Guess who’s back, back again? Live from B2B Epic 23 Dec to 6 Jan

[smileygirl_68]

Well. Good things come to those who wait and my goodness I’ve been waiting...and now it’s here!!

 

Immediately on returning from the same trip last year, I booked again for this year. Now call me a creature of habit but I know what I like, and that’s cruising, boozing and schmoozing. The beautiful Norwegian Epic has never let me down in any of those departments and I think she kinda misses me when I’m not there. To ease her pain I managed two additional adventures in 2017, both of which can only be described with gushing superlatives. I considered those trips as an appetiser, preparing for the main event.

 

So, this morning I woke to find these two beauties blissfully unaware of my impending treachery, and I’m sure I’ll pay for my peccadilloes when I return.

A swift shower, much ‘checking my list, checking it twice’ and a ‘must empty the kitchen bin’ moment concluded my pre departure routine. It’s about the same cost for me to park at the airport or use a cab, so I choose to drive, and this I did. I used the meet and greet service which involves rocking up, launching my car keys at the attendant and swanking off without a care in the world to check in.

 

When I travel solo, I consider that I’m getting my flights half price as I only need to pay for one person. This logic permits me to take the upper class option on long haul, so today I am being transported in one of Mr Branson’s beauties, not sure which one yet but I will take a pic of Hot Lips or Ruby Tuesday or some other glamorous bird when I reach the gate.

 

Next up...what happened in the exec lounge and why did ‘that man’ keep burping...

[Son of a son of a ...]

Eminem lyrics in the title noted. :) Have fun!

[smileygirl_68]

Team Ladybird!

[smileygirl_68]

Team Ladybird!

 

 

 

[alysonofagun]

Yaaaaaassss!! But you know New Year won’t be the same without your Cruise Fam on board [emoji24]

 

 

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[smileygirl_68]

This was one of the flight attendants...make of it what you will.

 

I’ve arrived safely having drank myself insensible aboard ‘Ladybird’, and checked into the Hyatt at Orlando airport. It’s a decent enough place for a pre cruise sleepover.

 

I took full advantage of the Upper Class facilities, quaffing fizz til I passed out and had a drooly snooze. The inflight food was not good....some black treacle blended with coal style sauce ruined everything, including my tastebuds.

 

I’d arranged to meet a fellow soloista who I’ve met up with on previous cruises and dutifully knocked on his door upon arrival. I was greeted with an amusing tale of him having arrived yesterday minus his suitcases, one of which is in NY and the other is in Detroit! The airline said they might need to ship them to one of the ports, likely grand cayman which is quite a few days away. He’s spent his time wandering round the airport buying assorted unpleasant emergency clothing items, and I’ve been very supportive by laughing my head off at the whole sorry affair! Tom Hanks in The Terminal springs to mind.

 

Dinner was in McCoys here at the Hyatt...acceptable as there were some boozy accompaniments and our server was a delight.

 

In my previous post I said I’d update you on the burping man and other exec lounge antics. Well, I met a lady who seemed quite fun, until she turned into the mother of all complainers, telling me how she always removed the service charge from her cruise as she wasn’t paying extra for someone who was just doing their job. She also complained about the quality of the salsa classes, being an expert herself they just weren’t good enough...there was much more to her moaning but I tuned out and thanked my lucky stars she isn’t on our cruise.

 

As for Barry the Burper, turns out he’s free and easy with his gas and simply doesn’t care. Again, delighted he’s not on our cruise!

 

I’ve just had a message from Tom Hanks...luggage will not arrive before 5pm tomorrow...right about the time we sail, oh dear! I suggested he might want to rummage in the hotel’s lost property to see if anything took his fancy but he declined...

 

Up next...Cruise Day!!

[FLcruisergrl]

Following! We’ll be on the second leg of your b2b!

[MsJersey84]

Following Thank You

[marktwothousand]

Following, lurking, creeping...and don’t forget to post your room number when you know it...for late night chats from shore. Adults only 21+

[smileygirl_68]

Following, lurking, creeping...and don’t forget to post your room number when you know it...for late night chats from shore. Adults only 21+

 

 

 

Ha ha! As long as you promise to be ultra sleazy, you know that’s how I like it!

[Clarea]

Nice start, following.:)

[smileygirl_68]

So...after Tom’s announcement that his belongings would not be here in time, he said he needed to go to a mall and I generously offered to go with him. Looking like a pair of incompetent oafs we got a cab and I applied my expert shopping skills to direct Tom to the relevant departments. He now has a whole new wardrobe contained in an Adidas hold-all including an outfit for when he dines with the ship’s Captain. I’ll explain all about that tomorrow...along with getting to the port and embarkation

[Keith1010]

Love the narrative and photos.

 

Will be following along.

 

Keith

[smileygirl_68]

It’s 430 am and I’m wide awake so I thought I’d post a few more pics.

 

First up, coal and treacle surprise

Next, my ‘seat neighbour’ Jack who I introduced myself to shortly after boarding

I don’t care how much they paid for their flights, this attire is a criminal offence

This is Tom Hanks...note unshaven face and tourist Tshirt

Finally, some ‘manly’ grooming items...the name made me laugh and is specifically aimed at a member of my solo cruise fam called Rosstours...

Edited December 23, 2017 by smileygirl_68

[jtdlmc]

Looking forward to following along! I do have a question - your cats, the white one looks huge next to the other one, is it just the way they are laying and photo was taken or is it actually huge??? I'm a cat lover and have four :)

[smileygirl_68]

Looking forward to following along! I do have a question - your cats, the white one looks huge next to the other one, is it just the way they are laying and photo was taken or is it actually huge??? I'm a cat lover and have four :)

 

 

 

Yes he is huge! He’s a Maine Coon, the other is a silver Bengal. He is the softest most gentle boy ever, whereas the Bengal (Mercury) is a naughty pest and likes to ride on Moz (Maine Coon) and torment him relentlessly. Moz could easily eat him, but he chooses to walk away and shake his head in disappointment!

[smileygirl_68]

I discovered that there’s a model of the original ‘The Terminal’ guy here in the airport. I tried to take a pic of Tom with it but the reflection makes it a bit rubbish. Here it is anyway!

[smileygirl_68]

On it, On it!!

[keeponcruising]

Looking forward to your review. Enjoy your cruise!

[LuCruise]

Following along. Enjoy your cruise.

 

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[jimbri]

Looking forward to the rest of your review!!

[smileygirl_68]

Right. I’ve done the unthinkable and ‘stopped drinking’. I met someone who is totally trollied (look it up) and I knew I’d never match their just arrived and gone mental status. There’s a whole tale about how Tom exerted his Norwegian-ness to get us on board super fast, much to the annoyance of folk holding boarding group cards earlier than ours (we were group 8, we barged to the front of the platinum queue to the sounds of tutting and shouting and he asked a crew member for a phone so he could call the captain, they decided it was too much trouble and waved us through, I about-turned and stuck my tongue out at the jealous bystanders) and before you could say ‘prosecco’ I was positioned smugly in spice with a fizzy blessing!

 

The solo shenanigans have commenced...tequila was ordered and much to my disgust I gave it a go. I cannot bear the stuff, unless it’s Cafe Patron, which was lacking so I was presented with plain old dangerous death-inducing tequila. Prior to taking a gulp, I gave a passer-by my mums phone number, just in case. I was saved by the ‘totally trollied’ gal, who hit my elbow as the poison was on its way to my mouth and I managed to spill it all over me. I was glad about that, I think it saved my life.

 

When trolly dolly lost her UBP card and I was forced to rummage in her handbag, carry on bag and rucksack to find it, the memories of me being ‘that person’ came flooding back. I think this has contributed to my more mature Day One attitude. Dolly eventually found her card in her bra and I’m glad my rummaging wasn’t needed to retrieve it.

 

Muster starts in 30 mins, then there’s 4pm sail away stupidity and at 5.15 it’s the ‘let’s get ready to ruin ourselves before the actual event’ pre solo meeting hosted by one of the roll call gals.

 

I am going for a world record of not falling asleep at muster...I may even clean my teeth in honour of the event...

[smileygirl_68]

Followers...big announcement. This girl has just escorted the dolly bird back to her room. She was discovered in a somewhat blemished state and I stepped in to deal with the aftermath. I don’t know what came over me but I was a true friend, the victim was placed in the recovery position, pillows behind to prevent rolling over and the bathroom bin strategically placed to catch any overspill. My work here is done, where’s my booze?!!

[Tyskie]

OH my, I'm on the second leg of these shenanigans [emoji33]. Can't wait to get onboard [emoji1][emoji41][emoji898]

 

 

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[smileygirl_68]

It’s GSC day today...I celebrated with a Bloody Mary! No picture, chugged it like a champ...I’ve just met trolly dolly who looks remarkably human and I’m impressed with her stamina. My kinda cruise buddy for sure. Updates on today’s adventure will follow...