Travel to RCL Wonder of the Seas, January 2023
Thursday, January 5, 2023.
After a hectic week of work and trying to get as many things done early for work – so I wouldn’t have to do as much on the cruise – I finally got packed for this trip.
Somehow, I wasn’t thinking, and typed the wrong street number for the Uber. I realized when I saw him pull in 5 houses up the street. Oops!
Other than that, the ride to National Airport (technically Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) was smooth. JetBlue check-in was pretty smooth, security a PITA, the hike to the terminal endless. We had thought we were way early but it ended up not being that much.
Throughout the airport, they were still playing Christmas music. I guess it was ok since Epiphany isn’t until January 6.
The flight to Orlando was uneventful except that I started a movie I want to finish at home – “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans”
In Hugh Laurie’s clever adaptation of Agatha Christie’s beloved novel, the mysterious death of a stranger prompts amateur detectives Bobby Jones and Frankie Derwent to set out to find the meaning behind the dead man’s final words: “Why didn’t they ask Evans?” Starring Will Poulter and Lucy Boynton.
I have been a huge fan of Hugh Laurie since House, Blackadder and Jeeves and Wooster.
Anyway, we arrived at Orlando Airport and they were also playing Christmas music and had some decorations up. I wonder if there’s a code of some kind which dictates when airports will decorate for holidays and for how long.
After locating our checked bags, we called the GoPort Shuttle. I can’t say enough about this service. They seem to be only in Orlando – they picked us up at the airport, dropped us off at out hotel (Holiday Inn Orlando-International Airport). On Saturday, they picked us up and delivered us to the cruise. When the cruise was over, got us back to the airport.
While we were on the shuttle, someone called from a different terminal bo be picked up, so we circled back – no rush.
This hotel was pretty nice and the room bigger than I thought. There was a refrigerator (I could have brought my Growth Hormone!). There was also a nice pool, hot tub, gym. We never used any of those – but we could have.
The bed must have been really comfortable and/or I was exhausted because I slept 7:13 – unheard of these days.
Friday, January 7, 2023.
We had gone to Florida early so we could do some sightseeing. Um, no.After breakfast at the hotel, Tom was trying to find his back brace. No such luck so he called CVS. It took a long time to get someone to find one and they set it aside for us.
We Ubered with Timothy (from Maine) to CVS. I was stunned that CVS in Orlando, FL, home of Disney, Universal, nearby Cape Canaveral had no t-shirts or sweatshirts! I was a tourist and I needed this stuff. I did get some new earrings so all wasn’t lost.
Tom found a couple possible back braces and took them to the counter where one was set aside for him. That was the one he chose.
After ubering back to the hotel, I immediately lost the back to one of the new earrings. And Tom, of course, found the original back brace so he now has 2.
I took a nap while Tom did laundry.
We walked the street to look at gift shop (still looking for cheesy Orlando t-shirts). There are no sidewalks here. Everything seems to be a ride away. None of their souvenirs were acceptable at a price I would pay so no new clothes from here.
In the hotel before the cruise – I couldn’t figure out what airline they were with but there were more headed to the elevators and some sitting. The tags around the luggage say Azul on them. I haven’t seen stewardesses (cabin attendants?) with hats for a long time.
Saturday, January 7, 2023
Unfortunately, I work up too early not about the excitement of getting on the ship but my knee is killing me. I keep telling myself it would be awful at home, too, but it’s not quite working. LOL
After breakfast, we followed instructions (Imagine that!) and got into the lobby for the GoPort shuttle. they were running 5 busses for 200 people at 5 different ships – all from our hotel. It seemed like we waited for our bus for quite a while, so I was checking Uber availability when our shuttle arrived – and we were off!
New Orleans, Day Two
Up fairly early again with no plans for the day. I got yesterday’s blog post done, Tom checked email…just like at home.
We decided to take the streetcar to Canal, walk for about half a mile, then take the streetcar that runs along the banks of the Mississippi.
We did that until we got close to the riverfront. I showed Tom where the paddlewheel was docked, as well as the Carnival Elation that was loading up for it’s next cruise.
We decided to go on the Creole Queen and got tickets for the afternoon trip to the Chalmette Battlefield. While we waited, we walked up the dock a bit and got this picture of the paddlewheel
Paddlewheel on the Creole Queen
This was the American Queen steamboat. This is an overnight cruise that goes up and down the Mississippi.
From their website “There’s no more unique way to enjoy a Mississippi river cruise and experience the history, heritage and culture of America’s heartland than a voyage aboard a genuine steamboat like the American Queen. Stroll through charming towns and vibrant Mississippi river cities. Explore historic ports of call like New Orleans, Natchez, Mark Twain’s Hannibal, Chattanooga and Pittsburgh, just to name a few. Along the way, you’ll learn about the great events and people that have contributed to America’s history and culture.”
It was raining a bit so we decided to go in the old Riverwalk. It’s mostly closed now for renovation – they’re putting in outlet stores, reopening sometime in 2014.
The Hilton conference rooms are still there, though, so we bought some snacks and used the restroom. Of course, we got coffee.
It was time to board so we went back to the dock. The first thing they did was take our picture – then make us get rid of the coffee. Who knew we wore so much blue?
Creole Queen. The coffee is soon to go 🙁
This cruise had a lot of young kids on it, to celebrate Nadya’s 6th birthday. Fortunately, they mostly celebrated in the Queen’s room a couple decks lower than us.
Another boat on the river
Docking at Chalmette Battlefield
Not a care in the world. Should we move for this boat? Naaah
Folks were practicing old-timey dancing for some event coming up in January.
More dancing
Right after this, all those kids came running off the boat, interrupting the park ranger who was telling us about the Battle of 1812.
The dancers taught some of the kids the dance they were doing and some kids were playing cards in the kitchen.
Heading back
Still heading…
The birthday flag for Nadya’s party
The Steamboat Natchez Dinner Jazz and Daytime jazz cruises … run daily, year round, in the style of authentic steamboats in New Orleans for centuries!
The Carnival Elation starting a cruise to the Caribbean
Waiting for the streetcar to take us along the Mississippi to the French Market
We took the streetcar to the French market, had to get off and got right back on. Off at Canal Street, transferred to a new streetcar. Off to get on the final streetcar for St Charles there (we’re getting good at this!) but there was a CVS on the corner and we decided to get more back medicine. I sure hope I don’t need that. I took only 4 pills down from 6 the day before.
Back home and a nap. Hooray! I’ve taken extra Cortef both days just to help. I doubt I would have gotten as far as I did through the days without it.
When I woke up, about 10:00 my back pain was gone. Hooray!
I most likely won’t be posting daily updates from the ship unless they have really good WiFi or my hotspot works really well. Maybe when we’re docked a a port – we’ll see.
Tomorrow, the 17th, we board the Norwegian Jewel. I’ll post lots of pictures and commentary when we get back. Hopefully, no more back pain comments!
MaryO