Yesterday was a very long day. I was up before 5 to help with our train club's public show in DeLand, Fl.
A 70 mile drive, an hour and a half of setup, and then a full day of running trains.
We acquired at least one new member, making the day a success.
I originally booked this cruise to the Western Caribbean well over a year ago when my daughter and her husband Steve decided to book it. Since then many more are joining the party and we are up to 19 family and friends from Florida to Ohio and Oregon.
I think 5 cars of passengers.
I have a frequent parker reward for parking for 1 car, it only cost me $8.03 for port fees and taxes. What a bargain.
Just as we are leaving Clermont we get notice that the itinerary has been substantially altered because of a huricane in the gulf. So is life at sea.
Boarding is quick, but almost a zoo atmosphere. Kids running and screaming everywhere. The number of people larger than I have seen on a ship in years. The buffet is packed despite being on board before noon. A little bite for lunch while waiting for our cabins to be ready.
Jenn and Brian get to their cabin to find the keys missing. The cabin steward insists she placed them outside the door in the designated slot. Knocks on the door elicit no response. A manager comes by, questions the cabin steward and then goes to get another set of keys.
The door is opened to find two people sitting on the bed, ignoring the multiple knocks on the door. They insist they are in the correct cabin and the names were printed incorrectly on the keys. I don't have the imagination to make up stories like this.
The manager got it straightened out, and Jenn and Brian are in their cabin, without 2 strangers.
Alyssa had 7 extra house guests just before the cruise. Two days ago there was a major water main break . A long period of no water followed by 3 days of boil water mandate. Not easy with a housefull of guests. We depart Port Canaveral on time in fog and rain. I thougjt I had left that weather in the North Atlantic, I guess I was wrong.
Rain comes and goes throughout the day. Adrienne made the proper reservations for 10 of us to be dining together. I never did verify if we were at the same table, be we were definitely scheduled for different dining times. She was told to come to the dining room at 7:30 and they would have our table. By 8:00 we were seated. The fried chicken was excellent.
Using our reservations for the 10:45 aqua show seemed doubtful. Rain continued to fall. At 10:00 I give up and call it a night.
Tomorrow will be a day at Coco Cay. The Freedom of the seas will also be docked with us.