Ramblings from the Sailing the Suez Oct 26 to Nov 16th.

[Gilly]

4 hours ago, Hambagahle said:

Someone on a recent cruise said that Prime 7 will take the meat out of the King Crabs claws if you ask...seems like a great idea to me!  I know they will take lobsters out of the shells as well.

 

Yes, they will. My favourite starter in P7 is a couple of king crab legs taken out of their shells served on a hot plate with melted butter.  Hmm. My mouth is watering at the mere thought.

[Hambagahle]

5 minutes ago, Gilly said:

 

Yes, they will. My favourite starter in P7 is a couple of king crab legs taken out of their shells served on a hot plate with melted butter.  Hmm. My mouth is watering at the mere thought.

 

5 minutes ago, Gilly said:

 

Yes, they will. My favourite starter in P7 is a couple of king crab legs taken out of their shells served on a hot plate with melted butter.  Hmm. My mouth is watering at the mere thought.

Me too!!  Once on board and in P7 that is what I will ask for as my starter...

[1982CruzStart]

Tonight was Sette mari.  It was very busy so for the most part if you weren't there by 7 you were out of luck until later.  As with everywhere else the people are great however service was a bit slow from a point of view of someone taking our order.  We were the 2nd table seated but waited a while to have someone take our order. We weren't in too big a hurry but just thought it strange that we sat there without some attention. All worked out well.  I had the the steak with gorgonzola crust. For me the crust didn't have enough gorgonzola but still was delicious. The chef stopped by and i told him the same thing and he was surprised. He thought it had strong gorgonzola flavor. He did say that if it wasn't enough and i was back ordering it again just ask for more. Overall the evening was a hit.

As we were finished too early for the theatre we headed to the observation lounge to kill time until the show. It was dead with only 1 couple there. I actually had to go looking for someone. No big deal, they were working at the back and didn't realze we were there. 

tonght was the comedian again and as i was indifferent to him i begged off while the others went.

 

In rhodes tomorrow and looking forward to more adventures. 

[flossie009]

Yes, our day at sea yesterday turned out to be sunny & warm 😎

 

We spent much of the day on the Pool Deck; a bit windy but OK along the more sheltered sides.

Not too much problem with “lounger hogs” but I did notice that the “table of shame” was ready for staff to move transgressors’ belongings to if required.

Pool Deck staff were very attentive with drinks (try the melon daiquiris 😋) and even the offer of spectacle/sunglasses cleaning.

 

The Greek lunch available at the Pool Grill was excellent.

Third at Trivia today, a very enjoyable & well attended block party then dinner in Compass Rose.
Good company at a shared table for 6, excellent service and some delicious menu items - including Panko Shrimp 😋. David found a new favourite soup - red onion with ginger.

 

 

 

During this cruise we have found a new indulgence that appears sometimes with the cookies:

It looks like a simple chocolate cookie:

 

 

 

..................... but when you bite into it

 

 

.......... the centre is moist coconut ............ yummy 

 

 

[flossie009]

Today we are in Rhodes

 

Here is a reminder of the itinerary for this cruise:

 

 

The approximate mix of passengers on Voyager for this cruise is:

USA: 48%

UK: 22%

Canada: 10%

Australia: 6%

Other nationalities: 14%

 

 

Seven Seas Society: This cruise is 21 days so all guests new to Regent automatically acquire Silver status.

Numbers in the other grades are:

Gold: 156

Platinum: 51

Titanium: 9

 

 

 

[flossie009]

We highly recommend the included excursion that we chose today in Rhodes - “Rhodes Culinary Delights”. 5 hours, Activity level 3, lunch included.

 

We started with a walking tour of the medieval town including a visit to the Grand Masters Palace.
The Palace was reconstructed by the Italians just pre-WW2 and was a favourite for Mussolini to visit.

The building is interesting architecturally and contains beautiful artefacts brought in to the building from elsewhere.

Exterior of the Grand Masters Palace

 

Inside the Palace

 

Stonework vaulted ceilings

 

[flossie009]

Roman mosaics were excavated by the Italian archaeologists from elsewhere and installed on the floors of the Palace:

 

 

 

 

They also installed Murano glass chandeliers:

 

 

Exiting the Palace we walked down the “Street of Knights”:

Always good to see the ship is still in port!

 

[flossie009]

After a panoramic drive, we then arrived at a restaurant where our excellent guide described the preparation of our lunch by chef George.

The menu included Tzatziki, Moussaka, Meat Balls & Greek Salad. All freshly prepared in front of us and washed down with copious supplies of Raki, wine & beer. Followed by a dessert of wild cherries.

 

Then it was back to the ship.

 

Definitely time for a nap before afternoon Trivia.

 

 

 

[Brownie54]

Flossie, 

Related to the chocolate/coconut cookie- if you chill it in the fridge in your room, it tastes even better!

My husband now takes pictures of them on our more recent cruises and sends the photo to folks we have sailed with before, just to make them jealous!

[1982CruzStart]

Posting has proved to be a challenge at times, not only with spotty internet but with posts showing up saying they have not been posted when they have been days before. 

 

Anyhoooo, we had a delightful and delicious dinner in CR last night with Susan and her DH.  Just to remind people you can get almost anything that is listed as an entree in appy size. I had the sea scallops in appetizer size along with mixed greens and the veal medallions with madeira truffle sauce. The veal with the madiera truffle sauce may have become my favorite food on Regent. It was to die for.  Oh almost forgot the flourless chocolate cake that was quite good. 

 

My DH learned from Susan's DH how to adjust pictures so there is hope i may yet be able to post some pictures.  First i need to get my DH to show me 1 more time sans any wine how to do it. He tried to show me last might but seriously after all these years you'd think he would know better than trying to show me something i need to remember after some wine.  

 

Our tour yesterday was similar to Susan's without the great lunch at the end.  It was too long as we had way too much free time. I kept trying to convince my DH to walk back to the ship but he just didn't believe the guide when she said it was only a 15 minute walk. He ate those words when it took no time at all to drive back and would have been an easy walk back. So we sat around for about an hour for no reason.  Our tour guide was great. She was extremely knowledgable and interesting.

 

Today we are not off until 12:30 making it a rush for our 6:30 reservation at Chartreuse tonight. Made the reservation based on us having a tour that would get us back between 3 and 4 and the tour was changed by 2 hours. It is warm and muggy out today so that could make the tour and large amount of walking a challenge. 

 

We are off to see more 'old stuff'. 

[Belfast Taxman]

If by “old stuff” you mean the Kourion theatre and Sanctuary of Apollo then I am hoping for some photos, as it is such a lovely spot, but wherever you go, enjoy.

[boblerm]

11 hours ago, 1982CruzStart said:

Just to remind people you can get almost anything that is listed as an entree in appy size. I had the sea scallops in appetizer size along with mixed greens and the veal medallions with madeira truffle sauce. The veal with the madiera truffle sauce may have become my favorite food on Regent. It was to die for.

1982CruzStart, thanks for the tip about ordering entrees as app size.  This is what is so great about Cruise Critic, as many cruises as one may have taken, you can always learn something new!

Thanks as well for your recommendation about the veal with the suggested sauce, this is one of the few items on CR's always available menu that I haven't tried, but will be sure to do just that on my next cruise.

I hope that you and Flossie009 and all others on this cruise continue to have a great time, your posts are greatly appreciated.

Bob

[flossie009]

A spooky night on Voyager tonight ..............

 

 

 

 

There was an enjoyable Halloween dance party in the Horizon Lounge led by the talented production cast who had all dressed for the occasion 💀 👻

 

 

[ronrick1943]

On 10/29/2019 at 9:51 PM, flossie009 said:

Yes, our day at sea yesterday turned out to be sunny & warm 😎

 

 

It looks like a simple chocolate cookie:

 

 

 

 

..................... but when you bite into it

 

 

.......... the centre is moist coconut ............ yummy 

 

 

I have to say that really looks good, ad coconut is one of my most liked cookie.

[RJ2002]

Love those Halloween decorations...  I'll bet the staff had fun putting everything up. 

[1982CruzStart]

15 hours ago, Belfast Taxman said:

If by “old stuff” you mean the Kourion theatre and Sanctuary of Apollo then I am hoping for some photos, as it is such a lovely spot, but wherever you go, enjoy.

Yes I was referring to both and will post some photos tomorrow.  It is 5:23 am and getting ready for a 13 hr day on the road in Israel.  Tomorrow is a sea day so hope to get caught up. 

[Hambagahle]

10 hours ago, boblerm said:

1982CruzStart, thanks for the tip about ordering entrees as app size.  This is what is so great about Cruise Critic, as many cruises as one may have taken, you can always learn something new!

Thanks as well for your recommendation about the veal with the suggested sauce, this is one of the few items on CR's always available menu that I haven't tried, but will be sure to do just that on my next cruise.

I hope that you and Flossie009 and all others on this cruise continue to have a great time, your posts are greatly appreciated.

Bob

Totally agree so thanks from me too!  I would rather have three starters than an starter and a main course...so often the starters are very very interesting!

[flossie009]

13 hours ago, RJ2002 said:

Love those Halloween decorations...  I'll bet the staff had fun putting everything up. 

Yes, but then last night they had to take them all down .................. and be up very early this morning to shepherd guests off the ship and through the cruise terminal in Haifa ready for their long trips to Jerusalem.

 

[flossie009]

Yesterday in Cyprus we joined an included “Go-Local” tour, “Crafts & Gastronomy”.

Imagine our surprise & delight when we arrived at our bus to find it was a fairly new 25-seater Mercedes and that there was only one other couple on it.

So off we went - 4 guests, the guide & the driver. It was akin to an expensive private tour 😀

 

Setting off from Limassol, our first stop was for brunch at a basket maker’s workshop in a small village.
Our host, Petros, showed us his skills in traditional basket making. He also keeps goats and showed us the preparation of Halloumi cheese.

Brunch was a Cypriot farmer’s fare of bread, ham, eggs, cheese & salad 😋

Petros adding herbs to the Halloumi before serving

 

Clean plates after brunch

 

Petros’ pet rabbit who had the run of his workshop (and didn’t seem at all phased by Petros’ dog)

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1, 2019 by flossie009

[flossie009]

Then it was off to an idyllic farm in the countryside to sample honey and make Cypriot Pita (flat bread)

A wide range of honey and beeswax products were on offer

 

Freshly made Pita with honey drizzled over 😋

 

Another pet was curious & very friendly

 

Glorious countryside & a clear blue sky 

 

 

 

[flossie009]

We then drove to Lanarca for a short walking tour of the Old Town.

 

Outside of the mediaeval church

 

A splendid interior 

 

As if we hadn’t had enough to eat, we called in to the bakery for some savoury & sweet delights (no pictures - too busy eating!) and to a bar specialising in fresh pressed lemonade.

 

 

Neat advertising

 

Finally a leisurely drive back to Limassol and the Voyager ................. ready to get ready for another evening of food, drink & entertainment.

 

All-in-all, a memorable & enjoyable excursion - but certainly not good for the waistline!

 

 

 

[south park]

Here are a few additional photos from Malta. 

[2012_Alaska_bound]

16 hours ago, RJ2002 said:

Love those Halloween decorations...  I'll bet the staff had fun putting everything up. 

 

Last year on the Amazon Cruise, the entertainers put up the Christmas decorations.  Thought that was interesting, and wonder if they always do the decorating?

[south park]

Visit in Cyprus was wonderful. It included a tour of the countryside and brunch at a local farm.  All of the offerings at brunch were from the farm - jams, homemade breads, and eggs. 

[1982CruzStart]

It has been a very long day and i will really try and catch up tomorrow.  We did the small group Jerusalem and Bethlehem.  Thank god for the the small group. I am pretty sure i would have jumped off the nearest bridge if i had been with a large group. It was so busy every where we went. to have tried to keep track of 30+ people as opposed to 14 is mind boggling. There was 14 in a large bus so very comfortable. What i can say about this tour is maybe it is worth it if you need to see these religious sites. I went from a cultural and archaelogical perspective rather than religious and i am not sure had i known how over the top busy it was i would do it.  This is our 2nd visit to Israel and i did the historical sites the last time. 

 

As my good friend says it was way toooo peopley.

 

Our guide was very good. She was extremely knowledgeable though at times it was overwhelming.  I say we wasted a good hour just hanging around waiting for the bus to show up at the various places.

 

i am extremely glad that the next 2 days are sea days. We have sailed the Suez Canal before so not so important to us. 

 

More tomorrow.