This trip was a year in the planning, 14 days in the execution, and undoubtedly another year of yearning for yet another. As this was our second cruise, we had a much better idea of what to expect and some of the pitfalls to avoid. We were also more adventurous in our choice of excursions and cabins which saved us a bit of money better spent elsewhere (like the spa).
After a good night's sleep, we got packed up and climbed aboard the hotel shuttle to Port Everglades about 11 a.m. The weather was overcast but warm and we anticipated some sun within a day or two of sailing. We joined the line up for the Dawn Princess along with 150 others who decided to head over early and were somewhat surprised to find out that we had to complete Bahamas immigration forms and health questionnaires. Thank goodness we had pens, but it was a pain to try to complete them with no writing surface and I think they should have been mailed out ahead of time as they were last year.
Paperwork completed, we shuffled into the terminal building about 11:30 and spent the next 5 minutes going through a maze of long, empty, roped-off lines all the way to the counter. Check-in was quick and painless and before we knew it, we were going up the gangway to the ship. Tom and I had a category BD balcony cabin on the starboard side of Caribe deck; Anne and Joan were in a BD on the port side. Oma and Robin had a guaranteed inside cabin on Aloha deck, which turned out to be fine for them and while very compact, accommodated them quite nicely. I had arranged for a bouquet of flowers for their cabin and those were delivered about 3 p.m. and were lovely. I had ordered a scotch and soda package for Tom as a late Valentine's Day gift and there was a card in the cabin instructing him to call room service to arrange for delivery.