2019-12-10  embarkation day:

Time to get up and get going.  But first, time to get up and admire our view from our lanai at Wyndham Royal Vista.  Love being VIP Platinum with Wyndham!   It enables us to use Wyndham like a hotel and not get nickeled and dimed to death. 

And we often end up in units with fantastic views. 

 Still hit the road before 10.  Since we had time, we just rode up A1A to Port Everglades.

 Our blue skies already gave way to rain.

 But we did see patches of blue here and there.

 Our first fish of the trip.

 Heading into the secured Port.

 Our ship!  I dropped Ken and our luggage off by the terminal entrance and then I went and parked our car in the parking garage within the port.  We had done that once before many years ago and I was surprised to see the rate hadn't gone up.  It was still $15/day. 

 When I got to the terminal, I realized Ken had my boarding pass and he had already been taken through security.  The lady by the door checking the boarding passes started to lecture me about how I was suppose to stay with Ken.  She didn't want to hear that I had dropped him off in his wheel chair and went to park the car.  Fortunately another terminal worker heard the conversation and came to my rescue.  He had taken Ken back and got me away from the raging lady.  With our suite tickets, we got priority check in and were taken to this corner in the huge room where other handicapped people were taken. 

 After watching several people go past the guard and on upstairs near the boarding ramp, I asked if we were suppose to be allowed up there with our "priority" boarding, too.  Yes, we were suppose to be.  So we joined the suite people.  Where we waited for a couple hours.  The ship was fresh out of a 10 day dry dock and having it's share of complications.  Supposedly they upgraded their computer systems, but they weren't working too well.  Ended up they weren't able to scan our cards.  Instead they had to check everyone off from a list of names.  Seems there was internet problems for most of the cruise---at least with the free onboard internet for checking out the daily Navigator activities, dining menus, and such.

 While waiting, this gal decided to use my foot as a pillow.  Her owner said this was her 21st cruise.  Apparently there were a couple other service animals onboard, too, but I never saw them while on the ship.

 We finally got onboard about 1:30.  Went straight to our cabin.  Couldn't wait to check out our Neptune suite.  We've only had a suite 1 other time.  But with a chance to upsell for $299/person, I figured the extra space would really be helpful with a wheelchair.  We even had a complimentary bottle of champagne and 2 bottles of water waiting for us.

 Loved the huge tv.

 and ample space for a wheel chair (once I moved the chairs a bit.

 Then we went to check out the Neptune Lounge---another perk of being in a Neptune Suite.  Didn't really use it much, but it was nice having the option.

 Checking out our paper daily Navigator for the day.  Didn't end up doing anything on it today.  By the time we ate, watched sunset, watched sail away, unpacked, and ate again, it was time to chill out and rest.

 After checking out our cabin, it was time to check out Lido for lunch.

 Loved the salad bar.  Used it almost every day.

 Ken wishing Layla was here to share his shrimp with.

 and his cheesecake.

 I had the prime rib.  It was excellent.

 The dessert looked better then it tasted.  Most of their desserts were that way!  Although Ken's cheesecake was very good.

 After unpacking, it was about time for sunset, so I went to deck 10 to check it out.  Weather was still rainy off and on.

 But we were treated to an impressive rainbow.

 Hard to see here, but the rainbow was more then 50%.  It was almost a 75% rainbow. 

 Time to send a snapchat off to the girls before we head out to sea and loose our internet.

 By now it was about 5.  I had hoped to see sunset over Miami as we sailed away, but sail away was postponed a couple hours.

 But I did get to see an unexpected site!  Several families of manatees swimming across the canal.

 Clouds were too heavy for a great sunset, but the sunrays were pretty neat.

 our pilot boats waiting for us to get going.

 Still in port and the sun has almost set.

 Ken enjoying sail away from our bed.

 And we're finally off===about 6:30ish.  Love the houses along the marina.

The cruise ship watchers.

 almost out of the marina.

 Looking down the beach towards Ft. Lauderdale.

 so long Port Everglades!

It was nice to be finally on the ship and on our way.  It had been a long few months wondering if we'd be able to do this cruise with Ken's ankle right now.  Then there was the long drive to Ft. Lauderdale from NW Atlanta (about 10 hours).  We were going to fly, but since Ken was still in the wheel chair, he didn't want to fly and have the wheel chair destroyed on the plane.  But so far it's all worked out.  Hopefully it'll continue to work out.

2019-12-8 drive from Atlanta - Ft. Lauderdale:


The day is finally here!  Time to make our way to S. Florida for our cruise starting on the 10th!  Not looking forward to driving there from NW Atlanta (704 miles!), but looking forward to the pot of gold at the end of the drive.
And we're off!

only 704 more miles to go!

Started out cool and cloudy.

 2.5 hours later we were nearing Middle Georgia where we lived last year.

 I always looked for this plane near Warner Robins on our years of traveling to S. Florida---some times from St. Louis, some times from Atlanta.  Never would have thought I'd live near here for half of 2018 and 2019!

 That's when I became infatuated with the cotton fields.

 and orchards.

 This use to be our exit---but then it was called Thompson Rd. 

 The Fairgrounds on Perry---looks like a heat wave is on it's way

 love that there's still color in the trees here.

 geometry on the highway

 more cotton

 I was surprised how late they picked some of the cotton. 

 cow country

 lazy cows.

 Ken acting as photographer---the only time he's allowed to use my camera.

 Gotta see the beauty in everything on these long trips.

 Another plane---I know this one is in Northern Florida

 Interesting flag poles.

 more greenery the farther south we go

 But traffic was moving today---wish I could say that when we were on our way back to Atlanta after the cruise!

 reaching the marshlands.

 and the tollroads

 and the palm trees!

 and the birds!  Can't wait to go to Wakodahatche tomorrow!

 Stopped at one of the toll road islands along the way and got a burger---an expensive one!  I recommend stopping for lunch before or after getting on the tollroad!  But I did love this painting inside the building.

 and I LOVE hearing the grackles again!!!!

 Back on the road
 and beautiful clouds.

 and cows

 more unusual beauty along the highway.

 Near Jupiter, Fl. we finally exited, gassed up and got on I-95.  Just as the sun was setting.

 rather interesting sunset view with lines and lines and lines of electric wires!

 A more interesting sunset view with a bunch of palm trees. 

 And another sunset view with a couple lone trees.  We lived in S. Florida a year before moving to Georgia 4 years ago.  Loved the sunsets in Florida!!!

 Finally in Pompano, where we stayed for 2 nights in one of our Wyndham timeshare resorts---Royal Vista.  Loved the weather here in the winter, too!

 Time to hit up one of our favorite Pompano restaurants---Lesters! 

Glad that drive is over.  Looking forward to letting someone else do the driving for 10 days starting on the 10th!