CAPTAIN SLOG 83.13

Up with the seagull's fart this morning! I had tried to order brekkie in the cabin but there was no service this morning.

I decided to hit the buffet before the rush at 6.30 am. 

So did everyone else.

I had to be at my gathering point by 8am so it was a little hectic. We were already docked in Port Everglades, the deck was wet, so it had rained at some point, and it was very warm and muggy.

With a final look round I said goodbye to 7157 and dutifully went off to get my shore trip sticker.

There were no transfers included in my fares as I had booked everything independently so I had chosen to start off my travel day with a trip to Sawgrass Mills Mall which gave me a transfer to Miami Airport and about three hours shopping.

We left the ship around 8.30 and went off to collect our luggage. Now, I had had a wee practice in my cabin, strapping my wheeled carry-on to my smaller new wheeled holdall and was very pleased with my ingenuity. My last cruise had been marred by this stage of the journey, you just simply cannot wheel three cases at once unless you've got an extra arm, which let's face it, isn't that common. I spotted my pink case from miles away, it is so distinctive. 

All my practicing and self satisfaction melted away as I ended up dragging three cases, one the right way up, one on its side and the other one upside down, all the way through immigration, oh yes, I also had a handbag and an enormous shoulder bag. Told you I travel light!!

Once outside I managed to balance the holdall on top of the smaller case and get to the coach. Phew, was I hot and bothered. Never mind, half way there. I was dreading Miami airport as a luggage trolley there is like rocking horse s***!

I had a plan of action at the mall. As I said before it is massive and 3 hours was pushing it. Nevertheless, mission accomplished I returned to the coach and amused my fellow travellers by pulling a roll of cling film out of my carry on and wrapping up all my newly purchased bottles of suncream. Well, have you ever had a giant spillage in your case? This is exactly how not to suffer such an occurrence. Mock you not!!

The balancing act at Miami airport was not so good but I did manage to grab a trolley for $5 - what a rip off, they're free at Heathrow!

There was a long wait for the bag drop and check in to open and of course being Miami, no seats. Then it was a matter of just sitting and waiting. I could see the flight was going to be full.

We were finally called, premium economy being among the first. When I got to the gate the lady couldn't scan my boarding pass and told me that I would have to go to the desk. I was not best pleased at this. They are a very surly lot at Miami and I asked her what the problem was. She said I had a seat change. I was a bit annoyed because I had been so pleased with my booked seat, so I asked where I was sitting now.  She replied ' Business Class, is that OK?'

Yes, that was most certainly OK and off I went!!

And so it was that I found myself drinking champagne and eating lobster tails and fillet steak.

It is one of the joys of traveling alone, you seem to be upgraded more readily than those in a group, especially when traveling to or from a holiday destination at the weekend, when most people do travel with others. They seem to be able to slot us singles into a higher class and then fill up the cattle car to capacity. 

Suits me!! Thanks BA. X

It was a very rough flight so I slept like a baby on my flat bed. It took us ages to break through the cloud base on landing, it must have been at about 500 ft. The biggest shock was the temperature - only 35 degrees and I only had a thin cardigan. This time last year we were basking in the 80s.

It was great to see Debs and Ayla waiting for me at Ringwood, it felt like ages since I'd seen them and off we went to pick up poor old Ollie who gave us all a piece of his mind on the way home, as usual.

Here endeth another journey for Captain Slog.