New things & a Santa Convention!

Today the most amazing thing happened on the gangway. I was standing there, greeting the new passengers and getting their security photo “hihowareyousircomeoneoverwe’regoingtotakeyourmugshotjusthavealookinthecameraandsmile123cheeseverynicewelcomeaboard” when….
A couple dressed all in red and white came up the gangway. The man was older very tall, with a long white beard and the lady had long white hair, was decked out in holly and had a puppet elf on her arm. I was quite excited to see such an interesting sight, and even more excited to see two similar couples approach on the gangway.
Yes. This week there is a SANTA CONVENTION on board the emerald princess!!
I love the Santas! They are awesome! Some have puppets- little dogs and elves – and some give you little tokens that say “santa saw me being good”. Some use a program on their iphones to tell you if you have been naughty or nice!! They wear santa colours but kind of crazy clothes – one old couple get around in red converses (and their puppet has a pair too!!). They wear cool red hats… one was wearing a tam’o’shanter (?) with a white pom pom and stripey stockings and … yes. I love them.
Hersh thinks they are scary and uncool. I think they are awesome! They all started as men who were being the local santa and they loved bringing joy to people so much that they kind of took it up as a way of life! Yes, they are kind of mad, but I love it! It’s an innocent, playful madness- a bit like my own!
Whenever I see the Santas I just get so happy. I was crazy dancing in the theatre tonight. I’m glad they are here because, in other news, Mark left today. Mark, my very best friend on the ship! My crazy dancing partner! My duet partner! My (almost) everything!
Mark’s six months are up so he’s sitting at home drinking tea with his mum and dad right now while I am holed up in my cabin after a 13 hour day (commencing 6:30 am) I will miss him a lot. I was in the crew bar tonight and I kind of expected to see him pop in and say “Hon-NAY a la grande”. But no.
The band Evolution have also left. Evolution were the best band on the seven seas and were a huge part of my whole experience of being an Assistant Cruise Director up to this point. They were amazingly versatile and talented AND a big part of cruise staff events – country night, rock night, sailaway party, piazza party, island night & Rock and Roakie. They were also very supportive of me and we shared many crazy dancing moments… I love to crazy dance to the bands and get people up on the floor. I also had the chance to sing with them almost every week.
It’s the first time I’ve cried to see people leave. With only 6 weeks to go, the people who are now leaving have been here my whole contract (almost) and thus have been a huge part of my wonderful experience working on board the Emerald Princess.
In other exciting news, a few weeks ago the head honchos of cruise staff were on board the EP. Chris and Sally came on board to test out some new passenger programs- and oh my gosh, the new programs ROCK. First we had glass jewlery making – we learned how to do it and then attended the classes with some elite passengers. It was so lovely at the captain’s circle party to see everyone wearing their special jewlery! It went off- everyone loved it so hopefully it will be introduced next cruise. Also, ZUMBA!! Oh my gosh! I love zumba! They’re gonna get me certified! Can’t wait til it’s introduced next year- I’ll be instructing at sea!
Chris and Sally were very impressed by the 18-20’s program I was running (thanks so much to my peeps that week for being awesome and helping me impress them), so much so that I had to submit a report and recommendations to them and that they are going to consult with me on taking it fleet wide! I also had a one on one session with them and it looks as though I’m going to be getting promoted next contract! I successfully impressed the people that count! I love my job so I am extremely excited about this=- plus it means a pay rise and my own cabin! I do the same amount of work as the ACD’s as it is…. So I’m psyched that it was recognised!
With mark gone, I am also becoming the ship’s line dancing instructor as of this week! Having never attended any line dancing classes on board,I am pretty nervous but I can’t wait to get up on stage and teach! It’s like a mega slow mega easy body attack class… like body vive on tranquilizers I guess..
I have had some AMAZING days over the past month! No name bar in Cozumel, An amazing day lazing on the beach in Grand Turk and I WENt SCUBA DIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME!
Oh my goodness – I love to scuba! It was just a shore dive but it counts as my first dive in the 4 I need for certification. I’m gonna get my PADI book and get started! Diving in Cozumel was beautiful! A group of 10 of us all went with Troy Thurgill, the guest comedian and did a shore dive in Chakanab natural park. We dived into underwater caves and I cuddled a stingray that I wrangled (gently)- we saw lobsters and starfish and… so many beautiful and amazing tropical fish! Followed by beers and Mexican food then more beers at the no name bar, it really was the perfect day!
With time counting down before I go home, I’m now going to start being more thorough with things – including changing my money between accounts, keeping healthy & keeping you up to date in my blog. 6 weeks is going to fly – especially as after this week (eastern ) and next week (western) we are changing to the 10 day runs of which I have only three!