DAY 52-TASMAN SEA-DAY 2

Our position at noon today.  It is 73 degrees and partly cloudy today with a few rain showers around us.  Winds about 25 mph from the east.  Wave height today around 8 to 10 feet but the ship is riding well so not much movement.  We are still lucky to have a fairly smooth ride across the Tasman Sea.

WHAT WE DID TODAY:
       Tomorrow it will be Tuesday here so Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras.  This morning I spoke with the Food & Beverage Director, Ricky, and Dana, our asst Cruise Director, about their Mardi Gras celebration plans.  Neither knew it was Mardi Gras let alone have any plans.  Ricky is going to get with Chef Michael to see what he can come up with for tomorrow's dinner.  If nothing else, I will request french fried soft shell crabs again.  As it turned out, Chef Michael called me in the suite at 11:30 this morning.  He wanted my input as to what he should do with tomorrow night's Compass Rose menu.  Rebecca and I did bring some Mardi Gras beads to wear. Speaking of Rebecca, last night was the first night her nose did not stop up so we both slept well.
       Rebecca had a protein bar for her lunch and I had a tuna salad sandwich from room service.  We both did our workout this morning.  Later this afternoon I may walk around the upper deck to get more exercise as the fitness center was full this morning so we were limited to just 30 minutes.  The Oscars is being shown live this afternoon both in the theater and in the suites.  I'm not watching those liberals shoot there mouths off.  Tonight we are planning on having some escargot before the Chateaubriand entree choice in Compass Rose restaurant.  We will not be going to tonight's show which is featuring two of the ship's singers.  I walked out of last night's show featuring a female singer from Australia.  She was very good but once again the ship's band was covering her up, especially the drummer.
       After we arrive in Sydney tomorrow morning at 8:00, everyone will have to meet, with their passports in hand, with Australian immigration officials prior to anyone leaving the ship.  So this will delay our tour departure.

SYDNEY PREVIEW:
       I thought I would include this link to some photos I took in Sydney when we were there back on our 2010 world cruise.  Back then we were docked overnight and our pier was right next to the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the famous Sydney Opera House was just across from us.  They tell me that tomorrow we will be docked out in the boondocks.  That is very disappointing not only for us passengers but for the crew also.  Once again, an example of the "new Regent" after having been bought and run by NCL.  Penny pinching and poor advance planning!!  We may be switching to Seabourn in the future.
       Anyway, I will climb back off my soapbox.  It was pouring rain here back in 2010 and rain is forecast for our visit tomorrow according to The Weather Channel internet but our Captain said no rain was forecast.  We have a 3 hour tour booked for tomorrow.

https://goo.gl/photos/Sah9H3mhDPuet3rv9