2010 - CORAL PRINCESS - LEAVING FORT LAUDERDALE

GETTING ONTO THE SHIP IN FORT LAUDERDALE WAS EASY. PRINCESS PICKED ME UP AT THE HOTEL & DROPPED ME AT THE SHIP.

RACHELLE & NEIL WERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME IN THE FORMALITIES LINE UP

MY FIRST TIME ON THE CORAL PRINCESS, SO A LOOK AROUND & SEE WHAT'S WHAT

MY CABIN -

I HAD BOOKED A INSIDE CABIN BUT PRINCESS GAVE ME A BALCONY. DON'T KNOW WHY BUT IT WILL BE NICE IN THE PANAMA CANAL. SITTING ON THE BALCONY WATCHING THE SHORE ROLL BY. ONLY ONE SIDE THOUGH.

SOMEWHERE TO HANG OUT THE LAUNDRY, ALTHOUGH I NEVER, EVER DO LAUNDRY ON SHIPS. THOSE PLACES CAN BE DANGEROUS. I HEARD STORIES OF ALL SORTS GOING ON IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM.

FREE LAUNDRY IS ABOUT THE ONLY PERK WORTH LOOKING FORWARD TO. THAT IS STILL A LONG TIME OFF FOR ME,

NICE LOOKING POOL & TV ON DECK..

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS...

THE LIBRARY - & CARD ROOM. VERY NICE....

LIFEBOAT DRILL - THEY DO NOT USUALLY ALLOW PHOTOS BUT NO MENTION WAS MADE THIS TIME, SO -----

THESE GUYS ARE TAKING OFF ALREADY.

HOLLAND & AMERICA IS ONE .. & ALLURE OF THE SEAS BY ROYAL CARIBBEAN IS THE OTHER.

AT SEA NOW & I HAVE FOUND THIS SPOT AT THE BACK OF THE SHIP.

IT'S CALLED THE SANCTUARY & THERE IS A TEN OR TWENTY DOLLAR A DAY CHARGE FOR SITTING HERE.

THIS IS A PRIVATE AREA, OFF LIMITS TO ANYONE WHO HAS NOT PAID THE FEE. IF THERE IS A SEAT NOT BOOKED IT IS POSSIBLE TO TAKE ONE FOR A MORNING OR A DAY BUT THEY DO HAVE CRUISE LONG PACKAGES.

PLACES ARE LIMITED TO ABOUT 16 CHAIRS SO THE DECISION HAS TO BE MADE - RIGHT NOW!

240 DOLLARS - & WHAT DO I GET.

A LOUNGER - RESERVED JUST FOR ME. IN THE SUN OR SHADE. HAVE TO CHOOSE AS THEY WILL ALL BE GONE IN NO TIME.
WHEN I ARRIVE, IN THE MORNING SAY, A STEWARDESS WILL MAKE UP MY AREA & TAKE MY ORDER FOR BREAKFAST.
THERE WILL BE A SERVICE FEE OF 3 DOLLARS FOR THIS.

MAYBE TAKE BREAKFAST UPSTAIRS WHERE THERE ARE TWO CABANNAS, ALREADY TAKEN, AND SOME TABLE & CHAIRS THAT ARE NOT RESERVABLE BUT GOOD FOR BREAKFAST.

I HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT THE 'SODA' CARD SO ALL MY DRINKS HERE ARE INCLUDED. ANYONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE CARD WILL BE CHARGED.

COMPLIMENTARY HEADPHONES WITH MUSIC PLAYER ARE AVAILABLE

THIS IS THE CABANNA & SOME LOUNGERS IN THE SUN.

& THE SITTING AREA....

LOWER LOUNGE AREA...

& BELOW THAT, THERE IS A LITTLE SPLASH POOL.

I LIKE IT - AND GO FOR THE CRUISE LONG PACKAGE.. & CHOOSE A SEAT IN THE SHADE ON THE LOWER DECK. STARBOARD.

WILL I REGRET THIS? I HAVE A BALCONY TOO REMEMBER..

ALL THESE DECISIONS - A STRESSFUL LIFE AT SEA..