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REGAL EMPRESS History and Tour
Return to beginning of Regaled By The REGAL E
A Peter Knego Blog
The PK POV: Regaled By The REGAL E, continued
December 19-21, 2006
REGAL EMPRESS at Nassau. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
When my alarm startled me at 8:15, my eyes followed the wood-beamed ceiling above my bed over to the shuttered window, which was creaking with the movement of the ship. The sun was glowing through the curtains. I hopped over to the window, opening the shutters and curtains to reveal tree-fringed Nassau through the salt-streaked panes. By the time I stumbled up to Sun Deck, the lighthouse was on our port side, waves smashing into its rocky breakwater. The silhouette of an outbound FANTASY-class Carnival ship was barely visible in the distance on the starboard side. It was pleasantly warm, despite the wind, and without my sunglasses, the bright morning light was piercing.
Only two passenger ships were gathered that morning. On the outer end of the terminals was Celebrity Cruises' 1992-built 47,255 gt MV ZENITH, and berthed at the quay nearest the shopping center was Royal Caribbean's 73,192 gt 1987-built MV SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS. REGAL EMPRESS entered the basin and backed into the berth just across from SOVEREIGN. As she maneuvered, I ran into Fred on the forward observation terrace. It turned out that his plans were the same as ours: stay on board and enjoy the empty ship.
I skipped my morning caffeine ration so that I could get caught up on some rest, and returned to Cabin U90. After about an hour, crew drill was held, and the ensuing announcements and alarms atomized any further attempts at sleep. Remaining in bed, I flipped on the television just as the NORWEGIAN PEARL's godmother offered a special tribute to Donald Trump on "The View".
Facing aft from Sports Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
The Mermaid Club facing aft. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
I took some time to walk around the REGAL EMPRESS' empty decks, and capture some of her interiors without passengers, beginning at the Mermaid with its skylight roof and etched glass panels inspired by those in the ship's former Olympian Hall, now the Caribbean Restaurant. A small cleaning crew was getting the space, which was originally OLYMPIA's first class swimming pool area, ready for the afternoon activities.
Facing port/forward in the Commodore Club. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
The adjoining Commodore Club was empty and a bit dark for photos. Some quiet time spent in the port alcove is a cherished regimen for me on REGAL E's two night getaways.
Top, the Card Room, facing forward. Above, the Internet Cafe, facing port. Photos and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
The current Card Room was carved out of the ship's aft stairtower vestibule and has a combination of recently added and vintage elements. I particularly like its original Greek Line chairs. Just forward a few steps is the Internet Cafe, which was originally the first class balcony of OLYMPIA's Cinema.
The shore excursion lobby on Sun Deck was modified considerably to meet SOLAS 1997 regulations, but the facade of the office was left intact with its gorgeous veneers and zig-zag nickel balustrade.
The Caribbean Dining Room, facing forward. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
Rob and I secured a table by the window in the forward starboard portion of the dining room at noon, just as lunch began. Through its brass-fringed panes, I had a nice view of ZENITH. The maitre'd, Idilio Baptista, who has been with the REGAL EMPRESS since her early Regal Cruises days, hails from Pontinha, Portugal (Rob's favorite country), so he and Rob hit it off smashingly. I enjoyed their repartee as I slurped down a few cups of fresh coffee and consumed several delicious courses. Toward the end of our meal, the dining room began to fill with passengers who had just returned from their excursions ashore.
The celebrated Library, facing aft. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
I continued my documenting, adding another couple hundred images to my REGAL EMPRESS library, including some updated views of her Library, and eventually met up with Rob on Sports Deck.
Facing forward along Sports Deck. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
Nearby on the terrace overlooking the stern, I was able to visit with Fred and Karen, who were enjoying a glass of champagne and savoring their time on board.
"This ship has a heart and soul. Other ships are a brand. People remember you and there is atmosphere here." Fred Binner and Karen Gattozzi. Photo by Peter Knego, copyright PK Productions 2006.
Fred recounted some of his 70 plus ocean liner and cruise ship voyages, which began on American Banner Line's ATLANTIC (ex BADGER MARINER) in 1958, on her second return voyage. Other ships he sailed in include the FLORIDA in 1961, NDL's BREMEN (ex PASTEUR), the NIEUW AMSTERDAM (1938), and HOMERIC (ex MARIPOSA) in 1968. He had visited OLYMPIA in New York on several occasions and met Karen on BRITANIS (ex MONTEREY). Fred's first experience cruising aboard the REGAL EMPRESS was in 1984, shortly after she had become the CARIBE I. This particular sailing was his thirteenth since she had become REGAL EMPRESS.
A blue and white Bahamian ship sandwich consisting of ZENITH, REGAL EMPRESS, and SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
I convinced Rob to join me for a quick romp ashore to photograph REGAL EMPRESS from underneath the prow of the mighty SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS.
Once the largest ship in the world, the SOVEREIGN is now just averaged-sized, but far more graceful than the generation of giants that have succeeded her.
She looks more beautiful than ever, with a symphony of curves and sleek lines (including that NORMANDIE-inspired stern) that put most of her more recent fleetmates and the competition to task. The lighting was intermitttently brilliant, depending on the clouds hovering between us and the sun.
Birds! (top) as ZENITH departed (bottom). Top image by Rob Distefano. Bottom image by Peter Knego. Copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
We were back on board in time to watch ZENITH depart from the forward Sun Deck terrace. Above us, on the starboard wing, Captain Papacharissou threw some food out to the seagulls, creating a Hitchcockian frenzy of beaks and wings in the sky. In the incessant wind, ZENITH listed quite significantly, first to starboard as she backed out, then to port as she turned her bow toward the lighthouse, maintaining her tilt as she ventured into the blustery seas. By the time she reached the horizon, Rob and I were enjoying tea at the REGAL EMPRESS' sheltered stern, eating freshly made cookies and finger sandwiches. Possibly my last view of ZENITH as a Celebrity ship (she will be transferred to RCCL's Pulmantur division next April) was just before she disappeared behind the towering pink Atlantis Casino and Resort.
At twilight, REGAL EMPRESS prepared to sail. With her full passenger complement back on board, we mingled with the crowds on Sun Deck. The floodlit SOVEREIGN looked magnificent as we edged out of our berth and into the surging seas. Once beyond the breakwater, the EMPRESS began to pitch gently, maintaining a steady rhythm into the early, slightly more formal evening. We noticed there were fewer passengers at dinner, but fortunately neither of us needed to use the readily available bags in the passageways and alleyways. Compared to my experiences in FUNCHAL, ALBATROS, SHANGHAI, and VICTORIA, the REGAL EMPRESS was taking the seas in stride.
Various nighttime views of the REGAL EMPRESS. From top to bottom: facing aft from Sports Deck; facing forward from the pool on aft Promenade Deck; facing down the aft/port Sun to Promenade Deck stairs; a view through the starboard Sun Deck doors facing port. Images by Peter Knego and Rob Distefano, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
We saw Fred and Karen at the show and repeated the prior night's visit to the pool bar, this time substituting the wine with mineral water. As the wind and seas ebbed, more passengers came out of hiding. We had time to circle the Sun Deck, lie back and look at the constellations, peer in at karaoke, and indulge my fascination for taking night shots on deck. A southbound SUN PRINCESS class ship passed us on the port side as we sat on the Sports Deck terrace. Of course, another round at the buffet, this time for Mexican food, polished off a sparkling evening aboard this magical little ocean liner.
Happy in a sea of mahogany and sycamore, the newest member of the REGAL EMPRESS' fan club: Rob Distefano.
Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.On Thursday morning, I skipped the early dining room breakfast to sleep in and enjoy some time out on deck as REGAL EMPRESS approached Ft. Lauderdale. Normally, the little 1968-built DISCOVERY SUN (ex FREEPORT I, FREEPORT, SVEA STAR, CARIBE, CARIBE BREMEN, SCANDINAVIAN SUN, BALANGA QUEEN) passes REGAL EMPRESS just outside the channel as she heads on her daily run to Freeport. Today, the Knud E. Hansen designed, saucer funnel-topped day cruise ship was running late and did not begin her journey until after REGAL EMPRESS had entered the harbor. Fred and I watched in mutual irony as the two one-time CARIBEs maneuvered around eachother. All too soon, the REGAL EMPRESS had cast her lines to shore and our journey had come to an end. By 11:00 AM, we were among the last of the passengers to disembark, claim our luggage, and make our way home. The two days went far too quickly, but it is nice to know that even in her fifty third year, the REGAL EMPRESS is still working her special magic on a generation of cruisers willing to appreciate her unique and homey charms. Long may she sail!
END
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