This post was originally posted on Go with Me on 4 January 2014. You can see a directory of the site on the Wayback Machine, but most of the snapshots return 403 errors. It looks like WP Engine protected me from showing anyone what the site looked like back then.

Go to Day 1 Photo Gallery

I hardly slept at all on Friday night. I finally gave up and showered at 6:30 AM even though we wouldn’t be meeting to depart for Port Everglades until 11:45. I went down and had breakfast then went up and repacked my luggage. I’d decided to let two bags be transferred and only carry one. I had to redistribute my computer and camera equipment.

That done, I still had about 2 hours to wait. I took my camera downstairs and took some pictures of the marina pavilion. Nothing much to look at really, but some boats. There were a couple of cats down there, but they were in the bushes catching lizards or something. I messed around with some HDR settings on the camera and I’ll see how those turn out. (I’m importing my photos from yesterday into Lightroom while I’m typing this.)

It started to rain so I headed back upstairs to my room. I finished a book I started about six months ago (The Last Child by John Hart). I can’t remember why I stopped reading it, because it was really pretty good. At 11:00, I checked out of the room and headed down to the area where we were to meet to catch the bus to Port Everglades.

Pretty much right on time at 11:45 the HAL rep rounded us up and we went out and boarded the bus. It took about 15 minutes to get everyone on and stow the luggage for those who didn’t have the “let the bellman pick your luggage up” option. Then we headed through the beautiful industrial areas of Fort Lauderdale to Port Everglades.

As we pulled into the port area, the first thing we saw was the “Oasis of the Seas” which looks like an apartment building. We passed a few more Royal Caribbean ships and then we saw the Westerdam, which was heading off on a Caribbean cruise, I believe. Finally, nestled in beside the Liberty of the Seas, we came to the beautiful Amsterdam. There were several folks heading to the Westerdam and as those of us heading for the world cruise got off the bus a woman told me to enjoy my cruise. I told her to enjoy hers and she laughed and said “Mine is nothing like yours is going to be!”

Embarkation procedures were pretty easy and went quickly. The longest line was about 5 minutes. We did have to wait a bit for boarding (at least those of us not in suites or having 4 or 5 Star Mariner status), but it was only about fifteen minutes before they called number 14 and I headed for the ship.

By 12:45 I was in my little interior cabin. Alas, only one of my suitcases got there before me. I unpacked it and decided to call my sister. No reception inside so I went out on the wrap-around deck and called her. She was cooking a Boston Butt and getting ready for the Saints game. I talked to her for about fifteen minutes and then went to lunch in the Lido. I don’t like the Lido, but I was hungry. I had some dry roast beef and French fries.

By the time I got back to my cabin another suitcase had arrived. I unpacked it and it was suddenly time for the emergency drill. I headed out to Lifeboat Station 12 and waited for the drill. I know they tell you not go out there until it is time, but I was tired and didn’t feel like trying to get out there at the same time as everyone else. I wasn’t the only one. The drill went pretty well. We did have to wait about fifteen minutes for stragglers – I think some of them weren’t actually on-board yet. The Captain said this morning that we left Fort Lauderdale late because he was waiting for passengers delayed by the weather.

After the drill I went back to my stateroom and read for a while until time for dinner. I’d arranged with several fellow Cruise Critic members to share a table, but all did not go as planned there. One couple who had dropped out was still in our group even though we had all “disengaged” from their group. Their company was quite enjoyable, so I’ll hate them go this evening. They had us at a table for eight instead of six and they brought another couple by to join us. Not a problem except that two of the ladies we’d arranged to sit with had a cousin join them at the last moment, so we didn’t have room for all three of them. Now if Terri and Bill go to their friend’s table, then we should have room for everyone and one space left open. We’ll see tonight.

Dinner was really good and everybody was talking. I had the Carpaccio of Beef Medallion as a starter, something I’ve never had before. It was delicious and I’ll have it again if it is offered. Then I had a Caesar Salad from the “Available Every Day” menu and the prime rib. The prime rib was very good, but a little more to the rare than the medium rare side. For dessert, I had the Crème Brulee – again from the “Available Every Day” menu. It was good, but I have to say my sister’s is better. We were having such a good time that they had to chase us out so they could get ready for the 8:00 seating!

After dinner, I was so tired that I returned to my room, read for about an hour, and then went to bed. All my luggage had arrived, but I left the rest of my unpacking for tomorrow. Thus ended the first day of my great adventure.