Aruba and Curacao

February 28, 2013: Aruba
It was a long morning as we waited to get to Aruba. A lot of people were walking around crooked because the ship was rocking a bit, but I didn’t really notice it except in the Loft when the ball of Christmas-lights started swinging more. The boy was the only one to come up, we started playing another Halo game. I’m still pretty bad at it, but at least I’ve learned how to look and walk around at the same time in it.

After lunch, there was a lapse of time when crew couldn’t get off because of the general drill. Charlotte and I started laundry since we both really needed to do it and had time. After the drill (which surprisingly didn’t take that long!), we finished up laundry finally and went out to get ice cream and wifi. I really appreciate the invention of the internet, this kind of job would be so much harder for most crew members if we didn’t have it. We got back on not long before dinner so we changed and went up for our nightly pasta.

I met the 16-year-old tonight. She and her mom came up to find and check out the Loft so she can possibly come up later this week. I couldn’t really tell if she was that interested in coming up or not, but I’m glad they checked in. The boy and I played FIFA (soccer) on the xbox. I’m not too horrible at it; it’s easier than the other games, and now that I know what all the buttons make the players do, I’m in much better shape to play it! Plus, it’s actually fun! We ended up playing that the entire night session, with a short break to go to the pool party in the Lido and get some snacks.

March 1, 2013: Curacao
Curacao is an easy day for Club HAL, especially if no one signs up for port day! I got up late since I just wanted to sleep in, but I somehow got ready in time to make it up to breakfast. I ate with Charlotte who had just gotten off work, then I came down to the room to read until lunch (I didn’t want to get lunch off-ship, especially alone). After a quick lunch, I changed quickly and went to town for the afternoon.

Not far into town, I met up with some of the front office girls (one of whom had been on the Maasdam with me, Lianne). I walked around with them until they got to KFC where they were getting lunch and wifi. I didn’t need lunch since I’d already eaten, and didn’t really feel I needed to spend more time on wifi since I had a few hours yesterday, so I went off wandering around on my own. After walking around the shops and markets for a while, I met the doctor and his family. I actually spent the rest of the afternoon with them, wandering around town, showing each other things we’d discovered in and around town! It was pretty fun hanging out with them. We found a place where a bunch of crabs were scuttling around, stopped on a little bridge and watched little fish and big blue fish swimming around, and found some trees that had polished designs carved into them. I enjoy hanging out with that family; I’m sad they’re leaving at the end of this cruise, but hopefully I’ll see them again sometime. Funnily enough, they’re going to be on the Maasdam this fall for the Transatlantic trip!

Charlotte and I had our normal dinner, then back to the room to talk for a while until we each had to work. In the Loft, we played a few board games. Started Monopoly, then gave up; the boy tried to teach us Risk, but the girl and I didn’t have enough patience for it. We ended up getting out Battle of the Sexes and I read off questions for them to answer. It was actually really hilarious because of their reactions to some of the questions and answers and they just fed off each other. I laughed a WHOLE lot the rest of the night! After a quick trip to the OB, which was pretty much empty (probably due to the new rule just put into place), I came back to the room and talked to Charlotte as we both tried to fall asleep.