| Cruise Diary, Day 1 | for everyone |
4/15/11 3:41 PM
All’s well that ends well, said the Bard. Lesson learned. We had a 6:30 a.m. flight on SW from Lambert and thought, if we get to the airport by 5:30 we’ll be good. How many people fly that early? Answer: everyone, apparently! Fortunately Ben picked us up right at 5 a.m. so we actually got to the airport to join the snaking lines to check baggage a little before 5:30. By 6 a.m. our bags are checked and we merge into the next snaking line to go through security.
Fortunately for national security we got in the line with the country’s most thorough TSA screener. No terror on his watch as he scanned and rescanned numerous bags (including my man-bag with all my (electronic) toys – laptops scanned separately). Luckily our gate was just outside the screening exit so we did board the plane with almost 10 minutes and five seats (by my count) to spare. Two other passengers boarded after us, leaving the only vacant spot a middle seat where even a child would have been claustrophobic between two very substantial women.
We left the rain and cold behind and arrived uneventfully in Orlando and then Ft. Lauderdale, sunny and 82°. Luggage followed as it was supposed to and a short cab ride brought us to Regency Cruises Seven Seas Navigator. Check-in was efficient and friendly. The cabins were not completely prepared but lunch was served and we then went wandering. This is a small ship, fewer than 500 passengers, but our cabin is the biggest we’ve even encountered (just our third cruise). Walk-in closet, a bathroom bigger than ours at home with both a tub and shower, complete with all the amenities (shampoo, shower gel, etc., etc.). So far we’re impressed, but we’ll see how well they handle the fire/emergency drill.
At 6:00 p.m. we’ll be off to Port Canaveral and tomorrow’s tour of the Space Center.
4/15/11 8:21 PM
Apparently the cruise line’s business model is, “Keep them drunk and fed and you’ll minimize complaints.” Champagne as we boarded, wine at the “Pre-Launch Block Party” and cocktails as we left port. The wait staff seemed a little disappointed that we didn’t want more wine with dinner. Did I mention the bottle of champagne chilling in our cabin upon arrival? But we’ll need a clear head if they’re going to let us drive the Space Shuttle tomorrow. Given our late to bed and early to rise day, we’re crashing early tonight. 
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