Disembarkation Day NCL Sun - December 1, 2007

Today was the day we needed to get off the ship and go through the Disembarkation Process. In the morning we received our billing statement for our onboard purchases account. A $10 per day, per person service charge was tacked onto the bill, which counted as gratuities for the hard working cabin crew and dining workers. Also I noticed that the tips from the specialty restaurants were also added.

Before we went to sleep the night before we had finished packing and left our large luggage outside by 1 AM. The crew would transport the luggage to the dock where you would pick it up. It sure beats lugging it around as you get ready to disembark!

We ate a quick breakfast at the Garden Cafe, about 20 minutes before it closed at 9 AM. We then headed back to our cabin, did one final check to make sure we didn't leave anything behind. As we made our way down the hallway, we noticed busy crew members dressed like they were in a clean room (masks, gloves, everything) moving quickly to sanitize the cabins. Definitely an interesting sight!

We then hung around the Internet Cafe area to use up the remaining minutes of our Internet Time Plan, and left for the gangway at Deck 5 at around 9:55 AM. I think everyone had to leave by 10 AM- after all the crew has to get ready for the new guests coming on board today.

The duration it took to get out of customs was about half an hour which was not too bad. We got our big luggage and and left the port warehouse. Outside we quickly got transportation from here, the Miami Cruise Terminal Port, to the Miami International Airport. It was a shared van taxi ride and costed only $10 per person. It was a pleasant surprise as we thought we'd had to get our own taxi.

At the airport we had to wait for several hours for our connecting flight to Houston. Once we got there we were in frantic mode. Our plane from Miami arrived about 15 minutes late and by the time we got out of the plane it was boarding time for the connecting flight home!

Did I mention how enormous the Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport is? And of course- the plane is in another terminal! This time we took this underground rail car that took us from terminal A to C. It was tricky, however. After arriving at terminal B, we assumed that the next stop was terminal C. Nope- it was a hotel! In our haste we noticed another rail car stopping and hopped on it without thinking. Unfortunately this one was going backwards so we were sent back to terminal B before we realized it. We finally got onto the right rail car and got to terminal C about 20 minutes before our flight was supposed to take off. Then, another obstacle- we had to go through security again. In the line a lady behind us was also going to the same destination so we were able to find out the Gate number. Why these different airlines don't get their communications in order and print the gate number of the connecting flight is beyond me. We were able to board the plane just in time, and upon arrival it was also nice to see our checked luggages also made it!

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