We got up around 8:30 to shower and pack and still get a little sightseeing done in Barcelona. We had a quick donut/pastry while walking down Las Ramblas toward the Palau Guell – it’s one of the most famous examples of Gaudi architecture/design. Unfortunately, when we arrived it was closed for renovation until October. So instead, we re-visited the Gaudi house on the Manzana de Discordia that Ann had loved during her previous visit to Barcelona. We ended up taking a 7 Euro cab ride up Las Ramblas because on the map it seemed like it was so far, but in actuality it was only a couple blocks past the restaurant from the night before... We took lots of pictures at the Gaudi house, and the upper floors were open for visitors (including the rooftop) so we got to see almost the entire house. Jim would like to build a similar property in La Jolla (ha ha).
This was all we had time for before boarding the ship. We ended up with the same taxi driver as my folks (Boppa and Nana) and the taxi driver said that they had more luggage than we did!!! Boarding the ship was fairly easy this time compared to the Panama cruise. We walked right up to the counter around 2pm and worked our way onto the ship. Only problem is, when we embarked and went to our cabin, we had the room directly across from the laundry room – cabin 6588. Oh my gosh! It was horrible. I can’t believe that our travel agency (and Ann) let this issue slip by us. The laundry is loud, hot and open 7x24, so people are outside in the hallway late at night talking. We did not unpack, but instead went straight to Guest Services, where Ann begged for a different cabin. We called the travel agency to see if they could help. Thank goodness for Ann’s cell phone, because Andrew from Guest Services called around 4pm to let us know that we had lucked out (the ship is full) and were reassigned to a cabin 5 doors down the hallway, still on deck 6. Coincidentally, the same cabin we sailed for our Panama cruise. Sigh of relief!!!
We had dinner in Animator’s Palate for our first evening meal. Disney has two dinner seatings, at 6 and 8:30 pm. Diners rotate through 3 different themed restaurants, with assigned tables and the wait staff travels with the diners. We have the early seating, so we have dinner first, then see the evening shows afterward. We’re seated at a window table for 8 with a nice family from Northern California. They are the first of many cruisers from California that we met on the ship. The first night’s show was a welcome aboard variety show, it was fun. There were some musical numbers, plus a preview act from a magician (illusionist), Mike Super who we recognized from our Panama cruise. More on Mike later!
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