TRAVEL TIME: REGATTA - DAYS AT SEA

MIAMI TO SAN DIEGO via PANAMA CANAL - 2017

This cruise adventure was the first for RP and me, the third for our travel time pals. It most certainly will not be the last for any of us. Plans are in the works.

We enjoyed a few days in Miami, 15 days aboard MS Regatta with 5 days at sea, port stops in Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico and San Diego. The vacation ended with 3 days post cruise in our favourite city in the USA - San Diego.

This post will feature life on board the Regatta, a home away from home. It was a luxurious, relaxing experience complete with pampering at one's beckon call. The crew was a cosmopolitan blend of people from all over the world. They were polite, efficient, extremely hard working and very well trained. Most we spoke with had been with Oceania for at least five years, some since the company was established. It was delightful to interact with so many friendly people, crew and passengers alike.

MS REGATTA, moored in the Sea of Cortez

With our Concierge tickets we were afforded early boarding at noon October 17, 2017. It took some time to load luggage for 684 passengers, which meant we could not access our cabins 7039 and 7041 for awhile. That just gave us an excuse to explore the vessel and lounge on the pool deck.

Just hanging around waiting for our stateroom access; tough life it is.

Our compact, comfortable staterooms afforded plenty of efficient space to store our belongings. It was a terrific feeling to know we could unpack and not live out of a suitcase for two weeks. That done, it was time to open the Bombay Sapphire we were allowed to bring aboard. DS makes a tasty gin and tonic; limes provided by room service.

Just before sunset, as we set sail from the Miami Harbour, RP popped the cork on the complimentary French champagne, with nary a spill.

No reason not to two fist it. After all this was one for the bucket list. Cheers Regatta style!

We really didn't party the entire cruise. There was time for exercise and quiet activities. The Casino was not used at all by this foursome, but the Spa, the ocean view gym, the computer room and the outdoor track were definitely put to use. The Casino view, lower left, indicates how little it was used by other passengers. It was a waste of space as far as we were concerned; in our opinion it could be put to better use as a coffee bar and/or martini bar. Both bars were popular on this ship but too small in our humble opinion.

As mentioned, our staterooms were comfortable and surprisingly spacious given the confined space. What a treat it was to have our rooms diligently looked after at least twice a day. Joseph and Medina were the sweetest, most attentive stewards. I didn't include their photos in respect of their privacy.

Every night the waves gently rocked us to sleep in our comfy beds, every morning we woke to yet another interesting view from our verandas.

We had heard that one of the perks of cruising is the food and we were not disappointed. It was AMAZING!. The head chef for Oceania is Jacques Pepin, who has been employed by the company from the beginning. Menus are planned one year in advance and every effort is made to incorporate local products from the ports visited. The cuisine often reflects the port visited. At times we watched from our veranda while food supplies were loaded onto the vessel. In Panama, for instance, boxes of pumpkins were transferred from pilot boat to cruise ship. Many days later the pumpkins were transformed into creamy soup, delicious filled pasta, tasty desserts and, of course, jack-o-lanterns.

Dietary concerns are given high priority for both specific needs and preferences. The Regatta alone employs 66 chefs and prep cooks. I cannot even estimate how many others are involved in preparation, serving and clean up. The restaurant staff work long hours in all the venues from casual cafes to up scale dining rooms.

The Waves Grill adjacent to the pool deck offered an array of breakfast, lunch and snack items - self serve and made to order. The smoothies and milkshakes were a big hit with us, except the first one LS ordered. The server forgot to include the ice cream.

The Terrace Café was a favoured spot for breakfast and lunch - indoors or outside.

Notice that someone is colour co-ordinated with the deck chair and umbrella upholstery

Beverages of many types were always at hand, although a bar tab was issued for some selections.

At the Concierge level we were also entitled to complimentary room service. We used it occasionally for breakfast, for appetizers with our gin and tonic cocktails before dinner and even a late night snack when two of us slept through the dinner hour.

Near the end of the cruise the chef presented an incredible brunch served in the Grand Dining Room. We wondered how many staff spent the night before preparing the spectacular presentation of food. The photos do not do justice to the scope or quality of the repast.

A string quartet provided background music while we all made several trips to the buffet at mid-day.

Several nights we were treated to extra fine dining in the specialty restaurants - Polo Grill and Toscana. It is difficult to say which venue was the best. Both were superb from start to finish in every aspect.

Dinner at Toscana, where we were treated royally by our waiter Roberto,

who was also the barista at the coffee bar in the morning.

I was privileged to celebrate my birthday in the Polo Grill. Imagine my surprise at being serenaded by several handsome, tuxedo coated waiters singing Happy Birthday in tune to the chiming of bells and with the presentation of a personalized birthday cake. It was a wonderful way to celebrate another trip around the sun with the best of friends.

Oh, I cannot forget High Tea at the Horizons Lounge on the Upper Deck or drinks in the Martini Bar on Deck 5.

The ambience of the Regatta was elegant and plush from reception to lounges, restaurants to casual bars, staterooms to hallways, social gathering places to quiet, solitary corners. Precise attention was given from grand flourishes to minute details. Everything about the ship was pristine and spotless. Safety was a priority. It all blended seamlessly to create the sense of regal, floating palace.

Life aboard the Regatta for 15 days was grand no matter what we chose to do - watch the ocean, stroll the decks, lounge by the pool, eat and drink in a variety of places, shop, read, workout, relax, socialize, watch a stage show or movie, attend a lecture or blog.

We even had a good time during the required life boat drills. Boring but better safe than sorry. Duane had overheard a question asked of a captain on a previous cruise. "Sir, how often does a ship like this sink?" The wise seafarer responded, "Only once."

Just as we got our sea legs steady and our bodies into total relaxation mode life aboard the Regatta came to end. Oh well, there are more seas to sail and ports to visit. Besides we had booked three extra days post cruise in San Diego. Let's log some more nautical miles.