DAY 110---NOSY BE, MADAGASCAR

 

        We anchored just off the coast of Nosy Be this morning by 9am.  It is sunny, 91 degrees, and 50% humidity at 11am.  

Historical/Background Info:

        This is a new destination for us.  Nosy Be is a small island (8 miles long and 6 miles wide) off Madagascar’s northwestern coast.  Madagascar is only about 200 miles, at its closest point, off the coast of Mozambique, Africa.  Nosy Be is Madagascar’s busiest and largest tourist resort with a population of 109,500.  The capital, known as Hell-Ville, has French colonial buildings and a covered market.

LAST EVENING

    I had this double order of fole gras for my starter.  I have to have it on the ship as can't get it in Durango!

          Mykonos salads for both of us.  We asked for extra feta cheese and some tomatoes.  Very good.

Miso glazed sea bass.  It is marinated for 2 days before cooking.  So sweet and melts in your mouth.

         After dinner and Marcia's reception, Rebecca went up to the suite to freshen up.  I went to the Mariner Lounge for a "Happy Happy" and listened to Ross, the resident pianist while waiting for Rebecca.  We then went to the theater balcony for the show.  We were late arriving, the show had begun, and there were no seats with a good view of the stage.  We had seats but someone came and sat down in front of us (big people) and blocked out view so we left.  It appeared the theater was pretty full for the ballroom dancers.

TODAY

                                                   Tender returning from the small pier.

                                           Another even smaller island just south of Nosy Be.

                                               What the island looks like from our balcony.

                 Not sure what this couple are doing out here but it is way too hot to be doing it.

        Brandy glazed country ham was at the carving station in La Veranda at lunch.  I got a toasted hamburger bun from the pool grill and made a very nice ham sandwich.

        Most are off the ship on tours today so we pretty much had a private dining room for a while.  Others did show up later.  

        We turned out tour tickets for today in yesterday as destinations department said the transportation would be small vans and full.  They may or may not be airconditioned.  With the temperature to be in the 90's we decided not to do it even though this is our first time here.  

        I was planning to take the tender to the pier and catch the shuttle bus to downtown.  I backed out of doing that as it was not airconditioned and would be full of guests and crew going ashore this afternoon.  Sorry no photos of here.

        We will be sailing again at 5pm.  Our next destination is the Comoros island of Mayotte.  The Comoros islands are 4 volcanic islands 150 miles off the northern part of Mozambique.  We should be anchored there by 8am tomorrow.

        So we will enjoy our cocktail hour in the suite again this evening.  I have requested room service bring us 3 pig-in-a-blanket and 3 jalapeno cheese balls at 5:30.  At noon I also asked Nino, the F&B, to sent up another bottle of sweet vermouth as the one we have is getting low.

        This is tonight's Compass Rose menu where we shall be dining.  I think Rebecca is interested in the turkey.  I may try the grouper in a bag.

        We want to go to tonight's headliner show in the theater at 9:30.  It is featuring another new act that just got on board in the Seychelles.  "John & Paul-The British Invasion Show" will do a tribute to Lennon and McCartney.  It should be a good show so will try for our front row seats.

REGENT'S NEWEST "COMMODORE"

                                           CONGRATULATIONS, MARCIA RECTOR

                                       

Marcia's big night as she is being honored as a "Commodore" level which is over 2000 nights sailed on Regent.  There are only 12 Commodores with Regent and 10 of them are on this cruise.

                              Caviar and shrimp canapes are being served along with drinks.

Harvey (L) and Richard, two doctors from NY are escorting Marcia up on stage for her jacket presentation.

                                 John, cruise director, is introducing our Captain Abhi.

Captain Abhi had some very nice comments for all the Seven Seas Society members, and specifically, Marcia.

Bea, cruise consultant and head of SSS on board, is mentioning the numbers of members on board in each of the levels.  We are "Diamond" level (over 1000 nights).  There are 19 Diamonds on the ship and only 55 total with Regent. 

The Captain, Nicki (General Manager) and Bea.  Nicki is holding the Commodore's jacket that is about to be presented to Marcia.

Captain Abhi is telling how special it is that Marcia waited so he could present her jacket.  Very touching!

                    Harvey and Richard after escorting Marcia up the steps to the stage.

                                             Captain Abhi putting the jacket on Marcia.

                                                                   Champagne toast

                                           Captain Abhi has orange juice for his toast.

The production cast did a song and dance number.  Page (in red dress) was the featured singer and she did a fantastic tap dance also.

At 9pm Marcia had invited some of her special friends to the Stars Lounge for a cocktail party with cake.

                (L to R)  Nicki (GM), Nino (Food & Beverage Mgr), Marcia, and Captain Abhi

                                                                           The cake.

                                                                        Cake cutting

                                                     Peggy & Patti are also Commodores

                                      John & Cathi Begg.  They will be going on our safari also.

        It was certainly a special evening for Marcia and the ship's officers went out of there way to make it so special.  Before this party Marcia had a special dinner with the doctors and some senior officers.  Like us for our diamond dinner, she got to pick the menu.  She had an English dinner with fish & chips, etc.

DAY 109---SAILING AGAIN IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

 

This is our position at noon today.  It is partly sunny and 84 degrees.  Fairly smooth sailing but a little movement.  Hardly noticeable.  We will be anchored by 10am tomorrow at the very small island of Nosy Be just off the northwest coast of Madagascar.

LAST EVENING

Our view during cocktail hour in the suite.

                 I asked for just 4 jalapeno cheese balls and 1 chips but they doubled the order.

                   Minestrone soup in Sette Mari.  Forgot to take photo of my veal parmesan.

Not sure who the lady on the left is but Marge in the middle and Anne on right.  Anne is just couple doors down from us.  Marge is going on our safari.

TODAY

        I am dedicating today's blog post to our dear friend, Marcia Rector.  Tonight at the Seven Seas Society party in the theater she will be honored on stage to be presented her "Commodore's" jacket by Captain Abhi and General Manager Nicki.  The Commodore level in the Seven Seas Society is the highest level which means she has over 2000 nights on Regent Seven Seas cruises.  She was not honored earlier in the cruise when we and others were because she wanted Captain Abhi to present her the jacket when he replaced Captain Avio.

        The theater doors are to open at 6pm but Marcia asked us to be there at 5:55 so as to sit with her and a few other friends in the center of the front row.  I want to get some good photos of this event.  Those photos will be posted tomorrow.

        We have also been invited to a special cocktail reception for her in the Stars Lounge at 9pm.  Apparently there will also be a special cake.

        Tonight's Compass Rose menu is one of our favorites because of the miso glazed sea bass.  It melts in your mouth!  They always have it on Seven Seas Society nights.

        Tonight is a formal optional dress night so I shall don my dinner jacket.

        The show at 9:30 is featuring Alex & Magdalena, a ballroom dance couple from Poland.  Not sure if we will attend.  If we do, it will be up in the theater balcony.