Day 1 – 2 - 3, February 21-22-23, Spring – Miami – Cuba – 2019

We dropped off Pippen at the dog sitters as Jason and Sharon’s dog Wriggly was sick.  We got a text that our plane was going to be an hour late, but we still went to the airport so that we could be protected on later flights from Atlanta to FT. Lauderdale.

As we are writing this, Wriggly is ok and Sharon is picking up Pippen from the sitters – thanks to Jason and Sharon for watching Pippen for us.

Anyway, we arrived at the airport at about 10:30am and there was a mess there as the 6am flight had been delayed due to a fuel leak.  Our plane was also delaye

We had a 4pm flight from Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale and they waitlisted us on a 5pm flight and were able to confirm seats on a 7pm flight.

Finally at about 1:30pm, both planes arrived with ½ hours of each other and the Delta staff sorted everyone out and we took off. 

We arrived in time to just make it to the gate for the 5pm flight and were 5^th and 6^th on the wait list.  We were going to be able to get on except they had no room for our carry-ons.  We did not want to do that due to what we had in our bags. 

We then went to eat, got on our 7pm flight and had an uneventful flight to Miami.

The Marriott shuttle took us to the hotel, only 5 minutes away and we were in our room by 11:00pm.

They had upgraded us to a suite and it was very nice.  It is too bad we are only staying here for two nights.

Day 2 – Feburary 22

What a beautiful day it was in Miami when we woke up 80 degrees and clear.

We went to the Executive Lounge and had breakfast and then since it was partly cloudy, we walked about 1/2 hour to a market where we bought Pepsi, then Barb found a store and bought a pair of slacks and finally we found a liquor store and bought a bottle of Kahula to take on the ship.

We found a great Cuban restaurant for lunch and then walked took a Uber back to the hotel.

By then it was 1:30pm and we went out by the pool and stayed in the sun until 4:30pm, just relaxing and enjoying.

I think this is the first time ever that we did not have something major to do during the day or evening so we just relaxed and it was great.

For dinner we went to a wonderful, very local Latin restaurant and really enjoyed the food.  

There is no question, that in this area, English is a second language and in some shops, not spoken at all!

Then it was back to the hotel to just relax and be ready to board the ship tomorrow.

Day 3 – Feburary 23

Again, what a wonderful day it was in Miami.  After breakfast, we got ready and left the hotel via an Uber ride and arrived at the ship at a little past ten.

 

Check in was a breeze and after leaving our luggage in our room, we went to the back of the ship for lunch, sitting outside and enjoying the weather. 

There was a fire drill at 2:45pm and after that we went up to the top deck and made our reservation at the hot glass workshop.  Tomorrow in the late afternoon we will actually get to participate in making a glass piece – it should be fun.

The casino had a welcome get together and so we went and talked with our Host, Demi, who we have sailed with before and also the Casino Manager Daniela, again who we had been with before. 

We went to the show which was supposed to be a comedian, but someone forgot to tell him that he was supposed to by funny – he wasn’t so we left and went to the casino and said hi to so many of the dealers and pit bosses that we had met on previous cruises.

Then it was time for dinner and we met 2 new couples, one from Maryland and the other from Northern Illinois.  It will be an interesting week eating with them.  We’ll have to wait to see how it works out.

Then it was on to the casino where Ed had a nice win to start with and Barb lost just a little on the exact same machine that she won two $1,600 jackpots last fall.

Tomorrow we arrive in Key West – it will be fun.

Night

Waiting at Bloomington Airport - thanks Delta for the rocking chair!!

Having an omlette made for breakfast

A wonderful Rum - better than Kahula!!

Grilled Salmon, green plantains, yucca and it was great!!

Port, red plantains, beans and rice - another wonderful meal!!

The view from our room at the Marriott

From here down the pictures are a little out of order

Lunch

On the way to the ship

Barb did't like Ed's desert last night!!!

Going out for the evening