Panama Canal Cruise part 2

Hello everyone,

I hope that you have had a great week since the last time. The LONGEST CRUISE…EVER is almost complete and I can't wait to start the next one. 

Well, here is what happened since the last blog:

Tuesday, January 11th we were at sea with the normal duties and movie watching. I actually got to watch the new movies "Easy A" and "The Social Network" which both were very good….I love the fact that we get new movies…so I can stay up on them but more importantly not have to pay the movie to see them in the movie theatre…haha. Today marks a very special day for the cast….it is our half way mark for our contract. I have 5 more months left from this day…a strange thing to say…cause I can remember someone saying, "We have 8 more months" and me thinking that I'd never get to this place. This next 5 months are going to be CRAZY!!!

Wednesday, January 12th we were in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala but OF COURSE…I was on IPM.  I went out for my duty of table tennis and I looked outside and took some pictures. It was SO windy here…I couldn't believe it. Of course, people come to play table tennis on the day that its SO windy and I have to explain to them, its too busy…haha. Oh well…..Thursday, January 13th was another sea day of course. Again, another day of duties and just trying to find things to keep us busy. I feel like this is why this cruise is SO long due to the fact that we have a sea day in between every port day….ehhh, come on lets get to the end of the cruise….haha.

Friday, January 14th we are in Acapulco, Mexico (where are those killings just happened….makes me feel safe). Lesley and I got off as soon as we could to be overwhelmed with the taxi drivers who didn't understand the word, "NO". They would keep going, "Amigo…do you need a taxi"…haha. Then there were people trying to sell us stuff and the saddest is the little girls that would follow us trying to sell us packs of gum. I don't understand why parents want to put their children in that sort of situation..hmmm. Lesley and I eventually spotted a grocery store, so thats where we were heading. I couldn't believe the prices there because 12 pesos in equal to 1 american dollar….so you could say that we stocked up a little bit. It was funny because we were looking for beans because Lesley has got me hooked on Beans on toast (a VERY English meal) and I thought, "we are in Mexico…they have to have beans". Well, we search EVERYWHERE in that grocery store for these beans and couldn't find them. I kept thinking, you have to be kidding me…there aren't BEANS?????? Finally we found them and we stocked up….made both of us happy. After that we walked back to the ship, put our groceries back in our room and then headed out into the terminal to grab some free wifi and some lunch. The place that we went to didn't have the best food which was upsetting…I was looking forward to some great mexican food. Oh well….then we went into the terminal where I bought something that I needed to get and then back on the ship for sail away. Lesley told me that she was told that today would be the best day to see Dolphins so I went to watch the sail away where….we saw NO dolphins. Funny thing actually…I've been on the ship for 5 months and not seen ONE dolphin or whale….like really? I just find that very strange….all in all, had a good day.

Saturday, January 15th was…you guessed it….ANOTHER sea day. It actually was EXTREMELY rocky today…probably the worst that it has ever been. I actually thought at one point that the ship was going to go on its side. We were having 65 mph winds and the sea was just as bad. We weren't aloud to go up on the open deck because the wind was the strong. Also, the security came into our cabin and closed our port hole because the sea was hitting the side of the ship so hard…they were just trying to be safe. I didn't feel so great so I stayed in bed because I couldn't get down….was WAY too rocky.

Sunday, January 16th we are in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico….somewhere I have always wanted to go to. We got off the ship REALLY early since we were sailing away at 1:00 today (so stupid). When we got to the port, we were greeted by a sea lion in the water….which was really cool. We walked around the port trying to find a great place to get something to eat breakfast / lunch. Finally we found a place and everyone had a GREAT meal. I had a BLT sandwich and nachos…its was REALLY good. Afterwards everyone went their separate ways because we only had another hour left. I walked down the boardwalk and took some pictures of some great hotels and stuff in the area…this is defiantly a place I would like to vacation someday…it was a beautiful day. The sail away from Cabo was beautiful and guess what….WE FINALLY SAW WHALES AND DOLPHINS!!!!!!!! It was so cool spotting the whales and actually seeing them hit the water with their fins..it was awesome. Then we saw about 50 dolphin come by our ship…it was so cool. I just find it so funny that I thought only 2 days ago that I haven't seen anything in 5 months and then 2 days later….I see everything…weird.  Monday, January 17th…AGAIN..we were at sea again….there isn't really much to report from this day…just the normal duties and laying in bed trying to figure out the meaning of life….haha….just kidding. 

Tuesday, January 18th we were in SAN DIEGO, CA…..HOOORAY back in America. The morning, I had shuffleboard so I couldn't get off that early. I was on the phone talking to my Grandma and was not paying attention to things around me…when I looked up and the HUGE seagull is sitting on the railing in front of me….like, I'm talking about I could have stretched my arm out and touched the bird…thats how close he was to me. SCARED THE CRAP out of me….holy crap. Afterwards, I laughed and thought…my mom would have really got a kick out of that. After the seagull debacle, Adam (the DJ) and I went out to the shopping mall that the free shuttle bus was taking us, to be met by Lesley later in the day. We walked around this mall, went into the apple store and some others and I'm very proud of myself that I didn't buy a thing. For lunch/dinner, we went to the Applebees that was across the street and had a GREAT meal. I don't think that I have eaten that much food in quite some time but boy, was it good. Afterwards, we walked off our meals and finally met Lesley. We went to a few stores where she could get some stuff that she wanted to get and I got a pretzel….I always do that when I go to a mall. It wasn't like the ones I'm used to…but I'll live. That night, we had to do late socializing and we talked for the last time with our temporary grandparents that are on the ship…they really liked Lesley and I. It was a big group of 22 of them…and I gave them my email and I hope that they keep in touch. The sail away from San Diego was BEAUTIFUL…actually one of the prettiest that we have seen to be honest….a great day today.

Wednesday, January 19th and 20th we are finally in Los Angeles, CA….WOOOHOOO. Unfortunately, I had to work in the terminal for 3 hours…just standing there…being bored out of my mind. Finally, I was done and could go out into the city. Cody, Emily and I went to Ralph's (a grocery store). Lets just say I stocked up for quite sometime haha. Afterwards, we got a really great lunch at In-n-Out, a famous west coast burger joint and boy, was it good…wow. After we took back the groceries to the ship Greg, Jodie, Adam and I went to a mall that was close to the ship. We had a great time just walking around and not being on the ship…it was a fun time. After about 2 hours in the mall, we cam back to the ship and all decided to go out for the evening for a nice meal and night out…since we were overnight in LA. I found this place called Utopia in Long Beach and set reservations for Jodie, Greg, Jen, Cody, Emily and myself. We had a GREAT meal at this restaurant and then we decided to go out on the town and have a great time. Kieren, Ashley and Cheryl came to meet us and we all had a great time….what a wonderful overnight to finally end the longest cruise EVER!!! The 20th was the second embark day and I was on IPM so I had to work all day long. We finally left LA around 7:00pm and now we are at sea for 6 days going to the French Polynesia (Tahiti). THE WORLD CRUISE HAS STARTED!!!!

The next cruise's itinerary is: At Sea Friday, January 21 - Wednesday, January 26th / Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Island; Thursday the 27th / Atuona, Marquesas Island; Friday the 28th / At Sea; Saturday the 29th / Rangiroa, French Polynesia; Sunday the 30th / Moorea, French Polynesia; Monday the 31st and we end the first part of the world cruise in Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia on the 1st of February.

Until Next Time,

Jason

Panama Canal cruise

Hello Everyone,

I hope that you have had a wonderful week. I have had quite an eventful one thus far…

Here's what has happened:

Monday, January 3rd was a great day personally for me and thats all I need to write about it. I will remember it very well and happy that I had such a wonderful day :-) Even though it was the last time that I would be in Fort Lauderdale…at least it was the best Fort Lauderdale embark day.

Tuesday, January 4th and Wednesday January 5th we were at sea on our way traveling to Cartagena, Colombia. Did our normal duties and meeting the guests. This cruise welcomes back our WONDERFUL cruise director Fernando…which the entire cast is SO happy that he is back. He is an incredible cruise director, to the fact that he remembers EVERY guest's name…I really don't know how he does it but makes the guests feel good…so job well done Fernando!!!! 

Thursday, January 6th we were in Cartagena, Colombia. I made sure that I was outside for our sail into Cartagena…I was told that it was pretty and I agree it was. While we were sailing into the port…I kept thinking, "wow, I'm actually in South America….thats so cool". I still can't get over all the places that I'm getting to see and all the things that I'm experiencing. I keep thinking that I'm just a kid from Dayton, OH and people normally don't get to see the world like this…its nuts…this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Lesley and I got off the ship as soon as we could…but we heard that we might have some trouble getting into the city…they charge over $50 to just get a taxi…NOT WORTH IT. So we decided to just stay around the port…we were told by another guy later that the moment that he made it into the city..he was ushered into a brothel, where he had his choice to buy a girl and some drugs….yeah, I'm fine with staying at the port…haha. Lesley and I walked around, played with the parrots that were there…(stupid little thing kept biting my fingers…and it hurts). Then we went to get something to eat and I laughed because the lady that was taking our orders couldn't speak English…so I spoke complete spanish to her and ordered Lesley and I's meal. Lesley looked at me and said, "Alright Jason…what was that?" I can't believe that I did it either but I understood her and she understood me…thank you Baldwin-Wallace College for making me take Spanish….comes in handy when you're in Spanish speaking countries. Speaking of knowing another language…I have come to find out that Americans are really behind the times with knowing another language or requiring schools to teach 2 languages in schools. Other countries require there kids to learn 2 or more languages due to the way the world is….you will always meet someone that speaks another language. I feel that sometimes Americans feel that they don't need to learn another language and I feel, some people from other countries feel that Americans are stuck up and/or sheltered….I'm starting to understand this better….I'm going to keep up with my spanish and my italian lessons…I think that its important. Anyways, after we had our meal, we sat and upload pictures onto Facebook (I really needed to…haven't for a while) and then went back onto the ship. I watched the sail away this evening and boy…how beautiful that was. Again, I think that is one of my favorite parts of this…the sail aways. It is always SO peaceful and gives me time to wrap my mind around everything that is happening and thank my lucky stars of how blest I am to be experiencing this but also that I have a job doing what I love to do….perform. What a great night….

Friday, January 7th we were in San Blas Islands, Panama…and boy, was that an eye opening experience. This specific island that we went to was tiny but housed a lot of people. Getting off the tender (with Lesley) we were surrounded by kids and them trying to sell us their art projects or coloring pages that they did. That tore me up but I kept walking because I just couldn't see that…it was sad. Walking by the wood made huts…people were just sitting outside their houses, trying to sell things to you but did it in a way that wasn't pushy…just there to show you what they had. I looked in and saw that they slept on hammocks inside their huts. Lesley and I were just stunned by what we were seeing. Made me feel very blest to have what I have and to not take things for granted, so for now on…I will not take things or people for granted…we all need to be more grateful in our life, I feel sometimes. Sometimes, we need to be grateful that we have our health and even if we don't have that, at least that we have each other and live the way we do. Heading back to the tender to get to the ship…I spotted this little boy that had drawn a picture of the Silver Spirit and painted it quite nicely…for a little kid. It just broke my heart because I'm sure that he was SO proud of his painting and he kept trying to sell his picture, just so he could take the money back to his family to survive. So I walked over to the little boy and said, "How much for your painting?" He put up 4 fingers very shyly and showed me his painting. Me, close to tears said, "here's a five buddy…thank you for the painting". I shook his hand and off he ran, like he had won the lottery. I was told by a very special and smart person in my life that I should buy things in these places that I'm going to that will have a story…something that you can't buy anywhere, so you can always remember that day, that time that you were there. I remembered this when I saw the little boy with the picture and I thought…I have to get this…this is going to make me remember my time on this island. Thinking about it (and actually Lesley said this to me)…I will probably keep this painting for the rest of my life. Yes, its a silly like painting that this little boy did but there is more behind this story than I can explain…just a sense of…humanity, if that makes any sense. Hmmm…makes you think, doesn't it?

Saturday, January 8th we went through the Panama Canal…and boy, how excited was I. Yes, did I make a big deal about it…I did, I'm not going to lie…but I kept explaining that it was something that I had studied in school a lot over the years and never thought that I would see it and then to actually get to go through it…was awesome. It has REALLY cool history too…over hundred years this was created and the fact that it was thought about that many years ago is just….amazing. So yes…it was a big deal…for me…THERE. I woke up that morning at 7:15am to be greeted up stairs by a lot of the passengers on board and RAIN….coming to find out that it would rain on and off ALL DAY LONG…oh well…didn't ruin my day. Also, I would be bitten by mosquitos all day as well. Funny story about the mosquitos actually….Lesley and I were up on the top deck one time during the day…just enjoy the views of the rainforest, the canal and such and all of a sudden she said, "Ouch…these stupid midges…they keep biting me". Now first off…I thought that she said, "Ouch…these stupid midgets…they keep bitting me" to which I stood there looking at her, dumb founded but also looking around trying to find these mysteries midgets that were biting her but not me apparently….haha. So I said, "excuse me…midgets are biting you?" "MIDGES Jason…thats what I call a mosquito…haha". Holy crap…I think that I was laughing for a good half hour after this….it was SO funny…one of those, had to be there moments. ANYWAY…throughout the entire day, I would go up to the top of the ship (still looking out for these hungry midgets…haha) to watch us go through the locks for a while and then go back down to the room for a while and then go to a duty and then back up top to watch again for a while. It was a lovely day…something that I never thought that I would experience…but I DID!!!! 

Sunday, January 9th we were at sea filled with the normal duties and movie watching…quite a boring cruise this is with the guests….they aren't out doing anything so it makes it seem like a longer day…just boring and Monday, January 10th we were in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Emily and I got in the morning and had a nice walk around the city. It was very odd because there wasn't anything to do there…it seemed to be run down on one block and then a nice building would pop up randomly…just strange. What really caught me off guard was the fact that I could feel my fingers and ankles swell because the heat was that strong that day. I kept thinking how stiff I felt and I didn't know why…and when I said something later to someone, they told me the reason. After Emily and I walked around for a few hours, we were bored and so we went back to the ship. Lesley, Emily, Cody and I had a lovely meal up on the pool deck and then we all went up to the sun deck and played cards / got some sun. It was a great day. The cast is actually getting quite bored because we have had a whole week off of doing shows…we don't know what to at night…haha. I think our next show is not until Saturday….HURRY UP SATURDAY!!!!

For the rest of the cruise, the itinerary is: At Sea on Tuesday / Puerto Quetzal on Wednesday / At Sea on Thursday / Acapulco, Mexico on Friday / At Sea on Saturday / Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on Sunday / At Sea on Monday / San Diego, CA on Tuesday and end our cruise next Wednesday in Los Angeles, CA…the start of the 119 day world cruise….isn't that nuts. We have about 170 guests that will be cruising with us the entire 119 days…wow. 

Until Next Time,

Jason

Happy New Year / Last Caribbean Cruise

Hello Everyone,

Well, since the last day that I wrote my blog, we had Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Years….what a crazy cruise. 

Lets not waste anytime:

Tuesday, December 21st was a sea day…traveling to Grand Turk for our last visit there. Again on the sea days…nothing too exciting happens, just watching movies and resting and doing the occasional duty throughout the day. That night we had the show of Rocketman and the crowd seems to be responsive despite the crazy face lifts….oh well…its going to be an interesting cruise. 

Wednesday, December 22nd we arrived in Grand Turk and of course…I was on IPM. Gosh, I hate IPM days…they are so boring. However, I did clean my room and sat outside for a little bit to just enjoy the sun. At around 3pm, I went up to the pool deck to have some lunch (when we are in port, we can have lunch up on the pool deck as long as we socialize with the guests). Got a good meal that day which was nice but the one waiter that was suppose to wait on me wasn't the nicest…he was actually quite rude. He said to another waiter, "I don't serve staff members". So instead of telling me, he made me sit there and ignored me until I heard this comment…to which I moved but that really really pissed me off. 

Thursday, December 23rd once again we are at sea traveling to St. John's, Antigua for the last time. Again, another lazy day of watching movies, napping and duties. Lately, I have been feeling really tired and I don't know why….oh well. Tonight we had the show of Jazz and what a funny audience we had. In one of the numbers, Cody and I do "Me and my Shadow" and at the end we have a little dialogue back and forth where we include the audience in for a little bit. Well, I say to the audience, "would you like us to do the end again?" And normally they are really responsive and fun. This group…was another story. So I say to them, "Would you like us to do the end again?" and you would have thought we were at a golf tournament or something…GOLF CLAPS EVERYONE - DONT EVERYONE CHEER AT ONCE. So I turned right around and was like, "wow….you make us really want to do it again…haha." to which they responded a little better but for the rest of the show…I was cracking up because it was just SO funny. Hahahaha…..

Friday, December 24th (Xmas Eve) we are in St. John's, Antigua which was a hard day for me. I knew that it was Xmas eve where my family would be meeting up and spending time together, doing our traditional things every Christmas. Also, at the same time…I was in 78 degree weather and there was no snow on the ground…granted I don't really miss the cold weather but its Christmas…you want to see snow. I spent the day on my computer getting the free wifi from the port…there wasn't anything else to really do. After doing that for quite some time…I went to Subway to get one last Subway before we don't come back there again…it was nice. Not the traditional food that you want on Xmas eve but I'll do…haha. All day, I keep thinking about my family and close friends back home and wishing I could be with them…I officially don't like being away for the holidays….at least I figured that out during this contract…haha. Later that night, we had a special Christmas for the guests and I sang a song dedicated to my mom (and recorded for her)…"The Christmas Song". (You know…Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…that song). After I walked offstage…I got a little emotional because once again, I started thinking about my family and how I wanted to be with those people that I love. After the xmas show, I stayed and went to Midnight mass on the ship and boy, that caught me off guard. That is the first time in a LONG time that I felt my dad's presences with me…which made me cry again. His presence was really strong and I think, that is what got me through Christmas day. What also caught me off guard was the fact when I was walking back to my cabin through the main bar area…there was an older lady sitting there all by herself. It was after midnight but she was all alone which was sad to see. After she noticed me, her face lit up and said, "Merry Christmas young man" and I said, "Merry Christmas Ma'am…you have a wonderful Christmas". When I walked away, I started tearing up again because that was just something so sad but special that night. I realized that family and those people in your life that you love….are the biggest thing and most important things that matter…and how I don't want to be alone for Xmas in my life. Not to sound rude or selfish…I just realized how important those special people in your life are…and not to take them for granted. 

Saturday, December 25th (Merry Christmas Everyone) we were at sea again which made the day go a little quicker. We had our normal duties on the sea day, which was sad but at the same time….made the day go faster…just sad that I had to work on Xmas day. After I skyped with my mom, nene, ryan, heidi and riley and had a little Christmas Skype (which was very hard but extremely nice to do)….it was time to go do secret santa with the cast. We went to the theatre and gave each other our gifts. Cody was my secret santa, to which he gave me a whole movie package (PJ bottoms, coke, chips and salsa and the movie, "Eat Pray Love" which means a lot to me). I had got a little gift for the cast (a $10 ITunes card) but did to the cast what my dad did to me as a child….scavenger hunt. It was cool to do this for other people…I appreciate that from my dad. Right after secret santa, was water volleyball and oh, this game a JOKE!!!!! Well, we get in the water and everyone (meaning the cast) had a good attitude about everything. We get in the water and this man was disagreeing with us from the start, saying that we didn't know what we were doing and everything. At one moment, he looked at me and said, "You're wrong…I know how to keep the score, you don't" to which I responded, "Well, sir…I've been doing this for 5 months and we have been playing it the same way each time…so I do know what I'm doing". Well, I guess thats all he needed…he started raising a fuss and said, "well, I'm not going to play then…I don't like you entertainers…you don't know what you are doing." I said, "Well, I'm sorry that you feel that way sir, but you have a wonderful day and oh, Merry Christmas". "Don't patronize me kid…don't you patronize me by calling me sir" he said…."Well, I'm just doing my job, SIR". "You come over here…I have some things I want to say to you"…"No, I don't need to come over there…I don't need to" and I took myself out of the situation…like you are suppose to do. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? I didn't know that we let Scrooge on the ship. The rest of the game…he sat at the bar staring me down and I made sure that I was very vocal and having so much fun…just to let him know that he didn't win. I had told my boss about it before this gentleman came and complained about me…to which I find out that he has been going around the ship (this scrooge man) and complaining about EVERYTHING and for some reason…had a vendetta with the cast…even though we didn't do anything to him. I found this to be funny and from that moment on…anytime I saw the guy…I made sure I gave him the biggest smile…which I'm sure pissed him off. The rest of the day was fine and I was surprised that Christmas wasn't harder for me. I hope that everyone had a great day with your family.

Sunday, December 26th again we were in Bequia…where the cast decided not to get off the ship. We were all EXTREMELY tired…and I don't remember doing a lot of stuff this day…just sleeping…I was EXHAUSTED. We did have the show of Euro 2010 that night…which all of us were fine to do…at least we didn't have to do the show on Christmas. After the show, it was the entertainment department secret santa giving. The person I had, I had never met before so I had NO clue what to get her. Apparently she liked my gift but at first, I could have sworn she didn't….we I DONT KNOW YOU…EH. From my secret santa, I got a $20 gift card which is one of the best Christmas gifts that I could get….I use them all the time. After the party, we all were exhausted and just went to bed…whoosh.

Monday, December 27th we are in Bridgetown, Barbados again FOR THE LAST TIME!!! We got off in the morning (I had to be back for a 2:00 duty…stupid, no one was going to be there) and we went to the Boatyard….I really enjoy this place and the food there is GREAT!! We had a wonderful lunch and then we decided to go lay on the beach for a while…it was nice. Eventually this creepy man was walking by with a BABY MONKEY with him. I got a picture with the monkey and he actually kissed me too and played with my fingers…it was SO cute. Afterwards, I went back to the ship to do the duty of shuffleboard….BORING…NO ONE SHOWED UP. After that…Lesley and I went back to the Boatyard, where I had taken off my wristband because I had to go work…well, the woman was really rude to me and said, "You have to pay again…there are RULES". Now normally, I wouldn't say anything because…I don't need to start anything with people…but this was the first time that I thought that she didn't need to be rude about it and I commented on it. "Well, thats fine ma'am but you don't need to have an attitude with me…you could have been a little nicer." I don't know whats gotten a hold of me but I don't like that people sometimes feel that they can just walk all over you just because you are younger than them…I don't believe thats right. After that, Lesley and I ate at the Boatyard again….I'm going to miss that BBQ Chicken Sandwich…one of the best I've EVER had. We stayed there until about 5:30 and then we had to go back and get on the ship again. We were both exhausted when we got back to the ship…we had been laying in the sun for sometime and whoosh…just wiped us out. No show that night…thank the lord. This night however, I did have the duty of Table Escorting where I met and talked with Adam Guettel (musical composer - Light in the  Piazza, etc.) and his mother Mary Rodgers Guettlel (musical composer "Once Upon a Mattress" and daughter of composing genius, Richard Rodgers). ARE YOU FRICKIN KIDDING ME??? I was so excited…I let them know what a wonderful honor it was the meet them and that I enjoy their music very much. They were very friendly and I would talk to them many more times throughout the next 7 days….what a wonderful group of people. (And come to find out, Michael Buble was on one of the sister ships during this cruise….REALLY? I mean…REALLY? AHHHHHH!!!!!!

Tuesday, December 28th we went to Castries, St. Lucia where Lesley was on IPM so I got off the ship by myself. It isn't a very nice place…very run down. I hear everyone always tell me that St. Lucia is so nice…well, this place isn't. I went to a cafe that we went to last time and got something to eat and had some wifi…a nice day I feel. Got back to the ship JUST in time before we headed off…going to Gustavia, St. Barts (which we never got to go to because of the swell of the storms in the area). I will give St. Lucia a bit of credit…it has a extremely pretty sail away. This night we had the Aquarius show and everyone seemed to like it…we got a standing ovation…I think thats a good sign. 

Wednesday, December 29th we were suppose to go to Gustavia, St. Barts but due to the swell from the storms in the area..we went to St. Kitts instead. Made no difference to me because once again…I was on IPM. What a boring, non productive day….I hope that I am not on IPM on days in the world cruise that I want to see…that would really suck. This night, we did Spirito out on the pool deck and it was a great show. Adam Guettel came up to me after the show and said that he was very impressed with me and asked me a few questions about where I am from, what I'm doing after the contract and if I had my equity card. AHHHHHHHHHHH…he is such a cool guy.

Thursday, December 30th we went to Tortola, BVI again instead of Spanish Town, BVI…due to the swells again. Lesley and I got off the ship and found a English Grocery store…so she was in seven heaven. Got some stuff and then we headed to a restaurant to have a nice meal…it was a good day. While we were waiting for the tender, Lesley and I were laughing so hard…at this bird that kept diving into the water to catch a fish. He was just flying around for ever and then…all of a sudden would just dive really fast…out of our sight (cause the side of the port block us seeing him enter the water) and all of a sudden we would see a splash of water. It CRACKED us up and we laughed the entire rest of the tender ride back to the ship.

Friday, December 31st and Saturday, January 1st we were at sea and celebrating the New Year traveling back to Key West, Florida. On Friday, the cast had to do our normal duties and then we had to decorate the ship for that nights party with balloons. We all had a fun time decorating the pool area with them even though we almost lost an entire bag of balloons…haha…oh well….they are environmentally friendly…haha. That night, we watched Mickki's show in the main theatre and Lesley and I actually got to sing with her in the last number…it was a great time and one of Mickki's best show. Afterwards, we all went upstairs and celebrated the new year on the pool deck. Its crazy that its already 2011…THE YEAR THAT I'M COMING HOME. I only have 5 more months left on the ship and that isn't a very long time if you really think about it. We had a wonderful time…celebrating the new year. I love my cast mates…I'm really going to miss this guys when we leave…I have become very close to them.

Sunday, January 2nd we were in Key West, Florida for the last time. This morning I had to work the immigration duty again and I swear, I never want to do it again. We get blamed for everything, even though we don't have anything to do with it….we are just nice enough to help out. The guests were suppose to fill out some green customs form and didn't have them for the guests and people were getting angry. One of the guests looked at me and asked what they were suppose to do and a guy next to her said, "Don't ask him, he's a f***ing idiot" To which I responded with, "No sir, I'm not an idiot…I'm not in the immigration department for the ship, I sing on board but you have a WONDERFUL day". Didn't really say it in the nicest way, I'm sure…it was 8:00am but I got my point across. Other guests made the guy feel bad because he did it very loud and they were like, "Jason, you are doing a great job…we understand that its not your fault". After, we came by me…I wanted to say to him, "Actually sir, I graduated college with honors….so no, I'm not an idiot" but I didn't think of that quick enough and it wouldn't had been the professional thing to do…I just let him know I wasn't pleased. Well, after that we all got off the ship in the morning and got a quick buffet breakfast…which I actually ate bacon and pancakes…I was hungry. After that…we walked around and then went to the Hard Rock to eat lunch…it was a nice meal. We got back on board and then had a boring night of socializing with NO ONE because everyone was packing…haha…it was funny to just walk around and have no one there. 

Well, I am officially done with the Caribbean part of this contract. I have done 2 of the 4 stages of my contract….on to the 3rd part…which is the biggest but most exciting part. I officially will be going to a new location EVERY day for 4 months…that is AWESOME!!!! Our cruises will become longer and since this blog was QUITE long…I'm going to try and update every Monday instead of the end of each cruise….I don't need to bore you with these long blogs. Next blog will consist of the following days: Fort Lauderdale on Monday / At Sea on Tuesday and Wednesday / Cartagena, Colombia on Thursday / San Blas Islands, Panama on Friday / going through the Panama Canal on Saturday (which I am SO excited about) / At Sea on Sunday and the blog will end on Monday, when we are in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. 

I hope that everyone is having a very happy and safe new year and I hope that everyone lives by their resolutions this year….try something new this year!!!

Until Next Time,

Jason