The ODYSSEY and the ECSTASY Live Oct 23-31

[h20skibum]

The Odyssey and the Ecstasy is not to be confused with the Rolling Stone’s story of the Vikings’ search for life on Mars.  It shouldn’t be confused with the WaPo story on the writing of Gay Talese.

 

Rather, this ODYSSEY is merely the ship we are on, and this ECSTASY is what will be felt by us after being away from cruising since January, 2020.

 

So follow along if you want.  I won’t promise that I will keep up to date.  If there is a pause between posts, it simply means I am off having fun and enjoying cruising again.  Let the ODYSSEY begin.

 

[h20skibum]

How we ended up picking Odyssey is like the Alice in Wonderland tale of going down a rabbit hole.  

 

September 30, yes 23 days ago, I was researching a trans-pacific cruise from Hawaii to Sydney with an add on cruise to New Zealand.  I checked airfare from Sydney to Pittsburgh and then looked at the cost of airfare from Pittsburgh to Honolulu.  That is when rabbit hole #1 appeared.  

 

October airfare to Honolulu was running about $230 this year.  Distracted by this shiny thing, I started looking at a land trip to Hawaii, and it looked very doable.  With airfare that low to Hawaii, I wondered how much it was to Florida, and if it would work with any cruises from there.  Rabbit hole #2 and a new shiny thing.

 

Finding fares were $99, I looked for a ship.  Odyssey fit perfectly, and the rates were very favorable.  Before I knew it, my wife booked airfare and hotel for pre-cruise before I even completed the cruise booking.

 

Two hours after going down rabbit hole #2
 

✔️Airfare booked.

✔️Hotel booked

✔️Cruise booked and paid in full

✔️Completed check in and got set sail pass

 

Morpheus once said  “You Take The Red Pill - You Stay In Wonderland, And I Show You How Deep The Rabbit Hole Goes."  I am glad I took the red pill that day.

 

 

[h20skibum]

With the cruise booked, now it is time to start planning - and stressing about all the new protocols for cruising.  New things to add to my packing list - masks, vaccination cards, COVID negative test results.

 

Pre-cruise testing had been reduced from 3 days prior to 2 days prior, and I had read horror stories of CVS canceling testing with little or no notice.  So I ordered some of Royal’s home testing kits as a backup to use if CVS canceled their test.

 

Then a new thing to stress about - our flights were booked with Southwest.  I remember their old commercial “Ding, you are free to move about the country”, but a couple weeks ago it was “Dong, nobody was moving about the country.”  Now it was time to obsessively check how they were doing each day and hope we didn’t see this!

 

[h20skibum]

Two days to go, and the final countdown begins.

 

Off we go to CVS for the COVID test in this tiny little box.

 

 

Fortunately, 30 minutes later we have our NEGATIVE test results, so the first stressful item is in the rear view mirror.

 

Next up, it is playing fast fingers, trying to get those coveted first class seats on Southwest at check in.   Drats!  B07 and B08 which means the “good seats” will be gone.

[h20skibum]

One day to go.

 

 

Final packing is complete and we head to the airport. Will Southwest come through for us?

 

 

[h20skibum]

We arrive at beautiful Pittsburgh airport in plenty of time fo the flight.  Time for an early lunch before the flight, so what is better than Primanti Brothers. 

 

I have been ordering the pastrami and cheese the last few times, and it is excellent. 
 

 

Somehow, I couldn’t bring myself to order these. 

 

Edited October 23, 2021 by h20skibum

[h20skibum]

With some time left before the flight, we just walked around the airport. 
 

Need a Covid test, get it here. 

 

This sign really confused me.  Was the other choice a dead agent?

 

 

And, we found Mr Rogers sweater. 
 

 

Susan enjoyed being projected as a skeleton. 

 

 

[Bronx12]

Following 🙂

[h20skibum]

Time to board, and we find the flight is delayed.

 

Only one minute, so I can live with that.

We make it on the plane, and I open the SW site to check on our non-stop flight status. 

 

 

What, it says we have 7 hours and 6 minutes left, and we haven’t even left the airport!   Did they plan on a scenic route, or circling for 4.5 hours?
 

Eventually they got that small glitch figured out, and this time looked better

 

 

So now we were off.  
 

One thing I will say is that I am glad I downloaded a movie to watch, because the in flight entertainment was experiencing all kinds of problems.  It was lucky to put together two sentences of dialogue before freezing.

 

Anyway, they got us to Fort Lauderdale, and our bags followed the first on, last off policy.  But they made it like we did.

 

Onward.

 

[h20skibum]

Our pre-cruise stay was at the Four Points Sheraton on S Federal highway near 17th street. After spending the night here, I would never use this hotel again.  
 

The hotel was not well insulated from noise, and traffic noise was horrible till about 3 am.  
 

My wife had booked with points, so it didn’t cost anything, but it still wasn’t worth it.  
 

I can see a nap in my future this morning. 

Edited October 23, 2021 by h20skibum

[chawkjewel]

We will be on the ship with you.  Can't wait.  

[h20skibum]

3 minutes ago, chawkjewel said:

We will be on the ship with you.  Can't wait.  

I think you may be in the slot pull with us. 

[thjeepster]

We are currently on Odyssey!  Getting off in about and hour!

 

had an amazing time!!!

[hotsauce126]

Going on this same cruise Dec 4, anxious to hear how it is

[h20skibum]

So I haven’t really mentioned where we are sailing.  Most of the travel agent route maps had disappeared, so I had to create my own.  
 

Many thanks to @Sea Dogfor the inspiration to do this with Google Earth.  I don’t want to steal his idea, but it looks like I may have. 🤫

 

 

[bobmacliberty]

Love the video.  I may steal that from you, even though you stole it from @Sea Dog 😁.  Have a great cruise!  Looking forward to seeing some sunrise pics over the ocean rather than the lake.

[h20skibum]

21 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

Looking forward to seeing some sunrise pics

No sunrise pictures this morning.  We have a little of that Florida liquid sunshine this morning. 

[h20skibum]

We were up early enough to watch Odyssey sail in to port.

 

[h20skibum]

My daughter was confused when she got this, this morning 

 

 

It must be because she is our emergency contact

 

 

[Lionesss]

What a great start. looking forward to following this adventure.

 

Stay safe

 

Have fun!!

[h20skibum]

Picked up 2 bottles of wine last night to make my backpack a little heavier this morning.  The one sad thing about the wine, is that my wife is allergic to it.

 

Sad for her, but it means I always have 2 bottles to drink.

[cindyscruise]

Great video.  Love your writing style.  So looking forward to your live report

[Sea Dog]

2 hours ago, h20skibum said:

 

Many thanks to @Sea Dogfor the inspiration to do this with Google Earth.  I don’t want to steal his idea, but it looks like I may have. 🤫

 

 

 

 

Great Job Mark. idea stolen but it's all good. Glad I could inspire you. Love the writing and analogies. Enjoy and I will be following along with great anticipation.

 

[ownedbypets]

Have a great cruise! I'll be following.

[mo&fran]

WE just got home from our 2 weeks on her. Disembarkation was a breeze.  Our tag was called at 8:20,  and were outside by 8:45.   Customs was a facial recognition, both on turn around day and disembarkation.

I think we left the ship in good condition for you.