Cruise day

Feb. 22, was boarding day for the cruise.  We were ready early and headed out to return the rental car.  We went round and round some more before we got on the right road.  It had something to do with several highways and roads all running in the same direction and coming together in the same area, right in front of our hotel.  But we finally got out of that area only to get confused with the airport … and went round and round some more.  Finally.  The correct road, and we were stopped by railroad signals announcing the coming of a train.  We waited.  Cars started pulling out of line and turning to go the wrong way on the one-way road we were on.  More cars pulled out.  The lights were still flashing and we realized, as did the others, there was no train.  Jaz pulled out and turned around.  She floored it.  I hollered, and it was like bumper cars going in all directions, avoiding each other, trying to get to a second road that ran somewhat parallel.  Cars went up over the grassy median, they went the other way, they went forward.  It was a free-for-all like I’ve never before seen.  Somehow there was no mashing of fenders and we found our way to the rental car return.

The rental agent began hollering at us to “move up, move up” and we tried.  But how would the vehicle in front of us get their luggage out of the trunk?  The agent didn’t care.  “Move up, move up!!”  We did as we were told.  We went back to the trunk to get our luggage.  He got in our car and I was afraid he would move forward before we were finished.  I told him to stop.  He said he wasn’t moving, but I didn’t believe him.  We got our things and made our way up a level, across a walkway and back down a level to find a taxi to take us to the port.

Finally, relaxing a bit as we were on our way, we enjoyed our taxi ride, made our way through port security and were close to the cruise port embarkation area.  All of a sudden I heard this, “Shit.  Shit, shit, shit!!”  What?  Jaz had left a bag in the vehicle and it was the one that contained her passport.  Uh oh. 

I had kept the contract and she located a Lost and Found phone number, luckily staffed by a person, and they said they’d look for it.  We had the taxi turn around, and back out through security we went, headed back to the airport.  It’s maybe five miles away so it wasn’t too bad, and we were still early.  Just as we were arriving at the airport the car rental called and said they had her bag.  We drove through the rental area, met the guy with the bag, and were off to the cruise port again.  Catastrophe averted. 

We arrived, got our luggage offloaded, tagged and dropped off, and headed to the line awaiting the movement that would begin our embarkation process.  We stood in line for a bit and then were told along with others, to form a second line.  Up we went.  To our left two unsmiling women told us we were not allowed to cut in line.  We explained what we’d been told to do.  They didn’t like our explanation, and continued to harangue us.  We just stood, and then another guy got into the fray.  His wife was quite nice, and just told us to get behind her.  The guy was now siding with the other two biddies, and said he was going to go get a Princess employee.  He did.  The two came back, and we explained what we’d been told to do.  The Princess employee said to get in line where we were.  We did.  Mr. Pink Shirt and the two biddies were unhappy.

Later one of the biddies was standing talking on the phone … trying to locate the other biddy who had gone back to find their husbands.  Bummer for them.  We passed them, without saying a word as we were quite ladylike, and we got processed, boarded the ship and went about the business of having lunch.  I was hoping to see them again and wish them a good day as it obviously wasn’t for them.

Our first look at our ship was one of amazement.  The Royal Princess is a large ship, weighing in at 141,000 tons, and nearly 1,100 feet long, 217 feet high, with 19 decks and a speed of 22 knots.  She can hold 3,560 guests in 1,780 guest cabins, and I believe all of those were in the Horizon Court buffet line at once.

The ship was built in Italy, and made her inaugural cruise June 16, 2013, after being christened by Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cambridge.  It appears that many on board are from England, and it’s a very different type of passenger from those we saw on our cruise to South America last spring.  People seem more courteous and way more friendly, including the crew.

The crew were untangling the flags and getting them stowed in anticipation of leaving the dock.

There is an unbelievable atrium, large with more seating and truly beautiful, and a skywalk that takes you out 128 feet above the water.  Don’t look down.  This is a gorgeous ship, and we are bound to have a great time on it.

This photo doesn't begin to do justice to the atrium.

The skywalk prior to leaving shore.  So, no water under it yet.

Turning into the channel that will take us out to sea.

Even some of the condo dwellers approve of Princess.

Fort Lauderdale in our rear view mirror.

We spent the day and evening wandering around getting our bearings.  We found our friends, Mike and Vangie, and our little group was complete.

The next two days were at-sea days.  They were spent playing bingo, going to a variety of shows, having high tea, attending the Captain’s Ruby Circle party, listening to speakers and I even went to a foot pain relief consultation.  We walked, we’ve made a couple of new friends, one of which we’ve spent some time with, and we played a game to guess the number of shark teeth in a bowl.  I was off by 34, and won a bottle of champagne.  Now I have to look for someone to give it to.  It’s been busy, and the first night at sea we were in the cabin early and in bed so early our cabin attendant didn’t even get to come in to turn down our beds and put a chocolate on our pillows.

We were on the ocean and headed to the Caribbean.

 

We’ve seen our other Alaskan friends, and met a couple of the other Alaskans.  We’ve also already booked our next cruise.  We’ve been busy … and now we’re set to begin our stops with Antigua being first up.  Let the excursions begin.