A day of procedures, exploration, food and laughs. Woke up to views of the sunrise accompanied by the muted background sound of the morning call to prayer. A luxurious night in an expansive king size bed that was definitely like sleeping on a cloud - and without doubt, more legroom than the Emirates A380.
Couldn't resist the bath - it was just beckoning and I answered that call with enthusiasm. Had the water temp just right, filled it with bubbles and took the plunge after carefully placing the non slip mat on the bottom of the tub - after all, safety first.
And really, that was the start of the hilarity of the day. I don't want to spend too much time painting this picture - but the attempt to get out of the tub really did have parallels with the elephants I have been watching on the Nature Channel as they wallow and get stuck in the mud. I had no leverage, no strength and no grip but did have a tiny shred of pride - and that was all that stopped me from calling in @Mac to save the day. The manoeuvre to get myself out of the tub - feet first - would qualify for the annals of the Guiness Book of Records in some creative genius, survival tactics category - but as they say "necessity is the mother of invention." I can't believe he didn't hear the repeated splashing as I tumbled and slid back into the tub all accompanied by that flesh scrapping on enamel sound. There was a whole lot of crazy going on in that bathroom for first up in the morning.
Those antics were only eclipsed by the saga of the lost notebook computer. It had to be in the room - we knew that was the only possibility, but do you think we could find it? @Mac was methodical - stripped the bed, shook the pillows, removed the cover from the doona, was on hands and knees under the bed, searched all the drawers and cupboards, unpacked the bags - including the ones we hadn't opened, even opened the fridge (cause anything was possible.) At one stage we proposed a theory of someone coming into the room and stealing it - although how that was remotely plausible now seems absurd.
In preparation for putting the luggage outside for collection I had earlier unzipped the carry on bag - a hard case shell type thing - it was open on the glass table. We had searched its contents twice - because that's where the notebook had been transported. Lo and behold, in the most obvious of obvious places - there it was - under one side of the open case. "Well that's 10 minutes of my life I'll never get back" @Mac said in a deadpan - and then proceeded to spend another 10 minutes repacking the cases and restoring the room to some sense of order.
But, when you think about it - we had so much to be grateful for - I was OUT OF THE BATH and WE HAD FOUND THE NOTEBOOK.
Think it was some sort of relief to leave the danger zone of the room and head to breakfast. Loads of choice and plenty of time to enjoy and although @Mac tried to resist the "bakery" - once his coffee arrived, he just had to try one or two or three little pieces.
Getting on board
All very "procedural" to get us on board. Had a time to have the luggage out for collection, a time to meet in the lobby, a time to identify our luggage before it was put on the coach and a time to board the coach for the transfer to the port. We made all the deadlines and after a short 3 km transfer we were at the new Galataport (very impressive - all underground.) We were waved in to start the checkin process by a security guard with a gun after the luggage was checked by a sniffer dog and the undercarriage of the coach was checked for explosives. Hmm, another example today of safety first!
Joined various lines for health checks and form filling and enjoyed a few more laughs as the Regent staff member struggled to scan @Mac's passport - for some reason it was being rejected. As we peered in over the counter to have a closer look, we were curious to know why he was trying to scan the old 2020 Mozambique visa page. He was apologetic and embarrassed when we pointed out that he was "on the wrong page" - and surprised himself at how quickly the correct page scanned through. Interestingly, @LoRi were two counters up and had exactly the same problem. Obviously need more Australians on Regent. But it was all really effortless on our behalf - got to have a chat with a few others in the queue and soon were making our way back into the sunlight and the welcome aboard by the myriad of smiling and obliging crew. @Mac commented that it was like the old JPC days - where everyone greeted you with a smile, a hello and a good afternoon.
It was 12.:02 and we were ON BOARD. Woo hoo!
Didn't make it past the first doorway before our first glass of champagne was in hand. No call to an assembly area here for the customary fire drill - each pair or in our case foursome, were escorted by a team member to our emergency assembly point. We had watched the preboarding safety video "at our leisure" - four times in fact in the lead up to today - and the "drill" was completed with this little personal walk and talk with a crew member. Very nice and dare I say it again - "safety first."
Set ourselves up on the outer deck in the Veranda Restaurant for lunch (food choices were endless - views amazing - people fabulous - staff A1+) and then did some exploration of the outer deck, chatted with fellow guests and tried our hand at putt putt until we received the stateroom call.
Love, love. love the room - plenty of space, beautifully appointed, glorious balcony and we have @Mary Joy and @Eddie to help us get settled. Unpacked everything because this is home for 3 weeks. So many drawers and cupboards - the walk-in robe now has all our gear swinging from the coat hangers waiting for their new adventures, the fridge was stocked with our personal preferences, the balcony chairs and table are wating for a sunny day and can hardly believe it - we have a live orchid in full bloom as our cabin floral decoration. And true to form, the champagne was plunged in ice and chilling and waiting.
Needed to shake ourselves out of the reverie of our room because naturally, there were the social commitments of the first evening, Got ourselves ready for the 5.30 Cocktail Party to welcome new members of the Regent Family, then had a date on the upper deck for the 6.30 Sail Away party and had to take an early mark from that one to scoot to our 7 pm dinner in the Asian inspired Pacific Rim restaurant. Finished dessert and coffees just before 9.30 and entered the Constellation Theatre for the 9.30 show just as the lights dimmed.
I can't make day one about the dining - but it really is a highlight. I don't know why - but the thought of meeting up with @LoRi every evening - pouring over the menus - sipping from crystal glasses and enjoying food presented on amazing serving ware, by warm and welcoming team members (or should I say Regent family) at the end of each day of new opportunities and adventures is VERY appealing. It just makes me smile - so happy - so fortunate - so in love with the options in our life.
And if you had any stamina left - there was the 10.30 kick off for the Halloween Party. We were fading fast and had to just do a "swing by" before calling it quits.
This ship is so beautiful - I mean "really" beautiful. Every detail is just a feast for the senses - carpets, tiles, staircases, lighting, dinnerware and crystal glasses, art work, floral decorations, special displays - even the doors to the lifts are just "inspired."
And can add with a grin - even the toilets are inspired. Just ask @Loraine. Definitely saved our biggest laugh of the day for the evening session.
@Loraine excused herself from dinner to visit the ladies room - and returned about 5 minutes later suffering from a bout of uncontrollable laughter - the sort where the more you try to stop - the more you laugh. Couln't breathe, couldn't talk - had tears running down her cheeks. When we finally got the story in some sort of coherent form it turned out that the group of ladies in the loo hadn't been able to "close" the toilet door. Despite them applying all their combined might to moving it to the closed position - the door resisted. It was sort of a bit like a modified Three Little Pigs story with lots of "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll somehow get the door closed." But the more they pushed, the more resolute the door was in staying open. And when they did get a little "traction" - the door returned itself to the open position.
Not keen to "take the throne" in full view of everyone in the queue - @Loraine abandoned her efforts and returned to try and share her tale - can only imagine her heightened urgency that was now complicated by the crazy laughing fit.
It was "team time" - so the four of us went to investigate.
Turns out, in the "post covid" improvements on the ship - there is no need to touch any "exterior doors" for access to the shared bathroom spaces and to any of the accessibility toilets. A "touchless" swipe panel has been installed - just wave your hand across the panel - and voila - the door swings effortlessly open or closed. Ta da - no sharing those nasty germs. The look on @Loraine's face when she witnessed this magic for herself for the first time, was priceless - and will admit we did have some fun on high alert as we passed various bathrooms around the ship, watching passengers acquainting themselves with doors and swipe panels.
I really think this should be an information highlight in the daily news bulletin that is delivered to our cabin each evening - can vouch, from research, that many fellow passengers would benefit from the little hint.
So much more to learn in the days to come. Grabbing some zzzzzs, ready to pick the winner of The Cup tomorrow and start our adventures ashore in our next port.
Weather: 17 - definitely a heavy pea soup kind of day - the fog did not lift until around noon - and then the blue skies appeared and the skyline popped with the clear outlines of the mosques and minarets
Steps: 11 283
#RegentSevenSeasExplorer #RegentSevenSeas #RegentCruise
