Day 4, April 28 - The cruise starts

Today was boarding and departure time for my cruise--20 days at sea sailing from Fort Lauderdale, through the Panama Canal and up the West Coast to Seattle. On the way, calling in to several ports in Central American, Mexican, the US, and Canada.

The day started when I looked out the window only to see low cloud and rain. This didn't affect me, but I felt sorrow for people coming to the beach front to watch the big Air and Sea display here in fort Lauderdale. Anyway, after my shower I headed for breakfast and on returning to my room I finished packing, waited until about eleven and then organised a ride to port to board my cruise ship, the MV Amsterdam. On entering the port area I saw three cruise ships, an aircraft carrier and two other warships. One of of the cruise ships was the Oasis of the Seas--the ship from the video clip showing it appearing to sail up onto the beach when entering Fort Lauderdale Harbour.

Finally arrived at cruise terminal with hundreds of suitcase and a queue of passengers waiting to go through the embarkation process. I was told to place my case with the others and asked if I would like tip the porters. A group of men standing around with fists full of US dollars appearing to be doing little except asking for tips. Deposited my case and joined the queue. We were all asked to please stand on the blue line that lead into the ticketing and processing centre. This we all dutifully did, only to asked, a few minutes latter to move aside as the porters wanted to use the line to push trolley loads of cases--at least they now seemed to be doing something other than collecting money.

The queue started to move and boarding process was reasonably fast and painless. The final step before walking across the gangway was to be photographed by JC Black Label, Master Artist Kenny Botes--I guess these will sold to us once the cruise is underway. Across the gangway, up one set of stairs, turned right, and five cabins down the corridor I was in my cabin. My home for the next 20 days contained a queen size bed, two seater couch, single bucket chair, table, TV, desk, several wardrobes with plenty of hangars, and a bathroom with a large walk-in shower.


Waiting for my cases to be delivered to my room sorrow cabin I glanced through the information spread out on the desk, opened all the cupboards and drawers, had a go at setting the safe's combination and then went up on deck. Wandered around the decks getting orientated and then spent the time watching many boats, large and small go by.
Back to my cabin and it wasn't long before my cases arrived. Unpacked, hanging up my clothes and sowing my suitcases I was now ready for my cruise.


Right on 5 pm the Oasis of the Seas left the port with me furiously taking photographs as it appeared to go across land behind one off the harbour buildings. At 6 pm we left port, sailed out the harbour entrance into the open sea--the cruise had started. All I had to now was go up to the dinning room, have a meal then go to a show in the Queen's Lounge, and then off to bed.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 2, April 26 - fly to Fort Lauderdale

Up early after a night of no sleep--jet-lag! After arriving yesterday and feeling tired I had a meal and at about 7pm local time, went to bed.  What silly thing to do. Laying awake I seemed to remember, what I know now, as sensible advice. That is,after a long flight you get over jet-lag quicker if you start living according to the local time. This meant I should have gone to bed about 10.30pm. Doing some calculations in my head--I didn't have much else to do.  I soon realized that by New Zealand time I went to bed about three in the afternoon. Anyway, at about six, I  got up showered and had breakfast. Felt awful. Packed, and headed out to the airport for my flight to Fort Lauderdale.

At the airport sat about trying to stay awake--reading was out of the question. Saw lots of cell phones walking around and more than once thought someone was talking to me, but alas no they were talking to themselves or some little thing stuck in the ear.  The airport has many 'recharging stations'. Small round tables with a pole poking up with power outlets and topped with a large blue Recharging Station sign. At first I thought this was to recharge cell phones and laptop batteries, but I don't think so. At many of these station I say people plugged in. Standing there with small box in their ear and a lead going away to a power plug. Another observation, evidently this recharging makes people talk to themselves.

At last I boarded an Airbus 321 and headed off to Phoenix. The airplane was the best I have flown in, comfortable leather seats, plenty of legroom, and pleasantly quite although I wasn't wearing my hearing aids. At Phoenix had an hour before the collecting flight, so off to Burger King for a quick hamburger.  Yes I selected one with plenty of green stuff and couple slices of tomato.  By the time I finished  boarding had started for my Airbus 320 to Fort Lauderdale.  This was an older and well used airplane.  However seated just behind Business Class and having a divider in front instead of a seat there was plenty of room to stretch out. With the time difference I arrived at Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale about 10.30 pm. Pleasant airport and at that time of night not many people about.  Grabbed a taxi and headed of to my hotel the Bahai Mar.  Booked in and by midnight was in bed and asleep.
 

Day 3, April 27 - in Fort Lauderdale

Up early after a good nights sleep. Showered and down to breakfast of fruit, and toasted bagel. Back to my room, look at my iPad and make a list of the things I need to do today. The first is head up to the Galleria Shopping Complex to change some money at the bank and to by a white dress shirt.
I grab a taxi and zig zag through all the back streets because the main thoroughfare is closed in preparation for a big air show along the beach front tomorrow and the next day. As I write this four jets scream overhead in formation practicing. On arrival I go into a shop, get measured up for a shirt. After picking out a white shirt I am asked what other two shirts do I want--there is three for one sale on. The shop assistant ask if I can come back in half an hour and he will have the shirts ironed for me ready to take on the cruise.
The shirts paid for I head for the bank, walk in to be greeted by a gentleman asking "What can we do for you sir".
"I would like to change some money" I say.
"Do you have and account, sir".
"No" I reply " I just want to buy some Mexican pesos".
"Sorry, you can only do that if you have a bank account"
Evidently there is some law that prevents banks from selling foreign currency to people without a US bank account.
I wander back through Macy's, buy some light cotton socks, some light-weight vests, and then head back to pick up my new ironed shirts. Head outside with all my new purchase, grab a taxi and go back to the hotel arriving about lunchtime.
Sitting in the Breezes Cafe having a beer and waiting for my lunch, I had plenty of time to observe people arriving here at the Bahia Mar. Mostly big black cars (or should I say buses). Some obviously rentals by the way on departure they momentarily head backwards, brakes applied hard before exiting frontwards! A typical scene, a car pulls up. Sorry a big car pulls up mum and the kids jump out: the rear door pops open; mum dishes out nap-sacks--at least two per kid; then out come the pillows--obviously the kids as they grab their favorite. Dad jumps out and lifts out a chilli bin, then a bigger chilli bin on wheels and an extension handle, now a case of Coca-Cola, and then another case of Coca-cola. Everyone waits while dad stacks these all on the wheely chilli bin and then they all exit stage left. Eventually mum comes back and drives the big car off. This or similar scenes were repeated several times before my lunch arrived.




After lunch had stroll down to the beach and around the mariner next to the hotel. Took some photographs and came back to my room and to write up some of my Blogs.

Location:Seabreeze Blvd,Fort Lauderdale,United States

Day 1, April 25 - The Panama Cruise holiday.

ANZAC day, 25 April, my daughter and her husband Gary took me to the Palmerston North airport for the 12.10 flight to Auckland. Arrived in Auckland, spent the afternoon in Air New Zealand Koro club lounge before preceding to the departure lounge about 30 mins before loading started on my NZ6 flight. The plane, a Boeing 777-300 fitted with new seating, was comfortable and with surprisingly good leg room in Tourist Class. The new seating design maintains the leg room even when the seat in front is reclined. The in-seat TV system is much improved with touch screen and faster response times.

The first part of the flight was extremely bumpy. This was the first time I have seen cabin attendants, on an international flight, having to brace their feet against the legs of one set of seats, one arm on the back of the seat on the opposite side of the aisle and the other hand on the over-head lockers. However, the pilot descended a couple of thousand feet and soon everything was back to normal.

The cabin lighting I found interesting. During takeoff and landing the lights were a subdued mauve. In the morning the lights started with dim red slowly increasing in intensity and finally changing to normal colour--just like a sunrise.

Arrived in LA 12 hours later and because of the dateline, five hours before we left. Once off the plane I was expecting the usual long waits to pass through immigration. However, to my surprise I was through in less that ten minutes, picked up my case, through customs, and was out looking for transport to my hotel 30 minutes after getting off the plane. Thanks to all the immigration desks being opened and the very efficient handling of passengers into mini queues for each immigration station. They even used the US citizens stations once all the Americans had been dealt with. If this was not enough all the staff were smiling, talkative and extremely friendly. Well done LAX.
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