Bangkok & beyond

[flossie009]

All departments were represented at the Country Fair this morning, but Housekeeping, Restaurant and Bar were definitely the noisiest

 

 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

The Deck department and Engineers had the most intricate challenges

 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

The Galley team wanted us to guess the weights of their cakes

 

Destinations wanted us to identify countries

 

……….. and then we had to provide the nationality of some of the officers on board

 

 

[flossie009]

The Production Cast just enjoyed cooling off in the pool, while guests played hoopla with them

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

Neptune came all the way from Blackpool to be Master of Ceremonies in the Bay of Bengal

 

The Master, Captain Abhi, and GM, Nickie, ensured fair play throughout the event

 

More of the Production Cast administered the raffle ……..

 

…………… with prizes for the lucky winners

 

……………. sadly not us 🙁

 

[CardowMD]

@flossie009 Thank you so much for posting. This is extremely helpful. Is it normal to have Prime 7 and Sette Mari closed for dinner or was this one of the days when you were in port over night where there were evening tours?

[Mystictraveler]

We were on the cruise previous to yours (Bali to Bangkok). We had no deck BBQ or a Country Fair. Disappointing.

[flossie009]

7 hours ago, CardowMD said:

Is it normal to have Prime 7 and Sette Mari closed for dinner or was this one of the days when you were in port over night where there were evening tours?

This was the overnight in Phuket when there was a Deck BBQ* (and some evening tours).

I will try to remember to post a more normal port day schedule of opening times.

 

* A good way of predicting whether your cruise will have a Deck BBQ is to check the restaurant pre-booking section on the “My Account” section of the website. If an evening with a late departure is marked “bookings not available” then there is a good chance that a special event is planned.

 

[flossie009]

Today we are docked in Colombo, Sri Lanka

 

The day’s schedule & opening times below:

 

 

 

[flossie009]

On 4/11/2024 at 8:41 PM, flossie009 said:

Both Martin & Dave will be leaving soon to be replaced by others, who we hope are as good.

We are still blessed with a packed & varied programme of evening entertainment in the theatre on Navigator (one of the best auditoriums in the Regent fleet)

 

Visiting entertainers on board now are:

Zlwin Chew - Malaysian magician

Nicola Ward - British singer

Both have done one show with second performances to follow in the coming days.

 

Last night the pre-dinner show was CD, Ray Solaire. A packed house and a standing ovation at the conclusion of his Les Miserables medley (c/w a puppet for his “duet” with the inn keeper’s wife)

 

After dinner the ABBA Dance Party, originally scheduled for the Pool Deck, was brought inside to Galileo’s to avoid the forecast rain showers.

 

Tonight is another show by the very talented Production Cast

 

[flossie009]

Having visited the tea plantations in Sri Lanka on a previous visit, we opted to look at the city of Colombo with a shopping trip

First to a gem store, then handicrafts and finally a seven storey shopping mall.

 

The handicraft store was probably the most interesting, but this part of the world does have an obsession with one type of animal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

There were also some interesting ceremonial masks

 

 

 

[flossie009]

Colombo has a huge cargo port, which is being expanded

 

 

 

When we look at all these containers we always wonder what they contain and where they are coming from or going to

 

 

[flossie009]

Tomorrow, I will try to catch up on our last two ports of call ……… but here are a couple of things that caught our attention today in Mangalore.

 

This sign on our bus was straight to the point

 

This cat obviously found a bag of lentils on a market stall to be a shady & comfortable spot

 

 

[GOARMY]

flossie:

 

Before time runs out on your segment--

 

Please extend our BIG How do you Doooooo! to CD Ray.  It has been our good fortune to share time with him on several Navigator segments.  A dinner with Ray is a dinner to remember!

 

Jim and Sue

Redmond, WA

aka GOARMY!

 

 

[flossie009]

Wednesday April 17th - Kochi (Cochin)

 

 

As this was our first port of call in India we had to have a face-to-face with immigration officials in the terminal building.

Some delays to the first excursions while the Indian officials and Regent purser’s department got themselves set up.

Good information over the ship’s PA kept a smooth flow, avoiding congestion.

 

Although it was another hot & humid day, we thoroughly enjoyed our tour (COK-004 Kumbalangi Island)

 

After a half hour coach drive we transferred to a fleet of Tuk-Tuks for the final leg of the journey onto the island; a bumpy & sometimes nail- biting ride

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19 by flossie009

[flossie009]

Once on the island we were then shown various crafts, including the many uses of the coconut from cooking to rope making

 

Pottery, on a potter’s wheel

 

Spice grinding

 

Weaving roof thatch panels

 

Making coconut milk

 

Cigar rolling

 

After having coconuts prepared for us to have refreshing drink, this skilled tree climber went up to retrieve the alcoholic sap from the coconut flower bud which we were able to sample - very strong & sweet

 

 

[flossie009]

It was then off on a boat ride to have a look at the Chinese fishing nets, famous in this area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our return another fisherman tried his luck with a hand thrown net. He only caught a few small shrimps

 

 

 

We then adjourned for a delicious & leisurely curry lunch, with a lovely cooling breeze from the adjacent lake.

 

Then it was back on the Tuk-Tuks to rejoin our bus back to the ship.

 

A highly recommended included excursion if you are ever in Cochin.

 

 

[flossie009]

Thursday April 18th - Mangalore

We had a noisy and colourful welcome on our arrival to the port of Mangalore.

 

 

 

 

 

Our excursion took in a visit to an historic house, then on for a look around the local market.

 

Arriving at the house we were met by the 85 year old mother and one of her sons. The property has been in their family for five generations.

 

They supplied us with drinks & snacks as we toured the house & garden

 

Edited April 19 by flossie009

[flossie009]

 

 

The cook was very chatty

 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

After the tranquility of our visit to the old house (an oasis in the middle of Mangalore), the market was a bustling cacophony with diverse sights & smells

 

Wet fish

 

Dried fish

 

 

 

Fruit & veg

 

Street food

 

 

 

[flossie009]

In the centre of the market was the bus station, which interchanged with the local tuk-tuks

 

 

As we walked back to our bus we passed by many flower sellers, with the beautiful blooms sold in garlands

 

 

 

[flossie009]

Today, in Goa, we decided to have a lazy day on board the ship.

It was good to see a number of crew had their families visit them on board Navigator.

 

As well as the normal delicious dessert offerings for lunch in La Veranda there was also a tray of Indian confectionery 

 

 

[kjbacon]

Our world cruise ‘26 itinerary includes Kochi so extra thanks for the great pictures and helpful info in the shorex. We will take your advice and book the tour that you recommended. It sounds perfect for us, especially with an authentic curry lunch!

 

We also have Goa on our itinerary so if I may ask, were you just ready for a break that day? 

[flossie009]

Today we are in Mumbai (Bombay); our last port in India.

The Captain warned us last night that he would have to withdraw the stabilisers due to sailing in proximity to fishing fleets and not wanting to snag any nets. As with all of this cruise it was very calm seas; sometimes we wonder if we are really on a ship. 
 

This morning the Captain again came over the PA to say we might have a late arrival due to port congestion. In the event we were only a few minutes later than scheduled and the authorities cleared the ship very quickly.

 

 

 

Weather is hazy, but very hot & humid

 

 

 

 

Edited April 20 by flossie009