Mediterranean mythology & musings on Navigator

[flossie009]

After a short flight from Heathrow we joined Navigator in Venice (Fusina) last Thursday. The early morning BA flight was comfortable and arrived ahead of schedule.

A bit of a faff checking in at the Venice cruise terminal & then being bussed to the port; but all fairly efficient and painless.

 

Navigator and Splendor in Fusina together

 

We were attracted to make a relatively late booking for this 10 day cruise by the itinerary …………… and a very good deal being offered in the UK 🙂 Plus we like the intimacy of the little ship Navigator.

The ship is sailing full (474 guests on board) and we are being well looked after by an excellent team of officers, staff and crew

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2023 by flossie009

[lincslady]

Good to see that you have got dear old Ray as your CD.  I expect you know him well already.

 

A lovely set of ports, and with luck the weather will still be warm and crowds gone.

[flossie009]

We hoped this cruise would help us avoid the windy rainy weather in the U.K. ………………. but we were proved wrong🤨

The first night we hit a major storm which continued for the first few days - wind, rain and sea swells up to 5-6 metres 😳

We were unable to dock in Zadar or Kotor, and sleep was difficult with the constant slamming of the ship against the waves. Fortunately neither of us suffered from Mal de Mer so our gastronomic pleasures were not interrupted. The Captain also managed to position the ship to allow more stability for dinner and showtime.

 

So our first port of call was Corfu. Still a rainy day but we had an excellent tour - wine tasting at one farm and then on to another venue to sample olive oil and be shown the pressing process.

 

Finally on Monday we found the Greek sunshine and we have had glorious weather ever since; the forecast looking good for the rest of the week 🤞

 

More later ………….. lunch beckons 😋 🍹
 

 

[flossie009]

Katakolon

Finally a beautiful, calm, warm & sunny day.

The day before we had realised that our pre-booked tour around the archeological site of ancient Olympia was going to be a bit long & strenuous.

A very helpful lady from Destinations was able to recommend an alternative and switched our tickets.

(There have been a number of posts slamming Destinations but we find all the team on Navigator, under the leadership of Luke, to be friendly and very helpful)

We thoroughly enjoyed our alternative included excursion - a Greek cookery class followed by an extensive buffet and Greek dancing …………. including plate smashing !

 

The guide for the tour was also very good; giving us plenty of gory mythological stories during our time on the bus going to/from the cookery venue.

 

 

 

Edited October 25, 2023 by flossie009

[flossie009]

Navigator was moored near to the Christina O; formerly the private yacht of Aristotle Onassis, being used at present for a film about Maria Callas, starring Angelina Jolie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the SSS top tier event the F&B department organised a wine tasting.

They had been ashore during the day and brought on board some local Greek wines, olives, olive oil and cheese. All very tasty  😋

 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

Gytheion

(Tender port, so we were awoken by the sound of the anchor being deployed)

 

 

Another glorious day, with an excursion to the Diros Caves, an underground labyrinth of lakes and rock formations

 

The bay at Diros

 

….. overlooked by a fierce woman from the “Mani” tribe

 

After the caves we drove to a small town for a short walking tour and to sample the delights of the local bakery, which specialised in pies of various types and a flat fried savoury doughnut eaten with cheese 

 

 

 

 

As our guide had warned, the bakery staff looked stern & miserable but their produce was tasty and reasonably priced.

 

 

 

 

[mrlevin]

Susan, ask Luke if he may be on Mariner with us over Christmas?

 

 

[briar14]

Luke, Destinations Services, is excellent! He and his team handled last year’s Lisbon to Cape Town cruise very well. 

[2012_Alaska_bound]

Luke is a destinations manager that makes a difference! His great attitude flows down to his team. And yes he wore shorts in the Arctic Circle last year!

[Jlhalldc]

Thanks for all of your posts, Flossie! Bill and I are jealous were aren't aboard with you and your DH. I agree...Navigator's destination team, led by Luke, is the best in the Regent fleet. Please raise a glass at Stars Lounge on our behalf. And we hope your good weather holds up.

[GOARMY]

flossie:  

 

Please pass on our BIG "How do you doooooooo" to dear Ray.  

 

Our favorite Regent Cruise Director.  We just-missed him when boarding Navigator at NYC in late May.  He got off; we got on.  Darn it.  

 

Jim and Sue

Redmond, WA

 

(GOARMY!)

 

[rcandkc]

1 hour ago, GOARMY said:

flossie:  

 

Please pass on our BIG "How do you doooooooo" to dear Ray.  

 

Our favorite Regent Cruise Director.  We just-missed him when boarding Navigator at NYC in late May.  He got off; we got on.  Darn it.  

 

Jim and Sue

Redmond, WA

 

(GOARMY!)

 

He is our favorite too!

[flossie009]

Yesterday in Kusadasi we chose to spend a leisurely day on board; very relaxing in the sun on deck.

There were two large ships also docked (Celebrity & NCL) so the town and some of the more popular tourist spots (Ephesus) were probably crowded.

 

Pilot & tug heading back for their next customer having assisted our departure

 

 

Today we are heading for Istanbul; arriving just after lunch and staying overnight.

 

[flossie009]

It was sunny this morning on our sail in to Istanbul, but overcast this afternoon with rain clouds threatening 🙁

 

 

[flossie009]

12 hours ago, GOARMY said:

Please pass on our BIG "How do you doooooooo" to dear Ray.

Will do; I am sure it will be reciprocated

[flossie009]

Entertainment has been very good this cruise.

 

Same Production Cast as we had in August; they are superb. They have done two evening shows thus far, a dance party and the usual ABBA routine for the SSS reception.

Emma, their wardrobe mistress, hosted needlepoint on the two ‘forced’ sea days.

 

Two visiting entertainers; an English lady singer early in the cruise and then latterly the comedian/magician, John Lenahan; he is performing his second show tonight.

 

 

 

Ray, the CD, presented his show pre dinner last night

 

 

 

[flossie009]

2 hours ago, beaujolais said:

Flossie

Can I ask where did you manage to pick up this last minute deal in the UK

 

Not exactly “last minute”.

There were about five Mediterranean cruises on various Regent ships which were discounted by Regent in June. We heard about them with an email flyer from our TA. This one sold out quickly.

 

There are also some good offers on cruises in 2024; the offers are scheduled to end on October 31st

 

 

[beaujolais]

3 hours ago, flossie009 said:

Not exactly “last minute”.

There were about five Mediterranean cruises on various Regent ships which were discounted by Regent in June. We heard about them with an email flyer from our TA. This one sold out quickly.

 

There are also some good offers on cruises in 2024; the offers are scheduled to end on October 31st

 

 

 

 

Thanks Flossie

 

Just booked a back to back on Voyager next Sept at a great price

We were on the Navigator straight after you in Aug with Ray who we have know since his Silversea days

Edited October 26, 2023 by beaujolais

[flossie009]

On 10/25/2023 at 6:01 PM, mrlevin said:

Susan, ask Luke if he may be on Mariner with us over Christmas?

 

 

Unfortunately not.

He expects to join Mariner in January for the world cruise,

 

 

 

[labonnevie]

Flossie, always enjoy your posts.

Any chance you could ask Luke/Ray what their assessment is of the likelihood of Navigator stopping at the scheduled ports in the Red Sea: Aqaba and Safaga in mid-November?

Asking for a friend...

 

[flossie009]

11 hours ago, labonnevie said:

Any chance you could ask Luke/Ray what their assessment is of the likelihood of Navigator stopping at the scheduled ports in the Red Sea: Aqaba and Safaga in mid-November?

Their personal assessment would only be as good as yours or mine at this stage.

Best to seek confirmation of the itinerary from Regent HQ and keep an eye on any changes in government travel advice regarding visiting those ports.

 

 

 

[flossie009]

Istanbul offered many impressive sights, both old and new.

The town was bedecked with flags ready for Republic Day on Sun 29th October.

 

The newly developed waterfront and cruise terminal is a destination in itself, with hotels, restaurants, shops & galleries.

 

 

The cruise terminal is enormous with underground facilities for check-in, transit, security checks, duty free, tour bus despatch etc etc.

 

 

 

The tramline seems to be frequent & efficient - a good way to avoid Istanbul traffic jams

 

 

 

[flossie009]

Our tour on the second day in Istanbul took in both the Asian & European sides of the city.

14 guests on a 29 seater modern & comfortable bus, with a guide who was  friendly, informative and easy to understand.

 

The walking tour of the old town took in some of the major historic sites

 

 

 

We then went off to the Grand Bazaar, taking in all the wondrous sights, smells & tastes on offer

 

 

 

Plenty of bling on offer 

 

 

[Jlhalldc]

Amazing photos from Istanbul. Thanks for sharing!

[flossie009]

After our time in and around the Grand Bazaar, trying not to buy too much, we re-boarded the bus for a panoramic tour across one of the main bridges into Asia.

The huge flag on the highest point of Istanbul, viewed from the Asian side of the Bosphorus.

 

Our journey back to the ship was slow because of traffic jams, but the police were doing a good job of keeping junctions clear as President Erdogan was due at Friday prayers nearby.

 

 

We set sail mid afternoon for our short journey back to Greece