TRIP HOME & SUMMARY

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We made it to New York City, end of our 27 night cruise.  It is sunny and 68 degrees at 7am this morning.

LAST EVENING

             This is Wendy who brought us our canapes in the Meridian Lounge every evening.

                                               Back to our La Crema chardonnay tonight.

                                                              I had escargot to start with.

                                                        Rebecca had the shrimp cocktail.

                              We both had the wiener schnitzel but I did not eat much of mine.

                                                    Loved the apple pie with ice cream.

                         Kadek, head sommelier came by to say bye.  We call him our Bali son.

                                        Executive Chef, John, came by to say bye to us.

        Back to the suite and did some last minute packing before putting our three checked bags out in the hallway.  Off to bed.

TODAY

        Rebecca was coughing again last night so could not sleep well again.  Rebecca was up at 6am and showered before I got up at 6:30.  I had been awake since 4:30 however.

               Our last room service breakfast showed up at 7:20.  French toast and omelet.

        We left the suite at 8:30 to disembark a little early as I got a text from our Blacklane limo driver saying he had arrived.  Getting off the ship was easy and our luggage was waiting for us to pick up.  I grabbed a porter to take our bags out to meet our driver.  We had a very hard time locating him as it was a different driver and license number from was sent to me.  

        Finally located him and departed for LGA airport at 9:00.  Morning traffic was bad but we still managed to arrive at the airport at 9:35.  We were second in line for curbside luggage check.  Cost $4 per bag but well worth it.  Got through TSA pre-check in about 10 minutes.  Long walk to our gate however.  This is a very nice new terminal from when we were flying trips here over 40 years ago.

                                                                  Arriving at the airport.

                                         At our gate over 2 hours before boarding time.

FLIGHT FROM HELL

        Our flight departed LGA right on time but an hour before we were to land at DFW our Captain announced that due to "communications issues" at DFW all departing flights were being held on the ground there and that all arriving flights were being diverted to other airports.  She said we would be landing at Tulsa.  And we did at 4pm (the time we were supposed to have landed at DFW)!  The delay was thought to last 4 hours at least.

        We parked on the ramp and an agent with van came on and said anyone who wanted could leave the airplane but could not return.  Many passengers had connecting flights out of DFW.  Of course, it was our final destination.  Several did leave the airplane.  Fuel was added for a flight on to DFW.  Two hours later the Captain said we could leave and taxied out to the end of the runway for takeoff.  BUT then she said the problem still existed and all flights that had diverted could not takeoff.  So back to the gate we went and our flight was canceled.

        They said it would continue the next day (today) in the morning but did not know what time.  All the bags were unloaded which took an hour.  I had called the Hilton Airport Garden Inn and booked a room when on the plane as soon as I heard the flight was canceled.

        I asked for a hotel voucher to pay for our room but said we could not have one.  Later we got a text message listing 3 hotels that vouchers could be obtained.  I had already booked my hotel and plan on sending a letter to American and ask them to repay me.  So we'll see.

        At the Garden Inn by 7pm and hungry.  They have a small restaurant so went there for drinks and split a hamburger.  I overheard two young ladies talking about our cancelation so went over and asked if they know when our flight was to depart next day.  She said AA reservations was swamped and a call back to her would be in 2 hours.  I gave her my phone number and asked her to text me what she found out.  On AA's website there was NO information about it.  I called AA res and got same 2 hour hold time.

        After returning to our room I got on my laptop and finally found that the flight was to depart at 7:30 the next morning.  I went back and told the young lady what I discovered.

        I was in bed and slept from 9:30 to 1:30am but Rebecca's coughing woke me up and I never went back to sleep.  As a worrier, I wanted to confirm that 7:30 was indeed the departure time so I got back on my computer.  Back to bed and lying there worrying so at 2:30 I got up and went into the bath room and called AA reservations.  They confirmed the 7:30 time.

        I had set my alarm for 5:45 but got up and showered at 4:50.  I wanted to be on the shuttle by 5:30 and we were.  Good thing as no line to recheck our luggage but while doing it a long line developed.  No line either at TSA so was at the gate 40 minutes prior to boarding time.  I got a couple coffees while waiting.  We boarded on time but then the same Captain we had yesterday, announced there would be an hour delay before allowed to takeoff.

        Let me step back to yesterday.  I had a Blacklane limo scheduled to pick us up at DFW which I was paying $155 for.  The driver texted he was there and even called me.  I finally had to tell him we were stuck in Tulsa for the night.  He said he would call Blacklane to tell them.  A half hour later Blacklane called me to confirm what the driver had sail about our flight being canceled.  I asked if we would be charged for not showing up and she said we would not.  BUT we will have to wait a day or two to find out if we were.

        So now we needed someone to pick us up this morning.  I texted Mike, our usual guy, and he said he could meet our flight and did.  

        Problem again this morning as during boarding the Captain announced we would be delayed another hour due to DFW issue.  Everyone was very tired of hearing bad news PA's from her.  During the wait I went up to the cockpit and introduced myself as a retired AA Captain.  We had a nice chat.  During that time the agent came on and moved us up to first class seats.  Not a big deal as there was no service on such a short flight down to DFW.  All this time I was sending Mike text updates about our arrival time and gate.

        It was just a 40 minute flight and we were at the gate in DFW (FINALLY!) at 9:15.  We went to baggage claim right across from our arrival gate.  I went out to the curb to flag down Mike who arrived about 10 minutes later.  We still had to wait for our check bags.  Finally all loaded up we headed for home.  We got back to The Tradition at 10:30 this morning.  So happy to finally be home.  Mike is an older gentleman and very helpful and nice.

        I was tired, and so was Rebecca, if getting very little sleep at nights so called the Urgent Care place to see if they were busy.  They gave us a 11:15 appt.  We got right in.  After being checked over the diagnosis was "acute bronchitis".  They sent two prescription in and gave her a steroid shot.  One script was for antibiotic and can't remember what the other was.  Said the steroid should give her cough relief quickly and it has.

SUMMARY

        By now your tired of reading about our flight home.  BUT we did really enjoy the cruise despite Rebecca coughing the last 10 days of it.  Not sure why but she seems to get a cold on every cruise we go on.  We both REALLY liked this ship, the Splendor.  It has to be our favorite Regent ship.  Why?  Because the suites were so quiet.  We loved and knew many of the crew who were so nice and attentive.  I dread getting on the scales tomorrow morning because the food was so good and I know I ate too much of it.

        

        I hope you have enjoyed my blog.  Yes, there will more to come.  You will receive links to future cruises prior.

 

DAY 27---AT SEA (LAST DAY OF OUR CRUISE)

                                 

                              

        Our position at noon today.  It was very foggy all morning long but just overcast this afternoon and temperature of 64 degrees.

LAST EVENING

                                                 We had to back out of the docking area.

                                                     Birds were watching our departure.

We were less than a half mile from the end of the runway they were using for takeoffs and landings.

When we got further out the airplanes were coming right over us at 100 feet above the ship.

                                                               Police boat escort.

                                                  This barge was anchored in the harbor.

        At 6pm we went to the Meridian Lounge for some pigs and cocktail.  We decided to go early to Compass Rose before the Krew Kapers show was over.  We got a window table again.

                 We both had the black muscles to start with just like last night,  So yummy!

                                                            Ahhh!  Beef Wellington

                    The pecan pie cheesecake with some ice cream was very good again.

        We finished dinner at 8:00 and the Liars Club did not start until 9:30 so we went back to the suite to rest.  I did go to the show but Rebecca got in bed.  She was doing a lot of coughing despite the cough syrup. 

                                        Matthew, the assistant cruise director, emceed the show.

        How it works is, they show a weird, never heard of word up on the screen and these three panelists would give their definitions.  Then the audience would have to pick whose definition was correct and who were liars.  The panelists were:  Clair (social hostess), Levent (the magician), and Dru (cruise director).

TODAY

        Neither of us got much sleep last night as Rebecca was coughing nearly non-stop for several hours.  Then she would later wake up coughing again.  She was finally sleeping this morning and I woke up a couple hours earlier but did not get up until 8:30 to let her sleep.

        I went down to get our Americano coffees and blueberry muffin for her and chocolate chip muffin for me.  

        Today is packing day!  I called Saga to come by and make up our bed as we will be using it for folding clothes and packing suitcases this morning.  I told him he did not need to come back and clean the suite and bathroom today as we would be busy.  He emptied the trash cans and brought fresh ice.  

        Saga said he will be going home tomorrow also and would be leaving the ship at 10am for JFK airport.  His flight to Jakarta will take 34 hours going through 4 different airports.  He and his wife are expecting a baby soon so he is excited.  He said right now the plan is for him to come back to this ship in November so we will see him in February when we board Splendor in Buenos Aires.  He should be our suite steward then he said. 

                                                Saga got our bed ready for us to pack on.

                    Got our luggage out from under the bed and ready to start packing.

                                                            Very foggy this morning.

                                                             So, let the packing begin!

        Time out for lunch up in La Veranda.  I had 3 Chinese-style BBQ pork ribs (not so good), sweet & sour chicken (good), and fried rice.

        Finished packing by 1:30.  Checked-in online for our flight tomorrow and went down and printed our boarding passes.  Rebecca is watching her soaps from yesterday that are now streaming on Paramount Plus.  We both have our annual Medicare "Wellness" physicals on Monday so I did my online check-in for it.

        We started out with over $1200 in ship board credit to use.  This shows our balance now of $1.25.  We did a good job!!

        There is an early show with the comedic/magician, Levent, at 6pm in the theater.  Count us out!  Instead, we will head to the Meridian Lounge for our usual and "last" cocktail hour.  The reason for the early show is disembarking passengers are to have their luggage out in the hallway by 10pm.  The crew will then take it down to the cargo hold to be unloaded upon arrival early tomorrow morning.

        Tonight's "Last Supper" Compass Rose menu.  Looks like we will be having the golden-fried wiener schnitzel.  It is ALWAYS on the last night's menu.  

        Back to the suite after saying good bye to all our crewmember friends.  I hope Rebecca does not cough as much tonight so we can get some rest.

TOMORROW'S DISEMBARKATION

        So our plan is to set alarm for 6:30.  We will order room service breakfast for 8am delivery.  I told Destination Services that we were in no hurry to disembark as our flight is not until 1pm.  I have our Blacklane limo scheduled to pick us up at 9am.  The ship would like everyone to be off the ship by 9am so they can get the suites ready for the embarking passengers.  So we will be in the last group called to disembark at 8:45 or thereabouts.  Almost everyone now on board will be disembarking tomorrow.

        The Blacklane limo is one of our free benefits for being Diamond status (over 1000 nights on Regent).  So our ride from the dock to LGA airport is not costing us anything.  I have also booked Blacklane to meet us at baggage claim at DFW airport and take us home. This ride is NOT free, as costing me $155.  Our regular airport transportation driver is not available tomorrow.  He only charges $50. 

        Our American Airlines flight is scheduled to land DFW at 3:55pm.  So we are hoping to be back at The Tradition by around 5pm.  In time for dinner.

        There will be one more posting to this blog with tomorrow's trip home and a cruise summary.  That will probably not be posted until Saturday however.

DAY 26---BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

 

        Spending the day here in Boston, MA.  High clouds and 57 degrees at 8am.  High clouds and 66 degrees in the afternoon.

LAST EVENING

                                                    Cocktail hour in Meridian Lounge.

                                                   Rohan with Rombauer chardonnay.

                                                Window table in Compass Rose for dinner.

        They did manage to prepare our black muscles as appetizer.  So good I ordered them again for tomorrow night.

                                                  We both had the turkey with trimmings.

                                                 Molten chocolate lava cake for dessert.

TODAY

                                              Great view from our balcony today.  YUK!

        I was supposed to go on a special 4 hour tour this morning provided by Distinctive Voyages.  They are associated with our travel agency, Pavlus Travel.  Rebecca has had a nasty cough for over 10 days so I decided to take the shuttle bus from the terminal into town to get her some cough medicine and skip the tour.  The cough drops we have are not helping.  We both have our annual physicals next Monday so will see what doctor says about her cough then if she still has it.

        I caught the 9:30 shuttle.  Apparently the 7:30 & 8:30 scheduled shuttle did not go as no one showed up.  It was a 20 minute ride to the drop off by the New England Aquarium.  I had used Google Map before leaving and found a 7-Eleven just a couple blocks away.  I was dropped off at 9:50 and the bus was to head back to the ship at 10:00.

        I was walking fast to the store to get this.  I ran back and was at the bus by 9:55.  Quick trip!

                                            This was the drop off with aquarium in distance.

        Right across from the drop off was this restaurant, "Legal Seafood".  It is where we dined back when we were flying and had Boston layovers.  Had to be at least 35 years ago now.  Great seafood.

                                                   7-Eleven was just across this avenue.

                                                                Trip back to the ship.

                           Not much of a view on the other side of the ship in this port.

                  There is a huge Virgin Atlantic cruise ship docked in front of us today.

                                                 View from the bridge camera on our tv.

                                      This black bean soup was very good and very hot.

        Thought I would try the reuben sandwich from the pool grill for lunch.  Way to thick slices of bread and it was not hot.  Did not eat it.  I had some spaghetti bolognese sauce instead.

      I could watch airplanes land during lunch at the Boston airport.  I used to fly into this airport.

                                                          Dock area behind our ship.

        We will be sailing again at 4:00 this afternoon.  Tomorrow is our last day at sea.  We'll be arriving at the Manhattan cruise terminal in New York City by 6am on Friday.  More about that tomorrow.

        At 6pm is the Captain's Farewell Reception in the theater followed by the Krew Kapers show.  As you recall from the first segment it is a show put on by crewmembers.  As we have seen it on the first segment we will just head to the Meridian Lounge at 6pm.

        Tonight's Compass Rose menu is same as for every Captain's Farewell.  We will be having more black muscles to start with followed by beef Wellington.

        In the theater at 9:30 is "The Liars Club".  It's another thing unique to Regent.  Always hilarious!  I will explain it more tomorrow.