DAY 29---MAZATLAN, MEXICO (AGAIN)

 

We're in Mazatlan, Mexico, again today.  Sunny and 83 degrees already at 8:30am (90 degrees by afternoon).  This is our second visit to this port as was here back on October 7th.  We'll be back here again on the 29th.

LAST NIGHT:

                     I had this Chilean carmenere red with dinner tonight.  I like Chilean wines.

We both had Caesar salads with dressing on the side as we add tabasco to the dressing before mixing in the salad.  Of course, my usual 5 anchovies!

This is the Compass Rose chef's idea of chicken parmesan.  Jeff, we will have yours up in Sette Mari as chef Seigfried knows how to make veal and chicken parm.  Don't get me wrong, this one was ok as I asked for a bowl of extra tomato sauce.

                                Apple tart with ice cream is one of my favorite desserts.

The gentleman on the left is Enzo.  He is Director of Quality Services for Apollo Group.  Apollo Group is a full service hospitality management company headquartered in Miami, Florida.  Apollo manages the food services and housekeeping services for Regent and Oceania cruise lines.  All crew members who work on the Regent ships in food services (restaurants and everything to do with food) and all of the housekeeping crew members are hired by and work for Apollo.  Enzo has worked for Apollo for many years.  Roberto was a Food & Beverage Director on the Explorer during our transatlantic cruise last fall.  He has been promoted to Corporate Service Manager at Apollo and is now responsible for all of the Regent ships' restaurants.

TODAY:

Our pier today is at the commercial dock again.  We are not allowed to walk due to the truck traffic hauling cargo off ships.

        We went to the fitness center at 9am to do our treadmill hour.  We had the place to ourselves today.  One of the 4 treadmills was still inop this morning as yesterday.  So after my workout I reset it.  I watched it done earlier during the cruise so knew where the on/off switch was.  It works now!

        Last time here I did not leave the ship.  Today I decided to ride this shuttle to the cruise terminal to see what was there.  

If you enlarge the photo you will see there is a pharmacy in the cruise terminal.  I bought two more z-pacs as they were $3 less then I paid in Ensenada.  $12 for two.

                                                                       Bar outside

                     Found this t-shirt interesting.  $15  May get one next time we are here.

                               Returned to the ship at 10:45 and cleaned up before lunch.

On our way to lunch we ran into our new cruise director, Jude.  This is her first contract on Regent and previously worked on Holland America ships.

This is "The Captain".  That's what the crew and us passengers who know him call him.  He has lived on Regent ships for years.  Now he just stays on Mariner.  He can hardly see and hear now as is in his late 90s.  He dressed nicely and is a true gentleman.  This is "his" table in the corner of Compass Rose and you can set your clock by his arrival there for every meal.  He has the same foods every day.

Lunch in La Veranda today.  I tried the empanada and Cuban fried chicken off the buffet line but both were not good.  So I tried a couple slices of pizza with hot dog slices on it.  Then I had a plain ole hot dog.  I did not order the fries so did not eat them.  They must be trying to fatten me up!

Jolanta, on left, is our head housekeeper.  On the right is Jasna, Corporate Head Housekeeper for Apollo.  Seems several corporate types have been, are now, or coming to check out Mariner's service and crew.  Wolfgang, corporate chef, will be on board until we arrive back in LA.  Then coming on board will be the Corporate Pastry Chef.

Fishing boat passing by our balcony this afternoon.  There a lot of 6 inch or so fish jumping up out of the water this afternoon.  

        This evening at 6pm is the Seven Seas Society party in the theater.  Cocktails, canapes, and some entertainment.  We do plan to attend this as may be announced as the couple with the most nights cruised on Regent for this segment.

        So we asked Siva to bring our poppers at 5:30.  I will take my martini with me to the SSS event at 6pm.

Yea!!  Sea bass is back!  Yes, miso glazed sea bass is on this menu for tonight.  They have been substituting black cod as no sea bass.  And we love the Greek salad (Mykonos salad on menu).  

        At 3:15 this afternoon the Captain made his departure PA.  We were to be docking in Manzanillo, Mexico, tomorrow but he said there is a tropical depression affecting the port with his winds expected up to 90 knots.  So our itinerary has been changed.  Now we will be docking in Puerto Vallarta tomorrow instead (we were to be there the next day anyway) from 7am to 5pm.  Then we will be heading back north and have two sea days before calling on San Diego on Monday (new stop).  That's good as we will be clearing Customs and Border Protection in San Diego then so will not have to do it when we arrive in LA on Tuesday when Jeff is to board.