WHAT WE DO ON THE REGENT SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER

We are two weeks into our Regent Seven Seas Explorer cruise, with a week left.  Stops are scheduled for Phuket, Thailand and Penang, then Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with arrival in Singapore on Monday, December 12.  We have six days there, then board ANA for return to Honolulu on December 18.  

First, we have been sailing for almost a full day since we left the Maldives, and those mild seasickness symptoms did not return.  I feel fine.  Today is a formal night to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Regent, and we are asked to dress in black, gold and white, with pearls for the ladies, as that is the gemstone of your 30th wedding anniversary.

Today, what we do on board the Explorer when we are at sea?  Mostly sleep and eat, but there is a plethora of activities, typically:

• On a full-sail day, no tours.
• Two speakers provide lectures, though awfully boring for me, with talks on history and world agreements.
• TV with maybe 100 films.

• 
  One channel dedicated to World Cup matches.
• Has the MSNBC and Fox channels.
• Bridge classes, Samba, Skittles, Creative Crafting, Exercises, Roll-a-Ball, Black Jack Tournament, Man Jon, Needlepoint Nook, Top Toss, Slot Tournament, and Friendly Trivia (our team of six is doing really well, with our total points surely to result in at least one...cap?...people are not totally honest in reporting their scores, and the awards are hardly worthwhile.

• 
  I have spent my time on writing this blog, which takes forever because computer speed is marginal, when it works at all.  Also:
• Now and then I go for a walk on the 12th floor track (my goal was 10,000 steps/day, but I usually end up with 5,000).  Sunset and the Moon.

• Went to a movie in the theater yesterday.  First got a latte frappe, and told him to pour it over ice, then add two jiggers of Jameson Whisky.

• With drink in hand, went to see Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.  Previously read that Rotten Tomatoes bestowed 93/94 scores.  Really good recent film about...well, go see it.  It's also on Prime, Peacock and Apple.

Had a cigar with a friend.  I brought several Gurkhas in crystal, and of all the things, they were selling it in this room for $16.

• We joined new friends Paige, Greg, Gary and Ruth for cocktails and dinner.  I had a Smithfield Pork Chop with Creamed Spinach.

Paige and Greg are from Waimanalo, while Ruth is from Molokai, but now lives with her husband in Tucson.  They've been on a lot cruises, including 6 river cruises.

Four of us went dancing.  I also lost $10.30 in two minutes in the casino.  Not sure where the 30 cents came from, but saw it in my room bill.

This is an elegant ship.

Tomorrow, Black/Gold/White/Pearl festivities, plus the Grand Champagne lunch.

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