Essiesmom

Debark was totally different from Seaside in Oct. actually, nothing stands out about it except having to go to the far end of the luggage area to collect low numbers, then having to go back around to go thru immigration. Let’s start with the beginning. They blocked the elevators to deck 6 and rearranged the furniture in Times Square into a rabbit warren. Like the security lines at airports. When your number is called you go to what I think was the forward elevator down to 6. Then you walked all the way to the aft and circled around and then did the maze, etc. Finally made it to ding out. Then down the gangway but then turn left and walk to the exit ramps into the luggage. The three earliest numbers were on that end. I was 26 and we had to walk to the other end for our bags. There was a man verifying our number and we went left. On the right the wall was lined with people with some luggage, but I think they were people who thought they could go any time but he wouldn’t let them through. Once I had my bags a nice officer opened the barrier and pointed me to the facial thing. Bongo, I’m through. Then it was bucking the lines of arriving guests to get to the garage. There was no one by or on the elevator so I went straight to level 5 Loadef my vehicle, settled Essie, and got a Pic of Seashore in the late afternoon sun. With the construction the exit pattern has changed. You have to go back through the garage. If you remember from the beginning, I was doing the 10 day. But they only could charge me parking for the three day. They said there would be a place on the way out to pay for the 7 day portion. Well, there wasn’t. Got the 7 day free. Actually 6 days free because when you do a B2B you pay for the turnaround day twice. As the last day of the first part and first day of the second. Was out of the port by 5:30 and made it to my hotel in Jax a little after 8 Supper will be junk food.

We are docked, just waiting for clearance. I’m in the Sports Bar which is jammed. But people are starting to clear out anticipating express walkoff. I’m in the third group to be called, after excursion and Aurea.

It was better that turnaround day on a B2B. No noisy people in the corridors. Buffet was not crowded at 0800. I think the cabin stewards were allowed to sleep in.

So far as I know.

A pretty good night after some initial bumpiness. Up to buffet for breakfast. Considered mdr but having developed a cold I didn’t want to expose a shared table. Had a biscuit and gravy. They haven’t mastered biscuits. They are about the size of a ping pong ball. Slather a lot of gravy. I think if you dropped one it would bounce. The seas from my window look a bit disgruntled. We are currently passing Carnival Sunshine on our port side. She is heading for Charleston. I read Meraviglia is doing New England instead of Bahamas. Different wardrobe…At least they will have had cold weather clothes to board…shops might run out of sweatshirts.

We are currently slowly passing Carnival Sunshine on our port side. The seas look a bit disgruntled.

You have some answers on your thread on the Celebrity board. EM

Here are the activities for our extra half day tomorrow: There was no diamond reception this cruise, which I missed because I had some questions to ask.

White apparel was well adhered to in the non-YC part of the ship. EM

Epic was coming from Europe and probably upped her speed to make it in early. Wonder had two sea days to make it from St. Maarten. EM

Went to mdr lunch, veggie frittata, Asian salad and apple pie. Back to the cabin to pack. Didn’t take long as I didn’t bring much. There was a welcome reception @4:30 in le Canaret Rouge. Served Prosecco and fruit punch, chips and peanuts on the tables. Live music, a few short speeches, introduce captain and more heads on stage. As I left I could see they were setting up for another session. Makes me wonder if we were the first. Then it was time for dinner. Italian night. I had the Cabrese salad and chicken parmigiana. It was better than on Seaside. A short time in the Sports Bar, back to the cabin to put out checked bag and on to Uptown Lounge for the Ocean Band and karaoke. Essie went to dinner tonight

Here are the further instructions for tomorrow

There is a board here for questions like this. It is Florida Departures, under North American Homeports.

Dinner tonight I had the spring rolls (sorry, I ate one before I remembered a picture) Vegetable soup of the day And the Gourmand salad, minus the surimi (seafood something) Dessert was gelato, later After dinner I went to the show Journey. Tomorrow night's show is Rock Royalty, which we saw last week, so I may try to make it to Le Cabaret Rouge. After the show I lingered outside the future cruise desk until a coupe finally signed papers and left. The fellow said they are sold out, someone else had just asked, but to try again tomorrow. Then I went to Karaoke for the last hour. Then it was time for dessert, gelato. Now back to the cabin. The ship has been rocking and rolling some, and it is pouring rain outside. I realized tonight that my corridor mostly does not have railings to hold onto. cabin openings as close together and on both sides, and there are cupboards all along. It was white night, and there were some lovely white outfits. As for the men...I saw some white suits that looked like a lightweight tux. Then there was the man I saw in the theater wearing a white tux with black trim. Probably quite old, wide lapels with inch wide black trim around them and on the sleeves too, I think. And the pants had the black stripe down the legs. Hmmm... The CD had his white suit on tonight. I wondered why he didn't have a tux on last night, Elegant night but just had a blue suit. Last night there were a father and grown son wearing Christmas print blazers with flashing lights in the front. I wonder how you wash/dry clean those... The hangers are rattling in the closet, time for bed.

It turns and tilts but no light. Sorry, pics won’t upload.

There is a magnifying mirror in the bathroom but I don’t think it is lighted. EM

Essie watches Carnival Glory leave Activity sheet for today

My next stop was to be deck 19, but the aft elevators only go to 18, sooo... Horizon Bar And then the skies opened. I got pretty wet waiting for the big bucket to fill and dump Time to head back inside where it was drier. Sports bar, nothing on but futbol Seating a lot different from Seaside. That's it for now. Tonight's menus

I took a nap, then set out to find some of the places I hadn't visited yet. On the way to Le Cabaret Rouge, the 5th Avenue Restaurant, Manhattan Restaurant (Aurea). Apparently it's a quiet place to relax... Heading back out

I tried to post pics earlier, but I made the original post on my iPad, and was editing with pics and ran out of time. So, here I go again. The Late arrival letter Marketplace bar Ships min port with us: Regal Princess, Carnival Glory, Viking Mars. And at Punta Langosta, the Odd Couple - Disney Magic and Scarlet Lady Not as long a walk today as yesterday Sniffer doggie. Pass all bags and backpacks by the dog's nose Manger scene inside the tree Santa is at Margaritaville It was threatening rain all day and was lightly sprinkling when I got back to the ship. I think International pier is my least favorite. It seems so confusing, disorganized, unplanned. Much prefer Puerto Maya.

The best way is to follow Live From threads, such as mine which is ongoing, where people post activity sheets. EM

I enjoy someone else enjoying doing it. I'm on a cruise right now so connections are not always good. Ruby Princess today

I had my feet nibbled at Costa Maya in 2019. I had wanted to do it since Santorini but you don’t waste Santorini time doing that. Just got back from shore in Cozumel and got the dreaded Late to Port letter. Dock at 1500 instead of 0700. And to top it off, the niece that lives with me just texted to say she has Covid. After 3 years. I need to visit future cruise desk to see if I can stay another five days…

Some pictures around the ship Casino Casino bar All for now, folks. Time for breakfast and to go ashore.

I believe we docked at one of the southern piers on Divina in 2016 but the last three visits...Seaside and Armonia in 2019 were at Punta Langosta. Outside my window Carnival Glory has obscured Regal Princess. It must have rained, because there is a rainbow... Some pictures of yesterday in Costa Maya...ships in port, etc. Mein Schiff 6 and aft of Carnival Magic Mein Schiff It's a long walk into port Steep gangway to exit. There was a lower one further forward down on deck 4. This was on deck 5. Lower one for HC. When I came back I used the lower one. You are supposed to buy something at the restaurant if you use the loungers. Picture dump break