Day 1: all aboard Radiance of the Seas

It is all aboard the Radiance of the Seas for another extended cruise. 

I am starting a 15 day Panama Canal cruise from Tampa, Florida, to Los Angeles, California.  I am rather excited for the port stops.  But first let’s talk about packing.  I prefer to pack light think a carry-on bag and backpack.  I see some of the luggage people are bringing on the ship and amazed at how large they are and what they must have packed.  I know that 15 days is a long time but here is what items of clothing my carry on bag includes:

• 7 shorts
• 13 shirts
• 2 dresses
• 1 swimsuit
• 4 pair shoes
• 1 pair pjs
• 5 socks
• 7 underwear/2 bras
• 1 raincoat/umbrella

I’m pretty proud of my packing skills this trip. I will only need to wash pjs and undergarments during the cruise.  I know this might seem gross to some but seriously washing in the sink with these laundry power sheets I have is super easy.  I could pay to have them washed by the ship staff, but I am just too cheap to pay.  Of course, there is always a bottle of fabric refresher spray in my supplies too.

On to the ship . . . it is a small ship which I have really come to like the best.  I spend time wandering the decks to get oriented and made my first stop at Quill & Compass for my first free drink which is a non-alcoholic drink Passion Starlight, it is tasty and refreshing.

I headed back to my cabin to unpack and get settled.  It is a nice size room for one person!

It is nice to not have to share the hangers.  Back out to explore as we sail away from Tampa.  I have had a killer headache for three days so hopefully some sunshine and rest makes it go away!  We approach the Sunshine Skyway Bridge . . . 

. . . and man do we barely clear it!

Let me end my day by mentioning the person in the room next to me . . . I will call him Mr. Cougher. He has been coughing all day long; a nonstop, nagging deep cough. Oddly, the wall is super thin; I can hear them talking and coughing and we don’t even have a connecting door in our cabin. I’ve never had this problem before and not sure complaining will even matter . . . I have a feeling will be a long 15 days!