Cruise Day 1

The day of embarkation! Our Oceania Cruise is called "Sun-Splashed Soiree"

Wednesday February 23

SafeCruiseParking

ADDRESS TO OUR FACILITY: 

90 SW 1st Street Miami, FL 33130

Embark on the Marina - boarding time for us 12 noon - ship leaving at 5 pm

* * * * *

After a good nights sleep we had a bit of breakfast at the hotel. The hotel had been a good choice. Location and all. I had been disappointed in the evening before because the 'business center' (printer) was broken but this morning at the front desk they were so nice and helpful. She suggested that I email the letter to William to her privat address and she printed it out for me. The weekly letter to him is mailed! 

We left shortly before 10 am (a bit earlier because we were ready) and a good thing it was because the Miami traffic was just plain awful. We arrived at the "Safe Cruise Parking" place at the right time thanks to apple play GPS. The only thing: we could not see any posting of that name, there was a parking house but it had a different name and we didn't know how to enter, nobody to ask. I had a telephone number. James called. After her finally understanding where we were she told us what to do and it was smooth sailing after that.

We were brought to the right place at the cruise terminal right away.

Our three pieces of luggage were labeled with the room number we knew from our boarding passes we had printed from the internet. 

We were sent to the large tent next to the terminal for the covid test. Since we had another print out from the internet that was very efficient and smooth too. After our noses were swabbed we waited and watched screens for our numbers to show up. Ha-ha, before we could see that on the screen we had texts on our phones. All was good, we got a wrist band and proceded to the terminal next door.

We quickly got our boarding passes and were told that our rooms would be ready at 1:30pm with the luggage in front. Instead of a room on the 7th floor we were assigned one on the 10th though. No idea why.

So we went up the level 12 and had lunch. We found a table right away outside in the shade and it was lovely. 

Relaxing can begin!!!

James rewarded himself with some dessert.

I tried very hard to "be good" and picked just one scoop of Mango Ginger Sorbet. Nice!

We found our room from a number on our cards but it didn't seem to be ready because the door didn't open and no luggage. We found another shady place out of the wind to play our card game which for some reason was very funny.

And we like it when the scores are very close!

We tried our room again and the key cards still didn't work. We decided to go to the reception desk. No wonder the keys didn't work. We went to the wrong door. The number on the cards didn't mean anything and room number is not written anywhere. Security I guess but they had forgotten to tell us.

Problem solved and had only happened because we had been upgraded. A bottle of champagne was waiting (not in ice yet), we will have conplimentary laundry service and a few other things. Nice!

We didn't have our luggage yet though because the 'wrong' room number was written on the labels but that was solved quickly soon. James got his first and after some more searching they brought mine too. 

We unpacked and found places for everything which is always a bit of a to-do in a cabin.

This was the view from our balcony ... until we sailed of course.

I was having fun with my "gadgets". My phone has the feature of knowing where my parked car is. Took a screen shot!. The little dot is where we were ... standing on our balcony ... looking into the direction.

5 pm - The ship was leaving Miami. It's always fun watching the activities, in Burr-language called "James is helping the captain". The next photo: the tent for the covid testing and the terminal next to it. 

Trying a selfie.

Somebody doing it for us.

Ah, time to relax. A 'Newcastle' for James.

We went to listen to the piano player for a while and then it was time for dinner.

When we arrived just before us was an older gentleman and his grandson (in his 20s) wanting to share a table. So we agreed. Everybody on the ship is very consciences about covid. We get constantly reminded to wear our masks except when eating or drinking. Tables are large with space in-between and everybody is vacinated and tested so we think it is alright.

I tried to be so good selecting my dinner. My starter: the original beef tartar. 

James starter: mussels (I hope they will serve them again)

Then James had a soup and I caesar salad with anchovies (don't get those often).

James' entree: veal with cheese grits.

My grouper. Nice vegetables. 

I don't think I should do this for 10 days. Dessert! Pistachio mousse. OMG!

James' cheese platter could be a whole meal by itself.

We had such nice conversation with Jim and Tim at the table that we didn't pay any attention to the time. But it was perfect. We went straight to the "Welcome Variety Show" at 9:15 pm and it was very nice. 

The last performer was a singer who told us that she will be performing right after in the Horizons on level 15 with her Music Station Band at the dance floor. So that is were we went. It even was 'happy hour' there. It was lovely. 

And then it was time to turn in. Night, night.