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World Cruise 2020

January - March 2020
Regent Seven Seas World Cruise 2020 sailing from Miami to Miami aboard The Mariner.
This amazing journey was scheduled as an 131-day cruise from January 5 - May 17, 2020. Read more
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  • 77footprints
  • 10countries
  • 76days
  • 431photos
  • 14videos
  • 34.7kmiles
  • 12.4kmiles
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  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    2
    Day 77

    Day 75 ~ 34,700 Miles. Home Again

    March 21, 2020 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 41 °F

    Day 75 ~ 34,700 Miles. Home Again

    It’s always wonderful to arrive home. Personally, I rarely think about my specific feelings when I walk through the door. But after a long, amazing albeit unexpectedly shortened journey, a demanding 30+ hour travel ‘day’, and the circumstances and challenges we all currently face, I took special note of my feelings and emotions.

    Above all else I feel grateful. Grateful for arriving home safely. Grateful to Katie and Jay for the opportunity to travel with them. Grateful to Sheila and Tracy for their hard work and thoughtfulness in helping us get home. Grateful to my caring family, friends, and neighbors for watching over things while I was gone. Grateful to my sister, Terri and Stacy for stocking my house with groceries, prepared meals, and supplies and to Ellen for the roll of “emergency TP”. Grateful to those that prayed for our safe travels and safe journey home. Grateful for all of the emails, texts, likes and comments, and calls from home. Grateful for new friends met along the way. Grateful for the double rainbow that appeared in the sky through the clouds as I was approaching my home. Grateful for the warmth, security, and comfort I felt as I unlocked my front door and walked in with a deep breath and heavy sigh.

    A note regarding the travel home: I half expected a traveling nightmare based on the reporting of long lines at airports around the country, the rush of citizens trying to get back into the country before our borders closed, and because of the hysteria and restrictions that have settled over the country. What I experienced was nothing like that. There were no long lines, there were no angry and anxious travelers pushing their way through, and unfortunately, there were no health screenings when entering the U.S. at LAX.

    A self-imposed, 14-day quarantine is in my immediate future but I did manage to share an over the fence limoncello welcome home toast with my nextdoor neighbors today, PPE included.

    I’d like to share a few images from Perth and beyond as part of my final post.

    This wasn’t the journey planned and dreamed of but it is one I will never forget.

    “A journey, after all, neither begins in the instant we set out, nor ends when we have reached our door step once again. It starts much earlier and is really never over, because the film of memory continues running on the inside of us long after we have come to a physical standstill.”
    — Ryszard Kapuściński    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    2
    Day 73

    Day 73 ~ Saying Goodbye

    March 17, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    Day 73 ~ Saying Goodbye

    Our cruise officially ended today with our cruise card being scanned one last time and our walk down the gangway but our journey is far from over.

    Disembarking was an Event. White-gloved staff managed our carry-on bags and the crew lined the way greeting us with smiles, applause, and cheers. Looking back to the ship new friends called my name from their balconies to wave goodbye one more time.

    Australian customs was nothing more than a formality and after our reclaimed bags were safely in the possession of the luggage forwarding service we boarded the bus to head to our hotel.

    What, another unanticipated change?!? Yep. What we understood to be a night at the Crown Towers Perth has become a night at The Ritz Carlton Perth. Our rooms were ready upon arrival (before noon) and Regent provided a generous food and beverage credit, and a 6PM checkout tomorrow to accommodate our late flight schedule.

    In order to better shield each suite from hallway noise (paramount consideration given the rowdy Regent crowd) every two rooms has a private alcove entry. I eased opened the second door and the darkened interior illuminated slowly as the floor to ceiling blinds raised automatically revealing a beautiful view of Elizabeth Quay and Swan River while the room lighting magically brightened. The ensuite bath is stunningly appointed and I foresee a long luxurious bath in the soaking tub in my near future.

    Not all changes are bad.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    2
    Day 72

    Day 72 ~ 23,300 Miles, Fremantle

    March 16, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    Day 72 ~ 23,300 Miles

    After pulling up anchor in Esperance and making a beeline to Perth, we were notified that decision was made because of the fact that Australia announced at noon that they were closing ports to foreign cruise ships and will require a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. We are being allowed entry because we have been in Australia since February 29. Whew!

    We are now safely anchored and will wait for a berth to open. The Queen Mary 2 is disembarking passengers today. Cruise ships from Crystal, Seabourn, and Costa are following closely behind us. We will pull alongside tomorrow morning and will begin the disembarkation process.

    Regent is arranging hotel rooms and transfers, both to the hotel then to the airport and will have a hospitality desk set up at the hotel. They also offered to forward up to four bags per person directly home. With tight transfers and expected long lines trying to clear Customs and Immigration in the US, we’ve decided to risk it and use the forwarding service. It’s carry-on only for us!

    We do plan to self isolate after arriving home. Thankfully, the Mariner is a clean ship but after the increased risk of 3 flights and 4 airports it’s the right thing to do.

    I hope that I have toilet paper at home. 🤪    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    Day 71

    Day 70 ~ 22,700 Miles, Esperance

    March 15, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Day 70 ~ 22,700 Miles
    Esperance, Western Australia and I have a wonderful all-day excursion scheduled to soak in as much of the remainder of this journey as is possible.

    Ship anchored, Check
    Day bag packed, Check
    Excursion ticket ready, Check
    Glorious weather forecast, Check

    But wait, another change. It seems that the wind and waves are too dangerous to tender ashore and the Captain just announced that we are to make way directly and quickly to Fremantle/Perth.

    Do not pass GO, Check
    Do not collect $200, Check
    Miss three additional ports, Check

    Expected arrival in Fremantle/Perth is now tomorrow afternoon. Unknown what happens after we reach port.

    At least I’ve seen Esperance from a beautiful vantage point. Is that a tear or just the sun in my eyes.

    Anchors away. ⚓️    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    Day 70

    Day 69 Nearing The End

    March 14, 2020 ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    There was a town hall style meeting yesterday and a fairly bleak picture was painted regarding the remainder of the cruise.

    I have decided to join my friends, end the cruise, and leave the ship from Perth on 3/18.

    With our decision made to end the cruise and our flights completely booked, we were way ahead of most of the passengers because today we were greeted with an early morning email from the CEO of Regent stating that all cruises would be suspended for 30 days and that those currently underway would end as soon as possible.

    We are currently at sea with three ports scheduled prior to Perth. I assume we will be notified soon with additional details. It is just now 7:15 AM and many passengers likely have not yet received this information.

    I actually had packed an N99 mask and replacement filters just in case the pollution was bad in India. I never would have guessed I would now be wearing it on the flight home.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    2
    Day 68

    Day 67 ~ 21,700 Miles, Port Lincoln

    March 12, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    Day 67 ~ 21,700 Miles

    We moored early this morning in Boston Bay at Port Lincoln and just prior to our excursion departure we were presented with the revised itinerary for the remainder of the trip. The revised itinerary has us heading west to the Seychelles, to Africa, down the East coast of Africa then heading across the Atlantic to South America, up the East coast, through the Caribbean to Miami. I’ll share my thoughts about those changes with you tomorrow following our town hall meeting with the Captain.

    Admittedly my focus on Port Lincoln was limited as my thoughts kept creeping back to the ship news of the day.

    Port Lincoln is a town of just over 16,000 and somehow manages with just two traffic lights. But seriously, this is a fishing town with a proud heritage and very busy waterfront. There is a large private specialized fishing fleet including prawnies, tuna boats, mussels, oyster, and squid boats, deep sea fishing boats, adventure boats for swimming with the great white sharks, and yellowtail kingfish farm boats. The fishing boat marina is also home to the Fishermen Memorial which is a beautiful granite sculpture depicting waiting families facing the sea and grieving families facing the land surrounded by granite boulders with the names of those lost at sea chiseled into the each one.

    Just like the young children at schools in New Zealand and other parts of Australia, the children here are required to wear sun hats and sunscreen. Swimming classes are also compulsory beginning in second grade.

    Our final stop was at Winters Hill. This high point serves multiple purposes: it has a watch tower for bush fires, tourist and locals alike come here to enjoy the 360° uninterrupted views, and apparently as the “lover’s lane” parking spot.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    21
    Day 67

    Day 66 Part 2, Kangaroo Island

    March 11, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Day 66 Part 2

    Our visit to Kangaroo Island was highlighted by an ocean safari where we spotted a dolphin pod and grey fur seals. We also had an opportunity to contribute to the local economy that is reeling from recent bush fires that burned almost 50% of the Island.

    The coastline has beautiful beaches, limestone cliffs lined with stunning jagged limestone and granite rock formations. Many of the rocks are with covered with a beautiful orange lichen that is very dramatic against the colors of the ocean.

    The passenger count of The Mariner easily outnumbered the census count of the seaside village of Penneshaw. I did a quick walk through the local IGA and was surprised by the high prices but quickly realized that it is a natural part of Island life when most products must be shipped in even when that is only a 16 kilometer ferry ride from the mainland.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    1
    Day 67

    Day 66 ~ 21,600 Miles, Kangaroo Island

    March 11, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    Day 66 ~ 21,600 Miles

    It is a perfect day for me to temporarily put aside the worry over the things I can not control and enjoy the moment. So I started my day with breakfast in the outdoor section of the La Veranda restaurant overlooking today’s port at Kangaroo Island.

    Not a bad way to start the day!    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    1
    Day 66

    Day 65 ~ 21,500 Miles, Adelaide

    March 10, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Day 65 ~ 21,500 Miles

    It has been a Chamber of Commerce weather day in Adelaide with lots of sun, comfortable temps, and a gentle breeze.

    The Queen Mary 2 joined us in port this morning so our visit to the historic village of Hahndorf was a bit crowded with tourists. Our first encounter with a Hahndorf local was with an ol’ timer enjoying his morning coffee on his front porch watching the tourist parade pass by. After a quick g’day and discovering we were yanks he immediately began questioning us on the political disfunction of the US. since the current administration took office and the sanity and intellect of those electing it. And so the day began.

    It would have been enjoyable to spend the day in Hahndorf exploring the shops and sharing a leisurely meal at one of the many restaurants with sidewalk seating but after just a couple of hours our time ended and we were off to our second visit to Mt. Lofty.

    Mt. Lofty is the highest point near Adelaide and offers beautiful views of the Piccadilly Valley and the City.    Read more

  • TravelerWorld Cruise 2020
    1
    11
    Day 64

    Day 64 ~ 21,400 Miles, Portland

    March 8, 2020 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    The last couple of days have been filled with nature’s beauty and pleasant surprises offset by the unexpected.

    Portland and Adelaide are wonderful destinations. We’ve see an amazing garden, quaint seaside villages, beautiful coastlines, beaches, sunrises, sunsets, and full moons worthy of postcards and travel posters, and of course koalas. I’ve learned so much about this wonderful country and the amazing people that live here.

    I’ve also come to realize that the hysteria and fear created by Covid-19 has paralyzed the travel industry and this trip is just a tiny blip in the grand scheme. My traveling companions and more importantly, my friends, have made the decision that best serves them and will be ending their trip early. I am happy for them that they are at peace with the decision but selfishly sad for myself. It seems that our cruise line, Regent, may be breaking under the weight of the virus restrictions to the point that the scuttlebutt on the ship ranges from further revised itineraries to ending the trip early. Time will tell.

    Whatever happens with the remainder of this trip, I remain ever grateful for the opportunity to travel this far and I will continue to cherish every moment spent and those moments yet to come.

    I am blessed.    Read more

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