The Widow & the Spinster Take a Bougie WBTA Cruise That Didn't Suck! - All Done! 5/22

[TxT365]

Is Lookout Cay worth doing again or would you stay on the ship next time your cruise stops there?

 

[jedijill]

Is Lookout Cay worth doing again or would you stay on the ship next time your cruise stops there?

I think we both agree we would skip it. We are not beach people and nothing was work the giant hike.

Jill in CO

 

[franandaj]

This is patently not true.

I dunno. It's my Trip report, I get to make the rules!

Very!

Thank goodness, they seem to have fixed the issue now.

Well that's good.

 

[pkondz]

I dunno. It's my Trip report, I get to make the rules!

But I know the truth.

 

[DnA2010]

Stopping by

 

[franandaj]

Is Lookout Cay worth doing again or would you stay on the ship next time your cruise stops there?

I think we both agree we would skip it. We are not beach people and nothing was work the giant hike.

Jill in CO

Yup! Jill is right. For me nothing is worth doing that long trek again. I'll stay on the ship and go to the spa.

 

[franandaj]

But I know the truth.

Well....truth isn't what it used to be.

 

[franandaj]

Stopping by

Hoping to wrap this up soon. Been busy, ya know!

 

[pkondz]

Well....truth isn't what it used to be.

That’s true…. Wait…

 

[franandaj]

That’s true…. Wait…

 

[franandaj]

Day 18

We woke up to find ourselves docked at the DCL terminal in Ft. Lauderdale.

We could see all kinds of action going on, unloading bags, new crew members coming aboard. See that line of them waiting to get on the ship.

We went back to Animators for our “kick us off the ship” breakfast.

I had the Eggs for the Road. That’s almost always what I get on this breakfast. It looks like Jill got the French Toast, but I can’t really see it in the picture.

Then it was time to wait for our group to be called to leave the ship. We must have waited at least an hour before finding out that all the groups had been called. There was a problem with customs. For whatever reason they couldn’t use the facial recognition software and the lines at immigration were super slow.

Finally we just got into the line to leave the ship and there was just a series of long long lines. When we finally got to the room where you locate your luggage, I got in the super long line to get through customs. Then we noticed that folks who hired a porter were going through a “Lightning Lane” of sorts. We grabbed the first porter we could find, and we were through customs in no time compared to those who did not hire a porter.

He got us out to where the cabs were located and soon we were on our way to the airport. Originally we had thought that we would be off the ship by 9:30AM and we were going to have sit at the airport for 5-6 hours. Due to all the delays we didn’t get to the airport until after 11:00AM.

With the original plan, we thought about taking an Uber to this quaint little restaurant that I knew about, however, between the traffic to get here, the rain outside, and all the other circumstances, we decided to just kick it at the airport. It was late enough that we could check our bags. Southwest doesn’t allow you to check bags until 4 hours before your flight, and we were now within the 4 hour window.

We ended up at Margaritaville which was just past the security checkpoint. I got a Margarita (or two), and Jill had a hard cider.

We split an order of Spinach Artichoke Dip, and that was just about perfect for the two of us. We had eaten so much over the past two weeks, this hit the spot nicely.

The plane arrived at the gate in time to let the arriving passengers off their flight and board ours in plenty of time.

Our flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Denver was pretty easy, and I said goodbye to Jill before heading up to the Centurion lounge. They had a very nice spread, I started off with some ribs, coleslaw, cornbread muffins and some kind broccoli and cheese casserole.

Then I realized that they had a mac n cheese bar. You could pick whatever you wanted in your mac n cheese. I chose bacon, mushrooms, green onions and a healthy dose of pepper. These two meals and a couple glasses of wine later, I was feeling pretty satiated.

When I got out of the lounge, I went to my gate which was supposed to be two gates away from the lounge, only to find out that they had moved it from gate 50 to gate 70 something! It was a good long walk, and it was a good thing that I had left the lounge a little earlier than I originally planned! I had to hustle to get to the gate, but still I did get my A2 boarding. I’m really going to be sad when Southwest moves to assigned seating.

I arrived safely at the Long Beach Airport and Naked Jim was waiting for me in the chaos of the construction that’s still going on with the drop off lanes. My kitties were very happy to see me at home, and I was happy to be home for about five weeks.

My stats for the day.

In case you’re looking for what came next, my WDW trip report can be found here.

 

[Flossbolna]

We split an order of Spinach Artichoke Dip, and that was just about perfect for the two of us. We had eaten so much over the past two weeks, this hit the spot nicely.

Since we just completed our Eastbound TA on the Fantasy I can absolutely relate to this! It was also so nice to eat non cruise food again once the cruise ended!

I loved your trip report! Especially because it was the perfect thing to read to get me excited about our cruise. I might reread it now to be able to compare experiences! I can tell you that our brunch at Remy was fantastic, so at least there we were luckier than the two of you.

 

[pkondz]

We went back to Animators for our “kick us off the ship” breakfast.

Worst meal of a cruise.

I had the Eggs for the Road. That’s almost always what I get on this breakfast.

Because it seems appropriately named?

It looks like Jill got the French Toast, but I can’t really see it in the picture.

I'm gonna guess the waffles.

There was a problem with customs. For whatever reason they couldn’t use the facial recognition software and the lines at immigration were super slow.

Ugh...

Then we noticed that folks who hired a porter were going through a “Lightning Lane” of sorts. We grabbed the first porter we could find, and we were through customs in no time compared to those who did not hire a porter.

Huh! Money well spent, then.

Originally we had thought that we would be off the ship by 9:30AM and we were going to have sit at the airport for 5-6 hours. Due to all the delays we didn’t get to the airport until after 11:00AM.

Why I'd never book a flight too close to ship scheduled docking time. Too many variables.

Southwest doesn’t allow you to check bags until 4 hours before your flight, and we were now within the 4 hour window.

I think that's atypical. Aren't most airlines 3 hours?

We ended up at Margaritaville which was just past the security checkpoint.

I've eaten at a Margaritaville once. Once was enough.

Then I realized that they had a mac n cheese bar.

I need this.

I went to my gate which was supposed to be two gates away from the lounge, only to find out that they had moved it from gate 50 to gate 70 something! It was a good long walk, and it was a good thing that I had left the lounge a little earlier than I originally planned!

Had they changed it since you went to the lounge? Last minute change?

I’m really going to be sad when Southwest moves to assigned seating.

I'm not sure they are anymore. I had heard a news blurb that they were getting a lot of negative push back from their customers... So... maybe not? I'm not sure, though.

I arrived safely at the Long Beach Airport and Naked Jim was waiting for me

Just curious... had you texted/called that you were on your way before boarding in Denver?

My kitties were very happy to see me at home

 

[DnA2010]

I'm super strange, I had cream of wheat both of the last two trips- it's something I like, however never buy/make at home!

For whatever reason they couldn’t use the facial recognition software and the lines at immigration were super slow.

I was impressed with how quickly this made things!

Then we noticed that folks who hired a porter were going through a “Lightning Lane” of sorts. We grabbed the first porter we could find, and we were through customs in no time compared to those who did not hire a porter.

Clever gals you!

We split an order of Spinach Artichoke Dip

I do enjoy spin dip, one of those things I have here and there in restaurants for sure

this looks tasty, so someone cooked it up to order for you?

I arrived safely at the Long Beach Airport and Naked Jim was waiting for me in the chaos of the construction that’s still going on with the drop off lanes. My kitties were very happy to see me at home, and I was happy to be home for about five weeks.

I bet everyone was happy and good job Jim for being there!

Great write up as always!

 

[jedijill]

We woke up to find ourselves docked at the DCL terminal in Ft. Lauderdale.

The sky reflected my mood in getting kicked off!

See that line of them waiting to get on the ship.

Foreshadowing!

It looks like Jill got the French Toast, but I can’t really see it in the picture.

Yes, it was French toast! Service in the dining room was terribly slow due to the crew members being stuck in the Immigration line. It was taking them over 2 hours rather than the 20 minutes it should have taken. Since the ship was returning from Europe, all the crew had to go through immigration.

We grabbed the first porter we could find, and we were through customs in no time compared to those who did not hire a porter.

We chose wisely! Many people missed their early flights due to all the issues.

We ended up at Margaritaville which was just past the security checkpoint. I got a Margarita (or two), and Jill had a hard cider.

Cheers!

We split an order of Spinach Artichoke Dip, and that was just about perfect for the two of us. We had eaten so much over the past two weeks, this hit the spot nicely.

It was so good and hit the spot!

Then I realized that they had a mac n cheese bar. You could pick whatever you wanted in your mac n cheese. I chose bacon, mushrooms, green onions and a healthy dose of pepper. These two meals and a couple glasses of wine later, I was feeling pretty satiated.

Wow you scored on the lounge food! Much better menu than I've seen lately.

I said goodbye to Alison and then met my driver for the ride back home. My dogs were still at Grandma and Grandpa's being spoiled so no one greeting me at home except all the mail and bills. LOL

It was a fabulous trip but it was nice to be back in my own bed.

Jill in CO