HOME Day 16 June 1, 2011

We did it!!  We are finally home.  Today started just like a usual day.  We woke up as the ship was docking in Zeebrugge, Belgium.  We had received a note from the front office saying that we would need to be available for the customs officers at 8:00 am.  We had our breakfast, which for the last time was delivered to our room.

2 cranberry juices, English muffins, butter and jelly, croissants, half grapefruit, and coffee.

Then we finished packing what was left to pack.  In the end we had 10 checked pieces of luggage and 3 carry-ons.   Our cabin steward helped us take them up to the room where we had to take them.  He took all 10 pieces of luggage at once.

Later on he had to take them back to our room.  That time he decided to make two trips.  While we waited the luggage sat outside our cabin until it was time to get off the ship.

Today we did a lot of waiting.  In the morning we waited for the customs officials.  They finally came around 11:00 in the morning.  And to top it all off they didn't even look at the suitcases.  We didn't dare tell Ruli, our cabin steward that he did all of that lugging for nothing.

While we waited, I walked around the ship, getting more pictures.  It looked like they had just changed all of the flower arrangements.  They were beautiful.

We ate lunch and then did some more waiting.  We were trying to get a pass for Jonathan Teachout who had come to pick us up.  The ship was docked in a working port so only certain people were allowed to go right up to the ship.  They told us to call him and get his driver's license number and license plate number and they would give him a pass.  Mike was able to call and got the numbers.  

Ruli put all of our suitcases on a cart and rolled it down the three level ramp.  

We left the ship for the last time.  Then we waited.  Finally a little car drove up with a security guard in it.  He told us that Jonathan couldn't get in!!   So instead we loaded the luggage into the back of a shuttle van and he drove us out to where Jonathan was waiting.  We transferred all of the bags and we were on our way home.  

 Our cruise had ended!!!

The last view of our ship!

 Soon we were driving through the countryside of Belgium and soon we saw the sign that we had been waiting for:  WELCOME TO FRANCE!!!

When we got to the house, Cherith and the kids were here with a Welcome sign too.  It is wonderful to be home. 

 Emily walked in the front door, went up the steps and I haven't seen her since.  She is rediscovering all of the things that we left here for almost 14 months.

The cruise was a wonderful experience.  One I never expected to experience.  But now we are HOME!!  And that is even more wonderful.  Now it's time to get to work.  Thank you all for following this blog during our cruise.  I'll try and keep writing, just maybe not as often.

 Goodnight from Reims, France   HOME