Embarkation and Day one

Monday was our embarkation day.  We started the day with breakfast in the hotel.  After breakfast we walked over to Publix to buy some wine to take on board and peanuts.  The Publix was right behind the hotel.  Then back to the hotel to pack our things and take the shuttle over to the ship.

The shuttle ride was interesting.  There were four couples on the shuttle.  The one couple that we talked with have decided not to have a home in the USA but travel year round.  They are taking our ship over to Spain and then spending about a month in Granada.  They like to stay in one place for several weeks to really get to know the area.  Can't remember if they told us when they will return to the USA.  They have several places they will visit first.  Including Iceland as they got a great rate on the return flight back to USA.  They have a mailbox in TN where one of their sons live.

Embarkation was a snap.  No one questioned our wine which maybe meant we could have brought on more than the two bottles.  But better safe than sorry.  The cabins were not ready so we sat in a lounge and I worked on my cross stitch project and Bob read.

Cabin was ready at 1:30 so up we came.  Cabin is quite small and not a great deal of storage but we are doing okay.  There are only two outlets by the desk area so we asked for an extension cord for my CPAP machine.  Rhea brought one that is longer than the cabin.  So I am able to sleep in the bed and not on the sofa.

Muster drill and upon our return to cabin, luggage had arrived.  We unpacked and put everything away.  Showered and dressed for dinner.  Tonight we joined Barbara Maple, Jack, Charlie, Martha, Don and Brenda for dinner in the Tuscan Grill.  Food is just okay.  Barbara Maple is our friend and real estate agent from Ponte Vedra.  And they are traveling with the other two couples.  Company was great and we all had a good evening.

After dinner we headed back to the cabin while the others headed to the martini bar.

Up this morning for breakfast in Lido where I had cottage cheese and fruit.  And tea.  Wandered around the pool deck for a bit and then down to front desk as Bob's card does not work the cabin door. Seems he had it too close to his cell phone.  They replaced it for him and we walked around the shops and casino while they made up the cabin.  Not catching up on blog.

Tonight is first of three formal nights.  We are having dinner in Murano which is a French restaurant.  Hope the food is better than last night.  Not that the food was bad,  just nothing special.  Maybe we are spoiled.   More later.  These sea days are quiet and not much to tell.

Day one - Drive to West Palm Beach

Up for breakfast at the Players Cafe.  Said goodbye to Mike and then returned to the house to finish packing and put the house in order.

We had to pick up the rental car at the Sawgrass Marriott by 1pm.  Turns out to be a Hyundai Tucson.  Not the greatest car but it served its purpose.  We packed up the car and started out by 2pm.  Our plan was to drive until we got tired or 5pm which ever came first.  So we made it to Vero Beach only to find out that every hotel in the area was booked.  Seemed there was a soccer tournament and a AKC dog show in the area.  And further down was a baseball game that the Mets were playing the Yankees which caused more hotels to be booked.  This was the first time we did not plan ahead and it will be the last time.  Finally found a Hampton Inn in West Palm Beach that we were able to book.  Last room.  So we checked in around 7 pm.

Decided to go out for dinner and Bob had looked up and found a Romeo's Italian that he felt looked good.  When we drove to where it should be on the map, we could not find it.  So we settled on a small pizza place.  Really a take out but they put in two tables inside and two outside.  So we ate there.  Food was good but the place itself was dumpy.  When we returned to the hotel, we asked the gal at the desk where Romeo's is.  She told us it is in the gas station.  Sort of glad we could not find it.

Up in the morning for breakfast which was slim pickings.  Then we packed up and headed south to the Ft. Lauderdale airport.  Returned the car and finally found the shuttle area.  We had to call the hotel for them to send the shuttle.  Our driver is from Haiti.  He returns there from time to time.  We checked into the hotel (Embassy Suites) and our room was ready.  So up we came and now I am catching up on the blog.  There will not be much to talk about until we get to the other side of the Atlantic.

Tonight we will attend the managers reception and might meet some of the cruisers from Cruise Critic that are staying here in this hotel.  But more on that later.  Now we are off to grab a quick lunch and then Bob will take his nap.

Update

So much as happened since the last posting.  We put our house in Plantation on the market after getting it ready.  This took some time as we needed to resurface the pool, change out the window with the broken seals, paint, etc.  But it finally went on the market but did not sell for six months.  Because of that, we had to cancel the Celebrity cruise and put off final payment of the river cruise until we were sure that the house had sold and closing was scheduled. 

We moved into our new house in January and made settlement on the old one in March.  Two mortgages is not fun especially since the second morgage is not on a beach or mountain home.  Just a house ten minutes away.  Oh well, things did work out and we rebooked the Celebrity cruise and all is right with the world.

Since this is a new blog spot, I will post on the old one and get readers to the new site.

Not sure how much I will be posting until we reach our first port of call which is Ponta Delgada, Azores.  We are scheduled to arrive there on the 4th of May. 

We leave for Ft. Lauderdale this Saturday.  We pick up our rental car and head south.  We board the ship on Monday noon.