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. :)
Monday, March 29, 2010
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.
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