Well, I made it!
After the morning's adventures at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, including the American Airlines maintenance delay, I eventually made it to Tampa and boarded Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Seas.
Not exactly the smooth start I had envisioned, but hey, I'm on vacation now!
Apparently, the day wasn't quite done testing me.
Getting to the Ship: The Adventures Continued
Let's just say the ride from the airport to the cruise terminal wasn't exactly confidence-inspiring.
My Uber driver drove a 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid. From my perspective, he didn't seem particularly comfortable driving it. I wasn't thrilled, but I eventually made it to the terminal.
Then there were the missing sunglasses.
A pair of Oakleys that I really like. Gone. I have no idea where they disappeared, and I was already annoyed.
Then came the moment when I thought I had lost my cell phone.
Cue the minor freak-out.
Thankfully, it was safely tucked away in my backpack. Crisis averted!
Eventually, I made it onto the ship. Later than I wanted, but that's okay. Timing isn't always up to me, and I'm learning that I'm not in control of everything.
Sometimes you just have to roll with it.
The Key: A Pretty Nice Way to Start a Cruise
Once onboard, I took advantage of the special lunch associated with Royal Caribbean's The Key program.
My selections included:
Caesar salad
Shrimp cocktail with three absolutely enormous shrimp
Sweet and sour tofu
That tofu was awesome!
I finally sat down, ate, and started to feel like I was actually on vacation.
Muster Drill: Thank You, Modern Technology!
One thing I really appreciate about cruising these days is the muster drill.
If you've cruised before, you probably remember the old routine.
Everyone had to report to their assigned muster station, stand around in tight quarters, wait for everyone to show up, listen to the captain's instructions, and eventually get dismissed.
And there's always that ONE passenger who doesn't seem to understand that showing up is mandatory.
Thankfully, things have changed.
With the newer process, you can review the safety information and check in at your assigned station without the old-fashioned mass gathering.
Much quicker. Much easier.
On the way to my muster station, I also passed some Halloween decorations around the ship. Since today is October 29, the timing is perfect!
My Cabin, Missing Oakleys, and a Nap
After completing muster, I headed to my cabin.
Naturally, the first order of business was another search for my missing sunglasses.
I dug through the backpack, hoping those Oakleys had magically reappeared.
Nope.
Still missing.
I waited for my luggage, unpacked, met my room steward, and finally got to do something I'd been looking forward to all day.
Take a nap.
There is something wonderful about finally getting into the cabin, putting my belongings away, and knowing I don't have to drive anywhere, catch another flight, or navigate an airport.
I'm on a ship. Someone else gets me somewhere.
I like this arrangement.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge: A First for Me!
The captain announced we'd pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at approximately 6 p.m.
He mentioned we'd have about six feet (two meters) of clearance.
Well, that got my attention!
I set an alarm for 6 p.m., got up, cleared my head, and headed outside.
What a sight!
I've driven across bridges plenty of times, but watching a cruise ship pass underneath one is an entirely different experience.
I'd never done that before, and I'm glad I made the effort to get outside and see it.
It's one of those little travel experiences that I didn’t necessarily plan for but end up remembering.
Definitely a highlight of the day.
Dinner: Let the Vacation Eating Begin!
By around 7 p.m., it was time for dinner.
And if there's one thing I intend to do on this cruise, it's enjoy the food.
Tonight's dinner lineup:
Roasted tomato soup
Crab cakes
Caesar salad
Chicken saag
Pellegrino sparkling water
And because dinner isn't complete without dessert:
Boston cream pie
Decaf coffee
A pretty good way to wrap up the evening!
Between the Key lunch and dinner, I've made a respectable start on my cruise dining adventures.
And there's still plenty of bacon to come.
Tomorrow: A Day at Sea!
Tomorrow is a sea day.
No airports. No Uber drivers. No luggage drama. No rushing to get somewhere.
Just the ocean, the ship, and whatever adventures I manage to find.
The main dining room starts serving brunch at 8:30 a.m. Will I make it? Who knows!
I'm officially on cruising time now.
Maybe I'll get up early. Maybe I'll sleep in. Maybe I'll wander around the ship, find some entertainment, eat something I probably don't need, and do a little people watching.
That's the beauty of cruising.
I don't have to plan every minute.
Today had its share of frustrations, but I made it aboard, enjoyed some great food, saw something I'd never seen before, and am finally settling in.
Tomorrow is another day, and I have absolutely no idea what I'll do with it.
Check back tomorrow to find out what I didn't do!
