Day 9 - New York City

I set my alarm for 6:15 (Ugh!!!) to watch us sail into New York City.  It was cold and windy out on deck and still not quite light as we went under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.  I have a couple of pictures that I will post when I can.  We pulled into Pier 88 right next to the Intrepid.  About 700 passengers left today and were replaced by about the same number.

I had signed up for the "Lower Manhattan and 9/11 Memorial" tour through Cunard.  A note telling me to meet in the Queens Room at 8:45 was left for me yesterday.  That part went smoothly.  We were escorted off the ship around 9:15 to find it was snowing!  (The captain had announced that it was supposed to be in the low 40s with no snow or rain a few minutes earlier.)

Going through Customs was easy enough (one of the ladies directing people let me go in a separate line when she saw my US passport) and the CBP agent was amazed I was going around the world by myself.  Then it was outside to meet the guide and get on the bus.

We first drove a few blocks to meet the water taxi that would take us to lower Manhattan.  The guide had trouble getting the tickets but we finally got on.  It was a nice  cruise down the Hudson and saw Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty on the way.

We left the water taxi at Battery Park where the guide tried to take us through but there were fences up (evidently he had not been there recently).  We finally made it to the beginning of Broadway and walked for a couple of blocks.  We saw the old Cunard building, the Charging Bull, the NY Stock Exchange, Trinity Church, and Federal Hall.  By this time many people wanted a bathroom break, a chance to buy a few souvenirs and something hot to drink.  The tour guide mumbled and grumbled but did allow a 10 minute break.  Finally we arrived at what I really wanted to see, the 9/11 Memorial.  We were late arriving (the tickets have a time frame on them) but were allowed in.  The Memorial is very touching and if I ever return to NYC (not my favorite city in the world), I would like to visit the museum set to open later this year.

The bus picked us up and we returned to the ship around 1:30.  I am usually a very generous tipper but this guide did not receive anything from me.  Once on board I had a late lunch in the Lido and then went back to my stateroom.

After a short nap I took advantage of the 3G on my phone to do a few things online and also talked to my daughter and grandkids.  I was going to find a McDonald's or someplace else with free wifi but was too tired and decided I would have all day to do that in Fort Lauderdale.

I told my table-mates last night that I would not be coming to dinner but was going to watch the sailaway out of the harbor.  After eating in the Lido, I ventured out on the aft deck to watch the sailaway.  I had to go in and out a number of times because it was so cold but I lasted until we passed under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.

Smooth sailing until next time.