Live(ish) from Millennium 11-11 (Lest We Forget)

[DCPIV]

I’m sitting at the Pappasitos at Houston Hobby airport, some lovely chicken quesadillas and a Bloody Mary within reach.  The Bloody Mary is for luck, of course.  Don’t dare start a trip without one.  That’s disaster waiting to happen.  With any luck, I’ll be on the ground in Fort Lauderdale in a few hours.  With a little more luck, I’ll be at the hotel with all my luggage shortly thereafter.  I hope it’s not too much to ask that I’ll have been aboard Millennium for a good couple or few hours or so come this time tomorrow.  That’s the plan.

 

This will be my second solo cruise, and I’m looking forward to it.  The last one (Summit 10-4) could not have gone better except for some rough news that came from home while on board (here’s hoping nothing like what that news was about happens this time).  Having read others’ accounts from Millennium, I have every reason to believe that this will be a marvelous time.

 

This also happens to be my shortest cruise.  Other than that Summit sailing and one aboard the Splendor of the Seas some 15 years ago (both 5-nighters), I’ve never gone less than 7 nights on board at a sitting.  Even though there are some very good and fun reasons for it, I won’t lie and say that I hesitated for a few moments before booking this one.  I often felt like I was only getting warmed up on a cruise until around day 3 or 4. By then, it’ll be time to pack for home!  I’m not at all concerned, though.  With two Summit cruises in the last few months, a lot of other time on the road in between those sailings, and plenty of sea time to come over the next year, this short jaunt turns out to be a better idea than I had originally thought.  In fact, it feels just right.

 

I’m neither as thorough nor as dedicated as some of those other reporters are, but I’ll see what I can do to let y’all know what’s going on around the ship, and I’ll answer what questions I can as I can.

 

All I need know is some smooth seas and some smoother seas, and the rest will just fall into place.  I got my Bloody Mary, so I’m not worried about all that.

Cheers, y’all!  I might check back in tonight or tomorrow morning, but don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from me until again until I’m out on the balcony in my room on Millennium.

 

Cheers!

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Just remember you’ll need the streaming version of the Wi-Fi internet service while onboard to even be able to open boards.cruisecritic.com.

 

Have a great cruise and I will be looking forward to reading about your adventure! 😎

[DCPIV]

5 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Just remember you’ll need the streaming version of the Wi-Fi internet service while onboard to even be able to open boards.cruisecritic.com.

 

Have a great cruise and I will be looking forward to reading about your adventure! 😎

 

I got myself a big and all fancy RS, so I'm set to go.

[FLCruiser97]

Hello @DCPIV

I am looking forward to your sailing and any/all info you care to give on Millie. We will be sailing on her for Thanksgiving 25-Nov. I haven't been on a M class ship for many, many years so all info is welcome. How long is this sailing for you? 

 

Enjoy your Bloody Mary and quesadillas!

[DCPIV]

35 minutes ago, FLCruiser97 said:

How long is this sailing for you? 

 

It's only 4 nights. Kinda feels like a cameo! 🤣

[FLCruiser97]

4 minutes ago, DCPIV said:

 

It's only 4 nights. Kinda feels like a cameo! 🤣

I know, right! Hardly worth unpacking. But being in a suite should be awesome!

[Wisteria101958]

Safe and happy travels to you! I have sailed on the Equinox & Solstice many times, but have my first cruise aboard the Millennium in March. I’m looking forward to following along.

 

Dawn

[GMoney]

Captain just announced a passenger on the current sailing tested positive for Covid. Not sure if / how that will affect your sailing. 

[ambrtonj]

When I first saw the phrase "11-11 (Lest we forget)" I was thinking of Veterans Day. While I never served in the Military, I do appreciate all the sacrifices that those that did serve, not only in the USA, but throughout the world. 

 

May you enjoy your cruise and thank you for reminding me what is really important.

[twins_to_alaska]

Hey DCPIV.  My flight was on--time and smooth. Cooling my heels at the Holiday Inn Express 17th. Walked over to Chipotle for dinner. Front desk kindly lent me an umbrella as saw only had emergency poncho. Hotel is clean and currently quiet.

[Jim_Iain]

Looking forward to your Live Post.   I just can't get enough of them.   Glad your flights went so well.   We enjoy staying on 17th.    There are some good places to eat within walking distance.  

 

We use to love a pizza place down from you but I heard they did not survive Covid and are no longer in business. 

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, GMoney said:

Captain just announced a passenger on the current sailing tested positive for Covid. Not sure if / how that will affect your sailing. 

 

Is that the 1st reported case on Millennium for the Panama Canal?   From the cruises I have done with 1-3 cases nothing much was different except for those that had contact traced.  Unless something changed if you contact trace and are on a B2B you are not allowed to continue.

[hasentreelake]

2 hours ago, GMoney said:

Captain just announced a passenger on the current sailing tested positive for Covid. Not sure if / how that will affect your sailing. 

I would expect this to be somewhat the norm.   
Shouldn't have an effect or otherwise affect the sailing for 99% of the passengers. 

[Honeybadger418]

2 hours ago, GMoney said:

Captain just announced a passenger on the current sailing tested positive for Covid. Not sure if / how that will affect your sailing. 

Do you happen to know what the total number of passengers are on your cruise?

[DCPIV]

1 hour ago, twins_to_alaska said:

Hey DCPIV.  My flight was on--time and smooth. Cooling my heels at the Holiday Inn Express 17th. Walked over to Chipotle for dinner. Front desk kindly lent me an umbrella as saw only had emergency poncho. Hotel is clean and currently quiet.

 

All smooth for me getting here, too. 

 

I grabbed an Uber to LauderAle brewery. This is a great spot. I'm very long time homebrewer (pushing 30 years at it), so this sort of place turns me on. Great beer, and it's been a fun trivia night. Great birria tacos from the folks cooking over at the side, too. 

[ExpressoMama]

Husband and I are also on this sailing. Got our negative tests yesterday and drove from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale earlier today. See you aboard!!!

[Ipeeinthepools]

We’re on the Millennium now and we’re trying to get the Millennium to you in good shape.  Other than the fact that we lost a lifeboat/tender along the way, she’s in great shape.  I think you’ll have a great cruise.

[DCPIV]

3 hours ago, ambrtonj said:

When I first saw the phrase "11-11 (Lest we forget)" I was thinking of Veterans Day. While I never served in the Military, I do appreciate all the sacrifices that those that did serve, not only in the USA, but throughout the world. 

 

May you enjoy your cruise and thank you for reminding me what is really important.

 

I also never served, and I also greatly appreciate those who did and, especially, those who paid the ultimate price so that I can stroll my way across a gangway and over to my choice of bars restaurants on a dadgum cruise ship before I crash onto a comfortable bed, on that same dadgum cruise ship, with a happily swimming head and full belly. Where would we be without them?

 

Not here. Certainly, not here. 

[DCPIV]

59 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

We’re on the Millennium now and we’re trying to get the Millennium to you in good shape.  Other than the fact that we lost a lifeboat/tender along the way, she’s in great shape.  I think you’ll have a great cruise.

 

I hear that we can do without the lifeboat. Thanks for not wrecking her beyond that! 🤣

[DCPIV]

It's been a nice morning! I did my best to sleep in, and then I just killed time until it was time to get to the port. I arrived about 10:45--terribly early, but I had nothing better to do. A porter took my luggage and escorted me to the Retreat entrance. A nice lady checked my papers and told me to head to the elevators. 

 

I guess I took the wrong one, because I ended up in the general boarding check-in. I didn't realize that at first, so I just went with the flow. Something didn't seem quite right after a little while, so I asked and was escorted to the Retreat waiting area. No worries, although it's a much more comfortable area! 

 

About to board! More later! 

[Jim_Iain]

How exciting to read your adventures and how quickly you are being processed.   Hope your aboard now and beginning your cruise.

 

Bon Voyage

[DCPIV]

Thank you! 

 

I crossed the threshold at 11:34, and all is well! 

 

I'm currently chock full of Luminae Burger, malbec, negroni, and espresso. In a few minutes, I'll have all that squeezed out of me via massage. 

 

It's a lovely cruise. 

[FLCruiser97]

Living it up in Paradise and you haven't even left the dock.

[If only]

22 hours ago, DCPIV said:

 

It's only 4 nights. Kinda feels like a cameo! 🤣

Enjoy, we are getting on the ship when you get off!  I will be following along.

Edited November 11, 2021 by If only

[DCPIV]

6 hours ago, FLCruiser97 said:

Living it up in Paradise and you haven't even left the dock.

 

Heck, yeah! It's only four nights! Ain't no time to waste! 

 

The word is that there are about 970 guests on board, so things are bustling a good deal more than the last two cruises (450 and 265 on Summit). For Pete's sake, I had to wait a good seven minutes or so for my Martini! 

 

 

Now, I'd be lying like an old, fat dog if I were to say I didn't enjoy the ultra-low capacity experience, but I'm very glad to see more onboard. In fact, I enjoy it. Seeing and meeting others is one of the reasons we enjoy cruising.