Day 01 - 08/03/22 - Boston Embarkation

 After a pleasant morning visiting the Faneuil Hall, we retrieved our luggage and used Uber to reach the cruise port.  The check in line was at least 1/4 mile long but fortunately it was in the shade.  We waited in line for one hour and 9 minutes before we entered the building where everyone had to pass through the security scanners.  After that they separated the sheep from the goats (sheep were those who used Verifly to upload all their documents; goats were those who didn't). As a sheep we then were directed to a 4-5 star Mariner line which quickly led to our official check in using a scanner and comparison to our passport. With a quick stop at the embarkation photo area, we were free to board the ship. This was absolutely the worst embarkation we have ever had. There were at least two medical emergencies that ended people's cruises.

 

Once onboard, we found our room after 1 hour and 49 minutes from when we joined the line, stripped off our valuables for the safe, watched the safety video, and headed out for a 4-5 star reception.  It was scheduled for 2-3, but we couldn't get there until 2:50.  There wasn't much happening so we left for a light lunch in the Lido where we watched airplane activity at Logan International while eating and chilling out. We then checked in for our muster drill before returning to the stateroom to find our luggage on board.

 

Finally just before 5 the Captain came on the PA with his safety drill info followed by an announcement that our departure delay to 6pm because of heavy re-provisioning, the Coast Guard inspection and mandatory safety drill for crew.

 

I continued watching the re-provisioning loading and when it was done a little after 7pm, the burley longshoremen did a group hug. They really hustled with great choreography as they shuffled pallets of provisions from the unloading area to an area near the ship where larger forklifts stuffed them through openings in the side of the ship.

 

While I thought we had a 7pm dinner reservation in the Tamarind which is our favorite Hal Specialty restaurant, when we showed up it was closed and would be for another couple days.  So I made a new reservation and we ate a steak dinner in the LIdo. The Origin story is being presented on the main stage tonight, but we'll skip it as we've seen it multiple times.

 

And yes there is a mandatory mask wearing policy when in interior locations of the ship except when actively eating or drinking.  We ended up purchasing the medium level (surf) internet package for just under $8 per day after our Mariner discount. Our interior aft stateroom 6193 is quite comfortable and has been quiet and smooth.

 

And so ended day 1. This adventure has begun.

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