CruzinMel

I'm a lightweight, but they were prepared to be generous!

I'm on Escape.now. I haven't tried the dining rooms, but going from.bar to bar on the ship, not every one had Veuve. In the buffet, the bartender looked at my card, told me all he had was Prosecco, and encouraged me to go to the places that had Veuve.

Hola from the Dominican Republic! We just had rum for breakfast! We are pirates! Ship internet is crap, so many thanks to Verizon for my phone plan. Escape is docked in Amber Cove today, next to the HAL Niew Amsterdam. We couldn't find a ships tour so I booked with Alfredo through Viator and Andres is taking us around town. His Englush is about as good as my Spanish, so we are stepping out in faith today. The first stop was the Macorix House de Rhum, and my lips are numb but I had 8 shots and a drunken popsicle so they feel better. Andres is taking us on a panoramic tour now, and then I need more rhim!!! In a nutshell the ship is beautiful and the crew is amazing, and that's not just the rum talking. It is FULL.

Trying to add some pics.... and I am not happy with how CC does pics! That said, we got onboard shortly after 1130 this morning, and I handled all our mess with the marvelous concierge David and his magical assistant Charry. Handling the muster drill check in was a breeze - we went straight to our muster station, where our cards were scanned, and then straight to the Haven lounge. Throughout the day so far, there have been multiple announcements to remind everyone to check in, and at 3 there's going to be a drill without a drill - the 7 short blasts and then the muster message, but we don't have to go anywhere. We did a quick bar fill up, then went for lunch at American Diner - marvelous service, regular food, but my spinach salad with shrimp was delicious, Perc pronounced the shrimp and grits divine, and DH and Indiana shared lobster sliders and said they could eat those all night. Drumboy is crawling the ship, which is crawling with passengers- this baby is slap full. DH is dismayed that the Crown Royal supply is low - they didn't have any at the Haven Bar when we got on, and he found some at Spice H2O (Russell says hi!) but that's a long walk. We shall see. Indy doesn't like the crowds, so she and I are up on the Haven sundeck taking a nap under cloudy skies while DH has crashed in the room. Some wild party animals we are!! I can already tell we are going to be unhappy with the internet- I can't even figure out how to get it on, and am on my own wifi at the moment. Across the way, I can hear one of these other ships doing s muster drill - we are looking at Disney Fantasy, which appears empty, as does the Carnival Magic next to her. Maybe it's Jewel.of the Seas? It's just 3 PM, so when one of them.moves. I'll know. Now, for a nap!!

BOARDING!

Yes! Indy got 2 suits, so we are good to go. I'm.totally not sure what to do about the no show - we had to get on board first, but after that...we shall see. I didn't print a new letter....

Let the LIVE begin! Here we sit in the Haven waiting area while folks all debark the ship, so it's a good time to check off some boxes for the Live review. This morning, it was FOGGY!! NO joy trying to see any ships at the port. We hit the road looking for breakfast, and thoroughly enjoyed a huge meal at the Causeway Diner. And then, it was time to find the port!! I had not figured out which terminal but I figured there would be signage, and there was. At the entrance to Terminal 10, there was a helpful man who gave us confusing directions, resulting in some unnecessary driving around, but we figured it out - drive into the parking garage but don't park - go to the porters first and drop off your heavy bags. The porters will put your luggage tags on the luggage - they have staplers. Our porter was very good to us, because apparently we are going to live on the ship for 6 months. Then into the parking deck, and out to find Haven check in. On the outside if the terminal, there are lots and lots of blue Norwegian tents. Not helpful - I wanted the gold Haven sign. I found where the Scootaround equipment pickup is - there was a blue tent with a Scootarojnd sign. We had no Mom, and I had canceled the wheelchair, so that was one less thing to worry about. I had arranged wheelchair assistance for her, but I guess we'd have assigned a kid to be the pusher. I do NOT know how a couple would have managed, if they'd been counting on a porter from Norwegian to push a wheelchair while the other person wrangled carry ons. Haven tip - look for the last blue tent at the far right if you are facing the terminal. There is a TINY Haven sign, and a representative sitting at a table. They will ask to see your boarding docs, (which was the first time I told someone Mom wasn't coming) and then direct you to go up the escalator behind you. That takes you to the security area - first line on the left is Haven security. We were asked if we were Haven, and were directed to the first line on the left, where we showed our passports, and were shown to the xray machines (phones in your bags for the scanner, please!) Then through a hallway, where we saw different lines for priority boarding, etc, and the representative stationed there sent us to Haven check in, ALL the way at the other end of the terminal. (Note here - I can totally see how someone could get confused - if you went to the wrong check in or security line, or a rep wasn't available, you could easily go to regular check in.) ALL the way at the end of the terminal, we saw the first Haven check in sign, and encountered the lovely Haven lady, who took us to Haven check.in - after that, everything was easy as pie. Checked in, got our gold Haven cards, and now we are waiting, with juice and coffee, and it's only been an hour. As I type it's 11:08, and we are READY TO GO!

I was up at 5 and forced myself to stay abed...we are excited!! I thought Disney myself but didn't see it on CruiseMapper, so not sure.

Boo! Too foggy to see the port this morning!! And also, 2 members of our party DIDNT BRING BATHING SUITS!! So instead of a leisurely breakfast, we are headed to Target, then drive through breakfast and to the port. Foggy marina pic for tax.

Added some pics - hope this works right!! No idea who that is. Ships from the balcony.

YES - we are catching our pre-cruise 40 winks from Merritt Island tonight - 11 minutes from the port tomorrow.

Oh, what an awful experience- I'm so sorry that happened to you. I think I'd have reacted as you did, especially with your Dad along. I'm going to bet that lady came in for some special attention at some point - I have seen pax get refused alcohol at bars before, and actually saw another get escorted from the Haven bar by some officers. (He'd had a day of alcohol and was giving unsolicited friendly hugs to women who didn't ask for them. He left.) It's not a consolation for such an upsetting meal, though. I'm glad Moderno was better!

We are on Merritt Island and we can see a cruise ship from our balcony!! (No idea which one, but it's not the Escape, so I don't care - it's a ship!!!) It was a long six hours down to Cape Canaveral - between the GSP pulling drivers over right and left, and Florida drivers having one wreck after another, we were all exhausted when we made it to our condo. Back when I thought we'd have 2 more people in the room, I got a 3 bedroom, lagoon-view condo at Cape Crossing Resort and Marina. It is gorgeous - spacious, decorated, beautiful marina view, just perfect. Better still, it was 200 bucks cheaper than 2 hotel rooms on Cocoa Beach, and for a one night stay, that was important. We brought pre-cruise booze with us, and after drinking and watching football, DH and the Percussionist wanted to go bar hopping, in which case the beach would have been easier. There is only one restaurant/bar nearby, which is called Dolphins, and its walkable. The food was adequate, and the service was meh, which is why the men are not at the tiki bar right now. (DH at this moment is encouraging Clemson's kicker to miss his 4th field goal.....) And after that, we are doing what we'd do on any Friday night, except we are 11 hours from getting on the ship!!! On the drive, I called the concierge desk and got most everything settled. The app and website stop letting you adjust things 3 days before the cruise - the ship takes over at that time, and even the shore excursions desk can't do much. The concierge was able to adjust our meal packages to 4 each, prepay my gratuities (saves $140) and add streaming internet for DH's phone. They confirmed that ESPN is not one of the channels the ship will have, so we MUST be able to stream the Georgia game!!! The only thing left undone is to upgrade the beverage package. Today's concierge was not a wizard like yesterday's concierge, and he told me that I'd have to upgrade everybody in the room, and then submit an insurance claim to get Mom's money back. Why would I want to do that? So, we will wait to do the premium plus upgrade first thing on the ship, when I am grubbing with the concierge for show times. After all this time, we are sooooo close!!! Tomorrow we will get up early, breakfast, and be at the port by 9:30.

Yes - thank you! I am actually worried about tonight's dinner - we ate at a local spot and all I could think was, "On the ship, they will take care of me." I'm going to make Siva my best buddy!!

Deleted - hit the post button twice because of a bump in the road.

For my butler letter, I'd planned to include Tip Part I - I've got dietary restrictions that could knock me out of commission, so I'm going to be a little bit extrra. (Even a Haven bathroom would not be a fun place to cruise) And I liked the idea of it - going ahead and putting it all down, so we are on the same page. But we shall see - it will all be good.

They sound wonderful!

Oh, yes - I married the best of men, but he is incapable of allowing anyone else to drive. Further, in Florida traffic, his NASCAR tendencies emerge, and he has to be reminded not to bump draft.

:😀 Tell you what - if you are driving, be careful in Georgia. We've passed so many cars pulled over getting tickets that it's pretty clear GSP is on a mission.

It's finally HERE!!! Tracel Day!!! Here's hoping you and the hubs are on the road as well - I will check in on you from down south on the Escape. Safe travels!!!!

Thanks - we are SO EXCITED!!!! I will do my best to be live, so you can come along.

So, here we go - we are in the car and headed to Florida!! It's a beautiful, sunny day and the Georgia State Patrol is making bank today - we've passed at least 6 pulled cars in the last half hour. So SLOW DOWN! I am starting the trip missing 2 things - $100 in gambling money that is going to Indy, who won her bet, and MY BUTLER LETTER!!! My beautiful, classy, carefully crafted butler letter...sigh. it's less necessary since Mom didn't come but I think it's a nice touch, and I really liked the Gluten Free section. The Percussionist says I can just write a new one tonight, which is not a bad idea. BTW, if you are on this cruise and see a young man in random places with drumsticks and a practice pad....that's him. He brought drumsticks on vacation. As with most percussionists, he is physically incapable of going 25 hours without banging on something. He also started pregaming at 9 this morning. I'm going to let the sun come up a little.more and then call the concierge desk. I tried last night but there was a lot of static on her side and I was getting nervous about what we bought, so I ended the call and trying again today. The main thing I need now is to upgrade everybody to Premium Plus - the only thing I clearly heard last night was to let Mom be a no show rather than cancel her, because cancelations get penalties that no shows do not. We shall see. Meanwhile, here's a shot of the Perdue Boilermaker Special also headed to Orlando, for the Citrus Bowl.

Thank you!!

Sooooo close....we are all packed and loaded up except Mom, who stuck to her inscrutable decision and is not, indeed, joining us. 😞 She will be far from lonely - her caregiver and the housekeeper will come on schedule, and I'm keeping the pet sitter so the doggos get out and get fed on schedule. I also plan to let her girlfriends know she stayed back, so they can all commiserate with her. It's going to be odd, but it is what it is. Based on the amount of luggage the 4 of us have loaded into the truck, it looks like 10 people are going on this trip. I have a large money bet with Indiana that she can be downstairs at 7 am, dressed and ready to get in the car - we shall see. She says she will sleep tomorrow while we are driving, $100 richer. I doubt she will sleep - for Christmas, wise DH got everybody sunglasses with Bluetooth and speakers in them. We all like different music - he is R&B, I am NPR, Indy likes audio books and the Percussionist likes...well, everything from Shostakovich to Metallica to video games. Both kids have insisted they need their laptops (we think this is nuts) but they went out to Best Buy today and bought a dual port charger, I guess so they can drain the truck's battery while we ride. I am working as we ride - got some things to fix on the road, since I never canceled Mom, and I want to update here. After all this planning and plotting, I can't believe it's time - Florida, here we come!!

Oh, holy cow - I have SO MUCH TO DO!!! 😀 Between getting ready for Christmas, and then surviving Christmas, plus working all week and trying to get everyone and everything ready....NOTHING IS READY!!! All I have to do is get there with a passport and a bathing suit, right? And sunscreen. My white booty needs lots of sunscreen.