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Brilliance of the Seas   11-day Panama Canal          April 26, 2007

Let’s start off with a disclaimer stating I am not very good at cruise reviews! I do not take notes on my day-to-day experiences and don’t take a whole lot of pictures. I have been on 30 cruises, so have been to most of the Caribbean islands numerous times.  I do love cruising and go to rest, relax and have a great time!

This particular cruise vacation started off on a somewhat sour note.  It turned out OK in the end, but was extremely stressful for a few hours.......OK, here goes: (the prologue is a bit long)

I was scheduled to fly from Raleigh to Miami the afternoon before the cruise. My DH was driving me to the airport a little early, so we could have a late lunch before he dropped me off. (It is an hour an 15 minute drive from my house to the Raleigh airport).

While we were eating lunch, a little voice told me that it didn’t remember me packing my passport. WHAT?  I knew I had put my passport out the week before with my carry-on item's. So, I quickly finished lunch and went out to the car to check.  HOLY CRAP---there was no passport with my travel documents!!!!      I started to panic in the parking lot.  I have a leather travel wallet, where I always keep my passport, airline tickets, money, etc.  I have NEVER forgotten my passport and am usually so anal about keeping all of my travel docs together in the travel wallet. My DH looked, I looked again and it wasn’t there. I tore apart my carry-on suitcase and backpack..........no freakin’ passport.

I knew I was on the last American flight of the evening from Raleigh to Miami. So, I go on my cell phone and told my tale of woe to a res agent, who was very UNhelpful and told me she would put me on the first flight out the next day and that I would have to pay $700 for a one-way ticket!!!!! WTF??????  I had no choice but to agree, or miss my cruise.  That would involve another hour and 15 min drive back to my house that evening and another hour and 15 min drive back to the airport the next morning at 5:30 am...........I was almost in tears and so mad at myself!!!!!!  My DH remained calm and never once blamed me----but I  sure blamed myself.  I just couldn’t imagine that I had forgotten my passport---that was so untypical of me.

So, while we were still in Raleigh, he wanted to stop at the grocery store and pick up some stuff so he could eat while I was gone on my cruise.  We were in the grocery store about 30 minutes........I was so damn mad at myself.  Then, when we were waiting in the check-out line, the same little voice yelled at me “Your passport is with your cruise documents, stupid”!!!!!!  I hauled ass out to the car, leaving my DH in line waiting to pay.................
HALLELUJAH, there was my passport!!!!! Sitting in the leather folder with my cruise documents!!!!!  I almost cried to see it and kick myself in the ass for not thinking to look in there to begin with.

So, while my husband is loading the groceries into the car, I am calling back to the airline to get put back on my original flight, that now left in 45 minutes.  The res agent on the phone this time told me to hurry and get to the airport and I could still go.

We streaked out to the airport and I ran in to the counter. The guy at the counter was SO nice and helpful....he helped cancel my flight out the next morning for $700 and get me back on my original flight.  My DH hauled in my 2 suitcases and I was off running down the hallway to security.  Thank goodness, it only took about 10 min to get thru the security BS and on to the gate. I was the last one on the plane, but I got on!!!!!!!!!  HOORAY!

By this time, I was shaking and needed a drink!!!!!  But, I finally relaxed by the time we got to Miami.  But, alas, while I was waiting for my luggage, I discovered that I had left my cell phone in the Hummer.  Bummer!  Well, if that’s the only thing I had left, I was doing good.

My luggage finally came and I called the hotel for a pickup.  I had to wait about 20 minutes and finally the hotel van showed up.  The hotel was very close to the airport--took us about 10 minutes to get there.  (It was a free shuttle to the hotel) It was the LaQuinta Inn Miami Airport at 3501 LeJeune Blvd.  I would recommend this hotel for a pre or post cruise stay.  It was a typical  LaQuinta hotel room, but was fine for one night.
 I had a very quiet room and let me tell you,  the bed & pillows were the most comfortable ones I have EVER had in any hotel I have ever stayed in.  I wanted to take the bed and pillow home with me. I can’t say enough about the comfort of the bed!!! It was almost as comfortable as my water-bed at home!

I got up the next morning and had the free continental breakfast at the hotel. Then, I checked out and got their free shuttle to the pier! It left at 11:00 and I was at the pier waiting in line before 11:30.  (Most of the hotels at the Miami airport do not offer a free shuttle service to the pier, so this was very nice!)

Check in was pretty fast and took about 20-25 minutes. As soon as I got on board, I went to have lunch in the Windjammer. Since you couldn’t get in your cabin until 1:00, everyone is hauling their carry-ons with them.
I was so thankful to be on board!!!!  It could have been a total disaster, but worked out OK.  
Note to self: always check on passport before leaving garage!

At 1:00, I went to our cabin and dropped off my carry-ons.  My mom lives in north Florida and was taking the Cruise Connection bus down. I knew she would be there around 2:00, so I went back into the cruise terminal to wait for her.  She got there right before 2:00 and we got her checked in.
Since she has mobility problems and has a wheelchair and a walker, we booked a handicapped cabin close to the elevator on Deck 7.  It was a very nice room and very spacious, with room to leave her wheelchair and walker without us stumbling over it, like in a regular cabin.


......to be continued!

Last edited on Mon May 28th, 2007 04:51 pm by Catnip

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Last edited on Mon May 28th, 2007 09:28 pm by Catnip

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We have been to all the ports-of-call (Aruba, Curcacao, Panama Canal, Costa Rica) numerous times. We typically just get off the ship and walk around in the stores and look at the local vendors.  There is an Internet Cafe close to the ship in Aruba & Curacao that is a LOT cheaper than the ship.
When I was in Aruba, I was thinking of Bama!!! 

It was our 4th time in the Canal. It is an awesome experience and I would suggest that all cruisers should do the Canal at least once in their lifetime. To know that it was built so long ago and it cost so many lives.......it is a marvel of engineering. Truly something you should not miss!

We had a large table for 8 at the early seating. They were all very nice and one couple, Paula & Raul, were from the CC Meet&Mingle!  While the food is OK, I can tell that the quality and quantity has gone downhill over the years.  We certainly never went hungry, but it's not as good as it was even a few years ago. 
We ate breakfast every morning up in the Windjammer and enjoyed it there. The hot  oatmeal was great and I loved the corned beef hash! We ate lunch in the Windjammer every day, and also had 2 dinners up there. 

Last edited on Mon May 28th, 2007 09:38 pm by Catnip

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Last edited on Fri Jun 1st, 2007 01:29 am by debinnh

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