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...
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