Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.©Maori Proverb

 

Part 3

We declined on partaking of the buffet offered after the ball dropped. On display, for your eating pleasure, were a large variety of desserts, various cheeses, salty sliced fatty meat products and fruit among beautifully carved ice sculptures; while colorful flowers set an inviting scene. It was far too crowded to capture in a photograph. Instead, we made our way to the elevator.

Our travel consultant had gifted us a bottle of champagne. We’d saved it for celebrating in our room after we rang in the new year. Comfy in our jammies, we sat on the balcony to wallow in the sounds of the waves splashing against the ships bow. We basked in the luxury of the quiet starlit night. As we gazed at the bright stars, our thoughts gravitated to the many blessings in our lives. We were enveloped in a peaceful soothing calm; truly grateful our lives were full of love. Our hearts couldn’t have held more loving blessings.

~~~~~~~~~ 

When you’re cruising there’s a pamphlet left in your room every night. It lists restaurant hours, activities for the day such as trivia or other types of games or bingo, casino specials, entertainment hours, dance or exercise classes, children activities, special cocktail of the day, port information if there’s a port docking and more. 

The most important pamphlet is the last one from the night before you disembark. It explains what time to leave your luggage outside your door for pick-up, what time each passenger is to disembark and the documents required to leave the ship. 

Passengers who need to get to the airport for flights are the given priority. There’s always a reminder to leave something to wear off the ship. Many a newbie cruisers have packed their clothes in their jammies only to discover they had their luggage picked up and didn’t leave anything to wear off the ship. It can be quite a hilarious sight to see while waiting in line at customs. 

You can carry your luggage off the ship if you prefer to avoid the long arduous search for your bags later in the terminal. The suitcases are sectioned by floor in the large terminal but with over 2000 passengers you can imagine the amount of luggage string at you. It’s like a treasure hunt. Manufacturers make luggage that look alike adding to the madness. Travelers have taken to decorating their luggage with ribbons, stickers or paint creative images. 

It can be quite a walk when you disembark from the ship too. You can request a wheel complimentary wheel chair. I’d had back surgery shortly before on one cruise we’d taken and requested one. People glared and sent daggers my way. I wasn’t aware that the wheel chairs are taken to the front of the lines.  

Usually, we have our luggage picked up but we were feeling strangely tired. To hurry the disembarkation process along, we decided to carry our bags off.

There were only two bags. I took one, hubby took the other and, off we went. 

There was an elevator to get us to customs. There’s port personal to direct people in order to keep things running smoothly. The elevators can accommodate about four people with luggage so it’s a bit slow. We entered the elevator leaving space for two others.The port personal gestured to a couple online to enter the elevator. They declined and said they’d wait. The doors closed.

Hubby looked at me and asked, “Did that look like the couple we had given chairs to on New Year’s Eve?”

Honestly, I didn’t know. I thought they might have been. I couldn’t say for sure. But, my NYPD crime sniffing significant other always remembers people faces; always, even childhood classmates.

We made it through customs with only a short walk to the exit door. 

Without a warning, an unexpected blast of super cold air hit us like a wall.  

Wide eyed, I looked at hubby.

I said, “Where did that blast of cold air come from? I don’t have a jacket for this weather.” 

He assured me he’d get the car at the park lot as quickly as possible. He told me to stay in the foyer with the luggage. A windy gust blew as hubby forged forward to retrieve our car.

I was unaware you can’t to stay in the building once you’ve been cleared by customs. I was gently informed I had to exit.

Into the blustery wind I went dragging two bags behind me. I found a bench and sat down. I decided to search for my trusty forever-with-me scarf. Once found, I wrapped it around my neck and sat with fingers crossed that all would go quickly and my prince would bring my carriage. 

The saga with COVID 19 and Me will continue … come on back for the next chapter …

Isadora 😎

Part 1 – COVID19 and Me

Part 2 – COVID19 and Me – Part 2