Getting ready

And here I go again!  Actually this was the first cruise I booked, as my gift to myself as I transitioned into retirement.  The price was right as a solo and for the first time, I'll have a balcony.


Size: 119 sq. ft.; 
Balcony: 55 sq. ft.

This is a photo from a website, but a photo from a passenger suggests that the balcony is just above the tenders and I should expect an obstructed view, as pictured below.  I expect the photo on the website was taken when the tenders were in use. 

Either way, I'll be able to relax on the balcony in the morning with a cup of coffee.  Perhaps even get a photo or two of the sunrise or sunset!

I will find out for certain when I board the ship on Sunday!  It amuses me to think the balcony is half as large as the entire stateroom.  Again, I'll be able to confirm or deny that fact when I get onboard.

I fly out on Saturday morning at o'dark early and arrive in Newark mid-afternoon.  The hotel I'm staying at for the night has a shuttle and is close to the airport, and best of all, provides a shuttle for a small cost to the port the following day.

I'd joined both the cruise critic roll call and the Facebook group for the cruise.  There are several of the FB group staying at the Embassy and we've arranged to meet at Ruby Tuesday's that evening for a pre-cruise dinner.  It will be nice to get to know some people before we even leave!  The entire FB group has been invited to meet shortly after the sailaway as we pass under the Verraszano bridge (at least I think that's the name). The group administrator has created a large FB like sign so we'll be able to find one another.

I believe our meet and mingle is scheduled for the first sea day - there will be an invitation in my cabin - for the Cruise Critic group. I'm especially interested in meeting some of the other solos as RCL doesn't do nearly as good a job as NCL in assisting us, as well as Phyllis and Joe.  The latter are a couple I met through CC and who are also part of the FB group.  They have arranged, and I am joining, a catamaran cruise in Barbados.  So looking forward to that excursion.

I've been to all the ports previously, with the exception of San Juan, Puerto Rico.  I've scheduled a walking tour excursion for this port, and it will be interesting to see if the damage from the hurricane is still visible.  I'm sure all of those paper towels were a great help...or maybe not.

St. Maarten was also damaged by the hurricane and I'm aware that Maho Beach will not look the same as it did a couple of years ago. I'm still planning to take a cab to watch the planes land over the beach...though how much beach is left, I'm not certain.  

I was in Antigua last year and probably won't disembark.  The only thing I've not seen there are the flamingos, but I've seen flamingos before.  St. Lucia will be a beach day; I've already seen there are others interested in spending the day at my favorite beach, Reduit.  St. Kitts is still an unknown, while I've been there previously, it has been awhile and none of the ship's excursions truly interest me.  There are black sand beaches on St. Kitt's so perhaps I'll get a chance to visit one of those.

I'll be flying back on the 18th, arriving late at night...probably early the next morning if history repeats itself.  As with NCL, I won't have access to internet so will catch up when I return.  See you all then!