LET THE FUN BEGIN!!
Woke up at 6am so got up, showered, and got ready. Breakfast was as it was last night--go down and pick up a box breakfast to be consumed back in the room. It was available for pickup from 7am to 10am. I went down at 7am and got some coffee to get us started. Then at 7:30 I went back down to get our breakfast. Choices were: scrambled eggs with bacon or with sausage, oatmeal, blueberry muffin, fruit, and juices. I selected the scrambled with sausage (there were also roasted potatoes with red and green peppers in the boxes). It was actually a very good and filling breakfast. Only issue last night and today was the flimzy plastic knife, spoon, and fork.
We had the bellmen come up and get our luggage at 8:30. Shortly after that we went down to the lobby with Marcia. She had a private car so she took two pieces of our luggage as all 4 would never have fit in a taxi. We grabbed a taxi to take us to the ship at 9am. Marcia was there with our 2 bags. So we dropped them with the porter to be x-rayed and put onboard. After proceeding through our carry-on being x-rayed (much like at airports) we had to wait until 10am when they started administrating the covid antigen testing. I was the first to be tested. After about 20 minutes we got our "negative" test results and they put a wrist band on us to show we had passed.
Marcia being checked in
From there we went up the escalator to where we checked in. As we were among the very first to check in they were having issues with their computer which did not show us in suite #972. It took them a half hour to finally correct it and get us formally checked in. We then had to wait maybe 15 minutes before the boarding process began so we finally boarded at 11am.
After lunch we went to the pursers desk to request they print a Dallas Morning News paper and send it to our suite daily. Then we were required to go check in at our muster station (where we would assemble in case of an emergency). They just wanted to make sure we knew where it was. Regent's new procedure is for passengers to watch a video online covering emergency procedures and the donning of a life vest. Great change!
It is now approaching 6pm and we are to meet Marcia in the Mariner Lounge for drinks. Then at 6:30 we have reservations at Prime 7, the steakhouse. I will go ahead and post this now and tomorrow I will talk about us putting away 8 pieces of luggage. Not an easy task. The Captain is now on the PA giving his departure message as we sail at 6pm.
