Live from the Regal - July 2-23 - Med Cruise - R/T Barcelona

[Steelers36]

1 minute ago, wowzz said:

I can't remember if there was a description or not. As you say, Princess do not elaborate on their website.

My thinking was that as it was a non casual night, DTI would imply shirt and tie, or tuxedo etc. However, I seemed to be very much in the minority, and to be honest, the vast majority of pax wore the same style of clothes as they did on any other night.

The whole DTI just seems a bit of a farce. Either have a formal night, and everyone knows where they stand, or have a casual night. DTI is neither here nor there.

 

It could be them experimenting with changing out of using Formal as a label for those nights and making it DTI similar to other lines.  But without any advance information, most guests will arrive unprepared until they have experienced it once.  I see it as dressing it up a bit from Smart Casual and then true Formal becomes optional (in their language, even as we all know true Formal is already optional in practice).

 

[Esprit]

4 hours ago, wowzz said:

On the similar cruise a few weeks ago, the DTI was far less observed than formal night. The first DTI night I wore my tuxedo, but so few people made any effort at all,  the second time around I didn't bother.

Last night we were indeed few in number wearing bow ties and dinner jackets. It was only two nights before we had the first formal night so people obviously were less keen.

Once again in The Vista lounge the Xcite band were excellent with their Motown set.

Filming continues on board of the Love Boat themed show 

[Esprit]

4 hours ago, Peggy and Mossey said:

 

This is very strange isn't it ?

Are you sure about this ?

I agree it’s strange, but I’m just repeating what an English couple said to me who had spoken with those missing their luggage. I will try to get an update.

[Adventures ahead]

13 minutes ago, Esprit said:

I agree it’s strange, but I’m just repeating what an English couple said to me who had spoken with those missing their luggage. I will try to get an update.

Maybe they didn't buy air from Princess.

[Esprit]

28 minutes ago, Adventures ahead said:

Maybe they didn't buy air from Princess.

Agreed. They would have to sort it themselves but if I remember correctly the original flight from U.K. to Rome was cancelled so to get them to the ship in time the change in Paris was down to Princess.

No one would book a flight via Paris to Rome on the same day as embarkation independently. Far too risky and with 75 passengers affected it seems unlikely.

Edited July 14, 2022 by Esprit

[Esprit]

For the ornithologists, we had a hooded crow join us

[Alanr204]

13 hours ago, karabear15 said:

Do we know how long he is on the ship for? Hoping to have him for our Aug 20th sailing.

My understanding was that he was just covering while Aaron Hawkins was on leave. Perhaps this will change. 

[Ken the cruiser]

Had a great time on our mostly walking excursion today to St Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Serefiye Cistern. The only downside was the Blue Mosque was definitely being renovated both outside and inside. 

 

 

 

Blue Mosque

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Sophia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we e had lunch outside at a nice restaurant in the area. 

Mire to come, but we have to go to dinner now. 😁

 

[LACruiser88]

26 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Had a great time on our mostly walking excursion today to St Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Serefiye Cistern. The only downside was the Blue Mosque was definitely being renovated both outside and inside. 

 

 

 

Blue Mosque

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Sophia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we e had lunch outside at a nice restaurant in the area. 

Mire to come, but we have to go to dinner now. 😁

 

A great city, we have always enjoyed our visits to Istanbul!

[wowzz]

38 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Had a great time on our mostly walking excursion today to St Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Serefiye Cistern. The only downside was the Blue Mosque was definitely being renovated both outside and inside. 

 

 

 

Blue Mosque

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Sophia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we e had lunch outside at a nice restaurant in the area. 

Mire to come, but we have to go to dinner now. 😁

 

Lot of people (relatively)  on that coach. We did an independent tour with just the six of us, plus guide.

Nice to be able to dictate your own pace with a group that size.

[Mary loves to travel]

@KenTheCruiser, I think that's the same tour we've signed up for in Istanbul.   It looks great!

[Steelers36]

11 hours ago, wowzz said:

The 270 day rule only applies to the initial vaccination programme, not to boosters.

If you have had a booster, there is no expiry date, so you do not require a additional booster. Indeed, in most of Europe,  the additional booster  is not generally available anyway. 

When I read it, the text mentioned 270 since primary course OR since booster.  We have had the two primary, plus one booster and we expire - according to Europe - in early SEP.  We do plan on a 4th shot.  We are well-passed expired from the second primary!

[Steelers36]

4 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Had a great time on our mostly walking excursion today to St Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Serefiye Cistern. The only downside was the Blue Mosque was definitely being renovated both outside and inside. 

 

Mire to come, but we have to go to dinner now. 😁

 

Your great photos are certainly whetting my anticipation for these voyages this October.

[Ken the cruiser]

Continuing on with our two stops after a tasty lunch, Topkapi Palace and the Serefiye Cistern. 
 

Topkapi Palace

First was the walk to the castle after getting through security. 

 

 

 

Of course, I had to stop for a wildlife shot! 😁

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then my favorite wildlife shot so far!

 

 

Then, when we were on our 20 minute free time, I finally got a good shot of the TV antenna across the bay over on the Asia side of Turkey. 

 

 

Our final stop was at the Serefiye Cistern which had an awesome light show. 
 

 

 

 

Of course we had to stop at the Hrand Bazaar before heading back to the ship. 
 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Then after dinner we went to the theater to listen to Shelly Rivers, a wonderful opera singer who once again sang songs we knew and had our CD Dan come out and sung a Phantom of the Opera duet with her that was awesome!

 

 

Then we headed to Princess Live for the evening game show, Ten in Sixty. 

 

 

[Steelers36]

3 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

 

 

Then we headed to Princess Live for the evening game show, Ten in Sixty. 

 

 

I enjoy most of the games as well.  It seems during the Covid pause, they invented a lot of new games to put on - or at least try on the guests.  I cannot figure out how some of them work based on the title.  Are you finding the newer games "a breath of fresh air"?  Of course the Marriage one and Yes/No standards are always funny too.

[Ken the cruiser]

Then to finish off the evening when we got back to the cabin, there was an unbelievable moonrise with a huge moon!! We got back as it was just “appearing” to come up out of the sea with a deep red glow! Our son was able to get the best shots with his new iPhone, but they only come close to projecting how beautiful it was.

 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

21 hours ago, wowzz said:

We have only done three cruises (42 days) post covid. Ironically, we caught covid on the cruise with the lowest number of passengers,  the most severe mask wearing protocols, and extra social distancing. We were diligent mask wearers the entire cruise. 

On the similar Regal cruise you are on, we only wore masks on two private tours. Apart from that, we flew on unmasked flights, from unmasked airports, and never wore masks on the ship. No covid.

 

It really is the luck of the draw. 

This is very true! 

[Ken the cruiser]

20 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Just checked the Patter and saw "Dress to Impress" (which I have been aware of).  Just wondering if they have re-labelled all Formal Nights this way, or did they name one "Formal" and one D-T-I each week?  Thanks.

Basically, Dress to Impress is wear what you want. We wore button down shirts, as did most men when we were dining in Club Class, and our DWs wore what they wanted as well, with only one older gentleman wearing a sport coat. So in all reality, there is only one Formal Night on each of the 7 day legs that make up our cruise. But, it does give those that enjoy dressing up a second night to do so if they so choose. 

[Steelers36]

9 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

But, it does give those that enjoy dressing up a second night to do so if they so choose. 

Of course they can dress up every night if they so choose.  On our last PCL voyage in NOV 2019, an elderly couple nearby were always there early before we arrive and dressed to the 8's.  He was to the 9-Pluses on the formal nights.  To each their own!!

[Ken the cruiser]

20 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I am sure it is quite random.  I have read most/all of @Ken the cruiser's protocols.  I never wear a mask and no Covid here.  (Vaccinated with Pfixer 3x, but last one was early Dec).  Even so, we will be doing a 4th shot in August so we are good for the Europe 270 day rule.

For us as some of you know, we have been on one 21 day B3B in Aug, a 16 day B2B in Nov, a 21 day B2B in Dec and a 14 day B2B in Feb along with our 18 day PC cruise on the CB in May. On all of those B?Bs, we had to pass an antigen test the day prior to transition day and if we failed, we would be put off the ship and into quarantine for 5-10 days, depending on the severity. So we developed our strategy because we love cruising and did not want flunk that antigen test. They was our “air of motivation”.
 

Then after awhile, it just became a preventative habit. But I have to say, it’s been nice not getting bronchitis, norovirus, the dreaded ship cough and all of those other fun illnesses, besides COVID, that still lurk around on a cruise ship. 😁

[Ken the cruiser]

11 hours ago, Megabear2 said:

I see no mention of its occupancy. I travelled the Barcelona to Rome leg and for different reasons discovered a large number of luggage awaiting their owners to be offloaded into Italian quarantine hotels.

I have no idea what’s behind those closed doors as the Captain has made no mention of folks being quarantined. But with 2500+ passengers on the last leg and 3200+ on this leg, I’m sure there are some that have tested positive as most passengers, especially the younger ones, are acting like the pandemic is over, we’re on a cruise, and it’s time to party!

[Ken the cruiser]

4 hours ago, Mary loves to travel said:

@KenTheCruiser, I think that's the same tour we've signed up for in Istanbul.   It looks great!

It was, but it would be nice next time if the Blue Mosque renovations have either been completed or they choose a different mosque to visit. 

[Ken the cruiser]

59 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

 

I enjoy most of the games as well.  It seems during the Covid pause, they invented a lot of new games to put on - or at least try on the guests.  I cannot figure out how some of them work based on the title.  Are you finding the newer games "a breath of fresh air"?  Of course the Marriage one and Yes/No standards are always funny too.

Most of them are a lot of fun. But there are a few, like this one tonight, that need a little tweaking. 

[Megabear2]

9 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I have no idea what’s behind those closed doors as the Captain has made no mention of folks being quarantined. But with 2500+ passengers on the last leg and 3200+ on this leg, I’m sure there are some that have tested positive as most passengers, especially the younger ones, are acting like the pandemic is over, we’re on a cruise, and it’s time to party!

Glad to hear you're having a great time.  There were in fact 50-60 cases in the special offloaded area and a lot of their owners were awaiting transfer to quarantine in Italian hotels in Rome.

 

Carry on enjoying the party but stay safe.