amenuensis

Yes, it was 431 x 575 pixels, 138 KB

Received my evisa in an email Feb 3! So it took 9 days total. My timeline: Jan. 26 started application Jan. 28 got email stating "Photograph is not in compliance. Provide a new one, not selfie, white background, dimension 413x531 pixels" (it was a photo I took myself and sent to online service to make compliant") Jan. 29 got a better photo taken at Staples "Passport Studio" and made sure they knew it was for Brazil EVisa because they have the proper specs for all countries. Jan. 31 I checked online and saw the photo was accepted and my status was "Approved" Feb. 3 - Received email with E-Visa attached.

Ha ha - I was just realizing that my passport photo was taken before I had ear surgery 2 years ago, so that my left ear looks different now. Hopefully my right ear will be enough proof of identity!

I first learned about the Halifax explosion when we were on an RV road trip and listened to an audiobook "A Wedding In December" -- the novel was set right after 9/11 in Massachusetts but WAY more interesting to me than the main plot (a group of friends reuniting a la The Big Chill) was the story-within-a-story, a novel one of the friends was writing that centered around the Halifax Explosion and its after-effects. Made me want to learn more, so I will read that book "Barometer Rising" before our Canada/New England cruise coming up in October.

Our ship departure time is 5 pm from port, so I think we're good.

We will be flying into NY the night before we sail, and staying at a hotel in Brooklyn. The next morning we'd like to drop off our luggage at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal early and then meet some friends for brunch a few blocks away (Port Defiance Bar & Restaurant), then get back to the cruise terminal by no later than 2:30 pm to board the ship. I think from what I've been reading it will be okay to leave our luggage with the porters, but has anyone done this? Some of the posts I've read suggest waiting until about 11:30--by which time the debarking passengers and luggage are cleared out. Others say it's okay to drop luggage off earlier than that and the luggage will be fine. Any advice will be appreciated!