Plus, I’m just a bit weary of typing posts on my iPhone and had to psyche myself up for this. 😉
We were up at 6am and ate a quick breakfast in the World Fresh Marketplace on disembarkation day. I fear Sabatini’s has spoiled us forever, as a previously perfectly acceptable breakfast in the buffet suddenly felt like “roughing it”. We were scheduled to meet at 8am in the Casino to be in the first group to disembark after walk offs (people who packed lightly and who can simply roll their luggage off the ship themselves). We spent the last of our on board credit to purchase a Princess transfer to the Fort Lauderdale airport but we won’t make that mistake again. It turned out to be pretty awful.
First, we were delayed about an hour getting off the ship because they were having trouble offloading the luggage. I guess that’s not a huge surprise; the Emerald Princess was the first Princess ship disembarking guests at Port Everglades since the shut down. The driver of the bus to the airport seemed out of practice, too. He took forever to load the bus, and then took us to the wrong level at the airport and dropped us off between terminals, causing some of the people on the bus to have an absolute meltdown. Apparently some people have lost all filters and curse out anyone not doing things their way. It was quite ugly.
Luckily the security line at FLL moved quickly, and, though our flight was 100% full, access to live TV, including the Michigan v. Michigan State game, made the hours go by quickly. About the same time Michigan lost the game, I started receiving texts about McGee at the state championship. It simply couldn’t have gone any better, and he led his team to the win. Yep, I was glad my double masks were soaking up the tears in my eyes. Interviews! He is now giving post-race interviews! When did he learn how to do that with such poise and humility?
Our driver picked us up exactly as scheduled, and we returned home on a warm and beautiful Saturday afternoon, which was nice because it’s been pretty dismal since then. Still, no sign of that four letter word (snow) here…yet.
As for future plans, once again I can honestly say we have nothing on the horizon. I received word from a fellow cruiser about a Crystal Endeavor expedition cruise to Antarctica for about half price on November 17, and that was tempting, but I am scheduled to fly to Arizona in two weeks for McGee’s Nike Cross Regional race. Then reader April kindly shared with me information on the Windstar Wind Breeze cruise in French Polynesia starting November 22. That’s still a possibility, but we have to wait until we get my knee figured out before we book anything. I see an orthopedic surgeon tomorrow and she’s certain to order an MRI. Say what you will about US health care, but I’m sure I’ll get an MRI tomorrow or Wednesday and have some answers. Everything, including the trip to Arizona, depends on the outcome.
It was never in our plans to spend a lot of time cruising this winter. I want to be home for the basketball and track seasons; this is the boys’ senior year and my last chance to see them compete. Travel, and specifically cruising is certain to be a lot easier a year from now.
But we consider ourselves so lucky to have had three weeks in Alaska, and the utopic cruise experience on the Emerald Princess. We will never feel that celebrated and spoiled again, and those are some wonderful memories to keep us going until the next time. Thanks for following along! Stay safe and stay healthy!
