Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Miami, Florida

This morning Will and I awake to the bright sunshine and enervating humidity of South Florida—we are, at last, starting our six-week adventure. 

Yesterday was a long and tiring day of travel. In addition to my own mobility issues that readers are aware of from previous trips, Will’s broken left foot, still encased in a large therapeutic boot, made the day even heavier.

Tuesday, 26 March 2024

After a good breakfast in the dining room at Mountain View Retirement Village and prolonged goodbyes to our friends, we finish our last-minute packing and are ready for our friend Don to drive us the short distance to the Groome Shuttle station for our 11:30am van ride to the Phoenix Airport (PHX). The trip usually takes about 90 minutes, but the traffic is relatively light--except for all the huge trucks in the right lanes--and our driver has a heavy foot, often exceeding 80mph (the speed limit is 75 on I-10).

We arrive at PHX about two hours before our non-stop American Airlines flight to Miami and are able to check our bags and get boarding passes outside, just steps from the van. However, we are now charged $3.50 per bag for this outside service which was formerly free! Will's wheelchair is there as well, so we head right to security and the gate (which, as usual for me is as far away as possible).

We are in first class on a very new Airbus Neo plane with very roomy and comfortable seats. However, there are no screens anywhere. Flight attendants are forced to perform their old routines about safety measures, which used to be on videos. If you wish to watch movies or listen to music, you have to use your own phone, iPad, or laptop. I guess that's progress for you (and less expense when building the plane). We have a good lunch/dinner, which we had pre-selected on-line:  lemon-pesto chicken with crudités, roast potatoes and fresh green bean, and raspberry sorbet for dessert.

We arrive in Miami about 15 minutes early at 10:10pm (Eastern DST). After a quick wheelchair ride to luggage delivery, we wait a verrrry long time for the luggage to appear. The wheelchair assistant gets us out to the curb where we are picked up by a free shuttle to the Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon Hotel, just a short ride away. After a speedy check-in for our free room (Delta Airlines miles), we discover that our 10th floor room is as far from the elevators as possible without falling out the emergency exit doors. But it has been a long day and we are soon comfortably asleep.

Wednesday, 27 March 2024

Miami

One reason we booked the Hilton is that it offers a shuttle to the Port of Miami for $15.00 a person. I called the hotel the day before we left Tucson to inquire about scheduling. I was told that we could schedule the shuttle after we arrive at the hotel. However (it seems I am using a lot of "howevers" in this blog), when I try to reserve space on the 11am shuttle, I am told that it does not run during the week but that a special shuttle will run today at 12:30pm. Not much help since our cruise check-in is at 11:30. Although I complain to the manage about the mis-information, all he can offer is an apology (not of much use). Fortunately, I am successful at arranging an Uber ride that turns out very pleasantly--and only slightly more expensive than the shuttle. We do enjoy an expansive breakfast buffet at the Hilton. Will, who hasn't traveled much since 2018, is shocked by the cost:  $71.00 for two, including tax and service. It's lucky we don't have to pay for it since breakfast is included with our free room.

After a very comfortable Uber ride we reach Norwegian Cruise Line's brand-new terminal, where the Sirena is docked; her sister ship, Vista, is docked at Oceania's location. Check-in, security, boarding and visiting our muster station take little time and we are soon enjoying lunch in the outdoor Waves Cafe. Of course, I order my standard Oceania first lunch--steak and lobster sandwich with remoulade sauce, fries and coleslaw, and a small mixed salad. Will enjoys his very first steak and lobster sandwich as well.

We are in a mid-ship concierge veranda stateroom on the port side, small but elegant, looking upon calm seas from our veranda.

We meet our cabin steward Paul, originally from Mumbai, and spend the rest of the afternoon finding places for all our stuff and relaxing until sail-away at 7pm. One hour later we have our first specialty restaurant reservation in the Tuscan Steak Grill. The Grill combines the Italian and Steak and Seafood specialty restaurants on Oceania's larger ships, which carry about 1200 passengers; the Sirena carries 670 passengers.

Dinner is wonderful. We both have dry on-the rocks martinis along with specialty breads offered only in the two restaurants. I have beef carpaccio, lobster bisque with VSOP brandy poured in at the table, and a perfect NY strip steak with steak fires and a roasted tomato. Will enjoys a "colossal" shrimp cocktail (indeed, they are), the lobster bisque, and veal Marsala with roasted potatoes. We share a Valhrona chocolate pastry with melted pistachio filling, large black cherries and chocolate sauce--a perfect ending before a perfect night of deep and peaceful sleep.

The next blog will take us to the first full sea day and adventures on board ms Sirena--check back for more. If this is the first blog page you are receiving, you will want to go back to the two preceding blogs with general information about the trip.