This is fine, we gained another hour last night so it is actually 7 am and we need to do some things before we head off.
First is Bernie is off to do laundry. The ship’s laundry is a great perk but it really is not a good cleaning. It is a nice perk in a pinch though. So off to the laundry we go. Two loads at $3 each load for washing and again for drying. It takes 40 minutes for washing and another 40 minutes for drying. Well sort of 40 minutes for drying. When we came back after 40 minutes of drying one machine was stopped and the clothes were still damp. The other was still going and we threw in the damp clothes and it kept running for another 15 minutes. So one machine was bad, one was great.
We did enjoy breakfast in the dining room. The first time this trip that we had breakfast in the dining room. I hate the bus stations that the waiters use as the cupboards are always slammed and scare the crap out of me. Cutlery is thrown in drawers and then slammed shut. Not sure why Princess can’t work on this. Other lines don’t have this issue.
Breakfast was quiet and very good and the aft dining room (Botticelli Dining Room) is lovely during the day because it has those beautiful aft windows.
We do have to change cabins today (we booked very last minute so the same cabin was not an option). Our new cabin is on deck five Plaza deck. Bernie goes and introduces himself to the steward and we offer to move the bags down but he says it is not necessary and will arrange it later with his supervisor.
Our in transit meeting time is 10 am and we know we want to head off before then. We have heard there are 80 in transit and another 30 or so that also in transit but are family of the staff or entertainers.
The biggest issue today is that this is the first time the Crown Princess is back in the US after a season in the Mediterranean. This means all crew have to go thru Immigration. This also means that Coast Guard are on hand and they have drills and inspections. Then low and behold Public Health also comes on board for inspection. A triple Wammy!!! Oh not to mention we are at pier 4 and it is a busy Saturday Cruise day in Port Everglades.
When we get inside the port building around 9:15 and the queue for immigration is very long. We are fortunate as we have Nexus (Global Entry) and the queue is much less but it still took us 30 minutes to clear.
Our first stop is TJ Max and then Total Wine for some wine. We cross 17th street and head to Ross (which is crazy with a lot of people). I did want to go to the Dollar Store too but we walked in and the cashier line was around 20 people deep for each register. Nope not going to do that.
At noon we met up with friends Roy and Sandra who are sailing on the Royal at the Boatyard. We had a lovely lunch overlooking the waterway. Catching up on what each of us has been up to since we last sailed together. What a lovely couple, just wish we were on the same ship.
We have to return to Publix as we promised a crew member (no crew members were given shore leave for obvious reasons) some fried chicken.
Then we walk back to the ship. We are both losing steam.
I should state now that a few days ago we received a special notice about our upcoming cruise stating that because it was arriving for the first time in the US for the new season that embarkation will be delayed. We were advised to not arrive at the pier before 2 pm.
Well I guess some didn’t believe it or ignored this message because we arrived and WHAM the port building was packed with bodies! In fact that is all you could see. Because we were in transit we were directed to what seemed like a line.
They had just started boarding passengers – it was 2:15 pm.
As we herded onto the ship single file we immediately saw Amel and Sidney who work in Vines and presented them with the fried chicken. I know they will not get a chance to really enjoy it for a while as they are having to deal with the new passengers and service but they will enjoy later. Both said it took 3 hours for them to clear immigration and they have been up and going for hours. But they still have smiles on their faces.
For us we are in the cabin and we quickly unpack. Unpacking is an art form now. Everything has it’s place and we both know where our things go.
The ship is busy with the new arrivals. And since we don’t have to attend Muster Drill we both crawl into bed and relax. A nap would have been good but that is impossible to do with the drill being broadcast in the cabin so we just relax. Oh should add Muster Drill was delayed due to the late embarkation.
Our steward Wilmer introduces himself and he is already impressing us. When we come back from dinner, he has wine glasses for us, a new shower curtain, ice and the place is spotless – and we asked for none of these things.
Sailaway is happening late too – around 6 (sorry did not check the time). We head up to Skywalkers (where the Platinum Elite Lounge is happening) and watch sail away. We were shocked to see that the Royal was still docked too – not sure why it was late leaving.
A quick meal in the Horizon Court. A lot of people are here – I think with the late embarkation and many not getting their bags till late meant a quick meal was necessary.
After dinner I am exhausted, I am at that point where if I sit down I am just going to sleep. My brain feels like it is in a fog and I tell Bernie, feel free to stay up but I am going to bed. I was sound asleep before 9 pm!
No comments:
Post a Comment