Where are my pants? We have packed our suitcases and are waiting for our luggage tags so we can set our suitcases out for delivery to the dockside. Somewhere in my pea brain is the thought that I wore a lavender shirt and grey slacks to Fort Lauderdale. If my memory is correct, and my traveling companion can neither confirm or deny my version, I have lost the grey slacks. We moved last week from Aloha 237 to Dolphin 230, and if I had them at that point, I no longer do. Now ain’t that a fine howdy do? I guess when we get back to Woodland 233, I’ll know for sure. Maybe.
The line at the Purser’s Desk has been 45 minutes long all day long with people cued up to get their bills, inquire about travel arrangements, and so forth. The end of the line never seems to change. We wanted some small envelopes so we can give a special gratuity to our waiter and junior waiter tonight, and Bonnie stood in the line for 45 minutes. We went down to do some last minute shopping and take a few photographs about 4 o’clock, and the end of the line was right where Bonnie had started her adventure at 10:30 this morning.
I cannot begin to imagine what a job this is for Princess to get all of the details arranged to end the cruise early, and get people home. They have made airplane arrangements, booked hotel rooms for those who are staying over to sail on Saturday, adjusted charge accounts and on and on. My hat is really off to them for the way they’ve handled this, and especially for doing the right thing. It would have been easy to sail on to Curacao and then Aruba because the number of new cases is decreasing. There are new cases, but fewer in number than earlier in the week, so they could have justified sailing on. The cost to the cruise line must be enormous.
Rumors abound all over the ship. There are three ships in Fort Lauderdale carrying the norovirus. No, there are five. No, there are ten. The outbreak began last Thursday when the restaurants served lobster (but if it caused the outbreak on the Crown Princess, how did it get to the other ships, because our cooks did not feed their passengers). There have been 200 people sick. No 400. No half the ship’s compliment including crew! Anyway I know it is true because I got it from Billy Bob who looked it up on Snopes!
The folks we’ve fellowshipped with seem to be rather stoic about it. One gal said, “I’ve gotten a free five day vacation. I’ve been fed and taken care of, and it hasn’t cost me a penny.” That seems to be the general attitude.
When all is said and done – and more is usually said than done – Bonnie and I have had a good time, but we will be glad to get back to Woodland Drive. This will be the last blog entry. See you at the house, or in church.
TTFN!
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