SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15TH---COSTA MAYA, MEXICO

 COSTA MAYA BACKGROUND INFO

        Costa Maya is a small tourist region in the state of Quinta Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula just 130 miles south of Cozumel.  It is close to Chetumal the capital of Quinta Roo which is on the border with Belize.  Less that 1000 residents live here.

        It is the closest port of access to many of the lesser known Mayan ruins.  Some of the ship’s excursions will be visiting a couple of these ruins.  There is a new and modern shopping mall in Costa Maya but the nice beaches are located at Mahahual just to the south.  Since a large pier was built, now many cruise ships stop here.

        Our position today is at Costa Maya, Mexico.  About on border with Belize.  Mostly sunny and 80 degrees.  Only 65% humidity but kind of windy.

Last Evening

        At 6pm we made our way to the theater for the Seven Seas Society Cocktail Party.  They were also serving canapes and caviar in addition to drinks.

                                        Dean, the Cruise Director, kicking things off.

                                                                       Captain Saro

                        Bea is in charge of the Seven Seas Society on board Mariner.

                        Some awards to four crew members for their longevity with Regent.

        Afterwards we headed to our usual evening "watering hole", the Mariner Lounge, for a pre-dinner cocktail.

        I had invited Jenn Teegen's assistant, Janay Ford, and her husband, Dionte, to join us in Compass Rose for dinner.  They were a delightful couple and we had a lot of fun chatting with them.  Pretty sure they really enjoyed the evening also.

        Rebecca and I started with escargot and a Mykonos (Greek) salad followed by miso glazed sea bass.  I had ordered extra sea bass and Mario brought me A LOT so I shared some with Janay.  This is our favorite entree.

        For dessert I ordered this white chocolate croissant pudding.  Dante ordered cheesecake but when he saw my dessert he ordered it too.  It was very yummy.

        Janay ordered this Belgian chocolate mousse with cream brulee center.  It was a new dessert and not what she expected.

        We were late getting out of the dining room so the show, "Tuxedo" had already started.

Today

                                                                My T-shirt for today.

        Every Sunday morning on Regent ships caviar and champagne are served at breakfast in Compass Rose and up in La Veranda.  

        I went down to Coffee Connection first to get Rebecca's coffee.  She had room service deliver her scrambled eggs as usual but I headed down to Compass Rose for breakfast.  Irawan is serving me a little champagne.  He remembered me from the Grandeur christening cruise end of last year and that I always had Makers Mark put on the ships.

        Dennis was my waiter this morning.  We have known him for a long time as he always works the world cruises.  He has been working at Regent for 24 years.

             I asked Dennis for extra caviar.  Only time I get caviar is on Regent ships.

                  This is not a mistake photo.  I actually had two orders of caviar.  OINK!

                  I then washed the caviar down with this eggs benedict.  Cooked perfectly.

              This photo taken from our suite looking forward.  You can see the gang plank.

                                                   This taken looking aft from our suite.

Taken from the back of the ship.  The pier is a very long one and can accommodate several cruise ships.

        It is a very long walk on the pier to Costa Maya.  We stayed on the ship as usual.  I made an appointment for a hot stone massage for tomorrow morning at 8:30.  My back has been killing me since we got on the ship.  I have never had a real massage so will see if it helps or further hurts my back.  Spa treatments on the ship are very expensive.  My 50 minute massage for tomorrow will cost $249 but we have ship board credit we need to use or lose.

        This is Vipin from India.  Yesterday he was busy changing light bulbs.  Not sure what he was up to this morning but they sure keep the ship in good repair and very clean.

        I had asked Staff Captain Yasen to join us for lunch today.  He is from Bulgaria and we have cruised with him before and became friends with him then.  We had a great conversation and he talked about his up bringing and how he got into this career.  He was raised in communist Bulgaria as it was part of the USSR.  He said he was not a good student as a teen but back then military service was mandatory so he "grew up" and became more responsible during his years in the navy.  When President Regan made the Berlin Wall be torn down and RSSR broke up.  Bulgaria became independent and Yasen said it was the United States that really supported Bulgaria financially to get them on their feet.  He said it was not the European Union but USA that helped Bulgaria.  We did not realize this.  He became a basic seaman but could not get into the marine school.  His seaman supervisor thought he had a lot of potential even though his school grades were not good so he got in, studied hard, and graduated.  He worked initially on cargo ships but there was an economic downturn in 2008 so he was laid off.  His agent said there was an opening with Silverseas cruise line so he took it.  Back then only Italian officers could be promoted and he was obviously Bulgarian.  In 2010 Regent offered him a job and he took it.  He has worked his way up the ranks over the years and now one step away from being Master of a ship.  I thought his story interesting so hope you did too.  Obviously, he can take over if something happens to Captain Saro but his main duty now is being in charge of the deck crew and making sure the crew is trained and the ship is in perfect condition. 

        When we got back to our suite after lunch our view was blocked by a huge cruise ship.  This looking forward from our balcony.  Passengers were pouring off it.  Yuk, LOTS of kids!

                                                      This looking aft from our balcony.

   It is the Norwegian (NCL) Escape which was christened in late 2015.  Passenger capacity is 4266.

                                                                On top is a water slide.

       Can't watch the Cowboys vs Panthers game on tv or computer but can keep up with play by play and scoring online this afternoon.  Also watching a documentary on tv showing some of the weirdest looking fish we have ever seen.  Not sure how they can film this.  Rebecca is paying $10 per day extra to get internet streaming on the ship.  So now she is watching the Dolphins vs Texans game streaming on Paramount +.  At 3pm I went down to the Horizon Lounge (it opens at 3:00) to have a chat with Peter, my bartender friend.  He is also from Bulgaria and has worked for Regent for 17 years.

        I don't like to take pain meds but I broke down and took one of these this afternoon to try and calm my back down.  It did help.        

        At 5pm we thought about going down to the conference room for an interdenominational church service but it said it was "non-hosted" so decided not to go.  If there was no leader, not sure what use it would be.  So we will go down to the Mariner Lounge at 6:00 and have communion.  LOL

        I have planned a dinner for 8 at 7:00 up in Sette Mari.  They have one table for 8 and they are nice enough to hold it for us.  Those attending are:  Dana & Jamie Logan (retired Cruise Directors on for the Reunion Cruise);  Marcia Rector;  Jim & Pat Bittle (also Diamond status and lots of cruises with them);  Jane;  and us.  Veal parmesan is not on tonight's menu but I have requested it for the Logan's, Marcia, and me.

        At 9:30 vocalist Zoe Tyler will be in the theater for another show.  Remember I said she talked too much between songs during her first performance.  So I will sit in the back for a quick escape if she does it again.

        Tomorrow we will be in Cozumel, Mexico, from 6am to 1:30pm.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14TH---HARVEST CAY, BELIZE

 HARVEST CAYE BACKGROUND INFO

        Harvest Caye is a private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Line.  NCL Holding also owns Regent and Oceania cruise lines as well as NCL.  The 75 acre island lies off southern Belize operations as a cruise destination began in November 2016.  The island has a beach, swimming pool, saltwater lagoon for water sports, dining venues, a lighthouse with two ziplines, and a pier so we can dock there.  NCL employs 400 Belizeans on the island.  There is a Jimmy Buffet’s Bar & Grill and a small shopping village also.

        The island is just a half mile or so off the coast of southern Belize and there are boats running back and forth.  Several of the ship’s tours will be on the mainland so it requires about a 40 minute boat ride to begin those tours.

                                              Our position today just off coast of Belize.

Last Evening

        Only our next door neighbors and Marcia came our for the Block Party.  They are in the suite between us and Marcia.  Nice folks from San Antonio.

        Back to the Mariner Lounge after the Block Party for pre-dinner cocktail.  This is Rambo next Marcia.  He has been working on Regent cruises for years and years.  Super nice guy.

        At 7:00 we met Jenn Teegen and Kevin, her hubby, at the entrance to Compass Rose restaurant.  I had requested to be seated at one of Mario's tables, which they did.

       This is Mario with Jenn.  Mario has also been working for Regent for many years.  He is a favorite waiter for many of us long time Regent cruisers.  Unfortunately, there was a large group seated at the big Captain's table next to us (no officers with with this group).  They were so loud we asked to change tables.  Certainly glad we did.

        I had taken our nice champagne at noon so they could have it chilled for our dinner.  John, the head sommelier is about to open it for us.

        Rebecca and I always enjoy the panko coated shrimp as an appetizer.  On past cruises we have ordered it as our entrees.  Of course, we order a dozen instead of the two here.

                                      I had chicken kiev for my entree.  A bit too dry tonight.

                              Everyone else had the Szechuan beef stir fry and said it was delicious.

        They call this dessert "malva pudding" with butter pecan ice cream on it.  Oh, so good!!!!!!  One of my favorites.  Everyone enjoyed one except Rebecca as she does not eat desserts.

        This is Jenn & Kevin with Gertie, our waitress.  We have known Gertie also for many years.  We really enjoyed our dinner with Jenn & Kevin.  Jenn's corporate title is a long one:  Director of Guest Engagement and Experimental Marketing.

        After dinner we went to the theater for this production cast show.  There are 12 young performers in the cast:  6 singer/dancers and 6 more just dancers.  Most are from the US but two are from the UK and one is from Brazil.  We enjoyed the show, but in my opinion, the singers were not quite as good as on previous cruises.  Below are some photos taken during the show.

        It was an action packed show with lots of great music.  These kids put their heart and soul into the show for us.  They will be doing another show tonight.

Today

        As I worked on today's blog post I decided to run up to Deck 12 to take some photos while Rebecca was on the treadmill.  As you can see the pier is a very long one to the island.  There are some shuttles to take folks in.

                                                 Lots of mangroves around the island.

                   There are several tours here but most all involve water sports or the beach.

                           Deck 12 is the sports deck so I took some photos from up there. 

                           There is a walking/jogging track above the pool deck (deck 11).

                                                  Pickle Ball court on back of Deck 12.

                                                                    Golf driving cage.

                                                                          Putt Putt

                        Below on deck 11 is the pool grill with tables below in this photo.

                                               Pool bar and grill on other side out of view.

                                                                          Hot tubs

     On the front of deck 12 is the Observation Lounge with a nice view out in from of the ship.

        I then went down to Deck 7 (the deck our suite is on) for some photos.  On the back of the deck is the spa on one side and fitness center on the other.

                        Cardio area where Rebecca comes to use one of the 4 treadmills here.

                                               There is a room for classes and spin bikes.

                                                      There are even some energy drinks.

        Also on our Deck 7 just aft of the suites is the Casino and Boutiques.  So here are some photos of them.  The both are always closed when in all ports due to foreign customs regulations.

        In case you run out of money in the casino there is this ATM.  Or you get a cash advance down at Reception.

        Across from the Casino is the Boutiques.  Duty and tax free shopping.  They have a lot of fine jewelry, perfumes, some designer clothes, some non-prescription meds, and personal grooming things in case you forgot to pack something.

        Hallway along the boutiques that leads to the suites.  Our suite is just 5 suites down from the boutiques and casino.

        This is one of several stairwells that are used by the crew.  Crew members are not allowed to use elevators.  Ship's officers can use the passenger elevators however.  Stairwell is spotless!

        Mid morning after Rebecca returned from the treadmill and was getting cleaned up, I took our Dallas Morning News paper down to read in Coffee Connection.  Marcia was there having her coffee so I joined her and we had a nice chat.  

        On the way back to my suite I stopped and chatted with Donna at the Restaurant Reservations desk.  You would come here to make dinner reservations in Prime7 or Chartreuse.

                                                   The beautiful Caribbean waters.

        At noon we dined up in La Veranda.  Was wanting some lobster nachos but they do not have them on Mariner.  So I decided on some spicy chicken wings.  Tomorrow night we will be dining up in Sette Mari (Italian).

        On my way into La Veranda I ran into the Food & Beverage Director and Beverage manager. I arranged a dinner reservation (normally no reservations accepted in Sette Mari) at 7pm for 10 people.  During lunch I spoke with Armando and Chef Megh pictured above.  Armando is the maitre d in Sette Mari so asked if he had heard about our plan for tomorrow night.  He had.  I then talked with the chef about how I wanted my veal parmesan prepared.  I even had a couple photos to show him.  He said no problem as he remembered me from the 2022 world cruise and how I like my veal parm.  Great memory!  Armando said he would come down to our table in Compass Rose tonight to see how many veal parms we needed.  I know Marcia and I want one.  It is not on tomorrow's menu so we have to special order it tonight.

        This is La Veranda during breakfast and lunch but will be turned into Sette Mari for dinner.

        As I walked past the Coffee Connection there was Peter (on left).  He is one of my favorite bartenders and friend.  He was just as happy to see me as I was to see him.  He said he was bartender in the Horizon Lounge at night.  I will have to go there some evening.  The other bartender is Komang.

        Ok, it is now 4pm so I will finish today's post now.  AS A REMINDER, IT IS BEST TO CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE THEM FOR BETTER VIEWING.  I just dropped off our flight information at the Destination Desk as they are already planning for disembarkation when we arrive back in Miami.

                                                       Tonight's menu in Compass Rose.

        Tonight is the Seven Sea Society cocktail party in the theater at 6:00.  It is our favorite night for dinner in Compass Rose as miso glazed sea bass is on the menu.  This is our favorite entree on Regent ships.  At 9:30 there is another production cast show in the theater, "Tuxedo".  

        Tomorrow we will be in Costa Maya, Mexico.