Live from…Z and TB’s Scandinavian Escapade

[irishwitchy]

5 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

What’s wrong with this pic?

 

 

Z and TB

I think someone took their shoe off (kinda) while eating dinner.  

[Zqueeze1]

Insomnia is a big itch (silent g) 

 

I can’t say much about today because we went  “dolce far niente” or the sweetness of doing nothing. We spent a lot of time in the Observer lounge and strolling around the ship.

 

After going to the morning lecture on Scandinavia, we watched the sea and had a spectacular lunch highlighted by boulliabase (sp). 

 

 

This cruise is different from our previous ones in that the passengers consist of a younger crowd. I have to muscle in to get my pool bar seat.  Also, there are 49 kids (under 18) onboard!  A world record!

 

A couple of observations on the ship. It is beautiful with gorgeous decorations. It has a lighter palate than Explorer both complementing and contrasting it. 

 

Before dinner we went our our new favorite cocktail spot, the Meridian lounge.  It is a treat watching the bar tender making all sorts of exotic drinks. 

 

Dinner was one of the best we have had onboard Regent.

 

I had escargot, salad, and halibut in a caper lemon butter sauce:

 

 

 

 

TB had a shrimp cocktail, asparagus risotto, and filet mignon. We also split a lobster tail:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We skipped the show and went to various lounges to listen to music before retiring around 2200.

 

 

Unfortunately, I had terrible insomnia and was awake most of the night. Since we are so far north, I peaked outside at 0300 and saw an eerily dawn sky. Very surreal. 

 

Today:  Kristiansad, Norway!  Also, we celebrate our 40th anniversary in Prime 7.  

 

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

5 hours ago, hockeyken said:

I sure hope that's not your foot.....because if it is, it's either broken, or swollen, and you are going to have a difficult time putting it in your mouth the usual four or five times a day.

K

Sasquatch:

The dude is wearing two different shoes!   My gentlemanly demeanor keeps me from commenting about the things you put in your mouth. Love you, too. 

 
Z and TB

Edited June 15, 2023 by Zqueeze1

[liptastic]

Happy Anniversary to you both . Have a wonderful day 🎂🥂🍾.   

[LouChamp]

Aloha. Happy anniversary and thank you for sharing your special holiday with us. 

[nfcu]

My only gripe about the Splendor is the lack of pool bar seats.  During our time on board in March, there were only eight seats around a bar than can easily fit over a dozen.  The current bar seats are not very sturdy and cheaply made, so we assumed that there used to be more seats and they have broken some over time.  Bottom line: Regent needs to buy more (and better) seats for the pool bar.

[forevertravel]

21 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Wow.  We were also onboard when the Explorer crossed the Atlantic.  
 

Z and TB

 

 

 

[forevertravel]

Yes, I remember the two of you. You broke your leg or something during the cruise.

 

 

[Zqueeze1]

2 hours ago, forevertravel said:

Yes, I remember the two of you. You broke your leg or something during the cruise.

 

 

I was wearing an orthopedic boot due to a partial tear on my Achilles tendon.  Great memory!

 

Z and TB

[Gpilon]

On 6/14/2023 at 1:19 AM, Zqueeze1 said:

Fourth seat from the left is also the third from the right, my seat!

Great butts think alike….

Z and TB

 

[Zqueeze1]

We were in beautiful Norway yesterday where we went on a walking tour of Kristiansand and looked for trolls (Hockey Ken look alike).

 

What a quaint city. We walked through the port into the fish market

 

Can you see the duckling in front of mama geese?

 

And continued to see the new and old part of town

 

 

 

 

We ended the tour in a plaza where we visited this beautiful church.  

 

After 12000 steps, we returned to the ship with burning toes and TB went for a swim while I tended to my flock at the pool bar. 

 

Note to self: never wear jeans and a long sleeve t shirt when the weather turns to 77F.  

 

 

Yesterday was our anniversary dinner at Prime 7 and it was very good with great service and food. 

 

 

 I had the scallop, Caesar salad, and rib eye with lobster tail. 

The Boss had crab cakes, wedge salad, and the whopping 18 ounce steak.  

 

 

 

 

We were surprised to be served a tiramisu for our anniversary of which I only took a pic of my half. 

 

When we returned to our suite, we found this on our bed:

 

 

Today:  Copenhagen, Denmark
🇩🇰 

 

P.S.  I am not an alcoholic. However, at 0915, I walked up to the pool bar to say hello and Marko hands me a rum and diet ginger ale without my asking for it.  Of course, I took my medicine.  

 

Z and TB

Edited June 16, 2023 by Zqueeze1

[Zqueeze1]

19 hours ago, nfcu said:

My only gripe about the Splendor is the lack of pool bar seats.  During our time on board in March, there were only eight seats around a bar than can easily fit over a dozen.  The current bar seats are not very sturdy and cheaply made, so we assumed that there used to be more seats and they have broken some over time.  Bottom line: Regent needs to buy more (and better) seats for the pool bar.

I agree.  More can easily fit. 
 

Z and TB

[lincslady]

Are the seats perhaps not sturdy enough for the sometimes hefty weights on them??  😉

[kjbacon]

Great pictures and commentary!! We are hoping to finally explore London sometime next year so many thanks for all your great info. Love the Splendor, cheers!!

[Jane Mitchell]

@Zqueeze1 I am truly loving your descriptions and your humour, bringing a smile to my face every time I open this thread 🙂 As a small point of info, the birds you saw yesterday are swans, with baby cygnets.  But now I'm wondering whether that was your humour and you really know that ... Either way, looks like you are having a great time and that you were wonderfully treated on your anniversary - many congratulations!

 

[Gpilon]

3 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

We were in beautiful Norway yesterday where we went on a walking tour of Kristiansand and looked for trolls (Hockey Ken look alike).

 

What a quaint city. We walked through the port into the fish market

 

Can you see the duckling in front of mama geese?

 

And continued to see the new and old part of town

 

 

 

 

We ended the tour in a plaza where we visited this beautiful church.  

 

After 12000 steps, we returned to the ship with burning toes and TB went for a swim while I tended to my flock at the pool bar. 

 

Note to self: never wear jeans and a long sleeve t shirt when the weather turns to 77F.  

 

 

Yesterday was our anniversary dinner at Prime 7 and it was very good with great service and food. 

 

 

 I had the scallop, Caesar salad, and rib eye with lobster tail. 

The Boss had crab cakes, wedge salad, and the whopping 18 ounce steak.  

 

 

 

 

We were surprised to be served a tiramisu for our anniversary of which I only took a pic of my half. 

 

When we returned to our suite, we found this on our bed:

 

 

Today:  Copenhagen, Denmark
🇩🇰 

 

P.S.  I am not an alcoholic. However, at 0915, I walked up to the pool bar to say hello and Marko hands me a rum and diet ginger ale without my asking for it.  Of course, I took my medicine.  

 

Z and TB

Marko.....that's right.....not Max. He knew my drink(s) of choice and as soon as he saw me asked....."which one"? And like you, regardless of time. 

[Zqueeze1]

4 hours ago, lincslady said:

Are the seats perhaps not sturdy enough for the sometimes hefty weights on them??  😉

They hold me well and I consider myself part of the hefty club.  I do like the seats at the Splendor pool bar. It just so happens that more are needed. 
 

Z and TB

Edited June 16, 2023 by Zqueeze1

[Zqueeze1]

2 hours ago, Jane Mitchell said:

@Zqueeze1 I am truly loving your descriptions and your humour, bringing a smile to my face every time I open this thread 🙂 As a small point of info, the birds you saw yesterday are swans, with baby cygnets.  But now I'm wondering whether that was your humour and you really know that ... Either way, looks like you are having a great time and that you were wonderfully treated on your anniversary - many congratulations!

 

You are exactly correct. I knew they were swans, but I had a near senior moment. I did not know that the baby was a cygnet.  
 

Z and TB

[Zqueeze1]

Copenhagen is another beautiful port that did not disappoint.  The day started partially gloomy, but turned into mostly sunny and cool.  It was gorgeous.  Copenhagen is built with many canals and continues to expand by reclaiming land. The new port is on recently claimed land, but is also further away from downtown.  

 

Our tour today was a canal boat ride with a stop at the little mermaid statue.

 

 

Unlike the charming story we all know from Disney, Hans Christian Andersen had a much darker and sadder ending in the original story but I can’t tell yous. 
 

Our guide pointed out the buildings that we sailed past to include royal homes, cultural centers, and the various neighborhoods.  I loved all the sailboats we went past.  

 

 

 

 

This dude was kind enough to point out the closest bar. 
 

 

Towards the end of the boat cruise, we had a hard time making a 90 degree turn.  A nearby tour group turned their full attention to us and gave a turn by turn commentary in 100 decibel Spanish. I thought I was home visiting relatives who only speak in two volumes: loud and screechy loud. 

 

This is our current home. There was another ship in port from a cruise line I am not familiar with. 
 

 

Z and TB

[flossie009]

56 minutes ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Unlike the charming story we all know from Disney, Hans Christian Andersen had a much darker and sadder ending in the original story but I can’t tell yous. 

When I saw your Swan confusion (Cob, Pen & Cygnet) I thought you were channeling another Hans Christian Andersen fable, made famous by the Danny Kaye rendition

 

 

Happy Anniversary & thanks for your blog. Glad to see the Scandinavian weather is behaving well thus far.

 

Edited June 16, 2023 by flossie009

[red1head]

Happy anniversary! 🥂 Thank you for your delightful travel blog. 

[irishwitchy]

Inga, never disappoints to show us the proper way to eat a piece of meat!  Keep enjoying.  

[Guerncruising]

The other ship in your photo besides Splendor (a beautiful ship) is Saga Spirit of Adventure, a small UK cruise line with recently built vessels. 
Never been on them. 

[hockeyken]

Putz: "yous" is not a word. Was grade three the best four years of  your life ???

 

We also liked Copenhagen.

K

[pingpong1]

12 hours ago, Jane Mitchell said:

@Zqueeze1 I am truly loving your descriptions and your humour, bringing a smile to my face every time I open this thread 🙂 As a small point of info, the birds you saw yesterday are swans, with baby cygnets.  But now I'm wondering whether that was your humour and you really know that ... Either way, looks like you are having a great time and that you were wonderfully treated on your anniversary - many congratulations!

 

If a baby duck is a "duckling"...why isn't a small Goose a "gooseling"?