Surprise for my wife!

On days I travel home my flights are booked late in the day just incase there are any delays with the ship getting into port or at immigration. My flight for today was booked to leave Miami at 4:00 pm, a 50-minute layover in New York, then arriving in Toronto at 9:49pm. The crew who were signing on or signing off were supposed to be in the beautiful main theatre (see the first picture) of the ship at 9:00am to then meet with immigration agents. On the last night of shows the Assistant Cruise Director informed me there was a change and we now had to be at the theatre at 6:00 am, he was shocked when I said “awesome”.

When back in my cabin after the show, I searched the Delta Airlines website and found all the early flights out of Miami. There were two: 8:00am and 12:15 pm. This is awesome, it means I can possibly get home early to surprise my wife! The plan: Get on that 8:00am flight.

I arrived at the theatre early, some people did not. It is amazing that a few idiots who can’t set an alarm can really screw up a plan. Instead of getting off the ship on time, it was 6:50 am. Crap! I made sure I was at the front of the line for crew/staff who were signing off the ship. By 7:15 am I was in a cab on my way to the Miami Airport... it was going to be close.

Once at the Miami International Airport I got my ticket and then went through security where a very nice TSA agent asked me to follow her so she could check my laptop bag; Crap! Once that was done I amazingly made it to the gate by 7:55 am. Yeah! Then the Delta agent told me that I couldn’t change my ticket there I should have done it at the Delta desk; CRAP! I explained that there was a long line and my quickest option was the self-service kiosk and that the agents at American Airlines can do it at the gate and I was told that Delta was a better airline (yes, I actually said that). Juan looked at me, smiled and said okay YAY!! Within minutes I am onboard jetting home, knowing that I will land in Toronto at 3:07pm.... an hour bef

ore I was supposed to leave.

Lynette was shocked when I walked in the door. She jumped up and limped over with a huge smile on her face. It is amazing to me that after 13 years, she is still happy to see me when I come home.