Debarkation Fort Lauderdale

Leaving the ship and going back to reality is always sad for us. This cruise we did use the luggage valet service which was $20.00 a person and covered 2 pieces of luggage each. Using Valet means you usually depart the ship in one of the early groups and one's luggage is checked into the airline for you.

Since we were in an group that was suppose to depart at around 8:30am, we got up early and just had morning coffee. We went to the ship's movie theater as instructed but found we couldn't enter as there was a delay due to custom's clearing some of the employees. After that delay which was about 40 minutes we did get off the ship quickly and easily and our luggage was waiting for us very near the exit and all together. Usually it's scattered, but it looks like using the Valet service they keep it together for you. A porter went with us and our luggage through custom's and that went fast as we didn't have much to declare. The porter then took the luggage to the special truck for valet service and directed us to a taxi. Unlike the San Francisco port there were plenty of taxis and we didn't have to wait. Our non-stop flight back to California on Jet Blue was fine, our luggage made it home with us and it was great not to have to cart it around with us since we had an evening flight. I would certainly consider using the Valet luggage service again in the future when it's not convenient to handle it ourselves.

We didn't run into most of our friends as we were leaving the ship for one last goodbye, though we did get to see Gary, Stephanie and a few others later that evening because they were on the same flight home as us. Fortunately we are still able to stay in touch with most friends via our Cruise Critic roll call which is still active periodically. We're planning another cruise in 2008 on the inaugural voyage of Celebrity's Solstice which Merce, Bonnie and Rich will also be on so I have a year to improve my photography skills for that trip report.

I did add a few extra videos to this one, but a couple of the larger ones and that included the lecture on the Panama Canal didn't make it due to technical difficulties. If that sorts itself out at some point, I'll remove this last couple sentences and announce it, otherwise this is now the end of what is so far our favorite cruise!