October 30 to November 1 – Barcelona

I flew overnight from SFO to Munich. After a 3 hour wait, I flew from  Munich to Barcelona.  The flights were uneventful and I did get about 3 hours sleep. The car service was waiting after I got my checked bag and I was attempting Eurostar Grand Marina Hotel by 330pm.
After a 1 nour nap and changing clothes, I headed down to the Cafe and bar in the hotel. I had Patatas Bravas and chicken fingers with a Negroni for dinner.
I went back to my room and climbed into bed at 9pm. I woke up at 1am, took a sleeping pill and slept to 7am.   The breakfast buffet was very good.
At 1130am, I  checked out and walked to the Cruise Bus which was just down from my hotel. For 3 euro, they drive you to your ship.   We saw a NCL ship with hundreds of people trying to check bags and board.  I was boarding the Holland America Oosterdam. They gave us boarding times. When the bus dropped me off, there were only 40 or so people in line in front of me.  I gave them my big bag and was given a barcoded paper to use as my boarding pass.  As a 5-star mariner, I was able to board immediately.  My cabin key card was waiting in my cabin. 
I went to the Lido for lunch and had a chicken salad sandwich, 1/2 a Dive-in Dog and an IPA for lunch.  The main thing that has changed since my last cruise in 2019 is that the lifeboat drill.   Now you just go to your  muster station between 2pm and 4pm and scan your keycard. Then you go to your cabin and watch a video about ship Safety.
I watched our sailaway from  Barcelona from my balcony. I went to the Singles and Solo meeting. One man and 5 women. We had a good time getting to know each other.
I am eating dinner at a table for 6 . I got there and met Richard, George, and Mary Ellen. Suddenly a man walks up and is staring at me. Finally he says “Are you who I think you are?” and then he said “Elsie”,  I said “Brian”.   We had sailed, played trivia,  and eaten dinner together for 10 weeks on the 2017 Grand South American Cruise.  We had lost touch so it is a nice surprise to meet again.
Tomorrow is our first stop, Cartagena Spain.