Well, as of this past cruise I'm halfway through my contract! 22 down, and 22 to go :) It's really incredible how fast time goes. When I think about how much has happened over the past 3 and a half months, and how many times i've gotten to perform, I feel very very blessed by this experience.
Not much more to report- the past couple of cruises have been pretty lowkey, but August is going to be full of fun and adventures because a lot of the cast has family and friends coming over the next month or so. I can't wait to meet everyone! And then of course I've got my wooonderful family and my wooooooonderful boyfriend coming in 12 days, as well as trish and her mama in just 17 days!
Right now we're at treasure island in grand cayman, celebrating alanna's birthday- she's one of the social hosts. We used to come here all the time when we came to cayman twice every cruise, but since we've gone back to Cozumel, this is my first time back here! it's so peaceful and the food is great.
This month the entertainment department is in charge of crew activities, and tonight we start off the month with a trivia night. I'm not sure how that will go, should be fun :)
Hope everyone is doing well- I miss you all!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Hello Hello!
Hi everyone!
I can't believe it's already July 23rd! Today is Michael's last day with us- what a quick month! We had so much fun though and he was a great addition to our cast, adding some new energy to the shows. This means Gaven gets back today and takes over from Kali as our Dance Captain again.
In the past couple weeks we've had some great adventures. Michael and I explored the Carnival Destiny which docks with us in Cozumel every now and then. We're allowed to get on the other ships as long as we don't bring anything with us. It was so much fun! It's a bigger class ship than ours, and was absolutely beautiful. I think if I were continuing with ship life I'd prefer to be on a ship like that one. We ate at their buffet, which was pretty much the same as ours on the Inspiration, but for some reason tasted better over there :)
Charlie's birthday at Park Royal was a great success, as was the Farm Animal Party! In Cozumel on this cruise, Charlie, Neil Michael and I rented a jeep and drove all over Cozumel, stopping at restaurants and beaches whenever we felt like it. It was such a perfect and beautiful day!
The shows continue to go well, and I get more and more comfortable on stage as we go. It's hard to imagine doing these shows over and over for another 4 months...but at the same time it's such a part of our daily lives now you don't really think to complain much about any of it. :)
Hope everyone at home is doing well! Bry and the fam come cruising in 22 days- SO EXCITING!!!
Love you all!
I can't believe it's already July 23rd! Today is Michael's last day with us- what a quick month! We had so much fun though and he was a great addition to our cast, adding some new energy to the shows. This means Gaven gets back today and takes over from Kali as our Dance Captain again.
In the past couple weeks we've had some great adventures. Michael and I explored the Carnival Destiny which docks with us in Cozumel every now and then. We're allowed to get on the other ships as long as we don't bring anything with us. It was so much fun! It's a bigger class ship than ours, and was absolutely beautiful. I think if I were continuing with ship life I'd prefer to be on a ship like that one. We ate at their buffet, which was pretty much the same as ours on the Inspiration, but for some reason tasted better over there :)
Charlie's birthday at Park Royal was a great success, as was the Farm Animal Party! In Cozumel on this cruise, Charlie, Neil Michael and I rented a jeep and drove all over Cozumel, stopping at restaurants and beaches whenever we felt like it. It was such a perfect and beautiful day!
The shows continue to go well, and I get more and more comfortable on stage as we go. It's hard to imagine doing these shows over and over for another 4 months...but at the same time it's such a part of our daily lives now you don't really think to complain much about any of it. :)
Hope everyone at home is doing well! Bry and the fam come cruising in 22 days- SO EXCITING!!!
Love you all!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
July!
Sorry it’s been a while since I last wrote- we’re starting to finally get in to a routine where the cruises begin running together. Not that I’m getting bored of the beach by any means, but I would definitely say there’s not much going on now as there has been in the last 3 months (wow!).
I had an anti-climatic July 4th… no fireworks, but me and the male singer, as well as another singer on board sang God Bless The USA, so that was about the extent of my celebration. Still, there’s a lot to look forward to! Charlie’s birthday is on the 16th, so we’re going to a resort in Cozumel called Park Royal for the day where you pay a set price for an open buffet and bar. Then there’s another themed birthday party- Farm Animals! Ha. I’m going as a spider, a la Charlotte’s Web. I never thought working on ships would mean getting to play dress up so much! ☺
We’ve been getting along all right while Gaven’s been on vacation, with only one re-block for a dancer who was very sick this cruise. It looks like I may not be needed during rehearsals as much anymore. I’m going to try (and hopefully by writing it down here I’ll actually do it!) to spend that time learning to speak Italian. I got a little lesson yesterday by one of the Italian officers, but of course I’ve forgotten most of the words I learned already. But I can say “Sono Italiano” which means “I’m Italian”! Haha it’s a start, even if it’s not true. (aaand I don’t know if I’m spelling it right..)
No visitors this month- but 38 days til Bry and my family are here, and I can barely stand it! On one hand these past months have gone slow, but on the other hand I can’t believe we’re already almost halfway through July. Praise God for all the lessons I’m learning here and for the trials and joys I’m experiencing! It’s all making me a stronger person, I’m sure of it. Now, off to perform Fiesta Latina!
I had an anti-climatic July 4th… no fireworks, but me and the male singer, as well as another singer on board sang God Bless The USA, so that was about the extent of my celebration. Still, there’s a lot to look forward to! Charlie’s birthday is on the 16th, so we’re going to a resort in Cozumel called Park Royal for the day where you pay a set price for an open buffet and bar. Then there’s another themed birthday party- Farm Animals! Ha. I’m going as a spider, a la Charlotte’s Web. I never thought working on ships would mean getting to play dress up so much! ☺
We’ve been getting along all right while Gaven’s been on vacation, with only one re-block for a dancer who was very sick this cruise. It looks like I may not be needed during rehearsals as much anymore. I’m going to try (and hopefully by writing it down here I’ll actually do it!) to spend that time learning to speak Italian. I got a little lesson yesterday by one of the Italian officers, but of course I’ve forgotten most of the words I learned already. But I can say “Sono Italiano” which means “I’m Italian”! Haha it’s a start, even if it’s not true. (aaand I don’t know if I’m spelling it right..)
No visitors this month- but 38 days til Bry and my family are here, and I can barely stand it! On one hand these past months have gone slow, but on the other hand I can’t believe we’re already almost halfway through July. Praise God for all the lessons I’m learning here and for the trials and joys I’m experiencing! It’s all making me a stronger person, I’m sure of it. Now, off to perform Fiesta Latina!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Cozumel!
Hey hey! We’ve finally made it back to Cozumel, and a ton of other things have happened too! Our new dancers made their debut last cruise, so Mama and her friends got to see the shows with a full cast, something we hadn’t done since we started performing! We had a BLAST with Mama, Chris and Mary. I was able to attend some guest activities that I normally don’t go to, like the Captain’s Cocktail Party and the Magic and Comedy show- so much fun! They even got a taste of the spot light a couple times, competing in a lip synching competition, taking Swing Dance class, and then of course there was the moment in the middle of Shout when Derrick had everyone applaud for my mother. ☺ She said it was a little embarrassing, but mostly honoring ☺ I got to eat in the guest dining room every night, which was inSANEly delicious. You can order as much food as you want, and I DID. Chocolate Melting Cake is the most divine dessert anyone will ever eat.
We went to Cozumel last cruise to a bar/restaurant opened by people who used to work on a cruise ship and then opened the bar for crew of any ship that docks in Cozumel. It was so much fun! Unfortunately, the trip to Cozumel is much rockier than to Cayman, so we’ve now performed while actually feeling the ship move. It’s so distracting and a little scary! I can’t imagine what hurricane season will be like.
Our dance captain left yesterday and a new dancer came to take his place while he goes home to South Africa for a month. He’s a quick learner, and he has already performed these shows so it wasn’t as hard to get him blocked in. It’s going to be fun to have him as part of the cast for a while!
Lissy gets married TOMORROW and I can’t believe it. I so wish I was in Minnesota this weekend, more than anything. I’m thinking about you my love and I’m so so happy for you!!
We went to Cozumel last cruise to a bar/restaurant opened by people who used to work on a cruise ship and then opened the bar for crew of any ship that docks in Cozumel. It was so much fun! Unfortunately, the trip to Cozumel is much rockier than to Cayman, so we’ve now performed while actually feeling the ship move. It’s so distracting and a little scary! I can’t imagine what hurricane season will be like.
Our dance captain left yesterday and a new dancer came to take his place while he goes home to South Africa for a month. He’s a quick learner, and he has already performed these shows so it wasn’t as hard to get him blocked in. It’s going to be fun to have him as part of the cast for a while!
Lissy gets married TOMORROW and I can’t believe it. I so wish I was in Minnesota this weekend, more than anything. I’m thinking about you my love and I’m so so happy for you!!
Monday, June 15, 2009
2 months!
Hi again!
June is already flying by. We got the new dancers and the new adage couple (they do acrobatic acts for the shows) 2 cruises ago. They’re all wonderful and working so hard to be put in the shows! What we learned in a month, they’re learning in two weeks, very impressive. Nicola will start performing with us on this coming cruise, and Courtney will join us one cruise after that. Then we’ll have one cruise with our WHOLE cast, before Gaven, our dance captain, leaves for a month to go on vacation. He’ll have someone replace him for that month. So basically, things just never stop changing around here!
I’ve been doing a better job of keeping busy, but I still have PLENTY of time to relax, go to the beach in Cayman, lay out on the sun deck of the ship, etc. I spend a lot of time at the gym, and have already read a ton of books. Now that we have the new dancers, we’ve had more rehearsals with them as well. I can’t complain about more rehearsing, it gives me something to do!
There’s also a lot of crew activities to go to. In a couple of days there’s a Pirates of the Caribbean party where they’ll block off the deck with the waterslide on it and we just get to hang out up there and eat and drink and slide. And then, Victoria’s (one of the dancers) birthday is coming up, so we’re having a party for her. We’re all coming as something that starts with V. I’m going to be the color violet ☺
Tomorrow I'll have been here for 2 months. Crazy! Maybe it will go by quicker than I had originally thought!
Mama and her friends come after one more cruise and I can hardly contain my excitement!
Also, congratulations to David for becoming a married man on Saturday- I wish more than anything I could have been there to celebrate!
Exactly 2 more months til Bry and the fam are here- hang in there lovey!!!!
June is already flying by. We got the new dancers and the new adage couple (they do acrobatic acts for the shows) 2 cruises ago. They’re all wonderful and working so hard to be put in the shows! What we learned in a month, they’re learning in two weeks, very impressive. Nicola will start performing with us on this coming cruise, and Courtney will join us one cruise after that. Then we’ll have one cruise with our WHOLE cast, before Gaven, our dance captain, leaves for a month to go on vacation. He’ll have someone replace him for that month. So basically, things just never stop changing around here!
I’ve been doing a better job of keeping busy, but I still have PLENTY of time to relax, go to the beach in Cayman, lay out on the sun deck of the ship, etc. I spend a lot of time at the gym, and have already read a ton of books. Now that we have the new dancers, we’ve had more rehearsals with them as well. I can’t complain about more rehearsing, it gives me something to do!
There’s also a lot of crew activities to go to. In a couple of days there’s a Pirates of the Caribbean party where they’ll block off the deck with the waterslide on it and we just get to hang out up there and eat and drink and slide. And then, Victoria’s (one of the dancers) birthday is coming up, so we’re having a party for her. We’re all coming as something that starts with V. I’m going to be the color violet ☺
Tomorrow I'll have been here for 2 months. Crazy! Maybe it will go by quicker than I had originally thought!
Mama and her friends come after one more cruise and I can hardly contain my excitement!
Also, congratulations to David for becoming a married man on Saturday- I wish more than anything I could have been there to celebrate!
Exactly 2 more months til Bry and the fam are here- hang in there lovey!!!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
happy june!
It's been a while since I wrote, and lots has happened! 2 cruises ago, I went on a snorkeling tour with some friends, and we got to swim with sting rays! Yes, as you may have guessed from my facebook status, I got BIT by a sting ray. The response of many when I returned? "That WOULD happen to you." HA. It was such a weird feeling- it took off a little skin on my finger, but nothing too horrible and it's almost healed completely now. In case you're wondering, it feels like putting your finger between two pieces of sand paper. Those buggers are strong, too. Haha, it's a good story.
Two more dancers injured themselves this cruise (another girl injured her neck, a guy hurt his back), which meant a very empty stage for the past couple of shows- at least that's what it felt like. I don't think either of them will be better for tonight or tomorrow night =/ And unfortunately, my throat is still in pretty bad shape. Yesterday I didn't talk at ALL, a very difficult feat but I pulled it off. But we had shows, so of course it just starts the process over again. It's SO frustrating! I'm sounding all right in the shows (I think..) but I've had to take out some of the fun belty stuff as a precaution. Prayers would be greatly appreciated!
I'm getting better at filling my days, I've started a Bible Study (Believing God, by Beth Moore) and I've read a couple more books. I'm also going to the gym almost every day! I have yet to start learning Italian, but I'll get there :)
Overall, life is good. Mama comes in 20 days!! I swear, it's what keeps me going! Knowing that loved ones are coming all the way out here to see me. 76 days til my wonderful boyfriend is in my presence! :)
Love to all!
Two more dancers injured themselves this cruise (another girl injured her neck, a guy hurt his back), which meant a very empty stage for the past couple of shows- at least that's what it felt like. I don't think either of them will be better for tonight or tomorrow night =/ And unfortunately, my throat is still in pretty bad shape. Yesterday I didn't talk at ALL, a very difficult feat but I pulled it off. But we had shows, so of course it just starts the process over again. It's SO frustrating! I'm sounding all right in the shows (I think..) but I've had to take out some of the fun belty stuff as a precaution. Prayers would be greatly appreciated!
I'm getting better at filling my days, I've started a Bible Study (Believing God, by Beth Moore) and I've read a couple more books. I'm also going to the gym almost every day! I have yet to start learning Italian, but I'll get there :)
Overall, life is good. Mama comes in 20 days!! I swear, it's what keeps me going! Knowing that loved ones are coming all the way out here to see me. 76 days til my wonderful boyfriend is in my presence! :)
Love to all!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
getting in to the swing of things
Hello All!
Well this past cruise had quite a different feel than the others so far. Now that we've got all this free time, it's a struggle to keep busy. Not that I'm "BORED" (Mom hates that word :)) but it's just hard to not become lazy. I have to remind myself that it's only been a week and a half since we got finished rehearsing, and my body might just need more time than that to catch up. We got off in Cayman a couple of days ago and walked to 7 mile beach, which was gorgeous. It's so incredible that I get to go there every week if I want to! We had lunch by the ocean and then went to a grocery store, which, because Grand Cayman is owned by the British, had all sorts of lovely foods that reminded me of Northern Ireland. I bought some digestives and ate all 10 of them in less than 2 days. Oops :)
I'm starting to realize that as much as I loved belting as much as I do in the shows, I need to think ahead and remind myself that I'm doing this for 6 months and I need to treat my voice well. My throat has been sore for 3 days now, and I started feeling cold symptoms yesterday. I'm pumping Airborne and Ricola and Throat Coat tea as much as possible. But how do you recover from a sore throat if you have to sing all the time?? Fiesta went all right last night, but it took a lot of concentration to stay on pitch and keep my voice from cracking. Oh dear.
I'm also struggling a bit with finding people that I truly have things in common with. I miss deep conversation with people I love and I wish I could talk on the phone more often and with more people. Today was rough because there were people I planned on calling that I really just can't because of my sore throat. So to those of you I told I would call, I'm sorry I wasn't able to. Pray that I'll feel well enough to chat more the next time I'm in port!
This next cruise should be fun, it's another five day, and there's a crew excursion in Cayman at Stingray City where we'll be snorkeling with sting rays for 3.5 hours- for only 20 bucks! It's worth it to be crew for the discounts :)
I also learned that I have some incredible friends coming out to cruise in October- and I can't wait!! Mama comes in less than a month with 2 friends, which should be a blast too!
I hope everyone is doing well out there- missing you so much!!
Well this past cruise had quite a different feel than the others so far. Now that we've got all this free time, it's a struggle to keep busy. Not that I'm "BORED" (Mom hates that word :)) but it's just hard to not become lazy. I have to remind myself that it's only been a week and a half since we got finished rehearsing, and my body might just need more time than that to catch up. We got off in Cayman a couple of days ago and walked to 7 mile beach, which was gorgeous. It's so incredible that I get to go there every week if I want to! We had lunch by the ocean and then went to a grocery store, which, because Grand Cayman is owned by the British, had all sorts of lovely foods that reminded me of Northern Ireland. I bought some digestives and ate all 10 of them in less than 2 days. Oops :)
I'm starting to realize that as much as I loved belting as much as I do in the shows, I need to think ahead and remind myself that I'm doing this for 6 months and I need to treat my voice well. My throat has been sore for 3 days now, and I started feeling cold symptoms yesterday. I'm pumping Airborne and Ricola and Throat Coat tea as much as possible. But how do you recover from a sore throat if you have to sing all the time?? Fiesta went all right last night, but it took a lot of concentration to stay on pitch and keep my voice from cracking. Oh dear.
I'm also struggling a bit with finding people that I truly have things in common with. I miss deep conversation with people I love and I wish I could talk on the phone more often and with more people. Today was rough because there were people I planned on calling that I really just can't because of my sore throat. So to those of you I told I would call, I'm sorry I wasn't able to. Pray that I'll feel well enough to chat more the next time I'm in port!
This next cruise should be fun, it's another five day, and there's a crew excursion in Cayman at Stingray City where we'll be snorkeling with sting rays for 3.5 hours- for only 20 bucks! It's worth it to be crew for the discounts :)
I also learned that I have some incredible friends coming out to cruise in October- and I can't wait!! Mama comes in less than a month with 2 friends, which should be a blast too!
I hope everyone is doing well out there- missing you so much!!
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