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Picking up a cruise from Port Canaveral – Part 2 Embarkation
We visit our villa regularly and sometimes we finish our trip with a cruise to the Caribbean. With Orlando being close to Port Canaveral it seemed the ideal opportunity to sample a Carnival cruise for the first time.
Having driven down from Orlando and dropped off our hire car, we were transported by free shuttle from the hire car depot to Port Canaveral, a short distance away. The sun was shining down and the sky was blue and cloudless as we made our way towards the port. We couldn’t have had a better day to start our cruise on Carnival Glory.
Our driver was surprisingly uncommunicative, but nothing could put a damper on our excitement. We had never cruised with Carnival before, so we were a bit apprehensive, as we knew it would not be anything like our previous cruises on Princess and RCI ships. However, as long as we were at sea we didn’t care. The shuttle drew into Cruise Terminal 10 and parked. The sparkling white ship which was to be our home for the next week stood in all its glory, outlined against an azure sky. We couldn’t wait to board, but first there were a few formalities to attend to.
Our luggage was unloaded and porters stepped forward to take them from us, ready for them to be loaded on board the ship. This is always the most worrying time as you always fear that your suitcases could go astray, and who wants to be on a 7 night cruise with no clothes or shoes! But I had taken the precaution of adding my own laminated labels to our cases just for security, just in case.
Our luggage disappeared and we made our way along the walkway to the terminal building where we waited to go through security. The terminal building was modern and striking, with large glass windows offering panoramic views. Our hand luggage was x-rayed and then we walked through a machine before making our way up the escalator to the embarkation lounge. There were already many people waiting, sitting on seats and we were directed to the check in desk where we showed our documentation. Most of the paperwork is done online so we had already completed this, so all we had to do was pick up our cruise cards which would act as room keys as well as the means for paying for anything we purchased on board. The staff were friendly and efficient and soon completed the formalities.
We were then directed to seats which were in rows, and we were given a card with a particular number on it. We learned that these cards were given out in order so that when it was time to board the ship each group was called individually. Now all we could do was wait for embarkation. Time seemed to go really slowly, we were itching to get on board but we had to wait until midday, when suddenly the group ahead of us was called. At last our turn came and we stood up ready to embark. Another long walk and a trip up an escalator and there we were, feet away from the ship.
As we turned the corner we could see the hydraulic gangway, and beyond it our first glimpse of Carnival Glory. We stepped onto the deck and were directed into the atrium of the ship, where our photos were taken and our cruise cards checked.
Now, at last our cruise could begin, and we could not wait!
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