Embarkation Day

On our way

On Friday evening Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) texted a message advising us to arrive at 1:00 p.m. for boarding on Saturday, rather than 12 noon. Apparently, a medical emergency had caused the delay, and we learned later that the ship had turned back to Nassau after setting sail Friday evening, thereby creating complications for everyone – especially the person with the medical emergency.

We took a cab to the port at about 12:45  p.m.  I have rarely seen so much traffic in one spot. Looked like MSP over a holiday weekend. Our cab driver let us off at the wrong dock, but an observant porter noticed the error and back we got in the cab. The line at NCL was very long but we got through the line quickly and were soon in our cabin, not permanently but we were given enough time to drop off our electronics.

Miami Beach

We had a few drinks at the Surf Bar near the pool and spent an hour or so waiting for and going through the mandatory lifejacket drill. My mind is kind of a blur after this. We enjoyed a spectacular sail past Miami Beach, where the beach was still full of late afternoon swimmers and sunbathers. Darkness fell quickly and we dragged ourselves to the Prime Rib Buffet. The prime rib was rare and delicious.

The walk back to our stateroom was not more than a few hundred yards but it seemed interminable. Our suitcases finally arrived, and we began the unpacking task – really too much for my feeble mind to handle at that point. Of course, we both brought far too much stuff and I complained bitterly about my “rag collection”, wondering why I’d even bothered to bring so much, when my usual uniform is a black shirt and black shorts. I even brought not one, but two black dresses. Bob, by the way, is not better than I, but worse. He actually leaves most of his own crap in his suitcase, never to be either worn or even seen.