We're Home!

We are home from a wonderful week long vacation. It was fabulous! We feel restored: body, mind, spirit, and soul. I prayed, read, rested, typed a daily journal, and thought it would be fun to post it daily this week as there are so many pictures and so much to say! I’ll edit a little so you guys don’t have so much to read as well!

Saturday February 17, 2007: Day 1
One of the reasons we chose this cruise, was to eliminate the cost of flying or driving to Florida. We drove to Charleston in two short hours, and as we crossed over the new bridge from Mt. Pleasant to Charleston we could see our ship: the Norwegian Majesty. We were thrilled to see that it was much larger than our last ship, and are so thankful for the new bridge. Now praying is optional as you cross the river unlike the rickety old bridge!

We went through multiple security checkpoints as we entered the port, dropped our luggage off, then parked the car after driving through a hilarious cone obstacle course Kris said only the US military could come up with…Because Kris used his handicap sticker and wheelchair, we were taken by shuttle (a very nice driver used the wheelchair lift from both of us) we felt like it was an amusement ride! Once at the port, we had yet another security checkpoint and customs where we were put through ahead of everyone waiting! We boarded the ship minutes from parking AND a very nice employee named Louis pushed Kris up and down ramps and through the halls to our room: 747! It was so much nicer than our last cruise, where I pushed him and almost expelled him from the wheelchair multiple times…I felt almost sorry for the people who had to do all that waiting.

See the bridge in the background!

After they took our $20 photo (we did not purchase), we decided on our excursions! We booked them, and the very nice lady who took our money said these were the best excursions and we were lucky they weren’t full yet! (I know, they probably tell everyone that) After finding an underwater camera with free photo processing, we walked around the ship to become familiar with it. This ship has what’s called Freestyle Cruising: no dress code, no set dining times etc. more on that later. We explored and found an Internet café and wireless hot spots where you can buy minutes for the low low price of 75 cents per minute…we passed on that. Next, we found a game room where we played 2 rounds of Yatzee, a boardroom for bridge and other interactive games, multiple cozy little spots for viewing the ocean and just chilling! There are two theaters: one for movies which is smaller and one for live shows. There are multiple restaurants with different themes, and no set times or tables to eat. For lunch Kris chose to sit by the pool on the top floor and view Charleston and eat hamburgers and fries if they didn’t blow away. For dinner, I chose the healthy restaurant called Four Seasons. Everything on the menu was from my favorite magazine Cooking Light. Kris had a mushroom onion tart, Caesar salad, grilled mahi-mahi, and chocolate pecan cake. I had smoked salmon appetizer, yummy cold peach soup, roasted lamb, and soufflé for dessert. The portions were small, so you could actually enjoy the whole meal and not feel stuffed or uncomfortable. And, we both chose different items and shared: a feat for my sweetie, who normally hates to share food: a charming little something he learned as a child.

We skipped the Welcome Aboard show at the theater, and watched Two Week Notice in our cozy little room, which I haven’t described yet! We have a handicap room that is actually accessible. Our room is located middle, slightly aft (near the rear), on the starboard (right) side, near the elevators and 2 floors above the restaurants and cozy nooks. As you enter, there is a big window overlooking the shorelines. One bed is along the window wall, and the other is at a 90-degree angle along the wall. A TV is at their intersection. My bed is along the window, as the other bed has the plug for Kris’s fan. We found a creative place for the wheelchair, so we wouldn't be stomping our feet on it all week.

My side has a nightstand I’ve unpacked some of my clothes into, and the rest are in the small but functional closet. Our suitcases just fit under the beds, so they are out of the way. The bathroom is small and compact, but functional. You can actually roll the wheelchair right in and shower. The only unusual thing is that there is only one plug in for US style products in the entire room! The rest are those European plugs. The bedding is quite comfortable, clean, and adequate. We haven’t figured out a way to push the beds together yet. We tried both sleeping in his bed, and it was hilarious. We both fit sideways, but if someone moves, forget it! I miss him and Bella for snuggling when I get cold! The window is large, but needs cleaning. It looks out onto the walking track and there are lounging areas just outside our room for future sunbathing: me with sunscreen, Kris to become tan.