessed w. sun. Bryan is CD.Capt Romero & his senior officers are seldom seen & a few people have commented on this....quite unlike Voyager w. Dag & CD Jamie]. There have been some very good shows [Karan,a brillant piantist & Blizzard, a cabaret singer]. There is a jazz group --2 actually-on board and they are well attended. Not much venue for dancing...& Stars, a beutiful room, is barely inhabited. We find the cuisine variable w. some very good and some poor items so we can't share Gil's enthusiasm there although we appreciate how personal this topic is. Service has been
good and the hard working crew, very nice.

Paula, it's too bad that the current staff on the Mariner is not very visible (I've heard this from others as well). On our SA Mariner trip the officers and John & Lynsay Barron were exactly the opposite....we saw them all the time and all were so approachable!!

Gil & Arlene, so happy that you've had such a great time even with the crazy bicycle incident while looking for the swimsuit. BTW, did you ever find a swimsuit Arlene?? We'll be getting on Monday when you get off!! Thanks for the seamail!

This is Arlene. Paula I'm so sorry your experience hasn't been as wonderful as ours. Im actually a bit shocked. I've heard that the food on Mariner isn't the same quality...um i believe even one of the staff here alluded to it one night.

The captain has been visible every informal and formal night, and since tonight is our third informal night and tomorrow is our second formal night, that's a nice amount. I know you all can't sing Captain Dag's phrases high enough, but let me tell you that I haven't met a more charming, entertaining and fun person than Captain KNUTE.

Jamie, Dana, Louise and the rest have been excellent and quite friendly...while still being polite.

Marcie, nope I never did get another bathing suit. Gil and I pulled on the one I have to stretch it out a bit. It must have been quite a funny scene to see him on one end of the bed pulling on the shoulders, and me on the other side pulling on the bottom.

I'll hand over the computer to Gil now to regale you with our adventures. Marcie while I'm happy for you to be getting on, I'm quite unhappy about our wonderful cruise ending in a few days.

As with any cruise, meal or situation everyones impressions are different. It is often the people we are with that night, the mood we find ourselves in for a particular evening, and the things we order off a menu.

Our last New Years eve on board was on Party (the Voyager Panama Canal) and it was held on the deck. Ken and I danced our tootsies off that night and had a wonderful time. Of the passengers onboard probably no more than 25% of them were up on deck enjoying themselves and even more left right after the stroke of midnight. Our little group did not leave and it was really a memorable night. They did the same ice carving trick changing from one year to the next which I thought was pretty neat. In fact we took some great pictures of that I think Ken posted on LCT.

I remember one New Years on the PG. I just could not get in the mood that night and was really ready after I stayed the obligatory time to see the New Year in and headed down to my room. It just seemed noisy and not worth the effort.

I think there are so many factors that play into an evening like this, hence so many different takes on the same events.

Arlene,
Glad you got your suit on with Gil's help. LOL!

I didn't know you were on with Louise!! I love her, she and Lynsay are the ones who took me backstage and got me in their stage make up and a wig for one of our parties. When I walked into our cabin, Tom thought a beautiful brunette had accidently walked into our cabin. Please give her big hugs from me and Tom! Is she on for the WC??

I too really like Capt. Knute!

Paula, it sounds like Mariner still has a "hotel director problem." Since Englebert left, who is the current hotel director? Hopefully not that one we had on MUSH? If it is Rogerio, I am really surprised that he did not have a better plan for New Years Eve. Our first New Years Eve on Mariner has been my best experience ever on a cruise.

Rogerio is not a HD, he's F & B Mgr.

Ah yes Ngaire. we were all doing the new dance
"zip-line" :D :lct:

Marci - they are waiting for you here!!! LOL!

just back in from taking HUNDREDS of sunset pictures. The sunsets here have been beautiful!

BUT - to finish something I alluded to earlier.

DINNER WITH THE CAPTAIN!!!

The evening of our bicycle incident, we had the SURPRISE and great honor & pleasure of being invited to dinner with Capt. Knut & Gudrun. WHAT AN EVENING!

Capt. Knut is absolutely CHARMING & WITTY!!!!!
And Gudrun (Cruise COnsultant) was alot of fun and a great dinner companion as well. Not only was the food outstanding, and the wine flowing freely, but the conversation was incredibly interesting. The Captain regaled us with tales of the sea. Of course, as those who know him well, he certainly loves his aquavit, and we all toasted his upcoming vacation. And the Capt & I seem to have similar tastes in women. At one point, I brought up Salma Hayak in the conversation, and at the mention of her name, his eyes opened wide & he turned to me and made a sign of approval!
And he loved a famous (or maybe not so famous) line from a TV show that is one of my favorite cruise-related shows ever on TV. I was actually suprised that he was not aware of this episode of Keeping Up Appearances(with the famous Mrs Bucket). In the show, Onslow, a very low class, slovenly, unsuccessful, etc man won a contest to get a free cruise on the QE2. As part of the cruise, he had dinner with the Captain. When he was told he was going to be dining with the captain, his line was(probably not an exact quote): "I won a contest for a free cruise & am being honored. I don't understand then why they are making me sit with the hired help!"
Capt. loved it. Said he'll be using that in the future.

In addition to the Capt & Gudrun, 3 of the other 4 people were from within miles of where we live on Long Island. And what charming people they all were. The makeup of the table was perfect - a wonderful evening was had by all.

Yesterday again, Arlene solidified her position as a WaterBaby & Macho Woman. We went snorkelling again, to Polancar Reef & Columbia Reef. It was to be a drify snorkel at Colomba & then at Polncar. But again, the currents were too rough to do what was planned. We all went in the water, and yet again, I could not stay up with the group, but Arlene was right at the front at all times (once I told her to go ahead & not have to stay back with this Landlubber, which she wanted to do). She had a blast snorkelling for 1 1/4 hours, while I took care of the boat :D along with another guy who was able to keep up even less than me. We tested the margaritas!

Now off to dinner with one of the lecturers.
I expect it will be a great dinner once again.

I love "Keeping up Appearances" Gil, and that was my absolute favorite episode. Interesting that you watch that. I love Onslow's AHH NICE.

Glad you had a special night at the Captains table and Gudrun is my all time favorite Cruise Consultant. PLEASE tell her that I miss her and look forward to seeing her again in the future.

That was a great episode of Hyacinth and Richard when they boarded the QE II late, only to find Onslow and Daisy aboard.

We, too, love Capt. Knut. It's been waaayy too long since we've sailed with him.

Gil & Arlene, it sounds like a magical trip. We are so glad you are enjoying it! Arlene, you keep going, girl!

Cheers, Anne & Gary

I am so disappointed in the comments on the Mariner since I have loved that ship. Could this be the result of Captain Guillou not being there?

I just have to say that Captain Romero and Captain Phillipe who are on the Mariner now are really both wonderful Captains. When we were on the Mariner in November Captain Romero was the Captain and Englebert was the Hotel Director.

Both were out and about all the time. I think everyone in our group got to know both men during the trip.

I believe Englebert is on the Mariner right now Marc, may be wrong but I thought he was on board. He is Austrian and spend many years on the QE2. He is charming and very outgoing. He is used to the Luxury ship market. I do not like having to learn new Hotel Directors but I do think he is going to be a good addition for Regent.

I was just re-reading threads and Mary Ellen posted about New Years on the Mariner. Her posts make it sound very special with fireworks and a wonderful set up with the tables and decorations. She said she stayed up until 2.00 am.

This is NOT to take away from Paula's experiences but it just demonstrates the point that we all see everything differently and however we view it that is that persons reality. Whether it be perfect or lacking.

Hi Gil and Arlene,

Thanks for reporting in. It sounds like you are having a great cruise. We also love Keeping Up Appearances. Jim bought me the whole series on DVD for my birthday last year. We've sailed with Captain Knut several times and really enjoy his company.

We are really enjoying our cruise on the Mariner. Captain Romeo and Englebert seem to be around quite frequently - I think their visibility might depend on where you hang out on board. Englebert's wife is on and they are excellent dancers - also late night party people and very visible in the lounges at night. The one slightly off note is the cruise director - he is not of the same caliber as some of the previous CDs we've sailed with and does not seem to have any leadership ability with the social staff. I have heard a number of passengers expressing dissatisfaction with the social staff and the "atmosphere" on this cruise - there are a number of very experienced cruisers on board and they are definitely not happy with various aspects of their cruises. As Ngaire always says "different strokes". I'm enjoying the time with my husband and mom and so far have been pretty happy.

Only 2 more days and then back to reality.

Mary Ellen

I am not looking forward to reality. :( Today is a sea day. I've taken one nap so far. I can't believe that this day is almost over. Tonight is the Captain's farewell party and a formal night.

Marcie, Louise says to tell you that you must go ashore on the beach day in Princess Cay as she'll be there and wants to see you.

Last night at dinner, I ordered the consomme soup;the other soup was a louisiana gumbo. I've got a food sensitivity to shellfish. They put in front of me what looked like chicken soup only thicker. Since they said it was a double consomme, I figured that's what they did. Nope, they had given me the wrong soup. I had about 3 spoonfuls, when my tablemate realized she hadn't gotten the correct soup. (They had switched our soups) The head waiter came over, and then apparently went to speak to the chef;luckily there was no shellfish in the gumbo. Phew!!! somehow if it had shellfish in it my romantic evening with gil would have been me doubled over on the bed with cramps with him watching me helplessly.

The evening was a success and I'm fine. All in all, I've had a wonderful time. I only wish I didn't have to get off the ship.

Ngaire, while I agree that Mary Ellen reported a wonderful New Year's Eve in Acapulco harbour, the apparent thought that they were going to leave at 7pm and miss the fireworks and ability to have calm night on deck for New Years Eve festivities (versus steaming at full speed in open sea) was unforgiveable. I am glad they corrected their plans. Leaving early should never have been considered.

They have gone to Acapulco for the fireworks on New Years before. They were scheduled to depart the dock at 11.00 pm and therefore be in the harbor for the fireworks.

I missed that they were planning to leave early in that post of Mary Ellen's. I guess I was focused on the "inside verus ondeck" issue - not the timing.

I sure agree Marc this would be a terrible thing to do. That makes NO SENSE whatsoever. I think that was a big mistake on someone's part. I bet someone really messed up here.

To try & clarify, we originally were scheduled to depart Acapulco at 8pm. As part of the response to pax concerns not only was the celebration moved to 'on deck' but the departure time was changed to 11pm. HD 'Engelbert' told me that the original departure time had been necessitated by port authorities. Mariner then lingered in the harbor and we all were able to enjoy the marvelous fireworks around the Bay of Acapulco. This was very special. My earlier post had been meant to address the original plans to keep the celebration inside and my perception of the celebration being far less jolly than those on Voyager. If there were ice carvings,etc I simply did not see them. If there were midnight greetings from the Capt, we didn't hear them. There was a raffle with 'all proceeds going to the crew welfare fund' which I don't recall ever seeing before.
This cruise has had 2 jazz groups which have provided great entertainment in the Horizon
Lounge...When they jammed poolside yesterday, pax lingered clearly enjoying the performance.
Their singer, Nina Ferro, also participated in kareoke the other night, making it highly enjoyable.
We come to the end of a pleasant cruise. We will sail Regent again and will sail Mariner again.

Thanks Paula for the clarification.

The original schedule had 11.00 pm. Things are always changing as in this case with the forced 8.00 pm departure time from port authorities. Often the case when you are not actually on the ship and only get "part of the story" things are misunderstood.

I do agree with you too, outside on deck just has a different flavor to the celebration. If the weather co-operates it makes it special.

Actually midnight greetings from the Captain are a VERY good idea. I dont think I have ever heard that suggestion before.

Sounds like your New Year was wonderful. Wish we were with you instead of on the PG which had the most boring New Year's celebration we have ever had. Third rate sparkling wine was served - no appetizers and the only sweets were the petit fours they serve after dinner and fruit cups.
Minimal decorations and not even enough hats to go around .
Miriam

Just back from the voyager. Gil and Arlene covered most of it. THe food was great and we had a wonderful gally tour with tobias. Loved Jamie. Dana left early to do a pre WC party. The caviear seemed to flow on this cruise. On Striup Cay they seved it and Champagne from a floating raft. They seemed to go out of their way to do different things. New Years Eve was great. Peole reallly seemed friendly on this cruise. Our daughter in law and son who were with us and are young really enjoyed it. Hope Marnier gets it act together since we are on them in Feb. They have a hard act to follow the Voyegar. The Gold?Platium event was a fantastic breakfast in Signatures. Few bumps. Captain was there but didn't speak. The cruise hostess should have been sure tables were filled. There were two tables of 6 with only 2 people. Really no time for mingling with other people.

Sounds like Regent is taking a tip from Seabourn, pre Margo's photoshow. Nice idea.

Glad to hear you had a great cruise, Pammy.

This Stinks!
No one to serve dinner.
Missed afternoon tea.
And where the heck is the Caviar!!!!
GRRRRRR!!!!!

Plus no entertainment tonight and I've actually had to make up my own bed...can you believe it? This reality stuff really stinks.

Arlene & Gil, Cruise Blues have hit you all. The only thing I can offer is a neatly folded napkin. Hope it helps. Glad you had a wonderful cruise.

Honestly it was the best vacation I've been on. The staff was wonderful, the people on board were friendly and very sociable, and of course my traveling companion was the best part of the trip.

Arlene, I think we could all feel what you said, that it was your best vacation ever. I think that is what Regent tries to deliver to all of us, and I'm sure your and Gil's expectations were high. I'm glad they delivered to you the best vacation ever!

Welcome home, Gil and Arlene, also Pammy. I loved our reports and adventures (Arlene). Sure made me want to spend New Year's Eve on the Voyager!

Gil and Arlene - Thanks for the trip reports! I'd be glad to hear a little bit more about the port stops in Santo Tomas (Glad you got back safely!) and Belize as we are headed there in a few weeks.

Sorry about the cruise blues - best thing is to plan another!