After so many months of planning, it’s finally the day we head to Boston for our Voyage of the Vikings.
Travel Morning
After schedule changes, we ended up on the first American Airlines flight of the day from Daytona Beach. This meant a 4:15 am pickup from our home. I booked transportation with someone in our community who provides that service. He is also picking us up at the Orlando airport when we return in 36 days.
This meant a 3 am alarm although I was already up thanks to sleep problems I’ve been having lately. I woke up to an email from Holland America saying boarding is delayed tomorrow due to a Coast Guard inspection and not to show up until 1:45 for deck 4. That’s only five minutes later than the boarding time on our passes.
We were going to head over earlier though after checking out of the hotel at noon. Hopefully, we can get a delayed checkout.
Daytona Beach Airport
Yesterday when I checked us in my boarding pass wouldn’t show TSA precheck although Steve’s did. I double-checked that I had all the information right but still no cigar. When I check in our luggage maybe I can get it straightened out. We got to the airport before the desk opened and had a short wait with our pile of luggage.
American Airlines was asking for volunteers to take a $300 voucher to take a later flight. At the airport I had a breakfast sandwich and Steve had a muffin while we waited for boarding to begin.
When our flights changed a few months ago I didn’t notice the new one was a much smaller plane. We had to gate-check the carry-on and there were two seats on each side. Steve and I were sitting in aisles across from each other but he moved next to me when I had an empty seat at the window.
We arrived in Charlotte about 10 minutes early.
Charlotte Airport
What a difference between the nice calm DB airport and here. It felt like walking into chaos. After finding the restrooms, we had quite a walk to get from terminal E to terminal B. When we got there no chairs were available at the gate so we walked back to the food court area which was nice and airy and had rocking chairs.
Our connecting flight was delayed to late arrival from where it was coming. About an hour before departure I bought us sandwiches from Jersey Mike’s and a bag of chips for our lunch.
Travel Afternoon
Once we took off the flight was pretty uneventful. Steve and I ate our lunches and got sodas to wash it down with from the flight attendants. I watched a movie on my iPad, “80 for Brady”, which was entertaining. Before I knew it the plane was landing.
While waiting to get off I had a call from our driver. We booked transportation from Boston Executive Limo. He asked if we had luggage and told me how to find him once we claimed it.
Two bags were just circling the luggage carousel by the time we made our way there. The third showed up right after I found the door we needed to exit. We were off and when we crossed the street. Mo, the driver, was waiting there with my name on his phone.
We quickly loaded the luggage and headed to the hotel. With the Sumner tunnel closed I was expecting an hour ride but we were there in about 25-30 minutes.
Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
Our king size room with harbor view was ready when we arrived. I was a little concerned when people in front of us weren’t able to check in. The room was bigger than I was expecting.
Do you think it’s wierd to have so much blank space on the walls?
The bathroom was a decent size.
Especially the shower was a good size.
The closet, coffee area and fridge was to the left as you entered the room.
The harbor view was better looking to the left from the windows.
This is the view looking straight from the windows.
We were happy with the space and view. After getting settled, we rested a bit.
Travel Evening
I had already planned to go to the nearby Yankee Lobster restaurant for dinner. Part of our perks for the hotel’s resort fees include two free medium cups of clam chowder there. We headed to the navigator’s desk to get those vouchers plus she got us two complimentary Boston trolley tour tickets worth $100.
Then we made the short walk to Yankee Lobster. Along the way we took a waterfront photo and could see the Hyatt Regency we originally booked but I changed to this side after learning about the potential traffic issues.
We heard music and as we got to the venue realized it was sound check for a Phil Lesh an Friends concert at the Leader Bank Pavilion.
Lesh was the bassist for the Grateful Dead so the music was pretty good!
Yankee Lobster
Right past there was Yankee Lobster. There was a long from the front door around the corner but it took about 10 minutes to get to the front. We ordered and were taken to our choice of four tables outside. We chose one of the barrel tables closer to the road so we could people watch.
First they brought out our chowders.
We both loved it. I would definitely come back for more. I went with the traditional lobster roll with fries.
It was good but not the best. Very generous with the lobster and eventually I stopped eating the roll and just focused on finishing the lobster. Steve had the 2 pound lobster plate which came with corn on the cob, cole slaw (which I ate) and a big plate of fries.
He said his was definitely above average. During the meal we loved seeing concert goers arriving with their array of Grateful Dead t-shirts. Very colorful and I was happy to see almost as many young people as those in my generation.
Hotel Evening
We walked back to the hotel and asked for more coffee pods at the front desk before I headed to the business center. Somehow I printed our ship boarding passes but never packed them! Holland America seems to like the paper ones more than the digital so I wanted both.
When I got back to our room I met the employee bringing our coffee pods. Great timing! We then headed to the bar for an after dinner drink.
Steve went with his usual (Jack and Coke)and I had a blueberry basil soda which included vodka.
Boy was it tasty. We people watched more from the floor to ceiling windows while enjoying our cocktails.
After our early rising today (and my sleep troubles lately) we were ready to hit the sack early and I was asleep by 8 pm.
Tomorrow we sail!
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