We go back to the room for last minute getting things together and head down to meet our 10:30AM bus to the port. It is only about 10 minutes to the dock. The ride to the port and the good lunch are the only part of Mark’s carefully laid out plans that aren’t screwed up big time by the port people and the ship’s staff.
We get to the terminal, get in line for security, start to put our luggage on the rollers for the x-ray and security closes it down! We are told to gather our stuff and take a seat while they move that machine and set it up with another one. That is done and then we just sit, while we watch the security people stare at us as we stare at them. We are finally let through only to stand in another slow moving line to get checked in by Regent's staff. The problem seems to be the computers are not scanning the credit cards every time and the agents have to hand enter all the information, several times in some cases.
Finally, we are headed to ship. Staff takes our carry-on luggage and guides us to the Compass Rose dinning room where the luggage is stacked by our table and we are served a wonderful four course meal. We have a perfect meal of a wonderful crab and avocado salad, pumpkin soup and a fabulous warm chocolate melting cake. We passed on the main course of tenderloin or fish which looks great. So, we are just pleasantly full instead of stuffed. Our waiter then takes us and our luggage to our room. Once again things aren’t living up to Mark’s plans as there is no luggage. Our room is made, but a few details aren’t finished and our stewardess runs in a couple of times putting things in place. Carolyn unpacks what we have in hand luggage, but there is nothing else in the room yet.
We go exploring starting at the top back on deck 12. There are a tennis court, putting green, croquet court and what looks like small batting cages on the aft deck, forward is the nice lounge and outside deck with comfortable looking loungers. Deck 11 has a nice pool and three hot tubs and several casual places to eat. Decks 10, 9 and 8 are suites. Decks 5, 6 and 7 have various lounges, the show room, card and computer rooms, the library, a coffee bar, the shops, two specialty restaurants and the main dinning room. The ship is in very good condition and decorated in a classic but modern way. I think we will be very comfortable for the next 71 days.
It is not good news as we look at the dock though...there are carts and more carts full of luggage and a huge number of pallets of food, liquor and wine waiting to be loaded on the ship! It is about 2:00PM now and the cabins are opened for the rest of the guests. We go back to the room and find our two large bags in the room, but are still missing the two checked on the plane and two more that were shipped. Carolyn unpacks and Dick gets the computers set up and on line. Our internet will be free the whole trip.
The life boat drill is at 5:15PM...we still don’t have luggage and the ship sails in 45 minutes. They have announced several times that there is a delay due to the volume of luggage brought by the passengers on the extend voyage...hmmmm wonder if they will give free shipping for 4 bags apiece again! Our stewardess tells us she will go look for the other bags while we are at the drill. It is one where we have to go to the muster station and then go stand by the lifeboat station and it takes a long time.
We look at the dock on the way back to the room and see all entrances into the ship are closed. So, it looks like we are a go to sail on time at 6:00PM; in 15 minutes. Back in the room we now have one more piece which Carolyn unpacks. We are to meet Cruise Critic friends at 6:30PM in the specialty restaurant, Signatures, so we try to find something that matches to wear to dinner.
.Dinner is fabulous, both in taste and presentation! We both have the lamb, Dick has escargot, the mushroom soup and the cream brulee. Carolyn has the crab and asparagus salad, the bisque and the chocolate tart with chocolate raspberry ice cream. These last two meals have been very impressive. If this is a true example of the food on the cruise, we will be happy campers in deed. We have a wonderful evening meeting our CC friends!
Our luggage has finally arrived so we spend the next two hours getting the room organized. The suite is small compared to what we get on Princess or Holland America, but is well arranged with a comfortable bed, sofa and lounge chair and a well throught out bath/dressing area. We fall in bed at midnight and sleep like the dead, glad we are in our home for the next 71 days.
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