More great photos Joanna. Everyone looks great.

I am not having that much fun!!!! Much more mundane week here. Seriously, everyone looks so great, with smiles everywhere. I love seeing these pictures.

Wonderful pictures everyone! Loved sharing this great trip with all of you. :app:

This sounds and looks like T-H-E * B-E-S-T * T-R-I-P! I so wish we could have been there, but really appreciate the fact that we have the next best thing with you sharing all your posts and photos. Party on!

Wow temps have dropped! We had 7:45 am tour and returned to ship at 12:30 PM rain!!!! Someone just told me high in Korea is 43?? We may as well pack up the shorts and cottons and haul out the jeans and sweaters. Group planned to go to night market last night but we never made it just ran out of time after dinner. This afternoon looks like perfect day to read a book, watch a movie or nap :app: .. tonight we're eating with our cabin neighbors we met at beginning of cruise and looking forward to dinner with them. We have met so many "new" folks and have traded email info and hope to keep in touch with them.

Last night we had dinner with a special friend from Japan, Akemi Ackerman whom we originally met on our 2005 World Cruise and another male passenger, Ed Fox. After dinner we 4 went to a cute local talent show in Constellation theater.

This morning we went on a 1/2 day "Highlights of Taipei" tour which we enjoyed. It included seeing the changing of the guards (spectacular!) at Martyr's Shrine. Luckily the weather was cool but ok until we arrived back at the port... and it's been raining ever since. We were so impressed with Taipei, so clean and pretty for a large city!

Tonight we're having dinner with Jamie & Dana Logan and Ngaire & Ken so this will be fun. Hard to believe this great cruise will be ending so soon. :( I am excited that we will have a post cruise trip to Chengdu where I get to hold a baby panda bear in less than a week. :hug:

Here are photos I finally took to share:
Taipei, Taiwan

Well, we seem to have left the warm weather behind us. Several of us took a half day tour to Taipei today that included a visit to several sites, including one to honor the veterans, (and a memorable changing of the guard) one to honor chiang kai shek, and then to the National Palace museum, the real repository of the treasures of China, taken out of the Forbidden City to keep them out of the hands of invading Japanese, then brought here in 1949 by Chianf Kai Shek. The museum was a "fly-by" on foot for such an enormous museum housing 650,000 items. We had no rain touring, thankfully, until we got back to the ship. Tonight a spa night for me.....way too much eating at lunch to even think about dinner! The cold weather gear needs to be brought out from now on, at least until Beijing! This has been just the best cruise, perfect for one with my energy level these days, sea days between almost every port!

PHOTOS FROM TAIPEI, TAIWAN:


Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.


Chiang Kai Shek.


Changing of the guard at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.


Looking from the top floor of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, the national concert hall is on the left and the national theater on the right side in the distance.


The second tallest building in the world is simply called 101, it has 101 floors.


Martyr's Shrine.


Another changing of the guard, this time at the Martyr's Shrine.

COLD today. Chilly on the ship as well such a change in temperatures. In Keelung it was raining most of the day but just overcast in Taipei. I guess this is pretty common. Arlene became a TV star today I will let her tell you her story.

Cannot believe we are coming to the end of the cruise soon. I have REALLY enjoyed this longer cruise, you settle in and relax. The ship becomes more like "home" After we debark many in the group are doing private tours together in Beijing so that is something to look forward to but there is nothing like the comfort of the ship.

This is a perfect itinerary. You are ready to get off after two days at sea but looking forward to staying onboard for a couple of days after a port day.

Thanks gang, for your reports and photos. I am really gonna miss these great morning updates when your wonderful cruise comes to an end. Thanks for taking us along. I've loved it!

We are slamming and banging tonight. Go back to coffeecup (diane's) post about Drake Passage to get the feel for me tonight! I' m sure I am the biggest wuss on this cruise, but think me needs to be a bit further back than 712! Gret spa treatments from the spa earier tonight, but I have a feeling my girl there is not feeling any better than me.

Yes pretty rough tonight. Ken and I went to the Beatles show and the music got to us and we danced but it was NOT easy. It was however a lot of fun. It amazed us how many were on the dance floor as bumped and rolled our way through the songs.

I think no matter where you are on the ship it is bumpy tonight. Even in the restaurant midship on deck 4 we had some pretty good bumps and grinds. RAck of lamb on the menu again so all was well in my world.

Hope it settles down though for those that do not fare as well on rough seas. The Captain initially said for 12 - 14 hours so maybe tomorrow we will be back to the calm seas we have come to enjoy on this trip.

hope it smooths itself out for you all. But you can say you were the wave warriors!

Hope it smooths out too, I can relate, would probaly be prostrate on the bed in this situation.

Ngaire, the Beatles show, how was that? We once saw 'Rain" on a cruise ship, they are basically Beatles impersonators, but, at that show one was sure they were actually seeing the real Beatles live they were so good, everyone was dancing and singing and clapping, it was truly amazing, and I am not necessarily a big Beatles fan, but Frank is and he was in heaven.

BBRRRR!!!! Yes it is chilly - it was rocky last night but we are so fortunate the rocking and rolling and THUDS do not physically bother us - mentally a loud THUD is nerve wracking but all seems smooth today...we had dinner with our cabin neighbors and fun time had by all - we ended up in their suite after dinner drinking Bailey's while riding out rough seas....Bailey's was the answer :woh: :woh:

Olivia,
So glad to hear that you and others enjoyed a tour that included the National Museum - such treasures! Was there in 1970 and that's really my only memory of Taipei now.

Hi Everyone,

I have been having such a wonderful trip, I have fallen behind in my LCT posting. This long cruise is just heaven. :banana: We rafted to a large waterfall and changed from our canoes to a bamboo raft and they took us under a BIG waterfall. Not around and behind it, but THROUGH it... the water was so powerful... really amazing. It sure gave me a new feeling for the power of the sunami I heard about when I returned to the ship. It was a great excursion, and one I highly recommend.

Yesterday we were in Tiwan, at Keelung Harbor. Most everyone went into Tipei for tours, but I elected to stick close to the port and just take a long walk around the port area. As I was leaving the terminal, I was asked to be interviewed for the Nightly News. A reporter and cameraman were going to be fliming on the ship, and wanted to interview a passenger. What an experience. They asked numerous questions about the ship, our itenerary, the accomodations, the ports, the food, etc. They asked numerous questions about our travel to and plans for Tiwan, then asked a lot of questions about our concerns given the earthquake and its ramifications for us. What a fun experience!

Today is another glorious sea day, after a night of being rocked to sleep by large waves. Not being one that is affected by high seas, it was great fun for Marc and I as we like the rockin' and rollin'!

The food has been fantastic on this cruise. I broke a tooth today at lunch, and while it doesn't hurt at all, I will probably be eating differently than I normally would so I can wait to go to the dentist when I get home as we are nearing the end of the trip. Definitly one way to make me cut down on all the delious food! Then again, maybe I'll stick to soft things like creme brulee, souffles, (sp?) ice cream, things like that.... Not a bad way to spend the last days of the cruise, right? ;)

More later... off to play pooch now!
:lct:

Great reports, ROOs! I love the way you all "cope" with the rough seas.....dancing to Beatles music, drinking Baileys, and enjoying being rocked to sleep! :)

Beatles show was just three of the singers and Jamie singing the songs. The ship was rocking and rolling but the music got to me and we did dance a little, not easy but we managed. Not an impersonaters act but still some great Beatles songs. I do not mind ship movement so it did not bother me and today it smoothed out again.

Had a busy day playing scrabble in the morning with Marc and then cards in the afternoon. Finished up tonight with a little time and dancing in the Voyager lounge. We have to put the clocks forward an hour tonight so off to bed now. After all there is a full day at sea tomorrow need energy for that.

Love the reports and pictures. Hope the seas calm down soon so you can all enjoy your day at sea.
:banana:

We have been too busy to post!!!!

Tomorrow, Saturday, the Passages has a "Cancelled Cruisers Cocktails" only for those of us on the cancelled 3 and 17 October Voyager cruises; could be a fun time.

Tonight was St Patrick's Day Party. We had tons of fun. I was hoping to be selected for the Irish Jig competition but Jamie found three more worthy competitors. So, I was relegated to the Irish Whisky drinking competition. No one can beat me in that competition as I "turned pro" many years ago.

Tomorrow is Seoul with our tour of the DMZ. I have never posted a complete "cruise review" but plan on doing one for this voyage; the trip has been long which allows me to comment on many aspects. The social dynamics of this cruise have been fascinating so my review will be entitled "As the Voyager Turns."

I think the Regent product is fantastic. We have had the time of our lives and cannot imagine having such an experience on any other cruise line.

More later...

.... after yet more foie gras tomorrow.

Marc,

Can't wait to read it, glad you are having such a good time.

I'm looking forward to reading it, too, Marc! So glad this cruise has been perfect for you - a GREAT way to make up for TUT. And I love the fact that Regent is giving a private cocktail party for those whose cruises were cancelled. WISH we were there to partake, but you'll just have to have one for us - PROMISE you will! ;)

Marc - I think you should have ONE for all the rest of us on TUT! LOL. :pass: I mean, afterall, anyone who can win the Irish Whiskey drinking contest can handle it right?????

Glad this has been such a great cruise for you'all, sure wish we were there with you.

Yes, Marc, one for all of us! You can do it! Seriously, so glad this has been such a good cruise for you. Hi to Arlene!

Have one for us too! (Hope tomorrow is a sea day!)

Add us to the drink list

how great Marc! Wow, what a trip. Enjoy that cocktail party for all of us having tea tonight!

another nice day today, in Inchon. The m&m's and i took the shorter local tour that included a trip to the fish market, another local market, as well as stops at a war memorial and a park. We all loved the markets! I'm just hoping this will be posted, as I'm on my iPad in the cabin.

Great idea for Regent to host a party for you all. It will be interesting to hear how many people from the October canceled cruises opted for this one - from all your posts it sounds like a nice long substitute.

Hi everyone

Well we waved goodbye to the Voyager this morning. So sad to go this was the longest time I have spent on a cruise. When you are on longer you really settle in and feel at home. I know I could easily do a much longer cruise. So many wonderful staff we had to say goodbye to as we left this morning.

It was really cold when we left the ship, low temperature and windy. This was a new pier with a very contemporary terminal and the process of immigration went reasonably fast. The only problem was that they had run out of luggage carts for the luggage. TONS of luggage to load in our bus but we got it all in.

As we left the dock area we hit a new roadway and literally hundreds of trees were being planted along the side of the road. When these trees are in bloom this is will be beautiful.

Our guide Leo is very good. Young and eager to please with good english. It took 3 hours to drive to the hotel. With us all booking separately on the internet rate we all had to check in independently and we also had so much luggage between us to sort out. However within about 15 minutes everyone had a room and the luggage was all delivered within about 30 minutes so that was pretty well handled by the hotel. It was much warm in Beijing that it had been at the port.

We raced out to grab a bite to eat and ended up at the KFC fast food tastes good when you do not eat it very often!

Then off to the Pearl Market. It has changed quite a bit from when we were there last. The place we shopped is no longer there so that was a sad thing as this is where I really was comfortable purchasing. It seems to have grown larger and the bottom floor is under construction to add even more stores. Also it has seemed to have gone up in price from our last visit. It is an overwhelming place when you first arrive but people did adjust and most were very happy with their purchases. We were there for three hours and that is about as long as you can spend there as it is tiring. However some had just finished getting their pearls all strung as it hit the 5.30 pm mark.

I was hungry and wanted to eat western food and get back early tonight. Mark was off to an Irish Pub and some were planning on Chinese food. So my sister Rae, her husband Ken and I took a taxi to a TGI Fridays. It was a $2 taxi ride and we gave a $1 tip. So much fun to take a taxi and it only costs $3.00. We had a GREAT time. We got the cutest waitress who spoke very little English it took us 30 minutes to order but was some of the best entertainment we have had in years. She was laughing we were laughing. As an example we wanted some mayo for Ken's burger. As we attempted to explain she first appeared to understand and arrived with a giant pepper mill. We pointed to the ketchup and then "white color" -- light dawned in her eyes she came back with another bottle of ketchup. Another attempt and again a sign of understanding. Back with a salt and pepper shaker. This was FUN not frustrating. In the end she finally understood and the mayo arrived.
What a delightful young girls she was I can just imagine telling her friends about the crazy Americans. We finished up with some Hagen Daz Ice Cream in a store across the road from Fridays a very fancy store with couches and coffee tables and crystal chandliers.

Now back in our room, after a nice hot bath it is nice to be a little organized again. Ken and I are taking a morning off tomorrow as we have been to the Forbidden City about four times before but in the afternoon we are going to see Pandas and do a ride in the Hutongs. The next day it is the Great Wall and then in the afternoon the Temple of Heaven.

Sorry to know that tomorrow Ken and Sheila and Mark and Arlene and some others will have left. Going to miss them but we will get to see Ken and Sheila on Roar lll in a few short weeks.

Ngaire, Thanks for checking in. It's sad to hear that the ROOs have left the ship, but good to know that more adventures are in store. Your dinner at TGIF does sound like a comedy of errors.

Hope all you ROOs have safe trips home.

Great post, Ngaire, and all of us at home wish we could have been there to have some laughs with you. A fitting postscript to what seemed like the best LCT adventure in years, or at least until we all sail again!
:lct:

We were docked at a new mammoth port facility in Taijin when we awoke yesterday. There was nary a soul in sight. Eventually, we started to see buses and police arriving for our disembarkation. We all made it off the ship without too much hassle, though a little later than we expected.

Our bus for the 2+ hour trip to Beijing was along a brand new highway that had only been open a year or so, according to our guide Leo. It was in the 30’s when we arrived, and it probably eventually went into the 50’s. Unfortunately, it was extremely hazy and smoggy. I think it was a combination of pollution and a heat inversion. But we didn’t have any rain.

The amount of construction is mind boggling. We must have seen hundreds of huge building cranes during our drive. Also probably thousands of trees being planted.

We arrived at the Peninsula shortly after noon. It took quite a while to check in. We quickly went up to our room, but couldn’t do too much until our luggage was brought up. The room is nice, but not very large. After the luggage made it to the room, we raced downstairs to grab some lunch before the bus left for the pearl market at 2:00 PM

Lunch was typical hotel prices. We went to the Western restaurant in the lower level of the hotel, and it was okay, though Gail’s tuna sandwich was not very good. The French fries accompanying it were terrific.

The pearl market was overwhelming and exhausting, but sort of fun. We did plenty of “damage” there. The fanciest items were on the top floor – almost exclusively pearls, though some art items such as jade and rose quartz carvings. As one moved to lower floors, there were more and more diverse items, such as leather, shoes, bags, silk scarves, and just plain Chinese souvenirs. But the bags and bags of strands of pearls were amazing.

We left the market at 5:30 PM for our twenty minute drive back to the hotel. We quickly showered, and changed for dinner, though it wasn’t necessary in terms of dress code. For dinner, we had decided to have a last dinner with the Simpsons and the Turners in the Chinese restaurant located in the lower, lower level of the hotel. The number of name brand boutiques in the lower levels was also mind numbing: Chanel, Armani, Burberry, Prada, Cerruti, etc.; but we never saw many people in them. Our understanding was that the prices were astronomical, though we didn’t look for ourselves.

The dinner itself was wonderful. Because we wanted to be in the non-smoking section, we were put in a little room because the regular space didn’t have tables for 6 that were non-smoking. That made our private location even better. The restaurant was never very crowded, so smoking didn’t become an issue. But it sure was an issue in other places. One sees (and smells) smoking all over, though it certainly wasn’t a problem in our hotel room. We had several appetizers and a number of main courses that we shared, including BBQ pork, duck, chicken with vegetables, beef tenderloin with vegetables, and assorted vegetables with bamboo pith (which I think that was a first for me). All were very tasty. As long as you stayed away from the expensive seafood and the wine, it was quite reasonable. We drank either tea, coke, or beer. Our bill came to about $65 per couple, which was little more than we spent for our sandwiches at lunch. However, one bottle of wine could easily set you back close to $100 for nothing special. Needless, to say, we were tired after dinner and headed to the room.

While Ngaire and Ken do their thing today, we're headed for the Forbidden City in the morning and the Summer Palace in the afternoon. (Many of you know that Gail never made it to Bejing during Panda because she became ill at the last minute and unbeknownst to be at the time, ended up in the Taijin hospital.) I see a little blue sky, so I'm hoping we get the partly sunny skies that are forecast. It's 39 now and supposed to be about 50 this afternoon. More sun is forecast for tomorrow when we go to the Great Wall.

----------

Eugene

Eugene and Ngaire thanks for the great posts. Did anyone take a picture of all of the pearl purchases? Arlene how many did you buy?

Can't wait to be onboard for 20 days in June.

Thank you all for your seamail and your pictures! It has been so much fun following your cruise!

See you in June, Susan :app: I can't wait either!

I think we bought 9 or 10 strands of pearls ranging in price from $15 to about $250 -- mostly the less costly ones. At one point, on our way back to the hotel, Ngaire tried to get a count of total strands purchased, but I'm not sure how many we got up to.

Off to the Forbidden City now. Included breakfast buffet was very good. Free Internet also working well.

-------------

Eugene

We had not planned to go to the Forbidden City this morning as we have been there four times before. However this tour company arranged for entry into a special room that is used for special events and supposed to be very unique. We woke up early and so we decided to talk to Leo to see if we could go. He explained that this has to be prearranged with the government well in advance and there is no way to get an additional two people into this room. So that stopped that plan in a hurry. I wish I had decided to go in the first place, my fault I just thought we may need a morning to sort things out. NEXT time we will do this and I will be looking forward to the reports from the group.

It is windy and cold today but the sun is shining. If the wind will drop it will make a big difference.

Ken and I walked around and found a great Irish Pub that the guide told us about in the bus yesterday. LARGE menu with reasonable prices so that is where we plan to go for dinner tonight.

The last night we will be down to just eight of us so we will all do the same thing that night and I will do whatever the group wants. With my onion allergy I really have to be very careful of eating ethnic foods but I can eat something before we go to dinner and manage pretty much anything once in a while. The Korean lunch had my onion allergy in full bloom that evening although I tried to be sure that nothing had visible onion. Makes eating in a foreign country difficult at times. I did make it for 18 days in India but that was a challenge. Lots of FRUIT.

We are unfortunately on our way home. I was NOT surprised to see that there were no LCT'ers in the lobby to see us off at 5AM! We checked out, received our breakfast boxes and were off to the airport with our car and driver right on time. An easy drive to the airport, a short flight and now we are sitting in the lounge at Narita waiting on our flight to Atlanta.

We had a wonderful last dinner with Joanna, Olivia and Tony last night. We went to a Roast Duck Restaurant and those who had the duck raved about it.

The Pearl Market shopping was fun, though exhausting when you continually have sales people from the other side of the building following you shouting "Hey Lady, cheaper, cheaper, how much you want to pay" I got three strands of pearls (not anything expensive), a handbag (I got her down to 95 yuan from 1250!!) and a silk duvet cover. What fun!It is a good thing Marc didn't have any additional vacation time available so we could have stayed longer. Another couple of days and I could have done significant damage with our credit cards. (There is always next time... each time I am in China, I find more "bargains."

This was an awesome cruise as Regent was in fine form. Everything was wonderful. The staff was so accommodating and the food was terrific. I am going to be counting the days now until CANADA.

Off now to catch up on emails. I hope everyone still in Beijing has an uneventful trip home...

A little more on Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant.

It was recommended by Concierge in hotel; it is a bit of a walk down the pedestrian mall. It is on third floor and simply decorated.

Main item is roast duck. They have carving stations (similar to prime rib carving stations at Lawry's) with roast ducks. Joanna, Tony, and I each ordered a half duck. Olivia and Arlene were sweating while reading the menu as 95% was duck and most of that covered parts of the duck we usually don't eat. Eventually, they found two shrimp dishes and fried rice.

Then we had a long discussion about wine. Apparently, they don't actually have the white wines listed on the menu. By the time everyone had their drink order in (coke, diet coke, water, and beer), the food starting arriving. The duck was fantastic. Although I had duck a few times on the cruise, this tasted even better. The shrimp was good too.

Including service, it came to around $24 per person. We then topped if off with a visit to Haagen Dasz.

We always enjoy Beijing. We both wished we could have stayed longer; but, there is always next time (I still have 200 Yuan so we have to go back.