Ship Home

After eight days on board, we've hit the wall. Bernie skipped dinner altogether. Lola's entree was small, and neither Helen nor I finished ours. The wall.

This was reflected in our activities as well. Part of the day saw Helen and Lola playing cards in the Piazza. Bernie does what he calls his photo safaris. After the Zumba exercise class, I went running in the gym.

We are treating the ship like our home.

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Today it's our ship's second return to Fort Lauderdale. We had to pack up this time as we couldn't get the same cabins. We move a few doors down. Actually, we just do the packing and the stuff gets moved for us.

We didn't receive any information like we did last time telling us how to do the turn around. With the room change things are a little weirder, as our key cards will have to be replaced. They are supposed to have our new key cards at the returning-passengers meeting place, but we'll see.

A good benefit to the turn around is that we got some room booze. None of us are willing to pay bar prices, but like the odd drink. At the start of every cruise it is permitted to bring aboard a bottle of wine per person as long as you keep it in your room. Ours is about used up.

They do sell bottled stuff on board for low, duty-free prices but they only let you have it at the end of the voyage. The final day of the trip is different. They keep selling bottles, but don't have time to do the last-day room delivery anymore, and just give it out over the counter. Bernie got some Grand Marnier, and I picked up a bottle of Sheridans.

It is always good to learn the system.

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By the time our last leg is over, we should understand this boat pretty well. I think we'll be ready to move things ashore. Most people disembark looking pretty grim. They are looking forward to an immediate airport meat grinder, with a flight or two to get them home that same day.

I've never considered that the way to do things, even on our first cruise 20 years ago.

In five days, when it's finally our turn to leave the ship, we have a beach-front Fort Lauderdale hotel booked. Much less pressure that way. No worried rush off the boat. No deadlines that day.

Normally we'd fly home the following day, but Mister Internet could only find us pricey flights. Huge savings were to be found by delaying 24 hours. This we are doing, which more than pays for another day at the beach hotel. Another day at the beach free? Sign me up.

Flights are never perfect. There are no direct flights at all between Florida and Vancouver. The best trips involve a single stop over and plane change. This time we do so in Chicago.

Due to the magic of time zones, we leave at 11:30am, fly for 3 1/2 hours, spend 4 hours in Chicago airport, then fly for 4 more hours, and arrive in Vancouver at 8pm. My guts will think it's 11pm, but what do they know.

Getting in at the hour means we can't catch the ferry home. Therefore, we bunk down in Vancouver, and take it easy getting home the next day. This will include a walk, a train ride, another walk, a bus ride, a ferry ride, two more bus rides, and a final walk to our front door.

In a way, our trip home from the ship will take about 3 days. No need to rush these things.