A couple of weeks ago I was concerned that the shoulder I injured in early December would make travel difficult. I always bring too much unused clothing so I figured I would really have to cut back so that I could manage my own bags. However, this morning I woke up without pain, so I think I can safely say that I'm ready to escape from early January in Minnesota. Still planning to reduce the amount of crap I bring. We'll see how that goes ...
The plan:
Three nights in downtown Miami. We rented a condo with great reviews, not far from the Port of Miami. We were in Miami before our first cruise about a decade ago. It was my first visit to that energetic city, where I heard Spanish spoken on the streets and especially enjoyed the beauty and passion of Little Havana.
On Saturday we board the Norwegian Bliss at about noon for a 4:00 p.m. departure. We like the casual atmosphere on Norwegian ships. On one of our cruises, the captain and crew held an informal information session and I was charmed by their Norwegian accents and "old world" courtesy. They were not unlike Minnesotans and I felt right at home.
This is a new ship, very large and not for those who prefer a more intimate cruising experience. It suits me, though. We are visiting only three islands, fine with me since I really like all the activities on the ship. The "something for everyone" program reminds me of summer camp and I love to participate. Bob -- "not a joiner" -- is more attracted to enjoying the open air on our balcony or in the outdoor spaces on the ship.
