18 Jan 2020 Port Everglades, Saturday. Weather was pretty rough last night. At times the back and forth jerking reminded me of riding a train. I was up before 0700. Got dressed and got Mary up to go eat. I had looked on AIS and could see four ships in, with us just finishng docking. Nieuw Amsterdam was some way out. We ate breakfast, and watched Nieuw Amsterdam limp into port with two tugs assisting. She turned in the basin and they pushed her to the dock. Can't remember when she goes back to Freeport to have the azipod replaced.
We stayed in the cabin until about 0900, then went to deck 4 to wait until last call. That ws about 0915, and we were off pretty quickly. Immigration was facial recognition. Mary passed, but I didn't so I had to see an offices, who looked at my passport and sent me on. It was a bit of a hike to the taxi line, but we made it, and there was no wait. Cost from terminal 25 to terminal 4 was $10. He did not use the meter. Then we had to walk near the length of the terminal and turn the corner to the right....and get in line. There were two lines, one regular and one priority. And a whole lot of people were walking through between the lines. It was a very large wedding party.
Soon we were walking up to the terminal entrance. Express pass checked, passport checked, and through security. There was a separate line for birth certificates. Then we went to checkin desk and had our passports scanned and pictures taken if necessary. Then we were sent to the waiting area for priority passengers. They started boarding the wedding party just before 1100 and we went shortly after.
Boarding was...strenuous. they had a gently sloping gangway to deck 4 for mobility challenged folk, but the rest of us went to a steeply sloped gangway to deck 5. Believe me, I was using the railing to pull myself along, and leaning on my suitcase and pushing it at the same time. No glass of sparkling wine awaited at the end. We went directly to our cabin, and collapsed for a nap. At 1pm we went down where we thought Maribeth (the arranging TA) was handing out gear, but didn't see her. We weren't looking in wuite the right place. So we went to the Pig and Anchor and had lunch. Baked beans, cole slaw, macaroni and cheese, and a chicken leg. All good. Then we went back inside and ask someone who obviously had their gear, and they pointed us in the right direction.
We came back to the cabin and unpacked, and tried to nap again, but the muster drill was coming up and the CD kept making announcements. Our muster station was in the aft dining room, and we were directed around the side, and could not see any of the demonstrations, aas if we really needed them. The wait for elevators was so bad after the drill that we walked the three decks up to ours.
Dinner was 1800, upper level of the aft MDR. Somewhat disappointing, as we are at a table for 7, and noone else showed up. Not unusual for the first night. One older couple was directed to a table behind us, which I think was for 6 or 8. She whined 'we don't want to eat with people we don't know'. Guess she thought they would get a table for two. they were sent downstairs to see the maitre 'd. The food was very good.
We finished quickly, maybe a blessing being just two at the table. Headed straight for the piano bar. Every night that there is a piano bar persofmance, we have a private session from 7-9pm, then non-members are allowed in. Well, this is certainly an animated group. Most I think have done this before. There are supposed to be four persormers, the regular guy and three others. But one apparently had flight problems and is not aboard. They still expect him. The three we heard are very good. A lot of interaction goes on. The original piano man we had on Carnival Pride, who hooked us on the piano bar, is on board as a group member, not as a performer.
They took a break before 9pm, so we went exploring and found the shops. Here, as on Equinox, EFFY jewelry has disappeared, and Le Vian has replaced it. So we won't be dropping any money in the shops onboard. Having determined that, we found our way to the Red Frog Pub and had our daily cokes...errr...Pepsi's. Carnival Corp has switched from Coke products to Pepsi. Boo, hiss... but we will deal with it.
The seas have been wobbly since we left. Hope it is not to rough to tender oops, water shuttle ashore at Half Moon Cay tomorrow.
WE have been away from Carnival for awhile...Celebrity, MSC, MSC again, Oceania, Princess, then a 2 day on Celebrity. We sort of expected that last one to be a booze cruise, but it wasn't at all. This one, though, looks to be heading that way. Lots of kids onboard. Lots of family groups and other groups. Matching tshirts.