I am the first passenger to arrive in the theater. Passengers that are carrying off all their luggage are called to begin disembarking. Shortly it is our turn.
Again no lines, no crowds. One last scan of my sea pass card to account for me leaving the ship. The gangway is a very long ramp that winds back and forth as we go from deck 5 on the ship to the second floor of the terminal and then down to ground level.
As we enter the terminal building masks are required. Our luggage is waiting for us and is quickly found. We head to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Historically this is the step that can take hours. Not today.
As I fish in my pocket to get my passport the agent says: "just put that away, please remove your mask". Within 2 seconds the screen flashes a message and I am on my way. More technology. Facial recognition has compared me with an electronic record of my passport.
The shuttle bus takes me directly to my car, we load the luggage and start the long drive home.
Shortly one of the tire pressure warning alarms comes on. One tire is a few pounds low. Of course this appears after I have entered the Turnpike with limited service areas, I watch it, and make the decision no action is needed unless it continues to drop. The pressure remains steady even if a few pounds low.
After several restroom stops, I am home before 1 PM. Unpack, wash all the clothes and I am ready to go again.
Later in the day, hours after arrival at home, I learn the tire pressure really isn't low, it is a defective sensor. A task for another day.
Yes it was great to get back to sea again. I will be doing it again in less than 60 days. I expect the covid protocols will change again by then.
There were no covids cases this week. The entire crew and some passengers were tested on the third day of the cruise. Every day the captain reported on the health status of the ship - no one suspected of covid and no one testing positive. Just as planned.
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