NO JOB IS FINISHED ...

January 29, 2016

Until the paperwork is done.

Yesterday was a trying day.  It was turn around day.  Back to back day.  Start of a new cruise day.  Whatever.

All of those staying on the Carnival Pride for the next cruise, like your favorite cruisers, were to go to the Taj Mahal lounge to process through, so the new cruise could begin.  Before a new cruise can begin, the old cruise must conclude with a “zero count.”  Everybody has to be off the ship – at least paperwork wise.

We strolled into the lounge where we presented our Sail and Sign Cards (our room key cards) to be scanned off the ship, and were told we were not on the list for back to back.  And it slowly slide down hill from there.  Further checking revealed, Oh yes we are!  And so we were scanned off.  Then we went to get new cards.  Where it was revealed that we were not on the list for new cards.  Further checking revealed, Oh yes we are!  And temporary cards were given to us.  I told you it was going down hill.  The temps did not have our pictures on them, so we couldn’t use them to get off the ship to go into San Juan.  We went to guest services where Britainy went above and beyond and got us photographed and new cards and we headed out, but quickly turned around to get “In Transit” documents.  Oh my goodness!

But it ain’t over, Yogi said, until it’s over.

I neglected to tell you that the day really started when we tried to get in the safe to get our passports and cash to go ashore, and the safe wouldn’t open.  Yvette, the floor manager, came quickly and got it open for us – the second time it has gone screwy.

We went out to the CVS and got a few necessities and a few luxuries – namely 2 Coke Zeros, 1 Diet Sprite, and 5 Mountain Dew.  Back on board, throught the scanner where we were told, “Drop that soda pop, Mister!  It’s in plastic bottles and you can’t bring soda pop on board in plastic bottles!  It has to be cans!”  And the fit hit the shan!

Back to CVS.  Exchange the deadly plastic bottles for hard, metal cans.  And back on board. 

Then lunch and an uneventful stroll around San Juan.

Supper was a “sit where you can find a place” arrangement, but we managed to get our regular table with our regular wait-crew.

The lifeboat drill was concluded around 9:45 p.m. and we watched the sail way.  The city slide past beautifully, bathed in colored lights.  And we retired.

All’s well that ends well.  And the paperwork is finished!

TTFN