DAY 5---Funchal (island of Madeira), Portugal (OOPS! SEA DAY INSTEAD)

 LAST EVENING

        The ship's block party was very enjoyable as we have some very nice neighbors so was glad to meet them.  After the party it was cocktail time.  I sent Rebecca on up to the Observation Lounge on Deck 11 to get a table.  I ran down to the Meridian Lounge to have Paul make my Makers Mark Manhattan and pick up our "pigs in a blanket" that we had ordered.  We have decided to switch lounges as Meridian's music is too loud now that some of the orchestra is playing there during cocktail hour.  The cocktail pianist, Gino, is playing up in Observation Lounge and he is not too loud.  I got this photo of the sun sitting from there.  Just as the sun disappeared there was a "green flash".  It is rare to see this as atmospheric conditions have to be just right.  Everyone who saw the flash started cheering!

        During cocktails the Captain came on the PA to say there was a pilot strike in Funchal so we would not be stopping there.  Pilots come on board to help guide the ships to the pier for docking and are mandatory.  So now we have another day at sea.  He also said it would help us outrun a low pressure weather system (bad weather).

        At 7pm we headed down for dinner in Compass Rose and again asked to dine with Joseph.  They seated us at the same table as the night before.  Guess it is "our" table now!

                We both started with the creamy corn & poblano chili soup.

        Rebecca had the Szechuan beef stir fry as her entree and I had this chicken Kiev on bacon-braised cabbage.  I also had a side of potatoes gratin.  The foods are very good but could be warmer when served.  The food on the Mariner on our world cruise was always hot.

        This is one of my all time favorite desserts.  Malva pudding with butter pecan ice cream.  A butterscotch  sauce on top.

        Next day's menu always delivered to our suite the afternoon before.  We did not care for the entrees so asked Jorge, maitre d, if the chef could prepare veal osso bucco on creamy polenta.  He called the chef and it was okayed.

        After dinner we stopped in the Grandeur Lounge and had Ronnalyn make me this "happy happy" after dinner drink.  We then headed back to the suite and skipped the comedian's show.  

        As we cross the Atlantic our clocks will be adjusted several times.  Last night was the first as we moved our clocks back one hour.  We will be moving them back another hour tomorrow night.

TODAY

        Even though we can't call on this port, I will let you read about it anyway since I had it prepared already.  

        

        It is cloudy this morning with passing rain showers.  Nice rainbow.  The ocean is a little rougher looking but Grandeur is handling it well.  Our suite is mid ship (always book mid ship!) where the ride is always better.  I'm sure forward and aft it is a little rougher ride.

BACKGROUND INFO:
        This morning we arrived at Funchal which is the capital and largest city for the island of Madeira.  Madeira is 280 miles due west of  Morocco in North Africa.  The Madeira and the Azores islands are the two autonomous regions of Portugal.  It was formed from volcanoes eons ago.  Madeira is approximately 35 miles long and 14 miles wide, so not that large, with a population of 268,000.  Yes, we have been here before also.  It is a very beautiful island and a popular year-round resort with nearly 1 million visitors each year.  It is probably best know for its “Madeira wine”.  We did the wine tasting tour on one of our previous visits here.   Funchal is located in a valley with gentle slopes beginning at the coast and rising to 4000 feet.

DECK 6

        There is only one public thing on this deck and that is the gym at the very back of deck 6.  I went back again yesterday afternoon to workout and take these photos.  My back is killing me!  I can now put these photos on the blog post and not have to do it as touring today.

        There are two ways to access the gym.  Doorway on right at back of this photo leads to a stairway going down to the Spa.  The door on left takes you out to hallway on deck 6.  Note the frig with health drinks--complimentary.

         This is the stairway from Spa up to gym.  More modern art work.

                       There are two sides to the gym pictured above and below.

                               This is the fitness class room and also has spin bikes.

        Now this sign disturbs me.  We wanted to obey it as we always sanitized our treadmills before and after using them.  There is NOTHING available to sanitize with.  I asked the fitness instructor and his remark was "I clean the equipment".  BS, maybe he might do it once a day.  UPDATE:  Today they had sanitizing wipes to clean the equipment!!

I went down the stairs to the spa and asked where the pool was.  A nice young lady directed me out back on Deck 5.  BTW, she said 11 people work in the spa.  No infinity pool like on Explorer and Splendor.  Just a pool.

                      There were whirlpools on both sides.

               Nice chairs to relax in and out of the wind as on other decks.

TODAY

                We had room service breakfast again.  You put request out before going to bed with time you want it delivered next morning.  We ask for 8:30 and it is here exactly as requested.  I have been doing some work on this post but heading to the gym before lunch today.

        Thought I would put tonight's menu on but you will definitely have to click on it to enlarge for reading.  Again osso bucco for us.

        We both went to the gym this morning.  I did 50 minutes (3 miles) and Rebecca did 35 minutes (2 miles).  I then did my therapy exercises.  We are showered now and heading up to La Veranda for lunch.

        This is our position at noon today.  As you can see we sailed right past Funchal.  The ocean is a bit rougher today.  We had to hold on when on the treadmills.  It is mostly cloudy now and 72 degrees.  During his noon navigation and weather PA, the Captain said it might be even rougher tonight but should start to smooth out again later tomorrow.

                                                At noon we headed up here for some lunch.

                              More modern art outside La Veranda entrance.

                              As creatures of habit, we sat at same table.

I started with some shrimp, smoked salmon, and anchovies.

I ordered a reuben with fries.  Rebecca had her Atkins bar.

        Think I missed getting photos of the Grandeur Lounge which is down on Deck 4.  Two photos below are taken from front and back of the lounge.

        After lunch we went down to the boutiques.  We have $400 of ship board credit we have to use or lose.  Would like shirts with Grandeur logo but there is nothing on board yet with Grandeur on it.  Big bummer!  There is nothing else we need in shops.  Guess I will have some pay extra, nice red wines at dinner.

Here are a couple photos taken of the theater balcony.

        I left the suite this afternoon to get some more photos for you.  My first stop was up at the pool bar for a coke and chat with an old bartender friend, Peter.

        Peter has been with Regent for a long time.  He remembered I like Makers Mark.  He's a funny guy and we enjoyed kidding each other.

                                             At the front on Deck 11 is the Culinary Kitchen.

Here an instructor chef holds cooking classes.  There are individual cooking stations for students.

Also up front is a very nice library.

Art entering library

        On a plaque in the library are the names of the Commodores (people with over 2000 nights on Regent). In 2017 there were only 3 names on it.  Now there are 11.  We know and have cruised with all but 2.

                                                   Also there is the Connoisseur Club.

                           This room is for the smokers and only place inside they can smoke.

                                     This is the card room.  Not as large as some ships.

            While taking these photos it began a monsoon with lots of wind and rain on pool deck.

        As a service to all fellow Regent cruisers who might be booked or will book a cruise on Grandeur, I thought I would let you know how many electric outlets there are in the suites.

There are two USA type plug-in places on BOTH sides of the bed.  There are two also at the desk.  And two more at cabinet below wall mounted tv.  

        Besides the ones we use in America there are two of the ones like below at the desk AND cabinet above frig cabinet.  Unlike other ships there are plenty of outlets to use.

   To help with your make-up, there is a mirror that lights up.  One side normal and other magnified.

        As you can see we use magnets to put things on our walls.  The was are metal with a covering so magnets work well.

        This is our door with world cruise and grand cruise plaques on it.  I also started putting our photo on it also.

        Ok, I probably have enough on today's blog posting.  Don't forget for better photo viewing--click on them to enlarge.  Our friend, Sandy Wells, who is also on this cruise and reading my blog noticed I said we would probably not be going to the comedians show last night.  She said he was VERY good so will be attending his next show.

        Cocktail hour this evening will be up in Observation Lounge again where it is quieter.  I had Adrian, Beverage Manager, move my Makers Mark, bitters, and our standing order of canapes moved to there from Meridian Lounge.

        Dinner will be in Compass Rose where we have requested veal osso bucco.  The production show at 9:30 is titled "Marauders' Ball".  It is another brand new show so will definitely be there for it.  Clocks back another hour tonight.  The Dallas Cowboys game is on Amazon Prime starting at 12:30AM our time.  We get Prime so may watch the game.