Lee - That is indeed hilarious, if it weren't for the dreadful fact that in most cases those swimming costumes are not "wonderfully brief". Rather, they are "horrifically brief", irrespective of budgies, parrots, or cockatoos. (Stay calm, Karen - this is all harmless fun and moderately decent double entrendres.)

Ralph - As it turned out, the lamb shanks were quite excellent, although I could only manage the one. La Veranda was entirely reserved for a private dinner (Public TV at Sea); but because the seas were high and La Veranda is way up high on the ship as well, about half of the TV at Sea people abandoned LV and came down to Compass Rose for dinner, sending the poor CR staff into a major frenzy of dealing with a hundred more guests than had been anticipated. In Regent style, they handled it quite brilliantly, shifting table setups on the fly and altogether making the whole situation more or less invisible to the passengers. This morning, a couple of the waiters confessed to us that they were quite exhausted by last night's frantic exercise; but we saw nothing of that in CR last night. Cheers, Fred

Sitting in the lounge in the Amsterdam airport waiting for our flight home from Amacello, Paris trip. So catching up on threads I had not read during our cruise.

Nice to hear you are enjoying the Voyager so much Fred always enjoy your posts.

Thanks, everyone, for your seamail. It's nice to read it between workdays. Glad you're having such a terrific time. We also found the Mariner top notch. It seems that some earlier glitches after the new management took over have all been worked out. It's great to hear!!! Keep having a terrific time.

Always enjoy the seamail; just wish it was more frequent! Continue to enjoy!!

We have lost an engine and speed is reduced to 15 Kn.We have to bypass Antigua and go direct to San Juan. Also a big "flood" on deck 8 forward. 5 Cabins drenched.All cabins full so nowhere for soggy passengers to go.

Yikes David! Do you know what is wrong with the engine?
Any LCTers on deck 8 forward?

Karen, from CC roll call; JDrefuss (Kathy and
Jody) are in 822 (not well forward tho).

Thanks Wes! I hope Kathy and Jody didn't get soggy!

I know Betty moved for this segment but don't have any idea of her suite number. My friends, Caroline & John are in 825. Hope they are ok!!

This reminds me of last year when we were on the Navigator and lost power along the coast of Brazil. What baddies lie on these waters??? Too far from the Bermuda Triangle..... :eek:

Beth - Caroline & John decided to fly home to Canada yesterday (Sunday) from Barbados. They were getting bit homesick. Thus, they missed the flood in their cabin. From our own selfish standpoint, we were enormously disappointed that they left the ship early, as they are lovely people with whom we'd hoped to spend more time. Oh well, that's for another cruise, no??

We're chugging along quite nicely on three engines, having skipped Antiqua but due to dock in San Juan about 5 hours ahead of the original schedule, giving us all that many more hours of rum-drinking time in that city!! Things could be worse, right??!!

Fred, Thanks for letting me know about Caroline and John. I just emailed them. They are wonderful people. Crystal and I met them last year on the DC. Next year, they will be getting on the Navigator the day us Dingbats get off. We hope we can rendezvous in Auckland before they board.

Enjoy your rum in San Juan. Last year, we took the ferry over to the Bacardi factory and enjoyed the tour and rum drinks!!!

A few minutes ago USA Today's Gene Sloan is reporting--spokesperson for Regent Seven Seas tells USA TODAY a faulty generator on Voyager's will be repaired at its next stop, San Juan. Regent's Voyager also is suffering from a pipe leak that has soaked several cabins. Unrelated to engine trouble.

I have a question for LCTers.
Yesterday,with Navigator limping towards San Juan, the Capt came on the PA and said that as we were entering US territorial waters we were required to conduct a test. This required a reduction in speed (ie stop!)and turn to port and starboard.He did. However, I have talked to "tits" (Titaniums) on board and they have never experienced ths action before. Has anyone heard of this before or is it a new administration "change"? ( Sorry Crystal)

David, how far out from San Juan? On FUN, as we approached San Juan, Mark was in the infirmary and I don't remember the ship stopping or turning. But that happened about 5 in the morning, so we may have been closer to San Juan.

All I remember the last time we went to San Juan on FUN was that Immigration or whoever it was did a full inspection of the ship and we were very late getting to Grand Turk, I think it was.

Well we left San Juan last night and according to the TV we are only going 14 Knots! I guess we will be late into FLL!

Let me offer a different take on 14 knots. As I understand it, the engine problem was fixed while were in San Juan. We are now sailing at 14 knots because that is all the speed we need to reach Ft. Lauderdale on schedule.

Fred and I enjoyed San Juan immensely. The ship offered us an unexpected surprise this morning. During the night they put up Christmas decorations in all of the public areas. They are quite beautiful. (I think they will be adding to these during the day too.) In addition to festive decorations we will also enjoy PBS lectures, a performance from the ship's excellent new singers and dancers, Crew Capers tonight, and more from the superb cabaret performers from the Mabel Mercer Foundation. Life is beautiful on Voyager.

Pat

fyi, just rcvd this email from Mark Conroy
outlining Voyager engine problem, plan to fix:

One of the 4 main generators started to over speed and would not synchronize with the other generators. They change the governor and that did not help so they shut it down to avoid major damage.


A tech is flying to San Juan and it should be repaired there.


It normally would not be a problem because the ship can make 18 knots on three gen-sets. Unfortunately the leg between Barbados to Antigua required around 19.5 knots so we lost what was already a short call in Antigua.


Have a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year!


Mark


Mark S. Conroy │ President

Regent Seven Seas Cruises │ 1000 Corporate Drive, Suite 500, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334

Wes, I thought you had switched over to Silverseas.

Pam, I enjoy both Silversea and Regent--no switch, just pick the itinerary (R or SS) w/best price.

I Keep in touch regularly with Mark and have encouraged him for four years to be the first lux cruise line to give our military discounts.


Thanks.

The DC ends tomorrow morning. It has not only been a ton of fun, but we have been to some interesting and unique ports. In my case where I booked only 1 leg, some ports I never dreamed I would be seeing for several years to come. I thought this would make packing easier and faster but am finding it the same big pain as always. Somehow it WILL get done by the 11 PM bewitching hour. Yesterday was really special when I discovered 2 members of my trivia team from the May Navigator crossing had boarded in Barbados. Diane and Marcia - I hope you received their email. I know Fred will end this trip with his usual eloquent way with words. My way is only to say - I love to sail on Regent and wish I didn't have to wait so long for the next trip.
And if I have a secret Santa any where in the vicinity of Houston, I'm positive my house could use Xmas decoration.

Betty: So glad you enjoyed the cruise and no doubt by now you have conquered the packing problem. Have a safe trip home and a very happy Christmas. Lee

Hi Betty,

Glad to hear you had a good cruise. You are so right about the unique ports. Get on home and maybe someone has decorated..... or don't worry about it and have fun not decorating.

Wishing you a safe trip home Betty....you've been missed!

Have a great trip home, Betty, and worry not about the decorations until you get some grandbabies coming home!

Welcome home Betty!!!!!

Welcome home Betty,the main thing is you had a wonderful cruise with great people.

Think of all the "Memories" you have banked.

Glad you had a great cruise, Betty. When you get home, give yourself a "decorating hour." Slap up the easy stuff, then enjoy Christmas. Oh, go out for Christmas dinner too. After being on the cruise, you won't remember how to cook anyway. Heck, you won't even know what to do with the napkin at your plate.

Sitting in CO club in FLL. Don't' know how late we might be - rain & misty. Had a small incident with disembarkation this morning. They called the 1st 4 colors. Unfortunately several people with different colors left the ship when they hadn't been called. Union porters hadn't finished unloading all luggage so when the "illegal disembarkees" left the ship early, all union ports and customs shut the entire system down until luggage was here it should be. People with early flight were starting to panic - but a $40 tip took me a long way to getting to the airport on time once my color was called. I think what surprised me the most that this was happening in FLL where they must load and unload more than any other city. Oh well, I'm at the airport and ready for a nice nap on the plane home Bye again for now.

Betty, You will be home before you know it. Be glad you are going west... we are having a wintery mix here in eastern NC..... Randy has snow in VA ... boy is he happy!!!