Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas from the Summit...

Merry Christmas to all back home.  I am missing you all dearly and it hardly feels like Christmas Eve at all.  I start work tomorrow at 6:30 in the morning.  Will be the first ever Christmas Day I have worked and feels real strange and not really like Christmas at all.  

I do have one pressie to open in the morning though - Thank you Mum for getting it to me in time.  Receiving a package from home was the best.  Thank you again.  (Sorry Tanya, your package didn't make it in time for Christmas - should get it next week).

So, what's going on?  A lot of work but not much return at the moment.  And a bit concerning to say the least...

Two more of the spa girls left quite suddenly - one was transferred to another ship and another decided to go home after 4 months.  Sad to see them go - the Spa has not been the same without them.  I miss their energy.

Had some quality me time this arvo in Bonaire, which I think was much needed.  I enjoyed just wandering the town on my own.  You don't get much me time onboard a ship so was good to reflect and recharge.

Was asked to go to Captain's Club last night.  Basically had to dress up and represent the Spa mingling with guests.  Not too bad but hopefully not something I have to do every cruise...

Tonight there is Eggnog and Cookies in the staff bar at 11:45 pm - so 45 mins away - I should make it...

Need to pass on this free internet connection to my roommate now so will hopefully be able to get some more free time tomorrow night...

Love to all

Alex  
xxx

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Waiting For Coastguard...

This morning we arrived in San Juan and a busy day although at the moment a bit of a waiting game...We have Coastguard today, which means we do boat drill with the Coastguard onboard to mke sure we know our stuff.  If there is something wrong with the ship or the crew in regards to safety, they can apparently hold the ship until it is fixed so kind of a big deal.  We have had multiple drills over the last few weeks to get us all prepared and to make sure we don't make any mistakes.  So I am sittin ghere in my cabin just waiting for the signal.  Ideally I wanted to go to the gym this morning (with the morning off but alas not today).  Hopefully it's not too much longer.

Also have to go through immigration today as we enter the US.  So another time-consuming task for the day.  And then start work once this is over meeting and greeting new guests.  We now move into 7 day cruising so looking forward to a change of pace and definitely enjoyed the change of place yesterday.  I had most of the day off in St Maarten yesterday.  Sun, sand and beautiful blue seas.  Looking forward to a change of energy for the next few months after coming from the cold of the Med.

Cannot quite believe that it's Christmas in under 2 weeks.  Doesn't feel like that time of year at all despite my efforts at making my cabin a little more Christmassy.  There's a high chance I will have to work on Christmas Day so that will be a first and will be quite strange I imagine...

Anyway, I think I've almost used all my internet time again...Catch up with you all soon...

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Need to Eat Real Food...

Am getting tired of the crap food in the mess at the moment.  I have forgotten what it feels like to eat cleanly and my body is suffering.  Tonight's dinner was vegetables (which I knew had a coating of butter or something similar on them) and a bunch of grapes.  Very sad.  Nothing else looked edible to put it nicely.

Have had a frustrating day today.  This is our cheapest cruise of the year apparently and guests onboard are reluctant to spend money on anything let alone detox!!  We have done 4 seminars this cruise but next to no bookings and minimal sales.  I feel like I'm hitting my head against a brick wall at the moment.

I know next cruise (and the next 18 weeks) in the Caribbean will be better.  Cannot wait...Only 2 more sea days to go and then I have 2 mornings off in a row and then a whole day off so looking forward to a bit of sanity time...

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Making Our Way Across the Atlantic...

As expected, a quiet cruise.  But on the plus side, have enjoyed getting off the ship in some new ports.  Spent a couple of hours off in Malaga, Spain.  Had an awesome tapas lunch.  Sooo yummy.  I was supposed to be out shopping for some weights for the gym but a girl has got to eat...I did look for the weights (after lunch) to no avail.

Enjoyed a day off  yesterday in Madeira, Portugal.  Another yummy lunch (piri chicken) but not as good as the tapas.  Also managed a quick dash to the supermarket for some supplies.  Enjoyed some sunshine (at last!!!).  Will definitely be visiting Portugal in the future.  Madeira was quite pretty and a lot cheaper than the rest of the Med so hoping the rest of Portugal is similar as I add it to my travel list...

Looking forward to my last day off for the cruise tomorrow in Tenerife in the Canary Islands..  Although am unable to leave the ship until about lunchtime as we have boat drill in the morning - the joys of living/working on a ship.  The sunshine will be worth it once I get off I'm sure...

I work solid then until we hit the Caribbean next week, with 5 sea days in a row.  Hoping they're not rough sea days though - will have to wait and see what the weather delivers us for the final leg of our crossing...I will then enjoy 2 half days off - 1 in St Maarten and the next in San Juan, Puerto Rico (which will be our base for the next 18 weeks) - so will have a 1/2 day off here for the next 18 weeks.

Enjoyed an awesome dinner 2 nights ago in The Normandie - the a la carte restaurant onboard.  The food and service was excellent - was wonderful to be treated like a regular person eating in style for a night.  It was one of the girl's birthdays so it was a real treat.

Tomorrow we suddenly say goodbye to one of our girls in the spa.  She is being transferred to another ship as an experienced girl has requested to come back to this ship.  She only found out yesterday.  Demonstrates that nothing is certain onboard - even I could be transferred at any time.  Will be sad to see her go especially before Christmas.  It is like a little family onboard but am sure we will all be missing our loved ones as the holidays draw nearer...

Loving the extra space in my new cabin.  Hoping to find a Christmas tree tomorrow for my room.  Managed to get some tinsel and Christmas lights yesterday - just need to get them up!!!  Need some tape...hopefully tonight...

Well I have no idea when I will actually be able to post this online as the internet has been down all day and doesn't look too promising - so this news may be a little old by the time you all read this...

Love to all...Alex




This is my ship and my home - The Celebrity Summit.  This is the only pic I have at the mo - I have been quite light on with pics so far.  This was taken in Naples a couple of weeks ago.

Cabin 1306 - my first cabin onboard.  Note the size of the room and they're are 2 of us living in this space!!  Makes you appreciate your space at home...However, in a bigger cabin now and despite the teething problems with the bathroom flooding, we are enjoying our extra space.  I will have to take a pic of my new room to show you the difference in space (and the new lights)...No guarantees when that will be though...