AT SEA IN THE ATLANTIC - DAY 16

 

        Our noon position today is sailing in the south Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil.  Although you will see we had an equator crossing ceremony this morning, we actually won't cross it until around 7pm.  It is a cloudy 81 degrees with the wave height around 8 feet.  We are experiencing occasional rain showers.  We have yet to have a perfectly sunny day on this cruise.  

LAST EVENING

        Every evening when we arrive at the Meridian Lounge, Nimesh has our place set at the end of the bar.  napkins, a wine glass, and cushion in my chair.  Cushion is to help with my back pain. 

                           Mary Rose arrives shortly with our evening poppers or pigs.

                                                          Dinner up in Sette Mari

                                                        I liked my view of the kitchen.

                They automatically bring breads, zucchini, parmesan cheese to get you started.

        Komang started us off with some prosecco.  He also had our La Crema and R blend red wine ready for us.

        Chef Francis went home on vacation so I had the new chef, Chef Rajesh, come to our table so I could show him a photo of the way I like my veal parmesan to be prepared.

                                                    I had some calamari instead of soup.

                             Rebecca had her usual minestrone soup.  It's always a winner!

                  Chef Rajesh hit a home run!!  The best veal parmesan I've had in a long time.

                              A side of spaghetti to go with my veal.  Too much food for sure.

     Rebecca had a small order of this spaghetti with baby clams in a champagne cream sauce.

        On the way back to our suite after dinner we ran into Saga.  He was our steward on our cruise last Aug/Sept.

    At 9:00 I got our front row seats in the theater.  James brought some wine and a kahlua & cream.

            We did not like his show as much this time.  We did not recognize the songs he sang.

                                           His wife came out to do a couple songs with him.

        During our cocktail time I asked Nimesh if I could have a bottle of Elijah Craig delivered to our suite.  It was there when we returned from the show.

TODAY

                The ship is moving about some last night and today.  Not too bad however so far.

        Rebecca could not get wifi and streaming on her phone this morning so took it down to the communications manager.  He got it working and watched Young & Restless after her treadmill workout.

               We'll be crossing the equator latter today.  A ceremony started back in 1500's on sail ships to initiate sailors who were crossing the Equator for the first time.  They were called Pollywogs if they had not crossed the Equator and after crossing it you were then a Shellback.  Regent holds its own celebration for this time honored seafaring event.  So King Neptune and his court presided today pool side.  All passengers who were crossing the Equator for the first time then were supposed to line up to "kiss the fish" (a real one).  We did this in 2010.  I think half of the ship is crossing for their first time as there was a long line to kiss the fish.  Unfortunately, it is another rainy day poolside for this event.  I had a covered spot to take the photos however.  I lost count on how many times we have crossed the equator.

                                         Waiting for King Neptune and the queen to show up.

                                  The queen and her court waiting for King Neptune to arrive.

                                                      Here are the King and Queen.

                                Bailey, our assistant cruise director, is a Pollywog and was first. 

                                          Presenting the fish to be kissed.  It is a real fish too.

                                                               Bailey kissing the fish.

              Rest of the Pollywogs on board lined up to kiss the fish and become Shellbacks.

        We had lunch up in Prime 7 again today.  I had some Manhattan clam chowder to start with.  It was very hot.

        This is a honey-mustard glazed salmon filet with asparagus.  I asked for some mashed potatoes instead of the rice that is served with it.

        Spent a relaxing afternoon in our suite.  Between 4 & 6pm passports will be returned to all guests.  They kept them when we boarded in BA for the Brazilian immigrations officials.  No need for passports in the Caribbean ports of call coming up.

        At 5:45 there will be a get-together for all international military veterans.  I usually try to go to them as they have them on all Regent ships.  But this one is too close to our cocktail hour.

        This is tonight's Compass Rose menu.  However we have been invited to join Gudrun, cruise consultant, to join her for dinner at 7pm in Prime 7.
        Tonight's show is a production company performance, "Diamond Run" at 9:30 in the theater.  We have seen this show performed by this cast on our Aug/Sept cruise on Splendor.  Will be on the front row!

        Tomorrow is another sea day.