“Live From” Z and TB’s Tapas and Sangria Tour

[SusieQft]

Since Puerto Rico was Explorer's first US stop, it seems to me that any US governmental requirement should have applied there, not in Miami.  Perhaps the Covid test requirement might be because it Explorer's first US stop this year, or else it sounds like it must be something that Regent came up with on their own.

 

Crystal does not require a Covid test for passengers disembarking in Miami.  They require it only for those passengers continuing on a b2b voyage.  They also offer it as an optional service  for passengers disembarking in Nassau because it is required to fly into the US from another country.  But not to arrive by sea.

Edited November 11, 2021 by SusieQft

[ROLLTIDE2]

Are the relaxed covid protocols re masks, sitting at bars, etc. still in effect now that Explorer has reached a US port?

[Zqueeze1]

7 hours ago, nfcu said:

What happens if you test positive prior to Miami?  Are you then not allowed off the ship?

Good question. I would assume that one gets quarantined then released in Miami for additional quarantine. 
Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

1 hour ago, ROLLTIDE2 said:

Are the relaxed covid protocols re masks, sitting at bars, etc. still in effect now that Explorer has reached a US port?

No requirements regarding Covid protocols are in effect at this time. 
Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

1 hour ago, BNguy said:

GO ARMY, thanks for your insight and experience in San Juan.  I still have to ask, what exactly was done for the “health clearance”?  I ask this because of the cruise my wife and I will be on (leaving Miami on December 8. ) has a note in the stop for San Juan that a “health clearance check” will happen at San Juan.  We both are just curious about that since no other port states that.  That quote is below:

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

• Guests must carry their proof of vaccination.
• All guests must undergo a health clearance upon arrival.
• Guests can go ashore independently or on shore excursions organized by Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Again thanks to you and also to Z for the running commentary on your current cruise

The health clearance was simply a review of your proof of vax at the port.  Same occurred in several restaurants and stores we entered.  One had to wear a mask and sometimes show your vax record. Pretty easy to follow. 
Z and TB

[Silver Sweethearts]

Z - Just wanted to say we hope you are feeling better -

Edited November 12, 2021 by Silver Sweethearts

[tnr]

Z, I have been following this thread from the beginning but have been unable to post a reply.  So try #?.  Wish we had been on board with all of yous.  But as always, you have taken us on your journey with you.  Give our best to TB, John, Karen, TC and Dennis.   Terri

[Zqueeze1]

 Marsha this one is for you: 

 

Good Morning. What a great day we had yesterday. It all began with another bout of insomnia that allowed me to get up early enough to see the sail-in into San Juan.  I got a little emotional thinking about living here as a child for four years and as an adult for two years.  Wonderful and happy memories. 

The disappointment of the day was that we docked near Isla Grande across and further down from the Old San Juan piers.  

This meant that we had to be bussed into town. It also meant that it disrupted my tour for a couple of folks since we were dropped off at the opposite part of town in Parque Colon. 

Our tour group consisted of John, Karen, John, Chris, and TB. 

Regardless, we walked into town and stopped  at Barrachina where the Piña Colada was supposedly invented. Here you can have a free sample (secret: no booze in the sample). I’ve been here several times and was disappointed in that their drinks were a tad too sweet and they ignored one of our folks who asked several times for a Diet Coke.  However, we had a shared snack plate that was awesome with some of the stuff I remember eating in the past 

 

Afterwards, we visited the Capilla del Cristo built as a thanks for a local gentleman’s son surviving falling from a cliff. 

The narrow house where an architect took a five foot wide alley and converted it into a home. 

Cathedral where remains of Ponce de Leon are kept. 

We next stopped at El Convento Hotel for some refreshments. This is a former convent that has been converted into an exclusive hotel. 

 

After a quick refueling at the Convent bar, we decided to head back to the bus stop and return to the ship.  

 

Too bad that the shuttle did not have a commentator on board.  There were so many sites of architectural or historical significance that we drove by to/ from the ship.  This included the federal building, the former US military base, La Perla neighborhood, etc.  

Once onboard, we spent a spectacular two hours in the pool. It was so warm and calm, that I actually napped for about an hour while floating with my head leaning in the side of the pool. 

Overall, it was great to see our old haunts with our new friends. 

Z and TB

Edited November 12, 2021 by Zqueeze1

[Zqueeze1]

Let’s talk about dinner last night.  It was just TB and me. We had pre-dinner cocktails at the Explorer Bar

Followed by dinner at the Compass Rose

Which included salad

Iberian ham

bucatoni pasta a la amatriciana 

and we both had the broiled cod fish 

 

This was an above average meal with excellent sauces and apps. 
Z and TB

[Gcto]

21 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

The health clearance was simply a review of your proof of vax at the port.  Same occurred in several restaurants and stores we entered.  One had to wear a mask and sometimes show your vax record. Pretty easy to follow. 
Z and TB

so taking your original vax cards with you all the time ? Or are QR codes or photos sufficient ? 

 

[RJ2002]

30 minutes ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Let’s talk about dinner last night.  It was just TB and me. We had pre-dinner cocktails at the Explorer Bar

 

Followed by dinner at the Compass Rose

 

Which included salad

 

Iberian ham

 

bucatoni pasta a la amatriciana 

 

and we both had the broiled cod fish 

 

 

This was an above average meal with excellent sauces and apps. 
Z and TB

 

How I long for a salt stick. 

[GOARMY]

BNguy:  Reference your #195 Post--

 

Can only relate spouse and my experience going through that process.  The written guidance Regent provided the previous evening in a separate Notice sent to each suite was to have Passport, separate identification such as a Driver's License, and proof of vaccination in-hand.  And, wear a face mask.  

 

Soos--we took everything with us, to include proof we "passed" the test ($250.00 ea) at a SEATAC airport site three days prior to boarding the Lufthansa flight in the first place; and cards with the five digit number showing we had also passed the preboarding procedure at the Barcelona Pier.  

 

This turned out to be overkill.  But, better to have and not need; than need and not have.  

 

The actual experience was:  we showed our Passport picture to the C&BP Rep.  Dropped our face masks to allow facial recognition in front of a camera.  About a 10 second process for each of us.

 

NO request was made to present any vaccination documents.  

 

That was it.  Then, as related in my earlier posting, we were ushered into the Terminal waiting area--where we sat or paced about for the the next 1.50 hours waiting for confirmation that each and every soul on the ship had been accounted for.   

 

Again--this was our experience.  Cannot "speak" for others who may have been asked to provide those other documents.  Perhaps C&BP does a "random" check of every fifth, or sixth individual going through the line concerning those vaccination records.  

 

We encountered this situation at SEATAC on October 29th on the boarding ramp to the aircraft.  An Officer rechecked all our documents, including Passports, vaccination records, reason for travel, itinerary, and how much cash we were carrying.  At the conclusion of that conversation, he confirmed this was a routine procedure for folks traveling internationally.  BTW:  this conversation was conducted in a polite, and professional manner.  

 

GOARMY!

 

 

 

[BNguy]

I again thank you GO ARMY for a very complete description of your experience at San Juan.  My wife and I have "suffered" through a couple of instances where it had been announced several times that ALL passengers had to present themselves for C&BP (or whatever agency requested it) inspection and both of those times it was a long time until the guilty party finally showed up.  In one case it was just one couple who apparently were on several back-to-back cruises and thought it didn't apply to them. 

 

I also wish to express my thanks to Z and TB for all the so-called food porn pictures, everything looked pretty good. 

 

As I've mentioned I will be a 9 day cruise, round trip from Miami leaving on December 8, I am not one to continually post stuff, I'm too busy enjoying my time on "vacation".  BUT I will leave a review upon my return and hope to have some stuff to say.  This will be our first time on Regent and we already have another cruise set for late next year, also on the Splendor.

 

Thanks again for all your help and welcome back to Miami soon.

 

 

 

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

1 minute ago, BNguy said:

I again thank you GO ARMY for a very complete description of your experience at San Juan.  My wife and I have "suffered" through a couple of instances where it had been announced several times that ALL passengers had to present themselves for C&BP (or whatever agency requested it) inspection and both of those times it was a long time until the guilty party finally showed up.  In one case it was just one couple who apparently were on several back-to-back cruises and thought it didn't apply to them. 

 

I also wish to express my thanks to Z and TB for all the so-called food porn pictures, everything looked pretty good. 

 

As I've mentioned I will be a 9 day cruise, round trip from Miami leaving on December 8, I am not one to continually post stuff, I'm too busy enjoying my time on "vacation".  BUT I will leave a review upon my return and hope to have some stuff to say.  This will be our first time on Regent and we already have another cruise set for late next year, also on the Splendor.

 

Thanks again for all your help and welcome back to Miami soon.

 

 

 

See you on December 8th… can’t wait!

sheila

[Sunprince]

Z, love the San Juan sail in picture. We have many fond memories of sailing in/out of Old San Juan.  Too bad Regent did not dock in the prime  Old San Juan port!

[Sunprince]

GOARMY, thanks for the detailed logistics info.  Do you mind clarifying the Covid testing protocol….after boarding in Barcelona.  Is this the first Covid test since embarking, and prior to disembarking in the US?  Or has Regent done periodic testing during the duration of the voyage?  I’m just trying to understand how Regent is testing during the cruise.  We cancelled our 24 day Explorer cruise embarking after you arrive in Miami (somewhat regretting this now after seeing how well the Explorer translator has been)! Many thanks.

[Zqueeze1]

On 11/11/2021 at 3:12 PM, BNguy said:

GO ARMY, thanks for your insight and experience in San Juan.  I still have to ask, what exactly was done for the “health clearance”?  I ask this because of the cruise my wife and I will be on (leaving Miami on December 8. ) has a note in the stop for San Juan that a “health clearance check” will happen at San Juan.  We both are just curious about that since no other port states that.  That quote is below:

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico

• Guests must carry their proof of vaccination.
• All guests must undergo a health clearance upon arrival.
• Guests can go ashore independently or on shore excursions organized by Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Again thanks to you and also to Z for the running commentary on your current cruise

BTW, while in San Juan, we were asked numerous times to show our fax cards when entering several stores and restaurants.  
Z and Tb

[Zqueeze1]

17 hours ago, Gcto said:

so taking your original vax cards with you all the time ? Or are QR codes or photos sufficient ? 

 

We took our original fax cards with us and that’s what folks were asking to see in our experience.

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

17 hours ago, RJ2002 said:

 

How I long for a salt stick. 

Just for you:

[Zqueeze1]

Today is our Covid antigen testing day to occur between 0900 and 1030. Results will be emailed to us.  If we test positive, we get to stay onboard for another two weeks! Just kidding.  More importantly, it’s Bloody Mary Saturday today for breakfast.  One more morning buzz before departing tomorrow.  
TB spend our whole on board credit in one bang yesterday. 
Will send food porn out later today. 
Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

Ok. We had a nice evening last night starting off with a pre-dinner drink at the Explorer Lounge with John and Karen. 

Dinner was a throwback to the old cruising dayswith lobster thermidor served as a main course. We had:

Mushroom soup

Lobster risotto

Canelone

Pasta with cheese

And the excellent lobster thermidor. 

 

For breakfast, I had to have the Bloody Mary 

 

Z and TB

 

[Mudhen]

1 hour ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Ok. We had a nice evening last night starting off with a pre-dinner drink at the Explorer Lounge with John and Karen. 

Dinner was a throwback to the old cruising dayswith lobster thermidor served as a main course. We had:

Mushroom soup

Lobster risotto

Canelone

Pasta with cheese

And the excellent lobster thermidor. 

 

For breakfast, I had to have the Bloody Mary 

 

Z and TB

 

OMG! Be still my heart....!!!! A Bloody Mary to die for! Actually that has all the necessary ingredients for a healthy breakfast! Continue to enjoy the last of it....sigh!!!!

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

I am as disappointed as you that your cruise is over…..

Thanks for sharing your journey, especially the food fotos!

You have whet my appetite with every meal.. we leave in less than four weeks on Splendor. 
Its back. It’s wonderful that we can cruise again.

Your blogs are simply the best!

sheila

[GOARMY]

Sunprince:  

 

Our one and only on board mandatory COVID test as conducted this morning in the Observation Lounge by ship's medical staff.  Nose swab; results to be sent to our Suite later today.  

 

GOARMY!

 

 

[Mudhen]

I'm up early this am...thinking of you guys getting ready to disembark....sigh. Boy, did that go fast!

Thank you so much for keeping us up to date on the Explorer and for writing in a way that makes me feel like we're on board (still haven't gotten over the bloody mary pix!) Anyway, just wanted you to know that  your efforts were so appreciated!

We WILL sail together again!!!

Thanks!

Linda and John