“Live from: Z and TB’s Fall Foliage Extravaganza”

[Zqueeze1]

14 hours ago, Pinksunset said:

I am late in thanking you, Z and TB, for your wonderful description of your trip and in particular, your NYC visit!  I miss NYC and very much appreciate your fabulous writing style of your experiences!  Continue on with your excellent adventures!

 

Thanks!!  I miss it too and would love to go back in the fall when the Yanks make the playoffs!

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

Good Morning:

Before I talk about yesterday’s adventures, let me just say that I am a little bit cranky today. I feel as if Max ate my lunch, I missed the last train, it’s the last day for sticky buns, or the cat likes me and is licking my face.  Our cabin was hotter than a Times Square Rolex and I was up half the night in misery. The room was a hot 77 degrees which is too much for us. As a result, I slept in an extra 90 minutes and got up at 0700. We complained about it this morning and hope to get the room as cool as John and Karen’s who are now leasing it out to Regent for cold food storage.  BTW, overall, the ship’s common spaces all seem on the warm side. 

Yesterday was a great day for reminiscing and walking with awesome weather and sights. We took John and Karen to The Citadel for a tour of my alma mater and to see our unofficial Godson, Patrick. 

We toured the campus 

and walked into Summerall Chapel only to find some freshmen (knobs) snoozing and escaping cadet life for a while. 

I also did some shopping at the Cadet Store and stored up on alumni paraphernalia.  

Here’s a knob walking on the gutter as is required during the knob year

 

And, of course, the ring which has the number 68 on it in honor of the class of 1968 who are celebrating their 50th reunion this weekend during Homecoming. 

After returning to the ship, The Boss and I took off for The Battery. This is where the Ashley and Cooper rivers meet and where we got engaged in May of 1982 just prior to graduation. 

I am amazed we survived college since We had a long distance relations. I went to  an all men’s military school in the south and she went to an all girls Catholic college in New Jersey. I’m more amazed that she still puts up with me. 

 

We decided to continue walking and enjoy all the antebellum homes that make Charleston so special 

We also walked through the slave market

 

The Boss likes her beasts just like me, dark and furry

And decided to have lunch at the Oyster House where we had some wonderful she-crab soup, fried green tomatoes with ranch dressing and sriracha, and hush puppies with brown sugar butter. There’s is nothing better than good southern comfort food. 

After returning to our ship, we took a food coma nap, then relaxed before our third Prime 7 dinner which proved to be the best one yet. More pics to follow. 

 

Z and TB

 

Edited November 10, 2018 by Zqueeze1

[Sheltieluv]

Z and TB, I continue to enjoy your narrative very much.  Love Charleston!

I'm not sure if you want to answer this, but why are Citadel freshmen referred to as "Knobs"?

Have a great day!

[Zqueeze1]

Here are some more pics from our Charleston adventure. 

Edited November 10, 2018 by Zqueeze1

[Zqueeze1]

One last set of pics 

Me on the left as a sophomore 

six ounce filet and lobster tail

Evening Pool Grill service was opened for the first time last night

Edited November 10, 2018 by Zqueeze1

[Zqueeze1]

Here are some pics of some of our favorite crew members:

Murphy

Destination Desk

Melcom

Arthur

Newman

Risky

Mario, Maggie, and Reylene

Vanessa on the right

Herman

 

Z and TB

Edited November 10, 2018 by Zqueeze1

[Sheltieluv]

Love the pictures.  Am so glad I could recommend Mario to you.  He's a gem.

In the sophomore Citadel picture, you have an "Ummm, I don't know what happened" look on your face.  Were you being praised or reprimanded?!!

[liptastic]

Z what a delight to see all the old friends in the staff photos. Thanks so much for posting. I can imagine how spoiled you feel with them all looking after you and TB and your friends. That’s why we all so much look forward to our Regent cruises.

When we did this cruise in 2014 we had an overnight stay in Charleston and it was our favourite port if I remember. It was such a charming place to visit. 

Thanks for rekindling the memories.  Jean.

[Zqueeze1]

19 hours ago, Sheltieluv said:

Love the pictures.  Am so glad I could recommend Mario to you.  He's a gem.

In the sophomore Citadel picture, you have an "Ummm, I don't know what happened" look on your face.  Were you being praised or reprimanded?!!

 Either one. I think we were discussing on how to punish a knob. 

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

Jean:  our pleasure. We also love Charleston and enjoy visiting and its  culture, many restaurants, and my alma mater, El Cid. 

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

Good Morning:

Today is our departure day. Wow. I’ve avoided mentioning it like the plague since it is sad to leave this fantasy world and return to reality. However, it is what it is and we are going home today. We started saying our goodbyes yesterday to our extended Regent family consisting of crew members and fellow cruisers. 

We docked yesterday in Port Canaveral

and decided to stay onboard and enjoyed a nearly empty ship. As we approached our berth, we were welcomed by the Disney Fantasy 

Iand docked next to this loud and smoke spewing monstrosity from Carnival 

It’s now warm enough that we were able to enjoy lunch al fresco for the first time.  Our last lunch was followed by the dreaded packing process, then back to the pool deck to enjoy the rest of the day. 

Regent relaxed their dress code for dinner and allowed jeans, although one sneaky guy tried to come in wearing shorts. We had special ordered ravioli and the miso glazed sea bass which were both excellent (sorry no pics today!). However, the sushi app

and asian style salad were fantastic

It was bittersweet saying goodbye to Mario and Maggie who are the dynamic duo of Compass Rose.

Afterwards, we hit the Navigator Lounge and listened to Allen play Beatles tunes before rack time.

On a high note, I had The Boss put the luggage out into the passageway in her jammies and I locked her out of the cabin for a little while. It made my day. 

I will do a follow up and closing comments after settling back home. Thank you all for sharing our experiences and laughing at my corny jokes. We hope you join us again next June when we invade the British Isles onboard the Navigator.  Safe travels. 

Z and TB

 

Edited November 11, 2018 by Zqueeze1

[sea lover]

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful cruise with us. Much appreciated. Have a great time at home and look forward to your next cruise. Elaine

[vegasdriven]

Hahaha! Your wife must feel like she is the luckiest girl in the world😉😄

Wish we could come on your next cruise with you!

[hockeyken]

2 hours ago, vegasdriven said:

Hahaha! Your wife must feel like she is the luckiest girl in the world😉😄

Wish we could come on your next cruise with you!

You really don't know his wife.

 

🏒K🏒

 

 

[Hambagahle]

Thank you so very much for "taking us along" on your cruise.  I have enjoyed all the posts and photos enormously.  Travel home safely!

Gerry

[Travelcat2]

Going to miss reading your blog every day and are not exactly sure what we’ll do in Malaga without you two.  You will definitely be missed!

[flossie009]

Thanks for a very interesting blog with excellent pictures. A very enjoyable and entertaining read  😀

 

When you do your summary, we would be very interested in your thoughts on Navigator -  compared to other ships in the Regent fleet. 

Although we have cruised numerous times on Mariner, Explorer & Voyager we are trying Navigator for the first time next Spring.

Opinions seem very extreme on these Boards as whether guests love her or not; your take on the pluses & minuses would be very useful.

Thank you

[ronrick1943]

Yes, that would be great if you do a final review on the Navigator.  We like the smaller ships and just booked a cruise on the Navigator and would like to hear what you think about her.  And again thanks for great postings, sounds like a wonderful cruise.

[Zqueeze1]

Good Morning!

 

First, thank you all for the kind words and well wishes which we sincerely appreciate.  Writing this thread makes the cruise more fun when one can share experiences and pics of our adventures and chow. 

Today is our first day home after having had a great night's sleep in our own bed.  South Florida is a little cooler today with a nice  breeze that lets me sit outside to type.  It is a little bittersweet being back home and we miss being onboard.  The Boss rejected my room service order and would not make me an omelet for breakfast.  However, drinking our own coffee is a plus.  

Yesterday's departure was not too bad.  We had breakfast in Compass Rose, and lounged around waiting to be called up for disembarkation.  Compass Rose is always seems to be pretty uncrowded on departure day and the ambiance and service makes it a pleasant wait. 

Our scheduled departure was called up at 0840 and by 0905 we were in an Uber on our way home along with John and Karen who came over until their flight at 7PM from Ft Lauderdale.  We made a day of it and fired up the grill for some grilled veggies and baby backs as well as a couple of Tito's and Don Q toddies.  It was sad to see them leave because we enjoy their company and it also marked the end of another great adventure.

Random thoughts about the cruise and the Navigator:

-Let me start by saying that we love the smallness of the Nav which gives it a more intimate environment and allows one to meet more folks.  Getting to any part of the ship is a breeze especially when your significant other forgets something in the cabin and you have to get it because "she is on vacation and she always gets everything else for me, so hop to it, mister."

-The ship was in fine shape although it she is a mature lady.  We saw and heard a lot of preventive maintenance activity as Regent does a great job on their upkeep.

-Being the smallest vessel, the Nav only has one specialty restaurant compared to two on the Mariner and Voyager and three on Explorer.  Also, it has one less bar area than her sister vessels.

-Prime 7 is really an extension of La Veranda/Sette Mari and is exceptional especially when your order is made as requested.  For example,  I like a nice char on a medium rare steak so I ask for it to be cooked Pittsburgh style and it comes out as I like it.  Keep in mind that service can be SLOW (or as The Boss says, "it's fine dining!").

-We had a window cabin which was more than adequate at 300 square feet and had ample storage to include a second set of drawers in the walk-in closet.  Also, the bed was pretty comfy although I prefer a harder mattress.

-As far as public areas for lounging are concerned, we spent a lot of time at the Coffee Connection/Navigator Lounge and there is plenty of space at Galileo's and its outdoor seating area as well as the pool area as long as the weather cooperates.  A forward facing lounge area would have been nice.

-We read a lot about the vibration issue which occurs in the Nav's aft section, but we hardly felt or saw it in the public areas.  I can't talk about how it may have been in the aft cabins since our cabin was in the forward area of deck six.

-The Nav is scheduled for  a refit next year and should be on par with the rest of the fleet once completed.  Hopefully, the pool will be modified as a walk-in pool just like in the Explorer and Mariner thereby improving getting in and out of it.

-If you can't find something to eat, I don't know what to say since there is plenty to choose from either in La Veranda or during dinner in Compass Rose.   We have no complaints about food.  We thought it was served at adequate temperatures and with plentiful portions.  The best items were the panko shrimp, pork pot stickers, lamb shops, ravioli, and the miso glazed sea bass.

-All staff members we interacted with were friendly and attentive and provided great service.  They were very willing to talk and quick to remember your preferences.  Service was usually pretty quick and drink pours were generous.  To illustrate the level of service we encountered, The Boss asked about the possibility of getting a particular dessert in Compass Rose that was being served a few days prior in Prime 7.  After checking for it, a Maitre d' personally came over to apologize and to see what could be done about it.  We appreciated their effort and told them it was not necessary.

-Senior Staff.  We are spoiled with the likes of Captain Serena, John Barron, Massimo, and other senior crew members who make it a point to meet and get to know guests.  We never saw the captain and hardly ever saw the CD.  Most senior staffers would pass by with a quick greeting but with little interaction as compared to our other Regent cruises.

-Climate control.  This is my big complaint.  Most public areas were way to warm even though staff members called maintenance to have the temperature adjusted. after a couple of wines, I felt as if I was sitting in a dry heat sauna and would need to go outside every now and then to cool off.  Our cabin's temperature was inconsistent so we asked for a fan to be delivered to alleviate the warmth.  At times, the cabin got up to 77F/25C, which is way too warm for us.

-Entertainment.  Well, we are not qualified to discuss this section since we failed to attend any of the evening shows.  Instead, we would listen to Allen play the piano from 830-915PM, then hit the rack and go into a food coma with a little bit of meat sweats. But, between the various musical venues and evening shows, there always seemed to be something to keep one entertained.

Well, that's all I can think of at this time, but will check in from time to time to see if there are any specific questions or some more insults from my friends.  If you have ever considered starting a thread for your upcoming cruise, I highly encourage you to do so since it serves as an information/entertainment venue as well as a repository of your most pleasant memories.  It has been a great pleasure sharing our adventure with yous and we look forward to doing the same in the future.  Safe travels.

 

Z and TB

 

Edited November 12, 2018 by Zqueeze1

[flossie009]

Excellent summary and just the first hand info about Navigator that we were seeking.

Thank you so much

[rcandkc]

45 minutes ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Good Morning!

 

First, thank you all for the kind words and well wishes which we sincerely appreciate.  Writing this thread makes the cruise more fun when one can share experiences and pics of our adventures and chow. 

Today is our first day home after having had a great night's sleep in our own bed.  South Florida is a little cooler today with a nice  breeze that lets me sit outside to type.  It is a little bittersweet being back home and we miss being onboard.  The Boss rejected my room service order and would not make me an omelet for breakfast.  However, drinking our own coffee is a plus.  

Yesterday's departure was not too bad.  We had breakfast in Compass Rose, and lounged around waiting to be called up for disembarkation.  Compass Rose is always seems to be pretty uncrowded on departure day and the ambiance and service makes it a pleasant wait. 

Our scheduled departure was called up at 0840 and by 0905 we were in an Uber on our way home along with John and Karen who came over until their flight at 7PM from Ft Lauderdale.  We made a day of it and fired up the grill for some grilled veggies and baby backs as well as a couple of Tito's and Don Q toddies.  It was sad to see them leave because we enjoy their company and it also marked the end of another great adventure.

Random thoughts about the cruise and the Navigator:

-Let me start by saying that we love the smallness of the Nav which gives it a more intimate environment and allows one to meet more folks.  Getting to any part of the ship is a breeze especially when your significant other forgets something in the cabin and you have to get it because "she is on vacation and she always gets everything else for me, so hop to it, mister."

-The ship was in fine shape although it she is a mature lady.  We saw and heard a lot of preventive maintenance activity as Regent does a great job on their upkeep.

-Being the smallest vessel, the Nav only has one specialty restaurant compared to two on the Mariner and Voyager and three on Explorer.  Also, it has one less bar area than her sister vessels.

-Prime 7 is really an extension of La Veranda/Sette Mari and is exceptional especially when your order is made as requested.  For example,  I like a nice char on a medium rare steak so I ask for it to be cooked Pittsburgh style and it comes out as I like it.  Keep in mind that service can be SLOW (or as The Boss says, "it's fine dining!").

-We had a window cabin which was more than adequate at 300 square feet and had ample storage to include a second set of drawers in the walk-in closet.  Also, the bed was pretty comfy although I prefer a harder mattress.

-As far as public areas for lounging are concerned, we spent a lot of time at the Coffee Connection/Navigator Lounge and there is plenty of space at Galileo's and its outdoor seating area as well as the pool area as long as the weather cooperates.  A forward facing lounge area would have been nice.

-We read a lot about the vibration issue which occurs in the Nav's aft section, but we hardly felt or saw it in the public areas.  I can't talk about how it may have been in the aft cabins since our cabin was in the forward area of deck six.

-The Nav is scheduled for  a refit next year and should be on par with the rest of the fleet once completed.  Hopefully, the pool will be modified as a walk-in pool just like in the Explorer and Mariner thereby improving getting in and out of it.

-If you can't find something to eat, I don't know what to say since there is plenty to choose from either in La Veranda or during dinner in Compass Rose.   We have no complaints about food.  We thought it was served at adequate temperatures and with plentiful portions.  The best items were the panko shrimp, pork pot stickers, lamb shops, ravioli, and the miso glazed sea bass.

-All staff members we interacted with were friendly and attentive and provided great service.  They were very willing to talk and quick to remember your preferences.  Service was usually pretty quick and drink pours were generous.  To illustrate the level of service we encountered, The Boss asked about the possibility of getting a particular dessert in Compass Rose that was being served a few days prior in Prime 7.  After checking for it, a Maitre d' personally came over to apologize and to see what could be done about it.  We appreciated their effort and told them it was not necessary.

-Senior Staff.  We are spoiled with the likes of Captain Serena, John Barron, Massimo, and other senior crew members who make it a point to meet and get to know guests.  We never saw the captain and hardly ever saw the CD.  Most senior staffers would pass by with a quick greeting but with little interaction as compared to our other Regent cruises.

-Climate control.  This is my big complaint.  Most public areas were way to warm even though staff members called maintenance to have the temperature adjusted. after a couple of wines, I felt as if I was sitting in a dry heat sauna and would need to go outside every now and then to cool off.  Our cabin's temperature was inconsistent so we asked for a fan to be delivered to alleviate the warmth.  At times, the cabin got up to 77F/25C, which is way too warm for us.

-Entertainment.  Well, we are not qualified to discuss this section since we failed to attend any of the evening shows.  Instead, we would listen to Allen play the piano from 830-915PM, then hit the rack and go into a food coma with a little bit of meat sweats. But, between the various musical venues and evening shows, there always seemed to be something to keep one entertained.

Well, that's all I can think of at this time, but will check in from time to time to see if there are any specific questions or some more insults from my friends.  If you have ever considered starting a thread for your upcoming cruise, I highly encourage you to do so since it serves as an information/entertainment venue as well as a repository of your most pleasant memories.  It has been a great pleasure sharing our adventure with yous and we look forward to doing the same in the future.  Safe travels.

 

Z and TB

 

It was great meeting you and the rest of the posse on board.  😀

[pingpong1]

Hi Z - As always, I enjoyed your posts.  By any chance did you "hit the slots" (in the casino) at any time while you were onboard?  I was just wondering if that's a complete waste of time (and money) or did you know of (or hear about) any occasional "pay outs?  Regards.

[Zqueeze1]

1 hour ago, pingpong1 said:

Hi Z - As always, I enjoyed your posts.  By any chance did you "hit the slots" (in the casino) at any time while you were onboard?  I was just wondering if that's a complete waste of time (and money) or did you know of (or hear about) any occasional "pay outs?  Regards.

The casino area is pretty small and can get a little too claustrophobic especially to a non-gambler like me.  I know that our friends John and Karen spent their casino allotment and there was another couple who went through a couple of grand playing blackjack.  Unfortunately,, no one seemed to walk out with any winnings that I know of.

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

Flossie:  Our pleasure.

RCand KC:  We loved meeting you guys and talking.  Sure hope to see yous in future cruises.

 

Z and TB

[liptastic]

Z and TB you have summarised how we would describe our cruises on Navigator. We have only been mid ships and not felt any vibration issues in cabin but have in public areas but not enough to detract from cruise enjoyment.

We have found it to be the friendliest of all the ships and more homely? The staff onboard also feel loyal to Navigator too?

Like you also enjoy the coffee connection atmosphere day and night when been onboard.

Thanks for sharing your great cruise with us all.   Jean,