Santa has arrived aboard the beautiful Celebrity Summit!
Christmas morning on the Summit has been interesting. My closest friends onboard are youth staff so today they look rather jolly in their elf outfits and red cheeks.
Captain Costas made the announcement that Santa had arrived and was headed to poolside. Then as we all looked around there was the horn section of the orchestra leading a posse of elves and Santa Claus to all the waiting children. The kids were so excited and even I got a bit giddy at the sight of our Aussie Santa.
Last night I enjoyed the Christmas carolling in the Grand Foyer, the Philipinno choir singing a family song in Tagalog, Silent Night with candles and midnight martinis.
The day is so bittersweet. I love being surrounded by good friends and so much festivity but the sight of all the families make me miss my own. So to all those I love out there - and you know who you are - Merry Christmas! Can we do Christmas in July when I get home?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Whoopsie...
As someone very close to me dutifully pointed out, there has been a serious need for an update. In all honesty, it has absolutely everything and absolutely nothing to do with work. I have been busy on and off - as is the nature of my job. When things are working it's smooth sailing (no pun intended), but when things malfunction then I'm putting in 13 hour days. Therefore, my lack of blog has to do with being busy during the days of pesky equipment and then being lazy when it's smooth sailing. So what's there to tell? Let's see...
My birthday was an event - an event I'm sure my body has not yet recovered from. As I was in the middle of a handover and a giant entertainment cabin change was going on, I was moved to a guest cabin for my final couple nights until I could have my permanent cabin. Yes, I rang in the big 2-4 in a cabin with a double bed, a porthole and a couch. This is like being given the Ferrari as your rental car to your high school reunion - a nice perk to a dreaded event. It was a great night with old and new friends. Like I've said - it's a strange sensation being back on a ship with faces from Century, Summit and Eclipse. It's strange being in certain lounges or restaurants or ports without certain people. It was trippy (for lack of a better word) being in a staff bar filled with old memories with brand new friends and friends with even older memories.
Next big milestone... Thanksgiving. Not as awful as I thoguht it would be. The turkey in the staff mess was dry and I had to be told that the orange-ish thing in the pan was in fact sweet potatoe casserole. Yea...
Luckily I had an American friend who loves Thanksgiving and got us into the guest dining room. The food there was AMAZING! We did the cute little American tradition of going around the table and saying what we were thankful for. So there, sat between two Canadians, I gave thanks for a job I love and good people to spend my holiday with.
The ports are all just how I left them. Delly Deck in St. Thomas, Boatyard in Barbados, Reggae Beach (yes, I visited the goat) in St. Kitts, etc. I have found a few new places - the bar with swinging chairs in St. Thomas and Coconuts in St. Croix. I've found new friends in the youth department and activity staff after saying goodbye to my closest friend this morning. I held back the tears, I am proud to say.
I'm finding the best part of this contract so far is how relaxed the environment is. This is probably because I am coming from the hustle and bustle of Solstice class and Europe, but unless things like a pivotal hard drive holding all the free-to-guest movie files crashes (yes, it did) then I'm pretty calm and happy here.
So Christmas is right around the corner and there's no doubt in my mind that I would rather be at one of my "land" homes. I'd rather have wine with my grandmother or watch little Ariell open her Barbie Dream House. I'd rather say good morning to my grandfather shoveling snow or hold my kitty while watching a parade on TV. I'd rather have my sister wake me up in the morning or bring a new book out to Chandler. I'd rather call my girls or stop by Mikey's. Above all, I'd rather go to midnight service at Unity.
However, I will get to put up my very own Santa Tracker on my channels. I will get to watch the activity staff go carolling around the ship. I will get to watch the most miserable British boy dress as a 6'4" elf. I will get to spend Christmas Eve on the beaches in Barbados. I will get to have a nice dinner in the restaurant and give out Secret Santa gifts. I will get to watch an international choir sing "Silent Night" in the theatre. I will get to go to a crew Christmas party and while we'll all be wishing we were home, we'll make our own home out here on the high seas for the holidays.
God, that was cheesey...
My birthday was an event - an event I'm sure my body has not yet recovered from. As I was in the middle of a handover and a giant entertainment cabin change was going on, I was moved to a guest cabin for my final couple nights until I could have my permanent cabin. Yes, I rang in the big 2-4 in a cabin with a double bed, a porthole and a couch. This is like being given the Ferrari as your rental car to your high school reunion - a nice perk to a dreaded event. It was a great night with old and new friends. Like I've said - it's a strange sensation being back on a ship with faces from Century, Summit and Eclipse. It's strange being in certain lounges or restaurants or ports without certain people. It was trippy (for lack of a better word) being in a staff bar filled with old memories with brand new friends and friends with even older memories.
Next big milestone... Thanksgiving. Not as awful as I thoguht it would be. The turkey in the staff mess was dry and I had to be told that the orange-ish thing in the pan was in fact sweet potatoe casserole. Yea...
Luckily I had an American friend who loves Thanksgiving and got us into the guest dining room. The food there was AMAZING! We did the cute little American tradition of going around the table and saying what we were thankful for. So there, sat between two Canadians, I gave thanks for a job I love and good people to spend my holiday with.
The ports are all just how I left them. Delly Deck in St. Thomas, Boatyard in Barbados, Reggae Beach (yes, I visited the goat) in St. Kitts, etc. I have found a few new places - the bar with swinging chairs in St. Thomas and Coconuts in St. Croix. I've found new friends in the youth department and activity staff after saying goodbye to my closest friend this morning. I held back the tears, I am proud to say.
I'm finding the best part of this contract so far is how relaxed the environment is. This is probably because I am coming from the hustle and bustle of Solstice class and Europe, but unless things like a pivotal hard drive holding all the free-to-guest movie files crashes (yes, it did) then I'm pretty calm and happy here.
So Christmas is right around the corner and there's no doubt in my mind that I would rather be at one of my "land" homes. I'd rather have wine with my grandmother or watch little Ariell open her Barbie Dream House. I'd rather say good morning to my grandfather shoveling snow or hold my kitty while watching a parade on TV. I'd rather have my sister wake me up in the morning or bring a new book out to Chandler. I'd rather call my girls or stop by Mikey's. Above all, I'd rather go to midnight service at Unity.
However, I will get to put up my very own Santa Tracker on my channels. I will get to watch the activity staff go carolling around the ship. I will get to watch the most miserable British boy dress as a 6'4" elf. I will get to spend Christmas Eve on the beaches in Barbados. I will get to have a nice dinner in the restaurant and give out Secret Santa gifts. I will get to watch an international choir sing "Silent Night" in the theatre. I will get to go to a crew Christmas party and while we'll all be wishing we were home, we'll make our own home out here on the high seas for the holidays.
God, that was cheesey...
Friday, November 12, 2010
And I'm Back
It's so nice to come back to a ship you've been on before. So many familiar faces. I don't get lost, the trainings are a breeze, and this two week handover can be done in three days so my former manager, Eddy, is letting me "have a vacation" for the first week. Doesn't mean I'm not busy. I'm hard at work getting settled, finding my uniforms, making mental notes of what to change when I take over, and reuniting with friends.
You wouldn't believe how nice it is to hear so many people tell you how happy they are to see you again.
My first day onboard I pretty much followed Kirsty, the Activity Manager, around doing her errands with her and being caught up on everything onboard.
The next day I joined the ladies (Lauri, Katie, and Kirsty) for greasy egg muffins at the Delly Deck in St. Thomas. Nice to be back at some of my old hot spots.
I got off the ship again in St. Lucia with my friend from Eclipse, Nate. The two of us and two other musicians hit up Rodney Bay Beach. I swear I had no recollection of this island until we made it to the beach. Then I remembered how much I loved it there. I laid on the beach, read my book, played in the water and enjoyed re-obtaining the tan I had missed so much. When we arrived back at the port Nate and I spotted a little bar where we had a couple beers before getting back onboard.
And naturally, Thrusday was Barbados which means The Boatyard. Nowhere else like it. I got my Caribs, and spent about 4 hours in the sun playing frisbee and getting tanner. I did miss the Caribbean.
Now as we're sailing back to Puerto Rico I'm preparing myself to go visit Katie at karaoke. Honestly, it's almost like I never left.
Now I know there's some silly day coming up soon that I'd rather not speak of, but I know many of you want my new address in relation to said day. So here it is:
Mackenzie Ames
Broadcast Operator
Celebrity Summit
PO Box 019158
Miami, FL 33101-9158
Now off to butcher the sweet lyrics of Carly Simon.
You wouldn't believe how nice it is to hear so many people tell you how happy they are to see you again.
My first day onboard I pretty much followed Kirsty, the Activity Manager, around doing her errands with her and being caught up on everything onboard.
The next day I joined the ladies (Lauri, Katie, and Kirsty) for greasy egg muffins at the Delly Deck in St. Thomas. Nice to be back at some of my old hot spots.
I got off the ship again in St. Lucia with my friend from Eclipse, Nate. The two of us and two other musicians hit up Rodney Bay Beach. I swear I had no recollection of this island until we made it to the beach. Then I remembered how much I loved it there. I laid on the beach, read my book, played in the water and enjoyed re-obtaining the tan I had missed so much. When we arrived back at the port Nate and I spotted a little bar where we had a couple beers before getting back onboard.
And naturally, Thrusday was Barbados which means The Boatyard. Nowhere else like it. I got my Caribs, and spent about 4 hours in the sun playing frisbee and getting tanner. I did miss the Caribbean.
Now as we're sailing back to Puerto Rico I'm preparing myself to go visit Katie at karaoke. Honestly, it's almost like I never left.
Now I know there's some silly day coming up soon that I'd rather not speak of, but I know many of you want my new address in relation to said day. So here it is:
Mackenzie Ames
Broadcast Operator
Celebrity Summit
PO Box 019158
Miami, FL 33101-9158
Now off to butcher the sweet lyrics of Carly Simon.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Starting From Scratch?
"Starting From Scratch" was the soundtrack of my flight to Charlotte. Thank God for "This American Life." It keeps me awake for my long day of travel to San Juan.
I always like to think of the start of a new ship like starting from scratch. It would seem, however, this can no longer be the case. I'm returning to a ship I already know. On it are familiar faces from all my past ships. I'll revisit the Caribbean islands I know so well. I already know the best spots for breakfast, beaches and beers.
Much like when leaving Eclipse, I held back the tears this time when leaving home. It may seem like I'm getting better at this leaving thing. I don't think it'll ever be easy. As I told my mother, I get comfortable in places. After two months at home I loved having a couch, going to the grocery store and unlimited opportunities to pick up the phone and call my loved ones (though, admittedly, I did not do that enough). I loved having a space larger than a broom closet to call my own. I began to see how I could be really happy back on land.
However, as one friend put it, "You have the rest of your life to have a kitchen and groceries. and your friends are always here when you get back." Very true. Ship life is something most people never experience. So while I always have plans for my future on land in the back of my mind, I'll try and focus on the delicious Carib beers and sandy beaches I have ahead of me.
I always like to think of the start of a new ship like starting from scratch. It would seem, however, this can no longer be the case. I'm returning to a ship I already know. On it are familiar faces from all my past ships. I'll revisit the Caribbean islands I know so well. I already know the best spots for breakfast, beaches and beers.
Much like when leaving Eclipse, I held back the tears this time when leaving home. It may seem like I'm getting better at this leaving thing. I don't think it'll ever be easy. As I told my mother, I get comfortable in places. After two months at home I loved having a couch, going to the grocery store and unlimited opportunities to pick up the phone and call my loved ones (though, admittedly, I did not do that enough). I loved having a space larger than a broom closet to call my own. I began to see how I could be really happy back on land.
However, as one friend put it, "You have the rest of your life to have a kitchen and groceries. and your friends are always here when you get back." Very true. Ship life is something most people never experience. So while I always have plans for my future on land in the back of my mind, I'll try and focus on the delicious Carib beers and sandy beaches I have ahead of me.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Finer Things
I spend a lot of my time on ships doing things that are very out of the ordinary for a little semi-redneck from the home of NASCAR. I occasionally eat in five star, French restaurants. I'll sit at sidewalk cafes in France and Spain with sangria. I sometimes go to the wine and cheese events at the bow of the ship under the stars. These are the things I do occasionally that remind me I'm kind of a grown up, and a slightly cultured one at that.
However there is one event I often attend that deserves its own entry: our ladies catch-up sessions in the wine bar onboard, Cellar Masters. We ladies (and sometimes Franklin) make it a point to meet once a cruise for wine/champagne delivered by our favorite sommelier Dennis and simply sit and chat about our lives. We cover all topics from men, work, home, frustrations, promotions, celebrations and consoling. It is amazing to sit with a glass of Reisling (always my drink of choice) and be surrounded by women of all ages from all departments and be able to relate. I thought about this during our session last night.
Typically we have Grace the Acupuncturist, Fiona the Port and Shopping Guide, Jenn the Nurse, Liv the Gift Shop Manager, sometimes Olga the Cruise Director's Wife, and sometimes Martine the Financial Controller. The ages range from 23 (yours truly) up to 48. We come from America, England, New Zealand, Russia, and Scotland. We clearly work in all different areas onboard and some have been doing ships far longer than others. Some are ready to be done and settle at home, while others seem to love the life at sea too much to let go. It is an eclectic and fun group.
Often we break into smaller chatting sessions. For example, last night Jenn and Fiona got into Jenn's frustrations with work, while Grace and I began a deep discussion of religion and our upbringings.
I can't say I haven't felt completely privileged to be let in on wine catch-up sessions. These women are amazing and have all taught me things in one way or another. I've been let in on perspectives I never considered and feel much more enriched for simply enjoying the finer things, like a nice glass of Reisling and the company of, as Fiona calls it, "The Bitches of Eastwick."
However there is one event I often attend that deserves its own entry: our ladies catch-up sessions in the wine bar onboard, Cellar Masters. We ladies (and sometimes Franklin) make it a point to meet once a cruise for wine/champagne delivered by our favorite sommelier Dennis and simply sit and chat about our lives. We cover all topics from men, work, home, frustrations, promotions, celebrations and consoling. It is amazing to sit with a glass of Reisling (always my drink of choice) and be surrounded by women of all ages from all departments and be able to relate. I thought about this during our session last night.
Typically we have Grace the Acupuncturist, Fiona the Port and Shopping Guide, Jenn the Nurse, Liv the Gift Shop Manager, sometimes Olga the Cruise Director's Wife, and sometimes Martine the Financial Controller. The ages range from 23 (yours truly) up to 48. We come from America, England, New Zealand, Russia, and Scotland. We clearly work in all different areas onboard and some have been doing ships far longer than others. Some are ready to be done and settle at home, while others seem to love the life at sea too much to let go. It is an eclectic and fun group.
Often we break into smaller chatting sessions. For example, last night Jenn and Fiona got into Jenn's frustrations with work, while Grace and I began a deep discussion of religion and our upbringings.
I can't say I haven't felt completely privileged to be let in on wine catch-up sessions. These women are amazing and have all taught me things in one way or another. I've been let in on perspectives I never considered and feel much more enriched for simply enjoying the finer things, like a nice glass of Reisling and the company of, as Fiona calls it, "The Bitches of Eastwick."
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Eclipsed Them All
As I'm coming to the last few weeks of this longer-than-normal contract I have to look back at the changes I've made. It's been so much more than changing of ship, scenery, and job. I look back at how my priorities have changed in the last few months. It used to be all about the ports and the shopping and the fun. Now I see myself taking the job more seriously (not too seriously, mind you). I like being in the office. I don't feel gutted if I miss a Barcelona here or a Vigo there. I'm happy to be productive onboard. Is that maturity I smell? Wait... maybe that was the tuna I had for lunch...
Anyway, I find I value my time on the ship just as much as the ports. Maybe it's this ship? Maybe it's this group of friends? Maybe it's just this time in my life?
I can't describe it. Things feel different. I don't have that anxious feeling about leaving. I will be sad to leave Jenn on the gangway. I will be even sadder if I have to leave Tim and Matt in the parking lot as they board the bus to the airport and I board a bus to hotel for my inevitable overnight. I will be sad to watch the Eclipse from the back window and I will of course cry as I say my goodbye. I feel good about it all this time, though. It's like I almost can't wait for that moment of standing on the pier, looking back with a giant sigh of relief and thinking "I did it."
I am ready to go home, though. So completely ready. As much as I'll miss my acapella guys and that British nurse that's joined at my hip, I'm ready to see my family. Ready to have a cider at McK's with Nicole, Mikey and Vonne. Ready for a night of Glee and Kraft macaroni and cheese. Ready to see my mom at the airport. Ready to see the beauty and filth of NYC again. Ready to spend time with my family in Bath. Ready to have Pirate's Booty and "Tiffy Drinks" with Leigh and Tiff. Ready to celebrate Allie's 21st! Ready to blame Rod for a night of too much drinking. Ready to hit up North Carolina for reunions with girlies and Elon homecoming! Ready to sleep a whole night with no phone interruptions. Sounds like a pretty fantastic vacation, right?
Then I'll be ready to start it all over again, with a holiday season back on the Celebrity Summit.
For now, though, I suppose I'll focus on these last few weeks of projects, ports and parties on the ship I opened, my baby, the Celebrity Eclipse.
Anyway, I find I value my time on the ship just as much as the ports. Maybe it's this ship? Maybe it's this group of friends? Maybe it's just this time in my life?
I can't describe it. Things feel different. I don't have that anxious feeling about leaving. I will be sad to leave Jenn on the gangway. I will be even sadder if I have to leave Tim and Matt in the parking lot as they board the bus to the airport and I board a bus to hotel for my inevitable overnight. I will be sad to watch the Eclipse from the back window and I will of course cry as I say my goodbye. I feel good about it all this time, though. It's like I almost can't wait for that moment of standing on the pier, looking back with a giant sigh of relief and thinking "I did it."
I am ready to go home, though. So completely ready. As much as I'll miss my acapella guys and that British nurse that's joined at my hip, I'm ready to see my family. Ready to have a cider at McK's with Nicole, Mikey and Vonne. Ready for a night of Glee and Kraft macaroni and cheese. Ready to see my mom at the airport. Ready to see the beauty and filth of NYC again. Ready to spend time with my family in Bath. Ready to have Pirate's Booty and "Tiffy Drinks" with Leigh and Tiff. Ready to celebrate Allie's 21st! Ready to blame Rod for a night of too much drinking. Ready to hit up North Carolina for reunions with girlies and Elon homecoming! Ready to sleep a whole night with no phone interruptions. Sounds like a pretty fantastic vacation, right?
Then I'll be ready to start it all over again, with a holiday season back on the Celebrity Summit.
For now, though, I suppose I'll focus on these last few weeks of projects, ports and parties on the ship I opened, my baby, the Celebrity Eclipse.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Wait, Where Are the Pews?
So what did I do with my day today?
Well, I went into St. Petersburg, Russia and was the videographer of a Russian Orthodox wedding in a classic cathedral. Yea...
So I had my buddy Dany with me and we had a game plan. He would set up in the back behind the pews for a straight on shot of the couple at the altar and I would roam around getting different angles. Simple, right?
Imagine our surprise when we walked in and there were no pews... Just one long walkway. Well, here's how they do it in Russia. The couple stood at the beginning of this walkway in this elaborately ornate cathedral. Golds and blues among these antiks of saints and Jesus. Dany and I had to scrub the initial game plan and go with the flow. Bigger problem? As I'm not Russian and neither is my Canadian friend, we can't step on the carpet - leaving me stuck on my side and him on the other. Communication was not possible. Luckily, he and I work so well together a few minutes in he could see what I was doing (straight on, steady shot) so he knew what to do (close ups). I kept a close eye on my little foot as to not step on the sacred carpet. I was so careful, as I was also the only woman in the room with no head cover. Those of you who know me know I am extremely spiritual and very cautious of respecting other religions. Not having a head cover was so embarrassing for me.
The ceremony involves a choir (that I could never spot) and Russian priests who sing the whole service. It's all in Russian so I haven't a clue what I was listening to. The best man and maid of honor (I suppose that's what you call them) stand behind the bride and groom and follow them down the aisle, which they cover in installments. First there's a candle lighting. The priests sing, read from the Bible and everyone crosses themselves. Then they move down the aisle and go over this little stage thing and the best man and maid of honor stay on the stage above the couple. Then another priest in the prettiest green robes brings these crowns out to be held over the heads of the couple by the best man and maid of honor. They continue singing and then the couples moves up onto the altar where the priest gives them each antik icons to hold. That's when they come to the end, stand holding their icons and the guests are meant to approach them, wish the best of luck, and kiss their icons.
It was certainly not something I ever thought I would see.
After the ceremony we waited outside the church as they rang the bells and then the whole lot of us (most of the senior staff onboard and family) went to the square in front of St. Isaac's Cathedral for photos. I am a friend of the bride so it was very sweet of her to ask for a picture with me without my camera. My friends I took our own photos, we drank champagne from plastic cups and did shots of vodka on the river side. For good luck, of course...
Then there was a small, quick reception in one of the specialty restaurants onboard with cake cutting, chocolate fondues and more champagne.
Really not a bad way to spend my last Russia day. 48 days left on the Eclipse...
Well, I went into St. Petersburg, Russia and was the videographer of a Russian Orthodox wedding in a classic cathedral. Yea...
So I had my buddy Dany with me and we had a game plan. He would set up in the back behind the pews for a straight on shot of the couple at the altar and I would roam around getting different angles. Simple, right?
Imagine our surprise when we walked in and there were no pews... Just one long walkway. Well, here's how they do it in Russia. The couple stood at the beginning of this walkway in this elaborately ornate cathedral. Golds and blues among these antiks of saints and Jesus. Dany and I had to scrub the initial game plan and go with the flow. Bigger problem? As I'm not Russian and neither is my Canadian friend, we can't step on the carpet - leaving me stuck on my side and him on the other. Communication was not possible. Luckily, he and I work so well together a few minutes in he could see what I was doing (straight on, steady shot) so he knew what to do (close ups). I kept a close eye on my little foot as to not step on the sacred carpet. I was so careful, as I was also the only woman in the room with no head cover. Those of you who know me know I am extremely spiritual and very cautious of respecting other religions. Not having a head cover was so embarrassing for me.
The ceremony involves a choir (that I could never spot) and Russian priests who sing the whole service. It's all in Russian so I haven't a clue what I was listening to. The best man and maid of honor (I suppose that's what you call them) stand behind the bride and groom and follow them down the aisle, which they cover in installments. First there's a candle lighting. The priests sing, read from the Bible and everyone crosses themselves. Then they move down the aisle and go over this little stage thing and the best man and maid of honor stay on the stage above the couple. Then another priest in the prettiest green robes brings these crowns out to be held over the heads of the couple by the best man and maid of honor. They continue singing and then the couples moves up onto the altar where the priest gives them each antik icons to hold. That's when they come to the end, stand holding their icons and the guests are meant to approach them, wish the best of luck, and kiss their icons.
It was certainly not something I ever thought I would see.
After the ceremony we waited outside the church as they rang the bells and then the whole lot of us (most of the senior staff onboard and family) went to the square in front of St. Isaac's Cathedral for photos. I am a friend of the bride so it was very sweet of her to ask for a picture with me without my camera. My friends I took our own photos, we drank champagne from plastic cups and did shots of vodka on the river side. For good luck, of course...
Then there was a small, quick reception in one of the specialty restaurants onboard with cake cutting, chocolate fondues and more champagne.
Really not a bad way to spend my last Russia day. 48 days left on the Eclipse...
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Big Cheese
This being boss thing isn't too bad. I kinda like being in charge. I can run this office the way I want to and don't have to follow anyone's schedule but my own (and the Cruise Director...) I can get used to this.
I'm feeling rather thoughtful at present, though. I had a picnic in Copenhagen last week, beers in Germany, and today had my lunch at the back of the ship with the skyline of Stockholm as our backdrop. I take it for granted some days. Don't get me wrong, though no one seems to believe me, there are definite cons to living out here. Moments where I'm laughing til my sides hurt on a blanket in Denmark make it bearable, though.
I like to write out these moments where I realize what I've got going here, so that when I do silly things like complain about having to work in Russia I can have a nice reminder that I'm lucky.
I just had one of those moments again. I was pleasantly greeted this morning with an e-mail from my sister. I always love hearing from family out here, especially Allie. She writes asking for advice on study abroad and which country she should apply for. I read it and immediately started giving it some thought when I had to stop and take notice of how easily I was able to consider my response. I've spent significant time in both countries and realized I was fully capable of giving insight on a matter of world travel. It's another "shake my head" moment. Another moment where I realize how lucky I am. Another moment I never in my wildest dreams I would ever have. Who would have ever guessed I would be able to tell my little sister which country she'd like more... because I've been to both!
The big boss in Europe... again...
I'm feeling rather thoughtful at present, though. I had a picnic in Copenhagen last week, beers in Germany, and today had my lunch at the back of the ship with the skyline of Stockholm as our backdrop. I take it for granted some days. Don't get me wrong, though no one seems to believe me, there are definite cons to living out here. Moments where I'm laughing til my sides hurt on a blanket in Denmark make it bearable, though.
I like to write out these moments where I realize what I've got going here, so that when I do silly things like complain about having to work in Russia I can have a nice reminder that I'm lucky.
I just had one of those moments again. I was pleasantly greeted this morning with an e-mail from my sister. I always love hearing from family out here, especially Allie. She writes asking for advice on study abroad and which country she should apply for. I read it and immediately started giving it some thought when I had to stop and take notice of how easily I was able to consider my response. I've spent significant time in both countries and realized I was fully capable of giving insight on a matter of world travel. It's another "shake my head" moment. Another moment where I realize how lucky I am. Another moment I never in my wildest dreams I would ever have. Who would have ever guessed I would be able to tell my little sister which country she'd like more... because I've been to both!
The big boss in Europe... again...
Sunday, July 4, 2010
USA is A-OK!
My great to the eighth power grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. Eleazer Hill fought the Brits to secure my independence as an American. How did I ring in this Independence Day? Taking photos with my best friend onboard - a Brit. He's looking down on me and shaking his head. I couldn't avoid a chuckle at that last night.
Another 4th in another country. Oddly enough, though, this time I'm Russia. Probably one of the last places an American wants to spend the day celebrating their country. I'm staying on the ship today.
Last night we had a USA Day party on the top deck. Not too crowded, but we managed to show people what Americans do. We had beer pong and flip cup and I was rushed with memories of Elon and Duke. The girls beat the boys in flip cup, naturally. It was just fun to paint stars on my face and put on anything red, white and blue.
Needless to say, getting up for work this morning wasn't the easiest. I've just come back from an unsatisfying burger at our crew BBQ. As much fun as the party was, today I'd much rather be in the States with a beer, a burger and plans to see fireworks. As glamorous as it may seem to have this job, and while I'm constantly surrounded by a crew of roughly 1200, there are days like today where I wish I had a 9-5 job, an apartment, a car, and were simply at home.
Happy 4th of July to all my fellow Americans!!!
Another 4th in another country. Oddly enough, though, this time I'm Russia. Probably one of the last places an American wants to spend the day celebrating their country. I'm staying on the ship today.
Last night we had a USA Day party on the top deck. Not too crowded, but we managed to show people what Americans do. We had beer pong and flip cup and I was rushed with memories of Elon and Duke. The girls beat the boys in flip cup, naturally. It was just fun to paint stars on my face and put on anything red, white and blue.
Needless to say, getting up for work this morning wasn't the easiest. I've just come back from an unsatisfying burger at our crew BBQ. As much fun as the party was, today I'd much rather be in the States with a beer, a burger and plans to see fireworks. As glamorous as it may seem to have this job, and while I'm constantly surrounded by a crew of roughly 1200, there are days like today where I wish I had a 9-5 job, an apartment, a car, and were simply at home.
Happy 4th of July to all my fellow Americans!!!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
One Year
One year. Today is one year since I joined my first ship. One year since I walked onto the Celebrity Century. One year I looked at Avid with scared little eyes. Today I have those same scared little eyes, but it's as I look at the manager phone and computer. I am responsible for training and showing around the guy taking my place. I am officially the Broadcast Manager of the Celebrity Eclipse.
What a difference a year makes...
What a difference a year makes...
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Oh! Is That the Sun?
Training, World Cup, training, World Cup, sleep, eat, World Cup, training. That's been my life. I take over as manager at the end of this cruise - which is a week away. It's been quite hectic in the BCC. I have been off the ship twice this cruise. It makes me yearn for our picnic in Copenhagen. It will be my last time off the ship for I don't know how long. Luckily, though, this is not the kind of ship you mind being stuck on. It's also not the itinerary you feel like you're missing. I've done all the sightseeing these places have to offer. I don't mind focusing on my job for a while. Barring a trip to Stonehenge, there's not much else I'm dying to do out here in the Baltic.
When I do get free time, though, I take full advantage. Drinks at the choo-choo bar in Germany and lunches in the sun of Stockholm. Talking to Swedish locals and nights spent with good friends and soccer are getting me through. I'm quickly learning about soccer and finding I can really get into a game if I'm invested in one of the teams. For example, last night I was riveted watching the England v Algeria game, but right now I'm monitoring Ghana v Australia and well, I'm blogging. I am completely taken in by the US games. I put aside everything to watch the US v Slovenia game and find myself reading more about it on espn.com. I'm even shouting player names at the screen...
Yep, I've been caught up in the World Cup fever. It's just fun to have a chance to cheer for our own countries when we're all so far from home.
Tune in next time to see how well I handle this manager thing...
When I do get free time, though, I take full advantage. Drinks at the choo-choo bar in Germany and lunches in the sun of Stockholm. Talking to Swedish locals and nights spent with good friends and soccer are getting me through. I'm quickly learning about soccer and finding I can really get into a game if I'm invested in one of the teams. For example, last night I was riveted watching the England v Algeria game, but right now I'm monitoring Ghana v Australia and well, I'm blogging. I am completely taken in by the US games. I put aside everything to watch the US v Slovenia game and find myself reading more about it on espn.com. I'm even shouting player names at the screen...
Yep, I've been caught up in the World Cup fever. It's just fun to have a chance to cheer for our own countries when we're all so far from home.
Tune in next time to see how well I handle this manager thing...
Saturday, June 12, 2010
World Cup Craziness
Just a quick observation. At home I would've noticed the World Cup in passing and probably wondered why it was taking up so much broadcast time. I wouldn't have noticed any of them games and stuck to my "soccer is boring" mind set.
Being on ship with colleagues from every country represented in the cup has changed my perspective. Though I am forced to watch every game, as a part of my job monitoring the channels, I probably would anyway. I watched my very first full soccer game yesterday.
I still don't find it to be the most fascinating sport of all, but I'm getting an aspect of it I would have never I thought I would have experienced.
I watched the kick off as I toasted champagne with two South Africans and two Brits. I spent the second half of the game watching in the crew bar with a giant group of rowdy South Africans speaking in Afrikaans, sat next to a group of Mexicans drinking Corona and speaking Spanish. It was such an energetic feel it made me get in on the action. Now I pick a team at the start of each game. I overheard my friend Jenn say she didn't really care about one of the games as she didn't have any friends from wither country. How strange, that's how I'm picking my teams. I root for the country that I have more friends in. Just another moment to stop and say, yes, while that feels normal on a ship, it's not normal. It's fantastic.
Tonight's the England v US game. I've asked my friends to try and find an America jersey for me - hey I'll need one for the 4th anyway, right? I am a little scared, though. It will probably be one of the most aggressive nights this crew bar will ever see. We have a rather large American population within entertainment, and as we're out of Southampton, Celebrity wants to send all of their British employees to the Eclipse. We also have about half and half guests onboard as well. As Jenn says, "the though of this game will get me through embarkation day." :)
Being on ship with colleagues from every country represented in the cup has changed my perspective. Though I am forced to watch every game, as a part of my job monitoring the channels, I probably would anyway. I watched my very first full soccer game yesterday.
I still don't find it to be the most fascinating sport of all, but I'm getting an aspect of it I would have never I thought I would have experienced.
I watched the kick off as I toasted champagne with two South Africans and two Brits. I spent the second half of the game watching in the crew bar with a giant group of rowdy South Africans speaking in Afrikaans, sat next to a group of Mexicans drinking Corona and speaking Spanish. It was such an energetic feel it made me get in on the action. Now I pick a team at the start of each game. I overheard my friend Jenn say she didn't really care about one of the games as she didn't have any friends from wither country. How strange, that's how I'm picking my teams. I root for the country that I have more friends in. Just another moment to stop and say, yes, while that feels normal on a ship, it's not normal. It's fantastic.
Tonight's the England v US game. I've asked my friends to try and find an America jersey for me - hey I'll need one for the 4th anyway, right? I am a little scared, though. It will probably be one of the most aggressive nights this crew bar will ever see. We have a rather large American population within entertainment, and as we're out of Southampton, Celebrity wants to send all of their British employees to the Eclipse. We also have about half and half guests onboard as well. As Jenn says, "the though of this game will get me through embarkation day." :)
Friday, June 4, 2010
Big Girl Clothes
Yes, yes, yes, I haven't updated...
There is a legitimate reason, I've been busy trying out this grown up thing. More on that momentarily.
The Eclipse is amazing. I did the Baltic run again. Glad to see it's still as lovely as I left it. Warnemunde still makes me smile. Such a charming little German port. I got off the ship thinking we had had to dock in neighboring Rostock as our ship is so enormous. Imagine my surprise to find that I was in fact in Warnemunde! I walked around with my ipod and enjoyed the little street market. I had a beer at the choo-choo bar. Yes, choo-choo bar. It's this little outdoor bar off the ship with a little train that rides around the awning. I'll have to post pictures.
In Tallinn, Estonia I went with two of my best friends from my former ship, Flo and Sara, to have honey beer and lunch at the Beer House. This place was so cheesy German that it was almost like being at Epcot. I loved it. The girls were dressed as wenches and the honey beer was delicious. The mugs were as big as my head, so just one was plenty with our German fried cheese.
Copenhagen was the loveliest day. I have been rather stressed at the job lately (again, more later), but Copenhagen was perfect for relighting my spark. I went with my new buddies Jenn, Franklin, and Scott to Tivoli Gardens. This is the place where Walt Disney got his idea for Disney World. It was adorable. The tulips were blooming, the ducks were quacking, and the wine was amazing. The four of us sat at this little restaurant next to the pond, watching people spin upside down and all over, and we laughed harder than I have in a long time.
The funny thing about returning to the same place as I was last summer is having the memories rush back at me. I couldn't walk along in Warnemunde without slightly missing Val and Marc. If I'm being honest, Most every port in the Baltic had me thinking of Val and Anna. It's just weird to be here without them.
The Canary Islands are lovely. They have the fun and sun of the Caribbean, yet the beauty of Spain. In Funchal, Madeira I went out with Franklin and Jenn again. We found some delicious sangria with a great Portuguese steak for lunch. Then the best part. We took the cable car to the top of the mountain, which was just a stunning view. Our ship looked so small! Now in Madeira there is a little tradition that has turned into a tourist must. Apparently back in the day (yes, I just said back in the day) the royals and rich of the island found that the quickest way to get down to the bottom of the island from their mansions above, was to have two servants pull them down and they would speed along in a toboggan down the mountain. So of course the three of us simply had to try this out! It was crazy! We did speed along down the mountain with the wind whipping us all around. We threw our hands up like we were on a roller coaster and laughed the whole way down.
In Vigo, Spain my friend Tim was celebrating his 30th birthday. So a big group of us planned to spend the day showing him how much he means to us. So we began the day with some morning orange juice in the staff bar and led him out to port with an itinerary Jenn wrote out on construction paper. We had lunch at a hotel where they were actually boiling octopus behind us, and then found a nice sidewalk cafe with a grassy area perfect for Tim to write in his journal and Nate and Galen to play frisbee. We had more sangria, felt the sun and I captured some great action shots of frisbee (to be posted to facebook asap). That evening we went to the Italian steakhouse onboard, Tuscan, for dinner. We capped off the night with a special corner of the crew bar decorated for Tim. It was such a great day.
Ok, now for the growing up thing. I am being promoted to Broadcast Manager of the Eclipse on June 26. This does mean I'll be here until September 4, but what an honor, right? I'll be the first female manager in ten years. Not only will I be the only female BCCM in the fleet, but I'll also be the youngest as of right now. Exciting stuff right? Pay raise, solo cabin, etc. Along with that has been lots of training and lots of pressure. My first contract as a manager will be with the most demanding Cruise Director - Hotel Director duo in the fleet. It will be a challenge, but I'm slowly putting on the big girl clothes. I know I can do it. I'll be fine and it's only a couple months, but what pressure! Manager of the flag ship!
That's not the only thing forcing me to evaluate things in my life. It's strange, right now the majority of my friends are older than I am. They're mostly 27, 30, 33, etc. I find myself relating to them more easily than those closer to my age. It's having me evaluate my maturity. I do get along better with them, but being a part of a group of older people who have such rich life experiences points out my own immature moments. Not just points them out, magnifies them. I catch when I'm being 23 almost instantaneously. I can't assess whether or not this is a good or bad thing. I'm thankful for the chance to grow and mature from those around me, but am I skipping something in not letting myself have those moments of early twenties immaturity? There are sometimes I do feel that I am in my right to have a 23 year old girl moment. I'm just alone in them, being the youngest of my friends. There, now I'm over-analyzing - there's my 23 year old immaturity. Putting on the big girl clothes and heading back to work. :)
There is a legitimate reason, I've been busy trying out this grown up thing. More on that momentarily.
The Eclipse is amazing. I did the Baltic run again. Glad to see it's still as lovely as I left it. Warnemunde still makes me smile. Such a charming little German port. I got off the ship thinking we had had to dock in neighboring Rostock as our ship is so enormous. Imagine my surprise to find that I was in fact in Warnemunde! I walked around with my ipod and enjoyed the little street market. I had a beer at the choo-choo bar. Yes, choo-choo bar. It's this little outdoor bar off the ship with a little train that rides around the awning. I'll have to post pictures.
In Tallinn, Estonia I went with two of my best friends from my former ship, Flo and Sara, to have honey beer and lunch at the Beer House. This place was so cheesy German that it was almost like being at Epcot. I loved it. The girls were dressed as wenches and the honey beer was delicious. The mugs were as big as my head, so just one was plenty with our German fried cheese.
Copenhagen was the loveliest day. I have been rather stressed at the job lately (again, more later), but Copenhagen was perfect for relighting my spark. I went with my new buddies Jenn, Franklin, and Scott to Tivoli Gardens. This is the place where Walt Disney got his idea for Disney World. It was adorable. The tulips were blooming, the ducks were quacking, and the wine was amazing. The four of us sat at this little restaurant next to the pond, watching people spin upside down and all over, and we laughed harder than I have in a long time.
The funny thing about returning to the same place as I was last summer is having the memories rush back at me. I couldn't walk along in Warnemunde without slightly missing Val and Marc. If I'm being honest, Most every port in the Baltic had me thinking of Val and Anna. It's just weird to be here without them.
The Canary Islands are lovely. They have the fun and sun of the Caribbean, yet the beauty of Spain. In Funchal, Madeira I went out with Franklin and Jenn again. We found some delicious sangria with a great Portuguese steak for lunch. Then the best part. We took the cable car to the top of the mountain, which was just a stunning view. Our ship looked so small! Now in Madeira there is a little tradition that has turned into a tourist must. Apparently back in the day (yes, I just said back in the day) the royals and rich of the island found that the quickest way to get down to the bottom of the island from their mansions above, was to have two servants pull them down and they would speed along in a toboggan down the mountain. So of course the three of us simply had to try this out! It was crazy! We did speed along down the mountain with the wind whipping us all around. We threw our hands up like we were on a roller coaster and laughed the whole way down.
In Vigo, Spain my friend Tim was celebrating his 30th birthday. So a big group of us planned to spend the day showing him how much he means to us. So we began the day with some morning orange juice in the staff bar and led him out to port with an itinerary Jenn wrote out on construction paper. We had lunch at a hotel where they were actually boiling octopus behind us, and then found a nice sidewalk cafe with a grassy area perfect for Tim to write in his journal and Nate and Galen to play frisbee. We had more sangria, felt the sun and I captured some great action shots of frisbee (to be posted to facebook asap). That evening we went to the Italian steakhouse onboard, Tuscan, for dinner. We capped off the night with a special corner of the crew bar decorated for Tim. It was such a great day.
Ok, now for the growing up thing. I am being promoted to Broadcast Manager of the Eclipse on June 26. This does mean I'll be here until September 4, but what an honor, right? I'll be the first female manager in ten years. Not only will I be the only female BCCM in the fleet, but I'll also be the youngest as of right now. Exciting stuff right? Pay raise, solo cabin, etc. Along with that has been lots of training and lots of pressure. My first contract as a manager will be with the most demanding Cruise Director - Hotel Director duo in the fleet. It will be a challenge, but I'm slowly putting on the big girl clothes. I know I can do it. I'll be fine and it's only a couple months, but what pressure! Manager of the flag ship!
That's not the only thing forcing me to evaluate things in my life. It's strange, right now the majority of my friends are older than I am. They're mostly 27, 30, 33, etc. I find myself relating to them more easily than those closer to my age. It's having me evaluate my maturity. I do get along better with them, but being a part of a group of older people who have such rich life experiences points out my own immature moments. Not just points them out, magnifies them. I catch when I'm being 23 almost instantaneously. I can't assess whether or not this is a good or bad thing. I'm thankful for the chance to grow and mature from those around me, but am I skipping something in not letting myself have those moments of early twenties immaturity? There are sometimes I do feel that I am in my right to have a 23 year old girl moment. I'm just alone in them, being the youngest of my friends. There, now I'm over-analyzing - there's my 23 year old immaturity. Putting on the big girl clothes and heading back to work. :)
Monday, April 26, 2010
4! 4! 4 Blogs in One!
The following are four blogs I've written over the course of the last month!
Movin' On Up
3/27/10
Alright, after 6 hours layover in London we finally arrived in Amsterdam where three of us were bused out to a nearby hotel. Here we were served dinner while awaiting the rest of the crew arriving that night. So after another 4 and a half hours of hanging out in a hotel conference room, we finally boarded the bus for the 2 and a half hour ride to the ship in Eemshaven, Holland.
During dinner, ironically, I sat across from the other broadcast assistant, Laura. She will be my colleague and roommate for the next three months, at least. She's nice and we seem to get along well. She's a real go-getter. She stands out more than I do since she's just come from a Solstice class ship so she knows all the equipment and layout of the ship. I'm trying. Jetlag and trying to catch up is slowly taking its toll.
So the Eclipse: 14 decks (no deck 13 as it's unlucky), 1200 crew, shared bunk bed room, top bunk again, porthole this time (YES!), amazing broadcast adjacent to the theater, sweet ass manager, etc. I like it so far. It's my first day onboard and Sandy - my manager - said the real work starts very soon. So as of right now I'm just trying to get through my morning safety trainings and learn where stuff is all the while dealing with the crazy land guys around the broadcast. I saw one friendly face who I will be seeing everyday for the duration of my contract - Danny the French Canadian ITV Manager.
Oh and for those of you who were wondering, yes I did cry when I left the Summit. Obviously. I held it together really well for a while there. I had breakfast with some of the acapella, Anna and ITV Dan (different ITV Dans). I had coffee with Susan the art associate from North Carolina and then Brian, Dan and Anna kept me company before I had to wheel my way down to the gangway. It wasn't until Anna hugged me and told me she didn't know what she was going to do without "her midget." Then I had to scrunch up my face to refuse the tears. She walked out of the room and I let a few fall, still doing good. Then Brian and Dan each wheeled one of my suitcases to security and waited with me until the Crew Administrator called for me to leave. Hugging my two favorite guys on the ship was too much for me. I made them leave right after the hugs cause I didn't want them to see me lose it. I saved that for the cab. There was a good 5 or 10 minutes of crying. Seriously, is anyone surprised?
So yea, I'm here. Everything's new so it's nice to be the first to use the cameras, sleep in my bed, walk these halls, etc. After this weekend the cast and more of the entertainment department will be here. I anticipate more expected and unxpected friendly faces. My girl Sara from the Summit gets here Monday. I can't wait. We're going to tear this place up. Get ready Eclipse!
4/14/10
Not even a month has gone by and I can't believe the things that have gone on here.
Eemshaven, Holland is basically a shipyard. Nothing else. There is absolutely nothing else here except the windmills. Not the cute Dutch windmills, though. These are the white, pointy, industrial windmills. There is one place in walking distance here, and that is the Seafarer's Mission. This place has internet and a bar, along with being a mission. So of course you see the crew travel out in high numbers once the working day is through to partake in a Grolsch (local brew) at what we call "the church." Yes, this has spawned terms like, "let's go and wash away our sins," "we need to go pray tonight," and "who wants to worship later?" Do I feel like a sinner? Yea, but I work on a ship, so I felt like that before.
On a side note, the best phrase uttered at the church so far is, "I need to control, alt, delete my thoughts." Yea, said by a fellow Spruce Creek Alum who's helping install the broadcast. Small, small, world.
Close towns? Deilfsil, at least I think that's how it's spelled. Great place for quick shopping. We had one night out there when I first got onboard. Me, Laura, ITV Danny, and Isaac the Production Manager. We had Heineken's at the Anker. Great little pub with a sweet dutch bartender. The old men there kept telling me how glad they were to have an American in the bar. I still maintain it's not hard to be an American abroad. Maybe it's just that I'm an American braud. Who knows? Anyway, my favorite part of the town is that there's a place called The Slagery Cramer. Yea, I know...
There's also Gronigen. I went in one night... that's all that needs to be said...
So let me tell you all more about this ship.
It's absolutely beautiful. I mean I walked onboard and it was half done, covered in plastic and dust, and now, well, now we start sailing tomorrow and with all the Maimi big-wigs onboard the place is sparkling. The coffee shop is like something you'd see in a chic place like London or Cannes. There's a restuarant in the center of the ship called "Bistro on 5" that's devoted to making soups, crepes, and paninis. I had the best chicken caesar salad there. It's a very market square feel. The theater is beautiful, the balconies are incredible, the night clubs are dowtown Miami posh, and since there have been no guests onboard, every part of the ship is using the crew as test subjects. For example, we've been eating in the main dining room these past few nights, the bartenders are trying out their skills on us, it's been amazing to feel like a guest.
Knowing the right people has its perks, too. Ken Rust is the man in charge of giving us every piece of audio equipment onboard - from the stage set up, to broadcast, to the music in the elevators and the speakers blasting the ipods in the Teen Lounge. He and his right-hand man, Mark, are the greatest set of characters I've come across in a while. Anyway, Ken has a way of getting things for us. It always sounds like a mob scheme, too, what with his New Jersey accent and all. The broadcast team has had dinner in each specialty restaurant this week. Our first night was in "Qsine." Ken, Mark, Laura, Sandy (my manager), Mike (my head boss from Miami) and I shared a great tapas style meal at this funky and hip restaurant. The place is completely designed by Jacques Van Staden - the head of culinary arts for Celebrity Cruises. We did a commercial with him a couple weeks ago and he's a very creative man. Those who know him say this restuarant is like walking itno Jacque's mind. The ceilingiis decorated with upside down table lamps and none of the chairs at any one table match. They serve spring rolls in springs, popcorn shrimp comes in popcorn boxes, disco shrimp comes in a light up glass and the cheesecake comes in a stemless wine glass with crust cookes on the side for dipping. Everything is all you can eat and we definitely did! That night was also the Yard Party. The whole ship went into full working gear to offer a night onboard for all the contractors who built the ship and their families. There was a show and free booze everywhere! I spent most of the night bonding with my broadcast team in the small night club, Quasar. A night that will not be forgotten.
The next night Ken got us into the French dining specialty restaurant, Murano. There was a Murano on the Century that I tried, but to be honest, this one was not as good. I enjoyed it, but I had high hopes for it to match the Century's taste and it didn't. The company was great, though. Same as the previous night. I was starting to feel like we were a family since we were eating practically every meal with one another. Ken tells great stories from being a roadie, and beating up Beastie Boys in Daytona during Spring Break. Mark makes jokes about Ken being old. Mike has dry and sarcastic comments like asking if anyone wants to share the "escargots" (pronouncing every letter, of course). While many people onboard are in fear of their head office bosses, I'm dreading for when mine leave.
Last night we went to Tuscan Grille - the Italian steakhouse onboard. Mike was absent, but instead we had two technicians from the theatre, and the head of entertainment in Miami - Brian join us. The food was excellent. I had the best crab meat casserole and a giant NY strip steak. Ken continued to tell stories about working with George Martin and Paul McCartney and I nearly died. I had to take a look around the table at one point. I was sitting at a table, lady in red, back straight, figuring out which fork to use, sipping my wine pinky up, speaking Hungarian with our assistant waiter, eating with business men who run my department, and I wasn't at all intimidated. I carried on conversations about growing up in Daytona (since most of them have worked there) and asked about the "good ole days" of ships - ignoring as they tried to figure out how I old I was at that time. I had a moment where I realized - whoa, I'm a grown up.
Now that can't be completely true, because this is all in the ship world. You're never really a grown up when you live with the people you work with, and you still sleep in a bunk bed, but I'm getting awfully close.
This ship is great. Like any other ship there are nights of wanting to quit, there are overwhleming 12 hour days, and there are moments on cloud nine. My boss is set on teaching me everything there is to know about our broadcast inculding the ins and outs of the wires. It's intimidating, overwhelming, but I don't absolutely hate it. I kind of miss the simplicity of just cutting a daily and a few commercials every day like on the Century, but this is the perfect time to learn all I can. Head office is here, Eemshaven isn't exactly calling to me, and no guests means free reign to screw up.
Tomorrow the ship is signed over to Celebrity. The big ceremony will take place early and anyone who's anyone will be there. My manager and I will be on roving cameras with the captain and cruise director. There will be ceremonies, shows and moments that will all need to be shot and edited before the day is through. It will be full of stress and anxiety, but it will feel so good to get it done. After that we set sail for Hamburg, and begin our press and travel agent cruises. In a little over two weeks we'll start revenue cruises out of Southampton and hopefully by then things will feel a little easier. The cruise director will want to begin shooting with us soon, along with activity staff and absolutely every revenue partner onboard. Things are about to get even more nuts.
So three weeks in, no sailing yet, and it all starts rolling tomorrow. Three weeks of nights at the church, making more friends from all over the world, bonding with broadcast big wigs, life boat drills on the bridge, conversations with the captain (not knowing he's the captain), walking through guest areas in jeans, dodging giant German contractors, building racks for the broadcast with power drills, lugging heavy boxes, editing videos, creating channel schedules, designing graphic templates, four onboard restaurants, three hangovers, one yard party, two heartshakes (not exactly heartbreak, but still shakes ya up, nonetheless), one season of Rome, late night talks with Sara, e-mails to the Summit, climbing up to antennas, testing patch panels, g-chatting with Mikey, and up before 9 am every day. I'm ready to see something besides pointy white windmills. Eclipse, let's get going!
4/15/10
So I'm going to try and do a moment by moment, day blog with this one. Today's the day the Eclipse is signed over to Celebrity and we sail away from Eemshaven. It all started last night when the four broadcast team members met with our cruise director, Nick Weir. I hear scarey and wonderful thinga bout this man. After a half hour with him I know I'm going to work my ass off, but I know I'm going to love it. He's crazy. He has this desire to do all of his videos off the shoulder, MTV, rock-n-roll style. Fine by me. He's got an energy that gives me the enthusiasm to want to do his videos without a thought to how it might interrupt my port or social time (which is, honestly, some feat!). He's more realistic about things than I thought he would be.
This morning, bright and early, at 7 am Laura and I went to the broadcast to begin preparing and setting up for the signing ceremony. Set up in the Cellar Master's bar, every CEO and department head was crowded into this room to watch the owner of the shipyard sign the contracts to give the Celebrity Eclipse to the CEO of RCL and Celebrity Int'l, Richard Fein. A rather anti-climactic scene of pen to paper and champagne bottles popping, it's still needed for archival purposes.
An hour later we headed to poolside where the same big-wigs lined up on the stage to tell the crew of the Eclipse - all lined around the balcony - that the Eclipse wa officially ours. It was rather funny for me, Laura, Sandy and the two fellows from the photo department. We were center stage in a Coliseum like setting with all of our fellow crew members looking down on us from the upper deck. I did my best to ignore them, but couldn't help smiling up at Sara as the President of Celebrity talked about what a great crew we are. We filmed the German flag being lowered and a small tear came to my eye as they raised the American flag and played my country's anthem. It's always tougher to hear that in a foreign country.
Next Laura and I trailed the captain from Meyer Werft (the German shipyard), and our Captain Skyglianous (probably not the way to spell it) up to the bridge to watch them sign their papers to one another and each make announcements to the crew.
Now I've just come in from filming the bridge during our first sail away. What a thrill! I got to stand right next to the captain and staff captain as they directed and navigated this massivesship out of port. They each smiled and winked at me occasionally, making me feel like the little sister of the bridge. I couldn't believe my luck.
So here I sit now, on my second short break of the day, trying to decipher what to wear tonight and wondering how many days it will take to re-acquire my sea legs. I can feel the waves beneath me, much like on the Century. I'm again at the front of the ship and the first thing I did on my break? Climb to my top bunk, rip open the curtains to my port hole and just smile at the brown shipyard water rushing past my little window. I don't care how brown it is, I can lay in bed and watch the waves roll past. What more do I need?
The Crew Party - that's what I need. Casino was open, Miami big shots serving us drinks, the owner of Royal Caribbean flair bartending! The party band was awesome, the ship was filled with crew having a great time. It was so once-in-a-ship's-lifetime. To look around the Grand foyer and see all the crew, having a great time, in our own clothes, hanging out and enjoying the ship the way we watch others enjoy it all year long. It was remarkable. The ship was signed over to Celebrity that morning, and for the rest of the day it truly belonged to us.
4/26/10
Two nights ago the Celebrity Eclipse had her official naming ceremony. I was in the lighting booth running the switcher watching them name the Godmother of the ship and cut the ribbon to release the massive bottle of champagne. It hit the smoke stack right on our giant Celebrity X with a splash. Just another event to add to the list of off-the-wall things I've been a part of. That night was our first real formal night. I wore a dress, sipped martinis with Miami folk, and was told how confident I looked. Quite an accomplishment considering there were many factors around me to have my knees shaking.
Today is it. We're sitting in the historical harbor of Southampton, England and loading 2,500 guests to sail on our three night Paris cruise. I know what you're all thinking, and shockingly I will not be going to Paris this time. My counterpart, Laura, has never been so I insisted she jump on the crew tour and spend the day in one of my favorite cities in the world. I will be on duty. Oh well. Our next cruise takes me to back to Ireland and she has agreed to help me have time off there. Oh Ireland. I can't wait to be back.
So around 5 o'clock tonight the Celebrity Eclipse wil begin her inaugural cruise. Rather exciting, yea? To be perfectly honest, I'm ready for the fanfare and ceremony to be over and to just be cruising. Here we go!
Movin' On Up
3/27/10
Alright, after 6 hours layover in London we finally arrived in Amsterdam where three of us were bused out to a nearby hotel. Here we were served dinner while awaiting the rest of the crew arriving that night. So after another 4 and a half hours of hanging out in a hotel conference room, we finally boarded the bus for the 2 and a half hour ride to the ship in Eemshaven, Holland.
During dinner, ironically, I sat across from the other broadcast assistant, Laura. She will be my colleague and roommate for the next three months, at least. She's nice and we seem to get along well. She's a real go-getter. She stands out more than I do since she's just come from a Solstice class ship so she knows all the equipment and layout of the ship. I'm trying. Jetlag and trying to catch up is slowly taking its toll.
So the Eclipse: 14 decks (no deck 13 as it's unlucky), 1200 crew, shared bunk bed room, top bunk again, porthole this time (YES!), amazing broadcast adjacent to the theater, sweet ass manager, etc. I like it so far. It's my first day onboard and Sandy - my manager - said the real work starts very soon. So as of right now I'm just trying to get through my morning safety trainings and learn where stuff is all the while dealing with the crazy land guys around the broadcast. I saw one friendly face who I will be seeing everyday for the duration of my contract - Danny the French Canadian ITV Manager.
Oh and for those of you who were wondering, yes I did cry when I left the Summit. Obviously. I held it together really well for a while there. I had breakfast with some of the acapella, Anna and ITV Dan (different ITV Dans). I had coffee with Susan the art associate from North Carolina and then Brian, Dan and Anna kept me company before I had to wheel my way down to the gangway. It wasn't until Anna hugged me and told me she didn't know what she was going to do without "her midget." Then I had to scrunch up my face to refuse the tears. She walked out of the room and I let a few fall, still doing good. Then Brian and Dan each wheeled one of my suitcases to security and waited with me until the Crew Administrator called for me to leave. Hugging my two favorite guys on the ship was too much for me. I made them leave right after the hugs cause I didn't want them to see me lose it. I saved that for the cab. There was a good 5 or 10 minutes of crying. Seriously, is anyone surprised?
So yea, I'm here. Everything's new so it's nice to be the first to use the cameras, sleep in my bed, walk these halls, etc. After this weekend the cast and more of the entertainment department will be here. I anticipate more expected and unxpected friendly faces. My girl Sara from the Summit gets here Monday. I can't wait. We're going to tear this place up. Get ready Eclipse!
4/14/10
Not even a month has gone by and I can't believe the things that have gone on here.
Eemshaven, Holland is basically a shipyard. Nothing else. There is absolutely nothing else here except the windmills. Not the cute Dutch windmills, though. These are the white, pointy, industrial windmills. There is one place in walking distance here, and that is the Seafarer's Mission. This place has internet and a bar, along with being a mission. So of course you see the crew travel out in high numbers once the working day is through to partake in a Grolsch (local brew) at what we call "the church." Yes, this has spawned terms like, "let's go and wash away our sins," "we need to go pray tonight," and "who wants to worship later?" Do I feel like a sinner? Yea, but I work on a ship, so I felt like that before.
On a side note, the best phrase uttered at the church so far is, "I need to control, alt, delete my thoughts." Yea, said by a fellow Spruce Creek Alum who's helping install the broadcast. Small, small, world.
Close towns? Deilfsil, at least I think that's how it's spelled. Great place for quick shopping. We had one night out there when I first got onboard. Me, Laura, ITV Danny, and Isaac the Production Manager. We had Heineken's at the Anker. Great little pub with a sweet dutch bartender. The old men there kept telling me how glad they were to have an American in the bar. I still maintain it's not hard to be an American abroad. Maybe it's just that I'm an American braud. Who knows? Anyway, my favorite part of the town is that there's a place called The Slagery Cramer. Yea, I know...
There's also Gronigen. I went in one night... that's all that needs to be said...
So let me tell you all more about this ship.
It's absolutely beautiful. I mean I walked onboard and it was half done, covered in plastic and dust, and now, well, now we start sailing tomorrow and with all the Maimi big-wigs onboard the place is sparkling. The coffee shop is like something you'd see in a chic place like London or Cannes. There's a restuarant in the center of the ship called "Bistro on 5" that's devoted to making soups, crepes, and paninis. I had the best chicken caesar salad there. It's a very market square feel. The theater is beautiful, the balconies are incredible, the night clubs are dowtown Miami posh, and since there have been no guests onboard, every part of the ship is using the crew as test subjects. For example, we've been eating in the main dining room these past few nights, the bartenders are trying out their skills on us, it's been amazing to feel like a guest.
Knowing the right people has its perks, too. Ken Rust is the man in charge of giving us every piece of audio equipment onboard - from the stage set up, to broadcast, to the music in the elevators and the speakers blasting the ipods in the Teen Lounge. He and his right-hand man, Mark, are the greatest set of characters I've come across in a while. Anyway, Ken has a way of getting things for us. It always sounds like a mob scheme, too, what with his New Jersey accent and all. The broadcast team has had dinner in each specialty restaurant this week. Our first night was in "Qsine." Ken, Mark, Laura, Sandy (my manager), Mike (my head boss from Miami) and I shared a great tapas style meal at this funky and hip restaurant. The place is completely designed by Jacques Van Staden - the head of culinary arts for Celebrity Cruises. We did a commercial with him a couple weeks ago and he's a very creative man. Those who know him say this restuarant is like walking itno Jacque's mind. The ceilingiis decorated with upside down table lamps and none of the chairs at any one table match. They serve spring rolls in springs, popcorn shrimp comes in popcorn boxes, disco shrimp comes in a light up glass and the cheesecake comes in a stemless wine glass with crust cookes on the side for dipping. Everything is all you can eat and we definitely did! That night was also the Yard Party. The whole ship went into full working gear to offer a night onboard for all the contractors who built the ship and their families. There was a show and free booze everywhere! I spent most of the night bonding with my broadcast team in the small night club, Quasar. A night that will not be forgotten.
The next night Ken got us into the French dining specialty restaurant, Murano. There was a Murano on the Century that I tried, but to be honest, this one was not as good. I enjoyed it, but I had high hopes for it to match the Century's taste and it didn't. The company was great, though. Same as the previous night. I was starting to feel like we were a family since we were eating practically every meal with one another. Ken tells great stories from being a roadie, and beating up Beastie Boys in Daytona during Spring Break. Mark makes jokes about Ken being old. Mike has dry and sarcastic comments like asking if anyone wants to share the "escargots" (pronouncing every letter, of course). While many people onboard are in fear of their head office bosses, I'm dreading for when mine leave.
Last night we went to Tuscan Grille - the Italian steakhouse onboard. Mike was absent, but instead we had two technicians from the theatre, and the head of entertainment in Miami - Brian join us. The food was excellent. I had the best crab meat casserole and a giant NY strip steak. Ken continued to tell stories about working with George Martin and Paul McCartney and I nearly died. I had to take a look around the table at one point. I was sitting at a table, lady in red, back straight, figuring out which fork to use, sipping my wine pinky up, speaking Hungarian with our assistant waiter, eating with business men who run my department, and I wasn't at all intimidated. I carried on conversations about growing up in Daytona (since most of them have worked there) and asked about the "good ole days" of ships - ignoring as they tried to figure out how I old I was at that time. I had a moment where I realized - whoa, I'm a grown up.
Now that can't be completely true, because this is all in the ship world. You're never really a grown up when you live with the people you work with, and you still sleep in a bunk bed, but I'm getting awfully close.
This ship is great. Like any other ship there are nights of wanting to quit, there are overwhleming 12 hour days, and there are moments on cloud nine. My boss is set on teaching me everything there is to know about our broadcast inculding the ins and outs of the wires. It's intimidating, overwhelming, but I don't absolutely hate it. I kind of miss the simplicity of just cutting a daily and a few commercials every day like on the Century, but this is the perfect time to learn all I can. Head office is here, Eemshaven isn't exactly calling to me, and no guests means free reign to screw up.
Tomorrow the ship is signed over to Celebrity. The big ceremony will take place early and anyone who's anyone will be there. My manager and I will be on roving cameras with the captain and cruise director. There will be ceremonies, shows and moments that will all need to be shot and edited before the day is through. It will be full of stress and anxiety, but it will feel so good to get it done. After that we set sail for Hamburg, and begin our press and travel agent cruises. In a little over two weeks we'll start revenue cruises out of Southampton and hopefully by then things will feel a little easier. The cruise director will want to begin shooting with us soon, along with activity staff and absolutely every revenue partner onboard. Things are about to get even more nuts.
So three weeks in, no sailing yet, and it all starts rolling tomorrow. Three weeks of nights at the church, making more friends from all over the world, bonding with broadcast big wigs, life boat drills on the bridge, conversations with the captain (not knowing he's the captain), walking through guest areas in jeans, dodging giant German contractors, building racks for the broadcast with power drills, lugging heavy boxes, editing videos, creating channel schedules, designing graphic templates, four onboard restaurants, three hangovers, one yard party, two heartshakes (not exactly heartbreak, but still shakes ya up, nonetheless), one season of Rome, late night talks with Sara, e-mails to the Summit, climbing up to antennas, testing patch panels, g-chatting with Mikey, and up before 9 am every day. I'm ready to see something besides pointy white windmills. Eclipse, let's get going!
4/15/10
So I'm going to try and do a moment by moment, day blog with this one. Today's the day the Eclipse is signed over to Celebrity and we sail away from Eemshaven. It all started last night when the four broadcast team members met with our cruise director, Nick Weir. I hear scarey and wonderful thinga bout this man. After a half hour with him I know I'm going to work my ass off, but I know I'm going to love it. He's crazy. He has this desire to do all of his videos off the shoulder, MTV, rock-n-roll style. Fine by me. He's got an energy that gives me the enthusiasm to want to do his videos without a thought to how it might interrupt my port or social time (which is, honestly, some feat!). He's more realistic about things than I thought he would be.
This morning, bright and early, at 7 am Laura and I went to the broadcast to begin preparing and setting up for the signing ceremony. Set up in the Cellar Master's bar, every CEO and department head was crowded into this room to watch the owner of the shipyard sign the contracts to give the Celebrity Eclipse to the CEO of RCL and Celebrity Int'l, Richard Fein. A rather anti-climactic scene of pen to paper and champagne bottles popping, it's still needed for archival purposes.
An hour later we headed to poolside where the same big-wigs lined up on the stage to tell the crew of the Eclipse - all lined around the balcony - that the Eclipse wa officially ours. It was rather funny for me, Laura, Sandy and the two fellows from the photo department. We were center stage in a Coliseum like setting with all of our fellow crew members looking down on us from the upper deck. I did my best to ignore them, but couldn't help smiling up at Sara as the President of Celebrity talked about what a great crew we are. We filmed the German flag being lowered and a small tear came to my eye as they raised the American flag and played my country's anthem. It's always tougher to hear that in a foreign country.
Next Laura and I trailed the captain from Meyer Werft (the German shipyard), and our Captain Skyglianous (probably not the way to spell it) up to the bridge to watch them sign their papers to one another and each make announcements to the crew.
Now I've just come in from filming the bridge during our first sail away. What a thrill! I got to stand right next to the captain and staff captain as they directed and navigated this massivesship out of port. They each smiled and winked at me occasionally, making me feel like the little sister of the bridge. I couldn't believe my luck.
So here I sit now, on my second short break of the day, trying to decipher what to wear tonight and wondering how many days it will take to re-acquire my sea legs. I can feel the waves beneath me, much like on the Century. I'm again at the front of the ship and the first thing I did on my break? Climb to my top bunk, rip open the curtains to my port hole and just smile at the brown shipyard water rushing past my little window. I don't care how brown it is, I can lay in bed and watch the waves roll past. What more do I need?
The Crew Party - that's what I need. Casino was open, Miami big shots serving us drinks, the owner of Royal Caribbean flair bartending! The party band was awesome, the ship was filled with crew having a great time. It was so once-in-a-ship's-lifetime. To look around the Grand foyer and see all the crew, having a great time, in our own clothes, hanging out and enjoying the ship the way we watch others enjoy it all year long. It was remarkable. The ship was signed over to Celebrity that morning, and for the rest of the day it truly belonged to us.
4/26/10
Two nights ago the Celebrity Eclipse had her official naming ceremony. I was in the lighting booth running the switcher watching them name the Godmother of the ship and cut the ribbon to release the massive bottle of champagne. It hit the smoke stack right on our giant Celebrity X with a splash. Just another event to add to the list of off-the-wall things I've been a part of. That night was our first real formal night. I wore a dress, sipped martinis with Miami folk, and was told how confident I looked. Quite an accomplishment considering there were many factors around me to have my knees shaking.
Today is it. We're sitting in the historical harbor of Southampton, England and loading 2,500 guests to sail on our three night Paris cruise. I know what you're all thinking, and shockingly I will not be going to Paris this time. My counterpart, Laura, has never been so I insisted she jump on the crew tour and spend the day in one of my favorite cities in the world. I will be on duty. Oh well. Our next cruise takes me to back to Ireland and she has agreed to help me have time off there. Oh Ireland. I can't wait to be back.
So around 5 o'clock tonight the Celebrity Eclipse wil begin her inaugural cruise. Rather exciting, yea? To be perfectly honest, I'm ready for the fanfare and ceremony to be over and to just be cruising. Here we go!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Address
Stories of this fabulously chic new ship will be posted soon, As for right now, I thought this might be important. The address to my latest home-away-from-home:
Mackenzie Ames
Broadcast Operator
Celebrity Eclipse
P.O Box #19318
Miami, FL 33132
Feel free to send checks, money orders or simply from trinkets from the good old U.S.of A. :)
Mackenzie Ames
Broadcast Operator
Celebrity Eclipse
P.O Box #19318
Miami, FL 33132
Feel free to send checks, money orders or simply from trinkets from the good old U.S.of A. :)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Cold, Hard Tile
Sitting in the airport in Grenada. I'm so glad there's free internet here. It's a comfort even though I'm forced to sit next to the only outlet in the room, on the rather uncomfortable ground.
My travel companion is Edra - a Turkish waiter - who is just as sad to leave the Summit as I am.
The Caribbean was amazing and I have no bad feelings about leaving, as with this job I will probably spend the next two winters sailing the islands. Next time I'll just know where the hot spots are, and what the local brews are.
My flight is boarding... more to come soon...
My travel companion is Edra - a Turkish waiter - who is just as sad to leave the Summit as I am.
The Caribbean was amazing and I have no bad feelings about leaving, as with this job I will probably spend the next two winters sailing the islands. Next time I'll just know where the hot spots are, and what the local brews are.
My flight is boarding... more to come soon...
Monday, March 8, 2010
New Social Circle
I leave for the Eclipse in 15 days and it feels fitting. Last Saturday the cast signed off. So in one day I lost my Jersey girl Kimmy, the sweetheart that is Graham, and my Hungarian personal trainer Sandor. Along with them went my Newlyed Game friend Romina and my trombone playing buddy Mike. Anna's on compassionate leave, Sara's extraordinarily busy and this Saturday I lost the acapella boys and Kirsty.
On the bright side, I still have ITV Dan and the new acapella group is full of guys I knew from the Century. I slowly get used to people coming and going, but I don't know if it's something I'll ever be old hat at. Luckily I leave in 15 days. However that makes it a bit worse. now that my social circle is changing I have no desire to make a new one for a few weeks. This is the struggle that is ship life.
We've all been taking advantage of every last minute. I went to the beach every day this week. St Kitts I braved the spot with the goat. I didn't go near the cage even though my friends assured me he was locked up. I didn't dare. I just put up with the constant negh-ing from my oh-so sensitive friends. I even got a neigh during "In the Jungle" from Rob in their last show. Thanks for the shout out, buddy. Anyway, we spent the day laying on the sand, having lunch and playing cornhole. Funny thing about cornhole - harder than it looks. I kind of suck at it.
Antigua found us at Nest Beach wit the world's most amazing cocnut shrimp. I mean it. You all know I'm not a big eater, but this was the kind of food I let sit in my mouth. I just let it sit there so I could taste the coconut and the shrimp. Oh it was amazing. That was followed by play time in the water. We formed a big circle and threw a football around. I always love the reaction I get when the guys finally throw the ball to me and are chocked that this five foot girl can throw a spiral - and pretty far. Thanks Campbell Middle.
We braved the waves again in St. Lucia. I really mean braved, though. Those waves were massive. It was great. It felt like home. A group of friends chasing and punching waves. It was amazing until Rob got thrown into a rock and we had to take him home. He's ok, don't worry.
So now everyone's gone. Like I said, I still have Dan. We spent yesterday in St. Maaretn with broadcast people from the Millenium. I had never met anyone else with my job, so that was interesting. I kind of sitting back now, enjoying the new friendship I'm forming with the art associate Susan. As much as I hate goodbyes seeing how many familiar faces are on the Summit reminds me that meeting up with people in the future is not out of the real of possibilities.
On the bright side, I still have ITV Dan and the new acapella group is full of guys I knew from the Century. I slowly get used to people coming and going, but I don't know if it's something I'll ever be old hat at. Luckily I leave in 15 days. However that makes it a bit worse. now that my social circle is changing I have no desire to make a new one for a few weeks. This is the struggle that is ship life.
We've all been taking advantage of every last minute. I went to the beach every day this week. St Kitts I braved the spot with the goat. I didn't go near the cage even though my friends assured me he was locked up. I didn't dare. I just put up with the constant negh-ing from my oh-so sensitive friends. I even got a neigh during "In the Jungle" from Rob in their last show. Thanks for the shout out, buddy. Anyway, we spent the day laying on the sand, having lunch and playing cornhole. Funny thing about cornhole - harder than it looks. I kind of suck at it.
Antigua found us at Nest Beach wit the world's most amazing cocnut shrimp. I mean it. You all know I'm not a big eater, but this was the kind of food I let sit in my mouth. I just let it sit there so I could taste the coconut and the shrimp. Oh it was amazing. That was followed by play time in the water. We formed a big circle and threw a football around. I always love the reaction I get when the guys finally throw the ball to me and are chocked that this five foot girl can throw a spiral - and pretty far. Thanks Campbell Middle.
We braved the waves again in St. Lucia. I really mean braved, though. Those waves were massive. It was great. It felt like home. A group of friends chasing and punching waves. It was amazing until Rob got thrown into a rock and we had to take him home. He's ok, don't worry.
So now everyone's gone. Like I said, I still have Dan. We spent yesterday in St. Maaretn with broadcast people from the Millenium. I had never met anyone else with my job, so that was interesting. I kind of sitting back now, enjoying the new friendship I'm forming with the art associate Susan. As much as I hate goodbyes seeing how many familiar faces are on the Summit reminds me that meeting up with people in the future is not out of the real of possibilities.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Only Me
Ok, so two stories on opposite ends of the spectrum.
The first "only me" story occurred at Reggae Beach in St. Kitts. I was innocently looking at the monkeys in cages. Out of nowhere this goat tied to a nearby tree rams me in the - well let's just say if I were a boy I'd have been coughing up blood. Now I am left with two giant bruises on my thighs and the laughs and "neighs" of those closest to me. My Cruise Director even announced it on the Daily so all the guests could ask me how I'm doing. Then a few days later while shooting in the theater the A/V Manager starts to lower the floor of the pit while I'm half on it. Yes, I almost died again. This prompted my girl Anna to tell the whole audience about the rough week I've been having, having been rammed by a goat and all. I just shake my head and say, "only me..." And maybe Tine Fey. Yea, me and Tina Fey.
Big news, though. Yesterday my boss got an e-mail telling us that next month I'm going to be transferred back to Europe. I've been asked to be on the broadcast team opening Celebrity's newest ship - the Eclipse. This is really a big honor. Typically people who open ships are the best of the best. I think that I'm one of the few who know Final Cut so well, so there's that reason. I'm still rather flattered though. I'll be back in the Baltic and I have no clue how long I'll be there. I am excited as we get two overnights in Ireland - a fact that nearly brought tears to my eyes. I'm very conflicted. I rather like the Summit. I have my posse of girls here. I just got the new equipment settled and organized and I was really looking forward to overnights in Bermuda and Sundays in NYC. Like Sara said, though, I really can get to NYC much more easily than most.
This will be a great experience for me. It's definitely something to put on the resume and now I can have experience on every class of ship. It will be lots more work, but I've done this run already. So I won't be bothered if I don't get to get out in Russia again. One more month on the Summit and I head back to Europe. Shake my head... "only me..." I don't think even Tina Fey can make that claim.
The first "only me" story occurred at Reggae Beach in St. Kitts. I was innocently looking at the monkeys in cages. Out of nowhere this goat tied to a nearby tree rams me in the - well let's just say if I were a boy I'd have been coughing up blood. Now I am left with two giant bruises on my thighs and the laughs and "neighs" of those closest to me. My Cruise Director even announced it on the Daily so all the guests could ask me how I'm doing. Then a few days later while shooting in the theater the A/V Manager starts to lower the floor of the pit while I'm half on it. Yes, I almost died again. This prompted my girl Anna to tell the whole audience about the rough week I've been having, having been rammed by a goat and all. I just shake my head and say, "only me..." And maybe Tine Fey. Yea, me and Tina Fey.
Big news, though. Yesterday my boss got an e-mail telling us that next month I'm going to be transferred back to Europe. I've been asked to be on the broadcast team opening Celebrity's newest ship - the Eclipse. This is really a big honor. Typically people who open ships are the best of the best. I think that I'm one of the few who know Final Cut so well, so there's that reason. I'm still rather flattered though. I'll be back in the Baltic and I have no clue how long I'll be there. I am excited as we get two overnights in Ireland - a fact that nearly brought tears to my eyes. I'm very conflicted. I rather like the Summit. I have my posse of girls here. I just got the new equipment settled and organized and I was really looking forward to overnights in Bermuda and Sundays in NYC. Like Sara said, though, I really can get to NYC much more easily than most.
This will be a great experience for me. It's definitely something to put on the resume and now I can have experience on every class of ship. It will be lots more work, but I've done this run already. So I won't be bothered if I don't get to get out in Russia again. One more month on the Summit and I head back to Europe. Shake my head... "only me..." I don't think even Tina Fey can make that claim.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
No Excuses, I Know
Those of you who once heard me talk about all the free time I had on the Century will know that I'm getting what I deserve here on the Summit. I've put in overtime at least four times in the last month. I worked 12 hours in one day last week. I am exhausted. Hence the lack of blog.
After finally catching the broadcast up to all the new equipment I was handed a video by my Cruise Director. It was an Embarkation Day video from one of the new ships, the Equinox. I watched it and was blown away. Music, effects, flashy numbers, I knew I could do one similar, but I was going to need at least three weeks. When did my Hotel Director want it? A week and a half. Why? So the President of Celebrity Cruises could see it when he came onboard that day. There were hours of shooting, last minute interviews and just a few tears shed and it was done. Last night it was broadcast on the big screen in the theater before the welcome aboard show. That's always my favorite part.
So I can relax now, right? Wrong. Some head office guys came onboard yesterday and installed a new satellite system. They also rearranged so much that our recording system isn't working properly. So I will be spending quite a bit of time fixing that. Goodie.
Complaining done. Despite it all I do allow myself relaxing time - catching an acapella set here and there, laying on deck 5 to catch sun or star gaze, spending a bit too much on a designer handbag in San Juan - the usual.
I've taken a break from tours, but the ones I have gone on are epic.
The botanical gardens and plantation house in St. Croix weren't really anything to write home about, but three in particular were things I never thought I'd ever do. Lobster, zip lining, and rainforests.
One of the girls in my new "posse" was lucky enough to accompany me on the Shadowfax Champagne Lobster Tour. We boarded a catamaran boat and sailed around the island of Grenada being served sweet Caribbean fruit (best bananas of my life) and drinks - rum punch for the guests, coke for this working girl. They blasted Caribbean music and put the sails out as we laughed when the boat hopped in the wakes of others. We stopped to snorkel and look at an underwater sculpture park. Then we docked on Hogg Island - the Robinson Crusoe island - for salad, champagne, white wine and my very first lobster. I was worried we were going to go to some fancy hotel to sit and enjoy lobster with waiters who were going to put napkins in our lap. I never fit in in those places. I had my first lobster in the most fitting and perfect of circumstances. Grilled up by a big Caribbean man in a chef's hat, with champagne out of those plastic glasses you have to assemble, sitting at a picnic bench in my swim suit on the beach. Plastic plates and waves crashing - it was the kind of moment I couldn't have planned better. And Dad wanted me to try Red Lobster first...
Zip lining is something I never would have picked to do on my own. In St. Kitts I sailed over the hilltops. It was awesome to see things you normally only see from a plane, but having the added bonus of feeling the wind rush at your face.
I definitely NEVER would have chosen to go hiking through a rainforest. My buddy Rob went with me to assist with the camera. I shocked my self at how easy I hiked through the rainforest with a camera at my side. It was amazing. The sights took my breath away. Fruits I'd never seen and banana trees that reminded me of my old one out in Highridge. I love bananas - especially here. I tried a cocoa bean and, barefoot, carefully scaled pebbles to get to a beautiful waterfall spot. I ate coconut cake and tried banana ketchup. Out tour guide gave us leaves that gave us "jungle tattoos" (facebook photos to come soon) and after hiking all day I felt like I could do anything. It's amazing what the Caribbean is doing to me. I wear dresses, jog four times a week, rarely nap, and eat fruit!
Superbowl Sunday oddly felt like I was really missing a holiday at home. We watched the game on the big screen in the theater and I was surrounded by rowdy Americans. One man was so excited during the national anthem I teared up. Being away from the States really does make you miss it more. What good game, though? I chose to root for the Saints before the game and was so into it by the end of the game I was screaming during that amazing interception.
Another holiday today, too. Daytona 500 Sunday - what did you think I meant? I'm sitting in a wireless cafe with a coca cola admiring how blue the sky looks at home today. Unfortunately I seem to be the only one requesting the 500 onboard - so it doesn't appear as we will have it broadcast on the ship. So friends and family - please cheer on Kasey "perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect face" Khane for me.
Oh yea, and Happy Valentine's Day. :)
After finally catching the broadcast up to all the new equipment I was handed a video by my Cruise Director. It was an Embarkation Day video from one of the new ships, the Equinox. I watched it and was blown away. Music, effects, flashy numbers, I knew I could do one similar, but I was going to need at least three weeks. When did my Hotel Director want it? A week and a half. Why? So the President of Celebrity Cruises could see it when he came onboard that day. There were hours of shooting, last minute interviews and just a few tears shed and it was done. Last night it was broadcast on the big screen in the theater before the welcome aboard show. That's always my favorite part.
So I can relax now, right? Wrong. Some head office guys came onboard yesterday and installed a new satellite system. They also rearranged so much that our recording system isn't working properly. So I will be spending quite a bit of time fixing that. Goodie.
Complaining done. Despite it all I do allow myself relaxing time - catching an acapella set here and there, laying on deck 5 to catch sun or star gaze, spending a bit too much on a designer handbag in San Juan - the usual.
I've taken a break from tours, but the ones I have gone on are epic.
The botanical gardens and plantation house in St. Croix weren't really anything to write home about, but three in particular were things I never thought I'd ever do. Lobster, zip lining, and rainforests.
One of the girls in my new "posse" was lucky enough to accompany me on the Shadowfax Champagne Lobster Tour. We boarded a catamaran boat and sailed around the island of Grenada being served sweet Caribbean fruit (best bananas of my life) and drinks - rum punch for the guests, coke for this working girl. They blasted Caribbean music and put the sails out as we laughed when the boat hopped in the wakes of others. We stopped to snorkel and look at an underwater sculpture park. Then we docked on Hogg Island - the Robinson Crusoe island - for salad, champagne, white wine and my very first lobster. I was worried we were going to go to some fancy hotel to sit and enjoy lobster with waiters who were going to put napkins in our lap. I never fit in in those places. I had my first lobster in the most fitting and perfect of circumstances. Grilled up by a big Caribbean man in a chef's hat, with champagne out of those plastic glasses you have to assemble, sitting at a picnic bench in my swim suit on the beach. Plastic plates and waves crashing - it was the kind of moment I couldn't have planned better. And Dad wanted me to try Red Lobster first...
Zip lining is something I never would have picked to do on my own. In St. Kitts I sailed over the hilltops. It was awesome to see things you normally only see from a plane, but having the added bonus of feeling the wind rush at your face.
I definitely NEVER would have chosen to go hiking through a rainforest. My buddy Rob went with me to assist with the camera. I shocked my self at how easy I hiked through the rainforest with a camera at my side. It was amazing. The sights took my breath away. Fruits I'd never seen and banana trees that reminded me of my old one out in Highridge. I love bananas - especially here. I tried a cocoa bean and, barefoot, carefully scaled pebbles to get to a beautiful waterfall spot. I ate coconut cake and tried banana ketchup. Out tour guide gave us leaves that gave us "jungle tattoos" (facebook photos to come soon) and after hiking all day I felt like I could do anything. It's amazing what the Caribbean is doing to me. I wear dresses, jog four times a week, rarely nap, and eat fruit!
Superbowl Sunday oddly felt like I was really missing a holiday at home. We watched the game on the big screen in the theater and I was surrounded by rowdy Americans. One man was so excited during the national anthem I teared up. Being away from the States really does make you miss it more. What good game, though? I chose to root for the Saints before the game and was so into it by the end of the game I was screaming during that amazing interception.
Another holiday today, too. Daytona 500 Sunday - what did you think I meant? I'm sitting in a wireless cafe with a coca cola admiring how blue the sky looks at home today. Unfortunately I seem to be the only one requesting the 500 onboard - so it doesn't appear as we will have it broadcast on the ship. So friends and family - please cheer on Kasey "perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect face" Khane for me.
Oh yea, and Happy Valentine's Day. :)
Monday, January 25, 2010
A Whole New Broadcast
That's my excuse for such a long gap of no blog, anyway. More on that later, though.
I guess I'll pick up where I left off. Where else, right? In my first St. Lucia I went to what we lovingly refer to as "Discount Beach" down the street from the recently closed, "Happy Day Bar." Essentially we hopped in a cab and Zach, Nick, Sara and I asked the driver to take us to the closest beach with the cheapest cab fare. So we walked down, four starving ship workers, and found Aunty Jane. This Caribbean woman was grilling up chicken and rice with a cooler of Pitons, the local St. Lucia brew, selling it all for about $8 a plate. We each got lunch, some beer and set our towels not too far from Aunty Jane. We sat there talking about ships, home, tattoos, etc in a pleasant little picnic. After a dip and a quick nap we reluctantly went back to the Summit.
Another day was spent with Sara in St. Maarten. We shopped, ate and generally grew much closer. I really like my Spanish girl friend. We get on really well.
Dominica found us free internet and St. George's was spent onboard. In Tobago Anna, Dan and I found a very secluded beach. It was so great it looked like the perfect spot to shoot a deserted island scene. Barbados found us at the Boatyard again. That will most probably definitely be my favorite spot of this whole itinerary. How do you beat a water trampoline!?
That next San Juan the men from head office in Miami came onboard, bringing with them a whole slew of new equipment. Two new Mac monitors, a Mac Pro, Final Cut Pro editing software, the Adobe Suite, a Final Cut editing keyboard, and two brand new Panasonic HD P2 cameras. It was like Christmas in the broadcast. I was severely out of place as these men invaded my little workspace, routing wires and tossing boxes my direction. I hung with the ITV guy Dan, and we stayed as out of the way as possible. Needless to say, though, that's how I've spent the last week and a half. I'm organizing, transferring files from one area to the next, weening off of the beta cams and beginning to use the P2s it's a long, long process. I;m much more tired than normal, hence the lack of a blog.
The next St. Thomas I was in port with one of my best Elon friends, Jess. Her Holland America ship was docked on the other side of the island and we met up to do some online time and catching up together. Getting a taste of home is always so wonderful when you're cut off.
St. Croix and St. Kitts found me and my girls sunning on deck 5, the simplest way to enjoy the sun without spending any money. Perfect, man.
In Antigua I was asked to do a shore excursion for Miami. I essentially go on free tours and shoot them. The best part about it here? I am required to take an assistant, so I get to just ask my friends who would like to go. As there are no tour escorts here I'm noticing people are jumping at the chance. Awesome. So in Antigua I took my friend Don, the drummer from the band. What a great day. We went to an old stock yard and then had a great lunch on Turner Beach. Dan was perfect company. I am so lucky to meet so many different and interesting people with my job.
The next day was another excursion with my girl Anna. We went snorkelling in St. Lucia. Really not a bad way to spend the day - especially when I'm getting paid for it. I shot for a good while until I got as much footage as I could. Then I jumped in. There were fish of every shape, size and color. Electric blue swipes, neon purple fins, yellow and black stripes, mini swordfish, brain coral, you name it. At one point Anna and I were surrounded by a school of fish. I really could have stayed there all day.
The next night I discovered the awesomeness of deck 5 at night. I went up because I had heard that often we can pick up phone reception the night before we arrive into San Juan. With all that's going on in L.A. I was anxious to try and get in touch with my friends out there. Anyway, I ran into a friend and he pointed out the stars above. I figured I couldn't see that many, but after laying on a chair for a bit and letting my eyes adjust it was amazing what I could see. Three hours and five shooting stars later, I realized I want to spend as much time as possible on deck 5 at night.
After settling into my living space and learning the layout of the new ship I began having to re-settle the broadcast center. Needless to say after nearly a month onboard, this may be the longest I have ever or will ever have to take to settle. I'm making friends who will be leaving in a matter of weeks and dealing with that. Luckily my two closest girlfriends aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
In case anyone wanted it, I realized I hadn't put out the address to my new ship:
Mackenzie Ames
Broadcast Operator
Celebrity Summit
PO Box 019158
Miami, FL 33101-9158
And to answer one question I've been asked frequently. No, I have felt nothing of the Haitian earthquakes. There are donation boxes all around our ship and the one ship in our fleet that docks in Haiti is still going there, delivering supplies everytime it arrives. It's a tragedy in the actual sense of the word, not the way people throw it around these days. This is in fact a tragedy and I hope everyone realizes it and works to help these people literally clean up and rebuild in any and every way we can.
I guess I'll pick up where I left off. Where else, right? In my first St. Lucia I went to what we lovingly refer to as "Discount Beach" down the street from the recently closed, "Happy Day Bar." Essentially we hopped in a cab and Zach, Nick, Sara and I asked the driver to take us to the closest beach with the cheapest cab fare. So we walked down, four starving ship workers, and found Aunty Jane. This Caribbean woman was grilling up chicken and rice with a cooler of Pitons, the local St. Lucia brew, selling it all for about $8 a plate. We each got lunch, some beer and set our towels not too far from Aunty Jane. We sat there talking about ships, home, tattoos, etc in a pleasant little picnic. After a dip and a quick nap we reluctantly went back to the Summit.
Another day was spent with Sara in St. Maarten. We shopped, ate and generally grew much closer. I really like my Spanish girl friend. We get on really well.
Dominica found us free internet and St. George's was spent onboard. In Tobago Anna, Dan and I found a very secluded beach. It was so great it looked like the perfect spot to shoot a deserted island scene. Barbados found us at the Boatyard again. That will most probably definitely be my favorite spot of this whole itinerary. How do you beat a water trampoline!?
That next San Juan the men from head office in Miami came onboard, bringing with them a whole slew of new equipment. Two new Mac monitors, a Mac Pro, Final Cut Pro editing software, the Adobe Suite, a Final Cut editing keyboard, and two brand new Panasonic HD P2 cameras. It was like Christmas in the broadcast. I was severely out of place as these men invaded my little workspace, routing wires and tossing boxes my direction. I hung with the ITV guy Dan, and we stayed as out of the way as possible. Needless to say, though, that's how I've spent the last week and a half. I'm organizing, transferring files from one area to the next, weening off of the beta cams and beginning to use the P2s it's a long, long process. I;m much more tired than normal, hence the lack of a blog.
The next St. Thomas I was in port with one of my best Elon friends, Jess. Her Holland America ship was docked on the other side of the island and we met up to do some online time and catching up together. Getting a taste of home is always so wonderful when you're cut off.
St. Croix and St. Kitts found me and my girls sunning on deck 5, the simplest way to enjoy the sun without spending any money. Perfect, man.
In Antigua I was asked to do a shore excursion for Miami. I essentially go on free tours and shoot them. The best part about it here? I am required to take an assistant, so I get to just ask my friends who would like to go. As there are no tour escorts here I'm noticing people are jumping at the chance. Awesome. So in Antigua I took my friend Don, the drummer from the band. What a great day. We went to an old stock yard and then had a great lunch on Turner Beach. Dan was perfect company. I am so lucky to meet so many different and interesting people with my job.
The next day was another excursion with my girl Anna. We went snorkelling in St. Lucia. Really not a bad way to spend the day - especially when I'm getting paid for it. I shot for a good while until I got as much footage as I could. Then I jumped in. There were fish of every shape, size and color. Electric blue swipes, neon purple fins, yellow and black stripes, mini swordfish, brain coral, you name it. At one point Anna and I were surrounded by a school of fish. I really could have stayed there all day.
The next night I discovered the awesomeness of deck 5 at night. I went up because I had heard that often we can pick up phone reception the night before we arrive into San Juan. With all that's going on in L.A. I was anxious to try and get in touch with my friends out there. Anyway, I ran into a friend and he pointed out the stars above. I figured I couldn't see that many, but after laying on a chair for a bit and letting my eyes adjust it was amazing what I could see. Three hours and five shooting stars later, I realized I want to spend as much time as possible on deck 5 at night.
After settling into my living space and learning the layout of the new ship I began having to re-settle the broadcast center. Needless to say after nearly a month onboard, this may be the longest I have ever or will ever have to take to settle. I'm making friends who will be leaving in a matter of weeks and dealing with that. Luckily my two closest girlfriends aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
In case anyone wanted it, I realized I hadn't put out the address to my new ship:
Mackenzie Ames
Broadcast Operator
Celebrity Summit
PO Box 019158
Miami, FL 33101-9158
And to answer one question I've been asked frequently. No, I have felt nothing of the Haitian earthquakes. There are donation boxes all around our ship and the one ship in our fleet that docks in Haiti is still going there, delivering supplies everytime it arrives. It's a tragedy in the actual sense of the word, not the way people throw it around these days. This is in fact a tragedy and I hope everyone realizes it and works to help these people literally clean up and rebuild in any and every way we can.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
I'm a Florida Girl, I can Handle the Sun
…or so I thought. I’ve grown up in Florida, spent countless mornings, afternoons and evenings in a bathing suit on the beach, rarely using much sunscreen (spare me the health speeches please) and so why would I think laying on a beach in St. Croix would be any different? Well I should have listened to those telling me “the sun is different here.” I went to the beach with my girl Shabiki and did the norm – covered my face in sunblock and set my timer in order to turn over in 30 minutes. That afternoon I passed by my cabin mirror to see my stomach was the darkest shade of red, along with my thighs and legs. I have never been sunburnt, and I can guarantee all of you worrying about me out there, I bought a bottle of sunblock this morning and will always believe it when someone tells me “the sun is different here.”
St. Thomas proved to be one of the strangest days I’ve ever had working aboard a cruise ship. As I sat at the free internet station paying my bills, a dancer rushes in and tells us that the ship has been roped off and no one is allowed to go back onboard. I kind of brushed it off thinking something to do with immigration probably. Slowly giant groups of guests began invading what is normally a place only the crew knows of. As we all huddled up we began exchanging information and as it turned out there was a bomb threat. They were taking every precaution and I honestly didn’t mind the extra time in port. I made some more friends, had some beers and took a colleague on her first trip to Hooters. Something everyone should always experience.
I attended my first Wine and Cheese on the Summit. I really enojyed myself, let loose a little and made more friends. I must say the whole experience of working on a ship is completely dependant upon the people around you. I like a lot of the people here the more I get to know them.
Today we found a small beach in St. Kitts with a bar and grill. It’s small, out of the way and has cheap beer – the perfect spot for crew in their time off.
The Summit becomes my home away from home more and more everyday.
St. Thomas proved to be one of the strangest days I’ve ever had working aboard a cruise ship. As I sat at the free internet station paying my bills, a dancer rushes in and tells us that the ship has been roped off and no one is allowed to go back onboard. I kind of brushed it off thinking something to do with immigration probably. Slowly giant groups of guests began invading what is normally a place only the crew knows of. As we all huddled up we began exchanging information and as it turned out there was a bomb threat. They were taking every precaution and I honestly didn’t mind the extra time in port. I made some more friends, had some beers and took a colleague on her first trip to Hooters. Something everyone should always experience.
I attended my first Wine and Cheese on the Summit. I really enojyed myself, let loose a little and made more friends. I must say the whole experience of working on a ship is completely dependant upon the people around you. I like a lot of the people here the more I get to know them.
Today we found a small beach in St. Kitts with a bar and grill. It’s small, out of the way and has cheap beer – the perfect spot for crew in their time off.
The Summit becomes my home away from home more and more everyday.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010? Wow...
First and foremost, I want to wish all those at home a very happy 2010. I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Years Eve. You'll hear more abot mine momentarily.
I signed on to the Celebrity Summit December 27th and have been re-adjusting ever since. I reunited with my good friend Anna which has resulted in my being her shadow as I still don't always know where I am or where I'm going. I'm getting the hang of the layout of the ship and meeting lots of new people, all of whom are called "hey you" for at least another couple weeks. Training is a bit easier and less intimidating this time. The food is still awful. One of the toughest readjustments, though, which will never get easier, is the rocky seas. I didn't think the Caribbean would have choppy waves - I was wrong.
While I know many people want to hear about the beauty of the Caribbean, I'm going to have to disappoint. I've been off the ship just twice, and once was simply to catch some free internet at the ship's terminal. The view from the ship seems beautiful and I really can't wait to go out and enjoy paradise, but as for now my body is calling for sleep in my extra time.
The people onboard are different from the people on my last ship. There's not as much of a community feeling around. It's a larger crew and I think many stick within their own department. It's all making me try to recall my first impressions of the Century's crew. Did I think they were clique-y as well? If I did I was proved wrong. Maybe this crew will prove me wrong as well. I have Anna, and I was surprised to see my old neighbor, Thiago the Brazilian Lighting Technician. I get along with my manager. I like the ITV guy, and a few of the acapella guys have been pretty friendly. My roommate is a great girl from Canada, Shabiki. She's leaving soon, though, and I may be moving to my permanent room in the morning with a Ukranian Youth Staff member.
The job's the same job, but if you can imagine, older equipment and older software. It's weird to train yourself in reverse. The software is some of the original Avid - which is a far cry from what I learned in school. Luckily, though, in another two weeks the head office is coming onboard to update all of our software to the latest version of the program I used in school! We're also getting brand new, tiny cameras. Until then, I will be making friends with the gigantic beta cams we have here. Any of you who know television will likely scoff when you read "beta." Yes, we still use beta cam. If you still don't get the idea I will tell you I have lovingly named my equipment, as I do with many pieces of equipment I use frequnetly. My ipod is "Esther." My computer is "Dexter." My netbook is "Prudence." The camera and tripod os the Summit's broadcast are, "Bertha" and "Gert," resepctively. If that doesn't give you an idea of what I'm working with here, well then I'm just at a loss.
The one day I did go out was in Bridgetown, Barbados. As the taxi sped through the town I caught glimpses of Canadian banks and colorful houses. It was very much a Key West type of feeling. My roommate and I were going to the crew hot spot for this port. "The Boatyard" is a place that offers special deals to members of cruise ships. For $5 you get entry, a free drink, beach access, chairs, umbrellas, use of the rope swing and the beach trampoline. There's music, food, picnic tables, drinks - all right there on the beach! Needless to say I have found my "usual" of Barbados. It also is where many of the people I'm likely to be hanging out with will be. The beach water was a brilliant tourquoise and clear enough to see my toenails even in the deepest of water. As you step in you're amazed at how perfect the temperature of the water is. It's not the type of beach that you dip your toe in and run away with shivers, and it's nothing like bathwater.
Spending New Years Eve surrounded by strangers was, in all honesty, really tough. It's not the first holiday I've had away from home, or even on a ship. It's just the first one by myself. The poolside of the Summit was a huge party. All of our singers onboard sang with different bands we have. Guests danced and there was a little corner of crew. Where was I? Behind the camera, naturally. I was feeding shots into the giant screen hanging atop the Mast Bar. I was having a great time, watching everyone dance and sing, until the countdown. Baby New Year smashed the "9" of the "2009" ice sculpture and the Captain lead the count to 1. We rang in the New Year and I was pushed and elbowed as friends and family tried to give each other their New Years kisses. I really did feel alone. I went to the crew party later and it kind of made it worse. People who met me a day ago, or barely remembered my name wished me "Happy New Year" along their way to their close friends. Anna was with me, but people pulled her this way and that to wish her a happy 2010. Holidays on ships aren't bad, but when you're this new, it feels like a waste of a holiday.
This afternoon at lunch in the staff mess the captain came around and shook all of our hands wishing us a "happy new year." That felt a little nice.
Tomorrow we're in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I hear there's a great mall, which is great since I'm desperate for some essentials. What am I looking forward to most? The use of my phone. Calling home will definitely make this contract easier.
So far, less than a week in, I really can't make a judgement call about life here. I have really high moments. I have really low moments. Essentially, though, I haven't set up my life here yet. I guess get back to me on that in a couple more weeks.
I signed on to the Celebrity Summit December 27th and have been re-adjusting ever since. I reunited with my good friend Anna which has resulted in my being her shadow as I still don't always know where I am or where I'm going. I'm getting the hang of the layout of the ship and meeting lots of new people, all of whom are called "hey you" for at least another couple weeks. Training is a bit easier and less intimidating this time. The food is still awful. One of the toughest readjustments, though, which will never get easier, is the rocky seas. I didn't think the Caribbean would have choppy waves - I was wrong.
While I know many people want to hear about the beauty of the Caribbean, I'm going to have to disappoint. I've been off the ship just twice, and once was simply to catch some free internet at the ship's terminal. The view from the ship seems beautiful and I really can't wait to go out and enjoy paradise, but as for now my body is calling for sleep in my extra time.
The people onboard are different from the people on my last ship. There's not as much of a community feeling around. It's a larger crew and I think many stick within their own department. It's all making me try to recall my first impressions of the Century's crew. Did I think they were clique-y as well? If I did I was proved wrong. Maybe this crew will prove me wrong as well. I have Anna, and I was surprised to see my old neighbor, Thiago the Brazilian Lighting Technician. I get along with my manager. I like the ITV guy, and a few of the acapella guys have been pretty friendly. My roommate is a great girl from Canada, Shabiki. She's leaving soon, though, and I may be moving to my permanent room in the morning with a Ukranian Youth Staff member.
The job's the same job, but if you can imagine, older equipment and older software. It's weird to train yourself in reverse. The software is some of the original Avid - which is a far cry from what I learned in school. Luckily, though, in another two weeks the head office is coming onboard to update all of our software to the latest version of the program I used in school! We're also getting brand new, tiny cameras. Until then, I will be making friends with the gigantic beta cams we have here. Any of you who know television will likely scoff when you read "beta." Yes, we still use beta cam. If you still don't get the idea I will tell you I have lovingly named my equipment, as I do with many pieces of equipment I use frequnetly. My ipod is "Esther." My computer is "Dexter." My netbook is "Prudence." The camera and tripod os the Summit's broadcast are, "Bertha" and "Gert," resepctively. If that doesn't give you an idea of what I'm working with here, well then I'm just at a loss.
The one day I did go out was in Bridgetown, Barbados. As the taxi sped through the town I caught glimpses of Canadian banks and colorful houses. It was very much a Key West type of feeling. My roommate and I were going to the crew hot spot for this port. "The Boatyard" is a place that offers special deals to members of cruise ships. For $5 you get entry, a free drink, beach access, chairs, umbrellas, use of the rope swing and the beach trampoline. There's music, food, picnic tables, drinks - all right there on the beach! Needless to say I have found my "usual" of Barbados. It also is where many of the people I'm likely to be hanging out with will be. The beach water was a brilliant tourquoise and clear enough to see my toenails even in the deepest of water. As you step in you're amazed at how perfect the temperature of the water is. It's not the type of beach that you dip your toe in and run away with shivers, and it's nothing like bathwater.
Spending New Years Eve surrounded by strangers was, in all honesty, really tough. It's not the first holiday I've had away from home, or even on a ship. It's just the first one by myself. The poolside of the Summit was a huge party. All of our singers onboard sang with different bands we have. Guests danced and there was a little corner of crew. Where was I? Behind the camera, naturally. I was feeding shots into the giant screen hanging atop the Mast Bar. I was having a great time, watching everyone dance and sing, until the countdown. Baby New Year smashed the "9" of the "2009" ice sculpture and the Captain lead the count to 1. We rang in the New Year and I was pushed and elbowed as friends and family tried to give each other their New Years kisses. I really did feel alone. I went to the crew party later and it kind of made it worse. People who met me a day ago, or barely remembered my name wished me "Happy New Year" along their way to their close friends. Anna was with me, but people pulled her this way and that to wish her a happy 2010. Holidays on ships aren't bad, but when you're this new, it feels like a waste of a holiday.
This afternoon at lunch in the staff mess the captain came around and shook all of our hands wishing us a "happy new year." That felt a little nice.
Tomorrow we're in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I hear there's a great mall, which is great since I'm desperate for some essentials. What am I looking forward to most? The use of my phone. Calling home will definitely make this contract easier.
So far, less than a week in, I really can't make a judgement call about life here. I have really high moments. I have really low moments. Essentially, though, I haven't set up my life here yet. I guess get back to me on that in a couple more weeks.
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