DAY 1---BOARDING DAY

 

        Jose had a taxi ready for us to depart the Hilton at 11:10.  I was just a 15 minute ride to the ship.  Upon arrival at the cruise terminal they took our 3 large suitcases to be loaded on the ship.

        We got through security and to the check-in desk by 11:28 and they informed us check-in would begin in just a few minutes.  Perfect timing as no line at the priority line.  We were onboard by 11:45.

                                                   This is our home for the next 27 nights.

        As we entered the ship we were met by Luca, the General Manager, and were handed the traditional glass of champagne.  Luca took Rebecca's rollaboard and escorted us to our suite.  That was a definite first!!!  

        Not long after arriving in our suite Saga, our steward, showed up.  I told him he had an interesting name.  He said it was "a long story" how he was named.  Get the pun??  He had foam pillows and a non feather duvet on the bed.  Rebecca is allergic to feathers.  They have our preferences stored in the computer.  He also knew we did not want the fruit bowl.  I took the below photos of our suite before we messed it up.

                          There is also a walk in shower besides the tub.  We are not tub folks!

                                                                  Nice walk-in closet.

        Ok, as Diamond status (over 1000 nights on Regent) we get a very nice (read $$$) bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne and a box of Leonidas candies.  We had also requested 3 cases of La Crema chardonnay and 2 bottles of Makers Mark bourbon be put on the ship just for us.  You see 2 bottles of the chardonnay and the Makers Mark here.  No extra charge for this.  Yes, they do spoil us!!

                                            The fresh flowers are also a Diamond benefit.

                            I'm the world's worse selfie taker.  Us in from of our mirror.

        Next we went down to the reception desk to order our Dallas Morning News paper to be printed and delivered daily.  Another Diamond bene.  Then we stopped to speak with the internet manager to get hooked up on "streaming" so Rebecca can watch her soaps.  Streaming service costs $20 per day but we have a lot of ship board credit to use.  Unfortunately, so far she cannot get Paramount Plus so may do without paying for streaming.

        It was now well after 1pm so up to La Veranda we went for some lunch.  Of course, Rebecca had an Atkins bar but I had some pasta and lobster nachos.

                                   Budi is a sommelier whom we have known since 2010.

        This is Dara, a waitress, whom we have known for nearly 10 years and one of our absolute favorite crew members.

        This is Kadek from Bali.  Long story but we call him our adopted son.  We have visited his family when on a cruise that stopped in Bali.  He has 3 children whom we call our grandkids.  On this cruise he is the head sommelier.

        Several other crew members stopped by our table to say hello.  I will get photos of them later.  

A lady passenger, whom we had not met, stopped by our table and remarked that we much be someone special because so many crew member stopped by our table.  Well, we are!!

        Before we left La Veranda Rebecca asked Rey, maitre d of Compass Rose (main dining room) for a plate of gouda cheese.  Room service delivered it not long after that.

        It is now 2:40 and our luggage has not been delivered yet.  It takes awhile so in the meantime I will unpack my roll aboard and get organized and settled in.

        Our luggage showed up at 3pm.  We're almost totally unpacked at 4pm.  Saga lifted the bags up on the bed but my back is killing me.  The suitcases fit under our bed and are stowed there now.  Our air conditioning works great.  I had to turn it down initially but unpacking had me turning it back up.

               Three different soaps and lotions to pick from.  We use the middle photo ones.

        It is now 5pm and they are making the emergency instructions over the PA from the bridge.  Just prior we received a call from Luca, the General Manager.  Same gentleman that escorted us to our suite after boarding.  He asked if we would like to join him for dinner tomorrow evening and what restaurant we preferred.  We said yes, if it would just be the three of us.  He agreed and we chose to meet him at 7pm in Compass Rose.  Tomorrow is a formal optional dress evening and the Compass Rose menu is always very nice then.

        I down turning in our tour tickets back in for tomorrow's planned tour.  We received a letter saying the market part of tour was cancelled so not going.  When passing back through the Coffee Connection I ran into Vladan, the Food & Beverage Manager.  He remembered my name because he saw the La Crema chardonnay down in the store room.  We are infamous for that wine!!

        Ok, that's about it for today's post.  We are heading down to the Meridian Lounge around 6pm (it opens then) for cocktails.  We are meeting our friends, Cathi & John Begg from the LA area, for dinner in Prime 7 (steakhouse) for our 7pm dinner reservation.