Back on Rhapsody of the Seas! What a long day. Room 8027. What a day? #travelagent #cruise #travel

The day started with news that the cruise was delayed due to heavy fog. As the morning went on, the delay became longer. I am so thankful that my husband and I were able to get a later check-out which allowed us to check-out at 4 P.M. We were picked up from the hotel at 7:53 PM. Shortly after leaving the hotel, the rain started. As we inched closer to the port, the rain drastically increased. The driver informed us that he would not be able to drop off us at the port. Traffic was backed up on all direction. As we sat and contemplated our next move, we saw many individuals walking. We decided it was best to walk as the car was not moving and the embarkation time was quickly approaching. We walked about a quarter mile, got redirected by the police, and ended up at the wrong port. I had an umbrella, but my husband did not, so he was soaked. Thankfully, a man called for a shuttle to take us to the correct terminal. Boarding the ship took a while. We got onboard around 9:30. We checked in at the muster station and made our way to the dining room for dinner. The dining room closed at 10 PM. The staff were exhausted but kept a smile on their faces. Contents in our suitcases were wet. Our shoes were soaked. The ship left Tampa 30 minutes past midnight. The ship returned to Tampa a day early due to a medical emergency, but passengers did not disembark until the next day. This cruise will stay with us for many years. Below is the letter from Royal Caribbean notifying guests of the delay. "We’re thrilled to welcome you onboard Rhapsody of the Seas for our December 6, 2025, sailing! Before you head to the terminal, we have an important update to share with you. Due to dense fog earlier today, our ship was delayed returning to Port Tampa Bay. As a result, the terminal will not be open for embarkation, and we will need to push back our boarding. All guests must arrive later than their selected arrival window per the chart below. Parking and the terminal won't be available until our current guests depart, so it's critical you stick to your new time for the smoothest boarding. Arriving at your original time will result in us having to turn you away until your new time. All guests must be checked in and onboard by 10:00 PM. Please arrive no later than 9:30 PM. If you don’t have an arrival time already scheduled, please complete your online check-in via our app and plan to arrive at 9:30 PM. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. We can’t wait to embark on this unforgettable journey together!" @RoyalCaribbean