An early start--our "check in" at the port starts at 9:30. The trip into NYC was faster than expected, considering that the last trip (in 2013) featured an hour wait at the Lincoln Tunnel. Then a bit of a maze for parking (the port has a dedicated lot, and we paid in advance).
This was followed by a series of queues (which also went faster, to the point that we rarely actually stopped) and security checks.
Once checked in, the waiting game began. Keep in mind everybody needs to disembark from the last cruise before the new passengers can walk the gangplank. After that, you wait for the Unobtanium / Upsidaisium / Lustrium / Ambassador / Fleet Admiral Levels to board, and then finally us.
Once on the ship, we went to "muster drill"--required for safety purposes. This used to involve getting your lifevest from your room, going out to a specific location out on the deck, and being walked through procedures. Now, they just scan your card, and you watch a video in your room.
Then, another line to reserve slots at the restaurants. While there are three main restaurants (Savor, Taste, and Manhattan) and a huge buffet included in your tour, there are also 9 specialty places where you need to reserve. While in line, a woman helped us get to wifi (we both worked in IT, and we were baffled), so we did it on the app instead. Onto Savor (or was it Taste?) for lunch.
We then wandered around the "Waterfront"--a outside loop dotted with restaurants, and sat for a bit.
We continued exploring, finding ourselves in a sales pitch for the spa. Fortunately, it was announced the rooms were ready. We'll do a tour later, but suffice it to say it's a lot bigger than what we could afford way back when.
If you go on a cruise today, you can find social media for any of them--we stopped in at a bon voyage party set up by a Facebook group. Met some nice people and exchanged local candies.
…and our first drinks for the cruise. The line threw in a beverage package with our tickets.
Around 5:30, the ship pulled out of the dock, past the New York skyline, the Statue of Liberty, and under the Verrazanos bridge--all as dusk fell. An excellent view!
We went to the buffet to get a bite--along with everyone else.
So we ate and skedaddled (grabbing an ice cream on the way out) to our room. All our luggage arrived--yay! We turned off the room lights and sat out on our balcony for a bit, then got ready for bed.
Tomorrow--Newport!
#escapetothegrwatwhitenorth