New Zealand

Hello everyone,

I have had a GREAT time in New Zealand…what a wonderful place.  I never thought of ever visiting New Zealand but what a great place…I highly recommend it!!! Here is what happened for the first part of this cruise:

Sunday, February 13th once again…we spent it At Sea….I am starting to think that I'm becoming a pro at this whole…at sea thing. Once again, had the normal duties that we have on the sea days…trying to find things to do, so that I'm not bored out of my mind. One of the guests asked me if I knew how to play Chess and I didn't know how but thought, why not learn something new. Come to find out that its actually a very interesting game and makes your really think about each and every move that you make. I guess that I got pretty good at it because our fourth game that we played…I won…YEAH!!! At least I have found something new now that will pass the time on the boring sea days.

Monday, February 14th we were in Wellington, New Zealand. I felt bad for Lesley because she was on IPM and couldn't get off the ship. Also, it was Valentines Day and I wasn't going to be the third wheel with all the other couples in the cast…so I headed out into Wellington alone (missing those back home in the states that I love very very much). Took the shuttle bus into town and enjoyed just walking around….getting lost in the city. First, I walked into the towns shopping center that is right in the middle of the busy downtown area. I walked into the shops and made my way to a Borders books and browsed. After a little while I became hungry so I started to look for a place to eat. I found a Subway and I thought…why not have a healthy lunch, my stomach had been acting up and I thought that it would be good for me to eat there. Again, I was a little questionable withe Ranch sauce that they put on my sandwich but it was TONS better than the sandwich in Barcelona…gosh. After my very nice lunch, I decided to just get lost in the city…to walk around and just roam the city. Its a great feeling to just walk among the people of the city…seeing them work, enjoying a coffee at the cafe in the city, seeing kids play on the playground…all of this surrounding me, while I'm halfway around the world from my home. Its cool just to be 'there'….to experience that part of life (probably doesn't make sense, but it makes sense to me…haha). Instead of worry about all the problems in the world, the crap that we have / or think that we have to face in our lives…the busy busy busy schedule that we MUST lead….sometimes people forget to slow down…take a deep breath and take a look around you…to enjoy…LIFE. Well, while getting lost in Wellington and enjoying life…it started to rain…I loved that…haha. I rain into the closest place that was next to me and you guessed it….McDonalds…(truly taking over the world). This McDonalds actually had some free wifi, so I was in luck. I got a chance to talk to some friends and also my lovely Mom…what a great Valentines Day present. After a while, I decided to get up and get some Hot Chocolate…so I walked around the corner to a little cafe that I spotted on my adventure in the city. I had a great cup of hot chocolate while I watched the people walk around the city. By the time I was done with my hot chocolate…it was time to get the shuttle bus back to the ship…what a wonderful day that I had to myself in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand.

Tuesday, February 15th we were in Lyttleton (the port city for Christchurch) New Zealand. Unfortunately, I was on IPM this day and couldn't get off the ship. No one came to my duties…so I had a lovely day of just relaxing on the ship. Had a wonderful lunch up on the pool deck and I just enjoyed the pretty, sunny weather. The mountain line that surrounded this port was just breathtaking….very very beautiful. Once it was time for us to pull away from the dock…the whole gang came back and said that they were going to play some games up on the crew deck (apparently, they had a REALLY good time off the ship…haha). We went to steal a board game from the card room on deck 9 (another James Bond mission completed by yours truly) and we played the game 'Sorry' up on the top deck.  Do you remember that game? I use to love playing that game when I was younger so it was fun to relive that part of my childhood…in the middle of the sea…haha. After a little bit of time…the ship was out in the middle of the sea…surrounded by mountains on both sides…just stunning. Also, we had a whole group of Dolphins following the ship….as we headed out into the deep sea…with a wonderful sunset behind us…what a great sail away. 

Wednesday, February 16th we were in Port Chalmers (Dunedin) New Zealand. Again, I ventured out into the city alone…Lesley wasn't feel very good so I was trying to find some free wifi to Skype with my madre…haha. Once we made the 20 min. bus ride into the city…I thought that it was best that I find something to eat…so I walked down the long road with all these shops and restaurants. This place reminded me of a bigger, more populated Key West…it was nice. I made my way to a mall (I don't know why I have the skill of finding the malls…but I do apparently) and found the food court. For some reason for a while, I had a craving for Burger King (don't ask) and luckily this place had one. After my very healthy and nutritious meal, I made my way up to the street level again…on my mission to find some free wifi. To my shock (haha) there was a McDonalds on the road and I remembered my other day with the free wifi in there…and luckily they had some. I set up my computer and was reading e-mails and such…nothing to important. Once it was time to start my Skype time with my mom…I come to find out that this wifi wasn't strong enough to do Skype…GREAT. So I rushed out of McDonalds (thanks for nothing) and made my way up the street to a place that I thought would have internet. Walked into the place and said, "Do you have any wifi?" A Japanese woman said, "Yes, sit down at a computer" "No, no…do you have WIFI..for a laptop?" "No, you have to go to the other store down the street….go there…go there quick". Ummmmm….confuse me? First off….why do you have a separate place in town for a laptop wifi place, compared to your quite large computer shop that I'm standing in. Second, why must I go there quick? Do you know something that I don't? Should I be nervous? ANYWAY…I remembered that I saw another place when I was walking down the street earlier, so I thought that I would try my luck there. I have NO idea what this place was…a bank, a wifi place…I have no idea but the people were very nice and let me use their free wifi. I had a great time talking with my mom…I needed a good talk with her…I miss her very much. After a long conversation, it was time for me to go…because my computer was about to die…haha. I made my way over to the Starbucks that was across the street to get…you guessed it….Hot Chocolate (I'm such a big kid…haha). Walking back to the shuttle bus point…I made myself just walk around the city again…just to get a feel of the city…it was very nice. When I got back to the ship…I wanted to make sure that Lesley was okay…but she was no where to be found. I searched the entire ship to come to find out that she had left the ship; walking to come find me in Dunedin (some 25 mins away on a bus….whoops). I walked up this little port city…which reminded me of an old western deserted town…was funny…to a grocery store to get some snacks and food. Did my shopping and when I was leaving…guess who I saw, walking towards me…LESLEY. I asked her where she had been and she said that she had walked for a good 45 mins trying to get to Dunedin…but thought, HELL…I'm not walking this crap anymore and turned around. We went into the store for her to do some shopping and then we made our way back to the ship and had a great time for the rest of the night….watching the Apprentice UK…It is such a good and addicting show.

Thursday, February 17th we were in Stewart Island, New Zealand. The whole gang got off this day…to find that it was not a big, populated area. We had to walk up a STEEP hill to get to the other side. When we got there, there was a lot of fog around the town / marina and it reminded me of a shot from Sleepy Hollow or Dawson's Creek (yes, I know…two very different and random titles to say…but I couldn't choose which one it looked more like….so I said them both…haha). When I said that this place had ONE street, ONE department store and ONE hotel…I'm not joking. There was NOTHING to do….so we just walked around for a little while. We were all REALLY hungry, so we wanted to find somewhere to eat and FAST. Finally, we decided to go to the hotel, since that would probably be our best bet. Once we walked the 5 feet to the hotel, we found out that they had a limited menu and were only serving seafood (GREAT…ehhh). We all decided that we would come back to the hotel after we went to another little cafe to play pool later. I went to the cafe and everyone else went to a fish and chips stop that they saw coming into the town. I met them and we had a great meal outside…right next to a stupid bee hive….not a fun meal. Once we ran away, screaming from our lunches…we made our way back to the hotel and played pool for a long time. It was so strange to see that the pool table balls were much smaller than what we have in America. Everyone told me that they are that size and Cody and myself thought that they were joking. I guess that the American way to play pool is a lot different than the rest of the world. Learned a new pool game from Greg and then we all decided to go back to the ship, we had enough of playing pool. Before we left though, we wanted to go play on a playground that we saw before we made our way to the hotel. I made the comment when we were playing on it that…wouldn't it suck if we broke the only playground that these poor kids on this island have….haha….whoops. Luckily, we didn't break it and had a good laugh all going down the slides…what big kids we all are. On the way back to the port, I remembered seeing this sign for a place called 'Observation Rock' and I thought that it would be cool to go see the view (we were surrounded by some beautiful mountain tops on this day). Once we made it up the steep, STEEP hill we had a ABSOLUTELY stunning view…just breathtaking….it was defiantly worth the trip up the hill. Just standing there, made me appreciate what crazy opportunity that I'm experiencing and how I really don't have much time left on the ship. What a great way to end a wonderfully calm and peaceful day on Stewart Island and a wonderful way to say goodbye to New Zealand. 

Friday, February 18th we sailed through the Milford Sound and what an absolutely beautiful place that is. It is incredible what all the world can offer to us if we really take the time to appreciate it. Just a beautiful mountain landscape with stunning waterfalls and glacier formed rocks everywhere. It was too bad that the weather was so crappy but still, that didn't take away from the beauty that this true wonder of the world had. After we sailed in the Milford Sound for about an hour or hour and a half…it was out to sea for 3 long and CRAZY sea days ahead of us….more to come in the next blog.

The rest of our itinerary includes: At Sea on Feb. 19 and 20th / Hobart, Tasmania, Australia on Feb. 21st / At Sea on Feb. 22nd / Kingscote, Kangaroo Island, Australia on Feb. 23rd / Adelaide, Australia on Feb. 24th / At Sea on Feb. 25th / Geelong, Australia and Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 26th / Melbourne, Australia (second day) on Feb. 27th / At Sea on Feb. 28th and ending our cruise in one of the places I've waiting my entire life to go to…the wonderful city of Sydney, Australia on March 1st and 2nd. 

I will write about my Australian adventures soon….I can't believe that I'm finally here…a dream come true…I'll tell you that.

Until Next Time,

Jason

French Polynesia...stingray, sharks and sea days....OH MY!!!

Hello everyone,

Well, TONS has happened since my last blog…its been a good cruise from Papeete, Tahiti to Auckland, New Zealand. 

Here's what has happened:

Wednesday, February 2nd we were in Raiatea, French Polynesia but unfortunately for everyone else…they couldn't get off the ship due to the swell of the ocean. I walked upstairs on top deck to get a few pictures of the place before we left and I swear…the winds we blowing so hard that if I was holding on to the ship…it would have blown me over. It was very pretty there though….just a shame no one could get off the ship, so we had a impromptu sea day…wonderful…haha. Had another normal day of the duties of IPM and sea days…I'm getting really, really sick of these sea days.

Thursday, February 3rd we were in Bora Bora, French Polynesia and this day had to be one of my FAVORITE since my contract started. It was INCREDIBLE. We started off by driving around the coast (which is just beautiful) going to a bar called "Bloody Mary's" which is a very nice and famous restaurant because Hollywood Actors come there to eat when they come to visit Bora Bora. It was so cool inside because the floors were sand and you could walk around with your shoes off…so cool. We had a great meal and just enjoying our time off the ship. Lesley and I had scheduled to do a crew excursion to swim with stingray and sharks so we had to get back to the port quickly after lunch. Our taxi lady didn't come back when she said she would and we were both really nervous…that they weren't going to wait for us. Luckily another taxi showed up and we finally got back to the port. Everyone was there and hadn't left yet (thank the lord). We all got onto the ship that was taking us out to the place that we would be snorkeling with the stingrays first. Now, when you imagine paradise…with CLEAR blue seas….this is it. The water was SO clear…I would consider it bath water…it was just so clear. Once we got to the coral reef, about 10 stingrays showed up and the guide said, "Alright…get in". I sat there and thought….ummmm, you first buddy…haha. He also told us that we should be careful around them because they don't bite but they suck. He said to us, "Guys, you have to watch your chest and bananas with these stingrays….watch for sucky-sucky." I was just laughing so hard….could you just imagine the stories that man has with these stingrays? Anyway, getting into the water, surrounded by stingrays…was a little strange and takes a bit to get use to. The coral reef was absolutely BEAUTIFUL with all these colorful fish swimming right next to you..it was the coolest thing I've done. At one moment, I got the courage up to take a picture with one of the stingrays…cause when would I have this chance again…so I started petting the top of it and Lesley snapped the picture. They are so soft and squishy…not what I would expect they would feel like. Well, apparently this stingray got excited or didn't like me because it was so strong it started to push me over….and then swam away…gosh, scared the crap out of me. I thought for a second that it was trying to give me a hickey on my chest….good lord. After Lesley and I took some pictures and videos underwater…we were all asked to get back on the ship to go to where the sharks were…so we could swim with them. On our way there…we were given so fruits to snack on and I had one of the smallest bananas that I have ever seen…it was so strange…but still good. Once we got to the area where the sharks were….thats when the butterflies came out. They threw bait into the water and all of a sudden about 20 sharks showed up and that freaked out everyone. Again, the captain of the ship said, "Jump on in" and we all just laughed. Eventually, Lesley and I made our way into the water and that just freaked me out…I have NEVER thought that I would be swimming around with sharks. They would come close to you but wouldn't get too close…they were more scared of us, then us of them. It was very surreal watching them swimming around us and thinking of where I was (Bora Bora) and how many chances people can say they have done this. Was a WONDERFUL experience. After we all got back onto the ship…they brought us back to the port where Lesley and I went for a quick bite to eat and went shopping for some souvenirs. What a WONDERFUL day in Bora Bora, French Polynesia….

For the next 5 days, Friday February 4th - Wednesday February 9th (with us losing Feb. 8th to the International Dateline) we were at sea again. We weren't able to go to the Cook Islands on the 5th…due to the cyclone that was off our port side…the wind and swell was just too big….so we were going to add another New Zealand port on the 10th. This is our last LONG crossing we have for a while. The normal duties were done over the next 5 days and it was so strange to cross the dateline…trying to wrap the mind around the fact that you lost a day of your life just traveling on a ship…just strange. I also thought that it was strange that of all the days that I could have lost…it had to be the day that my dad would have been turning 50….was just strange. This crossing wasn't as bad as the others but I will say…I am getting sick of these long crossing….it gets overwhelming. 

Thursday, February 10th we were in the port that was added to the itinerary due to the loss of the Cook Island port…Tauronga, New Zealand. We all got off the ship as early as we could…so we could enjoy our day in our first New Zealand port. We all walked down the main street that everyone told us to go to…looking for some great food and some internet. Lesley, Jodie, Jen, Adam and I went to this place called "Med on the Mount". It has the freshest food and bread that I've tasted. I had a wood burned pizza and wow…what an incredible lunch. We all got up and walked down to the internet cafe and all took advantage of that. Lesley and I uploaded most of the pictures that we needed to upload (just for you, Mom). Afterwards, Lesley and I walked down the street, went into a few shops and then made our way to the ship for back on board. We both didn't want to get back to the ship…we hated the fact that we couldn't spend more time off the ship…always having to be back at a certain time…just gets a little tiring. 

Friday, February 11th (4 months left) we were in Bay of Islands, New Zealand. It was a beautiful and homey town that we spent the day in. We all got off and Lesley really wanted to have fish and chips…so we found a nice little cafe so she could have that meal. The lunch was really nice and we all just enjoyed the town. In the past two days with being in New Zealand, I have found that everything looks very new and everything is very clean. Its nice to be around that compared to some of the other islands and places that we have been to. Back to the day…after lunch, Lesley and I wanted to find another place where we could have some free internet and we found it. We spent about 2.5 hours talking to friends and family from back home. I got the chance to skype with my brother, sister-in-law and niece for about an hour. It was great talking with them and seeing my niece crawl around and try to type to me on the computer…haha. I can't wait to come and see her after my contract ends…which is exactly the day before Riley's first birthday. 

Saturday, February 12th we ended the cruise in Auckland, New Zealand for the next embarkation day. I had to work that day from 12:00 - 3:30 pm checking in everyone to get on the ship. I didn't feel very well this day…for the past couple of days…I have had really bad stomach pains. I hope that I can get over this soon. After doing my shift on embarkation day, I met Lesley outside where I went to meet her sister (which she hasn't seen in about a year). I went to Lauren's wonderful apartment and had a great time talking with her and getting to know her. After a little while, we decided to go down to the port and have a good lunch. We sat there and had a great time…I felt bad for Lesley that she had to leave her sister so soon…that she didn't get to have more time with her…I understood what she was feeling. 

We are now currently on our next cruise and here is the itinerary for the first part of the cruise: At Sea on Feb. 13th / Wellington, New Zealand on Feb.14th / Christchurch, New Zealand on Feb. 15th / Port Chalmers, New Zealand on Feb. 16th / Stewart Island, New Zealand on Feb. 17th / Cruising Milford Sound and Doubtful Fiord, New Zealand on Feb. 18th. 

I'll write a blog about the first half of this cruise and another blog for the Australian part of the cruise. I can't wait to get to Australia…something that is extremely close to my mom, brother and myself. I hope that everyone is having a great February thus far and I'll update soon.

Until Next Time,

Jason

And the World Cruise begins...

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone has had a wonderful end of January….I have certainly enjoyed mine. 

Here's what has happened since the last time:

Friday, January 21 - Wednesday, January 26th we were at sea…crossing the Pacific. It was the MOST boring time I have had on this ship in 5 months….I can't explain the boredom. The weather was crap so we couldn't go up on the top deck to just enjoy the sun to make the days go faster. The guests were a little older on this crossing (again) so they weren't out for us to go talk to…they sat in their cabins. All in all, it was the most BOR-RING time I've ever experienced…ehhhh.

Thursday, January 27th FINALLY on land in Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands. It was a cute and very quite town. We got off in the morning, even though being told that the town had NOTHING to do…that was okay…just to be off the ship and touching land…was enough for me. Once we got off the tender, their were the town natives in their costumes and singing songs….and they offered coconut juice and I tried it (and that will be the last….tasted like old medicine). Adam, Cody, Emily, Lesley and I all walked the beach down to the center of town. We were told that we should go check out this church….apparently it was very pretty. So we wondered over there and it actually was very pretty. The entire church was made out of wood carvings….so cool. We sat there for a while, just enjoying our time off the ship and talked for a while. It was funny…on our way back, we kept seeing guests and they would stop and be like, "Hey guys…..how are you?" and all of us would be like, "Fine….thanks" (and think to ourselves….you never once talked to us on the ship…you ignored us…haha) We got back on the ship and enjoyed the night…refreshed from touching the earth…haha.

Friday, January 28th we were suppose to be in Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas Islands but the swell was SO big that they couldn't operate the tender service. The waves were really strong and high with the winds gusting up to 50mph….so needless to say…we had ANOTHER sea day. Which pissed me off to be quite honest because the next day…we were suppose to be at sea as well and you guessed it…we were. So Saturday, January 29th we were at sea AGAIN. Now, it doesn't seem like a big deal and everything that we are at sea…because we just sit in our rooms and watch tv…but the bad thing was….the internet wasn't working very well and the tv's were going in and out with signal….so we REALLY had nothing to do. We all were getting pretty tired of being on the ship…it really takes a lot out of you to be on the ship for that long….trust me…haha.

Sunday, January 30th we are in Rangiroa, French Polynesia….one of the prettiest places that I've been to. I had an early duty this morning…so I couldn't get off the ship early like I wanted to. I sat there (at shuffleboard…woo) waiting for guests to arrive….looking at the BEAUTIFUL beaches that I thought the cast were at. This man come up from behind me and scares the crap out of me saying, "Shuffleboard" to me…haha. I was like…"sure…haha". We played a few rounds and he asked me if I had been off yet and I said, "no but I will after we finish the game…no rush…haha" (I'm very happy to report…he took it well…haha) After the game, I ran to my room to get off the ship. Once I tendered to the island…the whole cast were waiting for me at a little cafe to walk to the beach together…they are great!!! Walking to the beach…thats when it hit me of how absolutely beautiful it was there…just amazing. We all got in the water and enjoyed the clear blue water…just gorgeous and of course the weather….it was SO hot this day.  It was so cool….stingrays would be swimming around…not getting close to us but just swimming around the lagoon…it was so cool. We played with this red ball that Greg has (we have named it Susan….don't ask…haha). It was great passing the ball around and then looking around and going, "really…are we playing with Susan in this beautiful place….haha". It will defiantly be something that I never forget. After a while, it was time to go back onto the ship so we had to leave….on the way back…we saw a pig in a crate and it was so cute. It kept coming up to us and we took a few pictures with the pig. Today was a great day!!!

Monday, January 31 we started the day in Moorea, French Polynesia and ended the day in Papeete, Tahiti for an overnight. In the early morning….Lesley, Greg, Jodie, Adam and I, all off the ship to get to a beach…since we were staying half day here. Seeing the mountains around us and the beautiful views…it was BREATH TAKING. After we got to the port, we decided to take a taxi to a beach resort, not knowing what we were in for. Now, think of the word 'paradise' or a 'paradise vacation' and what that means….clear blue waters, white sand beaches, huts over the water….that is EXACTLY what I was experiencing. Once we got to the GORGEOUS resort, we headed right for the water….it was GREAT. Again, we played with Susan for a little while (haha) and I was really looking around thinking, "Am I really here?" After a little while, we got out of the water…I could feel myself getting buried…yes, ME…getting burnt. We sat around and I just really appreciated it….I thought that the Caribbean was pretty….but it doesn't even come CLOSE to this area of the world…just beautiful. Later, we all started to get hungry so we went and had a lovely lunch in the restaurant…surrounded by paradise. I had a great club sandwich…one of the best actually that I ever have had and just enjoyed the company I was with. After our lunch, we went and swam in the pool that the hotel had. It was one of the infinity pools…where it looks like its falling off a cliff…into the ocean. It was such a cool time….I can't really explain what it was like…it was all WAY to surreal. We made it back to the ship, just in time for us to leave for Tahiti and to have Spirito up on the pool deck. When we arrived in Tahiti, I made sure that I came outside to see the sunset….I was told that this place has the most beautiful sunsets and holy crap, they weren't kidding. It was the MOST beautiful sunset I have EVER seen in my life. I ran down to get a picture of it…it was SO gorgeous. I stood there in amazement that I was actually there in Tahiti seeing this beautiful sunset…it was just an amazing experience. Later that night, we had a great show of Spirito on the pool deck and wouldn't you know, 5 mins after we finished the show…it started raining. Someone up there was watching out for us….thanks!!! That night, we all decided to go off and have a great time. We had a big group of us and wanted to go to a bar and have some fun. Well, it was a Monday night and nothing was really open and it started to rain so we kinda were upset and didn't know what to do. We eventually decided to go to a bar that we saw in the distance, so we all ran in the rain to this bar….it was one of the funniest experiences. All of us screaming because of the downpour of the rain. I kept thinking of my brother and mom during this time and that great moment in Forest Gump when he was talking about the rain in Vietnam….well, Mom and Ryan…this was big ol' fat rain…haha. Finally, we got to the bar and had a great time all together and danced the night away…such a fun group of people.

Tuesday, February 1st once again, we are in Papeete, Tahiti for our first embarkation of the world cruise. I have 7 more cruise until I see my Mom and Nene….I'm so excited!!!!!! I had to work a 2 hour shift that day…standing there listening to Tahitian music…lets just say, it was getting a little annoying…but to entertain myself because there was NO ONE around…I started hula dancing….haha, it was funny and yes, I was that bored. After my Hula performance, I got off the ship and had a great lunch at a french cafe. I understood NOTHING that they said to me but I enjoyed the food. Afterwards, I walked around…enjoying the day to myself. I was trying to find something to buy…to remember the place but there wasn't anything that appealed to me…so I didn't. After a while, I sat in a beautiful park…over looking the marina…just enjoying the day….it was a great, peaceful day.

We are now on to our next cruise and here is the itinerary: Raiatea, French Polynesia on Feb. 2nd (IPM) / Bora Bora, French Polynesia on Feb. 3rd / At Sea on Feb. 4th / Rarotonga, Cook Islands on Feb. 5th / At Sea Feb. 6 - 10th (but I lose Feb. 8th (my dad's bday) crossing the International Dateline) / Bay of Islands, New Zealand on Feb. 11th and ending this cruise in Auckland, New Zealand on February 12th. 

I hope that everyones 2011 has been a great one thus far and here is something that a guest said to me while he was leaving this last cruise, I liked it…"I wish you health, love, money and time to spend all of them"

Until Next Time,

Jason