The Adventure Begins!

Around the Horn - Day 1: Embarkation

Prologue: After an eventful journey over 48 hours and through 3 airports, I arrived at the Radisson Hotel in Cocoa Beach, Florida....my favourite place to stay when cruising from Port Canaveral. Several cold beverages later I met my first travelling companion from the Hornblowers Cruise Critic group, Susan (Zu) from Washington state. A lovely lady with whom I made plans to share a cab to the port in the morning ( along with a what seemed like a thousand pounds of luggage on a wonky-wheeled cart). We got to the ship early and after a brief scare with my Brazilian Visa (the effective date was written in the Canadian system of day/month/year instead of the American system and was at first deemed unacceptable) I was given my SeaPass card and went 'home' to the beautiful Mariner of the Seas. P.S. At last count , over 70 passengers were left behind in Port Canaveral because so they did NOT have Brazilian Visas.....so to all who think they know better, it IS a big deal ! These people will have to catch up to the ship in Barbados at their own expense.

Day 1

After enjoying a Pina Colada at the Wig and Gavel pub with more new Hornblower friends, I went to check out my accomodations ......the Royal Family Suite . WOW!!!!!! Two bedrooms with queen-sized beds and a queen sofa bed in the living room, two bathrooms, and a huge balcony with 4 loungers as well as a dining area with table and 4 chairs. I was still admiring the balcony when my roommate Jeannine Petry arrived. Hugs, greetings and gifts were exchanged and we set off to roam the ship and grab a bite to eat. (Jeannine has provided us all with fabulous hand painted "Divas of the Deep" t-shirts as well as foam tiaras (pronounced tee-a-rah-rahs ) with "Royal Divas" in sparkle paint. We wear them proudly!).

We met our third Diva, Carol McMichael as well as members of her entourage (Carol knows EVERYBODY) a little later on in the afternoon. Together and sporting our tee-a-rah-rahs, we made a grand entrance to pre-arranged Hornblower meet-n-greet in the Viking Crown Lounge and spent a great hour getting to know our fellow sailors and posing for photos. We continued on to dinner in our foam finery to the usual great Royal Caribbean fare.

The evening was spent unpacking luggage and then heading off to the pub to listen to (and sing with ) Mark Bolden, my very favourite pub entertainer. We wound things down at 1:30 a.m. and settled down to our first night in our new home.
Tomorrow : CocoCay, Bahamas.