Live from the Explorer - The Caribbean Reunion Tour!

[kjbacon]

We sail tomorrow on the beautiful Explorer to the Southern Caribbean. This will be our third sailing on her and our friends from Seattle will be joining us for their very first experience with Regent. We met 2 years ago on a Viking Ocean Western Caribbean/PanamaCanal Cruise where we had a fabulous time and started our friendship journey! As the four die hard football fans that we are, it’s just perfect that we will be together at sea for the Super Bowl Party (dedicated in our hearts to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks).

 

We are enjoying a short stay in gorgeous South Beach where the weather doesn’t want to cooperate in the worst way but where the Super Bowl is taking over the town!

[liptastic]

Oh lovely look forward to your posts and photos. Have a wonderful cruise and enjoy.

Jean.

[Anchorbuoy]

Regent just announced (minutes ago) that the embarkation terminal will be terminal C, not terminal J as scheduled.

They did not divulge which terminal we will have on the return to Miami.

[sierrafloridacruiser]

Following along as I want to hear all things related to the Explorer!  Have a wonderful cruise! 

[ronrick1943]

Looking forward to your post, have a nice and safe cruise.

[EAGLESLOVER]

Looking forward to your posts. 

[boblerm]

kjbacon, I wish you a wonderful cruise on the beautiful Explorer, I am sure it will be great!

So...as  Eagles and Seahawks fans, do you and your buddies root for the 49ers to win or lose?

Bob

[tripperva]

Let us know what deck you are on and please share your opinions. Cheers.

[kjbacon]

37 minutes ago, boblerm said:

kjbacon, I wish you a wonderful cruise on the beautiful Explorer, I am sure it will be great!

So...as  Eagles and Seahawks fans, do you and your buddies root for the 49ers to win or lose?

Bob

Bob, thanks so much and we are a split! We are rooting for Andy Reid because he is Eagles alumni and our friends, to our surprise, are for the 49ers. -Karen

 

28 minutes ago, tripperva said:

Let us know what deck you are on and please share your opinions. Cheers.

We are on deck 6 in Penthouse Suites and I haven’t been shy about my opinions yet, lol, hasn’t always been a good thing!

 

Several ships have set sail this afternoon. We saw two Carnival ships at 4:00 and 4:30 while walking on the beach; just saw the Disney Magic and the Navigator of the Seas from our balcony. The Navigator of the Seas is so huge that it is on both sides of the high rise in the distance!

[Mudhen]

Will be following along, as we're on the Explorer in April!

What hotel are you in? Looks wonderful!

Happy Cruising!

[Zqueeze1]

Have a safe and wonderful cruise. We look forward to reading about your adventures. We have 34 days until our Explorer cruise!

Z and TB

[Hambagahle]

Have a terrific time Karen - those photos are working out very well indeed!  Thanks and bon voyage!

Gerry

[Gilly]

Bon Voyage!  Reminded me of the last time we were in South Beach, which was also Superbowl time.   Lovely pics!

[kjbacon]

13 hours ago, Mudhen said:

Will be following along, as we're on the Explorer in April!

What hotel are you in? Looks wonderful!

Happy Cruising!

We are staying at the Hilton Bentley South Beach but unfortunately, service has slipped. It’s a shame because we always stay here but I no longer feel like I can recommend it. After much anticipation, embarkation day is here! It’s still on the cool side but the sun is promising to make an appearance today, yay! Sunrise was spectacular. Next stop, the

Explorer!

 

[Hambagahle]

Beautiful!!

[kjbacon]

We are on board and the Explorer is looking more beautiful than ever! It was very special to be recognized by several of the crew who made us feel like we were coming home. Embarkation was smooth and well done, prompt and efficient. The downside I must mention is that C terminal was freezing, like sitting in an ice box, so they need improvements there. Lunch in La Veranda was terrific and rooms were ready by 1pm. We are already unpacked and settled in. Our friends from Seattle are here and the reunion is as sweet as we hoped. The weather is finally nice and we are enjoying cocktails and fresh air, plenty of sunshine! We are having dinner in Prime 7 tonight so be ready for the food porn. Life is good!

[boblerm]

Karen, no matter how many cruises we take, embarkation is always such a special experience.

Looking forward to seeing the food porn!😁

Bob

[DeepFreeze63]

Damn! Just about to join the Inaugural Splendor. Lots of hype about the food but no mention of the "food porn"! Looking forward to your photos.

[lemons]

Normally a Celebrity passenger(Elite Plus) but possibly looking for a change so I'm going to be following along with you. Cheers!!

 

Mark

[EAGLESLOVER]

Just heard about the earthquake 

Has this affected the cruise?

[kjbacon]

Eagleslover, Your post has alerted me to the earthquake so first I’m hearing about it, scary! We are just north of Cuba and it looks like the activity is to the south and west of Cuba. We aren’t sure but we think we were going to go to the west of Cuba and not the east so we may well be affected and I just don’t know anything as of this early hour. I will certainly pay extra attention to the captains updates today. Thank you for that!

 

We had a lovely and delicious evening last night. Cocktails and snacks in the Explorer Lounge with Ross at the piano was indeed the special treat that we remembered. The four of us are conducting our own vodka tasting so yes, it’s a rough life but someone has to do these things! The appetizer bite below is an eggplant and cream cheese roll in a roasted yellow pepper sauce, as delicious as it looks.

 

 

Dinner in Prime 7 did not disappoint. Between us, we feasted on a Smoked Tomato Soup Amuse Bouche, Tuna Tartare and Avocado Tower, NE Clam Chowder, American Onion Soup, Whole Maine Lobster (de shelled),  Alaskan Crab Legs (de shelled), Creamed Spinach, Onion Rings, and the famously sinful Chocolate Caramel Popcorn Sundae. Everything was very good but the American Onion Soup and Alaskan Crab Legs were both especially good. Service was excellent, super friendly and completely professional ... I just don’t know how they do it.

 

 

 

 

 

Fellow passengers are friendly and seem to be having a great time. Dress last night was relaxed and as we experienced before, a good mix of more casual and more dressed up. The only objectionable outfit we saw was a skin tight speedo on a chubby older guy on the pool deck before sail away. It’s one of those things that you just want to un-see.

 

Today is a sea day so it’s a perfect day to relax. Lunch choices are between La Veranda, a Burger Feast at the Pool Grill, Prime 7, and Chartreuse. Dinner ressies tonight in Pacific Rim.

[Mudhen]

Laughing about the "vodka tasting" and the speedo....too funny! Food porn is wonderful. Will be watching for more!

Carry on!

[Emdee]

Enjoying your posts and food porn. 

Cannot wait to be on explorer in April.

[Host Dan]

Karen, I look forward to more pics and posts from the Explorer!  I embark on April 3rd.  I mentioned this thread to my (incredible) TA, and found out that you use him too!  Great minds think alike!

[Host Dan]

Karen,  I forgot to ask, is there going to be a CC Mix and Mingle reception on your voyage?  If so, when and what time?