An Update!

Hello All!

So – I know it’s been a few days since my last update, but I have been super busy and haven’t had time until now.  So – here are the updates from the last three days!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22 – St. Maarten

Today was our first port day, in St. Maarten, the half-French, half-Dutch island.  We had a crew drill in the morning, which is just the crew practicing what to do in case of an emergency.  I didn’t screw up or get lost too bad, so I’m calling it a win.  I don’t have any safety duties yet, and probably won’t for a month or two.

After that I was invited by a couple other merch people to go onto the island – yay!  We got onto St. Maarten, which is beautiful, and took the water taxi over to the downtown and beach area.  We ate lunch at a restaurant where I had spicy shrimp.  It was quite good.  We were also able to get free wi-fi from the restaurant so we all ate and looked down at our phones/ipads…

Then it was off to the beach!  We rented a couple beach chairs and an umbrella and just relaxed on the beach for a few hours.  It was super nice after being in the ship for three days straight to get some Vitamin D.  I did, however, put sunscreen on so that I wouldn’t burn, which was very important.

That night, I had another short training class, and then I went to the shops for a few hours.  After that I got to go watch the fireworks!  It was pirate night, which was really fun, as all the guests were dressed up.  The pirate show on the open deck by the pool was fun, but the fireworks were amazing!  They were so much more than I thought they would be.  They were just like being at the park!

After that, it was time to pass out, because I was exhausted…

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23 – St. Thomas

So it was up very early this morning, 6:30am, for immigration.  St. Thomas is in the US Virgin Islands so all the new and returning crew had to through customs.  It was easy for me, being an American citizen.  Basically I don’t need anything to go ashore in the US, just my DCL ID and driver’s license, both of which I wouldn’t be without anyway.

After immigration it was more safety training, then my training group got to have lunch at Cabanas!  It’s the guest buffet restaurant up on deck 11.  It was really good food, and we got to sit outside, which I enjoyed immensely.  Luckily, since I have deck privileges, I may get to go again sometime! 

After lunch, I didn’t have to work til that night.  I didn’t feel like getting of the ship so I went up to our crew sun deck to use my phone.  Because St. Thomas is technically in the US my phone worked!  As did my 4G.  So I was able to go on facebook and post pictures, which I really can’t do from the internet in my cabin, it’s just too slow…

I also called my family.  I got to wish my brother Nick a happy birthday, because his birthday was yesterday.  I didn’t even realize that it was his birthday, because time just makes no sense here.  I already find myself not thinking of dates or days of the week, but of sea days and port days…

After that I had my first full night shift at the stores.  From 5:30 to 11:30.  It was kinda busy, so that was nice.  But since it was Halloween on the ship all the guests were dressed up, it was cool to see all the guests’ costumes; some of them were so elaborate!  My trainer is in charge of Officer Pin Trading, which is an event in which a bunch of officers come and stand in front of the store and wear pin lanyards, and then trade with the guests.  I was able to participate and it was so much fun!  Part of my costume is a pin lanyard.  We fill it with pins the company sends us – then we trade with the guests.  It’s really fun and the guests get really into it – and so do some of the officers!

I had a little break next, then it was off to the Halloween party in the atrium.  I helped sell “glow” which are things that light up, swords, hats, wands, etc…  It was fun to walk around and dance a little with the guests at the party.

However, I was beyond exhausted when I got back to my cabin so I went straight to sleep…

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24

Today it was up early for another day of safety training.  From 8:45 to 4pm…  It’s a lot of information to remember, so I’m glad that they don’t expect us to be experts right away.

After that I had a short break then headed off to the shops for three hours before leaving to go see the show ‘Disney’s Believe’.  It was my favorite show by far.  I loved it!  It’s about a father who doesn’t believe in the magic his daughter does so the Genie from Aladdin and various other Disney characters help him believe.  It’s super cute, and really fun.

And now I’m sitting in my cabin watching the World Series and writing.  I get to sleep in tomorrow so that’s nice!  Because tomorrow is Castaway Cay – Disney’s private island!  I am so excited about it!!!  We get a tour and a barbeque tomorrow so that will be fun!  But luckily we aren’t doing our ‘wet drill’ – where we get in the water and swim around – that will be next week!

So now I’m going to read my book (Allegiant!) and go to sleep early.  I need to get some sleep because apparently the last night is crazy in the shops!

Steph :)