Portugal, Spain 2013
Captains Log: Star Date April 22, 2013, several hours (to be exact) South of Lisbon and very close to leaving the "Food Trough" that has been our home for the past ten days.
Ever the one for a good travel deal, we decided to book another trans Atlantic voyage as our means of travel to visit the Kids and their fast evolving abode in the French Countryside. This year Toni and Steve Carman decided to join us on the crossing and spend some time with us traveling about Portugal and Morocco prior to our arrival on The Farm.
Once the Cruise was booked, we began to look for air travel back to Puerto Rico, a favorite departure point for cruise ship departures but an awkward departure place for those of us on the West Coast. We managed to find the perfect flight via American Airlines from Orange County but the price was close to $500 one way as it was only January we decided to wait and watch the airfares begin to tumble, which eventually they did.
We ended up flying out of LAX to Fort Lauderdale via Virgin America (the top rated airline in the US) then transferring to TransAir (the 3rd rated airline in the US). All looked well until we began our adventure. Johnny Boy dropped us off at the Airport for our "Red Eye" to San Juan late in the evening on April 11th. With our Income taxes paid and property taxes in the mail, we set off on our next adventure.
Our first indication as to what might be ahead was when we checked into Virgin America and were informed that our flight was due to depart at 10:50 (fifty minutes late) but then he corrected himself as to the departure time. Apparently he knew something we didn't and let slip that the flight was delayed.....not good, as we had a very tight connection in Fort Lauderdale and as it turned out way too tight. After paying our $25/bag service charge we made our way to the gate and confirmed the fact that our flight was indeed delayed which meant that we would miss our connection by a mere 5 minutes.
Actually it got worse after we learned that Virgin America and Trans Air did not have a baggage agreement which meant that we would have to claim our bags then re-check our bags in Fort Lauderdale. So even with a 2 hour connection we would not have made the flight................................Read the fine print on the next ticket.
We arrived just in time to see our plane to San Juan pulling away from the gate. Just great!!!!!! Fortunately, the gate attendants were still there and helped us book their next flight to San Juan, a mere 7 hours later in the day. We were also informed that since we had technically missed our flight they really did not have to honor our tickets but as the flight had plenty of room it would not be a problem.
We claimed our baggage only to find out we had to wait until noon to re-check our bags, which, (surprise.....surprise) would cost us an additional $25/bag. Let me summarize: Hour wise, we are further away from San Juan than when we left LA and we are down $100 in baggage fees plus exorbitant food costs for items purchased in the terminal. Needless to say, the hours between 7am and 3pm just flew by as we twiddled our thumbs and read in the National Rental Car lounge (the only place with couches and soft chairs).
Finally we boarded our half full aircraft and made our way on the final leg into San Juan Puerto Rico just a tad under 12 hours late. We did manage to contact the Carmans and sent them out to dinner and said we would meet up when we got there. The cab ride from the airport was rather uneventful with the exception of the last two hundred yards. The cabbie could not find the Hotel. As we were staying in "old town" where the street numbering uses both the old and the new numbers (rather silly) or no numbers at all which was the case of our hotel. After knocking a few doors the cabbie located the Pop Art Hotel, a Carman Selection. We were shown to our room, two bunk beds and a queen, to wait for Toni and Steve's return. The rooms were actually quite nice with a courtyard just outside our room.
We were having a drink on the patio when the Carmans returned after sampling 2 for 1 Margaritas. Fortunately for Toni, Steve was along to show Toni the road home. To put it delicately, Toni was "shit faced" but as she kept reminding us "only had two drinks"
We put Toni to bed, first in our bunk bed then later tackled the job of getting her upstairs. But not without visually sampling first hand the contents of Toni's stomach with its colorful mix of 2 for 1 Margaritas.
Morning came to San Juan, for some of us, a cool and glorious day in Old Town. As we set out to explore the town we hopped aboard the tram about town to give the Carmans a bit of an orientation to the city. We ended up with a walk along the promenade up to the family home of Ponce de Leon. He didn't find the fountain of youth but did manage to snag an elegant piece of property at the top, overlooking the bay and the future city of San Juan. The family built the home shortly after his death so he really never got to enjoy his home or the views. Lunch in town was followed by cocktails in our Piazza and a light supper in a hotel down the way.
The next day we were set to sail at 8pm so there was no real rush to the ship, but with nothing to do we grabbed a taxi for the short ride to the docks. On our arrival, the skies opened up and a down pour quickly followed. This is always a tense time in the boarding process as we wait to see if we have out-foxed the alcohol police. This being the Carman's first cruise they (Toni especially) were particularly anxious over the possibilities of having their stash of liquor discovered and then being physically removed from the ship for transporting their illicit cargo onboard. The economies of the ship are such that alcohol is the chief source of revenue for the cruise line and as such they go to great lengths to discourage you from bringing any booze on board. The cruise did allow us 2 bottles of wine per stateroom which we had purchased at an inflated price in San Juan.
You never really know how successful you smuggling operation has been until you receive your bags or you receive notice that you are to report to the "naughty room" to claim your luggage. Toni and Steve had gone to great lengths to protect their booty by purchasing "rum runner" bags to insure that their liquor was not detected as the bags were scanned prior to being delivered to their room. These bags reminded me of Bob Marquis' bladder bags but with a bit more elegance and not quite as repulsive.
Susan and I, being the veteran cruisers, never even gave it a second thought as over the years we had passed through some of the most sophisticated scanners that the cruise industry had at their disposal and had yet to be detected (one close call, but no confiscated liquor on our record). Well, this cruise quickly put our previous booze smuggling record in jeopardy as we were instructed by Nina, our suite attendant, that we needed to report to the naughty room as there were some irregularities with items in our luggage.
Susan was petrified and I was a tad concerned as we made our way for the inspection process. I was up first and was asked if I had any alcohol in my bags. After dancing around the question a few times I admitted that "Yes I had sinned and had smuggled some alcohol onboard" He asked if I would take it out so he wouldn't have to go thru my luggage. Overjoyed, I pulled out one bottle and handed it to him, trusting that it would satisfy him. It did, and that left me with one bottle of rum and some rationing in my future. Susan was in another room being shaken down (the always separate the perps) but as it turns out they were looking at her scissors that she had brought on board to give me a haircut at some point over the next two months. The net result was one confiscated bottle of rum out of 4 bottles total, to be returned at the end of the trip. So once again I have been able to severely impact the financial bottom line of The Royal Caribbean Line....even tho I was not totally comfortable in the naughty room.
Even tho this is a diesel/turbine powered vessel, we set sail at 8pm sharp and headed to St. Martin just down the way a bit and arrived early am the next day
We had opted for anytime dining on deck five and took potluck each nite with who we would be seated with. On a ship of 1700 (500 shy of a full ship) you can well imagine there might be a few folks who you might not want to dine with. After two nites of anytime dining we opted for a 6pm seating in the main dining room. It was at my insistence that we be moved primarily because I could touch the ceiling in the dining room (a bit claustrophobic) and both dinner services had been marginal at best and I wanted to sit downstairs in the "grand dining" area. I think all would admit that it was a good move as we ended up with two other couples who proved to be delightful dinner company. A well-traveled couple from Nova Scotia and a younger couple both in computers and amateur wine makers and both on sabbatical. As we are customarily late to dinner those four take the initiative of moving about the table so that they have equal time with all of us.
And I digress. St Martin was pretty much of a repeat of last year's stop. A boat ride into town after which I headed down the beach for recliners and umbrellas while the other three did a cursory bit of shopping and joined me later. They stocked up on tonic water and limes (did you know that I had a bout with Malaria in Vietnam and require sufficient quantities of tonic to make it through the day...........a little rum makes the medicine so much more drinkable). A lovely day on the beach in 80 degree + water made this a great way to spend our last day on land before heading out to sea for seven days.
For those of you whom I cruised with before, know me to be somewhat of a recluse aboard ship, secreted inside my cabin with a current novel and re-appearing for meals and the occasional walk about the decks. This cruise, however, I decided to change my ways and open up myself that all the ship had to offer. A typical day for me now included the following:
Rise and Shine for an early breakfast
Catholic Mass
Early Bird Trivia Session
Coffee/Chat and meet the Captain's Staff
Attend Fruit Carving Demonstration in the Cafe
Ice Carving Demonstration Poolside
Card Making (In German)
Towel Folding Demonstration in the Centrum
Fruit Carving (My Favorite)
Nintendo Wii Bowling (In German)
Bollywood Dance Class (for Beginners)
Cup Cake Demonstration (Beginners and Advanced)
Salsa Dance Class (Susan Insisted)
Adult Scrapbooking in the Odyssey Room
Advanced Napkin Folding and Origami for Seniors
Well, as you can imagine, what with the above and finishing four novels I have been quite active this trip.
Susan and I both agree that the food on this cruise has been the best yet as our wardrobes will testify. The crossing has been delightful with only the occasional moderate swells and the weather has been clear and warm. You really couldn't ask for a smoother ride. As we moved our watches ahead one hour every day at sea it did cause us some sleepless nites that I don't remember from last year's cruise
Yesterday we came ashore on Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Did the City Tour on the Big Red Bus and hung out at Sunday Market in Town then moved on to Sangria on our way back to the ship. While in town today, Steve learned his lesson as to the importance of notifying your bank and credit card companies that you are traveling out of the country. He finally got his ATM card to dispense a little cash. We think it was just a problem with the machine.
Then this AM he visited the business desk and they hooked him up by phone to his other credit card where he was able to resolve things. I thought it rather generous for the ship to pick up his phone bill to the bank but they gladly did saving Steve $6.95/minute for phone service.......................ouch!
Today finds us at sea again in route to Lisbon. Our last nite at sea then we have scheduled three days in Lisbon before picking up the car and traveling a bit north then south to Morocco stopping along the way as we please. I'll leave you here for now and will e-mail this once we arrive in Lisbon.
Actually as I am hitting the send button we have arrived in Lisbon to clear, bright skies and are nestled into centrally located "short stay apartments"
Love and Regards to All........................................ gary
