Embarkation day

Today was embarkation day. After a morning of orientation (all I could think about was getting on the ship), we had lunch and boarded the bus. Important things we learned during orientation—we are on a ship, not a boat. We are partaking in a voyage, not a cruise (also that the students are not allowed to rent scooters at ports, but we can!)

The dock was halfway between the hotel and the movie theater I went to on Wednesday, so it was hardly worth the bus ride—but I’m glad I didn’t have to drag my bags all that way.

The Queen Mary II was docked right next to our ship. It dwarfed our tiny ship, the MV Explorer. My colleague, Mary, who will serve as the head librarian and her husband Kelly, actually sailed over on this ship and were there to see ours come in.

MV Explorer

Our ship is the perfect size. Its layout and design is a lot like the cruise ship that my family and I took to Alaska the year before. Hopefully, this means I won’t get lost so easily.

It took a long time to unpack, but I’m finally settled in. My only regrets—why did I pack so many socks?? and I wish I had brought suction cups with hooks so I could hang decorations. Here’s some pictures of today’s events:

The library

Where I plan to eat my meals

My room before the unpack