Mr Rumor

Catpow, Jimbo's Truck Stop Diner sounds like a hoot, and pure Jamie. We were on the Miami-Lima leg of the SA cruise, and I wish we could have stayed on for the whole thing.

Karen, I thought of one more wonderful Compass Rose dessert with dark chocolate, the Iced Cappuccino Parfait in a dark chocolate cup (really good dark chocolate). When you see it on the menu, pounce!

We are living right, weather wise. "Last week it was pouring cats and dogs," Alen, our guide, announced at the beginning of our Cozumel Highlights and Shopping excursion. "Today it is very, very special weather conditions." How special? Temperature in the high '70s and partly cloudy skies.

This is our first visit to Cozumel and was expecting the island to be more built up. In fact the beautiful beaches on the east coast boast nary a resort, or any other development for that matter. There's a good reason for that--The east coast bears the brunt of any hurricane that pays a visit to the area.

Our tour included a handful of stops, our favorite being the Discover Mexico Park, featuring some terrific outdoor scale models of ancient Mayan and Aztec temples, as well as a performance by a troupe of Totonacas Indians from Veracruz, who, tethered to a tall pole, took flight in homage to the four winds. But we also enjoyed just sitting in the bus listening to the engaging, homespun commentary of our bright, enthusiastic guide, of Mayan descent. Alen was born on the island, and obviously loves life here. "We are 90,000 people," he said. "Everyone has a job. Everyone is happy." Sounds pretty good to me!

Rich

Didn't know about the Truck Stop Diner, JMARINER, thanks for sharing the memory.

1teach53, I have the dark chocolate "scoop" for you, with some help from pastry chef Pascal Eber. You'll have many opportunities to sample dark chocolate desserts on your cruise, including the Captain's Welcome Dinner in Compass Rose, when you can top off your meal with a slice of Raspberry Moist Chocolate Cake with chocolate sauce. Pascal also made note of my single favorite Regent dessert (should have thought to mention it earlier): the Golden Cake served in Prime 7. The name is misleading--"Golden" refers to the sprinkling of gold dust on top of the cake. The Golden Cake is actually 14 tiny rich layers of delicious dark chocolate cake and icing served with pistachio sauce. However, our key dark chocolate opportunity, Pascal pointed out, will be at the chocolate-themed Tea Time, which is usually held at 4 p.m. one day towards the end of the cruise in Galileo's Lounge. You might want to bring your camera as well as your sweet tooth to that event!

Cozumel in the morning, with another sunny forecast. . .

Rich

Double post! But while I'm here, I have an answer to your question from a couple of days ago, HonTri: Lorraine said she was not CD on the Paul Gauguin in March, 2008. She did serve as cruise director on the ship in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2003.

If the Kohunlich excursion in Costa Maya is a 10, then Lamanai and the New River cruise has to rate at least a 10.5. It's a somewhat bumpy 75 minute bus ride to the river followed by a 75 minute boat ride (with stops to check out a baby alligator, bats and hawks) to the site. Then it's a half mile walk uphill on a rock and tree root-strewn path to get to the pay-off, marvelous Lamanai, one of the several most impressive Mayan ruins in the world. It is estimated that between 60,000-90,000 Mayans once resided in this area.

We had a tag-team of guides: Bernard, a self-described creole, who gave us background info on Belize on the bus, and Wilfrido, part Maya, who did an excellent job escorting us around the ruins. Joining in on the commentary at one point: a handful of black howler monkeys who lived up to their name by emitting booming sounds akin to lion roars. Wilfrido said that 20 howler monkeys can create a racket with a decibel level comparable to that of a small jet. After checking out the monkeys, we figured out that a turf battle was taking place.

The tour also included a boat stop on the way back to the bus at a riverside restaurant, where we sampled a typical Belize lunch of stewed chicken, and rice and beans cooked in coconut milk. A side dish of marinated onions was delicious but much hotter than I thought it would be--the slice jalopenos, I learned, were actually sliced habanero peppers!

And, oh yes, we enjoyed another great weather day, with partly cloudy skies and a high in the 80s. Bernard thanked us for bringing the "rays of sunshine" with us, explaining it had been much more rainy in the area than usual dating back to last October.

All in all a value-packed, memorable experience!

Rich

Terry is also set to return to the Navigator for the Alaska cruise season in late May.

Good morning from table numero uno in La Veranda. We'll be anchoring shortly for our day in Belize City. Lamanai Mayan Ruins and New River Cruise today--whoo who!

Wanted to start the day with a Random Note: We all get at least one reservation at Prime 7 per cruise, but there is one Prime dining venue where we have no chance of scoring a table, and that's Prime 4, the crew's nickname for the crew mess on Deck Four (the officer/staff mess carries the same nickname).

Prime 4 features a varied healthy menu: fish, meats, salad bar, fresh vegetables and fruits, omelets for breakfast, etc. By popular demand, Prime 4 also serves the particular dinner roll that I begin craving as soon as we embark a Regent ship: the salt stick!

Rich

P.S. Bob Wilber played for an intimate crowd last night, and was great. He'll also be performing during the cocktail hour on the 10th. By the way, the little sax he plays is called a curved soprano sax. "Bob likes the sweetness of its sound," his wife, "Pug," explained.

TedC, I was delighted to see the following listing in today's Passages for 10:45 p.m. in Galileo's Lounge: "Jazz Jam Session with Jazz Great - Bob Wilber." We manage about one late night in the lounge per cruise and this will be it. Bob will be accompanied by the entire Regent orchestra--it was clear from last night that the musicians were proud and excited at the opportunity to play with Bob. By the way, Bob plays the smallest sax I've ever seen; it almost looks like a toy. It doesn't sound like one, however! We're especially looking forward to Bob's renditions of more Ellington and Goodman classics.

Had another beautiful weather day in port. We enjoyed our excursion, which consisted of a 75 minute drive to the Rio Dulce, where we boarded small boats (capacity about 15 passengers max per) for visits to a small, picturesque 16th Century Spanish fort and, then, a nearby hotel for snacks. DW was already enjoying the day, then became a real happy camper at the hotel, where she found a couple of huipils to buy.

After a pool deck lunch on the ship, Ginny, still in the grip of shopper's fever, hightailed it to the port's marketplace, about a 200-yard walk, where she picked up a few gifts. Just as I was growing antsy following her around I ran into Filippo, one of my favorite Regent destination people. Filippo, who we last saw on the Navigator last October, said he was set to return recently to the Mariner until a sudden opening occurred on the Riviera that he was asked to fill. He's happy to have the opportunity. We had a good chat, and I was reminded how much I enjoy his warm, good-humored way.

Rich

We're docked in Santo Tomas de Castilla. The port is big enough to be a container port, but small enough to be located very near to the jungle. We had breakfast on La Veranda's terrace, watching our big cousin, Oceania's Riveria, edge in behind us. As I mentioned, the Riveria is keeping an eye on us for most of the itinerary.

Our original tour choice, a visit to the Q'Eqchi river community, was cancelled due to a lack of sign-ups, so we're on the Countryside & Rio Dulce by Land excursion. We're very much looking forward to stepping foot in Guatemala for the first time. It will be a warm one, 86 degrees!

Rich

P.S. Hi again, Z and TB. 1teach53, will continue to keep my eye (and tastebuds) out for to-die-for dark chocolate treats.

Sunprince, crew members are billed either $20 for 200 minutes of internet or $40 for 460 minutes. That's a lot of money for some crew members, which is why members are savvy about, and flock to, port Wi-Fi hotspots. Even if free internet were to be provided, the crew would need to go ashore to Skype with family and loved ones, as shipboard bandwidth can not handle Skype.

1teach53, I thought about you and your mate/fellow dark chocolate lover tonight when we were served Prime 7's standard dessert appetizer tonight, a mini, rich dark chocolate brownie topped with a dollop of blueberry sauce. Wow! When our dessert server saw that our brownies had disappeared, he asked if we wanted another. We declined because we had just ordered our main desserts. But you could certainly nibble your way into dark chocolate heaven on a few of these beauties!

We had a stand-out Titanium, Platinum and Gold event in the theater thanks to the jazz artistry of Grammy award winning (for his work in creating the music of Duke Ellington for the movie "The Cotton Club") Bob Wilber. Bob, on sax and clarinet, played a six song set backed by the full Regent orchestra (the four member horn section flanked him). His wife, Joanne "Pug" Horton, a jazzy singer in the Peggy Lee mold, joined him for the last three tunes, including the rousing closer, "When the Saints Go Marchin' In." I was happy to hear from Lorraine afterwards that other cruisers will also have a couple of opportunities to hear Bob and Pug.

Regarding cruising tiers, here is the rundown on this cruise:

Titanium, 3

Platinum, 12

Gold, 50

Silver, 162

Bronze, 61

The "Dawning of Aquarius" production is minutes away--we'll be down front enjoying every rocking moment.

Rich

Wendy, thanks for the Lamanai boat ride tip. Ginny's Regent hat flew off her head yesterday while she was just walking on the pier in Costa Maya (it was recovered by the Riviera's assistant destination manager, which is how we came to chat with her). Needless to say, she'll keep her hat in her day pack until we're off the boat!

In answer to the March 22 cruise staffing question, the captain (Ubaldo Armellino) and CD (Lorraine Weimerskirch) will still be onboard then, but there will be a different restaurant manager, Marcel Karabinos (remember him from our first Regent cruise in 2010), and a different food and beverage director, Goran Rodojicic.

Another reason we were just fine with this unplanned sea day is that we have quite a fun, busy evening planned, starting with the Titanium, Platinum and Gold Society event at 5:15, followed by dinner in Prime 7, followed by the JAR troupe's "Dawning of Aquarius" production. 555lavan1t, I believe this particular group of JAR singers/dancers will be intact on the Navigator into May.

Rich

Kwaj girl, we don't have it as bad as you did. Seas actually seem quite calm now as we sail, like you did, toward our next port, Santo Tomas. The captain announced over the PA that he was hoping to dock tonight, if a berth becomes available. Otherwise, we'll anchor.

I've heard no grumbling about missing Roatan from fellow cruisers. I think everyone is quite happy to have a third sea day--I know sun-worshipping DW is (guess where she is at the moment). A revised schedule of activities was delivered to our rooms by 9:30, and we've already attended one of the added events, a talk on the "Great Seafarers of All Ages of Exploration" by enrichment lecturer Dieter Galler. We are enjoying him. He is elderly but spry and speaks eloquently off the cuff, which I much prefer to past Regent lecturers who read their talks off their computers.

Rich

Looks like we're going to have a gorgeous day in Roatan! We've just anchored, and I can see one other ship, NCL's Norwegian Jewel, from our stateroom. First glimpse of Roatan is pleasing--it's just a little hilly, and of course, very green/lush. Was surprised how flat Costa Maya is, at least where we docked.

Back to Sette Mari. Saw a lot of new faces last night, including one new face to the Navigator who is actually a six-year Regent veteran. That's Andry, from the Ukraine, who we remember fondly from the Mariner (Miami-Lima, 2013). When Andry came to greet us as our waiter, we knew we were in for an over-all good evening, service wise. In fact, Andry and the food service team didn't miss a beat. We were in and out in an hour and 15 minutes, and that included soup, main course and dessert as well as the help-yourself appetizers. The only misstep: a young wine steward who approached us without the wines of the evening, simply asking us if we wanted wine. A minor comedy of errors with him ensued that I felt compelled to brief maitre d' Alin and restaurant manager Franco on as we were leaving. I was assured an "immediate adjustment" would be made. I'm guessing the steward is one of several La Veranda/Sette Mari wait staff who just joined the ship.

Oh, oh--breaking news! Lorraine just came over the PA to announce that due to strong winds and big swells we can't tender to shore safely, and, thus, will be bypassing Roatan! She continued that the captain is looking for a "solution for the day." The options: find another port "with an opening," or have a sea day. Stay tuned!

Rich

Rachel, I think Ginny and I are Mayan junkies in the making. Now we can't wait for our Lamanai Mayan Ruins excursion out of Belize City on Saturday. As for Roatan, we are taking the Gumbalimba Preservation Park excursion, and will report on that. Frankly, I had never heard of Roatan island until I saw it on this itinerary!

Thanks for your thanks, 1teach53. I know how exciting that final countdown to a cruise can be--wishing you a great second cruise aboard the Navigator.

I don't envy any comedian having to play to an older crowd after a day of lengthy excursions in the sun, but Steve Bruner, who has written for the Tonight Show, did a good job tonight. His banter and ad libs with a passenger who changed seats and others who arrived late or left early got some of his biggest laughs.

Had an over-all very good experience--with one lapse--in Sette Mari tonight. Details to follow as early as tomorrow. I just realized I'm also one of the "older crowd" and need to get some sleep!

Rich

We've just set sail for Roatan Island, Honduras. Our dock mate today was the Riviera. On our return to the ship we walked with Riviera's assistant destinations manager, who remarked that the Navigator and the Riviera have the same itinerary through Georgetown. So we'll be seeing a lot of the Navigator's bigger cousin over the next few days.

DW and I agree: On a scale of one to ten our seven-hour Kohunlich Mayan Ruins excursion today rates a 10. The ruins are more vast that we thought, and we relished the experience of walking--very carefully, holding on to the ropes--up the stairs of the ruins' signature attraction, the temple with the "masks" (actually, large sculpted portraits of deities). The Mayan weather gods were smiling: The temp was in the low 80s and we had a breeze. The only raindrops fell as we were driving back. Even our included fajitas lunch outdoors at the Club de Vela in Bacalar was a delight. Oh, and we really liked our veteran guide, Alejandro--whose commentary at the ruins was top-notch. My only advisory: It's a two hour-bus ride two and fro Kohunlich, and the ride is somewhat bumpy.

Lvtocruize2, I have a staff member working on your staffing question for your Navigator March cruise. I can tell you with certainty that your captain will be Ubaldo Armellino, who returned to the ship in Miami. (Hmmm, I just remembered that he left the Navigator in Miami in early November, at the end of our Montreal-Miami cruise, so he must feel well rested.)

Baychilla, thanks for your post. On our iPad, I'll be using the Notes app. Have played around with it a little, and it looks like cutting and pasting will be a snap. I'm typing this, however, in the computer room, enjoying the view of the calm sea and partly cloudy skies as I type.

Block party tonight, followed by our first dinner in Sette Mari, followed by comedian Steve Bruner in the Seven Seas Lounge.

Rich

Well, "Broadway Tonight" was great---the current JAR cast might even have a slight edge over the last one, and I thought that cast was excellent.

Before turning in I wanted to make note of the fact that the Navigator is sailing full this cruise. Of the 485 passengers, women hold an edge, 259-226. The breakdown by nationality:

United States, 345

United Kingdom, 71

Canada, 37

Germany, 8

Ireland, 6

Australia, 4

Switzerland, 4

France, 3

Belgium, 2

Norway, 2

Russian Federation, 2

Israel, 1

Finally, here's a real Random Note for you: Internet use peaked this morning at 77 people online at the same time (this includes 15-20 crew members). I was one of them, and didn't notice a significant slowdown, which is good news. Last fall the Navigator significantly increased its bandwidth.

Rich

LindaM and Travelcat2, I'll be posting more on Sette Mari after DW and I have a chance to eat there and have a look (and taste) for myself. Sunprince, we had our second CR dinner with Larry tonight and he got us through four courses and decaf in a mere 96 minutes!

Hey Peggy, I'm glad you're aboard for the ride! EAGLESLOVER, I passed your greetings on to Lorraine at the Captain's Welcome Cocktail Party tonight. "Tell them hi!" she responded. Alas, she'll be on the Mariner this fall.

The Jean Ann Ryan Singers and Dancers headline with "Broadway Tonight" shortly. This will be the fourth time we've seen this production, but are looking forward to checking out the new cast. We've met several of the female dancers, and each has to be at least six feet tall. Two of the male dancers, Alan Grundy and Nathan Barry, served as coaches to Mark Ballas and Dereck Huff on Dancing With the Stars.

After our lazy sea day today our seven-hour Kohunlich Mayan Ruins excursion tomorrow sounds a little daunting. Will be sure to eat a power breakfast in the morning!

Rich

We're enjoying gorgeous weather and a glass-smooth sea today. Many are out on the pool deck but it is not overcrowded.

Had a nice deck lunch after sunbathing. I hung around at our table for six to chat with two couples from Florida while Ginny returned to soak up the rays. As the conversation took one interesting, fun turn after another, I was reminded of one of the reasons I enjoy cruising with Regent--our friendly, interesting fellow passengers, each with a story (or stories) to tell.

Our new acquaintances had an interesting experience at Sette Mari last night that I thought I'd share. Not only did they not receive good service when they sat down, they received no service. After 5-10 minutes, they decided to leave. As they were walking out one of the group buttonholed the maitre d' to explain why they were going. The maitre d' implored them to stay--in fact, they joked that their avenue out of Sette Mari was clogged with other staff who, too, wanted them to turn around. So they relented, were ushered to a different table, and enjoyed very attentive service, and a good meal.

This morning, one of the couples was surprised (surprised because they didn't give their names) to receive a follow up call from the maitre d'. Then, almost as if on cue, as they were finishing their story, a beverage manager stopped at our table to follow up with them as well.

Moral of the story, we all agreed: Don't just storm off when Regent has clearly not met your expectations, bring the matter to the attention of the person in charge as soon as possible. The two couples were more impressed with Regent restaurant management

endeavoring to make things right with them than they were upset with the original lapse in service.

Rich

Jackie, you are of course right about it not being a big thing to simply sign off and then on again when you get that 5%-time-left warming. My concern was about losing a longer post in progress, but Rafi assured me I wouldn't. As for my iPad--actually iPad cover/keyboard cover--issues, Rafi to the rescue. Turned out my keyboard needed a recharge (luckily Rafi has a charger that works with my keyboard, as I didn't think to bring mine) and then needed to be re-synched to the iPad. I think I'm back in business, and may try going cut and paste. But I have to confess something--a part of me loves typing in a crowded internet room, "on deadline." Takes me back to my early newspaper and magazine days when I was a work-under-pressure hound!

Rich

We sat in on the Destinations Talk in the Seven Seas Lounge this a.m., and I decided while there to pay attention to the aft vibration that many have commented on. In fact it was quite pronounced. You could see the images on the screen jiggling ever so slightly, and my wife had to remove the saucer from under her cup because it began going rat-a-tat-tat atop the tiny marble pedestal. However, when I asked Ginny at the end of the talk if she had been bothered by the vibration, and she replied, "No, not really--I'm used to it". . . this from someone who is very affected by ship motion. I know the vibration is not a dealbreaker for me, and never has been. I understand others might not feel the same way.

Here is one positive (debatable, perhaps, to some) about sailing on the Navigator, opposed to the Mariner or Voyager: Park West's far less conspicuous presence on our ship. The Art Gallery is located on Deck 7 in a rather tiny spot next to the Boutique and across the aisle from a roulette table in the casino. You could almost pretend it is not there, which is fine by me!

Rich

The sky is partly cloudy and seas are calm, after a little motion during the night, as we sail toward our first port, Costa Maya. Z and TB (good morning to you!), we decided on the Western Caribbean itinerary, mainly because of the opportunity to see the Kohunlich (Costa Maya) and Lamanai (Belize City) Mayan ruins--DW is an ancient history buff. Would like to do the southern route as well some time, and glad to know you have that itinerary to look forward to.

You know it is a sea day when, at almost 8 a.m., only two people are in the lounge across from the internet room having a continental breakfast. In fact, DW is still sleeping, too. Me, I'm headed outside for a few laps in a few moments. Don't think I will be eating much for breakfast as I am looking forward to an early pool lunch today. The lunch theme today is "Grillades," so I guess that means grilled chicken, fish, etc.

Ravi, the internet manager, has just arrived. I put the first of what I'm sure will be scores of questions to him today: Are we in fact now limited to 45 minutes of connection time per sign-in. The answer: Yes, as of last cruise (!)

Rich

I was hurried off my previous connection at 45 minutes. It used to be an hour (and unlimited before that). Need to confirm that 45 minutes is the new max connection time with internet manager Ravi tomorrow. If so, RachelG, all the more reason to get with the cut and paste program. Problem at the moment is that I am having a couple of iPad issues that Rafi is helping me with. (By the way, Rachel, I seldom stray from the Regent message board--even have a hard time keeping up with it at times--but did so to follow your Oceania blog. Enjoyed it very much! And, hi, Tina!)

I was expecting we would go through embarkation on the ship, as we did last October in Montreal. But, no, that job is handled by Port of Miami staffers, to the chagrin of certain Regent staff--port rules. It went smoothly.

We're used now to being recognized and welcomed back--part of the "Regent experience." But today we were almost overwhelmed by all the crew/staff coming up to us--mainly because everyone was interested to know where our daughter was, and how she is doing. Shauna, who has Down syndrome and who we refer to as our little Ambassador of Joy, obviously made quite an impression on our Montreal-Miami cruise. She'll be joining us on our May cruise.

At Compass Rose tonight we asked for one of our favorite waiters, Larry--Station 14. Larry has been with the Regent since Renaissance days (2000) and is a real pro, plus very pleasant. We were also happy to see "the Captain," the Navigator's permanent resident in his customary seat, beloved crossword puzzle nearby. He is looking hale and hearty.

We enjoyed our main courses (fresh salmon for me and grilled tofu for vegetarian DW, accompanied by a big plate of fresh mixed vegetables). After being so good, we decided we deserved dessert. Only issue was the presentation of Ginny's chocolate mousse two small glistening mounds on a plate. "Now I know why chocolate mousse is usually served in a cup," DW observed.

I wouldn't have gone to hear multi-instrumentalist Maciek Flont perform his "Around the World in 40 Minutes" show tonight if it weren't for my wife, but I'm glad I did. He played basically a 40 minute medley of tunes associated with countries around the world, and was quite good.

The entertainment continued just after the show when an alarm sound alerted us to the fact that a couple was stuck in one of the glass enclosed elevators. Cruise Director Lorraine was Joanna on the spot, calling one of the engineers while hanging out with the couple. They were freed in about 10 minutes and were immediately joking about the episode.

We like at least one sea day at the beginning of our cruise, and have one tomorrow, with the usual full slate of activities. Connection is good tonight, we'll see how much slower it is in the morning when dozens are online at the same time!

Rich

Greetings from the Navigator. We set sail about four hours ago from Miami, but I feel I've been "at sea" since last night at the Marriott Biscayne Bay, when I navigated through the several Navigator threads on this page. Choppy waters, for sure--but fun, fascinating reading! TVDad, are you thoroughly confused yet about whether or not you should chance the Navigator later this year?

DW and I are not gluttons for punishment so we wouldn't be taking our third Navigator cruise in ten months--with a fourth planned for May--if we weren't very happy, overall, with the ship, service, food, excursions and more. I'll be going into detail about what we like, and occasionally don't like, as Ginny and I experience our first Caribbean cruise together. And, yes, there will be some pure random notes along the way. Such as. . .

Just-after-entering-our-room (716) water test:

Sink faucet: Water clear!

Shower: Water clear!

Bathtub: Light brown for three seconds. . . then clear! (Hope to get a comment on the water issue from a key staff member).

I aim to keep the posts short, as I'm not keen on losing and long ones like last time. Questions for me while I'm onboard? Post them, and I'll do my best to answer, or get an answer.

Rich

P.S. Just tried to preview this post and almost lost it. Memo to self: no more previewing!

GM Massimo, Captain Ubaldo, CD Ray and the Navigator's trusty videographer form a bantering ram at the always popular Block Party.

Replica of a Titanic deck chair at Halifax' Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (an actual one is behind glass). Historic Halifax and RMS Titanic is a must excursion for Titanic buffs.

Bar waiter Elvis was in the house, and he rocked at Krew Kapers. (This was the type of Navigator rocking that my motion-sensitive DW didn't mind at all.)

Meanwhile, Ray Solaire and our daughter twisted and shouted at the Beatles bash in Galileo's.

Along a nature trail walk at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens outside Charleston. Montreal and Quebec, the beautiful rural landscapes of Nova Scotia, Boston and a bite of the Big Apple, a taste of the Deep South. . . not many two-week itineraries offer such a wide range of experiences as Montreal-Miami.

Seniorita Shauna bids one and all, "Adios!"

Purpleally, meant to thank you for your thanks in my last post. Appreciate your kind words, too, mangia bene vivi felice, Jackie, TahoeTraveler and Tom. It has been fun and a pleasure (well, except when several of my posts went poof) blogging Montreal-Miami. I've enjoyed and learned so much from this message board, so I'm happy to do my part to keep the board humming along.

I was garnering Random Notes up until my foot was almost literally out the door of the Navigator. While waiting for our luggage tags to be called in the lobby, I stopped cruise consultant Michael Coleman as he was striding by and asked him how many cruises he booked over the last fifteen days. "Eighty!" he exclaimed, adding that on our last sea day he was working until 10:30 p.m. trying to accommodate everyone who wanted to see him. If we didn't happen to already have an Open Voyage Future Deposit Certificate in our pocket, we would have probably extended Michael's work day a few minutes longer. He is, by the way, our favorite cruise consultant so far. You will not find a more congenial chap.

This impressive "renewal rate," encompassing one-third of the 481 passengers, underscores what we observed: lots of very happy cruisers, very little complaining. As for us, we find ourselves today embracing, as much as ever, the "Regent Experience." Of course our hearts are full, in part, because of the marvelously warm, even loving, reception our daughter received from fellow passengers, as well as the staff and crew.

Regarding the crew, our hearts today are with the 132 who hail from the Philippines, and, of course, their families and loved ones back home. Below is a photo of Shauna with one of them, Rhea, of security. She and Shiju (from India, also pictured) became Shauna's unofficial auntie and uncle on this cruise, bestowing her with gifts and hugs, and inquiring about her daily. To me, Rhea's face is the face of the Philippines crew we have come to admire and love for their warmth and caring, as well as a stellar work ethic.

I have several more photos to share from this cruise, so look for a final post soon!

Rich

Shauna with Rhea and Shiju of security, her unofficial auntie and uncle on our cruise.

One of the last crew members I spoke to before disembarking the Navigator in Miami last Thursday was Ferdinand, our favorite Sette Mari waiter. He told me he would be leaving the ship that day as well, for the long flight home to Manila. I keep thinking about him, wondering if he has been able to return home as scheduled, and whether or not his family was fortunate to escape the wrath of Typhoon Haiyan

As I posted on the Montreal-Miami thread, more than one-third of the Navigator crew (132) are from the Philippines. I imagine the Mariner and Voyager percentages are similar, which means many hundreds of Regent crew are probably beside themselves with upset as they follow this terrible tragedy and attempt to make contact with loved ones back home. According to one report I read, the typhoon is said to have directly affected approximately 4% of the population.

Knowing how well Regent treats its crew and staff, I have no doubt that the company will be doing everything it can to be of help, including cooperating with and assisting those crew members who feel they must return home ASAP due to their specific family situations.

Rich