Onboard!

I had booked the shuttle for noon but when I left my room just before 11 (check-out time), I met the shuttle driver in the lobby.  He said there would be no problem going to the terminal early, so I went.  It was fine.  Turned out they were not checking assigned times just like pre-pandemic.  My assigned time to check in was 12:40 but I was on the ship by 12:05.

Had some trouble with my key card but my room steward helped me and I left my electronics and went to lunch.  I was very good with only one slice of pizza and a bowl of fruit salad - no desert.  Wonder how long being good will last?

Muster drill is now very different (and in my opinion, much better).  We have to go to our lifeboat and have our card scanned (on our own) and watch the safety video on TV.

When I returned I realized that I did not have the refrigerator I was supposed to have.  Something to work on tomorrow.  Since I can’t make tea, I am on my second Diet Coke.

Walked around the ship for awhile and then back to my cabin to work with getting logged in to the internet.  I was able to log in with my phone and iPad but not on my laptop.  The line at guest services is about twenty deep and never gets shorter so I will wait until tomorrow to solve this problem, too.  As Scarlet said, “Tomorrow is another day.”

My two suitcases that I brought with me were delivered and I have emptied them.  My room steward will divide the bed when he changes the sheets (I told him not to worry about it until then - no sense wasting a clean set of sheets).

It is really hot out and with many of the doors open, much of the ship is hot so I went to the Crow’s Nest to start today’s blog on my iPad.  Found out that some of the letters on my Zagg keyboard don’t work anymore (like the “e” which is rather useful) so I will be using the keyboard on the screen of my iPad until I can get my computer to accept the internet. 

Another bag had arrived when I returned to my cabin and I emptied it.  Just a couple of minutes later the last one arrived.  It was getting harder and harder to find space for everything!  My shawls are in three different places so I think when the room steward separates my bed and I can get the cases under them, I will put all 33 of them in one suitcase.

The 4pm sail-away became the 5pm sail-away, which became the 6pm and finally about 7:15 we left.  

I was late getting to dinner but there were only two people at the table (we were told three more are assigned to the table) and they had ordered but not been served and didn’t mind my tardiness.  They are Bob and Judy (not the Bob and Judy from previous cruises who I spoke with today).  We had a great meal and pleasant conversation.  I was asked to find out if there was an up charge on the Shrimp Cocktail and there is - $8.50!  It used to be on the always available menu for free.  My friends Kathy and Mike from the 2018 and 2020 world cruises came over to talk as we were finishing dinner.  They are doing the same itinerary as I am.

While we were eating it was announced that we were heading back to Fort Lauderdale for a medical disembark.  Poor person.  Hope she/he will recover.

The entertainment for tonight was called “Origin Story” which told about the 150 years of Holland America.  The  Cruise Director (who is now called the Cruise and Travel Director), Jeremy, narrated and it was interesting to hear how HAL differentiated itself from its competitors.

I walked around the deck afterwards and checked on the length of the Guest Services line - there were still 10 in line so I returned to my cabin to finish this post.

P.S. Five minutes after posting this I tried googling "how to connect with internet on computer on a Holland America ship" and I had the answer!  Typing this on comuter now!  One less thing to do tomorrow.

Smooth sailing until next time! 

Pretty good view for a “partially obstructed “ cabin

Gifts- a rose, chocolate covered strawberries, and a ceramic box

My luggage lines up ready to go under the beds when split

Bed as it is now - we did get a nice canvas tote bag