Final pre-sail details

Climbing up all those stairs is a chore, but it’s a very nice reward to be able to rest in the Walt Disney Suite when we make it back to Deck 8!

Captain Henry (Andersson, our ship’s captain for the third time in a row aboard the Wonder) comes over the loud speakers announcing that we will be facing rough seas tonight until about 10:30, and tells us that, even with the ship’s stabilizers, there still may be seasickness. If you have Dramamine, he advises, take it now!

Point taken.

Okay, what to do next? Traditionally we head up to Deck 10 and watch the sail-away party, held on the stage by the Goofy pool on Deck 9. But as we’re discussing this, our cruise director, Christiaan, comes over the speakers to announce that, because of the chilly, wet weather, the sail-away party is being moved indoors. Okay, he’s a cruise director, so he doesn’t say it all matter-of-fact like that. It’s more bubbly and excited, all “Are we going to let a little weather spoil the fun? No!!” It definitely takes a certain personality type to do his job. And it’s not the same personality type as me.

The “Adventures Away” sail away party will be held in the atrium instead. Brandon and Benjamin ask if they can go on to the party, and we let them head out. While no place is ever perfectly safe, the ship is a pretty controlled environment. They’ve both shown themselves to be pretty responsible, and we’re confident at their age, now, letting them loose with just a few safety rules.

At 4:30 Becky and Linda head out to check out the spa. They’ve never taken advantage of any of its services before, and they want to take a look, and possible set up a time for some pampering.

That leaves Bob and me. We each decide we still want to go up on deck and watch us head out of the port. That’s also the main attraction to me – the sail away party has always been fun, but secondary. I’d rather enjoy the experience of this beautiful but massive ship maneuvering out from the mainland to the open seas. Plus, both Bob and I want to risk our eardrums and stand in front of the ship’s horn when it sounds. What can I say, we live on the edge.

As it is, luggage is beginning to arrive, and Bob and I are able to direct which piece of luggage goes to which side of the suite. Never had to do that before! I hang our hanging clothes in our walk-in closet – mine and the boys’ on one side, Becky’s on the other, having to push aside the white terry-cloth bathrobes that are provided there. As at the Polynesian, I pull a few things from the suitcase and tuck them into drawers, and then use a trick I didn’t know on my previous two cruises – clearing floor space by sliding the suitcases under the bed.

Brandon returns to the cabin, reporting that Benjamin stayed at the sail-away party after they went exploring the ship some more. Brandon played some basketball again for a few minutes with 9-10 other guys, and then came back here to the suite.

Soon it’s getting close to 5:00, so Brandon, Bob and I put on our jackets and head up into the wet chill to Deck 10.