March 8: Fort Lauderdale
I got off early to take the shuttle with Charlotte to the shopping center. First we went to OfficeMax to mail some stuff, then we crossed the street to Publix for some grocery shopping; I got a few things I needed and Charlotte bought snack food (she’s nearly as picky of an eater as I am). After that, we stopped outside a restaurant that had internet (though it wasn’t open) until Charlotte had to get back to work.
When we got back, Charlotte went up to open the library and I went to the bow to use my phone. I got to talk to Dad AND Mom! :) Conversation was cut kind of short since I was worried about getting lunch before work at 1. Lunch is always extremely crowded on embark day and it takes at least 10 minutes to get through any of the lines. Today was different though. No one was there, I think I saw maybe 20 crew and 10 guests getting food/eating. When I got up to Club HAL I found out why. Because of some kind of budget cuts, there are many less people who take care of the ships for customs. Thus, it took longer than usual, and the new guests can’t get on until the old guests leave so it was about 12:45 before anyone was even allowed to get on. I hope this doesn’t keep up. Or maybe not, since I kind of liked how quiet and non-crowded it was at lunch.
And again, because of the long wait to get on the ship, none of the passengers came to Club HAL for the first hour of open house. It gave Jacob the chance to tell me about Chrissy, who was supposed to come on today. She’s currently at the hotel, sick. She’s still going to come, but not until Aruba or Curacao. In the meantime, we’re one youth staff down and have a big difference in the kids/tweens age. There’s quite a few 3-5 year olds, and quite a few 10-12 year olds, only a couple in the middle; that’s going to make it hard on Jacob until Chrissy gets here. I am going to help out as much as I can, but I have 20 teens myself.
In total, three people came to look around during open house: two teens and a 3-year-old. I went to the bow to talk to Mom again while the passenger drill was taking place, and then went up to the top deck to watch as we left and to listen to the band. I met the wife of the band leader since she was up there as well, so I might have made another friend. I still think that it’s difficult on this ship to make friends; I’m definitely friends with the two cadets, and Charlotte, and kind of friends with one or two members from each of the HAL Cats, but I still don’t feel really comfortable around anyone else. If there’s nowhere else to sit, I’m fine asking if I can sit with them (others, not the ones I names), but sitting with them is just that, sitting and eating.
I went down to the room and did a few sudokus instead of napping until dinner- I was tired but apparently not tired enough to sleep. I stayed a long time at dinner with one of the guitar players, then with the cadets before going up to Club HAL to help Jacob out for a bit until it was time for me to head to the Loft. Two showed up right at 9, then another came a minute later. We started to play ERS, but then two more came in, so we had to re-deal the cards; just as we dealt again, someone else came in! We started the game and let her slap-in. We chatted and got to know each other a bit before moving on to another game. Two sisters came in and we started another card game, then went around the circle telling facts about ourselves (name, favorite color, superpower and random fact) to make sure we could remember everyone’s name. By that time, it was after 11 so we ate snack and chatted more about school, differences between Canada and US (half of them were from each; the US half was from warm states!), sports, etc. Next thing I knew, it was time to close up. They all made sure to ask when I’ll be up there tomorrow, so that’s a good sign. This seems like a good group, even though there’s two sets of siblings, they’ve gotten along so far. Hour forward tonight, and Half Moon Cay tomorrow. It’s sure to be crazy because the Nieuw Amsterdam will be in port with us and we have to use our own tenders instead of the big ones from the island.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
crazy few days!
March 3, 2013: Cartegena
It was pretty much a normal sea day for me. I worked the port day shift since Jacob had to attend a security/safety meeting, then had the usual afternoon/evening sessions with the teens. Only two girls were there in the morning so we played games on wii sports resort. The boy ‘teen’ came in and played as well since he didn’t get off the ship and was bored. We ended up taking that disk to the Loft in the afternoon and playing that with the other teens all afternoon. At least it’s a different type of video game. I found out I’m decent at archery and good at Frisbee with the wii! :)
I stayed in the Loft late since I really didn’t want to go back to my room quite yet, and the teens weren’t ready to stop yet. So, I had about 10 minutes in the room talking to Charlotte before dinner. Dinner was a bit disappointed. I finally caved and had fries for the first time on the Zuiderdam because I’d had pizza with the teens earlier and the pasta sauce had been overcooked.
Most of the night session, we just played FIFA (soccer on xbox). The other teen showed up again (she’s been coming more today and yesterday) and we convinced her to at least try to play it with us. After FIFA and an ice cream break, we took out the Battle of the Sexes questions and amused ourselves with asking/answering those the rest of the night.
March 4, 2013: Panama Canal
All of the teens were going on excursions today, so Jacob asked if I would mind taking the afternoon shift in Club HAL, and just sleeping in in the morning. It wasn’t a bad afternoon, we just played on the wii and Xboxes. I got off the ship and did a little shopping on my own before getting back on the ship and attempting to upload pictures (Charlotte told me afterwards that she should’ve told me before that internet on Panama day is really really slow). The teens and I just talked and showed each other pictures the whole night, so it was a really easy day.
March 5, 2013: Costa Rica
There was a drill this morning, a fire drill and a raft drill for certain number rafts (not mine, Charlotte had to go though). I had a good breakfast then went to the front office for the fire drill. I met Charlotte in the room and we agreed to get off together after her drill. I got our shore passes (Costa Rica makes crew have to have shore passes-like a visa I guess) while she was at the drill then we went out wandering. Right off the ship is a market, so we wandered through there and each bought a few things. I now have a really cool blue bracelet with a butterfly carved into a diamond-shaped piece of coconut shell! It’s pretty cool!
We had lunch back on the ship after spending an hour or so looking around the market. The teen boy came and joined us when we were almost done eating, and I agreed to open the Loft for the afternoon. When I went back upstairs all three of them were there talking. We ended up staying there playing games all afternoon! Then, I opened early again after dinner. They’re a really great group, sometimes they tire me out, but I still enjoy hanging out with them.
March 6, 2013: Sea Day
It was pretty much movie day in the Loft. We watched a few of the movies I had in the Loft, then they went to the front office and got some more movies to watch! That’s all we did all day. I didn’t go to the room at all from when I left for breakfast at 9 until after midnight! It was a relaxing, but full day it seems. Nothing else really interesting happened.
March 7, 2013: Sea Day
What a day! I went up to Club HAL a bit early, which was lucky since Jacob had forgotten to ask me to come by so he could go to “Love in Any Language” (the “crew’s final farewell” show-type thing). Two of the teens showed up and everyone ended up just sitting and watching Despicable Me, which Jacob had started before he left. The little kids had fun kind of attacking the teen boy when he wouldn’t give them back the ball of model magic they’d thrown at him; watching and helping with that entertained those of us that weren’t completely focused on the movie. The teens and I left when Jacob came back and just hung out for the last hour until lunchtime. Then, they told me not to come back until 2 (odd since they’re usually ready for me to come back as soon as possible). At lunch they came by with a “present” for me - a glass of ice, they figured out that I don’t like ice so decided to give me some. After they gave me that, they not-so-discretely told Charlotte to not let me go back to the Loft until after 2. I was a little bit worried at that point at what they were planning. Though, I did end up helping Charlotte shelve all the books people had begun to turn in since it’s the last day of the cruise. One of the teens came by to tell me to meet them by the front office at 2:15.
Around 2, I went by Club HAL to see if Jacob needed anything. They were in the Loft doing something, which made me even more suspicious. I met the teens at the front office, and we went right back up to the Loft. They ran in and told me to walk really slowly up the stairs, so I did. Apparently too slow though, haha. I come in to find the lights off and ‘decorations’ all around the room, and all the Club HAL kids and teens jumped out and yelled “surprise.” I wasn’t really sure what to make of it. There was toilet paper strung across the room from the ceiling and all over the floor, and pieces of paper with words taped to the wall. The Club HAL kids left and the teens then told me what everything was about. There was random stuff that they’d written to do with me (random things: orange&blue, the word y’all, ice, etc) on the wall. We cleaned it all up and hung out for a while before starting a movie, which really kept us occupied until dinner.
It was pretty much a normal sea day for me. I worked the port day shift since Jacob had to attend a security/safety meeting, then had the usual afternoon/evening sessions with the teens. Only two girls were there in the morning so we played games on wii sports resort. The boy ‘teen’ came in and played as well since he didn’t get off the ship and was bored. We ended up taking that disk to the Loft in the afternoon and playing that with the other teens all afternoon. At least it’s a different type of video game. I found out I’m decent at archery and good at Frisbee with the wii! :)
I stayed in the Loft late since I really didn’t want to go back to my room quite yet, and the teens weren’t ready to stop yet. So, I had about 10 minutes in the room talking to Charlotte before dinner. Dinner was a bit disappointed. I finally caved and had fries for the first time on the Zuiderdam because I’d had pizza with the teens earlier and the pasta sauce had been overcooked.
Most of the night session, we just played FIFA (soccer on xbox). The other teen showed up again (she’s been coming more today and yesterday) and we convinced her to at least try to play it with us. After FIFA and an ice cream break, we took out the Battle of the Sexes questions and amused ourselves with asking/answering those the rest of the night.
March 4, 2013: Panama Canal
All of the teens were going on excursions today, so Jacob asked if I would mind taking the afternoon shift in Club HAL, and just sleeping in in the morning. It wasn’t a bad afternoon, we just played on the wii and Xboxes. I got off the ship and did a little shopping on my own before getting back on the ship and attempting to upload pictures (Charlotte told me afterwards that she should’ve told me before that internet on Panama day is really really slow). The teens and I just talked and showed each other pictures the whole night, so it was a really easy day.
March 5, 2013: Costa Rica
There was a drill this morning, a fire drill and a raft drill for certain number rafts (not mine, Charlotte had to go though). I had a good breakfast then went to the front office for the fire drill. I met Charlotte in the room and we agreed to get off together after her drill. I got our shore passes (Costa Rica makes crew have to have shore passes-like a visa I guess) while she was at the drill then we went out wandering. Right off the ship is a market, so we wandered through there and each bought a few things. I now have a really cool blue bracelet with a butterfly carved into a diamond-shaped piece of coconut shell! It’s pretty cool!
We had lunch back on the ship after spending an hour or so looking around the market. The teen boy came and joined us when we were almost done eating, and I agreed to open the Loft for the afternoon. When I went back upstairs all three of them were there talking. We ended up staying there playing games all afternoon! Then, I opened early again after dinner. They’re a really great group, sometimes they tire me out, but I still enjoy hanging out with them.
March 6, 2013: Sea Day
It was pretty much movie day in the Loft. We watched a few of the movies I had in the Loft, then they went to the front office and got some more movies to watch! That’s all we did all day. I didn’t go to the room at all from when I left for breakfast at 9 until after midnight! It was a relaxing, but full day it seems. Nothing else really interesting happened.
March 7, 2013: Sea Day
What a day! I went up to Club HAL a bit early, which was lucky since Jacob had forgotten to ask me to come by so he could go to “Love in Any Language” (the “crew’s final farewell” show-type thing). Two of the teens showed up and everyone ended up just sitting and watching Despicable Me, which Jacob had started before he left. The little kids had fun kind of attacking the teen boy when he wouldn’t give them back the ball of model magic they’d thrown at him; watching and helping with that entertained those of us that weren’t completely focused on the movie. The teens and I left when Jacob came back and just hung out for the last hour until lunchtime. Then, they told me not to come back until 2 (odd since they’re usually ready for me to come back as soon as possible). At lunch they came by with a “present” for me - a glass of ice, they figured out that I don’t like ice so decided to give me some. After they gave me that, they not-so-discretely told Charlotte to not let me go back to the Loft until after 2. I was a little bit worried at that point at what they were planning. Though, I did end up helping Charlotte shelve all the books people had begun to turn in since it’s the last day of the cruise. One of the teens came by to tell me to meet them by the front office at 2:15.
Around 2, I went by Club HAL to see if Jacob needed anything. They were in the Loft doing something, which made me even more suspicious. I met the teens at the front office, and we went right back up to the Loft. They ran in and told me to walk really slowly up the stairs, so I did. Apparently too slow though, haha. I come in to find the lights off and ‘decorations’ all around the room, and all the Club HAL kids and teens jumped out and yelled “surprise.” I wasn’t really sure what to make of it. There was toilet paper strung across the room from the ceiling and all over the floor, and pieces of paper with words taped to the wall. The Club HAL kids left and the teens then told me what everything was about. There was random stuff that they’d written to do with me (random things: orange&blue, the word y’all, ice, etc) on the wall. We cleaned it all up and hung out for a while before starting a movie, which really kept us occupied until dinner.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
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.
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.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sea day with the teens!
February 27, 2013: At Sea
I had a leisurely breakfast and went by to see Jacob before going to the Loft. Not long after I walked into Club HAL, there was an announcement for a fire drill. I had to get Jacob to look up the number so I could call the front office to let them know I was working. That’s what I don’t get about Club HAL being PAX notification team. If an emergency happens, I’m extremely likely to be at work and my first priority will be to get the children to their lifeboats and their parents. Only after that will I be able to go to the front office to post stuff, probably after they’re done since most people should be at the lifeboats quickly. Then, I’d have to go down to my room, grab my lifejacket before heading back to the other side of the ship to my liferaft. It’s just an added step. We have a general drill tomorrow as well because of an audit on the ship...not fun.
Anyway, the boy showed up this morning again, but brought one of the teens with him! He’d met her in the Lido and convinced her to come up. We hung out for a while, listening to music and trying to identify the artist and title of songs, then we played video games again until it was time for my lunch break.
I didn’t really take that long to eat, but I was happy that I found brie! Now I know where to look in the future! There was only about 45 minutes before I had to be at work, so I went up to see if Jacob needed anything. None of the kids were there, so I held down the fort while he went down to the office to print out schedules for the next few days. The kids must have all had really long lunches because none of them were there when Jacob got back and I went to the Loft early. The boy came up first, we just chatted and I did a few sudokus while he played cards, then the teen got there and we all played video games the rest of the afternoon. Surprisingly only one person came in to ask about the library!
Dinner was long, and very interesting. I sat with Jacob and Krista, and we had good conversation. They both had to leave for work, but Charlotte had come by, and one of the 4th officers sat with us and the three of us started talking, joined by the doctor and his wife once she’d dropped the kids off at Club HAL. Charlotte had to head to work, but I stayed since I was interested in the conversation.The doctor had actually been in the navy, and is now just a travelling doctor, filling in in ERs where they need him. Doing ships is just as easy for him since it’s just more travel. I love learning stuff about people. He and Charles (the 4th officer) talked about different stuff in the bridges of ships they’ve been on and stuff like that while the wife and I listened and talked ourselves. It was a good dinner!
Only the boy came up tonight, we talked and played video games. Actually, I let him play while I did a few sudokus until it was time to go. We have some pretty interesting conversations since he’s travelled all over the world pretty much.
I had a leisurely breakfast and went by to see Jacob before going to the Loft. Not long after I walked into Club HAL, there was an announcement for a fire drill. I had to get Jacob to look up the number so I could call the front office to let them know I was working. That’s what I don’t get about Club HAL being PAX notification team. If an emergency happens, I’m extremely likely to be at work and my first priority will be to get the children to their lifeboats and their parents. Only after that will I be able to go to the front office to post stuff, probably after they’re done since most people should be at the lifeboats quickly. Then, I’d have to go down to my room, grab my lifejacket before heading back to the other side of the ship to my liferaft. It’s just an added step. We have a general drill tomorrow as well because of an audit on the ship...not fun.
Anyway, the boy showed up this morning again, but brought one of the teens with him! He’d met her in the Lido and convinced her to come up. We hung out for a while, listening to music and trying to identify the artist and title of songs, then we played video games again until it was time for my lunch break.
I didn’t really take that long to eat, but I was happy that I found brie! Now I know where to look in the future! There was only about 45 minutes before I had to be at work, so I went up to see if Jacob needed anything. None of the kids were there, so I held down the fort while he went down to the office to print out schedules for the next few days. The kids must have all had really long lunches because none of them were there when Jacob got back and I went to the Loft early. The boy came up first, we just chatted and I did a few sudokus while he played cards, then the teen got there and we all played video games the rest of the afternoon. Surprisingly only one person came in to ask about the library!
Dinner was long, and very interesting. I sat with Jacob and Krista, and we had good conversation. They both had to leave for work, but Charlotte had come by, and one of the 4th officers sat with us and the three of us started talking, joined by the doctor and his wife once she’d dropped the kids off at Club HAL. Charlotte had to head to work, but I stayed since I was interested in the conversation.The doctor had actually been in the navy, and is now just a travelling doctor, filling in in ERs where they need him. Doing ships is just as easy for him since it’s just more travel. I love learning stuff about people. He and Charles (the 4th officer) talked about different stuff in the bridges of ships they’ve been on and stuff like that while the wife and I listened and talked ourselves. It was a good dinner!
Only the boy came up tonight, we talked and played video games. Actually, I let him play while I did a few sudokus until it was time to go. We have some pretty interesting conversations since he’s travelled all over the world pretty much.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
great day at the beach in Half Moon Cay
February 26, 2013: Half Moon Cay
I managed to get up early enough to have breakfast before going to catch the tender. There was a huge line waiting for the tender, because there were some big swells. As soon as I got down there, someone asked if I was crew, then proceeded to yell and curse at me telling me that this was ridiculous and I needed to get it to work better; I was just trying to get to the back of the line to wait…. The other people around him were nice though, they insisted I get in line before them since I was going ashore to work. I’m glad there are good people like that to make up for the meaner ones.
After two tenders came and went, we finally were allowed to get on and head to shore. The doc’s kids were the only ones who came to beach activities, so we played with their small, floating football until time was up. Then, I went down to the beach and hung out with Charlotte and Sara (the stage manager) on the beach. We swam some, we talked some, we read some; it was a good afternoon!
I came back, changed and got lunch with Charlotte and Sara, then went up to the Loft for the rest of the afternoon, the 18-year-old was the only one who showed up (I wasn’t really expecting the girls to, since they’re teenage girls and more than likely spent the day on the beach, then by the pool). We talked and played video games until I had to close up.
After a long dinner and relaxing in the room for a while, I went up to Club HAL to give Jacob a few minutes off before I went to the Loft. They were playing Celebrity heads; all of them were participating and having fun (so much better than last week!).
The 18 year old boy was the only one to come up to the Loft again. We kept a count of how many people came by to ask for the Library or Crows Nest, and played video games until it was time to leave. At least I haven’t been bored sitting in the Loft waiting for someone to come! Hour forward tonight, so I’m not going out, most people probably won’t anyway.
I managed to get up early enough to have breakfast before going to catch the tender. There was a huge line waiting for the tender, because there were some big swells. As soon as I got down there, someone asked if I was crew, then proceeded to yell and curse at me telling me that this was ridiculous and I needed to get it to work better; I was just trying to get to the back of the line to wait…. The other people around him were nice though, they insisted I get in line before them since I was going ashore to work. I’m glad there are good people like that to make up for the meaner ones.
After two tenders came and went, we finally were allowed to get on and head to shore. The doc’s kids were the only ones who came to beach activities, so we played with their small, floating football until time was up. Then, I went down to the beach and hung out with Charlotte and Sara (the stage manager) on the beach. We swam some, we talked some, we read some; it was a good afternoon!
I came back, changed and got lunch with Charlotte and Sara, then went up to the Loft for the rest of the afternoon, the 18-year-old was the only one who showed up (I wasn’t really expecting the girls to, since they’re teenage girls and more than likely spent the day on the beach, then by the pool). We talked and played video games until I had to close up.
After a long dinner and relaxing in the room for a while, I went up to Club HAL to give Jacob a few minutes off before I went to the Loft. They were playing Celebrity heads; all of them were participating and having fun (so much better than last week!).
The 18 year old boy was the only one to come up to the Loft again. We kept a count of how many people came by to ask for the Library or Crows Nest, and played video games until it was time to leave. At least I haven’t been bored sitting in the Loft waiting for someone to come! Hour forward tonight, so I’m not going out, most people probably won’t anyway.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
busy but boring day in home port
February 25, 2013: Fort Lauderdale
Immigration was at 10, it went pretty fast I think; we were done by 11. Since it was so late though, and I didn’t have anyone to go out with, I decided to stay on the ship this time. I took a nap, went to lunch, hung out in Club HAL for a while with Jacob as he waited for people to come by for heath inspection, then went to the library to get books from Charlotte.
Mom called, so I went to the bow to talk to her for a while. After that, it was a lot of up and down the stairs (elevators kind of were backed up with new guests finding their way around, and housekeeping taking luggage to rooms) as I went back to actually get the books from Charlotte, drop them off in the room, went back up to listen to the HAL Cats’ deck set, went back to the room to hide during the passenger drill, back upstairs for a entertainment department meeting, back down to kill some time before dinner, dinner, then down again to try to get something straightened out in the Crew Office, then finally back up to the Loft. Busy busy day.
None of the teens actually came, though an 18-year-old came up and hung out for a while. We talked, played cards and played Wii sports (I’m horrible at golf) until I closed up the Loft for the night. Jacob suggested I write the teens notes to try to get them all there at the same time (since last week the 8 teens kept missing each other in the Loft), so I did that after the 18-year-old left, then went to sleep because it’d been a loonngg day.
Immigration was at 10, it went pretty fast I think; we were done by 11. Since it was so late though, and I didn’t have anyone to go out with, I decided to stay on the ship this time. I took a nap, went to lunch, hung out in Club HAL for a while with Jacob as he waited for people to come by for heath inspection, then went to the library to get books from Charlotte.
Mom called, so I went to the bow to talk to her for a while. After that, it was a lot of up and down the stairs (elevators kind of were backed up with new guests finding their way around, and housekeeping taking luggage to rooms) as I went back to actually get the books from Charlotte, drop them off in the room, went back up to listen to the HAL Cats’ deck set, went back to the room to hide during the passenger drill, back upstairs for a entertainment department meeting, back down to kill some time before dinner, dinner, then down again to try to get something straightened out in the Crew Office, then finally back up to the Loft. Busy busy day.
None of the teens actually came, though an 18-year-old came up and hung out for a while. We talked, played cards and played Wii sports (I’m horrible at golf) until I closed up the Loft for the night. Jacob suggested I write the teens notes to try to get them all there at the same time (since last week the 8 teens kept missing each other in the Loft), so I did that after the 18-year-old left, then went to sleep because it’d been a loonngg day.
sea days
February 23, 2013: At Sea
Another late-start morning. I had a long breakfast in a crowded Lido, some passengers sat with me and we chatted while we ate. No one came up to the Loft, so I sat with my pages of Sudokus and music.
Jacob asked me to work with the kids this afternoon so he could do some work in the office and get stuff done for the last few days of the cruise. It was kind of insane because ALL of the kids were there and running around, begging for my attention. But, I made it through. The little girl actually stayed for a while before noticing that her mom left, then she ran to me and sat with me the rest of the time. :) Most of the kids actually got along for once, usually they’re arguing over what to play. After work, I read some, went to dinner and went to it again. We really didn’t do any “Brave the Night” activities. But, they got along and played games in groups which I was more than fine with!
February 24, 2013: At Sea again
Just another day at sea really. Morning shift in the Loft followed by an afternoon in Club HAL, there were only a few there the first hour and they were content to play video games, then a few more arrived and I put in a movie since it was on the schedule. It went by pretty quickly and I got to play some Lego Harry Potter with one of the kids while others watched the movie.
It was the last night of the cruise, so it was supposed to be movie night. But they were all getting along so well, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to let them continue what they were doing: boys playing video games (one with my help) and the girls building a fort and making decorations for it and then playing sardines. Jacob was going to let me off at 10 and take over late night, but we got into playing Bop It Extreme followed by Spoons, so I didn’t leave until 11. They were having so much fun, they didn’t even realize that we hadn’t gone down for ice cream.
I went to the OB for the first time here. It’s set up very differently from the Oosterdam, which surprised me since they’re the same class ship. I talked with Jacob and Krista for a while, then Lianne (she was on the Maasdam as well, works in the front office). I met a few people and now feel a bit more comfortable around them, so now it won’t take so much work to actually motivate myself to go out at night.
Another late-start morning. I had a long breakfast in a crowded Lido, some passengers sat with me and we chatted while we ate. No one came up to the Loft, so I sat with my pages of Sudokus and music.
Jacob asked me to work with the kids this afternoon so he could do some work in the office and get stuff done for the last few days of the cruise. It was kind of insane because ALL of the kids were there and running around, begging for my attention. But, I made it through. The little girl actually stayed for a while before noticing that her mom left, then she ran to me and sat with me the rest of the time. :) Most of the kids actually got along for once, usually they’re arguing over what to play. After work, I read some, went to dinner and went to it again. We really didn’t do any “Brave the Night” activities. But, they got along and played games in groups which I was more than fine with!
February 24, 2013: At Sea again
Just another day at sea really. Morning shift in the Loft followed by an afternoon in Club HAL, there were only a few there the first hour and they were content to play video games, then a few more arrived and I put in a movie since it was on the schedule. It went by pretty quickly and I got to play some Lego Harry Potter with one of the kids while others watched the movie.
It was the last night of the cruise, so it was supposed to be movie night. But they were all getting along so well, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to let them continue what they were doing: boys playing video games (one with my help) and the girls building a fort and making decorations for it and then playing sardines. Jacob was going to let me off at 10 and take over late night, but we got into playing Bop It Extreme followed by Spoons, so I didn’t leave until 11. They were having so much fun, they didn’t even realize that we hadn’t gone down for ice cream.
I went to the OB for the first time here. It’s set up very differently from the Oosterdam, which surprised me since they’re the same class ship. I talked with Jacob and Krista for a while, then Lianne (she was on the Maasdam as well, works in the front office). I met a few people and now feel a bit more comfortable around them, so now it won’t take so much work to actually motivate myself to go out at night.
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