THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12TH---AT SEA IN WESTERN CARIBBEAN

 Last Evening

 

                                              Let the cruise begin as we are just departing the pier.

        The Coast Guard is escorting us out of the harbor.  If you click on the photo to enlarge it you will see that a guy is manning the machine gun on front of the boat.  We safely escaped the harbor.

                                                               About to be in the ocean.

        We arrived at the Mariner Lounge just before 6:00 last evening.  Adrian, the Beverage Manager, had a table saved for the four of us.  I delivered my bottle of Makers Mark and little bottle of Woodford Reserve cherry bitters to the bartender for my use only.  I had put our suite number on both bottles.  Jane and Marcia arrived shortly after us.  Adrian also had our La Crema chardonnay chilled and waiting.  The waiter also brought the pigs in a blanket that I had requested during lunch.  I enjoyed a couple Manhattans, Marcia enjoyed a couple Grey Goose martinis, Jane had a red wine, and Rebecca had the chardonnay.

        This is Dana and Jamie whom we have cruised with many times.  They were cruise directors then but now retired.  They were on our last WC (will use this from now on as world cruise) and will be on the 2025 WC January 7th as WC "hosts".  They are on board this cruise as it is a "Reunion Cruise".  The other retired officers invited to be on the cruise are: Captain John McNeil and Davor, who is a retired General Manager whom we cruised with several times.  So good to see all of them.

        At 7:00 we headed to Prime 7 where Jorge, maitre d, led us to a nice table.  Our waiter was Gusti, whom we know well also.

        This is Gusti next to Rebecca and Michael was our sommelier who is serving Marcia some of her favorite wine.

             Michael brought me this nice Sterling cabernet to wash down my ribeye with.

        I know I have to be the only passenger who requests the chef bring two "well marbled" (fat in the meat) ribeyes to the table for me to select the best one.  (In college I used to grade beef for the USDA so I know what prime steaks are supposed to look like.)  

        I am also sure I am the only one who brings Lawry's lemon pepper with us and seasons our meat at the table. And then the chef takes it back to the galley to cook them.  Rebecca had a small filet.

                The other three had salads to start with but I always enjoy the crabcake.

        I made a good choice as the ribeye was excellent, perfectly seasoned, and perfectly grilled.

      John, the head sommelier, popped by to make sure the wine service was also perfect.

                 Jane and I enjoyed Regent's popcorn Sundae for dessert.  It is yummy!!  After dinner we all decided to call it a night and headed back to our suites.  We hung our room service breakfast request form out on the door and called it a night.

Today

        We were supposed to move our clocks back an hour (as now on Central time again) but forgot.  So we got up at 6am instead of planned 7am.  We decided to watch yesterday's Bold & Beautiful soap which was streamed on Paramont +.  This is why Rebecca is paying for streaming!  I then showered, dressed, and headed down to Coffee Connection (which is on the deck right below us) to get us some coffee to enjoy while waiting for breakfast.

        Room service showed up at exactly 7:30 which is the time we had requested.  The eggs were hot and coffee very hot.  Great job down in the galley and room service delivery!!

        After breakfast Rebecca went down to the gym to do a few miles on the treadmill while I added all the above on today's post.  My back pain was a lot worse last evening I guess from handling luggage so I am taking it very easy today.

        Later in the morning I went down to Coffee Connection to read our Dallas Morning News while Rebecca go showered and dressed.  She came down at 10:45 to meet me and go to the cooking demonstration that was to happen in the theater.  While waiting for the doors to open I went to Reception to ask about tonight's dinner.

        Here the reception desk guy was checking the computer along with William, the Exec Concierge.  They finally confirmed what we had heard from Marcia that we were to dine with Captain Saro, Andreas (the General Manager), and Bea (the Cruise Consultant) along with Marcia and Jane at 7pm in Compass Rose.

        While waiting for the doors to open to theater we had a nice chat with retired Captain John McNeil and his wife (sorry forgot her name).

We all sat of the front row for the cooking demonstration.  Captain Saro prior to the start,  He was to be one of the three judges.

        This was to be a cooking "showdown" between Andreas, present General Mgr, and Davor, a retired General Mgr).  Each was to prepare a dish of their choice.  So we got to watch them prepare their dishes.

        These were the three judges:  Captain Saro, Dana (retired assistant cruise director), and retired Captain McNeil.

    

                                                            Jamie talking with Andreas.

                                                               Jamie talking with Davor

            Shot from over head camera in theater of what Andreas was preparing--a veal dish.

           So the judges are tasting the dishes.  Davor's seafood risotto won the competition.

        Rebecca, Jane, and I were joined by Dana & Jamie (retired cruise directors on board for the Reunion Cruise) for a nice lunch in Compass Rose.  There photos of them are at begging of this post.

              At 2pm I went down to hear the lecture on Roatan, our destination for tomorrow.

       It was the first time I have heard this speaker, Barbara Ferguson.  I enjoyed her lecture. 

        At 3pm we went to the theater to hear Bea, the Cruise Consultant, talk about Regent's ships and available cruises for booking.  Another reason for going is there is a drawing for those present for a $250 ship board credit to use on this cruise.  We did not win it!  Afterwards, I stopped at Reception and made a 2pm appointment for tomorrow afternoon to chat with Bea in her office about some bookings we are interested in making for 2026 & 2027.  Big attraction for booking on board is the cruise deposit it only $500 per person as opposed to 15% of the cruise value if done back home.

        Ok, it is after 4pm now and about to publish today's post.  At 6pm we will go to the theater for the Captain's Welcome Reception.  He will be introducing the senior officers then. 

        As I mentioned earlier, we have been invited to dine in Compass Rose at 7:00 with Captain Saro, Andreas (the General Manager), and Bea (the Cruise Consultant).  This is the table we will be dining at with them.

        The ocean has calmed down some this evening.  That's good as there is a production cast show at 9:30 tonight in the theater.  We are to dock at noon tomorrow at Roatan.  A small Honduran island off that Central America country's coast.