Check out day today, no one online to Skype, last of emails and checked bank accounts for correct charges and the Aussie dollars is terrible. Last buffet breakfast, final pack and check out. It was very kind of Cynthia at the front Reception to deduct our last day of Internet use seeing Housekeeping never delivered an ironing board to our suite.

The foyer is very noisy and crowded with people leaving for different cruises, we booked our luggage into the Baggage Room and went for a walk to the different Shopping Centres on each side of SE 17^th St near the Embassy Suites. Took photos of the latest Samsonite hard cases at a luggage shop to show Strandbags and Victoria Station at Joondalup when we get home.

Last Shuttle ride (US$8 each) to Pier 29 Port Everglades, which is way over the other side of the port and security is very tight had to show our ID at the first Check Point. So many shuttles, buses and taxis waiting in a queue to drop off cruise passengers it is bedlam. The baggage handlers are a bit aggressive when you get off the shuttles, if you don’t tip them I don’t know what would happen to your cases (never had this on the first cruise to the Caribbean). Richard gave him US$2 and said the wheels were damaged by the last baggage collectors so he carefully put them on top, but when they arrived at our Balcony Suite on the Coral Princess the damaged wheel had another slit on it.

The Coral Princess is a smaller cruise ship of 1900 passengers so thankfully the queue was smaller and the waiting time was a lot quicker than the large Royal Princess. We have now moved to the Ruby Cruise Card don’t know what the extra benefits are. We are Deck 11 Baja B509 midship we thought the Royal Princess had a refit (Aurel Royal Princess mentioned this), but no it looks a bit old and tired. Our suite is a bit bigger than the one on the Royal Princess but the shower recess is very tight and we are of small frame, I’d hate to see the larger Americans squeeze in to shower.

From our balcony we have views of the waterway to Miami, mangroves, beaches on the shoreline and it’s great the Coral Princess is docked in the waterway. Californian couple next to us (Red a retired Parks Ranger and Sharon an RN Emergency/Maternity Dept).

Enjoyed a quiet drink in the La Patisserie listening to the classical music being played on the side of the small Atrium till the violinist started sounding like an alley cat meowing and the overly loud voices of an American group.

Spent the afternoon exploring the ship, similar layout to Royal on a smaller scale but the Atrium has no Piazza just staircases from Deck 7 to 5 with a small space for a piano. Duty Free Gifts shops and Photo-Video Galley on Deck 6 round the Atrium, if you want to dance and listen to music you need to go to the Explorers Lounge. Churchill Lounge is for smokers on Deck 7 next to the Atrium and you can smell the smoke, also in the Casino on Deck 6.

Horizon Court is on Deck 14 at the front of Coral Princess with views on three sides of the ocean, no good if you suffer from seasickness when the bow cuts through the waves. Very crowded and noisy when we had a late lunch like everyone else, the ceiling is low and the Americans loud voices echo (headache material), lucky us seem to sit near them all the time. Variety of food is near non-existent for me (joys of I.B.S.) not like the Royal Princess.

Nice to hear Aussie voices on board, did the usual life raft drill, cases arrived and there is another slit in the rubber of the damaged wheel which I have photos of plus sent email to Antler to see where we can get a replacement in Perth.

Unpacked and ready for the Panama Canal cruise, got off on the wrong foot with our Stateroom Steward, as our cabin wasn’t ready no bathmat or towels.

Late dinner food variety no better spoke with Head Food Supervisor of my dietary requirements and the usual thing “go to the Dining Rooms”, which I said we would later but for now would like buffet meals for the next few days while we settle in. How to pass the buck, not like the Royal Princess.