We arrive at the Port...Sun Princess is in and unloading passangers. Excited!

Hold on......excitement turned to frustration and then rather concerning fear as several situations presented and hours passed..

Gerry,s name appeared on no crew list
We had a letter representing us as usual but no tickets or clearence except that letter
(This is as it has always been)
Port authorities desk will not clear either of us.
We are standing with 4 large suitcases and 2 carry ons
Princess personnel are no where....we do realize they are upstairs but Port authorities do not find either of us on any list and will not clear us to go upstairs.
I go outside to where regular travelers are processing their luggage and find a helpful person....who is not Princess and not Port Authority but a dock porter.
This person finds me on a list of passengers as Patricia McKinney not Bare no passport info no birthdate or country.
Another dead end.

So you all know I can be persistent LOL
But age has taught me honey gets more then vinegar!

3 1/2 hours later some one from Princess comes and insists she take Gerry (they have found him but still no info on me)and leave me and that she is in charge of CREW and I am not that. So Gerry goes up those magic stairs.

Another hour and I am getting a little panicy. I have still 4 bags ..large...$10.00 in my pocket no cell phone and no phone numbers and I am cold and Gerry has not reappeared and the Port people are friendly but I am not getting clearance and the head of the Port is a woman who is saying she is a single mom of 3 and that she can not break the rules as she might loose her job. I am joking with her asking if the ship sails without me could I be her free( for a roof over my head )children's nanny til the ship returns.

Another hour....I am running out of people to joke with

Finally a young man both Gerry and I had talked with earlier came up and said why are you still here? He said this is really rediculous ...say nothing and follow me. He ushured me through baggage drop off and we ran up the moving stairs to the land above the Port authorities and into Princess land. At that point he said....Here you can be warm, there are bathrooms and go to the Princess table and try to convinve them of this mixed up mess.

Story is long...bottom line....I got Princess's attention....finally ushured into Customs where they didn't like my blank passport (it is new) Get through that...and an now headed to board...time for ship Photogerapher. I am still able to smile and get my picture taken ALONE. BUT....I can see the entrance to the gangplank....wrong word....ship entrance. I board and think where will I find Gerry.???????...still have no room or dinning info but at this point I am just thankful to be on the ship:)

Gerry was very concerned had been trying to get someone to help get me on board and trying to think up a plan once announcement was made..."Ready for Sailing" to leave the ship and get reconnected to me.

I went to main desk and Gerry had been talking with them so they knew how to find him. As you all know Gerry has been pretty important to me....I have never been more relieved to see him and I think he me.

This ship sailed full and we are in the bowels of crew cabins in a room with bunk beds and I continue to say....It is fun climbing into a bunk bed at night.....right..... I spoke up for the top....I am quite thankful to be on board.

Adventures come in all shapes and sizes and challenges and rewards.

We have a 10 am beginners class which I am taking a really active opart in and an intermediate class at 11 AM that Gerry teaches as well as play from 2 -4. Keeps us busy!

Formal night last night....and this early in the cruise they had the chanpaign fountain and I was the first person in line to pour the champaign with the Chaptain. They now have it early pm rather than midnight so waiting to see photos.

All is well that ends well!

Love to all