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Sorry we didn’t manage the photo training session. Next year maybe 🤔 It was good to chat with you on board, rather than just on this CC Board 🥃

The protector on the bed yesterday signalled that the cruise would be over within a few hours After the excellent pre-dinner show by Anne (production cast singer), it was off to Compass Rose for our final dinner. Then the entertainment crew led a spirited Beatles hour in the atrium with many guests singing & dancing to the well known favourites 🎶 This morning we arrived in rainy LA. After breakfast in La Veranda, we left the ship just before 9am. DHS were a little slow in processing passengers; 45 minutes from leaving the ship to clearing immigration 😕 We do not fly back to the U.K. until Saturday so we have some time for retail therapy. We realised our Christmas adventures were over when we saw decorations being removed and the Christmas Tree being felled & shredded at an outlet mall today Hope this blog has been of interest. We can definitely recommend a Holiday cruise on Regent; it beats turkey sandwiches at home any day 😀

Guests on this cruise seemed comfortable making their own decisions about mixing, social distancing and masks. Those wearing masks were in the minority but all others respected their choice. Officers, staff & crew were unmasked. Hosted tables were back and block parties have recommenced.

You might hear/feel the tender winches below your suite, but only if there is a tender/lifeboat below your suite that is used in a tender port. You will only hear the winches when the tender is deployed (after ship anchors) and recovered (just before sail away) ……… but they are stored on deck 5 with the winch mechanism directly below the floor of deck 6

Some interesting figures for this cruise (16 nights) from the Captain last night: - cost of fuel: $1.3M - Panama Canal fees: $257k - eggs consumed: 23,000 I cannot remember the statistics for the number of bottles of wine & champagne, but it was mega 😮

Ensenada, Mexico, today; our last full day before docking in LA tomorrow We have just docked next to a “Mickey Mouse” ship 🤣 Sounds like they are having a crew drill this morning. Hope Donald remembers his life jacket; but then ducks are good swimmers so shouldn’t be a problem 😉 Internet seems to have taken a dive again (very spotty these last few days) The dreaded packing later today 😕. Only seems like yesterday that we joined the ship. We have thoroughly enjoyed this cruise 😎

Krew Kapers was excellent as usual & received a standing ovation from the packed theatre Some old favourites YMCA Plus a new hilarious routine “synchronised swans” The finale (Impossible Dream) was led by an excellent singer

Morning show was from the laundry yesterday

All academic now but it sounds like someone (NCLH procurement?) dropped the ball in their initial choice of cleaning contractor. Good to hear that guests will receive a refund of the cruise fare.

Backtracking, here is a report on our excursion in Cabo San Lucas yesterday. CSL-004: Lands End Boat & Cabo View After tendering ashore we boarded a large boat for a trip along the coast viewing the rock formations, and were lucky enough to spot two whales. We then boarded a coach which took in a picturesque viewing point, a glass factory and ended with free time in the lovely town of San Jose del Cabo We thoroughly enjoyed the boat trip, but we found the rest of the excursion to be too long & a little tedious. When we booked the tour it was scheduled as 4.5 hours, corrected to 5 hours when on board. In the event it ran to 6.5 hours including the time tendering from/to Splendor.

Today is a day at sea en route to Ensenada, Mexico. Sunny skies but much cooler - pool deck crew providing blankets for those less hardy souls😉 Also plenty of inside activities are scheduled. The usual games & speakers plus a cooking demo and a discussion with the magician, Matt Marcy. Prize redemption & Krew Kapers tonight must mean the cruise is almost over 😕

Yes, I think that the box pictured below behind the TV in suites on Splendor is a repeater. Perhaps someone with more technical knowledge can confirm The internet manager and a ship’s technician came to our suite, but were then on the phone as the reboot had to be done from elsewhere. We had a similar problem in a Horizon suite on Mariner last Christmas, but it was not sorted for a week as that internet manager was insistent that the problem was with our devices rather than the ship’s hardware. Only after constant badgering did he get a ship’s technician to check the local repeater and a reboot again solved the issue. What that experience taught us (and that internet manager) is that full ‘bars’ on your device only indicates that your Wi-Fi is connected to the nearest repeater, but that if you still cannot connect to websites then that local repeater may not be connected to the internet. All very frustrating 😤

Very disappointing for those currently on Explorer, but not sure that Regent can do much more to alleviate the situation or recompense guests. These regulations and their application to will undoubtedly adversely affect the future itineraries and the costs of future cruises intending to visit ports in NZ and Aus. How is the shipping industry as a whole handling this issue? What cleaning regime do all the general cargo and container ships visiting the area have to undergo?

We were anchored off Cabo San Lucas today ……….. but we were not alone ……… More about our day ashore later ………..

Sunday Sea Day Brunch on Splendor, New Year’s Day 2023, en route to Cabo San Lucas Mexico Not quite as OTT as we remember from Explorer pre-covid but don’t think anyone went hungry today.

No, all venues including the specialities were open yesterday evening (Not sure about the Pool Grill) Compass Rose had the Gala Menu and the ‘always available’ So plenty of choice for all

We have found WiFi/internet connectivity to be generally good in our suite and around the ship this cruise. We initially had an issue in our suite on the last segment but a visit from the internet manager and a ship’s technician soon got things sorted (repeater rebooted)

As the band wound up proceedings on deck, the party continued downstairs in the Splendor Lounge. Wes (leader of the Regent Signature Orchestra) did a fantastic job as DJ Between keeping us all well fuelled with alcohol & snacks, the bar staff joined in with the party 🥳 Finally at 2:30 am we made our way to bed with great memories of a wonderful night spent with the ‘Regent family’ and many new friends. Luckily we gained an hour during the night due to a time change so we are ready for the rigours of a day at sea with the expectation of a delicious brunch 😋

After the pre-midnight countdown, the ship’s horn sounded and confetti bombs were fired over the revellers from the top deck. The ice sculpture by the pool magically changed from 2022 to 2023

After the 10pm show in the theatre it was up to the deck for dancing in the warm night air The band played, the singers sang, guests danced and the wait staff kept everyone well supplied with drink and canapés

New Year’s Eve on Splendor was a night to remember. Preparations by the officers, staff & crew were perfect to ensure guests had an enjoyable time The programme for the evening was jam packed with entertainment A balloon arch outside Compass Rose gave a perfect frame for photos A delicious gala menu in Compass Rose

Today we are in a hot & humid Acapulco They are preparing firework barges in the bay ready for tonight’s festivities. Unfortunately we will miss the display as we are leaving early evening, but there are plenty of New Year’s Eve events being organised on the ship including a party on deck to see in 2023. Tonight the clocks go back so we, & the crew, will gain an hour extra in bed after the partying. Tomorrow there will be a ‘Sunday at Sea’ brunch in Compass Rose 😋 That should help clear any lingering hangovers Happy New Year to all those following this blog 🥳 🍹 All the very best for Regent cruising in 2023

The skies cleared at lunchtime leaving a clear hot afternoon with a glorious sky in the evening A short variety show was staged for the SSS top tier event, with David & Anna performing “The Prayer” as the finale. At the SSS party the employee of the month received his award - certificate, $500 and a day-off Later it was a packed theatre & standing ovation for David Nevin’s own show We finished the evening in the Meridian Lounge where the band (Regent Signature Orchestra) played a selection of rock songs. They are all fabulous musicians and the leader is a skilled trumpet player and a great singer. Excellent entertainment this cruise.

Today we are at sea. Sunny first thing but now the ship is enveloped in low cloud with the foghorn being sounded every minute. Margaritas being served on deck (never to early is it?). The bar staff have been very attentive on the pool deck this cruise; always on hand with iced water and/or something a little stronger 🍹 David, Annabel & Alex were recording their morning show (for tomorrow) earlier by the pool, before the fog rolled in. Tonight is David Nevin’s show. He is a very good singer.

Our favourite, Miso Sea Bass, in Compass Rose last night. It did not disappoint. David followed with a pretty dessert that he found delicious, Banoffee Cream Pie 😋