We wake early from the thrusters pulling into the port at around
6:15 am. Argh… I have a headache
too!
I maneuver to the bathroom and try not to wake Bernie with the
light as I stumble looking for an aspirin.
The other thing about this room is the closet is right at the foot of
the beds so if you want to dress in private and not wake the other it is almost
impossible. But he is awake anyways.
Bernie heads down to get some coffees and we sip them in the room
and contemplate what we should do for breakfast. We know it will be a zoo in the Horizon Court
but we attempt it at 9 am thinking maybe most are off already.
NOPE
It is crazy! Both sides are
open and for some reason on this ship they have two entrances to the buffet
open (at least for breakfast). After
struggling around the people getting food I opt just for some fruit and a bit
of scrambled eggs. I gave up trying to
get hot food or bread cause of the crowds.
Really miss the outside station in the Horizon Court like other ships
have that have the toast/pastries.
I tell Bernie I am going to head aft to try and find a table, but
they are all full so I head outside. I
get a table and put my stuff down and then head back in to let Bernie know
where I am. When I come back my plate is
gone, boy they are efficient. I walk
back to the buffet and say to Bernie “I give up” and head back to the cabin
when we both realize the dining room is open for breakfast till 9:30 so we head
there.
There is only ten minutes before it closes and we are sat at a
table for two. The waiter quickly takes
our juice order and food requests. They
feel really rushed around us. The staff
I am sure are trying to get this breakfast over and done with so they can do
what they need to.
Back in the cabin the stewards are busy doing up the rooms for the
new guest that are going to board in just a few hours.
I write up my blog from the evening before and try to post on line
but it is down cause of the turnaround.
So I pamper myself a bit with a facial and deep hair conditioning
treatment and a long shower in that huge shower!
At 10:15 we head down to the Piazza to have a coffee. I did manage to get some pictures of the
beautiful window suites on deck six forward.
I see that the Princess Dancers and singers are rehearsing in the
Atrium a new dance for the 50th Anniversary. It reminds me of the Come Back New show they
are doing, in fact it is the same song but the words have changed to reflect
the anniversary. I hope they preform it this
voyage, if not I am sure I will see it in January on the Royal.
Bernie says he ran into Sami Baker our cruise director who just
got on this voyage. We sailed with Sami
on the Star three years ago to South America.
Bernie went up to her and said “hi Sami, remember me” and she said your
face looks familiar but I can place where/when and Bernie jokingly responds
“WHAT and you said it was a night you would never forget” and they both
laughed.
We are “In Transit” meaning we are coming from the last voyage
right onto the next voyage. We have been
given information to meet in the Crown Grill with all other in transit
passengers at 11 am. However at 10:45 an
announcement comes that all in transits should head to the Crown Grill
now. So we do and someone from the staff
checks us off the list.
In total I would guess there are about 50 in transit (guessing
numbers here), many are workers who are doing work on board, also a few
entertainers too.
Now we have never done In Transit in LA before we have always done
it in Fort Lauderdale or in South America.
It is a bit different here, or at least it was this voyage.
We are lead off the ship, binged off from security. Lead down the gangway, thru a very short
customs line to an agent, passport stamped and then lead down the escalator to
the first floor. Now this is where it
gets weird. We then proceed out of the
building, turn left at the sidewalk and walk back in the main entrance, past
the workers handing out health forms, up the escalator, thru security and then
to the holding area. It is kind of like
we are pens. One for in transit, one for
bon voyage experience, one for elite/platinum/suites, then one for each group.
We sat here for 35 minutes until they had clearance we could get
back on board. I am not sure why we have
to wait. They should have had a count of
zero right when our last in transit got off but for some reason we waited until
11:45 to board.
We are the very first group to head back on board, binged back on
with security and we are back on the ship.
In total it took one hour.
I don’t think I would do many of these three days back to back
because a turn around every three days is a bit much, heck turn around after
ten days seems a lot more civilized. But
all the staff working ashore and on the ship make it worth it.
Once I get on board Bernie and I head to the International Café for
a sandwich and coffee.
I run into Ali and her Mom who are on board for the
afternoon. Ali is so very helpful on my
facebook page with lots of great information.
Her Mom is a wealth of info too with all her experience in cruising
going a long way. We had a lovely visit
with them and hope to one day sail together.
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