All aboard...we're expecting youuuuuuuuuuu

We're off on our first cruise.  Going to the Bahamas.

Left the house at about 8:00.  Stopped to get gas, and went to the store to get sun screen and money...then we realized we'd left the champagne at the house, had to turn around and get it.  Take two:  Left the house about 8:30 and we were on our way.  Of course we listened to our getaway song.  Finally got to the port about 1:00, and found out it wasn't an easy as we thought it would be to meet up with Uncle Eric.  Still, we figured it out...caught us a ride back out from the dock to a drop off area, met him for a bit, then caught the bus back to dock side.  Apparently they have a thing about you walking up to the dock.  Not sure why, but hey, their rules.  Through security, up the gangway and right out on to the deck our cabin is on.  Empress Deck, cabin 19.  Our first disappointment of the trip came early.  Turns out even the soda on the trip costs.  At $1.95 a can think we are going to be drinking a lot of water and tea.  Before we could get into any trouble we got called out for the safety briefing.  So we go to our "muster area" and listen to a safety speech, then they march us all out to our lifeboat location and we stand there for a while before being told we could go.  Not really sure what the point was, but hey, I’ll play along.  Besides Chris and I got to identify which inflatable raft was ours.  Not anyone else’s mind you, just us. We then wandered the ship for the rest of the evening until dinner, getting out bearings.  We took the early seating, 6:00, and arrive just about on time.  There is 4 other couple at our table, and we spent a few minutes saying hello and getting to know our tablemates.  Chris compared it to being at a friend’s wedding where the only people you know are the bride and went to the then getting stuck at one of the extended family tables.  They seem to be nice enough folks though.  After dinner we went to the Serenity Deck, the adults only section of the ship, and sat in the hot tub for a bit.  Afterwards we caught the opening show.  Wow!  That was sad.  Typical, low talent, forced energy and fun, drek.  Ah well.  Off to bed and looking forward to tomorrow.