Saturday, March 11. Variable weather.

Timeline for the day...

We were up at 4.05 am

I turned on the phone at 4.06

Turned on data roaming at 4.07

Coffee at 4.15

Ship docked at Fort Lauderdale 5.20

Biggest cruise ship in the world pulled in beside us 5.35

Breakfast 6.45

Disembark 8.20

Got luggage 8.30

Wait for Porter to carry bags 8.45

Wait for customs 9.15 

On bus 9.20

Bus moved 9.55

At Airport 10.15

Checked in 10.35

Cleared security 10.45

Boarded 11.00

Took off 12:00

Landed in Dallas  2:00  (1 hour time back.)

Boarded plane 2.  6:30. Flight delayed. Changed planes on us. 

Took off 7:00 pm

Landed in Vancouver 9.20 pm (Two hour back in time)

Cleared customs. 10:00

Hugged Wally 10:10 

Home 11.15 pm


The day was a long one but who cares. There were some pretty frantic and annoyed people in the luggage hall and the customs and immigration line. There were so many 'Special People' who went to the head of the line: wheel chair and slow walkers, ships speakers and bridge instructor, etc, etc.  It turned out it was a Nexus line that we could have used. However we would have to sit and wait for the bus anyhow. 

The first flight was a bit bumpy but who cares. Long time sitting today's disappointing with that two hour delay, but who cares. We were sitting at our new gate when we got a call from Jim and Gail. They were within 50 yards of us. Jim found out about the delay in our flight and phoned us. They walked down and we had a grand reunion and then rather quickly a grand farewell as our flight was called. Great way to end a day sitting in an airport for five hours. 

Things seem to work out somehow.

May I make a final observation on people please?  

I found that on the ship there were some people who seemed to have a certain reserve or reluctance to fully engage with us. However, as the Cruise came to a conclusion, some of that reserve disappeared. And today, with two couples and a single, there was no reluctance at all to engage on the same level: as travellers involved in a long stressful journey home.

Could it be that while onboard and as part of a group of 550 people they were conscious of the fact, or thought they had to act in a different way to maintain their position in the 'Pecking Order'? 

Just a thought, there certainly was a change in attitude. 

I suspect that in the morning we will be wishing for warmer weather pretty quickly.

I will do a Sign Off blog tomorrow.