DEPARTURE NON CHAOS

Ok… so there’s no music for this or the ensuing episodes it is being Edited aboard the ship as we sail south and it’s too time consuming – thus costly-  to research and download tunes on the slow ships Satellite WiFi.  Read on.

 “Sorry, but I need to take these shoes too.”

“Why am I not surprised.”

“What?”

“Nothing Dear” {only the third re-opening of the” ready for the car bag”}

“And here’s another top.”

“There aint no friggin room!”

“What?”

“Nothing Dear”

 “Oh… and where is IT?”

“Not Packed.”

“Why not?”

“There is a perfectly good one on the ship.”

“I don’t care… I want mine.”

“Yes Dear.” 
{The two most important words in a happy marriage”

Yeah… we’re still packing and it’s 30 minutes till GO TIME, and Yeah the “IT” is the damn blow dryer – you knew it would show up in a NOWAT, it always does - It’s like her 5^th appendage.

The good thing is that there was really not a lot of the usual chaos on the departure, Chucky had gotten most of it all done the night before but fully aware that there would always be “something else for the bag” just before it goes in the car he didn’t lock them up yet. Aside from  the minor exchange noted above relatively quite until…

That little hang up at the Port Everglades security checkpoint where our line of 4 cabs and us was held up by the front cab with less than desirable folks who spooked the minimum wage guard... that had to call another guy to check out their credentials... who called another guy and… 10 minutes later waved the cab through.

Aside from that the rest of the trip to the Dock was uneventful as we slid into line at the Carnival Freedom… 
only to get behind a Holiday Inn Shuttle with a trailer full of luggage that the cop held up till there was room for him, which held us up another 10 minutes… 
{this was beginning to feel sorta like the line at Publix that you think is a fast line only to get behind the guy with two items that has to write a check -  and then left his ID in the Car!!!}

Otherwise that was our somewhat un-eventful, stress-less ride to the port.

Finally waved into a spot on the curb, we took to unloading the luggage and waved off the porter – we’re gonna lug our own “Luggage” to get it to the cabin faster and because they wanted it unlocked at the curb – Yeah… like Chucky is gonna give some unknown dude an unlocked bag…  A quick hug to Brian and we we’re off to the Priority Line. 
Priority you Ask?

Yeah… not being a Platinum cruiser yet where we automatically get VIFP Treatment {Very Important Fun Person – ya gotta love the branding} so I booked the Fast to the Fun {F2F} as its called and Now Here this!!! 

If you're ever on a Carnival Cruise – and Hate loooooonnnngggg lines… Buy This One. 

At the door, we flashed our F2F ticket -  we were through security in a flash...
[well not that fast… she set off all the bells with her bangle bracelets again… you’d think she’d have learned by now] 
Whisked into the priority line for check in and on board the ship in less than 10 minutes!  All this while a line at least 7 Disney style switch backs and 300 people long waited for the “next open registration slot”.   
The F2F also guarantees priority first off at the ports [which is important since we have some time sensitive tours booked] a dedicated guest services number no wait line at the Guest Service desk or Any Time Dining and, priority disembarkation when we return as well as a few other perks I forget now.  Well worth it.

Of course… lugging your own LUGGAGE can be a tad taxing on certain Dragon Ladies since Chuck booked an Aft Cabin because of the great Balcony and proximity to the Lido Bar. 

Sooooo you get on the boat mid-way to the front on Deck 3.  The cabin is on Deck 8 and alllll the waaaaayyyy back there… and of course 5 of the 12 elevators are blocked off for luggage loading and the is only about 50 people waiting on the other 7 that are all going down…

The glares and grumbling behind the Little Italian Man emanating from a certain Dragon Chic were not of the complimentary kind as we finally got a lift to the Veranda deck and trekked alllll the waaaaayyy beck there….

But IT IS a GREAT cabin.

Ok… this got longer that expected, and its time to meet the Roll Call Crowd at the Lido Bar for the Meet & Greet {Just up one flight of service stairs-right outside our door} to co-ordinate meet times for the excursions etc.  
Chucky even brought a small pizza cutter planning on ordering 6 pizzas {right next to the bar} and cutting them bite sized for snacks and the Buffet has lots of cheese and fruit… [why pay Carnival $20 a head for a private party with 3 premixed drinks and peanuts] 
Hey... old caterers never die - they just keep entertaining😀

This is gonna take some time to upload and format.  That cost will determine if this will be the last transmission till our return.

To Be Continued…

                               

Ciao 4 Now,

Uncle Chuck & The Headed for Fruity Drinks & Snacks

Dragon Lady