OOPS!

Day 1 - went great! Shuttle pick-up at 6:45 am Flights at 10:30 & 12:30. Bags arrived in great shape (Yippee!). We then proceeded to Dollar rent a car (The BEST) We can pick-up a car at the airport and return it to the pier (no extra charges). We drove out to John and Pats and were wined and dined like royalty. It was a wonderful start to our vacation.

Day 2 - Just recently I was advising my kids about how life doesn't always go the way we like. Yesterday was one of those days for us. It started out as a cold, dark day and would only go down hill from there. We headed down the interstate to Port Everglades. Because of a bad accident, it was a parking lot about 15 miles from our exit for more than an hour. We were just grateful that we were not in the accident. Upon arriving at the terminal, the line to check-in was longer than the ship (and the Splendor is a large ship), but how can anyone complain about standing in line to go on a 49 day cruise. Two hours later we finally made it in the terminal and to the first check point. They asked us for our Passport (no problem) and Visa. (What Visa????) We had never been advised of the need for one. After another long wait, we were being escorted upstairs to resolve the problem, when there was a bomb threat!!!! We all had to evacuate from that terminal to another one to wait while they investigated. For the next six hours we were trapped in an empty building with 2000 people, no food, water or even toilet paper in the restrooms. When the threat was finally over it was time to wait in line all over again only to be told we were not allowd to board the ship. There were hundreds of us refused entry despite our willingness to not disembark in Brazil where the visa is required. Now we are waiting until the Brazilian Consulate opens in hope that we can get what we need quickly, and hopefully fly to Barbados to meet the ship before it crosses the Equator. (The good news is that our luggage is enjoying the cruise :) Will keep you posted!