🦙Live from Utopia 🦙- Sailing with Daryl 🦙8/2-8/5 🏰with bonus feature of a week at Disney Parks post cruise🏰

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

Today is travel day.  Time to load the suitcases and backpacks in the SUV.   Our original plan was to all travel to the airport in our Highlander because it has seating for eight.  But after six of us traveled to fly to Myrtle Beach a few weeks ago, we realized we would not all fit with our large suitcases.  So now, we are in two vehicles for the drive to Pittsburgh airport.  

 

Trouble already

 

 

 

 

Now that the kids are older, they are always jockeying for the shotgun seat, or as I call it, the death seat!

 

I expected that of them, but not Daryl. 

Safe travels wished for you! I am sure you are excited to start your adventure.

[h20skibum]

7 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

Did he meeow all the way to the airport?😆

He was just as sweet as the real Ricky, because he turned around and went back to our car to retrieve the phone I left behind. 

[h20skibum]

We all arrived at Fast Park, and their shuttle got us to the airport by 7:10am.
 

I can’t tell you how much I hate flying during summer travel season. When we flew to Myrtle Beach, the security lines in the morning were horribly long.  Before we got to the airport for that flight, online it said it was only a 10 minute wait, but the line was long with a 45 minute wait. 

 

 

I was hoping it wasn’t that long today. Today, it said a 2 minute wait. 

[h20skibum]

I guess they had the wait times right today.  Off the shuttle at 7:10, checked the bags, and we were through security by 7:17.  
 

I don’t remember ever seeing lines this short.  
 

Even the tram to the airside terminal was almost deserted. 

 

[h20skibum]

We are all flying Southwest.  I was just saying last week that it would really be a welcome change if you could select your seats.  It wasn’t a day later that I read that they will scrap their open seating and let you choose seats, sometime in 2025.  Their earnings have been down, and 86% of their passengers cite this as a reason for leaving them. Their cattle call is a pain when traveling with young kids, and unfortunately it will continue for these flights to Florida and back. 

 

Meanwhile, we just hope there are no exploding soda cans onboard. 

 

 

We tried to get early boarding, but they were sold out, so we have the mid B position.  Guess we will see who wants to sit with these kids. 

[h20skibum]

We walked the airport to get some exercise in before the flight.  
 

Pictures of the new terminal under construction.  It is to open in 2025. 

 

 

A couple of the concourses were very empty. 
 

 

 

Even found a phone booth in one, and someone was trying to figure how it works. 
 

 

[StanleyandGus]

For those who are impatiently waiting for h20skibum (and Daryl) to complete the flight, here’s a picture of Pink Bunny in the concierge lounge during a Panama cruise. She is enchanted by a pink drink.

 

Pink want to know if Daryl gets a seat on the plane, because she doesn’t, which she finds unfair.

[h20skibum]

We are on our way. Next stop - Orlando

 

I see one of my bags. 
 

 

How do they get separated when they get dropped together.  
 

Looks like they are both there. I hope!  Daryl is in steerage for this part of the trip. No seat for him. 

 

 

Edited August 1 by h20skibum

[George C]

21 hours ago, Luckynana said:

Our first cruise also in 1982!

I sailed SS Norway 7 times including our honeymoon in 1991.

[gizmo42]

Safe travels and happy cruising to you and your family (and Daryl of course)! I'm looking forward to reading all about Utopia because I will be cruising on her in February. It will be my first solo cruise!

Gail

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

We are on our way. Next stop - Orlando

 

I see one of my bags. 
 

 

How do they get separated when they get dropped together.  
 

Looks like they are both there. I hope!  Daryl is in steerage for this part of the trip. No seat for him. 

 

 

I love AirTags they give me peace of mind. I remember being in Miami waiting for the luggage on the carousel. My first bag showed up early but it seemed like forever before my second bag showed up. I would have been worried that the bag did not make it but my phone showed the bag was in baggage area close to me. Finally it came out on carousel.

[Ocean Boy]

2 hours ago, h20skibum said:

We are all flying Southwest.  I was just saying last week that it would really be a welcome change if you could select your seats.  It wasn’t a day later that I read that they will scrap their open seating and let you choose seats, sometime in 2025.  Their earnings have been down, and 86% of their passengers cite this as a reason for leaving them. Their cattle call is a pain when traveling with young kids, and unfortunately it will continue for these flights to Florida and back. 

 

Meanwhile, we just hope there are no exploding soda cans onboard. 

 

 

We tried to get early boarding, but they were sold out, so we have the mid B position.  Guess we will see who wants to sit with these kids. 

I read about the change in seating selection coming up. That is long overdue. The cattle call is one of the reasons that I prefer JetBlue if their scheduling and price works for me. SWA sometimes also has ridiculously high pricing.

[SilkySal]

Following along as well! We board Utopia next February 7th for a B2B. Thanks for sharing your adventure with us!

[h20skibum]

Our flight left the gate six minutes early.  We found three aisle seats that were close, so we took those.  My daughter was able to find an open row for her and her two.  

 

 

I got that extra leg room, exit row seat.  
 

I swear, these snack bags keep getting smaller.  
 

 

[h20skibum]

Our flight was scheduled to land at 12:25, but we were about 25 minutes early.   We had checked bags to retrieve, and the plan was to have a little time to get some food in the kids before making the 45+/- minute trip from MCO to Cape Canaveral.  

 

We booked transportation for the seven of us through Gear Fusion.  Thanks for the recommendation @Momof3gurlz. Deb.  They recently updated their website, and it makes booking a little easier.  
 

I was pleased the driver kept in touch with us the couple days before the flight, and he texted as soon as the plane landed to let us know he was nearby if we wanted to go earlier. 
 

Picked us up in a nice sprinter, and we are on our way to Cape Canaveral.  The kids like all the room they have. 

 

 

[h20skibum]

Our pre-cruise stay is at the Holiday Inn Express. It is located directly across the street from Terminal 3, so Carnival cruisers just have to walk across the street.  

 

[h20skibum]

It isn’t too far from Terminal 1, where we will board Utopia in the morning.  

 

 

[SilkySal]

Bon Voyage and Happy Anniversary!! Woohoo!!

[bobmacliberty]

5 hours ago, h20skibum said:

Now that the kids are older, they are always jockeying for the shotgun seat, or as I call it, the death seat!

 

I expected that of them, but not Daryl. 

 

He did call shotgun though.  Rules are rules.

 

4 hours ago, h20skibum said:

 

Happy to see an Ohio State shirt in Pennsylvania. 😁

[cruisingpeople]

Happy Anniversary and Bon Voyage. Will be following with anticipation.

[NHProud]

Happy anniversary ! Smooth sails to you and your gang ⛱️⚓️⛴️ ! 

[Momof3gurlz]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

Our flight was scheduled to land at 12:25, but we were about 25 minutes early.   We had checked bags to retrieve, and the plan was to have a little time to get some food in the kids before making the 45+/- minute trip from MCO to Cape Canaveral.  

 

We booked transportation for the seven of us through Gear Fusion.  Thanks for the recommendation @Momof3gurlz. Deb.  They recently updated their website, and it makes booking a little easier.  
 

I was pleased the driver kept in touch with us the couple days before the flight, and he texted as soon as the plane landed to let us know he was nearby if we wanted to go earlier. 
 

Picked us up in a nice sprinter, and we are on our way to Cape Canaveral.  The kids like all the room they have. 

 

 

I’m glad they worked out well for you!  

[h20skibum]

The last time we stayed at the Holiday Inn here, we had a huge King room. 

 

 

This time we have two queen rooms.  Kind of a letdown how much smaller it is. 

 

Maybe they are getting us ready for much smaller rooms tomorrow.  

 

 

[h20skibum]

Of course, the week before the cruise, anxiety has started to set in as some videos show up of the first couple of sailings of Utopia. 

 

 

Not only is my daughter worried, but I start wondering if it is going to be too much of a loud, party atmosphere? 

 

Then I read this article that talks about the party atmosphere and how LOUD everything is.  
 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/is-utopia-of-the-seas-the-best-party-ship?lid=tq5slbn05g86&crm_source=58226&crm_pos=us&crm_cid=8718210e-4cca-4421-900e-e08b50c39bbf&crm_rid=I9nEeIgBVQ1LqmSHjrx7&crm_cname=07.28.24%20US%20Weekender%20-Mainstream%20-%20%20Can%20You%20Take%20a%20Cruise%20With%20a%20Criminal%20Record?
 

We will see how it is.  Will it be a carnival atmosphere?

[h20skibum]

We watched an MSC ship sail out of port this afternoon, while we relaxed at the pool. 
 

 

Now, I am relaxing with one of these

 

 

while I wait for one of these.  Someone wanted desert for supper.