Checking in, Live, from the Mariner (Miami-Lima)

[mariners]

I'm really enjoying your posts. Thanks so much for taking the time and tolerating the frustration of posting.

 

I have found the best time on the internet to be between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. probably because the crew have called it a night and the passengers have yet to start their day.

[Mr Rumor]

Thanks, Gerry! Looking forward to checking out your Oceania blog as soon as I get a faster connection.

 

In response to your question, we did a straight shot through the canal, so no stop at Gatun Lake. Somewhere along the route the commentator pointed out a small prison on the port side where none other than Manual Noriega has been residing, after his stays in U.S. and French prisons. Offhand I can't think of anyone who has done a three-country prison tour!

 

The lock construction sites were a definite highlight. The sites are vast because of the network of reservoirs that will be attached to one side of the locks. Learned this morning from Terry Breen that mules will not be used on the new locks to steer the ships, but rather tugboats.

 

Thanks for the kind words, josephone and mariners. Josephone, we had planned to sample the French bistro menu at Setti Mare tonight, but arrived later than planned due to the Gold, Platinum and Titanium reception in the Constellation Theater (we made Gold this cruise). The restaurant was packed when we walked in at 7:10, so we'll try again tomorrow. . . promptly at 6:30.

 

Learned at the GP&T event that there are 118 Gold, 56 Platinum and 11 Titanium cruisers aboard, including a 98-year-old gentleman who has logged in more than 1000 nights with Regent.

 

Had the Equator Crossing Ceremony poolside today, and it was good fun. The Mariner will actually cross the equator tomorrow at 4 a.m. Four hours after that we're scheduled to dock in Manta. Shopping for a Panama hat might just be on the agenda. (According to Ginny it WILL be on the agenda--she was listening intently when Terry gave her Panama hat-buying tips.)

 

Rich

[Mr Rumor]

Mariners, I'm not fated, at least on this cruise, to hit the computer room any earlier than 6, which I did this morning. I was the fourth to arrive.

 

I meant to note earlier that Peggy (xrvlcruiser) is on this cruise. She approached me at La Veranda, in the buffet area. The giveaway was my black wrist splint--I might as well have been wearing a teeshirt emblazoned with "Mr. Rumor." We had a fun little chat about Royal Viking Line.

 

Then after Viva La Vida in the Constellation Theater that night, I had a chance to visit with Jamie. Lo and behold, his first cruise director gig was aboard the Royal Viking Sea in 1986! Jamie actually succeeded a cruise director, Derek Mann, that I had worked with in the '70s. Small world. (By the way, Jamie is going solo this trip, as his wife/assistant cruise director, Dana, needed to tend to a family matter.)

 

Finally (for now) it appears that the Mariner is headed for drydock sometime in the spring of 2014 in Europe. During our chat the other day, General Manager Michael Coghlan said that it is typical to go into drydock every two or three years. Because the Mariner still has more than a full year to go before drydock, Michael couldn't speculate on planned repairs/refurbishments, etc., but did note that typically carpets are changed and the engines are overhauled, if necessary.

[AWED23]

Can someone tell me if Capt. Green is Norwegian?...He sounds like the same Captain we had on Navigator in Sept. ...Very convivial and had a Staff lunch daily with his senior officers...If he is the same person then I look forward to sailing with him again next January-February from Miami to Buenos Aieres.....Great posts Rumor...Isn't the new portion of the canal due to open in the Summer of 2015 on the 1oo year anniversary of the first opening?

[DaveFr]

Captain Green is actually Swedish. I'm sure he's the same captain you had in September.

[Mr Rumor]

Lost my entire Manta post! Will try to reconstruct, this time spreading the info into two or more posts:

 

From the right place at the right time department: Left the ship a short while ago after lunch--which followed a very enjoyable tour of Manta and Montecristi--to look at some postcards at the tourism booth and came face to face with the answer to a question I had. Did Regent take advantage of Manta's wonderful seafood market and make a purchase? The answer is yes, as there, staring me in the face, was a lovely 100 pound tuna, just about to carried up the gangway. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do with him yet," said Executive Chef Jonathan, who had been admiring him.

 

Tuna is big business for Ecuador, with much of it going to Japan. Fresh catch also includes swordfish, mahi mahi, shrimp, and sea bass. I could have had a piece of grilled sea bass, with salad and rice at one of the number of seaside cafes today for $7.

 

Rich

[Travelcat2]

Did you ride the bus with the music playing on the roof?

[RachelG]

Hope your weather was better in Manta than ours. It absolutely poured rain. We were totally soaked to the skin and because of the heavy rain, the market wasn't nearly as full of vendors as usual. We also ditched our plans for a seaside lunch due to the rain. Phooey!

[neviboy]

Did you buy a hat ? The folding ones that go into a slim box and priced at about $120 (US) are the best. My $25 hat lasted for about 4 months in Florida.

[AWED23]

Captain Green is actually Swedish. I'm sure he's the same captain you had in September.

...Thanks for the reply Dave. He is really a rising star in my book....I see that not only are you from my favorite City, San Diego, but that we will sail together in May from San Francisco to Vancouver...Rob.

[Mr Rumor]

TC2, we toured Manta and Montecristi in air-conditioned comfort (best buses we've had so far, with great sight lines, from China). A number of passengers chose the Monticristi extended shopping tour via the Chivas buses, and we passed four of them en route ourselves. They traveled kind of caravan style, with two of the buses carrying musical combos on the roof. Fun!

 

Rachel, we lucked out with the weather. Cloudy, but not a drop of rain.

 

Neviboy, we had a fun adventure in Montecristi cruising the booths in the square in search of a good buy on a quality Panama hat. Luckily, we had a another great tour guide, Roberto, who doubled as our quality control consultant, and negotiator. His key tip on quality: hold the hat up to the light--the tighter the weave and the less light poking through the finer the hat. We got a couple of fine ones and are very happy! Others scored, too, and a number of Panama hatted folks were spotted at the deck lunch afterwards.

 

Le Cirque Mariner in just a few minutes. I'll try to post a little more before turning in.

 

Rich

[Travelcat2]

Thank you for responding. We were on one of the Chivas buses when we did this itinerary in 2010 -- it was really a lot of fun. Everyone was waving at the locals -- they waved back and all of us had smiles on our faces. Definitely a great time. Unfortunately, the hat we purchased sat around for almost two years and we gave them away. Somehow they seem wonderful while on the cruise but lose their "wonder" when you get home.

 

Really enjoying this thread:D

[Mr Rumor]

TC2, we encountered more smiles and waving on our tour today than on any Regent tour I can recall. . . schoolchildren, a dad and his young daughter. . . older folks. . . it seems that just about everyone was happy to see us driving by and wanted to have a momentary connection with us.

 

I also noted a difference between Cartagena and Manta street peddlers. The Cartagenans are more persistent and aggressive. Some of the peddlers today seemed almost shy, very quick to withdraw as you walked by, or slightly shook your head.

 

A few words about our excellent guide, Roberto. He had designs on a law career but then decided to go where his heart was/is: tourism. That was 15 years ago. He was a joy to ride with, warm and personable, and extremely knowledgable. He left us with this laugh:

 

"My dad said to me once, 'Roberto, we men are macho and we always have the last two words at home. . . 'Yes, dear!'"

 

Tomorrow: Guayaguil.

[Travelcat2]

TC2, we encountered more smiles and waving on our tour today than on any Regent tour I can recall. . . schoolchildren, a dad and his young daughter. . . older folks. . . it seems that just about everyone was happy to see us driving by and wanted to have a momentary connection with us.

 

I also noted a difference between Cartagena and Manta street peddlers. The Cartagenans are more persistent and aggressive. Some of the peddlers today seemed almost shy, very quick to withdraw as you walked by, or slightly shook your head.

 

A few words about our excellent guide, Roberto. He had designs on a law career but then decided to go where his heart was/is: tourism. That was 15 years ago. He was a joy to ride with, warm and personable, and extremely knowledgable. He left us with this laugh:

 

"My dad said to me once, 'Roberto, we men are macho and we always have the last two words at home. . . 'Yes, dear!'"

 

Tomorrow: Guayaguil.

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. We have very fond memories of Manta:)

[Mr Rumor]

Learned from my late-night compadre in the computer room, John from Louisville--one of the 80 traveling with radio talk show host Dennis Prager--that Prager is opening his last 3 p.m. sea day talk to the public. That's tomorrow. I'm looking forward to hearing him.

 

We're getting more than the usual warnings about pickpockets in preparation for our visit to Guayaquil today. Even Jamie had a few words of caution when he addressed the audience after Le Cirque Mariner last night. So I'm in full Travelsmith array this morning with my shirt with zippered hidden pocket and pants with the same.

 

By the way, Guayaquil was off some cruise ships' itineraies for a while, including Regent's, not necessarily for pickpockets but because the city hadn't been keeping up with beautification and restoration projects. In fact it was our own Terry Breen who recommended to Regent that it drop Guayaquil and add Manta/Montecristi in its place. "Guayaquil really had to look at itself then," Terry explained. "It then started to work on its historic area." So now it is back on Regent's and other cruise lines' schedules.

 

AWED23, I would now definitely categorize Captain Green as a rising star. He has a winning way--personable and approachable. You sense he is delighted to be where he is as master of the Mariner. He keeps a higher profile than the other Regent captains. For example he watched the equator-crossing ceremony the other day from Deck 12, then hung around to chat with passengers and have his photo taken (including with me).

 

Rich

[WesW]

Thanks again Rich for detailed/entertaining on board Mariner reports.

[OrpingtonT]

Mr Rumor. Please, if you get the opportunity, ask Jamie when is he going to resume his "Same Ship, Different Day" blog. We find it very entertaining, but recognise it must be extremely time consuming.

[Travelcat2]

I'll be very interested in your comments on Guayaquil. We were there 15 years ago -- just an overnight stay on our way to the Galapagos and were told that we should not step foot outside of the hotel as it was dangerous.

 

Two years ago (same itinerary as you are on), we had a police escort for the bus and drove through areas that frightened some passengers enough that they would not get off the bus and went back to the ship. We were let off at a beautiful park with hundreds of iguanas (with a lot of iguana poop). We took a long walk by the water on the "malecon" and noticed police at just about every corner -- possibly to insure that the tourists would not have any problems. It was good to see the progress that has been made -- hope it has continued.

[josephone]

Mr. Rumor

We are joining you in Rio. I am still stewing about the Yellow Fever shot. We are 71 and 83 so CDC advises great caution about taking the shot. Did they check you when you went on board? I know it is not required in Rio.

 

Also what is Le Cirque Mariner? Is it the restaurant or Cirque de Soleil? I must have missed your description and now I can't find it.

 

Thank you again for taking the time!

[RachelG]

I think Guayaquil has gotten a lot better in recent years. I did not feel uncomfortable walking around the Malecon area or near the museum in the daytime. In fact, my husband wandered off a little as he often does, and I was not worried at all. I did not take much money with me and put my big diamond in the safe onboard though.

[Travelcat2]

Mr. Rumor

We are joining you in Rio. I am still stewing about the Yellow Fever shot. We are 71 and 83 so CDC advises great caution about taking the shot. Did they check you when you went on board? I know it is not required in Rio.

 

Also what is Le Cirque Mariner? Is it the restaurant or Cirque de Soleil? I must have missed your description and now I can't find it.

 

Thank you again for taking the time!

 

You can get a doctor's note to avoid getting the Yellow Fever shot. That is what we did.

 

Le Cirque Mariner is a show - a take-off of Cirque de Soleil. This is the only show we go to on board -- it is well done.

[Patti22]

Josephone,

I was over 65 last year when Ecuador put a last minute (1 month from sailing) requirement for the yellow fever shot. My dr did not want me to have it but public health did it for me. Yes, you can get a written waiver, but please do your research because I think there is more involved than a simple note. At least that is what I was told.

[Mr Rumor]

Tom, ironically Jamie began writing a new "Same Ship, Different Day" blog entry this afternoon covering our first two ports (Willemstad, Oranjestad), plus the Panama Canal. "Then my computer crashed!" he exclaimed. He was on his way back to his office--I saw him at the gangway--to see if he had lost what he had written.

 

Wes, thanks again for checking in with your kind words. Jackie, I'm looking forward to posting soon on our day in Guayaquil. I was surprised to read of your police escort on your visit there two years ago!

[Mr Rumor]

It was pouring this morning while we gathered in the Constellation Theater to exchange our tour tix for those little numbered cards. Then Captain Green came over the PA to announce there was a 60% chance of rain the rest of the day in Guayaquil.

 

Well the rain promptly stopped and it didn't rain another drop today. We lucked out.

 

Regarding the pickpocket and other petty crime threats, we couldn't have booked a safer tour: Historic Park & Hacienda Lunch. We drove for an hour past a few areas of grimy looking buildings, almost all of which had bars on the windows, even on the third and fourth floors. However the park's neighborhood was definitely upscale. We noted many gated communities, and no discernable police presence.

 

We spent two hours at the Parque Historico Guayquil, with its unique mix of attractions, including a jungle setting devoted to local wildlife (love them sloths!) and flora, as well as a kind of living history museum of period architecture, including several buildings from Guayaquil's original malecon. Then we were driven to the nearby El Corte Steakhouse, located in the high-end Plaza Lagos Town Center for a delicious patio lunch buffet comprising a nice big piece of grilled fresh corvina (mild white fish), Argentinian sausage, grilled vegetables, twice-baked potato and rice. Dessert was fresh fruit, and everything was washed down by fresh watermelon juice on ice. The meal was as good as any lunch we've had this cruise at La Veranda.

 

We had another excellent guide, Diana, who peppered our drive and park tour was wonderful commentary. Everyone in our group seemed to thoroughly enjoy this tour.

 

As we returned to the ship, Diana gave us tips on where to go (i.e. for local chocolate) if we chose to take the shuttle back into town. We decided we were sated with our five hour tour--plus, I thought, frankly, why press our luck?--so we remained on the ship. But we did drive by the new malecon, which Rachel alluded to, and it did seem quite safe.

 

Rich

[Mr Rumor]

From the What the. . . ? Department: After hanging out in our room for a while I decided to walk some laps on Deck 12. I saw a few people looking down on the pier, so I stopped and looked too. I saw about 80 pieces of overnight-bag-sized pieces of luggage, arranged neatly in rows. I also saw the captain, general manager and cruise director milling around, as if they were waiting for someone, plus all of the dancers. I knew I had to investigate!

 

In a few minutes I was on the pier. I learned the luggage belonged to the Circle South America passengers who had gone on the overnight tour to Quito. But they had already gotten back on the ship an hour earlier. So what was the luggage still doing on the piers, neatly arranged in rows? Turns out that the captain and company were waiting for the authorities to arrive with police dogs in tow to conduct a sweep for drugs!

 

There was speculation that the authorities might call the whole exercise off, so I returned to Deck 12. . . just in time to have a great view of the just arrived police dogs and their handlers racing from bag to bag, as a line of ship staff and dancers watched.

 

Within a few minutes it was over, and the dancers started hauling the bags on to the ship.

 

Rich