Sybil waiting for disembarkation
Normally this would be “disembarkation day” – the end of our week at sea. But this time it was “back-to-back” day, the day when we transitioned from Cruise 1 to Cruise 2. It was a more complex transaction than we expected.
We had received a letter outlining the process. It contained two “back-to-back” vouchers, the purpose of which was somewhat murky but clearly had to be kept on our person as we navigated the process. That process began with a visit to the reception desk to receive new ship cards. That had to be done between 6am and 9am and I did it – or tried to do it – early, around 6:40am. I am always awake early so why not get ‘er done?
For Christine and Sybil this was disembarkation day and they got an early start, leaving their cabin at 6:30. I was listening for them and was dressed and shaved and ready to help. I met them in the hallway and took one of the suitcases to the 6th floor for an “express” exit (which meant getting at the end of a line about 100 people long – how “express” could it be?). Christine was a bit worried about getting to Fort Myers for their 3pm flight. As it turns out she needn’t have worried as they were off the ship and at the door of Enterprise Car Rental by 8am. It didn’t open until 9, so they had a leisurely breakfast, got the car, drove to Fort Myers and were at the gate for their flight by 1:30pm. They had a nice flight and made it back to Boston safely.
Meanwhile, I was striking out at the reception desk because Jett had to be present to take a new photo. To capture the vast facial differences that a week at sea can induce, apparently. Whatever. So I had to wait until an hour when I could safely roust Jett from her slumber. Meaning about 8:20am. I killed this time by blogging and catching up on emails. One of the advantages of being in Miami was that our cell phones worked again, so I could surf the ‘net without using our shipboard WiFi. It didn’t really matter as we had finished the week using just 4.5GB of our 6.0GB internet package’s data allotment.
Speaking of internet packages, I started the cruise with the intention of waiting until the last minute to book the package for the second week. I figured I should wait and see the rate at which I was using data onboard. It was a good strategy, but required that I book the second week by Thursday night – a detail that I remembered Friday morning when it was too late. So I had to wait until we reboarded to book the internet package for the second week. T thought that meant only that I would have to pay a 15% service charge, but was surprised to discover that the package itself changed. For the same $99 that bought 6GB the first week I could get only 3GB for the second week. And only 2 devices rather than 3. So I will have to be careful about internet usage this week. Shorter posts with fewer photos?
Outside Terminal F
The back-to-back gathering
Anyway, back to the process. When Jett got up and ready, we proceeded to the reception desk to get the new cards. We had to show passports (again, because they might have changed during the first week?) and get our new photos. We were given our new cards, then we had to kill 90 minutes until we gathered with other “back-to-back” guests to disembark, then re-embark. We got coffee, Jett had a cigarette, we chatted and engaged in some texting with friends and relatives. Then we made our way to the Cirque de Soleil theater to finish the (rather silly) process.
The group – about 200 of us – left the ship en masse. There was a long line at the customs checkpoint but some people – the ones going into Miami for the day – were escorted to a much shorter line. We decided to join them even though we were not at all certain that we would be going anywhere. We got through customs in about a minute and exited into the bright Miami sunshine.
Seaplane, ready for takeoff
Seaman’s Cafe
Our main goal was to find a place to have lunch that wasn’t the Meraviglia buffet. We briefly considered taking a taxi to South Beach, but didn’t have a lunch destination in mind. So while contemplating that option I noticed a very unimposing building across the street – looked like a temporary barracks. It was the “Seaman’s Café” and offered breakfast and lunch. I walked over to check it out and decided that it was acceptable. I walked back to collect Jett and we went over to the café.
Jett ordered a cappuccino with a shot of espresso and I ordered a “Seaman’s Club” – a very nice club sandwich with ham, turkey and bacon. I intended to share it with Jett, but she declined. She did say that the cappuccino was quite good. And strong. This one required 6 sugars instead of the usual 3. We dined on the cafe’s patio, in the sun, which Jett, who is perpetually cold, found very soothing.
We then walked back across the street to re-embark. I should mention that the street was virtually void of traffic. I found this extremely surprising. After all, a week earlier, at the same time of day, it was jam-packed with cars, buses and taxis and was pandemonium. Every dock was occupied and the line was out the door and around the corner at Terminal F. But on this day only 2 ships were in port and there was no traffic and no line. I thought that, perhaps, the lack of a line was due to a later departure – the MSC rep that I asked said we should plan on being back on board by “5 or 5:30”. Turns out we could have missed the ship if we had believed him – the ship was underway by 5:30.
The “back-to-back” vouchers came in handy during re-embarkation. We showed them and were escorted through the passport control, the X-ray machine and the health scan expeditiously. What had taken me 3 hours a week earlier was completed in under 20 minutes this time.
We napped a bit, then went to the Smoking Lounge as the ship sailed away. I intended to view the departure from the Skylight Lounge, adjacent to the Smoking Lounge on the 18th deck, but it was closed for a “private event” – a gathering of high rollers. So I watched from the Smoking Lounge. It was another cool, cloudy day and not great for photos. I did get one earlier, before the overcast arrived, of a seaplane taking off. I didn’t know that our Port of Miami canal doubled as a runway. I wondered where one would go on a seaplane. A private island in the Bahamas?
Classy dome
Complimentary prosecco
More complimentary champagne and strawberries
I vowed that I would drink less wine and consume less food in the second week. However, that intention was immediately tested with the arrival of yet another complimentary bottle of champagne and a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries, apparently a gift from MSC to acknowledge our special “back-to-back” status. Damn, those strawberries are good!
We were anxious to meet our new dining companions. We needn’t have worried as no one joined us. That could change tomorrow, but on this Sunday we dined alone. I finished the half-bottle of wine remaining from our Saturday dinner. Jett received a complimentary glass of prosecco from Ghiocel, the dining room manager. She actually took a couple of sips.
After dinner I went back to the reception desk to request an itemized Week 1 bill. I got it and it was in order. About $670 in charges. Not too bad. I took the opportunity to take photos of a classy dome display and the underside of the Swarovski staircase. I thought the staircase photo might make an interesting jigsaw puzzle.
We lost money at the casino, but, again, not much. Still comfortably ahead.
Underside of the Swarovski staircase