Cruise ships are not good at managing the departure of their passengers. Our suitcases had to be packed and left outside our door by 10pm. We had be out of our stateroom by 8am, but then we waited in the crowded atrium for more than an hour.
Our group was called so we left the ship and collected our luggage onshore. We were told to go down to the buses in the single elevator, but there was a lineup so we chose to manage our suitcases on the escalator. Unfortunately the MSC Meraviglia parked next to the Viking Sea disgorged 4,500 passengers on the same day, overwhelming the 950 Viking passengers in the scramble for buses.
New York traffic was back to normal today and it was a long journey to Kennedy Airport. We arrived about midday but the Qantas desk didn't open for check-in until 2pm. There were absolutely no seats anywhere in the departure area and one unattractive café. A helpful information officer told us there was another coffee shop on the arrivals level, but that option was worse. At least there was seating in the arrivals area so we had coffee from Hudsons take away and played cards to pass the time.
Going through security was not too bad apart from people who either don't listen or ignore clear instructions. Fortunately we could spend the rest of the afternoon in the airline lounge. The food was OK and I liked this lighting arrangement.
Now we have to wait for our flight which is due to depart at 6.10pm. It will be about midnight New York time when our plane stops in Los Angeles for 2 hours. We reboard the same Qantas plane and leave about 10.30pm LAX time, arriving knackered about 6am in Brisbane!
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