I feel like dialing 1-800-AlGore to see where all the Global Warming went. Southwest Florida was under a freeze watch last night and this morning, the temp is in the mid 40s.
We have worked out a very good plan for today. The drive to Ft. Lauderdale Airport is 91 miles and takes about two hours. Our car is due back before 11:00 AM. We had gassed up on Friday and we need to return the car with the same fuel level (1/2 tank – really!!). We left just after 9:00 AM and even with a wrong turn near the airport, wound up at ACE Rental Cars at 10:45 AM. Check in was easier than check out and after about a 15 minute wait, ACE provided a complimentary shuttle to the Port Everglades Cruise port.
Embarkation
Passing our luggage to the porters and checking in was very quick and there was no wait to board the ship. A great plan with a great result. We found out while getting on the ship that the cruise director was Stewart Turnbull – we sailed with Stewart on our triple Caribbean cruise last February.
Everything went according to the usual pattern:
The Lunch in the Oceanview Cafe was good (you can tell how good the food will be by how good the tuna salad is)
Our Seapass cards didn’t work.
Room 3519 - Port Forward
According to the letter in our stateroom – Room 3519 – I would be meeting with the Entertainment Manager, Maria T. Kelly – at 5:15 PM in Celebrity Central and then filming a preview of my talks with Stewart at 8:00 PM in Quasar.
Port Everglades is busy today with six ships listed as docked. The Silhouette is the only Celebrity cruiser.
The afternoon is spent in the Solarium and resting.
Taking it easy in the Solarium
The largest Princess Ship, the Ruby Princess, is the first of the cruisers to depart.
Bon Voyage, Ruby Princess
We are next to go and follow the Ruby Princess out to sea,
Ft. Lauderdale Sail Away
I met with Maria at 5:15 PM and she indicated that I would be giving all five talks. The other speaker is David Holland – Destination.
At 8:00 PM,
I met with Stewart Turnbull to film my little promo.
We are live in 3..2..1..
We ate in the Oceanview Cafe. I like the Pasta Bar – today, Spaghetti with garlic and olio. Very good.
The Party Band – The Runaways – are playing at 100db in the Grand Foyer – they sound foreign (they are actually from the UK) and they are the first non-Filipino Party Band we have seen wince we started cruising – a monumental first. What makes them watchable is the Doo Wop choreography displayed by the three lead vocalists. More fun to watch than to listen to.
The Runaways
We attended the Welcome Aboard Show – performing was the A Cappella Group - “The High Cs” and magician, Martin Brock, from Denmark.
No piano vocalists on board this time – a jazz band and two guitarist-vocalists.
The seas are choppy (the Captain warned us) and the decks to windy and cold. Hoping for improvement tomorrow on our first sea day.
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