October 26, 2026

Monday

Barcelona, Catalonia, España

Boarding the Regent Seven Seas Mariner, embark for Miami, FL, USA

Believe it or not, Mary got up all on her own at 07:15. The alarm was set of 07:30 but she was up and in the shower before the alarm even went off. We completed the packing and labeling of out suitcases so that they would be ready for pickup at 08:00.

We are gong to go down for breakfast once they pick up the bags. Our bus is scheduled for 11:45. The ship sails tonight at 21:00. We are excited to be back on the Mariner.

At breakfast something occurred to me, it should have been obvious but it wasn’t. Yes, Tauck, Regent,Viking and others put you up in 5-Star hotels pre- or post- cruise or tour, but they aren’t really. They are tour hotels. Hotels that specifically host tour groups. Yes, technically they have checked the boxes required to “qualify” was 5-Star hotels, but they don’t really expect anyone to use the spa, pool or other amenities. Honestly people on tour don’t have the free time to do so.

It was obvious this morning at breakfast. First, we met a couple going up to breakfast who are on the Mariner with us. Second, several people at breakfast had Viking stickers on their shirt. Third, while breakfast was pretty good, it definitely was up to the Excelsior Hotel Gallia standard in Milano. Fourth, no one in their right mind would pay €40 per person for that or any breakfast. They say it costs that to impress the tour/cruise people. The same thing with the price of the rooms.

We stayed here, on our own, last week. Paid €375 for a room. They told us they upgraded us over the room we reserved. We did not include breakfast. It is no different than the room we got this time; ok, we aren’t in a corner room, but it is the same size and has the same amenities. It is, yet again, all about the marketing.

When we got back to our room, about 09:00, our bags were gone. We have two-and-a-half hours before we need to be downstairs for the bus to the ship. The canasta cards are packed in one of the suitcases heading to the ship. Oh, well.

We headed down to the front desk to check out at 11:15. There was a small line at the checkout and one very unruly American trying to get things done his way by shouting at the clerk. Finally a manager came over and told him to calm down. Not sure what his problem is, other than being a rude, obnoxious individual. People like him give Americans a bad name.

We checked out and a few minutes later they started loading the bus. There are a lot of old people on the bus. Hard to figure out where they are going.:>) The bus ride was all of twenty minutes. We arrived at the port, went though immigration, it is so much easier with an Italian Passport. And then boarded the ship.

It had just gone noon when we got on board. The suite wouldn’t be ready until 13:00, so we went to the pool grill and got lunch. Buffalo Chicken wings! Finally, something with some spice! I also got a hot dog with all the trimmings. Spain is a great country but the food in bland.

At 13:00 we went down to the suite. The bags weren’t there yet so I went on a hunt. I found all of them, including the bag shipped from California. Back in the suite we unpacked out things and settled in. I pulled the heavy things, jeans and pants and put them in the laundry for the ship to take care of. They take too long if I do them in the laundry. Then, I went off the do laundry, but the laundry room was completely in use. I thought we would be the only ones needing to do laundry.

Back at the laundry room about 18:00. Two machines available. I loaded one with whites and the other with colors. Forty-five minutes later they were in the dryer. Checking again I found the smaller white load done drying. Folded it and took it back to the suite. On the way back I found the steward and gave him the bag with the jeans.

About 19:00 I checked again on the colored load, but it wasn’t dry yet. So, we went back to the pool grill for dinner. We just wanted a salad for dinner, nothing that either took too long or was too heavy. After dinner we headed back to the suite, on the way e stopped at unloaded the color clothes. Our room steward brought us some more hangers, and a pot for boiling water for my tea.

We played a game of canasta and called it a night.

Buonanotte e ciao,

Enrico & Maria