Caribbean 2022 - Day 1 - Wednesday 12 Jan

Exciting to be finally on holiday, the morning starts early as we adjust to our new time zone. Breakfasted before 08:00, we sample toasts - Avo and French - and then head out. 

My Avocado toast - far too much but I manage to eat it!

As we’re back in Ft Lauderdale in the middle of our cruise for a day when we’ll be going downtown, I decide to walk to a different area, and we head South towards the airport first. Now, walking in America is not easy! Other than New Yorkers, folks just don’t do it, and the infrastructure isn’t really capable of sustaining long walks without challenges. 

We contend with heavily flooded sidewalks, roads that just stop at a wall, and four-Lane train tracks with no possible way of crossing them other than breaking the law, and even if that wasn’t an issue, wagons parked up as far as the eye can see in both directions. So we back-track a ways and start again. 

Back on a main road, it’s more reliable and we pass various interesting places, the most intriguing being the local National Guard armoury - bomb-proof Humvee anyone?

Look at the thickness of the windows!

Next we find an interesting old railway swing bridge, no longer in service as it’s not strong enough, but tastefully converted to a small walkway. Whilst we’re there we go under I-95 to see a new replacement bridge. This road is amazing, running from Miami right up the East Coast to New Brunswick in Canada, some 2000 miles. 

Swing bridge,

Under the I-95

A huge boatyard dictates a major detour, and as we wiggle around the houses, we see older established housing standing side by side with newer gated communities, many with their own waterfront and boat moored alongside. 

Boatyard 

Moorings

We return via a cemetery, pretty and peaceful, then quickly head up to the harbour bridge to take a view of Noordam, the ship we were on exactly two years ago. 

Memorial Park

Noordam in port

Map of walk

Our taxi is waiting when we return, so we’re straight off to the port, only 200 yards to the port gate, but another three miles inside. It’s disconcerting that the only question the port guard asks is “any firearms?”

The registration process has been streamlined to minimise contact, so within minutes we’re in our cabin, and ready to explore the ship. But first we pop to our lounge to say hello to our concierge team and get a glass of bubbly. 

Muster drill is very different, no huddling together like in olden days, we just wander to the station, meet the officer and that’s it. Later, Captain Barhorst will talk everyone through the rules. 

A wander around the public rooms, the configuration is different on this larger ship so we need to reoriéntate ourselves a bit. The main dining room is quite attractive, it’s light and airy design makes us think of being inside a whale - not sure it that’s a good thing, but we don’t eat there anyway. 

MDR photo

We pop into Pinnacle, our preferred restaurant, to say hello and introduce ourselves, before continuing our wander around, until it’s time to go on deck for sailaway, and find a Strawberry Daiquiri to savour the time. In fact we have to let Celebrity Reflection, larger than us, leave first, it’s always interesting to watch the process from high up.  

Moored Celebrity

We watch as Nieuw Amsterdam sails away, the ship we last sailed from this port eleven years ago. 

NA leaving 

We chat with a newly-retired English couple who are relative newcomers on their second cruise, what a wonderful world of experiences awaits them!! Later we shower and dress for dinner before heading to the Ocean Bar for champagne cocktails - Bellini and Kir Royal - and finally to Pinnacle. 

We are delighted to find the second Maître d’ is our friend Ady from Noordam, we’ve kept in contact occasionally throughout lockdown. She’s a colourful character and super professional, we know we’re in safe hands now.