Team Schmidt Travels

For whatever reason, we’re still waking up around 5AM. We opened the curtains and I noticed raindrops on the handrail of our balcony.  We enjoyed breakfast, just the two of us, in a nearly empty dining room. As they lead us to our table near the back of the room, we must have received no less than 20 greetings from the wait staff!  I found that breakfast by ourselves was relaxing after so many conversations with new people.  We returned to our room, which looked better than we had left it. It always does. One of the particularly magical things about going on a cruise is how often they do room cleans. The bed will be made, fresh towels replace the damp ones, and if you use a blanket on the balcony it will be folded neatly in its place when you return.   Bryan did the laundry for us as we wait for our meet up time for our first planned shore excursion. He made his way to the little laundromat just down the hall and started a load.  ...

This morning we awoke early again and were surprised by the strong winds that greeted us as we opened the balcony door. A quick check of our weather app confirmed high wind warnings for the area in effect all day. We ate a pleasant breakfast in the dining room and then wandered the boat as we awaited our turn to board a tender to take us ashore.  Unsurprisingly, an announcement was made that the life boats ordinarily used to tender passengers were unfit for the task today due to the winds.  Fortunately, water taxis had also been secured to transport passengers to Airlie Beach, so we were able to take these larger catamarans. We killed a little bit of time at the International Café (oddly juxtaposed by the casino).  Looking at all the tasty things.  Bryan tried one.  We glanced at the various options for sale to hold your medallion while you cruise. We have been borrowing my parents’ bands which hold it on like a watch, and that has been conv...