Thanksgiving

Hello All!

Well, Thanksgiving was this week.  It was a really interesting experience because I was the only one in the BBB from the US.  So I was explaining Thanksgiving to everyone pretty much all week.  In fact, out of 1500 crew, there are less than 100 Americans.  So - Thanksgiving may be a big deal to the guests, but definitely not to the crew.  However, they did have turkey on Thanksgiving for dinner, and that definitely made me happy.  The guests were also excited talking about Thanksgiving, and it was like they finally found a crew member to talk to about it!

After work a few friends and I went to see 'Frozen'.  I had already seen it earlier in the week - but it was awesome!  I highly recommend - it's so much fun and the music is great!  I already downloaded the soundtrack...

It was in general, a little bit of a lighter week.  I had the Grand Cayman and Cozumel morning off.  I didn't get off the ship in Grand Cayman because it's a tender port, and we dock late, so a friend and I just went up on deck and laid in the sun for like two and a half hours.  It was really nice.  Costa Maya I was on all day and it was crazy busy - pretty much like a sea day!  It did make the day go by fast though.  I got off in Cozumel and went to Starbucks for some coffee and free wi-fi, then to a bar for crew that's nearby for a beverage and some more free wi-fi.  I was a little tired in Cozumel because the night before is when we went to the guest premiere of 'Frozen'.  The whole BBB got to go together, so that was fun.

I was on the island on Friday in the morning.  That was really fun - I'd never been to work on the island, and I really enjoyed it.  It was nice to be outside for a few hours.  I love the BBB, but it is a little small and inside, so being out in the sun for a few hours was a nice change.   Friday nights are always fun because we head down into the shops to spread pixie dust to all the guests!

Today is going well because I am off until 5!  So I got up early and headed to the mall!  I am currently sitting getting my free wi-fi at the food court, and in an hour I'm going to see the new 'Hunger Games' movies!  It's been nice to be off for a little bit.  I'm definitely used to working 70 hours a week - but a little break is nice also!

Have a good week!

-Steph :)

Pictures!!!

Hello All!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  I have been super busy.  But I have a few things to share now, plus, pictures!

The BBB is going great.  I finally got to take off my trainee tag and now am a full-blown FGIT and Pirate Master.  Pirates is always great fun.  A really great break in the middle of the week.  It's definitely challenging to be in character all the time, but I'm getting used to it.

I had my month on board and my received my Mickey Ears this week!  I will try to rough up a picture when I can.

The crew awards were also this week.  They are sort of like the Oscars for the ship.  Everyone gets really dressed up and it's in the Walt Disney Theatre.  It was a lot of fun.  However, I realized the week before that I really didn't have a dress to wear, so my roommate and I went shopping in St. Maarten the day before and I bought a really pretty black dress.  I will try to find a picture of it.  I know someone who was taking pictures, so I just have to rustle it up!

I don't know what else to really say, except that I think I am finally getting used to being tired all the time...

If you all want to know something else that I'm forgetting - ask!  I promise I'll try to reply super fast, but I suppose I can't guarantee that!

Steph :)

As promised - pictures...

Cruise #3!

Hello All!

Well, it was my second week in the BBB this week and it went really well!  I have learned all the hairstyles now and am actually doing the hair for the little princesses.  I like it a lot.  The princesses are really adorable and seeing their face after their transformation is really special.  It’s still a little nerve-wracking but that will go away with time and practice.  I also think that I need to be a little faster, but that will come with time as well.

It was definitely a long week, and I stayed up late a few times, but I think my body is finally beginning to adjust to being tired.  It will just be an ever-present part of my life now.  And I don’t say that in a bad way, its just part of the life.  Although, even though I’m tired, I still feel like getting up and doing things.  I think that’s definitely an improvement over my first few weeks when all I wanted to do was sleep.

Pirate night was really fun because I learned the pirate make-up for boys, so I was transforming all sorts of pirates!

One of the really cool things that happened during the week was that it’s now Christmas on the Disney Fantasy!  Holiday services showed up on Saturday to put up most of the Christmas decorations, including in the BBB!  They are really cute and this week I am going to take pictures of them, I am…

On Friday I had my wet drill in Castaway Cay.  It was actually pretty fun!  The sun was shining, the water was gorgeous, and it was pretty fun to be in the water for a few hours.  Wet drill is personal survival training and is required by international maritime law.  You have to learn about immersion suits for cold water, lifejackets and life rafts.  You spend a lot of time in the water floating around in your lifejacket.  Then you have to crawl on an overturned life raft and flip it with another person.  That was definitely the hardest part.  Because you really can’t use your legs to pull yourself up, you have to use your arms.  And my arm strength sucks…  but I did it!  Then it was back to work!  And, Friday night I got to take the “Earning My Ears” sticker off my nametag!  That means that I’m a FGIT proper!

I said good-bye to another friend Friday night, but he’ll be back – so it’s ok.  My roommate is also gone for a week.  She went to do some training on the island so I get the cabin all to myself for a week.  Everyone is so so so jealous!!!

This morning was my first morning doing load.  That’s freight.  It wasn’t that difficult since I am used to doing things like it for the Disney Store.  We were done in a few hours so I got off the ship in Port Canaveral and headed to Target!  It was awesome!  I had a list and was able to get most of it.  Some snacks, laundry detergent, a headband, etc…

I also got two Starbucks… 

Tonight was fun because we had a new FGIT (Fairy-Godmother-in-Training) in the BBB.  She’s from Canada and seems really nice.  So while it’s fun not to be the new girl anymore, it’s also nerve-wracking because now I’m supposed to know what I’m doing!  We also get a new girl next week as well because so many FGIT’s are going on vacation.  It should be an interesting Christmas!

Speaking of Christmas, I did pick up a few Christmas decorations while I was at Target, but I think I will have to maybe grab a few more over the next month or so…

Well, I’m off to watch ‘Elf’ in the crew lounge – tomorrow will be a long, busy sea day!

Steph :)

The Pirates League!

Hello All!

Well, Wednesday was pirate night on the Disney Fantasy!  That means that pirates come and take over the BBB and turn it into the Pirates League!  We all become pirate masters and turn anyone 3-333 into a pirate!  It was a lot of fun, but completely exhausting.  We were busy from open to close.

I did girl pirates because I haven’t learned how to do the other pirate make-up yet.  But I should be learning this week so that next week I can transform any of the guests into pirates!

Halloween was a sea day, which means a very busy day in the BBB.  But I was able to be on my own for a few princesses who wanted the simpler hairstyle.  It was really fun, but I will definitely have to work on talking to the princesses and doing their hair at the same time.  Right now I focus so much on the hair and getting it right that I sometimes forget to talk to them.  But that will come with time and practice.  I’ve learned a few more of the hairstyles and I am adding one more to my repertoire for this week and then by next week I should be able to do all of them!

There was also candy everywhere on Halloween and I definitely ate too much…

Friday was Castaway Cay day and I was supposed to have my wet drill this morning.  That’s where we jump in the water by the ship and do a bunch of practical safety training.  Unfortunately it was canceled because there was a ton of jellyfish in the water!  Our officer said that they had never seen so many jellyfish and had never canceled wet drill because of jellyfish, but we had to today!  So I’ll have to go back next week…

The rest of the day was spent cleaning the BBB and then we went down to the shops at night to pixie dust the little princesses and royal knights!  It was really fun interacting with all the guests down in the shops.

Not sure what the plan is for tonight but I have a friend who’s leaving tomorrow so there will probably be some celebrating!  And I don’t have to work until noon tomorrow! Yay!

Also I love being in Port Canaveral because then I can use my phone and call home!

Talk to you tomorrow Mom, Dad & Nick!!!

Steph :)