STAGE DEBUT?!

Yes, you read correctly. Me, on stage...what?! You ask. Well a funny thing happened in the wardroom ( officers only bar). I was there with the medical team after work chatting and lady marmalade comes on and I say "I love this song to cha cha to". Doc says well why don't you go join in the ballroom lessons they run for the passengers. Now traditionally officers are not allowed in passenger areas without the uniform of the day on. So I was like..nah....Our uniform is not practical for dancing in. The shirts are so short they would come untucked at every turn and the skirts are ugly! Doc then says...if you went in a neat casual outfit with your name badge then I'd be happy. So next day at lunch I head to the cruise staff and ask who does the lessons. S said he'd be happy for me to join in. So that arvo at 2pm I forgo my siesta and head to the dance class. I stay in-cognition, go to the back n join in. Cha cha was the dance for the day! So I'm happily refreshing my memory and mr s is a great dancer and has competed and taught for a long time, so im loving the free tuition and he teaches technique not just steps so I was impressed. I was loving being back on the dance floor. THEN mr s says ok time to partner up and he signals to me to join him on stage.....omg wtf? Yup so up I go. And spend then next 20mins up there demonstrating with him. It was fun and I did love dancing again and it did re-ignite that passion I have for dance. If only I was as fit as I used to be! So today I again forfeited my nap and headed to rhumba, and again up on stage I went. Then an elderly lady of a nationality that is very adept at ballroom dancing sides up to me and says " you are the only one on the floor with rhythm and style and it's a pleasure watching you dance"- Speechless!!! A massive compliment and I never thought I looked that good esp with my current level of fitness as compared to when I danced regularly! So I must still have some skill there lol! The passengers are fun and all are smiling by the end of the class. Yes there are some funny styles and some interesting timing but they are having fun and enjoying their cruise so I'm happy to help out. Omg even if it is on stage in front of the passengers! My biggest fear is of course falling off the stage...explain THAT to my collegues! 

I am truly enjoying being back on the dance floor in a proper setting. Tomorrow is slow foxtrot....but I'm up all night so we will see. But for now I'm glad I have braved the passengers and hit the dance floor...might even ask mr s for some private lessons! We will see....happy dancing, 

Alaska Round One.

So our first cruise of the Alaskan season is almost over and it's had its moments! But overall lovely weather and some amazing wildlife and scenery. First I have seen whales- killer in fact, majestic. Then otters, cute but apparently naughty little critters. We have also seen many a seal and sea lion! Today though (21st may) we were lucky enough to have a tour of the bridge- where the captain and deck officers navigate and control the ship. They hands down have the best view on the ship! And the bridge windows have windscreen wipers just like a cars which was funny to see. Better yet though than seeing the bridge and all the navigational technology...was that we spied a mother killer whale and her calf and watched as we sailed by.....incredible! These are the moments you can't plan and they are just amazing when they surprise you out of the blue. Leaves me smiling and realising how lucky i am to have such a cool and unique job. It's also happened a few times with brilliant sunsets and the recent full moon. To see a full moon shining and the light pouring for the bottom of the moon onto the oceans surface and shining out away from the moon was pure beauty. 

PORTS: My port visits were early in the cruise. I got off in Ketchikan and hit the supermarket and then of course to burger queen for the best burger in the world and a drink with the dancers. Then there was Juneau where we took a cable car ride up the mountain. We went for a small hike as there was plenty of thick snow and had a snow fight! Kylie. 1 Staff Captain 0..(very important guy, third in charge of ship) dares me to hit him....big snow ball...POW right on the top of his head! Gold! Could not have been funnier! It was also the first time ever our senior nurse had seen snow and to say she was happy was an understatement! We then headed down the mountain for lunch at Tracy's crab shack! Amazing huge crab legs and scallops. I have never seen such huge crabs except for deadliest catch maybe?! 

Last call was again Glacier Bay. I spent most of this time in the medical centre as clinic was open and I wanted my team to go up and see this amazing place because none of them have been to Alaska before. so I wanted them all to have the same amazing experience i did. Glacier bay did not fail to disappoint and the glacier, being earlier in the season was larger than last year. It was an overcast day with a crisp icy wind. But the bright blue shone from the glacier. Not to mentions the creaks and moans of the glacier...she almost sings. 

Since then I have been in port manning, so on the ship as nurse in case of emergency. Not to say I haven't been having fun of course. The musicians treated us to a jazz night in the officers wardroom with an amazingly talent saxophone player! Was a great relaxing evening. Since then We have been busy the last few days, doing long hours, drills and disembarks...where sick passengers get sent to a land hospital for further medical care, and I am tonight in the medical centre caring for a PT, drinking a soy latte and updating this blog finally! I plan to hit some tours etc next trip round but I'm not in a hurry this year as I'll be here for four months so plenty of time to fit things in which is awesome! Ok keep reading coz your going to love my next entry! 

TO THE SHIP!

Well thought I'd start with the travel it takes to get to your ship to join. In total I travelled 26 hours to get to the hotel I'm staying at overnight. Then at 0600 in the morning the crew bus picks me n the other Crew up to go to the ship. 

in regards to air travel- less in carry on baggage is best. I use only my headphones, adaptor for the earphones plug and mints and ear plugs- the putty ones are a life saver. In my bag I also have brush,face wipes n mouthwash which I use once I get off plane to freshen up. Otherwise the airline provides water, food and snacks and it's enough. Plus they all have movies etc on long haul flights now. Oh and It's important to stay hydrated! Today I watched the book thief, hunger games catching fire and in her shoes. I slept about four hours the first flight and two the second flight. 

One thing I was torn with boarding the 14 hour flight to LA was aisle or window seat. So window vs aisle?

Window: you get a view going out and coming in. You can use the window as a head rest. You have to jump over or ask your fellow passengers to move if you want to get up/go to toilet or climb over if you are that agile! 

Aisle: Easier access to overhead locker, easier to get up n down as often as you want. Con is you have to move if your fellow passengers want to get out but it's easier from the aisle. I am now an isle seat fan- or the emergency exit seats as they have leg room!! 

Then there was the queues at customs- they are part of air travel and yes taking your shoes off, laptops out of bag and any liquids can be a pain. But just do it. There is no getting out of it and complaining doesn't help anything so stay positive. In the line into LAX today there was a lady whinging about the wait and I said "on the upside by the time we get through this- our bags will define fly be offloaded", she smiled as did other who heard and it eased the tension- simple. I also find being courteous to others helps a lot. 

Vancouver airport is really cool- almost like a museum. I didn't have time for pics but it's awesome!

Just had my complimentary dinner from princess- wow! Portion size people!! I got an oval plate half chips/half burger....I ate 5 chips and half the burger but not the bun, the bun was a weird taste and gleaming with oil land the burger was soaked in it not cooked in it! Then desert was deep fried blueberry muffins- they serve eight about the size of golf balls- I ate 2. I think they thought I didn't enjoy my meal as it did look like a piss poor effort on my behalf but I was full! But I did tip them we'll. Yes, in the us and Canada it is customary to tip- they do pay more attention to service though- I got asked regularly if I need/wanted anything more and I wasn't trying to distract them from their weekend catch up or phone like we get in oz sometimes at restaurants.  

Somehow I scored a king size bed tonight- cool. Pity it's cold and raining here as there is a nice pool outside! 

Free wifi is aiding this process today. once onboard it will be satellite internet for $40.00usd for 360 minutes. It's slow and unreliable but better than nothing when it comes to keeping in touch.

I've now got my feet elevated as I have kankles from such long flights! 

Well I'll leave it there as tomorrow is a big day. 4.30am start. hit the ship- meet my new medical team and get orientated to where stuff is and unpacked then it's clinic time at 4.30pm! And as cruise ships go I'm sure there will be a drink. I do already know some staff on this ship. The dance captain, lighting director and dance team are all off my last ship so familiar faces helps a lot.

Hope you enjoy- any feedback is welcome, cheers Kye ox