WorldTravelReynolds

Voyager of the Seas

We got up early today to enjoy a true European breakfast! If you’ve never had one, let me explain. Thankfully, our friends Dave and Marion served us this type of breakfast many years ago, so we were prepared. A traditional breakfast has cold cuts, bread, croissants with jams, jellies, and Nutella. Cereals and fruit. Eggs are soft boiled, and they are put in an egg holder, you tap the shell to take the top off, meaning about ½ way and then eat the egg with a tiny spoon right out of the shell.

Traditional European Breakfast

Once you get used to it, it’s pretty easy but like having two left feet walking if you aren’t accustomed to this style. A little awkward. Chuck wouldn’t eat one. I just peeled it! We also didnt have any cold cuts. To us, seemed strange for breakfast. This was at the restaurant inside the hotel. We regret not going back to the little Espresso house with the amazing pastries and coffee. But, as Chuck said, when in Rome…..

1st 1/2 of hotel room, shower and toilet to the left.

Bed next to wall and chair

There was a group of people that were getting off the train as well and all of us were looking around and couldn’t figure out where the bus stop was, so we decided to walk. What a crazy idea that was! The sidewalks were a little better but because of some construction at the ports, we had to go the long way around. It ended up being about 1 ½ – 2 miles. Not too bad but we did stop a few times for the elderly in our group to take some breaks including Chuck and I!

Bathroom and shower. A Plus- heated floors!

We met a fun group of brits from northern UK and one person that was visiting them from South Africa who decided to tag along. Such a great and fun group! Almost to the port and we saw a bus and flagged it down. This wonderful bus driver let us on and took us to the cruise port! Not far but enough to make a difference. We were all exhausted.

Making our way to the Metro train station. Look at those sidewalks. Not an easy task!

We let the porters have our luggage and we got in this already long line, and we waited and waited and waited, standing because of no chairs……. An hour later (no joke) we finally saw the front desk. Security was scanning luggage first and this was just as bad as the airports. Laptops out, coats off – and of course everyone had one. At least we didn’t have to take our shoes off! Then, we had another line to stand in but not as bad.

Ahhh. We made it!

We finally made it to our room and our “upgraded” room had only 1 chair. We knew this room was a connecting room and had already contacted Royal and asked for a change, but it didn’t happen before we boarded. It’s really irritating in the evenings when one of us has to sit on the bed and the other in the chair. Most decent rooms have a loveseat or sofa. Am I being picky? Yes, I am…We cruise so much, and I actually paid for an upgraded room. To us, this is not an upgrade.

A group of family/friends from the UK that we tagged along with.

So, we went to guest services to request a change – yet another line! We were put on the list for an upgrade or change and will hear something after 6 pm. They have to wait until the cruise ship leaves the port so that it doesn’t look like a revenue loss or something like that. While waiting in the room for 6 pm to come, we had a knock on the door. It was the supervisor for housekeeping. He was wonderful! He said I will be back in 10 minutes with a solution. He found us a balcony room with a loveseat. He said some people think a chair is like a sofa. Not in my world. He understood fully what we needed.

The line with no seating. Oh My!

When he moved us to the other room, he found that the lock on our door wasn’t working properly so he sent someone from maintenance to fix it. Poor guy had to go through 3 or 4 locks to get it to work properly. Then…. Chuck opened the cabinet door that holds the safe and the door fell off. We both laughed. It can’t get any worse. How old is this ship? Thankfully, the maintenance guy was still in the room so he will fix the door and bring it back. No rush as long as the safe works!

This poor guy changing out the locks on our door.

At dinner we met a couple from North Carolina and had a great chat and a delightful dinner and saw the brits we met during our earlier trip to the port so had to say hi! They are a lot of fun!Our first stop after a day at sea at an estimated 28 degrees (F) will be two days in Stockholm, Sweden.

This should be an interesting story. Cant wait to inquire about it!

One of our excursions was canceled so we ended up getting another one to replace it at twice the price. Wasn’t too happy about it but we didn’t want to waste the opportunity, so the change was made. They did give us 20% off the other excursion which helped. So, hopefully the beauty will be just as amazing as Copenhagen, Denmark was. We are looking forward to it, no matter how cold it gets! BRRRR!!!!!

May God bless you and keep you safe.

Chuck & Lea Ann