Last night we put the bags out into the hall and they were whisked away. Wake-up call at 7:00a and we gathered at our designated mustering point (the Rendezvous Lounge) at 8:00a. Off the ship (amid cheerful goodbyes from the crew; I'm sure they were glad to see us go!) and onto buses for the last time. Thirty minutes later we were reunited with our three giant suitcases at the airport.
We wheeled them to the Business Class Elite window at Delta and off they went again out of our sight. There's no Delta Crown Room at the Barcelona airport but they partner with Air France so we were permitted to use theirs. Our flight wasn't until 1:05p so we had three hours to kill and a pleasant place to wait (with free internet; it's easy to see what's important to me).
They called gate changes on our flight four times and, when it came time to go to the gate, we found it was yet a different one. I can't remember the last time we were bused from gate to airplane and climbed a portable stairway to get to the plane.
Into our sleeper seats for the planned ten hour flight to Atlanta. We had a tailwind so we arrived a half-hour early. Happily; neither the flight over nor back was particularly fatiguing.
Got through immigration just fine though the windows were understaffed for size of the crowd. There was an hour wait for the bags to show up at international baggage claim but finally all three pieces showed up. For those of you who have never flown internationally, baggage handling is different; here's the process:
- You come through Immigration Control with just your passport and carry-ons.
- You wait for your baggage between Immigration and Customs.
- You collect your baggage with free provided trolleys and proceed to Customs.
- After passing Customs, you redeposit your baggage for transfer to the "free" side of the airport.
- You exit Immigration and Customs and pass through TSA security (more about this later).
- You proceed to regular baggage claim and wait (again) for your baggage.
- You claim your baggage (for the last time) and head for home.
We're almost done..
We wheeled the bags to customs and breezed through with barely a word. Then we had to re-check the bags on the cleared side of customs so they could be moved to the normal baggage carousels upstairs.
I didn't realize there would be TSA security (just as if you were going to board a flight out of Atlanta) just to get into the "real" Atlanta airport. Of course that's so because the Immigration/Customs process dumps you out still inside the secured area of the airport. So, one more time, out with the laptop, off with the shoes, etc. and then the tram to Delta baggage claim in the South Terminal.
And then another hour wait for the bags (again). Friend Bill was picking us up (he insisted; I wouldn't ask ANYONE to pick us up at the airport at 6:15p!) After an hour, only two of the bags showed up.
This was a first. They somehow lost a bag between Customs re-check and regular baggage claim -- in the SAME AIRPORT!
Over to the nice people at Delta Baggage Services and, after a short wait, the bag was discovered and delivered.
Into Bill's car and on our way home at 6:10p after thirteen days of travel. A blessing was virtually no traffic on the perimeter until we reached GA 400.
House still standing (yay)!
Summary:
- 172 sqft is not a big enough stateroom for SWMBO.
- Don't bother with a cellphone (and don't break yours if you bring one).
- Broadband internet on the ship is pricey ($0.38/minute) but worked without flaw.
- On this cruise, our favorite ports-of-call were Barcelona, Florence, Valencia and Gibraltar.
- Gael can get seasick.
- Don't plan on seeing Rome from a cruise. Three hour round-trip bus from port to Rome doesn't leave enough time.
- We recommend Celibrity Cruises without reservation.
Thanks for traveling with us!
Postscript: For all of you sympathizing for my iPhone woe from Day 3, I took it in to the Apple Store the day after out return -- and they gave me a new one! Happy boy..
