JOURNEY BEGINS

January 18, 2016


Well it started off smoothly and then got bumpy.  No problems getting to BWI from ATL, although we are still trying to decide if “providing airfare” means paying for checked luggage, because if you aren’t on Southwest, and we weren’t, you have to pay to check luggage.  Be tough doing 21 days with one outfit!

We got up at 3 a.m., left for Atlanta at 3:30, got there at 5:50ish, left our luggage with curbside check in and proceeded through security without a hitch.  I drove over, and  Jennifer was our return driver – thanks, Jenn!

We had no idea how we were to get from BWI to the cruise port – our agent said turn in a receipt for a taxi if you have to take one.  I saw a lady holding a sign for NCL and asked her if she knew about Carnival.  She did and we went off in that direction, to find out that our name was on no manifest (Vancouver all over again – and Princess and Carnival are sister companies) so we had to pay $50 to ride the bus to the ship (but that is a refundable expense). 

At the dock we went to the cruise coordinator who must have been new to the job, because the dear lady, sweet though she was, was clueless.  She had enough sense about her to call in a relief coordinator, who pitched a flawless bottom of the 9th, entered us into the computer, got our cruise cards and away we sailed.

We are in Stateroom 1111 which is the last starboard inside passenger stateroom on Deck One Forward.  Down the hall a couple dozen steps, up one short flight of stairs and you are in the Butterfly Lounge where all of my talks are.  I am doing each talk twice a day, so 10 on this cruise.  Then if you walk up to Deck Two and go all the way aft, you come to our dining room, “Normandie,” where we have Table 168 for first seating. 

There was a ball room dance instructor couple supposed to share with us, but a last minute family emergency and the inability to replace them, leaves us all alone.

After a delightful supper with three fantastic waiters, we went back to our room, and unpacked – finding our luggage had finally been delivered.  We unpacked in what seems to be smaller storage areas than usual.  The opening night show was at 10 p.m., but by that time we were in our jammies, sawing logs.

The weather outside is frightful, but there’s no fire to be delightful – which is a good thing on board ship.  We are still sailing down the coast of the U. S. of A., and are basically enjoying the same brisk weather as the east coast.  Tomorrow we will be in warmer waters, and Wednesday be in the 80s as we dock at Grand Turk.  The captain has picked up some rough water – winter seas – and we are rolling briskly, but as yet I have not seen the barf bags out.  Last cruise might have been rougher because the ship’s stabilizers were not working.  Thankfully they were repaired before we sailed.

It is official – I am making a checklist for packing for subsequent cruises.  Among the things I forgot are extra q-tips (but we have enough to make Grand Turk), sanitary wipes (butt we have enough to make Grand Turk), and I forgot to pack my cruise coffee mug (I have several from different cruise lines because of a shortage of RAM).  So I went to the ship’s shop to buy one and was told my Sea Pass Card was deactivated.  Oh joy!  Down to guest services.  Run the credit card again.  Sign the form again.  And go back upstairs and buy a new coffee mug.

Well, it’s formal night and dinner time, so I will close this and get back to you later.

TTFN