TransAtlantic West to East on Explorer

[crusin7]

I still think Regent should hire you both as permanent bloggers! Love the pictures. Have a great time.

[RachelG]

What exactly is that lunch dish?

[flossie009]

What exactly is that lunch dish?

On Explorer in Prime 7 at lunch, rather than ordering individual desserts, the wait staff bring a carousel of mini pots containing:

• Peanut Caramel Brownie
  
• Red Velvet Cheesecake
  
• Butter Pecan Sandwich
  
• Banana Tres Leche
  
• Key Lime Pie
  
• Peach & Blueberry Cobbler
  

............ and only 50 calories total ;):rolleyes:

[flossie009]

DAYS 6 to 10: SEA DAYS “Cruising the Atlantic Ocean”

 

Weather conditions for the first couple of days were poor; high sea swells and cloudy/rainy weather.

Yesterday and today were much better; the seas have calmed and sunny warm weather has meant plenty of guests on deck enjoying fresh air and topping up their suntans.

One hour forward on the clocks most days means that we are tending to stay up later at night and taking a lay-in most mornings. That’s fine; we are on holiday :cool:

DAY 6 (Mon 26th March)

Took part in the Officers/Guests Baggo Challenge (a good turn out) in the morning.

A wine tasting event early afternoon and then watched the movie “Darkest Hour” screened in the Theatre with copious supplies of popcorn.

Dinner at a shared table in Compass Rose. A very chatty and entertaining group meant that we missed the guest entertainers “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere” who were on in the theatre this evening.

DAY 7 (Tues 27th March)

Spent much of today planning future cruises!!

Seven Seas Society party this evening. New Platinum and Titanium members were presented with their pins on stage and then there was a very special moment for a lady who had achieved Diamond status (1000 nights).

A video had been prepared with officers on board and Jason Montague in Miami congratulating her; John Barron then “thanked her for her money!” ;)

For those interested in statistics, the following are the numbers of SSS members on board:

Diamond 1

Titanium 23

Platinum 52

Gold 166

Silver 232

i.e. a total of 474 repeat passengers

 

The stage show in the theatre tonight was the bohemian musical cabaret “Paradis” - very well performed by the production cast.

Then on to Karaoke ............

[flossie009]

Seven Seas Society Party

 

 

 

 

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[flossie009]

DAY 8 (Wed 28th March)

Susan spent most of the day on deck making the most of the good weather. David took in two good lectures - one on “Big History”, the other on “The Sinking of the Lusitania”

Dinner tonight in Prime 7; a delicious meal in this superb venue - so much more light and airy on Explorer than on the other ships. We had a window table looking out over the ocean watching as dusk progressed to the setting of the sun.

Entertainment in the theatre tonight was the pianist/entertainer Linda Gentille. An extremely talented lady who had trained with Liberace.

Then up to Music Trivia in the Observation Lounge. Hosted by Deborah on the piano and Nicola, the Social Hostess. It was a lot of fun.

It was Nicola’s birthday today so she was dressed in a Princess gown complete with Tiara - claiming she did not want a fuss and was therefore trying to blend into the background.

DAY 9 (Thurs 29th March)

A cracking day today; we went to the Culinary Arts Kitchen this morning for “Break out of your shell: celebrate the egg”.

Our teacher was Noelle Barille, who was eggceptional. Our brains were scrambled with all the eggcellent information and we definitely learnt that you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.

Our dishes of Savory Galettes, Frittata, and Cocoa Pots all turned out very well ........... and edible!! (and that’s no yolk ........... sorry joke). All washed down with a Mojito.

 

 

Also, today is Susan’s birthday ........... but more about that later (she is refusing to wear Nicola’s Princess gown & Tiara this evening)

Edited March 30, 2018 by flossie009

[flossie009]

Some photos from the Culinary Kitchen

 

 

 

Our attempt at a Savory Gallette (Crepe) was delicious

 

 

 

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[flossie009]

Frittata, Chocolate Pot & Mojito

 

 

.......... and which one was finished first?

 

 

The Mojito of course!!!

 

 

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[WesW]

Yum, thanks for the food snaps David & Susan and the Seven Seas Society demographics.

 

Continue to enjoy your double TA.

[PaulaJK]

No egg on your face Flossie for that very clever summary of your crackin' cooking class...fun to read. Thank you for taking us with you.

I am enjoying your blog. Paula

[kihei228]

Thanks, Susan for the wonderful blog post with pictures. First time I’ve had a chance to read it and glad I did so, as I was wondering how you could be on our Mariner roll call and be posting elsewhere about being on the Explorer. :D

Laurie

[flossie009]

Thanks for your kind words.

 

Apparently there are about 20 of us doing this mildly eccentric itinerary of a double TA. Others on this cruise wanted to do it when they realised the changeover date coincidence, but Mariner is already sold out.

 

Destination Services are going ‘above & beyond’ to make our transfer in Barcelona as painless as possible.

Luggage will be transferred from dock to dock and there is an optional ‘free’ tour of Barcelona being arranged for those who wish to partake (picking up from Explorer and then returning to Mariner later for check in).

 

The other snippet of good news is that Joliza Fulgar, excellent Head Sommelier, is transferring from Explorer to Mariner. She will join Mariner on 6th April as she has to stay on Explorer for the first couple of days to hand over to her replacement.

 

See you on the Mariner next week :cool:

[flossie009]

SUSAN’S BIRTHDAY

 

Started with a champagne breakfast in our suite; the room service attendant even singing happy birthday as she set up the table!

 

 

At the conclusion of our cookery class, John Barron arrived to sample the cuisine and lead the class in another rendition of “Happy Birthday”

 

Sorry John & Noelle are a little blurred (must be the Mojito)

 

 

Back in our suite the Regent elves were working their magic

 

 

 

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[flossie009]

 

 

Dinner in Compass Rose with friends we last cruised with on Regent 5 years ago.

Lots to catch up on then the full choir of waitstaff, led by Rommel, gave yet another rendition of “Happy Birthday” while delivering another delicious chocolate birthday cake complete with candle.

 

Saw the talented Irish duo in the theatre (we missed their first performance a few nights ago) then dancing late into the night to the superb Boogie & Kasia.

 

 

..................... and so to bed after a very enjoyable birthday. Thanks to everyone at Regent who helped make the day so special.

 

 

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[kihei228]

Many Happy Birthday wishes, Susan!

[flossie009]

I still think Regent should hire you both as permanent bloggers! Love the pictures. Have a great time.

Crisy,

A belated happy birthday to you and your sister. Just remembered that we share a birthday

Susan

:bottle-pop::champagne-toast:

[crusin7]

Happy Birthday to you also! Looked like you had a great time.

[liptastic]

Happy birthday Susan. No better way to spend a birthday celebration than on Regent.

Have a great time and thanks for this great blog.

Really looking forward to hearing all about the new Mariner. Best wishes Jean.

[Onkel_Ken]

Happy Birthday! Couldn't celebrate it in a better place!!!!

[flossie009]

DAY 10 (Fri 30th March)

 

At sea again today.

Woke up late and spent a fairly lazy day.

Lunch in La Veranda - a delicious buffet spread of hot & cold dishes as usual.

Then we both attended Bill Fowler’s fascinating lecture on “The Fishing Crisis in the North Atlantic” which was all about the catastrophic depletion of Codfish caused by over-fishing.

 

Dinner in Compass Rose with an American couple who we met previously during a pre-cruise safari. It is so good to meet up with old friends on Regent cruises and to hopefully make new friends as well.

 

The show in the theatre tonight was “Broadway in Concert” - songs from the shows performed by the singers from the Production Cast, backed by the Regent orchestra. They are all superb singers and it was a packed house for a very enjoyable show.

 

DAY 11 (Sat 31st March)

 

Land ahoy!

We docked around 08:30 this morning in Funchal, Madeira. A beautiful sunny spring morning that showed off the island to its best advantage.

 

Our bus excursion took a tour to Cabo Girao and then on to the fishing village of Camara de Lobos (where Winston Churchill painted). We concluded the tour with a lunchtime “Afternoon Tea” at the famous Reid’s Palace Hotel. A delicious repast and good company at the shared table.

 

Our ship sailed around 4:45pm and we watched the island recede with drinks & canapés on our neighbours’ Explorer suite balcony.

 

Dinner in Pacific Rim was exceptional and we just made it to the theatre for David Nevin’s show.

What a talented singer with such a varied repertoire. His performance was made even better by the duet he sang with his girlfriend (another very talented singer) who had just joined him. She boarded in Madeira for a holiday on board with David; they had been away from each other for 2 months.

[flossie009]

Sailing in to Funchal

 

 

 

 

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[flossie009]

Views from the cliffs at Cabo Girao (so glad it was such a clear sunny day)

 

 

 

 

 

At the viewing platform there is a section with a see-through walkway so that you can look vertically down the cliffs through your feet - very scary, but not good for those with vertigo!

 

 

 

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[flossie009]

“Tea at Reid’s”

 

 

 

 

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[flossie009]

Camara de Lobos

 

 

Is that Winston doing some painting?

 

 

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[flossie009]

Dinner at the speciality restaurant “Pacific Rim”

 

Giant Prawns

 

Aromatic Duck

 

Lobster Tempura

 

 

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