Wow - We are having a most incredible time.

The ship is absolutely beautiful - not to be flamed, but the decor much prettier than the Regent Ships. The Boutique is run by the same company that runs the Regent Boutiques and the boutique manager will be on Cross. The service here is impeccable. The food is delicious - not quite as good a Regent's but perfectly prepared and excellent. We are eating in the
Polo Grill tonight. Wine tasting class was exquisite. Signing for stuff is not so terrible, but we figured out that you can just buy a wine package and dispense with signing. Comptuer class is excellent - I am in the lab on email while they are doing a class.

I am not doing any spa here, we've got too many excursions to do spa and it's Steiner/Mandara.

The entertainment here is wonderul. The comedian could give Kenny Smiles a run for his money. His name is Sarge and he opens for many well known singers and his show one of the best at sea we've seen. The chamber music in various venues nice. More people dancing and sail away was fantastic.

People on board are a bit younger than on Regent and the casual atmosphere slightly more casual. We've met some wonderful people.

We had the most incredible excursions in Istanbul. The ship's two excursions were very small groups (12-15 people) and the guides as good or better than some private guides. We had a private guide that was one of the very best we ever had - Yavuz who we got via Levant who does Kusadasi and Istanbul. The Bosphorus cruise was spectacular. The private tour took us though both the old and new city and the culture. The Spice Market and Grand Bazaar amazing and the Mosques and culture here really something. 3 days are just not enough.

Kathy, it sounds as if you are off to a great start! I am glad you are enjoying your cruise.

Sounds like you are having a wonderful cruise so far - thanks for the report! I am interested in hearing more about Oceania.

Glad you checked in Kathy. Sounds like your are having a great time. We love Oceania, and will most likely go back on them in the near future, as I really love many of their itineraries. They also have nickle slots in the casino which are a blast - try some.

Kathy your cruise sounds great so far. Enjoy the rest of it and please send more Sea Mail! :)

Kathy, I'm so glad all is near perfection for you and Frank so far. I trust that will remain so throughout your trip. Love the idea of the chamber music! That's real class. Pat

kathy, great report, thanks for sharing. r/wes

Well, today is Kusadasi and we toured Ephasus today. Very interesting. Ate in Polo Grill - Maine lobster or prime steaks with caeser salads tossed tableside during a Med sunset.

The casino is sort of mid ship on the main floor with a very useable lounge attached. Small but lots of action.

Played Bingo, missed the show because we closed the Polo Grill. Had a nice dinner with a Kiwi who runs a sheep farm last eve. Rack of lamb on the menu and baby lamb chops for breakfast. (not for me - trying to watch it!) Lots of good sugar/fat free choices.

Regent is still the favorite, but, this is a really decent alternative since variet is the spice of life. Anyway, off to tea team trivia and bingo. Dinner in Toscana.

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for keeping us informed. Sounds wonderful!

Wow Kathy, thanks for checking in with us! Sounds wonderful. How is your Penthouse suite, and your butler and amenities?

I am so looking forward to you posts as we are doing this same cruise in Sept. Thanks!
Penny

We're anchored off Delos this morning. We have a walking tour of Mykonos this afternoon where we will tender in. Had breakfast on the Terrace outside. Delos is uninhabited with ruins that many are going to see. We were happy to view the desert island from the ship

Yesterday, we were in Rhodes. There was a strike of workers at the ancient sites and so our tour was is very cancelled. We took a taxi and went to Lindos and the Acropolis. The weather was very warm and it was nice to see the island in an air conditioned cab. We walked around Lindos and our driver stopped at the obligatory jewelery store where I made good use of my time while Frank sipped a cool drink.

Our room is lovely in blues and gold tones. The stateroom is spotless. The bath is smaller than on Regent but full serviceable. There is ample drawer and closet space. What I miss is the dressing table on the RSSC ships - which here is also the desk. Our butler keeps coming by to see what he can do for us and he keeps us well stocked with Evian water and wants to know what else he can do. Today he said that he hadn't shined shoes for Frank yet and so he took all of his shoes. He wants to know what evening appetizers we want but I am really trying to avoid eating between meals. The fruit brochette is very nice so when he is insistent that is what I have ordered.


I mentioned to David, the cruise director, that signing for diet coke is bothersome and that they had no way of allowing me to prepay for a package and he said they are addressing it. Cocktails and wine, I understand but water and non-alcoholic drinks are a PITA. He said they are working on a solution and that it should be fixed soon.

What is really good have been the shore excursions. The largest groups have been no more than 20 and for us less than that. The guides ave been top notch. When on RSSC we frequently have arranged for shared private guides with friends, but, the price and quality here have been so good that I would think twice about the need to do that.

Last night's show was a production show - really 4 singers with a theme called Bookmarks. The showroom was full and the show was very entertaining. The music was all hallmark songs from the 50-60's and 70's. No fancy costuming or Showgirl type dancing but most enjoyable nonetheless.

We played trivia the other day with a group and we came in 2nd. The questions are VERY hard. We had a very intellectual group and not one group got more than 15 right and we scored 13. We got points and maybe we'll venture back but I can say the trivia is not the Trivial Pursuit kind of questions - much more historical and scientific in nature. Tea is held in a separate lounge and bingo is too. They do not have a bingo board so they call numbers more slowly which is good. $25 for a sheet of three cards to a game for 5 games. $500 guarantee for the final coverall game.

Happy to answer questions. So far I've taken 2000 plus phots of our trip. I will put some up in the next day or so at www.pbase.com/chatkat/galleries

Thanks for posting Kathy! I'm enjoying your trip. I can't wait to see pictures as I've never been to this part of the world.

Dave

Thanks kathy! I am sooo enjoying your trip and getting pointers for ours.
Penny

Enjoying the posts.
Thanks for sharing your cruise with us.
Got the pictures. Thanks for sending them.

Thanks for taking the time Kathy. We are thinking of a very similar trip for 2008 so wait with great anticicpation for any and all info. Glad it is going well
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Helen

Today we're in Katakolon. Yesterday was Santorini. Oh, did we love santorini - except for record breaking heat! 115 degrees. WE did our tour of Oia (EE-AHH)and Fira (Thee-rah)- magnificient! Heat and all. I have to work on the photos from there. One day I will return. No Donkey rides for us. But quaint little streets to stroll - with views that are breathtaking. We found a little cafe with a breeze and open windows for a traditional Greek lunch. Did I mention that every other store is a jewelery store?

Today, we did more of the same. We were so hot yesterday, we skipped the tour but it is much cooler today. We played Bingo, Danced a bunch at an incredible pool deck party - 60's and 70's - great pianist and a Broadway singer was the show last night - we love th4e service. Several of the dining room staff and others too are from Regent.

Did I tell you we love Greece?

More photos are up - www.pbase.com/chatkat/galleries
They are in the first gallery - Travel 2007. I will have to caption them when I get home.

Wow Kathy! Your pictures are magnificent! Glad the temps are cooling down a bit. It sounds like you're having a wonderful time.

Dave

Kathy, now you know why the Greek Isles is my favorite cruise ever! Thanks for posting new pix, going now to view them.

Kathy,

Your pics are great!!!!! Thanks for posting the link! So glad you and Frank are having such a nice cruise!

Thanks for the update Kathy. Your photos as always are amazing. Glad you are having a good time and enjoying O. Told you so!! :D
I'm just surprized that it is so hot at this point. Glad we are going in May, although we don't get to Santorini, which is high on our list. Guess we will just have to take an O cruise to the Greek Isles.

Great pictures and composition, Kathy. I especially like the one of the guy with the pink scarf - pashmina? - on his head. You really bring out his personality!

Awesome pics Kathy!

So glad you are falling in love with Greece, Kathy. It's one of my favourite places, and I have managed to get David to fall for it too. We hope to go back and spend a few weeks there at some point, slow-travel-style.

Also great news that you are enjoying Oceania so much!

Extraordinarily beautiful images!

(It's amazing what you can do with a disposable camera.)

Kathy, we are glad to hear that you are having such a great time! Your pictures are fantastic. You are very talented! Thanks for sharing. Keep them coming.

This is great, Kathy...thanks for posting? Is Jacques Pepin still in charge of the menus used onboard?

just read this thread. Your pictures are wonderful. Loved the plates....

Our friends who you met on SAND (Kim/Jeff) went on Oceania this past March and said the same thing about the decor and ambiance of the Nautica. They loved it much more than Navigator but said the food was better on Regent. It wasn't all-inclusive on SAND so they still signed for things but signing for soft drinks, etc would drive me crazy.

Glad you are having a wonderful time.

Kathy, So glad you are enjoying the Greek Isles as much as we did. The heat was extreme and we found the Acropolis closed in Athens. All the Greek ancient tour workers must have gone on strike on Sunday. Continue to have a wonderful cruise and tell us more about the ship.

Holy Smokes, Kathy, what a fantastic eye you have. The colors are gorgeous
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Helen

We re in Dubrovnik. We walked the wall in Cavtat and had a great time. What a magnificent city - not at all what I expected. We have only Athens left and a sea day - 3 more days left. (sniff)
I have 1000 more photos to go through! Yesterday was Corfu and that was amazing. Reminded me of Venice...We have eaten lunch in little out of the way places everyday. The scenery is beyond. It will take me days to review, edit upload the photos! I started writing a review but it will be long...I will try to upload a few more sometime tomorrow on the sea day.
Actually as I post, Karen is stalking me.

Kathy just IMed me and we got her on the Nautica's computer cam :) She is sitting in the first row on the right and standing in the second picture.

That's neat! Kathy, what are you doing, a computer class?

How cool is that?
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Helen

Karen you are just too much how you give us all these wonderful stalks to look at and drool over! :app: :lct:

No, I was not taking a computer class - I was posting on LCT!

Today's a sea day. We played Bingo, had breakfast with some lovely people. Last night was a sing along after our dinner in Toscana. I played some Blackjack and I am doing pretty well. Tonight is Name That Tune muscial trivia. Oh, our trivia team came in 1st today - 2nd time we won. They give "points" for 1st-2nd & 3rd. We have the equivelent of 25 tokens. You can tell that I was the only LCT'er in the group - like we would all know that Grey Goose Vodka is from France, yes? Most of us are spermologists but I will let you all figure out that answer.

I just went through my photos to see which ones I want to work on and upload. I can tell you from sitting in the computer lab, the classes here are pretty good. Frank is in our room reading Oceania brochures to book another cruise. Tomorrow is Athens.

Oh - Exec Chef worked for RSSC. Renald I think is his name. He was in charge of Signatures on Mariner and the Chef de Party as well .....

More when I am off the ship. My internet bill for yesterday was over $25.00. Downside to O but the net (a free cruise since we won!) was we got a whole new experience we really enjoyed. :app: :app:

That's great Kathy!

Enjoy your sea day. When is the cruise over ( not that you want to think about that!)? Are you doing a post cruise?

Kathy,
Glad to hear that you are having a fantastic time. We hope to go to Greece next year. Love the photos and the posts. Continue having a wonderful time!!!

Well, we are home - 30 hours of travel. 3 big bags almost unpacked. Edited some photos on the plane. We had really inconsiderate people in front of us. After flying Lufthansa to Frankfort-Istanbul and then returning home via Delta in Economy, if I had to choose, Delta would not be my 1st choice. What a difference. Even how they handled reclining passengers. The woman in front of Frank leaned back, the seat was broken and the plane full so her chair hit his knees. The Flight attendant told Frank he had to live with it. The "lady" told Frank where to go when he politely told her if she leaned back all the way it was painful because the hard plastic from the broken seat hit him. On Lufthansa there was a similar situation and the attendant had them compromise. I could not open my laptop to work the seats were so tight.

Well, there is no place like home. Lot's of LCT reading and I will put my review up later with a bunch more pix.

All I can say is it was a spectacular cruise I'd do again in a heartbeat.

Welcome home Kathy! Poor Frank, I bet his knees are glad to be home!