The red-eye from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale was uneventful and uneventful is always good when flying - anytime, anywhere. But they don't call it "red-eye" for nothing and old age paired with lack of sleep is not exactly a recipe for disaster but miscues do lurk. It has been said that God watches over fools and drunks. I should like to add aging, weary travelers attempting maneuvers through airports.
Nonetheless, we found our bus and arrived at the port terminal. A massive warehouse with the Orion moored at the adjacent pier. The check-in process went smoothly although getting us and our 781 fellow passengers onboard in a timely manner required the ever popular "Disney Serpentine Queue Process" to be employed - always a fan favorite. As we approached the checkin counter with much of the serpent still behind us and winding back quite some ways, Jamie whispered:
"Look for the unicorn."
"Look for the what?" I asked in a groggy stupor.
"Look for the unicorn."
"I don't know what that means." Looking now for any facial gesture that would provide a clue.
"A unicorn. Someone.....anyone.....younger than me." Her eyes just a wee bit panicked.
Indeed, we looked for the unicorn throughout our journey and maybe, just maybe, there were six passengers younger than Jamie. Although we'll never know for sure. I never got up the nerve to ask a total stranger their age.
Yes, to say that our cruise was designed for a mature clientele would be an understatement. I suspect the average age to be in the high 70's. Even I looked like a towhead kid in comparison to most. OK - that's an exaggeration. In truth, I fit in like the proverbial pea in a pod.
There were no water slides, zip lines, wave machines for surfing, or casinos on the Orion. However, there were two pools and a spa but very little splashing - except the one day when some clumsy oaf lost his grip on the pool ladder and fell back in if you can believe it. I acted nonchalant as I blew the water out of my nose so I'm pretty sure everyone thought I was just clowning as judged from the occasional frown aimed in my direction. Regardless, nary a cannonball was seen, nary a banshee scream was heard.
Entertainment as well as food venues were geared towards the eldest of the Baby Boomer generation.
The Orion was designed to accommodate 930 passengers and as I said earlier there were 783 of us onboard for this cruise. Now there were a few occasions when various venues felt "busy". For instance, the first night at the buffet, the first morning at the main pool, a one-time special brunch set up in the main pool area, and of course, the port days when everyone was moving towards their desired tour buses. Only once did we feel "crowded" and that was at the bow of the ship while entering the first lock of the Panama Canal. Regardless, as the trip progressed we often found ourselves nearly alone in our locale of choice. It was common for us to ask each other, "Where is everyone? What are we missing?" and we may well have missed out on many a crowd-pleaser but we have no regrets.
Indeed, what the Orion lacked in excitement, she made up for with peace and quiet. A Scandinavian motif that presented clean lines and subtle hues was themed throughout the ship and added to the calm. A mood, if you will, enveloped the ship. A mood reminiscent of a quieter, gentler era that moved to the rhythm of sea time.
Obviously, we made it through that check-in process. With some two plus years of planning behind us and the memory of two failed cruise attempts all too vivid in our minds, our walk up the gangway was both joyful and surreal. We had arrived at last! Only to spend our first two hours at sea dead out in nap mode.
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