DAY 2---AT SEA

 LAST EVENING

        

        We met at 6pm in the Stars Lounge for pre-dinner cocktails.  This is our Cruise Director, Ray Solaire.  Last time we cruised with him was on our 2017 world cruise.  He has been a cruise director for 55 years.  Ray is in charge of all the entertainment.  Great guy!

    We had a 7pm reservation for dinner in Prime 7.  Marcia Rector and Jane Van Harlingen joined us.

        As usual when in Prime 7, I ask the chef to bring out a couple ribeye steaks for me to select the best one.  Then he brings out Rebecca's filet and I put some Lawry's lemon pepper (which I bring from home) on them before he grills them.  This is Chef Jenifer.

                Putu, from Bali, was our wine sommelier.  He kept our wine glasses full.

                                Donovan, the Head Sommelier, stopped by to say hello.

        Also stopping by our table to say hello was our very good and long time friend, Donald.  He is the Food & Beverage Manager and we first cruised with him in 2012.  We will be dining with him later in the cruise.

                                          My ribeye was perfectly cooked, medium rare.

        It's funny as Marcia always orders green beans.  Rebecca and I shared asparagus as our veggie.  We started with a salad and crab cake.

                                                            Ahhhh!  My popcorn sundae.

        At 9:15 we headed to the theater where Ray introduced the 3 guest speakers who will make presentations on sea days.  Then watched a documentary film on the Amazon River.  It was not very good.

        When we returned to our suite this bottle of Makers Mark had been delivered.  They put it on board just for me as it is no longer available on any cruise ship.  They also put on a few cases of La Crema chardonnay especially for us.  Yes, once again, we are spoiled!!

                                       They had put the La Crema in our refrigerator.

TODAY

        We got up at 7am.  Rebecca had made a room service breakfast request last night for delivery at 8am.  I went down to the Coffee Connection to get a couple coffees after getting dressed.  

                                       The room service guy did not show up until 8:25.

        After I had showered and dressed I went back down to the Coffee Connection and get a sweet roll to tide me over until lunch.  It's now 9:30 and Rebecca just headed up to the gym for some time on the treadmill.  Hold on!!  Ocean is a little rocky today.

          First clue that it's going to be windy and rough is when the steward prepares the balcony.

This is our suite steward, Menino.  He has 12 suites to take care of daily.  So far the best ever steward.

        This is the Executive Concierge, Carlos, who escorted us onboard yesterday before general boarding had begun.  If people have a complaint, Carlos handles it.

          I ran up to Deck 12 forward to check on Rebecca.  All there is up there is the spa and gym.

    Besides the fitness center you can get your hair done, a massage, steam room, nails done, etc.

                         Not a large fitness center but adequate and quite busy this morning.

                             There she is and said it was not too rocky on the treadmill.

                  The jogging track on Deck 11 is closed today to the wind and rough seas.

        As the morning went on the weather got worse with wind, rain, and rougher seas.  However, the ship is handling the seas very well and we can walk around without too much trouble.

       At 10:45 there was a wine tasting with wines from around the world  Too early for me to drink!

        I went to the theater at 10:00 to hear this 45 minute presentation by one of the speakers, Brian Unger.  His lecture was excellent and very informative about the Caribbean and some of the islands we will be visiting in coming days.  There was another speaker at 11:00 who talked about Broadway but I left before it.  Not my cup of tea!

        This is our position (yellow arrow in red circle) at noon today.  The weather outside is 75 degrees, 40 MPH wind, and raining.  Waves are 10 feet high and ocean depth is 16,400 feet.  YUKKY day!

        At noon we headed down to the Compass Rose restaurant (main dining room) for lunch.  This is Vlada, the Restaurant Manager, who in in charge of all the dining venues,

                           Dhiraj, is the maitre'd of Compass Rose.  Our first cruise with him.

        I had an empanada and Manhattan clam chowder to start with then spaghetti bolognese.  As you can see I really enjoyed the spaghetti.  Everything was served very hot!!

                   There is a small casino.  Two blackjack tables, roulette table, and craps table.

                            Of course several slot machines.  Everything to take our donations!

     One of the best theaters of all Regent ships as every seat has a great sight line to the stage.

        At 3pm I went to another lecture.  This one on the history of ships and shipbuilding, by a retired Navy commander, Mike West.  It was just ok.

        This evening at 6:00 is the Captain's Welcome Reception in the theater (which they call the Seven Seas Lounge).  Captain Loris will introduce the ship's senior officers on stage.  Captain Loris is new to Regent as he just came from Oceania cruise ships.  We have never met him.  

        Rebecca & I have been invited to join Nicki, the General Manager, for dinner in Compass Rose at 7:00.  Marcia is also invited.  It is "formal optional" dress this evening.  Normally I would be wearing my tuxedo but I did not bring it on this shorter than normal cruise.

        My back is killing me again this afternoon.  Tomorrow is another day at sea.  Our captain said the weather should improve tomorrow.