Sunday, January, 3, ’10 (AKA Cruise Day)

Umm well, got up around 9 this morning. Amanda and I went down to breakfast and saw Mom and Dad were already havin breakfast. We joined them! I had a bowl of Frosted Flakes. Then my dad told me there’s a Burger King right down the block. So after breakfast, my mom, dad, and I go get some more for from. Then we took a really nice walk around the area. I think we walked 3-4miles? As we were walking, we heard sirens. We see a cop speeding down a side road, and go and blocks traffic. I thought he was gonna go and arrest somebody or somethin. But it turns out, he was blocking traffic b/c they were escorting 2 or 3 Charter buses to the cruise ship. It had to have been somebody “special!” We also walked half way up the bridge. It was a Draw Bridge. Pretty cool to see, because I’ve never seen a draw bridge go up/down before! Made our way back to the hotel. Took a detour thru a really nice, kinda outlet mall lookin area, Then went back to the room to just “chill” for a little bit till we load up and get on board the!
We loaded up in a van at 1:40 this afternoon and arrived at the Everglades Port (where we board the ship) right at 2pm. Then we had to go thru “processing”- room keys, etc. Right before we hopped aboard the Emerald Princess, had our picture taken. First thing we were handed a scavenger hunt card, where we could win over $1000 in prizes! My first thought of the ship was GORGEOUS, and I was right! It is! As we’re walking to FIND our rooms, we walk down a Hall of Art. There were some real pretty ones. So anyways, our “staterooms” are on the Aloha Deck (Deck 12) and Amanda’s and I’s stateroom is A412. Mom and Dad’s stateroom is A326. So once we saw the view and where our rooms are, we went EXPLORING! Knowing we’re in S. Florida, it was a CHILLY, so I went back to the room and got my sweater. I was a little too anxious for that part, cuz I wanted to see where everything is and what’s goin on where. So we took a self tour basically just went by what we wanted to find on the map and where we were at the time. That took quite a while, cuz it’s a HUGE SHIP!!! So after that, we went to the rooms for just a second, to get our life jackets for a safety demonstration in our Muster Stations. It was Dad/I and Mom/Amanda. Dad and I found out we were in the WRONG GROUP according to the letter on the life jacket. We were C, but went to the A group instead. THEN after that, met back at the rooms and sat out on their patio so we could watch us disembark. Once we saw other ships leave before us, we KNEW we were behind schedule! We were like 4th in line, which we FINALLY left at 17:45. So we made our way to Skywatchers Club on the 18th Floor to finally sit and relax and just watch the night sky fall as we leave. We sat in there for a little bit, until we got hungry. We ate dinner at one of the buffets they have on board. I found some Macaroni and it wasn’t the best! Amanda JUST HAD to bring up that by the END OF THIS CRUISE, I HAVE TO TRY SOMETHIN NEW, or IF I DON’T, THEY’LL pick somethin out for me. That right there, ruined the night, and possibly the week for me! And MOM AGREED to it!! Went back to room for a few minutes before going to the Princess Theater for some COMEDY!! The comedian was Kevin Hughes, and he was HISTARICAL!!!! It was all NON-STOP laughter for all of us! After that, I went with them to have dessert back in the buffet area. Then once again went back to the rooms for the night, but THEY stayed. I unpacked a bit, and brought my computer and found a spot in front of the HUGE PLASMA SCREEN TV out on the pool deck (Deck 15) to catch up in my journal. Got a little bit done, until it was getting low on battery. I finally found a table down on Deck 5 that has a wall-port so I could charge it! It is now 23:47 and I’m gonna go back to the room and go to sleep! It has been a SUPER LONG DAY!!