Nathan's Insights

Sunday 05 January 2025
Highlights: Farewelling the Explorer of the Seas.

Today I had to leave my ship for the last 10 nights, the Explorer of the Seas, and start a very long journey home.

I woke up at 6 am and we were already in port. First up I had to call QANTAS to cancel my original award flight on American Airlines from Miami to Dallas via Pensacola. I had booked a better flight for tomorrow going via Atlanta which would mean only an hour in Atlanta compared to 6.5 hours in Pensacola.

I could not cancel online but after 20 minutes the booking was cancelled avoiding issues of having two valid tickets on American Airlines on the same day.

After a shower, I headed up to the Windjammer for a final breakfast. The buffet was packed but I eventually found a table. I returned to my cabin and finished packing. You have to be out of your room by 8 am but I left 15 minutes beforehand. As I was carrying my bag I could walk off the ship at that time whereas others had to wait to be called when their bags were ready to be picked up in the terminal.

We disembarked in Terminal G., Royal Caribbean usually uses Terminal A, and it was chaos trying to get transport away.

The Uber I booked to get to my airport hotel cost 70 AUD whereas a similar drive cost half that previously. The demand system pushes up the prices. 

I was returning to the Sheraton Miami Airport hotel that I last used when Erin left to go home before Christmas. I was at the hotel 6 hours before check-in but reception gave me a pass to get into their Lounge which was a nice gesture.

After some nibbles writing up my cruise and sorting photos at lunchtime, I checked into my room. Afterwards, I went for a walk around the local area. 

For dinner, I returned to the Hotel Lounge for some finger food. A nice bonus and why I booked this hotel and a lounge-qualified room. 

It was hard to believe that the cruise was over and my world trip 2024-25 was mostly over.