Our excitement is still palpable, even though this is our second world cruise. There’s just something about embarkation day that never gets old. We arrived at Port Everglades around 11:30 and eagerly made our way to Dock #2, where the Coral Princess stood ready to take us on yet another grand adventure.

Check-in wasn’t quite as seamless as last year since our medallions hadn’t arrived in time, but thankfully there were no long lines. The Princess employee who helped us was wonderfully accommodating, and before we knew it, we were officially onboard.

Once settled, we went straight to our stateroom and took a much-needed nap while waiting for our luggage. Around 3:00 p.m., we woke up to find six of our seven suitcases waiting patiently outside the door. We quickly reeled them into the room—always a satisfying milestone on embarkation day.

Refreshed and energized, we hurried up to the Lido Deck to join the Sail Away Party, one of my favorite cruise traditions. Music filled the air, spirits were high, and I found myself dancing with both crew members and fellow passengers. One especially exciting moment was meeting a few people who, like us, had also sailed on last year’s world cruise. It felt less like meeting strangers and more like reuniting with old friends.

After the sail-away celebrations, we opted for a quick bite at the Salty Dog Café Grill. While enjoying some French fries—our very first meal of the day—we watched a stunning sunset unfold over the Miami and Fort Lauderdale skylines. Golden skies, calm waters, and the gentle pull of the ship heading out to sea—it was the perfect ending to Day 1.

And just like that, we’re officially on our way again.

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Another photo of a stunning sunset.