Day 0: Embarking

Check-in

Our check-in time is set for 3:00 PM. After checking out of the hotel, a taxi takes us to the cruise terminal, where we catch our first glimpse of our 'home' for the next 33 days. It's enormous!

If you find the check-in process at MUC airport challenging, a cruise check-in is even more complex and feels less streamlined. After about 40 minutes though, we are able to enter our cabin, and it immediately feels like home. The cabin reminds us of Ronda, our trusty camper van from our 2014 journey through Scandinavia—the same compact bathroom but with a much better view from the balcony!

Happy couple in their new home

The adventure begins: Where is my luggage?

Shortly after settling into our cabin, two of our three suitcases arrive, and we start unpacking our belongings into the many small drawers and closets. But where is suitcase number three? After three hours, I start to get anxious and head to the reception to check. There, I find a long line of people with various complaints and issues. The receptionist is friendly and asks me to be patient, as the staff is still delivering luggage. I take a deep breath and wait—but after another two hours, my nerves return. The ship will leave in an hour, and I’m not keen on spending the next few weeks with only two T-shirts and one pair of underwear!

I return to the reception, and once again, there’s a long line. This time, the receptionist asks me to follow them down to the security room in the lower decks. And there it is—my suitcase! With relief, I finally start to relax. Security had flagged something in my bag as a potential concern, but thankfully, we sorted it out. Now, our cruise can truly begin!

Leaving the harbour

At 10:30 PM, the ship begins to vibrate, and the buildings around us slowly start to drift from view. We’re finally leaving the harbor, setting off on our journey toward Tenerife, just 40 kilometers away. The gentle hum of the engines and the sight of Las Palmas fading into the night mark the beginning of our adventure.

 

Location: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Provinz Las Palmas, Spanien

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