Day 3: The Redick's Excellent Adventure Begins.....

This morning went too slowly!  We wanted to go to the ship.  To pass the time, Rob and I dragged ourselves to the gym and did a short

workout and grabbed breakfast.  Everyone got showered and got ready.  We repacked the bags and found ourselves sitting around looking

at each other by 9am.  We might be the first ones in line if we left now, but we waited it out until 10am, then grabbed a cab and headed

to the Pan American Pier where our home for the next week, RCI's Adventure of the Seas, sat waiting for us.  We sent the big bags on their

merry way and got in line.  What do you know, there's only 8 people in front of us, and they just happen to be some Cruise Critic friends!

It was a good thing we had each other to talk to, because we waited 45 minutes for those doors to open.

  When they finally did, security

and check in took 10 minutes, then we headed up the gangway to the biggest ship we have been on!  All four of us were like kids in a candy

store at the first views of the Promenade and the pool deck.  Heading into the Windjammer buffet, we grabbed a delicious lunch, then

set off to explore.  At 1pm we were allowed into our cabins.  This time we scored an aft Junior Suite that had a very large balcony.  I unpacked our carryons quickly and we set off for more exploring.  About 2pm our big bags arrived, so I had to spend a few minutes

unpacking and organizing our cabin. Yes, I am a neat freak!  At 4pm we met our fellow Cruise Critics at the Pool Bar for happy hour.

  It was great to meet everyone that I had been talking to since June!  We all seemed to have kids the same ages, so they quickly formed their own group.   We had to do the dreaded Muster Drill at 6pm, so everyone went to their cabins to prepare for that and for us, the Main seating dinner at 6:30pm.   We were seated in the gorgeous Strauss Dining Room with another family of four from North Carolina.  It was fun to

get to know them during the week, and we exchanged many cruise stories, since they were also avid cruisers like us.  Sailaway was supposed to be at 830pm, but ended up being at 10pm.  We went out on deck and forward to see Old San Juan fade into the distance.

We passed the Carnival Destiny, which we cruised on in 2004.  Funny thing, Alex's friend was on Destiny. She met him last year on Triumph

and has kept in touch, (she managed to see him in the airport before we left SJU on 3/30)  And another funny thing, her friend lives down the street from my husband's brother.  A small world indeed! 

There's so much to do and see on this ship.  I can't wait to do it all!