2012-11-5, 6, and 7 up to and the first 3 days of our cruise which were sea days:

We started our trip with the 1200 mile drive from St. Louis to Fort Lauderdale.  Took us 2 days with a stopover in northern Florida.  Sure glad we had a Garmin!  Can't believe we use to travel anywhere without it!

I'm sure we elicited a few comments as we drove by in our packed car!

Our daughter, Angie, and son-in-law, Josh, had recently moved to the Fort Lauderdale area and asked us to bring a few items down to them.  So we stuffed the back of our Ford Escape full leaving just a tiny space for our pup, Roxy.  We brought her with us so Angie and Josh could watch her while we went off on our cruise.



We made it to Fort Lauderdale safe and sound and spent a couple days there before heading off on our cruise.  Including a day at Deerfield Beach

Cruise day finally came ( Monday, Nov. 5th).  Here we are right after Angie dropped us off. It's so nice knowing someone who lives so close to the port! 

We originally booked an SY category room, but when the SZ's came available a few months later for a couple hundred/person less, I rebooked an SZ guarantee.  About 10 days before our cruise, we got our room assignment--upgraded to an SS.  I kept checking my email hoping for an upsell offer to a deluxe suite.  I did finally get that email, but it was while we were on the road and I didn't find out about it until about 30 minutes after the inventory office opened.  By then all the upsells were gone.   Would have been a fantastic deal at $149/person!  Dang!!!  But our room was on the port side and we enjoyed the sunrises and port views the first 6 days, then sunsets the last 5.   It wasn't quite as big and didn't have the added benefits of the deluxe suite we had last year, but still pretty nice.

We arrived about 11am, checked in, and waited in the huge gathering area at the port until we were finally allowed to board.

Noordam  SS 8060 superior suite:

Loved that the verandah even had a table and 2 chairs as well as 2 other chairs with ottomans and a side table.

Waiting to get going.

 sun beginning to set

 and we're off

The first 3 nights and first full 2 days(Nov. 5-7) were at sea.

We were mid ship and on the 8th floor. Made it easy to just take the steps up to the Lido buffet for the many meals we ate there.

We took advantage of these sea days to check out the ship and some of the programs offered ---such as the digital workshop;

 The culinary demonstration;

even a flower arranging presentation.

 Enjoyed presentations of the ports we were going to.

Enjoyed a sunset from the 10th level observation deck.

Also enjoyed views of the ocean from our verandah.

Had dinner one night at the now $10 upcharge italian Canelletto restaurant.  Last year it was free.  Service was great, although Ken wasn't as impressed with the food this time.

And just familiarizing ourselves with the Noordam.  It was our first time on this ship.  So far, so good---I have no complaints.