Tag: Top Sail

2024 HAL Grand Australia and New Zealand Cruise—The Adventure Has Begun!!!

Sunday, January 7, 2024

HAL Grand Australia & New Zealand Cruise

On New Year’s Day 2024, we loaded up the luggage; checked in for our flight out of Orlando; and flew to San Diego.  The process was easy and uneventful.  The flight was smooth and comfortable.  The landing was on-time. 

And at that point, the idyllic journey turned into reality!!!

We collected the luggage!!!  Of course, we knew how much luggage was necessary to sustain us on a 112-day cruise; that’s why we forwarded two duffel bags to San Diego earlier in December.  But what we didn’t factor into our planning was our own AGE!!!  What were we thinking!!!  Seeing as porters were unavailable; we grabbed our luggage from the baggage carousel, loaded it onto TWO luggage carts, rented from a nearby rack; and pushed our cruise wardrobes, electronic devices, and accompanying toiletries and medications out to the pick-up/loading curb.  And it was at that point we realized:  we are no longer as young or strong as we think!!!  We had to load that luggage into the rented SUV ourselves!!!  Sure ‘nough;  worked up a sweat and wore ourselves out!!!  But guess what!!!  After a short drive to the harbor and our hotel across from the pier, we had to unload!!!  And then, two days later, we repeated the process and delivered the luggage to the dock.  We no longer cared if we ever saw that stuff again!!!

Nothing like traveling light!!! Only 2 large suitcases, 2 garment bags, and 2 roll-aboards for the 2 of us!!! We are prepared for anything!!!
Although the airport was crowded, the flow was smooth and the check-in went quickly.
Before we knew it, we were in San Diego!!!
We loaded the luggage onto rented carts…..
…..collected the rental car…..
…..and set off for a couple of days in San Diego!!!

But we did, most definitely, take pleasure in meeting up with friends as we enjoyed a pleasant afternoon at the Top Sail Lounge at Brigatines’s on the Harbor.  We also did a final shopping run at WalMart for (wait for it):  those things we had not brought with us in those 6 bags of luggage and 2 shipped duffel bags.  Oh Joy!!!  Another box to load and transport!!!

We joined our Sea Friends at the Top Sail Lounge.
The view is great!!!
This is a pleasant place.
It is so easy to have a nice time.
And the appetizers are great!!!
We have been here before; we will be here again. This is a nice place to wallow in the beauty of San Diego!!!
And then, as we depart the hotel to check-in for the cruise, please note, there is another box added to to the pile!!! OMG, will we ever learn!!!

Ahhh but,

The joy of being back on a cruise ship is invigorating!!!  And Holland America has gone out of their way to give us many, many options of fun things to do.  Thus far, we have been “at sea” since departing San Diego and will arrive in Honolulu on Tuesday, January 9th.   We’ll be in Hawaii for several days. 

We’ll look forward to telling you all about it!!!

See you soon!!!