Have you ever driven to your cruise transportation in a golf cart? Yep, that’s how my neighbor and I got to the meeting point this morning for bus number 3. I’ll call her D1 since I also spend a lot of time with another neighbor/friend, D2.
Embarkation Morning
We got there, put our suitcase on the curb for the bus driver, and went inside to enjoy breakfast after checking in.
It started with fireball horchata Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. Yum! Then I moved on to a cran-mosa (is that a word) with cinnamon toast crunch muffins, and fresh fruit.
We loaded up the bus once all 33 ladies arrived and learned we had to go to where another bus was to switch buses — the drivers went to the wrong homes.
Once that snafu got figured out we were on our way (about 25 minutes late). Then the lead bus (ours) had a drive who’d never done the route before and he went to the wrong place. The driver wanted us to get back on the bus and go to the right side where the porters were but we could all walk 50 yards and finally we got it sorted. A porter came to us and we turned over bags to him.
Once that was done it was very easy to get onboard with no waiting anywhere.
Embarkation Afternoon
We went to our muster station since that was very close to where we got onboard first. Then it was to the dining room where D and I could joined other ladies in the group.
It was an enjoyable lunch. I started with the split pea soup (no picture). It was good although not as hot as I’d prefer. Some of the others had scallops which were cold so they were replaced.
My main was the short ribs and it was very good.
For dessert I went with the chocolate cookie which had a weird presentation but was very good!
Then I was off to the cabin since it almost 2 pm. My bag was there so I was able to unpack and get settled. The cabin had plenty of room for the two of us. We had empty storage since it was just a four day.
Then it was time for the group picture.
It turned out pretty darn good! I circled my face on the lower right hand side of the photo.
Afterwards some of us spent some time at the pool before leaving to get ready for our early dinner seating. D1 and I met our cabin steward, Sebastian who made sure we had everything we needed our preference for service.
Embarkation Evening
There was time for a pre-dinner cocktail so I headed to the Bamboo room. I had the Saturn landing and it was very good. Met some new to me ladies in the group while enjoying our drinks.
Embarkation Dinner
There was confusion about what time dinner was but we got it confirmed for 5:30. We went to our table on deck 5 next to a window.
I wasn’t thrilled with the entree choices but did make a choice. My dinner started with crab cake.
It was good but had a lot of breading in it. Then I had the shrimp cocktail which I enjoyed as always.
So when I heard the fish was tilapia I went with the prime rib. I asked for medium rare (which was one of the choices he gave us). Two of my tablemates asked for the rarest he could find).
We all got the same — medium well or worse. Then the center was so tough and tasteless I just ate around it.
For dessert I had the dark chocolate custard but it wasn’t good so just ate a couple of bites.
Embarkation Drinks and Show
I ran into D2 and we visited the bamboo bar for me to get a cocktail to go called On the Run.
It was a dollar over the free diamond drink limit so I paid that. We went to a table in front of the pub and people watched. Eventually other group member joined us until it was time to go to the ice show. We found good seats in the third row right in front of other ladies I know.
The skaters were good and I recognized one from one of my recent royal cruises (recent being in the past year, lol).
Afterwards we ran into D1 who was going to welcome show and D2 went with her. I headed to cafe promenade for pizza (long line but it moved fast) and then got a bottle of water and can of ginger ale with my last two diamond drinks before heading to the cabin.
This cruise I didn’t save the daily programs. Here is the program for our group.
Here is the letter detailing my Diamond benefits this sailing.
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