| We and Eurodam were 5pm, Allure 6pm, so I pushed the lounger to the corner in the hope no irritating gits would stand in my way but they did anyway. Both ships went earlier than scheduled, which was fine so I lay back and enjoyed, only standing after we'd reversed and were going towards open sea.. |
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| Went to the Seaside and tried the fish curry. I think it was the same muck they used for fish and chips. Back to the cabin and found a message from Carmel on the phone, left at 4.30pm. I went back to sleep until 7.50pm and went to buy something for the cough, since the usually reliable Lockets didn't help. I spoke to Blasido about the cold room and he could feel it in my room so phoned the maintenance man who gave me lovely heat! And so to dinner and Leather Woman was wearing an open-boobed shirt with lace mini skirt. The foreign woman from the bus glared as she left her table, which was next to ours! Silly cow. It was brunch the following day so they were getting the San Marco ready for it by moving tables and chairs. It was the first time I'd seen them do it. Then I went to bed after writing postcards while Carmel, Barbara and Cheryl went off to do something else. |
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| The 15th December was thankfully a sea day, so I stayed in bed to try and sweat the awful cold out. Carmel phoned at 10am and 6pm to ask how I was feeling. After I got up, I freshened up then went to Guest Relations to send the postcards. When I emerged, my stewards were outside and said they'd been worried about me because I'd had the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door all day. Awwww. Dinner and the first proper meal of the day. I'd been nibbling on my pile of apples when I needed to take some aspirin. For some reason, the Bayer ones made my teeth hurt when surely it was meant to have the opposite effect. It was our final of three formal nights and the Baked Alaska Parade - yay!!!! Solstice class don't have flame but Millennium ones do which makes it that extra bit special. Carmel went to see Perry Grant while I returned to my lovely warm cabin. I did the internet in the Gamma Room, leaving my bag behind and my nose ran - bugger! I did the Asda shopping and blog then went to blow my hooter before turning in. |
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Another sea day and time to finish packing. I felt so much better when I woke up and went to the Star Chefs thing in the theatre. Thankfully I didn't hack my guts out so was on the mend. It was noticeable the entire ship had also got warmer, but then there was a lot of sneezing around, as well as a small outbreak of norovirus. I pity anyone who had both! I chatted with Mustafa outside then went on deck because we had company in the shape of Carnival Liberty, en route to Miami. |
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| I went for a late breakfast in the Seaside and decided to try an omelette, which they make in front of you with your choice of ingredients. I went for cheese, tomato and onion. When I returned to the cabin, I found the other steward had left me an orange. Isn't that sweet? Many commented he was a bit mean and could have given more but I think it's a lovely gesture. There are people paying expensive prices to have a butler when you can get better service in the cheap seats. I really was feeling so much better and the cough was improved. |
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| Time to finish the internet in the Rendezvous and I was even more impressed. Not only was it still fairly fast early afternoon, but unlike the normal packages, this had a record of each minute you'd used, how much you had spent so you weren't ripped off. I would keep a log and always, what they said I had left, never tallied when I added up how many minutes I'd actually used. Outside the window, Carnival Liberty passed. After I took the laptop back to the room, I went on deck and saw Carnival Liberty way ahead on our port side while Celebrity Eclipse was behind on our starboard. It was another force 7 and a bit nippy. |
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| I went back in for about an hour, hoping when I returned, Eclipse was closer but she'd just gone to the other side - damn her! Carnival Liberty was srill going up and down ahead and the sun was setting as we passed the Bahamas. |
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| Before I went to dinner, I put my case out and my other steward told me off for not calling him to help, then immediately took it off me. That's what wheels are for! I popped onto the Prom deck as I waited and saw some ships, including Eclipse and Carnival Freedom. It would have been nice to have been told Eclipse was passing. Outside, the strong sewage smell, which had been at the stern from deck 2 to deck 9 was pretty strong and some people complained it was the worse cruise EVER! They should have been on QE2 when her plumbing backed up. Ugh! It was unpleasant but only around the stairways, not in the public rooms or restaurant. Because it was the last night and I found it hard to choose between three ice creams, Cheryl suggested I had all three so I went one better and had each of the five (vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, blueberry and raspberry) plus the chocolate yoghurt. Yummy! |
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| Carmel went to do her luggage, claiming she didn't know and thought you did it in the morning, even though we'd all told her the night before, and before I went up to help, another pop onto the Prom deck where Norwegian Epic with Ken MacLean was creeping up behind us, having sailed from Nassau about six hours earlier. Carmel had roped in a cleaner to help by the time I got up there and after they were put out, I left and saw Epic had gone ahead with an hour, Eclipse was still there plus Pacific Princess was heading our way after sailing from Fort Lauderdale. |
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| Up at 4.45am for the arrival into Fort Lauderdale, since I'd woken up anyway. Carnival Liberty, Oasis of the Seas and Crown Princess were already there by the time we picked up the pilot. Eurodam was ahead, Grand Princess behind and Eclipse tootling to Miami. Because it rained and was cold, I went for breakfast, heading back out when we were nearer. |
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| I went to the Prom deck before returning to my cabin to get some photos and got talking to a lady who had an aunt who lived in Rochester, where my mum was born. It was getting lighter but I wish Celebrity ships had a wrap around Prom deck so I could have got a better angle of Eurodam. |
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| My meeting time was 9.30am in the Rendezvous so I relaxed in the cabin a while then went there. Green 23 was called fifteen minutes later than scheduled and had to go via Deck 1 instead of Deck 3 so off we traipsed. It was a bugger US security stop you taking photos of your ship since walking along the dockside made for some different shots. I spotted Carmel, Barbara and Cheryl. It was absolute CHAOS inside. I have read one person constantly slate Southampton while praising the likes of Fort Lauderdale but this cruise was ending as it began - with massive queues! Once you fought your way through the hoard and found your luggage, you then had to join the seemingly endless immigration queue, which snaked around through a door before coming out again instead of just being to the desks. During this farce, The Long and Winding Road was played over the tannoy. Talk about taking the piss! After more than half an hour of people trying not to crash into each other, there was light at the end of the tunnel and I was into the open air - yes!!!! This is where farce number two came in. There was NO ONE to tell you where to find your bus. Oh a bloke walked around wearing an RCCL badge BUT there were loads of buses belonging for different transfers and no one said to go wherever so we stood there by a sign which said Miami airport. I decided to risk being shot by security, since my back was hell after all this standing from immigration and now this so death was preferable, and took my camera out for photos of my gorgeous ship and Grand Princess opposite. Not only that, but video too! Meanwhile, someone was taken ill on another bus which gave a bit of excitement. |
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| Buses came, buses went and no sign of ours until 10.55am - another yay!!!!! The driver complained she hadn't been told which airlines and after loading the luggage, we were off twenty minutes later then dropped at the American Airlines terminal. After we collected our cases, we were left to our own devices and not even told which direction to go so someone asked once we were inside and we found the British Airways check in desks. My original plans had been were Ken MacLean would be picking me up then showing me around Miami until it was time to check in but by the time we got there around noon, I couldn't be bothered. He was waiting already and hadn't seen me walk by. Seats were taken, so most us us had to sit on the floor, which did my back no good whatsoever. Ken bought me a slice of pizza and Coke and it was only after queuing to check in at 2pm, the BA personnel said that was for pre-printed boarding passes ONLY. I wasn't the only one pissed off so we queue jumped. I sat and talked with Ken till 3pm then headed to security. He gave me a hug goodbye, a kiss on both cheeks then sneaked one on the lips. I was thinking more of my flight socks having no grip and taking my shoes off to really notice and smack him one but it had been reasonably nice meeting him, at least I wouldn't have to see him again. I cannot stand fake people like him attention seeking, hiding behind religion so he's adored, won't take sod off for an answer and would stalk you if you were in the same country. He's creepy! I found the gate and it was freezing aircon again! What is it with these people??? Once the sun went down, it became colder fast. |
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The plane was fifty minutes late so the flight was now 6.05pm. I was in seat 30H, an aisle! Jane, from the flight going over, was a row in front. I'd seen her only a couple of days before but then not since the 3rd after boarding. She'd had a wonderful cruise. We landed at Heathrow at 6.45am, so only twenty minutes late. So the verdict? Loved it! This cruise is now my second best after the QE2 Fjords (which really does take some beating). It's also made me realise Celebrity is my favourite cruise line, rather than joint with Royal Caribbean. Each time I have sailed with them (particularly this ship), I've had fantastic cruises and there has been wonderful crew. My stewards and waiters each time I've sailed on Connie have always gone that extra mile. Caner, Loreto's supervisor, who would take my pre-order, was hilarious and a joy to chat to each night. I relaxed so much during this trip, and hadn't realised how much I needed a break, especially considering I had five cruises already under my belt this year. There were a few niggles like on all cruises, but not even getting ill with that heavy cold spoiled anything. Another truly excellent Celebrity experience. To see more photos of the ships during the trip, click on the Other Stalking index. |
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