Embarkation Day

As stated earlier, this is our longest cruise to date.  I  will also state that this was the longest embarkation we have ever experienced…more on that in a  moment. 

Jen and Donato drove us to Port Everglades to board the Grand Princess.  First, though, we tried to get some Skype time in with Lisa and Enzo back in Colorado.  We decided to climb up the bridge that overlooks the port and show Enzo all the ships docked in port.  We counted at least 6 big cruiseliners, including the biggest of them all, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. 

Skyping with Lisa & Enzo

On the bridge overlooking the port. 

We had received notice a few days ago that the Grand Princess would be docked at Pier 29, instead of Pier 1.  That turned out to be the start of a long boarding process.  We dropped off our luggage and saw the line to check in winding around the port area.  We have always been able to just walk right into the terminal.  Not today!  We snaked our way outside the terminal for about 90 minutes before reaching the lines inside the terminal.  It was another 40 minutes and we were finally on the ship.  This was most unusual and we wondered what had happened to cause such delays in boarding.  According to the Princess staff, being way down on Pier 29 means we were at the end of the line for port employees and there were very few people assigned to security and to check everyone in.  Oh, well….we got on board and sailed away just 2 and ½ hours late.

 

We enjoyed a sail-a-way drink with our neighbors, Bob and Tissy.  They live just down the block from us in Fort Collins and this is the 3^rd cruise we have been on with them.  They are great fun to cruise with!

Our first sea day was a relaxing one after the Meet and Greet session with our Cruise Critic roll call.  We number several hundred and it was a time to meet the people we have been corresponding with and will be sharing tours with over the next few weeks.  The afternoon was spent on the deck, in a lounge chair, watching the sea drift by, reading a good book.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh