We awoke in our lovely hotel (the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale) around 6:30 am. I knew if we popped our heads left as we looked out our balcony we would be able to see the Caribbean Princess ship. So you can see we really are a 10 minute drive away from the port. We paid $12 each to book the 11 am shuttle from our hotel to the ship. Princess Cruises usually docks at terminal 2 in Fort Lauderdale so it is really close!
I took the above photo as soon as we awoke and now see that three hours later, it is raining harder outside. Fort Lauderdale is under a Flood Watch. According to the National Weather Service, the Flood Watch was in effect yesterday and is to remain in effect until 10 pm tonight. due to excessive rainfall in many areas of southeast Florida. One to two inches of rainfall are expected today, with 3 - 5 inches possible. We will wear our raincoats and be just fine - but tough for all the folks who are working outside in the rain. We will be boarding a ship that floats! The rain is worrisome for all who live in the area and must contend with the possibility of flooding.
The breakfast buffet was tasty and busier today than yesterday.
More to come later after we board the ship!
Later has arrived....
Our shuttle was a quick 10 minute drive to the port, but the stop and go traffic around the port made it more like a 30 minute ride. We dropped off my big suitcase with a porter (where you really need tip a few dollars to make sure it gets on the ship!) and then walked inside. We arrived at the port about 11:30 am and had walked aboard the ship by noon. Excellent embarkation processing.
For most of the American guests, then received their medallion in the mail before arriving. As Canadians, the woman checking us in needed our passports, date of birth and then disappeared for a minute to collect our medallions. Medallions act as a key card for your door and as payment method for any purchases onboard.
We immediately made our way to our stateroom where we dropped a couple of bags, but in reality room stewards don't want the public in the rooms until 1 pm.
We made our way to the Coral Dining room where we had wonderful beef tenderloin for embarkation day lunch. After we finished, we watched the safety video and visited Muster Station C. Every guest boarding must do those two things before we pull away. And by 3 pm the ship did pull away from the port!
We are nicely unpacked and settled into our room and will go to the Island Dining Room for dinner at 5 pm. And a person can feel movement on this ship. I will have a little lay down and stop typing to make sure I don't get motion sick!
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