Our First Seadream Cruise!

[artlee]

We leave in the morning for SJ. We have been packed since last weekend! We have more clothes than we'll need I'm sure, but whatever. Mrs. artlee is currently vacuming the house -- why, I don't know. It is sort of a ritual that when we go away she vacums even though our boys are grown up and there will be nobody home. Maybe it's a woman thing??

 

I on the other hand am packing my carry on bag with 2 digital cameras with memory cards to capture a whopping 980 pictures. What was I thinking?? How many different angles can I capture DW drinking champaigne? In addition I have my portable DVD player with 5 movies (it's a 3 1/2 hour flight but you never know what you'll feel like watching, right?). Of course I have my I-Pod, earphones, my kindle with enough new books downloaded to cruise for 3 months, forget 9 nights. And chargers for the I-Pod, DVD player, and both cameras (seperate). My wife says, "such a boy!". What did I ever do when I just brought a paperback book to read?? Life is just a lot more complicated now.

 

Our flight is 9:45 out of CLT in the AM. Thanks again to everyone for encouraging me to book it the day before. After reading of Jim's escapades I think I would be suicidal if I missed the yacht.

 

More to come. I'm sure we will be at the airport way early! I suggested going tonight but was shot down.

[carlylecat]

Thanks for sharing that wonderful exuberance right before a new adventure... you deserve a great trip and i hope you have a wonderful time....I share your need for "electronic appendages"... my kindle is now a member of the inner circle of friends i can not be without...

[DisneyJen]

Sounds like you are in excellent shape for your first SD yachting experience artlee:D As for the vacuuming and cleaning before leaving on vacation it is most definitely a female thing ... I have the same need to make sure the house is in order before we leave on vacation:p

 

Based on the weather we have had here in the Piedmont of NC today I can assure you that you will be very grateful that you are heading out the day before. Not sure where in NC you are located (we are 75 miles north of CLT) and if I had it my way we would sleep in the USAir Club the night before leaving for our SD cruises:eek:

 

There are plenty of DVD movies available from the concierge on SD if you exhaust your library en route to the yacht!

 

Hoping to see LOTS of photos and reporting while you are on board.

 

Looking forward to tomorrow's report ... that is if you can sleep tonight;)

[DisneyJen]

Since we haven't heard from Artlee today I am guessing he made his flight in CLT:p

[artlee]

Yep. Here in Old San Juan waiting for tomorrow. Will report in soon.

[DisneyJen]

Yep. Here in Old San Juan waiting for tomorrow. Will report in soon.

 

You are almost there artlee!!!

 

The next 18 hours will DDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGG!!!

 

Trust me:)

[knotheadusc]

I think your wife vacuums because she hates to come home to a yucky house! I know I do... and it's sort of a way to justify the decadence of a really nice trip. I hope you have a blast. We are counting the days until our first Sea Dream cruise in April!

 

Bon Voyage!

[Cammiem]

Today's the big day, Art!!! Can you believe it's finally here?!? Now time will really drag. You'll find that 2:00 can't get here fast enough. :)

[artlee]

looking out our window she is here. Thanks to Jim there will probably be more time needed for restocking this time but at least he didn't hijack it. More when I can get to a computer.

[carlylecat]

That brings up a great point...what is the best way to while away the morning pre- SD?

 

My favorite is a great run....if we are in Old San Juan I run out across the bridge to condado and back then up to the fort and then walk down the hill to the convento or sheraton......if we are at the ritz a run across the bridge and back negotiating the small streets along the water is a wonderful time especially before the city wakes up......... a good stretch & a great shower and a good breakfast and it is almost 10 am allready!!!!....repack the stuff up, check in with email, get ready for checkout, a quick run out to Walgreen's is inevitable for something forgotten...hotel check out at noon, while we overtip a bellman to check our bags....a nice stroll and a turkey burger at Hard Rock...and then ...yes it is...yes it is time ---da da dum de dum - time to head to the dock and get that first blast of champagne and make those spa reservations for this afternoon !!!!!

 

Have fun Artlee!!!

[artlee]

Took USAir out of Charlotte and all was fine. I had used miles to upgrade to first class which was a real treat on a 767. It's been a long time since I was on a large plane like that. The only adventure was a passenger took a pillow from first class on her way to coach which resulted in the stewardess taking it back, which lead to an argument, which lead to the Captain coming back, which lead to the police coming on boards to escort her off until she apologized properly. Too funny.

 

We stayed at the Sheraton in Old San Juan which has a GREAT location. The hotel itself needs work, but the location makes up for it. This morning we could look out our window and see HER! I was afraid Jim might force her in another direction so he could stay on longer. She looks great and adds to the excitement. We have 5 hours to kill. If I was good I would do what Carlycat suggests!! Maybe that's why I look like I do and undoubtably she looks like she does! I am planning to walk at least once a day on the treadmills so I can compensate for having some of everything. We'll see how that goes.

 

I took the wrong phone charger so I'll see if I can pick one up this AM before we BOARD. Had a nice dinner on the upstairs terrace here at the hotel last night and enjoyed the breeze and lights and bay view. It is starting to feel like we are on vacation. Shamefully I did check my emails last night before going to bed.

 

Oh, and I won $75 dollars on Roulette at the Hotel last night. I take that as a sign. It's not much but it is the principal of the thing. I doubt I can post pictures until I get home, but we shall see.

 

Soon, I will be like the rest of you SD junkies! Wish you all were on board with us. More later

[DisneyJen]

Too funny about the pillow artlee!

 

It is always exciting to see SD ... especially the first time and then the next time and the next:p

 

We don't have a pre-boarding ritual other than trying to make time go faster. Still haven't found a way to do that ... yet:p

 

Congrats on winning at the casino. Always a good sign!!

 

Wish we were sailing with you as well ... we will be there virtually:D

[frequent traveler]

looking out our window she is here. Thanks to Jim there will probably be more time needed for restocking this time but at least he didn't hijack it. More when I can get to a computer.

 

All this talk about hijacking . . . don't get any ideas artlee. you have to bring the the yacht to St. Thomas for us to board on the 13th. Bon voyage and best wishes for gorgeous weather.

 

Poor Jim, Lois and the rest . . . they should be clearing Homeland Security just about now . . . .:(

 

FT

[DisneyJen]

Guess the artlees are on board by now:p

[Cammiem]

Guess the artlees are on board by now:p

 

And, here we all sit, totally green with envy.

 

I wonder if I have a bottle of champagne somewhere around here? Wishful thinking. I'll have to settle for ice water on an SD cocktail napkin...not quite the same.

[carlylecat]

Cam-

 

Wish you were here in NY

 

We always have a bottle of champagne around

[DisneyJen]

 

We always have a bottle of champagne around

 

Us too carlylecat ... as a matter of fact there are four bottle in the garage frig right now:p The reason I know is I counted when I went to get a bottle of sparking water and I took inventory:D

 

DJ's DH knows better than to let our stock go under two bottles ... and if FT is coming over he knows the count!

[zqvol]

And, here we all sit, totally green with envy.

 

I wonder if I have a bottle of champagne somewhere around here? Wishful thinking. I'll have to settle for ice water on an SD cocktail napkin...not quite the same.

 

We board a week from Sunday, is that 9 days or 8 days?:D

[DisneyJen]

We board a week from Sunday, is that 9 days or 8 days?:D

 

I think I will have to have DJ's DH spring for a bottle of Veuve so we can toast your first family SD cruise!

[frequent traveler]

Lets not hijack Artlee's thread. If I have the time right, the Artlees should be experiencing the life boat drill and then gearing up for the first cocktail hour . . . oh how envious I am!!!.

 

FT

[DisneyJen]

Lets not hijack Artlee's thread. If I have the time right, the Artlees should be experiencing the life boat drill and then gearing up for the first cocktail hour . . . oh how envious I am!!!.

 

FT

 

How about we have a toast to the artlees!

 

The Dmitris are still on board as well.

[carlylecat]

A toast to the Artlees and Dimitris

 

Our hearts are overflowing

As we see you on your way

We’ll eagerly await your stories

Keep a journal every day!

[DisneyJen]

A toast to the Artlees and Dimitris

 

Our hearts are overflowing

As we see you on your way

We’ll eagerly await your stories

Keep a journal every day!

 

Lovely toast carlylecat! Clink:p

 

Okay artlee ... waiting for your first post from SD2:p:D:p

[artlee]

My how different the lifeboat drill is aboard Seadream. So easy and fast. Capt T has decided to stay in port until 11 so that it will be smoorth during dinner. Never had that on RCL or Celebrity or others. Merideth gave her overview of tours and all. Very informative. Suzanne (DW) had plenty of champaigne and she I definitely in vaca mode. LOL @ the "casino", one blackjack table. That's Probably a good thing. BTW, took another 50 off Sheraton' casino while killing time. Looking forward to our first dinner on board.

[DisneyJen]

My how different the lifeboat drill is aboard Seadream. So easy and fast. Capt T has decided to stay in port until 11 so that it will be smoorth during dinner. Never had that on RCL or Celebrity or others. Merideth gave her overview of tours and all. Very informative. Suzanne (DW) had plenty of champaigne and she I definitely in vaca mode. LOL @ the "casino", one blackjack table. That's Probably a good thing. BTW, took another 50 off Sheraton' casino while killing time. Looking forward to our first dinner on board.

 

You get the award Artlee for the earliest post on a SD cruise!!

 

Just wait ... you are just seeing the start of the differences between the mass market lines and SD:D

 

Hope that winning streak at the casino continues!