Since we had the late dinner seating, we got to sleep late and didn't have to be to breakfast till 8:30. We went up to deck 10 to see the port and then went to Lumiere's for breakfast. All of our dining companions were there and we said our goodbys to them as well as our servers and head waiter.
We then took our carryon bags and headed to customs downstairs after leaving the ship; it only took us 5 minutes to find our luggage, but there weren't any porters or baggage handlers around, so we just lugged them ourselves through the customs line; nobody in front of us. Outside, we went around the corner and the buses were lined up. Since we were flying Southwest and our plane was not leaving till 6:10 pm, we found a bus to the airport that wasn't full and that listed Southwest as being in the side of the terminal they were going to. The driver put the luggage below the bus and we climbed aboard. DS was listening to a tape of a book he needed to read for school. Before we left the port, the young girl behind said to her mom that she was going to be sick and then she vomited all over the back of DS' seat; luckily the mother had a plastic bag. This situation was repeated several times on the drive to the airport and unfortunately there were no more seats on the bus. This was the only time I think I noticed someone being sick, possibly due to a virus. Although DH said that two rooms on deck six (our deck) had ALL of their meals delivered to their room-- 3 times a day and I did see a mattress being replaced in one of those rooms. We had heard through Jamming John that 2 families were quarantined. When we got to the airport, we lugged our bags to the Hyatt Regency where we had booked a day room for $60. It was 10 o'clock and we had the whole day to wait, so we figured here was a way we could relax, swim at the pool if we wanted and take it easy. I found out about these day rooms on these boards.
Since it was after the Jan. 1 increase in security with checked luggage being opened and checked, we decided to see how early Southwest suggested being in line. DH had to report his lost hats from his luggage that broke open flying in to florida, so he checked with them. They actually cut him a check while he waited to cover the lost hats, said they would mail his repaired luggage and told us to check the luggage in 4 hrs. early. So, at 2 pm we got in a long line and checked our luggage and got our boarding passes which were "A" this time. (Southwest doesnt assign seats, but has first come, first serve as you board plane according to letters A, B, or C. ) They did open my luggage and go through all my dirty laundry (blush) and then had a real time trying to close it again. (I'm not allowed to touch suitcase at any time, so couldn't help). They only touched DS and DH's luggage with some explosive detecting wand, but I got the full treatment. We then returned to the room at the Hyatt to relax, went shopping in terminal and hung out.
At approx. 5 pm, we checked out, and headed through security with our carryon; DH was the only one stopped to have his carryon checked. We then proceeded to the gates and ate dinner at McDonalds as we waited for the plane. Our flight to baltimore originated in Ft. Lauderdale, so was partially filled when we boarded. We did get three seats together and it was a quick hour and 43 minutes home.
This really was a great first vacation away over the winter holidays and we are already looking into a date for a western cruise after doing the eastern twice. We do prefer summer weather; I don't think it is too hot and you get plenty of sunshine and warm water. But, just being on the cruise for a week with all the pampering and someone else cleaning my room and doing the cooking and entertaining us---- chilly weather or not, we loved it!!! Barb
We then took our carryon bags and headed to customs downstairs after leaving the ship; it only took us 5 minutes to find our luggage, but there weren't any porters or baggage handlers around, so we just lugged them ourselves through the customs line; nobody in front of us. Outside, we went around the corner and the buses were lined up. Since we were flying Southwest and our plane was not leaving till 6:10 pm, we found a bus to the airport that wasn't full and that listed Southwest as being in the side of the terminal they were going to. The driver put the luggage below the bus and we climbed aboard. DS was listening to a tape of a book he needed to read for school. Before we left the port, the young girl behind said to her mom that she was going to be sick and then she vomited all over the back of DS' seat; luckily the mother had a plastic bag. This situation was repeated several times on the drive to the airport and unfortunately there were no more seats on the bus. This was the only time I think I noticed someone being sick, possibly due to a virus. Although DH said that two rooms on deck six (our deck) had ALL of their meals delivered to their room-- 3 times a day and I did see a mattress being replaced in one of those rooms. We had heard through Jamming John that 2 families were quarantined. When we got to the airport, we lugged our bags to the Hyatt Regency where we had booked a day room for $60. It was 10 o'clock and we had the whole day to wait, so we figured here was a way we could relax, swim at the pool if we wanted and take it easy. I found out about these day rooms on these boards.
Since it was after the Jan. 1 increase in security with checked luggage being opened and checked, we decided to see how early Southwest suggested being in line. DH had to report his lost hats from his luggage that broke open flying in to florida, so he checked with them. They actually cut him a check while he waited to cover the lost hats, said they would mail his repaired luggage and told us to check the luggage in 4 hrs. early. So, at 2 pm we got in a long line and checked our luggage and got our boarding passes which were "A" this time. (Southwest doesnt assign seats, but has first come, first serve as you board plane according to letters A, B, or C. ) They did open my luggage and go through all my dirty laundry (blush) and then had a real time trying to close it again. (I'm not allowed to touch suitcase at any time, so couldn't help). They only touched DS and DH's luggage with some explosive detecting wand, but I got the full treatment. We then returned to the room at the Hyatt to relax, went shopping in terminal and hung out.
At approx. 5 pm, we checked out, and headed through security with our carryon; DH was the only one stopped to have his carryon checked. We then proceeded to the gates and ate dinner at McDonalds as we waited for the plane. Our flight to baltimore originated in Ft. Lauderdale, so was partially filled when we boarded. We did get three seats together and it was a quick hour and 43 minutes home.
This really was a great first vacation away over the winter holidays and we are already looking into a date for a western cruise after doing the eastern twice. We do prefer summer weather; I don't think it is too hot and you get plenty of sunshine and warm water. But, just being on the cruise for a week with all the pampering and someone else cleaning my room and doing the cooking and entertaining us---- chilly weather or not, we loved it!!! Barb
