Heading Out for the Long Awaited World Cruise

 After planning and preparing for over two years it was hard to believe we were actually leaving.  The luggage we loaded in Lisa's van and hauled into the airport on Friday, December 8, 2023 told a different story:

...and that was with having sent one large bag ahead! Lucky for us all went smoothly and when we reached Miami Karl stood next to the luggage carousel looking my way, raising fingers one by one as each bag appeared.  He was glad to be where it was warm once more having looked like this as he was freezing on the plane.  Looks like a guy who's ready to chase summer around the world doesn't he?

The representatives from Royal Caribbean were right there to take bags to the ship and get us on the shuttle to the Intercontinental Hotel.  We were able to check in quickly and head up to our room that was probably twice as large as our cabin on Serenade will be, so yes, it was good to luxuriate in some extra space for a couple of days.

We met some old and new friends at an italian restaurant not far from the hotel for a delicious dinner.  It has been such a unique experience to make friends via emails and Messenger during the past couple of years, to feel like you know someone when you've never actually met them.  These people of are going to be great to travel with, which is a good thing because we are doing lots and lots of excursions with them!

It was a loooong day, getting up at 3:30 a.m., flying across the country, settling in, walking around Miami a bit and finally heading to that comfy hotel bed.  The reality of leaving for nine months hasn't really sunk in yet, maybe when the ship sails!

Just a note here, this blog is a work in progress so posts may come slowly this first couple of weeks!  Thanks for following along with us!