Mariner Grand Pacific Paradise Voyage: Miami - Sydney, 10/10 -12/15/2018 - Rich48100

[WesW]

CaptJohn/John & Christina;  we look forward to visiting Pearl Harbor and the Arizona again.  As tnr/Terri says, we will miss cruising with y’all but enjoys your time in Hawaii!

 

Mr. Rumor/Rich, Ginny and Shauna;  Thank you.  We can’t wait to step on land again, especially the beautiful island of Maui.  We will look for the Rumor Family Rainbows 🙂

 

 

 

Good Morning Hawaii!  

 

This morning on board the Regent Seven Seas Mariner we will be visiting Maui after enjoying eight consecutive sea days, we are ready to enjoy the beauty of this beautiful Hawaiian island.  Ida and I will enjoy the Maui North shore and Water falls excursion.  Before posting photos and descriptions of our first day of two in Maui, will share photos and videos form one of most enjoyable evenings on board the Mariner.

 

About 6 p.m. a about seven hundred Mariner guests soon entered the main show room to enjoy a show put on by the Mariner crew, called, “Krew Kapers.”  These passionate crew members take time off from their normal duties in housekeeping, bar staff, wait staff, et. Al) to rehearse and put on a show for Regent guests—a (almost) end of cruise tradition on all Regent Seven Sea Voyages.

 

Next, about a dozen fellow Regent Seven Seas Cruise Critic members met after the show for a group photo. The beaming smiles help show the terrific time we have all enjoyed on this voyage (Miami to Honolulu)

 

Ida and I then met the Mariner Cruise Consultant Eddie and the Mariner Fitness Instructor Bianca.in the Mariner Lounge to share their table during our last Formal Optional night on board.  We enjoyed an outstanding meal featuring Lobster Thermidor, paired with one of Argentina’s most delicious Malbec wines and then having desert (Baked Alaska, Cheese plate).

 

Please enjoy a few photos and videos first of the outstanding Mariner crew performing for the packed (Standing Room Only) Constellation Theater Regent guest audience in “Krew Kapers.”  Next photo is our Regent and Cruise Critic Group photo, followed by snaps of our delish dinner with Cruise Consultant Eddie and Fitness Instructor Bianca.  We were one of the last few tables to leave Compass Rose (main dining venue on board) enjoying each other’s Company with lively conversation and outstanding cuisine and delicious wine.

Edited October 30, 2018 by WesW

[WesW]

and a few more photos and videos from last night;

 

 

[rich48100]

Well, woke up this morning to a nice sunrise, and LAND.  Yes Hawaii is really out there in this vast ocean.  Looking forward to going on an excursion.

 

Mr. Rumor, glad you and Ginni were able to find each other, and who knows what might have happened on this cruise.  Everyone seemed to have a good time during the crossing, and no shortage of entertainment, drink, food, laughs, etc.

 

Yesterday was a rather quiet day for us, went to talks by our Rocket scientist to learn about potential investments in space.  If one had a couple billion lying around someplace one can get a good return by the time you are dead.

 

As Wes has so eloquently documented, Kees Kapers was great fun, and crew has a multitude of talented people.  Fun evening, great meal, Compass Rose was packed.  Then went to performance.

 

Looking forward to shore excursion and being on Terra Firma.

 

A couple of pictures.

[Issy49]

Aloha Mariner! This is Mark and Nardi from Maui. We will be joining you in Honolulu on Nov 1st to Tahiti.

 

We have been watching you come in to Kahului Harbor this beautiful morning from our living room window and lanai upcountry. What a beautiful sight!! The sun hitting her was making her glow.

 

We saw a barge come in first. Was this the 6 containers that were meant for San Diego?

 

The Mariner came in bow first, then seemed as if it was turning around in the harbor to point bow out. We thought maybe starboard side loading those 6 containers? But it looks as though you are now bow to the dock. Kind of diagonal. Now it looks as if bow in again. ????

 

I took pictures of the ship as it was coming in to port. It was beautiful. I will try to post them. Also of the ship with Maui's bi coastal view for perspective.

 

We are so excited to be joining you in a few days in Honolulu. Til then I may be glued to our window staring at the Mariner in Kahului port!

 

Nardi

 

 

[xrvlcruiser]

Rich,

 

I love yours and Ginny's story! Clearly a good decision for both of you.

Regent doesn't stop in Lahina these days  - the new port is Kahalui,  on the opposite side of Maui. NCL has a dock there. It's a 45 minute bus rid to Lahina.

 

Peggy

[WesW]

Issy49/Mark and Nardi Aloha!  We look forward to welcoming you onboard!  Will check on containers and loadingm 

 

We enjoyed our first day in Maui on Maui’s North Shore and Waterfall ship excursion to the Ho’olawa Valley @ the Wailea Farm (about 36 acres).  Our guide/naturalist guided walk through the very dense rainforest (it was raining) led us to the Waterfalls overlook.  Christina offered to take a photo and vid of Ida and I.  During our Rainforest walk Ida is shown pointing to a bunch of bananas.  We observed fruits growing abundantly everywhere (e.g., guava, avocados, bananas) as well as a variety of plants (elephant ears, bamboo, banyan tree, yellow lilies).  We also visited the Historic town of Makawao where we observed glass blowing in Maui’s oldest hand-blown glass studio and gallery.  And, we visited Ho’okipa Beach park where Hawaii’s largest waves (86 feet) have been surfed by pro surfers in the January/February surging championships held yearly.  Shot a vid of some surfers catching today’s much smaller but still challenging surf/waves.

[rich48100]

Wes and Ida, nice pics of you excursion and glad it was a good time.  We went on the submarine to check out shipwrecks and tropical fish.  Weren’t disappointed in either aspect.  Ride back to the ship was delayed an hour and a half, reason unknown, so our 4 hour tour turned into a 5 and a half hour tour for no good reason.

 

Anyway, lots of fish and, 48 of us packed in a small compartment, but each had a window to see and take pictures.  Pictures to follow.  Looking forward to special presentation by Hawaiian dancers this evening, then off to another adventure tomorrow morning, iaio valley and Maui Ocean center.

[Silver Spectre]

Hi Wes, sorry to hear that you had rain for your day in Maui, that pink top on Ida is very fetching though.

[WesW]

Good Morning from Kahalui (Maui) and Happy Halloween!

 

Thank you Rich, happy to hear you Barbara and your Submarine excurion, tho not happy to hear about your delay.  Very nice photos—thanks for posting.  Looking forward to your Hawaiian dancer snaps, Ida and I decided to relax and enjoy a in suite movie and dinner.

 

Mr. Silver; rain was no real bother as it was very humid in the rain forest.  Will pass your fashion kudos along to Ida :).  Hope Mrs. Silver and you are enjoying the Middle East Iconic sites (e.g Petra, Luxor, Wailing Wall) on your Silversea cruise now.  Will take a peak on the your Silversea thread today.

 

We are doing the Rainforest Hike this morning back in the Ho’olowa Valley.  We look forward to the vigorous excercise, but thanks to Forgap/Jennifer’s caution we will carefully watch our steps due to slippery surfaces.  Photos & videos (hopefully, like the ones from yesterday downloaded at oh’dark thirty today) to be posted later.

 

The Regent Seven Seas Mariner is celebrating Halloween today.  We have the following Halloween themed events planned:  Ghostbusters, Halloween Popcorn Movie, Teatime in the Crypt, Dress is relaxed casual (for guests disembarking in Oahu tomorrow) or Halloween Costume.  And we have Halloween on the Horizon at 10:45pm in the Horizon Lounge where it will be time to howl at the moon and join in the spirit on board with Regent Signature Orchestra and Natural Duo, Denis and Elina.

 

We will enjoy the Halloween Spirit with Guests and Crew.  Ida plans to hand out about 15 small bags of Halloween Candy to some crew we have met this voyage.  Hard part is winnowing down to 15.

 

Watch out for Ghosts and Witches today 🙂

 

Edited October 31, 2018 by WesW
add videos from yesterday

[papaflamingo]

Welcome to Hawaii y'all!  Margaret and I have been here since last Friday and have been "practicing" eating, drinking, and enjoying the beaches and Island in preparation for the cruise!  We are so excited to join this beautiful ship for our 44 nights to Sydney!  Can't wait for tomorrow... we booked this cruise over a year and a half ago and cannot believe it's finally here!  See y'all in Honolulu!  😎

[Stefken]

Enjoying all the posts. Time can’t go quick enough until we join the Mariner in Tahiti. 

looking forward to exciting days and luscious nights, and few cocktails along the way too.

[MalbecWine]

Wes, Ida and you look great in anything you wear land or onboard from your photos.  Thanks for taking us along and continue to enjoy.  The Big Island and Maui are two of our favorites.

[Keith1010]

Wes, 

 

Happy Halloween to you and Ida.

 

Very nice that Ida has prepared candy bags for the crew and great photos from Maui.

 

I will have to look at a similar tour when Anne Marie and I are back there.

 

Continue to enjoy.

 

Best to you and Ida.

 

Keith

[Issy49]

The Mariner coming in to Kahului Harbor yesterday in the sun. The second pic is the Mariner shown in Kahului Harbor also showing Maalaea Harbor on the other side of Maui.

[RachelG]

A very happy 30th anniversary Rich and Barbara.  And what a great way to spend it.

 

congratulations,  Wes and Ida on making Platinum.  You will love free laundry.

 

so many sea days— George would go crazy.

 

wes, your videos aren’t coming through for me.  I can see the pictures just fine, but no videos.  Not sure what the problem is.  I tried in office and at home, so two totally different systems.

 

[greenolaker]

We’re taking our first Regent cruise in December of next year. I love reading your trip report and looking at all the pictures and videos. Thanks for sharing. 

[rich48100]

Well, woke up this morning to glorious weather in Maui.  Going to iao valley and Maui ocean center.  Breakfast in our room first and then adventure.

 

papadlamingo, Jim and Margaret, looking forward to meeting you and all other meet and manglers the first sea day of this leg.  Crew has been fantastic, and have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

 

Tour today and bus driver was much better.  Everything went off without a hitch, and there were so many people dressed up in Halloween garb.  Fish were not impressed however.  

 

No no pictures of the Hawaiian dancers last night Wes, sorry.  Didn’t bring my camera, but hope to have it tonight for Halloween performance by entertainers.

 

many people getting ready to depart, and met a number of great folks that will be getting off in Honolulu.  Too bad they are not continuing on.

 

thanks again Tachel for your Anniversary wishes.  It was a special day, and a crossing to be remembered.  

 

 

Pictures to followes to follow

[WesW]

Papaflamingo/Jim and Margaret; thanks for Hawaii welcome, c/u in just a few hours on board.

Stefken—we also look forward to welcoming u on board too.

MalbecWine; thanks for your too very, very kind words.  We loved hiking in Maui, yesterday we enjoyed our best excursion yet (on both Silversea and Regent)

Keith1010/Anne Marie and Keith; a belated happy Halloween right back at y’all—the Mariner crew that received their candy really appreciated/thanked us—just wish we could have brought a few hundred bags of Halloween candy with us.

Issy49; thanks for sharing the Mariner photos on arriving in Hawaii.

RachelG/Rachel and George; thanks for your Platinum kudos—it is Christmas afternoon every day we get our laundry back folded, hung and packaged in the Laundry Grey box.  Will check why CC is not showing our Vids—know you have been enjoying on FB.

Greenlaker; Rich, Barbara, Ida and I really enjoy sharing our experience here on CC, thank you.

 

And Rich, loved the photos of your Maui excursion, especially of Barbara and you

 

 

 

Good Morning Oahu!

 

We welcome about 540 new guests today on transition day and say fond farewell to those guests leaving.  Transition day is very challenging for the crew as they ready for embarkation for the new (Honolulu to Papeete/Tahiti) Regent Seven Seas Mariner Guest, and the crew assists guests who are disembarking in Oahu (after our 22 day Miami to Honolulu voyage).

 

Ida and I are so very excited to visit with a very close U.S. Army friend (Scott) that we have not seen in twenty years.  Ida, and I served with Scott during Operations Desert Shield (Wes) and for Ida & Scott, both Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Scott is a proud graduate of the Citadel who has a son attending his second year at this outstanding military college.  Scott is a retired Soldier who now works as a Senior US Army Civilian for US Pacific Command here in Oahu.  So, now no

visit to the Arizona and Panoramic Oahu tour for us, instead we are beyond thrilled to spend time with a special friend and fellow retired Soldier.

 

Please enjoy a few more photos from the Mariner’s  exceptional celebration of Halloween Day last evening (from lounge decor, main dining venue (Compass Rose decor and dining (Halloween themed deserts) and dancing in the Horizon Lounge while guests and Regent Production team howled at the moon.

Edited November 1, 2018 by WesW

[rich48100]

Had a wonderful day back on the ship after our tour.  Great Halloween decorations and wonderful performances by entertainment team and the violinist.  Entertainment team did the dance from “Thriller”, the Michael Jackson hit song and video, fantastic job by them,  then on to a fun time in the horizon lounge where the team danced with guests and all had a great time.

 

we are now in Honolulu, and mother glorious, sunny day.

 

Enjoy some pictures.

[lmorgan5289]

This is such a fun post! My soon to be husband (9 days and counting to go) and I will be joining the fun in Auckland for the trip to Sydney for our honeymoon! We hope to run into you all aboard!

 

Lindsay (and Dan)

[xrvlcruiser]

Wes,

I was glad to see the "stick" dance is back in Krew Kapers. I hope it's true for all the ships.

Your posts are terrific as are Rich's!

Thanks for taking us all along

 

Peggy

[Zqueeze1]

Wes: pass to your friend Scott a hardy “Go Dawgs!” from a fellow Citadel alumnus. I still cannot believe I made it through freshman year.  One of the highlights of my present cruise is stopping in Charleston so we can visit the Citadel and see our godson who is a junior. Enjoy your visit!

We love your Halloween party. Much more than what we had onboard the Navigator. 

Z and TB

Edited November 1, 2018 by Zqueeze1

[boblerm]

3 hours ago, lmorgan5289 said:

This is such a fun post! My soon to be husband (9 days and counting to go) and I will be joining the fun in Auckland for the trip to Sydney for our honeymoon! We hope to run into you all aboard!

 

Lindsay (and Dan)

Lindsay and Dan,

Congratulations, and best wishes on your wedding day.  What a wonderful way to begin your married life, on a Regent cruise!

Bob and Jeannie

 

[lmorgan5289]

45 minutes ago, boblerm said:

Lindsay and Dan,

Congratulations, and best wishes on your wedding day.  What a wonderful way to begin your married life, on a Regent cruise!

Bob and Jeannie

 

Thank you both! We are so excited for the cruise....been booked since last July! It's surreal it's finally here!

[rich48100]

Lmorgan(Lindsay and Dan). Congrats on your upcoming nuptials, and sailing on Regent.  I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy it, both married life and cruising, and hope to meet you all on the ship.  With everything on your plate, time will fly by.