Panorama: Debarkation Day
Good morning! Today is debarkation day for real–I hope. In case you missed it, yesterday was supposed to be debarkation day but we were held over due to a COVID19 scare. If you missed that one you can read about it here: Panorama: Coronavirus Day
I woke up at 6:45. Our first announcement from Emma was at 6:48 that debarkation would begin shortly.
They cut off the internet this morning. Normally I would be able to use it on a debarkation morning. I imagine that conversation went something like this. “How do we get them out of their cabins as soon as possible? Turn off the internet. For everyone or just people who didn’t buy the package? Everyone!” I have an AT&T data plan but I can’t get an AT&T signal in the room.
They did forget to shut off the free movies.
At 7:15 they begin Platinum/Diamond debarkation. I could be in that group but I didn’t want to rush down there as soon as I woke up. I’m going to a hotel in Hollywood and I’m not sure how early I can check in. Of course I was supposed to check-in yesterday so maybe they have a room ready for me.
It’s 7:35 and I’m on my way out of the room (again). I’m bringing my pizza plate from last night to lido with me so the steward doesn’t have to deal with it. On the way I see people bringing breakfast to their rooms. I hate that for the steward.
In the buffet carnival employees are serving everything this morning–Even cereal.
I got an omelet, orange juice, and coffee.
At 8am they begin normal debarkation by calling deck 1 self assist. At 8:20 they add decks 3-5 self assist.
At 8:45 she calls decks 7-8 self assist and luggage tags 1-2. At 8:55 she calls all decks self assist and luggage tags 3-5. I’m doing self-assist so that’s me. If I did check my bag I would’ve had luggage tag 3. I’m heading out.
They shut down the back breakfast stations but the front ones are still going
At 9am they call luggage tags 6-10.
I’m in line to get off of the ship. We debark on deck 4 at this port.
The last person I saw before I got on this ramp was Lars, the Hotel Director. I must say for a hotel director he’s been all over this ship this week.
The Queen Mary is still in port.
One last look.
I wonder if port employees ever race down these ramps on luggage carts after the port closes. I’m a former floor buffer racing champion myself.
We made it to the luggage area. I carried my own luggage off so there’s nothing here for me.
And we’re out of the port. The Custom’s and Border Protection agent asked me if I worked for Homeland Security. I’m actually wearing a Saints shirt that says “Department of Domeland Security.”
Straight ahead inside that garage is the Uber/Lyft pickup area. That’s where I’m heading.
They have a food truck out here to the left if you need something to eat.
I’m going to the Loew’s hotel in Hollywood. The Uber app is saying an Uber will be $81-100. Lyft will be $44.29. I think I’ll go with Lyft.
This is the Uber/Lyft pickup area. It’s a madhouse!
I’m standing at the crosswalk to give my driver a good reference point. The nice thing about the way they do it at LAX with LAX IT is the driver doesn’t have to find you in a crowd. The Vegas airport also had a good setup with the numbered parking spaces. This is madness!
That plan didn’t work. The driver called me and told me he couldn’t move to where I was. I had to find him. It took awhile due to a miscommunication. Finally I found him.
It was only supposed to take two minutes for my Lyft to pick me up. It took 30 minutes. But we’re moving now.
And we made it to the hotel. That took an hour to get here from the port. 20 minutes of it was just traffic on the first two or three blocks of Sunset.
I was able to get checked in immediately.
Next time we’re going to start sightseeing in downtown Los Angeles.
