There is a certain feeling of angst on the final day of a cruise. Emotions run amok, frankly. There is the, "I am ready to get home," the “I can't wait to see my family,” the “I don’t want this to end,” the “why didn’t I book a longer cruise,” the, well, there are mixed emotions.

The day dawned beautiful. Calm seas, bright sun, the Cuban coast visible on the starboard side and other cruise ships on the port side combine to make an idyllic scene.

Before recounting the day, let me say that I was pleasantly surprised by the Cirque Dreams and Dinner event at Spiegel Tent last night. Wow. I really didn’t get to enjoy my dinner because I could not take my eyes off the performers. Jugglers, dancers, acrobats, muscle men, comedians, a woodwind player all combined in a night of “cirque-esque” theater that exceeded my expectations. I did a bit of Blues and a bit of Dueling Piano before bed. A fine night.

As for today, I did an hour on the treadmill, caught the “Meet the Men Behind the Blue” Q&A session in Headliners (the Blue Man Group guys took questions; one is Steven from Kansas City), did another hour on the jogging track, grabbed a bite, saw Diana and Don (friends from the Studio Living Room) on deck and chatted with them and, otherwise, just enjoyed a leisurely day aboard The Epic.

Now would be a good time to shower and pack. So, I shall. But first, I write a bit.

I had Blue Man reservations at 9:00 and Second City Adult Improv reservations at 11:00. All I needed was to find someone to have dinner with and this final evening will be full. I was able to handle dinner companions at the 5:00pm solo travelers meet up by grabbing onto Gertrude from Germany and Florida. We went to Manhattan. Blue Man was as Blue Man is; Second City was better but still just OK. On my way back to my room for the final time on this cruise, I heard unfamiliar music from Maltings Bar. Jamming with the guitar player, Jim Capik, I found Drew De Four and Kin Curran of Howling at the Moon. Oh my; the music was wonderful. It was way after quitting time but there were around 30 of us who had stumbled onto this gathering and we stayed until the bitter end.

Check out: drewdefour.com and Kincurran.com. While you’re at it, see Tommy Orr on Facebook. You won’t regret it. They are amazing musicians and, for good measure, good people to boot.

Since I am carrying my own bag, I can leave the ship using “Easy Walk-Off Disembarkation.” The bulletin explains it this way: “We want to tell you about a cool way that you can disembark the ship. It’s called Easy Walk-Off Disembarkation. If you’d like to participate, the only requirement is that you must be able to carry all your bags off the ship on your own. No luggage assistance from the ship’s staff will be provided for guests availing of Easy Walk Off. You can be the first group off the ship (once it’s cleared by local officials) anytime between 7:45 am to 9:00 am. You don’t have to worry about the color-coded tag disembarkation system which lets you avoid congestions in the baggage claim hall; you will carry off your entire luggage with you.” I can leave via Terminal B from the Forward Gangway on Deck 6 or from Terminal C from the Midship Gangway on Deck 6.

Everyone else aboard must go to Guest Services and pick up a color coded luggage tag (while your color lasts) which corresponds with a disembarkation time. The times run in fifteen minute increments from 8:00 am until 9:30 am.  

Time for bed. Only a few hours remain.