Saturday Morning, 13 May 2023

On Board ms Zuiderdam

Good morning from the North Atlantic Ocean, as ms Zuiderdam makes her way from Ft Lauderdale. Today is the first of seven sea days and the temperature is in the mid-70s, with light following winds and calm seas. So I plan to catch up from last Wednesday (hopefully).

Wednesday, 10 May 2023

Tucson to Houston to Ft Lauderdale

It's 9:15am and here I am at TUS, enjoying (?) the usual pre-flight ritual:  waiting, waiting, waiting. . . . Following Will's unloading me at the United Airlines entrance, this has been the easiest get-go I have ever experienced. I am the only person arriving outside the terminal and a wheelchair attendant comes over immediately. He takes me all the way through check-in, security, and right up to the gate.

As we  pass through the large passenger waiting area I am greeted by Clyde Nakasone and his wife, who are on their way to Las Vegas for a week. Clyde is the chief sales agent for Mountain View Retirement Village, and he is responsible for convincing us to move in.

The flight to Houston is scheduled to depart on time at 11:20; the flight from Houston to Ft Lauderdale has already been delayed 45 minutes, so I will have a little more time to transfer flights.

I am now on board awaiting take-off. The 2 hour, 30 minute flight is fine. I even enjoy a First Class “snack”: a selection of cheese and crackers, role and butter, cup of fruit cocktail and assorted raisins, olives and almonds. I decline the offered glass of champagne. There is Illy Coffee (nice touch) and chocolate-chip cake for dessert. 

The flight is a little bumpy after leaving Tucson, but eventually smooths out until we are very close to Houston. Passengers are warned that the landing could be very bad (storms over the Gulf of Mexico); and that we should make sure there is a “barf bag” at our seats. However, as things turn out, there is only a slight bump or two before landing.

The 45-minute delay, which was announced in Tucson is extended to an hour after landing. We finally board an hour late, but because it’s a large plane, completely full, it takes quite a while for everyone to find a seat and stow their carry-ons. Then, just as the doors are being closed, a young man in the back becomes very ill and has to be escorted off the plane with his wife. Then we wait some more, since their checked baggage must be removed as well. So we don't pull away from the gate until ten past seven, more than two hours late. To make matters worse, the delays create a problem for catering; so instead of the beef and broccoli I had pre-ordered for dinner, I receive a cold “snack box.”

The flight lands in Ft Lauderdale still that same hour late. It’s a very long wheelchair ride to the luggage carousel, and I have to wait over another hour for my “priority” bags. But United awards every passenger a $150.00 credit to be used on a future flight. 

The Car Rental Center at FLL has its own building, another long wheelchair and elevator ride away. But I am soon in my brand new Thrifty Rental Nissan Sentra and on my way to the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel (both the car rental and the two nights at the hotel are purchased with American Airlines frequent flyer miles). I used to own Nissan Altimas, so I am familiar with all the controls. However, the driver's seat is very low and not very comfortable. 

I am pleased that this Hilton is in much better condition than several airport Hiltons I have stayed at over the past few years. It looks like it has been recently remodeled and contains all the usual amenities, including a safe, computer outlets, and coffee-making machine.  I am on the 11th floor overlooking the expensive yachts in the marina. Of course it would be even better I had been told I had to make a special request for housekeeping to clean and make up the room. And so ends a busy Wednesday traveling through three time zones.

But I am ready to put this blog to bed and for myself to follow.  The next blog entry will take you through Thursday and Friday as I get ready to embark on ms Zuiderdam. And be prepared, I will describe a quite harrowing experience on Friday!