The overview of the cruise at the right is NOT to scale, but gives an idea of where we're going. The ship is Azamara Quest, the same ship we liked during our recent November 2021 cruising and during the virus onset in 2020.
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2/14/2022 Monday Link to Photos
After breakfast and prepping the condo for our gone period, we put our small suitcases (we're not bringing much) into the minivan and headed south.
We checked into the Riverside Hotel around 2:30. Then we strolled the New River riverwalk for a bit. Our reservation at the Boathouse Restaurant was for 3:00pm. We were seated at table on the riverwalk. The sun kept it warm enough despite the breeze. We had a cocktail while watching the yachts passing by, some small, some large. The food was good although the service was slow due to lack of workers.
We walked to the Water Taxi stop #1 located above the US-1 tunnel. There, we boarded a boat that took us down the New River and ICW to the 17th St bridge plus another stop. Many mansions along the way. The driver gave a good mini-history of some of them. We got off at stop 5 and hopped onto the returning boat since the sun was setting and we were getting cold.
We returned to the room to get jackets. Room 341 is in the original 1930's wing of the place, very nicely furnished and with upgraded electronics. Our window view was of the Boathouse Restaurant. Riverside is the oldest hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Then we moved out onto Las Olas Blvd for some street shopping.
We walked a few blocks east on one side of the street, then back on the other. D wanted a Port to warm her, so we kept looking. We found a wine bar called Vinos's that had a 10-year tawny. That warmed her enough to go back to the hotel to rest.
I won't comment on I-95 in South Florida or its drivers.
Link to Photos
The plan is to have a very light breakfast, then to check out about 11am and meet Krista and Nick at Doc B's for lunch. So we did.
We chatted about family and things we've done until time for Nick to work and us to leave for Terminal J on Dodge Island, the cruise ship port for Miami. Azamara uses J.
The traffic was not terrible on I-95, just miserable. We pulled into the parking lot for Terminal J and paid our $122 for the week. Walked our luggage across the street into the terminal.
Then we went through the regular rigamarole to get on board. That nose jab is so tickly. Runs me right up the wall.
But we boarded and started re-learning the ship. We purchased our internet for the week, then up to Windows to arrange D's dinner tomorrow night.
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We had wine on the stern in the Sunset Lounge then moved to the pool deck to hear the "getting underway" band and get a smoothie. Then we went up to the Drawing Room (library) for the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle. Two other couples showed up, one from Kennewick WA and the other from northern Ontario. We swapped stories and opinions on covid and so forth. The ship got underway during this period.
We went to dinner in the Dining Room and met a waiter from our last trip, Sultan. He confirmed that our favorite waiters from the last trip are on vacation, Tin & Nelson.
We stretched dinner out almost to 2100 show time. The show had pieces by all the entertainers and was well put together. Nice to see Justin and Amanda plus the singer/dancers. We then went to the Den for a nightcap, where D got involved with a guy from Calgary AB. They were talking about all sorts of things until we grew tired and returned to the stateroom to rest.
Link to Photos
D's birthday. The cabin is decorated in birthday things.
We were up and did things. D made a jewelry mask-retainer, O attended the future cruises lecture (or promotion, depending on your view). Captain Thysee did part of the lecture reviewing places he's been, and Azamara's advantages reaching them.
It may be that Captain Thysee was our captain on our 2012 Baltic cruise on Journey. We'll have to check this.
The cloudy, windy, weather eased up around noon. The sun came out, people hopped into the pool and the place looks like a cruise ship - except for the low number of people.
We lunched in Patio on light things with a glass of something. Sultan said "hi" again. Then off to our afternoon duties.
At 2000 we entered Prime C for dinner, dressed appropriately. Since the Aqualina (Italian food) room is closed we can order from either room's menu. O went Italian, D went seafood, including the lobster shown at right. A good Australian Cabernet helped. Good service with little savories now and then. We skipped the fourth course to hurry down to the show.
The show, Come Sail Away, we've seen before on the November cruise but it was well done again so we thoroughly enjoyed it. A post-show drink served by Cruz followed while listening to the Ukranian pianist. The we decided the beds were a good idea.