Sunday, November 2 Cruise Day!!!
We woke at 12:51 am to hear an announcement going off saying something like this
this is not a drill, a fire has been reported. Please make your way as quickly as possible off of the ship. Do not use the elevators. This announcement came with a very loud alarm. I woke Jeff and asked him what the heck
yes I was sleeping well because it did not register what was going on to me for several minutes. We hoped out of bed put on clothes. I remember thinking, well I am taking my pocketbook and that was all. I figured the clothes would have to burn. We walk into the hall way to be told by someone (passenger/guest) that it was a false alarm. We walked back into our room and Jeff gets back into bed. I said are you going to believe him? I then texted one of my friends to see what they knew. I nag Jeff enough that he finally calls the front desk to be told what that guy told us. I get back on my jams and crawl back in bed. Now remember the alarm and announcement is still blaring. I said do you think they will ever shut it off. Then they did as soon as I said it. Most of our group slept thru this alarm. It is hard for me to believe someone could sleep through that loud alarm and announcement but they did.
After going to bed for the second time we still woke early. We got ready and headed out to take a few pictures of the ship. We also woke to rain and cool weather. We made our way out on deck and met up with a few others as we looked upon our Cruising Vessel next doors to the QM. After getting a bit soggy we headed to meet the entire group for breakfast. Now let me say being the group leader of this group was nice but a lot of work. We all had a very nice buffet breakfast and give the plague I had bought for the TA to him during this time. We also had ordered him some drink coupons.
After breakfast we went back to the room to finish packing up things. Once done we tried to find the early check in at the QM. It was very confusing to find the correct area. You had to go to deck 2 and walk to the end of the outside walkway, not the ship part. Once at the end you went inside the ship again to the early check in. Of course men being men Jeff and I stopped talking for a while during this time. We had went down to the parking area and walked around. I kept on saying lets ask someone. Finally after much wasted time and ill feelings we asked someone. We were told deck 2. Jeff swore up and down they said deck 3. I was very upset at him by now and this is when I stopped talking much to him. I figured I did not have anything good to say so why say anything. After wasting about 20 minutes on deck 3 guess what
.we met up with some of the group and they said deck 2. It amazes me how Jeff will believe anyone but me! I still was not talking much to him. Lol Once at the correct check in area we proceeded to do the early check in which is very nice. You go with your documents and they check you in and then tell you where to drop your bags. You do not take the bags with you to early check-in. Now I did not listen to the lady with the directions on where to drop the bags. I figured why I should because then I would not have any information to tell Jeff. I mean he did not listen or believe me before, right? Can you tell I was still upset with him? I just figured if I did not know anything then we could not fuss anymore. We really were not speaking to each other at all by this time. Lol we come out of the early check in and Jeff asks now what did she say? I looked at him and told him I zoned out and had not listened. Well once again that was the wrong thing to say. I am serious we pretty much did not talk to one another for about an hour. Lol Yes I find that very funny because now it is very funny. Once we got back to the QM we met up with some of the group and we all took our baggage over to the Pride. Over all I thought the process was smooth except for the early check in. Early Check In at the Queen Mary is not easy due to the area in which you have to walk to get there. But over all I thought the drop off luggage and get in line process was very smooth. I did hear from others who did not feel the same way. They were more or less upset over the lines but the lines were smooth and well planned out. I could not see how Carnival could make it any easier.
Once on the ship Jeff and I separated. He went on to the Lido while I stayed to have our balcony dividers taken down. There were 3 of us who wanted out dividers down. To have them taken down one person from each room must be present and you must sign a sheet. I felt this was very easy as well. Then we headed to the Atrium/Lobby Bar where I had a dirty martini, which was my stable drink of the cruise. We were there for a very long time. We had to wait and watch luggage for various people. Some way we wound up watching all this carryon crap which kept us there. Jeff kept on texting me asking what is up. Finally a bunch of us went exploring the ship. Of course I had no clue at the time where I was at or what I was seeing. The ship was very beautiful, very formal due to the style of the design. I have to say it is one of my favorite ships now. We were able to drop our carryon in the room at 1:30.
I do not remember when or how I finally found Jeff. I want to say I finally made it to the Lido. We hung out at the Lido until Muster then we had Muster. If you have been to one you have know what happens. I never learn anything there. I do not retain where I am suppose to go in case of an emergency so it is not very interesting to me. It did go well and smooth though. I felt it was long but smooth. After muster we headed back up to the lido and walked around and took a few pictures. We found a few people from the group and hung out with them. It is amazing how hazy things get after a couple of weeks.
Oh one funny event that happened at sail away was, Jeff kept on trying to drink more and the sweet waiter wanted to help him. Jeff ordered 2 shots of Patron and a beer. I told the waiter NO, he could not have that. Jeff was trying to change my mind. I finally told the waiter I wanted Jeff to work later (if you get my meaning there). The waiter did not bring him the alcohol. Kathy came up and told us our luggage had finally come so we start to go down, the waiter comes up to us and says, Mr. Jeff where you go. Jeff said downstairs, me being the smarty I am told the waiter we were going to have Sex. The waiter said OK. We ran down and pulled the luggage in and ran right back up to sail away. The waiter comes up to Mr. Jeff and tells him, you come to fast Mr. Jeff. Lol this became one of the jokes of the entire cruise.
Due to the luggage coming so late we did not dress for dinner. We all seemed to just go with what we had on. Most of us had the late dining and since we were a large crowd we were in the Captains Room in the Normandiee Dining room. I loved the Captains Room because we had our own entrance. NO lines, no waiting type deal.
During dinner my sweet husband gets up and announces he is DONE. He went to bed. After dinner several of us walked to my room. We talked a while outside of my door. I warned them and told them I was going in and when Jeff gets like that he normally is butt naked. I have to give it to him; he did up the luggage on the floor and crawl under the sheets.
First day onboard was wonderful, Muster OK, Sail away good and dinner good.
Pictures will come later.