Jim, Take 2 suitcases...

Oh we already are taking 2 suitcases + my carryon + Jan's rolling laptop bag.

Just cleaned out the frige, and cooked my last meal for the next month. Wooohooo.....so ready for this trip. Tomorrow dinner at one of our new favorite places...called Istanbul.
Are JimB and I the only ones who are excited???? Come on where is everyone? Oh well see you all in Miami.

We leave tomorrow morning - some meetings with RSSC before the BIG EVENT. I have a carry on case full of paperwork, has to be an error in there somewhere so forgive me for whatever it is that you find! I am really looking forward to this trip. I love the pin and we bought a TON of pins. I think the crew will love the pin as well.

See you on Saturday if not before on Friday night. We are doing a big family dinner with Ralph, June, brother Brian from NZ, Clay, Brooke, Ken and Ngaire plus two friends who have flown over from NZ to attend, nine in all a BIG table. Ralph made the reservations I have no idea where we are going but a wonderful start to a great weekend and trip.

See you all very soon!

Oh no, JoAnn, you and JimB are not the only ones excited! But I just haven't packed yet. Been putting it off, as usual! NOT a good idea.

Haha Olivia! Looking forward to seeing you.

Ngaire - your family dinner sounds fun and I am sure you are very excited to have your Brother sailing on this, not to mention Clay, Brooke, June and Ralph, fun family time for you. The Saturday event will be fun and a great start to a great trip.

We're sure excited. This morning I'll do the last load of wash and then we pack. Ngaire, your family dinner will be so fun. We were with June, Ralph and Brian in the desert this past weekend and met Lynette & Chris....what a nice, fun couple. We' have a 9:00am flight to Miami tomorrow morning.

See everyone soon !

Said goodbye to Andrew and Ashlynn (3 ys & 5 months), grandbabies. Will sure miss them.

Driving to Dallas tomorrow to fly on Saturday to fly to Maimi. When you live 6 hrs from a major airport you have to think this on through. In Dallas Southwest and American are at different airports. Didn't want to fly out of one and come back to the other.

Cant wait to see old friends and meet new ones.

After going to South Beach last night for dinner and seeing the Ultra crowds already in town, I thought I would repost this list of local restaurants for you all. The streets were mobbed with young people, and the restaurants overflowing. I would stay clear of the south beach area and downtown and enjoy what the north end of town has to offer such as wonderful beaches and great restaurants and shopping at the Bal Harbour Shops.


Here is a list of restaurants that are walking distance from the Grand Hotel.

Ragazzi - Great Italian, moderate price range and a local favorite. Reservations needed.

Makoto - Japanese, very good, in the Bal Harbour Shops.

The Grill at Bal Harbour - Great American, ribs, burgers, fish, and steaks. Also at the Bal Harbour Shops, and reservations needed.

Carpaccio - Italian at the Bal Harbour Shops. This is the place to see and be seen. Lots of celebs and good food. No reservations taken.

Le Zoo - French/American - great food, across from Carpaccio at the Bal Harbour Shops.

We live in Bal Harbour and these are the restaurants we frequent.
They are all a one or two block walk from your hotel.....ENJOY!!!!

Thanks Doris - got our reservation at Ragazzi for Friday night and hope to get to LeZoo for an early lunch on Saturday of mussels and frites.

I just got a text that our AA flight tomorrow morning that was suppose to leave at 9:00am is delayed and not leaving until 10:15am ! Grrrr...now we won't land until 6:12pm grrrrrr. Not sure what is going on, lots of flight delays.

Ugh hate that Marcie, so sorry. We head to the airport in a couple of hours, so far everything is on time. See everyone later.

The weather in South Florida today is rain on and off and very windy, high in the 70s...........the wind will continue all weekend but the sun will be shining!

Safe and Happy Travels to all of you! Please don't forget about the few of us who will not be joining the festivities. Lots of seamail and lots of people pics please. Hugs and Cheers!

Hope you all have a wonderful trip!!

Marcie - I'll see you and Tom on the 11th

I am checked in. Rooms are nice. 2 bathrooms with a sitting area and 2 TVs. Exhausted. Going to take a nap soon. Traffic is a bear plus we had a long wait for a drawbridge. I had forgotten about those bridges at the beach in Florida. $46 for taxi from MIA to hotel. Thought that was reasonable.
Lots of kids on the streets - I imagine they are here for ULTRA or whatever it's called.
Raining when we landed at MIA, bright sun and no clouds by the time I reached the hotel. It's the tropics. I know what to expect. Hope all the delayed people are winging their way here by now. See you all tomorrow - if not before.
Kathy, I hope this works as pre-cruise sea mail. It's all I've got for now.

Finally started packing; it has been a long time since we have been on a cruise See everyone tomorrow; hopefully on way to party instead of us late arrivers welcoming you back from the party.

Marc

Who's excited about this cruise? WE ARE!!! Been counting the days for a year now, just finishing packing for our redeye out of SFO, arriving MIA at 8:10 in the morning. Glad we have Jim B to hook up with at the hotel (maybe a nap while we wait to check in?!). See you all real soon!
Tim and Penny

Jan B and I arrived MIA at 8pm. Arrived hotel at 9:20 pm.
Checked in. Went to our room. Came back downstairs
to go eat something and there was Ralph, June, Brain,
Lynette, and Chris in the lobby.
Friday morning was walking out the room and met Ngaire and Ken.

We are here, nice room with two baths...yay! All facilities are across the street, no problem. Had a great dinner at Ragazzi. Have seen Ken, Ngaire, Olivia, Betty, Anne, Jim & Jan, Mark & Cheron. Looking forward to a fun day and evening. More later.

So glad you enjoyed Ragazzi, we will be there tonight!

We arrived Friday afternoon at the Colonnade. Room has only one bathroom.

We had a nice dinner at a restaurant called Bricktop. Looking forward to seeing everyone in a few hours.

Tom and Mona

We FINALLY made it here (Joan & Dave also on our flight)....our plane ended up being delayed 5 hours (the aircraft was 16 hours late out of Hong Kong to LAX) then the co pilot got sick and had to get off the plane before we left the gate. Everyone had to gather belongings and de-plane while they tried to find a replacement co-pilot. Finally found one who had to get to LAX from San Diego !!! Another 2 hours. Mark Conroy was on our flight so we had nice time catching up with him during our down time.

Sweet Olivia waited up for us and the 5 of us went for a night cap and got to bed at 12:30am. Slept well and feel like a new lady today ! Our room is very large with 2 baths so all is good now.

Almost time to start Frolic for real. In 45 minutes we start checking and boarding the buses for Regent headquarters. Seen quite a few Frolic people in the lobby and when walking around.

Almost everyone was delayed getting here. Some more than others. We were delayed about five hours on Thursday and Clay and Brooke were also delayed five hours on Friday.

I was so worried about my staff as they were flying in today. But fortunately their plane left on time and they are now in the hotel. Only one of the rooms was ready for checkin although we have been hounding the hotel all day about getting the rooms done. So I am sure lots of commotion going on getting ready right now. It all adds to the fun!

Have a great time, Frolicers! We sure are sorry we are missing out on all the fun!

What a fun afternoon and evening we had! The Regent headquarters is gorgeous! We all (more than 100 of us) had dinner at YUCA Young Urban Cuba American) restaurant in South Beach. It is so nice seeing old friends and meeting new ones. All the KLT gals were there too.

Today we board my favorite ship. Woo Hoo. Tom Giusto and Karen have posted some photos from yesterday on their FB page.

Photos from FROLIC:




Jason Montague, President of RSSC and Clay Keene, Keene Luxury Travel welcoming everyone to the corporate offices of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.




The two Toms cutting up at YUCA restaurant.


YUCA Restaurant.


Compass Rose for our special lunch on embarcation day.


Our staff were wearing these button during Frolic.

We are having such a great time. The ship is, as everyone says, absolutely beautiful! Very different from the other Regent ships. The new menu in compass rose is fabulous and the food has been fantastic. The lunch we had on embarkation day was outstanding. Given they did on a deparkation / embarkation day makes it even better. They really went all out . It is wonderful seeing everyone and as the first two days are sea days iit is great to be able to reconnect with every one. Tomorrow is Bermuda for two days then the crossing. Staff has of course been wonderful and it is great to see cruise director John again

More later......

What a great start! Thanks for the pictures and for reporting in!

Sounds so wonderful! Green with envy here in cold, rainy Washington!

Hi Kristin!

Seeing your post reminded me of our cruise in October 2011. Wild ride to Bermuda for sure. All the best to to you and Greg. (Sorry for the hijack)

Jacki and David

Arrived in Bermuda this morning for 2 days. I have been here twice before so only doing one tour. No reason to pay to eat in town since I've already paid a fortune to eat on the ship. Bermuda is a gorgeous place though.
Having the best time so far. Since Clay never traveled with me it's like living the life I had before everything that happened the past 2 years. I think I'm getting lots of rest. I know I'm getting fabulous food and wine. Love the brand new ship. There are many features that have been well thought out. The closet and especially the bathrooms in F1 category are great. And of course it's wonderful being with these friends. Both old and new
The Miami functions were super. Regent pulled out all the stops. We've only had 2 sea days so far. But Sea days are good.
I do love cruising. It would be difficult to give it up.
Sorry I don't have any thing exciting to report. Eat, drink and rest. That's all I need.

Hi Betty - so glad you're finally catching up on your cruise life. Have an absolute ball. Me xxx