WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18---HOMEWARD BOUND

HOW TO FIND THE DAILY BLOG POSTS

WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE BLOG TO VIEW IT THE LAST POST WILL SHOW UP FIRST AS THE ORDER IS FROM LAST POST TO FIRST POST.  TO VIEW THE OTHER POSTS LOOK FOR THE "BLOG ARCHIVE" BELOW OUR PHOTO ON RIGHT SIDE (IT'S BELOW THE ITINERARY.  YOU CAN CLICK ON THE DAY OR DAYS YOU HAVE NOT READ FROM THIS ARCHIVE.  ALSO A REMINDER FOR BETTER VIEWING OF MY PHOTOS, CLICK ON THEM TO ENLARGE.  WE REALLY ENJOYED THIS CRUISE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST SEVEN NIGHTS.  WE GOT TO SEE MANY CREW FRIENDS AS THEY ARE OUR FAMILY NOW.    

        We were back at the Port of Miami by 6am (early) but they have yet to start unloading the luggage.  All the luggage has to be offloaded before we can get off the ship.  People who are carrying off their own luggage can leave the ship starting around 7am.  We are hoping to be off around 8:30 as our limo to the airport is scheduled for then.

Last Evening

        We arrived at the Horizon Lounge at 5:45 for cocktail hour.  This is my favorite bartender, Peter, from Bulgaria.

             I had ordered these pigs in a blanket during lunch for our canape this evening.

                     Marcia joined us for cocktails.  Jane went to the wrong bar so arrived late.

      This is Richard, a bar waiter.  Such a nice young man who we have cruised with before.

        At 7:00 we headed down to Compass Rose to meet retired Captain John McNeil and his wife, Andree, for dinner.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the 5 of us at dinner.  We was a wonderful evening with them as we exchanged stories about our captain times, him captain of ships and me a captain of airplanes.

                                             Rebecca and I had the chicken parmesan.

                            I enjoyed this apple tart with some vanilla ice cream for dessert.

        We still had a little La Crema chardonnay left in the bottle so they had it sent up to our suite.  We were so surprised to see Manuel deliver it and he surprised to see us.  He manned the room service phone taking orders so had never seen him.  He was very happy to see us.

Today

        Rebecca's scrambled eggs came at 7am after I had gone down and got us come Americano coffees as usual.  We showered and finished packing our carry-on bags and left the room just before 8am.  You are supposed to vacate the suites by 8am so they can clean them for the next cruise.

        Surprisingly, almost shockingly, they called our color luggage tag at 8:15.  We were standing right there so were about the first to disembark.  We got our checked luggage and went our front of the terminal and our limo driver, Raul, was right there waiting for us.  So off to the airport we went.

        We arrived there at 8:40 and went in and got in line for the ticket counter as we wanted to catch the 11:14 flight to DFW instead of our booked 1:28pm flight.  The line went fast and a nice agent got us rebooked on the earlier flight.  The TSA pre-check line was clear so we went right through.  It was a LONG walk to get to our gate but arrived there 2 hours prior to the flight.

        The crew was late getting to the gate so we had a 15 minute delay getting off the gate.  However, we were only a few minutes late arriving at DFW.  We all three got the exit row as LOTS of leg room and free drinks, more importantly.  I asked for 2 Woodford Reserve minis and so did Rebecca for me.  I did not drink them but put them in my bag for later.

                                      Rebecca will kill me for putting this photo on the blog.

        Cruising wore Jane and Rebecca out!!  You can see the extra leg room at the exit row.

        We had to wait a half hour for our luggage to come out.  At least it did.  The Parking Spot (where we left the car) pickup point was just outside baggage claim.  Nice driver who even loaded our bags into Jane's car for me.  My back is killing me so I gave him a nice tip for doing it.

        Jane dropped us off at The Tradition (our new home) at 3:40.  Got bags up to the apartment but I only unpacked my carry-on.  I wanted to finish this post first.  Will unpack the big bags tomorrow.

I ran down to Connie Barton's apt as she got our mail for us, so I got the key and mail.

        It is now 4:30 and will be happy hour in just 30 minutes.  I should be finished with this by then.  I hope you have enjoyed traveling with us the past week.  I really enjoy doing my blogs.  Next cruise blog will be end of February as we have a 39 night cruise booked then.  It will be going up the Amazon River in Brazil so you won't want to miss it.  

        Last of all, Rebecca and I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy 2025!!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH, KEY WEST, FLORIDA

             We docked at Key West at 11:45, a little early.  Beautiful sunny day and 77 degrees.

Last Evening

             At 6pm in the theater Captain Saro kicked off the evening with his farewell to us.

        Tonight was Krew Kappers.  Certain crew members put on a show for us.  They practice late at night after their duties are finished.  This is another thing only done on all the Regent ships at the end of a cruise.  These dancers were great and the choreography was very good.

        This young man from the deck department had a great voice and just as good as the production cast singers.

                              This young man also had a amazingly great voice also.

        Yes, Elvis was in the building!  He is a bartender who does an Elvis imitation.  Not a good voice but always entertaining.  He does this on all the ships he has been on and we have seen him many times.

                                                                    YMCA number.

                                                   Another great song by the deck guy.

The final number with members of all the departments coming down to accept our cheers.

        After the show we went to the Horizon Lounge on Deck 6 aft.  I had finished the bottle of Makers Mark that they kept in Mariner Lounge so I grabbed my cherry bitters and we changed lounges.  My friend, Peter, was one of the bartenders there.  This duo always plays in this lounge in the evenings.  They were very good.  Jastine and Jovelyn call themselves, "G-Clef Duo".  First time we have seen them.

                       Peter recommended I try this bourbon in my Manhattan.  I liked it.

        Jane and us dined alone for the first time this cruise.  Dined in Compass Rose.  We still had $108 left in ship board credit so I had John serve us this $90 bottle of Jordan cabernet.

    He decanted the wine as it was a little tannic initially.  After it breathed, it was very good.

                                  Rebecca and I had this crab & avocado to start with. 

                  Rebecca and Jane had the wiener schnitzel.  It was overcooked and dry.

               I had this pork tenderloin.  It was not very hot so sent it back for hotter meat.

                Forgot the name of this chocolate dessert but was very decadently good.

Francisco boarded today in Cozumel and will take over as the new Restaurant Manager when we arrive in Miami for the world cruise.  Dominic is leaving for his vacation.  We have known Francisco also for a long time and is very good.

        After dinner we went to see the "Blazing Boots" production show.  I am not impressed with this cast especially the two female singers.  Could not understand a word of the numbers they sang.  I left before the show was over.

        After the show we went to the Horizon Lounge for "Liars Club".  I forgot to take a photo.  The three panelists were Jamie, Bea, and Captain McNeil.  They were given a strange word and they each gave their definition of it.  The audience then had to choose what two were "lying".  Their definitions they made up were very funny.  Loved it.  It was midnight before we hopped in bed.

Today

        I was awake at 5:30 this morning and heard some big thunder claps.  Never went back to sleep and finally got up at 7:15.  Like I do every day, after throwing on some clothes I run down to Coffee Connection and get two coffee Americanos and a muffin.

        Rebecca always orders scrambled eggs from room service which was delivered at 8:00.  I have a coffee and muffin while working on today's blog post.  Around 9:00 each day she goes down and does 40 minutes on the treadmill.  I normally do the treadmill also but not with this back problem.  BTW, yesterday's massage did not help it.

        As you can see, as we had breakfast, we passed by Havana, Cuba.  Ship is yellow arrow.  Too far away to see however.

        We can pull up our account on the suite tv.  We started with $500 ship board credit.  My balance now is in the lower right corner.  Balance is $1.45 so we did a good job of spending the SBC and will not owe any money when we leave the ship tomorrow morning.

        Approaching Key West.  The weather has improved greatly.  Now sunny and 77 degrees.  Best weather of the whole cruise.        

                                                               Approaching our dock.

                           Docked and the way into town is just below our balcony.

        We down in Compass Rose for lunch.  I had this small quiche to start with and then some lasagna.  The lasagna was pretty small and not very hot.  On the way back to our suite I went up to La Veranda and got a couple slices of pizza.  

        We took our passports with us to the dining room as the immigration process had started and did not know when our deck would be called.  Good thing, as they called our deck right after we placed our lunch order.  It was very fast to get through as they just glanced at our passports.  We were back in maybe 10 minutes.  

        As soon as we got back to our suite we started packing.  Our steward had our two luggage bags open on top of the bed for us.  We were packed except for the clothes we will be wearing this evening to dinner in an hour and half.

        I then called my two sisters to check in and see how our mother was doing.  Unfortunately, her memory is pretty much gone.  She has problems remembering where her room is now.  Waiting for a room to open up in a memory care facility.

                                                      View from our balcony today.

        We will meet Marcia at 6pm in the Horizon Lounge for drinks and pigs in a blanket.  Jane and us will be meeting retired Captain John McNeil and his wife at 7pm for dinner with them in Compass Rose.  There is no shows tonight.

        We are scheduled to dock back in the Port of Miami by 7am tomorrow.  Our Blacklane limo is scheduled to pick us up at 8:30.  Our flight back to DFW is booked for 1:28pm but we want to get to MIA in time to catch a 11:15 flight.

        There will be one more post to the blog when we arrive back home to let you know how disembarkation went and if we made the earlier flight.

        

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16TH---COZUMEL, MEXICO

 BACKGROUND INFO:

Cozumel is an island off the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula opposite Playa del Carmen.  It is 30 miles long and 10 miles wide with a population of nearly 89,000 with a majority living in the town of San Miguel.  Large parts of the island is covered with mangrove forests.  It is a flat island based on limestone with the highest point being just 49 feet above sea level.  The economy of Cozumel is based on tourism.  There are 3 cruise ship piers with daily visits from cruise ships, as well tourists come for scuba diving and charter fishing.  Of course there are many restaurants, hotels, dive shops, and shops selling jewelry and souvenirs.  All food and manufactured supplies are shipped to the island.  There are 3 desalination facilities for fresh water.

        Our location today docked at Cozumel.  It is 80 degrees again today but the humidity is up to 80% with rain showers all around.  We are not getting off the ship again today so the weather does not bother us.  We will be sailing again at 1:30 this afternoon and heading to Key West, Florida.

Last Evening

        As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we had dinner up in Sette Mari.  L to R:  Jane Van Harlingen, Marcia Rector, Rebecca, Jamie Logan, Dana Logan, me, Jim Bittle, and Pat Bittle.  It was a great group with lots of stories from Jamie & Dana, retired Cruise Directors who had worked many years.

                               We always start with minestrone soup.  It was very hot.

                                   Rebecca had the penne pasta with bolognese sauce.

        Of course I had this "small" portion of bone in veal parmesan.  Chef Megh prepared it exactly as I like it.  I had a side of spaghetti but could not eat it.  I could not even finish the veal.

                 There was some desserts on a buffet in addition to the menu specials.

        After dinner we went to Zoe's show.  Sat in upper balcony so I could leave and I did before the end of her show.

Today

        We were scheduled to dock here in Cozumel by 6:00am but was a little late due to the weather.

It has been raining and skies are overcast.

        Our ship received clearance from the Mexican authorities at 8am for the tours to proceed ashore.  About same time this Royal Caribbean ship was approaching.

        At 8:30 I had an appointment at the spa for a massage.  I had never had one before today.

                                                     Pece, from India, was my masseuse.

        This is the massage table.  Pece gave me a 50 minute hot salt stone body massage concentrating on the area of my right side lower back where I am having a great deal of pain.  And have been for over a year.  I have had multiple steroid injections and months of physical therapy when in Durango.  After moving to Dallas I have been seeing a chiropractor and recently started physical therapy again.  Still having pain.  Pece says she could certainly feel the tightness in a muscle that is probably causing the pain as there is a nerve under the muscle.  So as the day goes on I am anxious to see if I have less pain.  So far it seems better as I just returned from the massage.

        I am showered and dressed for the day.  This is my t-shirt for today.  It's 10:15 and there is a crew emergency drill taking place.

        Another big Norwegian ship pulling up to the dock at 10:30.  This taken from our balcony so there goes our view again today.  It is the Norwegian Pearl which was launched in 2006 and passenger capacity is 2400.

   

        Some photos of San Miguel where we are docked on Cozumel.  Another long walk on the pier into town.

        Thought I would go take some more photos of the ship this morning for you.  The crew drill was about to end.

                       In fact it just ended and I almost got run over with them heading back inside.

                        In Coffee Connection this is where you can make coffee yourself 24/7.

  There is a barista who makes all kinds of coffee drinks here in Coffee Connection from 6am to 6pm.

        This is Club.Com.  Certain hours during the day a person is here to help get folks connected to the ship's internet.  There are also some computers here to use.  I bring my own laptop.

                                                                         The library

           This is Reception (just like front desk at hotels).  They handle questions and issues.

        This is Destination Desk where you book tours if you did not do it online prior to the cruise.  Adriana is manning the desk this morning.  We have cruised with her several times.  Very nice lady.

                    This is the Mariner Lounge where we have our pre-dinner cocktail hour.

                                                                    Mariner Lounge

        This is the entrance to Compass Rose, the dining room.  It opens at noon for lunch and again at 6:30 for dinner.

 

                                                    Three photos inside Compass Rose.

                                        This is Prime 7, the steakhouse.  Reservations required.

                                                Premium wines as you enter Prime 7.

                                         This is kind of a strange piece of art that's in Prime 7.

        We went up to La Veranda for lunch.  Jane had this loaded up hamburger.  The burgers made at the pool grill are the best in the world.  I had buffalo chicken wings again today, and of course, Rebecca always has an Atkins Bar for lunch.

                                                   Sailing away from Cozumel at 1:30.

                At 2pm I went down to the lecture about cargo ships.  It was most interesting.

        At 3pm we went to the theater a "Reunion Cruise Panel Discussion".  On stage were:  Davor, retired General Mgr;  Jamie, retired Cruise Director; and Captain McNeil, retired Master/Captain.  We learned more about them when working and what they are now doing as retirees.  After that Jamie had a "Regent trivia" session with 20 trivia questions.  We got 13 correct.

        Our plan for this evening is to grab a cocktail around 5:30 to take into the theater for the Captain's Farewell and the Krew Kapers show.  The KK show is put on my some of our crew with them singing and dancing.  There are some very talented crew members.  "Elvis will be in the building"!

        After the show we will have another cocktail before dinner in Compass Rose.  Just the 3 of us tonight for the first time this cruise.

        This is tonight's menu.  It is usually the last night's menu but they said not on a 7 night cruise.

        The production show tonight is "Blazing Boots" which is probably our favorite show.  More country western music.  At 10:30 after the show is "Liars Club" which is always very funny.

        Initially after leaving Cozumel the sea was pretty rough again but now about 4 hours later it is still bumpy but better.  I hope the dancers can do the show later tonight.

        We will be arriving at noon tomorrow in Key West where we will be clearing with US immigration officials for entry back into the States.