After an easier than usual two and one-half hour drive to Ft. Lauderdale down I-95, we arrived at the Port. N.B. all the parking structures at the embarkation ports in Florida are now $15/day for parking. You may want to investigate alternative parking options at nearby hotels and off-site airport parking lots. Going through the embarkation process was so smooth…in fact at 2pm, we were the only two people checking in. With a recent Royal Caribbean mega-ship boarding only a couple of months prior still fresh in my mind, I was more than thrilled to be greeted by a no-line, no-wait check-in. This ship at capacity will accommodate seven hundred passengers. We were not sailing at capacity with less than six hundred guests expected on this cruise.
Unlike other commodity and premium cruise lines, lunch was served in the dining room from noon until 2PM. It’s interesting because your cruise documents request that you do not get to the port prior to 2PM as that is the time that embarkation will begin. Apparently not. I missed a nice welcome aboard lunch and although the Lido Buffet was quite nice, it was not what I had expected. N.B. if you are expecting an expansive buffet lunch on sailaway, it won’t happen. The selection, while ample, doesn’t offer an expansive variety. Hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, a fish filet and BBQ shrimp on a bun were the options. I opted for the BBQ shrimp and a cold squid and (more) shrimp salad. Both were tasty and colorful and after one Bloody Mary (all complimentary) I didn’t mind at all missing the dining room sailaway luncheon. Next time I’ll plan to arrive at noon and enjoy the luncheon in the main dining room.
Back to the room to unpack, grab the life jacket at 5PM for the Muster Drill (which was after we sailed – a nice touch. According to the SOLAS regulation, the Muster Drill may be conducted up to twenty-four hours after departure. I like the idea of sailaway first then the Muster Drill. Definitely good planning on Regent’s part.
At precisely 6PM a bell goes off and it’s time for the “Block Party” to begin. It’s Regent’s idea of a meet the neighbors get-together and a terrific way to get to know who is living next door. You are instructed to bring a wine glass from your room and someone comes around offering a choice of red or white wine and cheese squares on a toothpick. I’d imagine that the higher the suite level (all staterooms are called “suites”) the better the Block Party snack. After chatting with my neighbors and a resident cruise entertainer, the Captain made his rounds meeting and greeting everyone. What a nice touch. He’s French, very personable and has a good sense of humor. This block party idea is awesome!
Time to change for dinner – open seating is wonderful. We were headed to the Compass Rose, the main dining room, but upon seeing Latitudes, with an Indochina menu based on Vietnamese food with modern French cooking techniques we changed our minds and opted for this different dining venue. Here you can order several entrees, served family-style. Among our selection were fresh Vietnamese egg rolls, lamb chops with a hoisin sauce and herbs, garlic shrimp and a vegetable in an Asian sauce. The lamb chops were very good, wonderful flavor. NB. The first night of the cruise there is usually no reservation required for this restaurant.
Of course, Regent is an all-inclusive cruise line so there is never a charge for the specialty restaurants or alcohol or bottled water or cappuccino…or almost anything.
The remainder of the evening was spent at the Welcome Aboard show featuring the Regent singers and dancers. They are excellent. For such a small cruise line and small ship I wasn’t expecting much. The entertainers gave it their “all” and yet another “Music Through the Decades” show far exceeds their counterparts on the mega-cruise line. I am looking forward to their Broadway review on Day Three.
Good-night!
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