At 10:45 we had checked out, and were waiting in the lobby. We noticed another couple who looked familiar. We learned that they were Kathy and Dave from the 2014 Grand South America. When we told them our names they said they remembered us, and that they were friends of Bob an Dee. We all have kept in touch with Bob and Dee from that trip.
Transfer to the pier was uneventful. Checking in took a while because so many of the passengers on The World are 4 and 5 star Mariners, who qualify for preferred checkin. By 12:30 we had placed our carry ons in the cabin, and started our tour of the ship. This is our first time on Amsterdam, and we love her. She carries about 400 more passengers than our favored Prinsendam. Her public areas are more spacious and beautifully decorated. The feeling is very classy, but not quite as elegant as Prinsendam.
We joined the Mariners reception around the Lido pool at about 2:00. It had started at 1:30, but there was still plenty of champagne flowing. We shared a table with Ann and Phil from Rhode Island. They are very nice repeaters of the World. Alice and I each had a burger from Dive In, the gourmet burger bar. They were great, but sloppy.
At 3:00 we all decided to go to our cabins to check on our luggage. Ours had arrived. We started unpacking, and before dinner everything was put away. The suitcases were stowed under the bed. All is right with the world and the World.
Now it was 5:30, dinner time. On the first day we always wonder what our table mates will be like. We arrived in the dining room, and were led to our table for 6 all the way aft with a window looking out the stern. This is a fabulous location. Diane, Pam and Diana were already seated. Shortly after our introductions, Terri arrived. She and Diane are traveling together in separate staterooms. Pam and Diana are sharing a stateroom. Here I am surrounded by five charming ladies. Lucky me. Conversation flows freely and happily. We have a winning table.
Dinner was OK. The comeraderie was super. We left satisfied two hours after sitting down. Back in our cabin we surveyed the schedule for Thursday. It had been left on our bed when the stewards serviced it while we dined. Tomorrow looks like an interesting day.
At 8:30 we headed to the captain's sail away reception around the large pool on Lido Deck. We got a nice table for 4, and were soon served champagne. We were soon joined by one of the cast singers. He gave us the highlights of tomorrow night's show. Turns out it is his favorite show. Lots of oldies.
I learned that the captain was also hosting an open bar. Our waiter brought us a whiskey sour for Alice and my Manhattan. Then the appetizer waiter appeared with a great selection. This was better than dinner. Milt and Joyce sat down with us. He is a guest lecturer. He will present 5 talks on piracy. A very interesting man.
Drinks continued to flow, and food kept coming. Finally it was 11:00. MS Amsterdam started moving away from the pier. We wached until she made the turn into the exit channel. The wind was still howling. Alice and I returned to our cabin and settled in for the night. Our plan is to start tomorrow with 8:00 Mass. Our queen sized bed is set up with the head under the window. The foot is toward the door.we have never had this arrangement before. As we got into bed, the ship cleared the channel and entered the ocean. The wind started us rolling in earnest. Feet up. Head down. Head up. Feet down. This was not the gentle side to side rocking motion we are accustomed to. I was exhausted and fell right to sleep. Alice struggled for a while.
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