October 28, 2007
I’m so depressed to be leaving right now…for so many reasons!
I did go on an excursion today that was wonderful, though. The tour went to Los Islotes Islands here in Pichilingue, La Paz, Mexico. We went out to Los Islotes by catamaran, which took about 1.5 hours where we went snorkeling with sea lions. We couldn’t actually touch the island itself, just anchor out in the water but the sea lions were absolutely everywhere and tons of angel fish and beautiful tropical creatures. The water there was absolutely beautiful.
On the way out to the island, a pod of literally 30-40 dolphins were playing and breaching in the wake of the boat. It was a fantastic and beautiful sight!
So, after snorkeling with the sea lions, we headed over to a coral reef and snorkeled there for a little while – talk about some crystal clear waters! There were tons of fish…I mean TONS of fish feeding down below around the coral.
It really was a beautiful (but exhausting) day. Between the sun and the swimming, I am truly beat.
Other than that, just working and trying to take advantage of every moment I have here on the Ryndam and in Mexico. I have so much to share with some of you, when I get home, about things here!
I can’t count down…makes me sad. I’m not ready to come home anymore.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Prayers for San Diego
October 27, 2007
I’ve had a fantastic day! The woman who initially signed up for babysitting in Cabo San Lucas cancelled on me today so I can spend the day in port. Today I hung out around the pool for a few hours, played crew vs. passenger volleyball and worked for a few hours tonight.
It’s a bit sad though…so many people on the ship are from San Diego and they are all constantly checking the news and internet for any details. I don’t think I’ve heard of anybody that’s had a problem yet, but lots of their friends and family have lost their homes. That’s so sad to me.
Other than that I’m trying not to mope around because I’m sad to leave – I’m doing whatever I can to make the most out of every second I have left with some of these people.
4 days…
I’ve had a fantastic day! The woman who initially signed up for babysitting in Cabo San Lucas cancelled on me today so I can spend the day in port. Today I hung out around the pool for a few hours, played crew vs. passenger volleyball and worked for a few hours tonight.
It’s a bit sad though…so many people on the ship are from San Diego and they are all constantly checking the news and internet for any details. I don’t think I’ve heard of anybody that’s had a problem yet, but lots of their friends and family have lost their homes. That’s so sad to me.
Other than that I’m trying not to mope around because I’m sad to leave – I’m doing whatever I can to make the most out of every second I have left with some of these people.
4 days…
Gravity…Stay the hell away from me…
October 24, 2007
So it’s approx 12:30 a.m. and I just got off work – mind you I’m running on two hours sleep at the moment, but still feeling ok and able to get through a little bit more of the evening events!
I saw Jerry Lewis yesterday! He looks old…that’s it. Nothing fantastic! I just smiled and didn’t bother him for obvious reasons.
Later today I will be in Puerta Vallarta for the last time and I’m quite sad about it. I must admit that the Kristal Hotel is by far my most favorite retreat since we’ve been here. I love that there’s a pool to swim in, but you can still see and hear the ocean. I’m looking forward to getting there and laying out etc, but dreading the idea of leaving later that day and knowing it’s the last time, at least for a while! Unfortunately, I had a parent sign up for port day activities in Cabo San Lucas, so it looks like no dolphin swimming for me L Little disappointed about that – but what can I do, ya know? I’ll just take the pictures from the ship and pretend I was there the whole day ;)
I’ve also had at least one parent sign up per night for kidsitting (between the hours of 10-12 a.m.), which is great for me (extra cash) but sucks because I’m not really able to hang out with who I want to.
This week with the kids has been crazy...lots of fun though. I have 4 three year olds which is mind numbing at that and then there is a 5, 7 and 9 year old. They are all really good though, just demand a lot of my attention spread out among all of them! All I hear is “Sydney, Sydney, Look at this/me/her”. Thinking about it makes me laugh because they really are adorable.
So far so good for us, though, on avoiding the bad weather of the tropical storms/hurricane we were supposed to hit. ::currently knocking on wood:: The weather both today and yesterday was incredible…sunshine and beautiful seas! I pray that the remainder of the trip stays this way and we get really lucky! It will make my last Ryndam Cruise all the more better!
That’s pretty much it for now. Like I said…feeling bittersweet at the moment. The more excited I get about leaving, the more happens that makes me want to stick around forever! Such is life, right?
7 days…
So it’s approx 12:30 a.m. and I just got off work – mind you I’m running on two hours sleep at the moment, but still feeling ok and able to get through a little bit more of the evening events!
I saw Jerry Lewis yesterday! He looks old…that’s it. Nothing fantastic! I just smiled and didn’t bother him for obvious reasons.
Later today I will be in Puerta Vallarta for the last time and I’m quite sad about it. I must admit that the Kristal Hotel is by far my most favorite retreat since we’ve been here. I love that there’s a pool to swim in, but you can still see and hear the ocean. I’m looking forward to getting there and laying out etc, but dreading the idea of leaving later that day and knowing it’s the last time, at least for a while! Unfortunately, I had a parent sign up for port day activities in Cabo San Lucas, so it looks like no dolphin swimming for me L Little disappointed about that – but what can I do, ya know? I’ll just take the pictures from the ship and pretend I was there the whole day ;)
I’ve also had at least one parent sign up per night for kidsitting (between the hours of 10-12 a.m.), which is great for me (extra cash) but sucks because I’m not really able to hang out with who I want to.
This week with the kids has been crazy...lots of fun though. I have 4 three year olds which is mind numbing at that and then there is a 5, 7 and 9 year old. They are all really good though, just demand a lot of my attention spread out among all of them! All I hear is “Sydney, Sydney, Look at this/me/her”. Thinking about it makes me laugh because they really are adorable.
So far so good for us, though, on avoiding the bad weather of the tropical storms/hurricane we were supposed to hit. ::currently knocking on wood:: The weather both today and yesterday was incredible…sunshine and beautiful seas! I pray that the remainder of the trip stays this way and we get really lucky! It will make my last Ryndam Cruise all the more better!
That’s pretty much it for now. Like I said…feeling bittersweet at the moment. The more excited I get about leaving, the more happens that makes me want to stick around forever! Such is life, right?
7 days…
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Stop This Train...
October 21, 2007
We just embarked on my last cruise today. Unfortunately, we are anticipating really bad weather due to an outstanding tropical storm so we shall see how it goes. We did have some really rough water last night – lots of people were sea sick again. My roommate who was here for 14 days left this morning and she was great – she went to another ship. There is one advantage – room to myself the last 10 days! Makes it easier to pack I guess.
Not too much to share. Today my friend Adrienne came with her roommate Amy and I gave them the grand tour of the ms Ryndam. Afterwards, we went to lunch over by the mall and then walked back- it was quite hot here in San Diego. It was nice to see someone and reflect on the crazy things about Cruise West – the very few fantastic times and the stupid things we did to make a miserable experience a little less miserable ;)
That’s about all for now…I’m so excited to do Mexico again…if only I was staying a few cruises longer to soak up some more sun. I’m enjoying every moment I’m here though, so I guess that’s what matters, right?
Jerry Lewis is on board this week with his wife staying in the Penthouse Suite. Haven’t seen him yet, but I’m sure I will because he requested that he take the crew elevators everywhere because he doesn’t want to be seen by the guests.
9 days…
We just embarked on my last cruise today. Unfortunately, we are anticipating really bad weather due to an outstanding tropical storm so we shall see how it goes. We did have some really rough water last night – lots of people were sea sick again. My roommate who was here for 14 days left this morning and she was great – she went to another ship. There is one advantage – room to myself the last 10 days! Makes it easier to pack I guess.
Not too much to share. Today my friend Adrienne came with her roommate Amy and I gave them the grand tour of the ms Ryndam. Afterwards, we went to lunch over by the mall and then walked back- it was quite hot here in San Diego. It was nice to see someone and reflect on the crazy things about Cruise West – the very few fantastic times and the stupid things we did to make a miserable experience a little less miserable ;)
That’s about all for now…I’m so excited to do Mexico again…if only I was staying a few cruises longer to soak up some more sun. I’m enjoying every moment I’m here though, so I guess that’s what matters, right?
Jerry Lewis is on board this week with his wife staying in the Penthouse Suite. Haven’t seen him yet, but I’m sure I will because he requested that he take the crew elevators everywhere because he doesn’t want to be seen by the guests.
9 days…
"Lover's Bitch" (That's Lover's Beach in Indonesian English)
October 19, 2007
This Mexico run is wonderful – 6 port days in a row where I don’t have to work until 8 p.m.
The hyped up Cabo San Lucas was today. It was beautiful – huge houses on the waterfront, Lovers Beach and the clear blue water. We don’t have much time in Port today especially because it is a tender port. Tender ports mean we anchor out in the water and lower the life boats and basically shuttle people into town. It takes forever for “open tender” to be called which means crew can go ashore. When it was finally called it was around noon and we had crew all aboard at 3. So, a few of us went ashore and sat at a bar and had margaritas and just hung out and enjoyed the sun. Next week I intend to take a water taxi over to Lovers Beach and just enjoy the sun – a few of us also want to do the “swim with the dolphins” – apparently they offer a pretty good deal to crew. We shall see!
Tomorrow is our last sea day and then it is officially my last cruise before I come home! Have I mentioned how excited I am about coming home? J I am definitely going to be sad to leave the Ryndam – I’ve never had so much fun and been so happy! There are so many awesome people I’ve met onboard and we always manage to laugh and have a good time together. The great part is that 3 friends from here are going to the Statendam with me, so it’ll be nice to have people I already know on board once I get to the outback J It’s funny – I’m so sad to leave here, so excited to go home for a bit and at the same time, anticipating my next contract and the places I’m going to see!
Ok – tonight is formal night and I’m going to get dressed and head upstairs to hang out with friends and passengers!
11 days…Mom – don’t forget the chicken parmesan ;)
This Mexico run is wonderful – 6 port days in a row where I don’t have to work until 8 p.m.
The hyped up Cabo San Lucas was today. It was beautiful – huge houses on the waterfront, Lovers Beach and the clear blue water. We don’t have much time in Port today especially because it is a tender port. Tender ports mean we anchor out in the water and lower the life boats and basically shuttle people into town. It takes forever for “open tender” to be called which means crew can go ashore. When it was finally called it was around noon and we had crew all aboard at 3. So, a few of us went ashore and sat at a bar and had margaritas and just hung out and enjoyed the sun. Next week I intend to take a water taxi over to Lovers Beach and just enjoy the sun – a few of us also want to do the “swim with the dolphins” – apparently they offer a pretty good deal to crew. We shall see!
Tomorrow is our last sea day and then it is officially my last cruise before I come home! Have I mentioned how excited I am about coming home? J I am definitely going to be sad to leave the Ryndam – I’ve never had so much fun and been so happy! There are so many awesome people I’ve met onboard and we always manage to laugh and have a good time together. The great part is that 3 friends from here are going to the Statendam with me, so it’ll be nice to have people I already know on board once I get to the outback J It’s funny – I’m so sad to leave here, so excited to go home for a bit and at the same time, anticipating my next contract and the places I’m going to see!
Ok – tonight is formal night and I’m going to get dressed and head upstairs to hang out with friends and passengers!
11 days…Mom – don’t forget the chicken parmesan ;)
Monday, October 15, 2007
Viva la Mexico!
October 15, 2007
We just left Mazatlan and I’m loving Mexico so far! Yesterday we went to the Kristal Resort which was absolutely beautiful. The resort was villa-style and very authentic. There were about 6 or 7 pools linked together with bridges and volleyball nets and wet bars. We had a fantastic time – there were about 30 of us who ended up there. We got there around 11:45 and left around 6 going back and fourth between the beach and the pools. My skin is a little pink, but nothing too horrific. It was so relaxing to have drinks and eat and just chill in the pool with all of my friends! I can’t wait for next week.
Today in Mazatlan I went on an excursion call the Mazatlan shrimp feast. They took us to a private residence in the middle of ghetto-town Mexico. The guy told us not to get worried because the house was not like the city. I walked into the house and it was a beautiful picturesque home. Pool and lots of tables, umbrellas, buffet and botanical gardens where we could see all of Mazatlan over the patio. It was absolutely incredible. Nobody wanted to leave! They had an open bar of Pacifico, margaritas, and bottled water. I just drank a gallon of water because it was so hot! The food was just as fantastic as the scenery – beer battered shrimp, garlic shrimp, peel-and-eat shrimp, taquitos, rice, refried beans, salsa and guacamole. I ate mostly shrimp and guacamole…which was superb!
The bartender boy situation is getting interesting…will update on that later!
That’s all for now!
Home in 16 days…
We just left Mazatlan and I’m loving Mexico so far! Yesterday we went to the Kristal Resort which was absolutely beautiful. The resort was villa-style and very authentic. There were about 6 or 7 pools linked together with bridges and volleyball nets and wet bars. We had a fantastic time – there were about 30 of us who ended up there. We got there around 11:45 and left around 6 going back and fourth between the beach and the pools. My skin is a little pink, but nothing too horrific. It was so relaxing to have drinks and eat and just chill in the pool with all of my friends! I can’t wait for next week.
Today in Mazatlan I went on an excursion call the Mazatlan shrimp feast. They took us to a private residence in the middle of ghetto-town Mexico. The guy told us not to get worried because the house was not like the city. I walked into the house and it was a beautiful picturesque home. Pool and lots of tables, umbrellas, buffet and botanical gardens where we could see all of Mazatlan over the patio. It was absolutely incredible. Nobody wanted to leave! They had an open bar of Pacifico, margaritas, and bottled water. I just drank a gallon of water because it was so hot! The food was just as fantastic as the scenery – beer battered shrimp, garlic shrimp, peel-and-eat shrimp, taquitos, rice, refried beans, salsa and guacamole. I ate mostly shrimp and guacamole…which was superb!
The bartender boy situation is getting interesting…will update on that later!
That’s all for now!
Home in 16 days…
Sunshine is delicious!
October 14, 2007
First things first- 17 days until I go home! I’m really excited about going home and having a little bit of a normal life…at least for six weeks before I head out on my awesome contract! I do have quite a bit to do the first few days – I need to order several VISA’s for Australia, China (where we overnight on my birthday), and I believe some for Japan and South Korea. I’m still looking into those details, but I’m sure its going to cost a few bucks and a few minutes!
I haven’t written in a while because the ship world has been a bit hectic since we got out of dry dock. The last day of dry dock I had to move rooms from B Deck (Deck 3) where all of the “Other” crew live up to deck 9 aft. We moved into this old-pantry-turned-crew-room and it’s an interesting set up. I hate being so far away from other crew and from the washing machine (I lived next to it in my old room). Uh well, only a little while until I go home J
After we left Victoria we went and picked up the passengers for our four day repositioning cruise to San Diego. It was a fast cruise – just stopped in Victoria for a few hours (mind you it was Canadian Thanksgiving, so nothing was open) and had two sea days before getting to San Diego. The two sea days were the worst things ever…especially the first day. I’ve never been sea sick, but we had 21-25 foot seas, horrible weather and of course, the stabilizers that were just fixed in dry dock busted on the way! So we had nothing to even help with the rocking. Club Hal is up on Deck 12 Aft – so pretty high and we felt the rocking pretty bad. A girl named Sarah is on board for two weeks and I had to tell her I was going to lay down because I felt so sick. It was not pretty. The captain said that if the weather had stayed that bad the second day, we would have arrived two days late into San Diego – instead we were only 5 hours late into port. Made things a little hectic for embarkation/disembarkation…but it worked in the end!
In San Diego, we picked up our first ten day Mexico cruise. We are sitting in Puerta Vallarta right now and we are all itching to get off. Unfortunately, this morning we have a fire drill, General Emergency drill and then an Entertainment Department Meeting. You can bet your bottom dollar that the minute the meeting is over, we are on our way to the drug store to buy sunscreen etc, then over to Kristal Resort. It’s a resort that allows crew to utilize the pool and resort. I’m quite excited because it’s a really nice place apparently with several big pools, the swim up bars etc! I just want some fresh air and a tan before I go home!
The bartender in the Officer’s Bar (where we all hang out every night), who was telling my old roommate how much he loved me. I knew he had a bit of a crush, but nothing serious. Well, the other night he gave me a letter telling me how I’ve changed him and he’s been happy since I’ve been on board. I wrote him a letter back (how high school, eh?) saying that I was leaving soon and we could be friends, but that’s it. I haven’t figured out yet whether it’s the language barrier, but I believe he read the letter that I loved him too because he’s getting really protective and making it sound like we’re a couple! EEK!
This week is my last chance to spend a few hours in San Diego and a good friend of mine, Adrienne, from Cruise West is coming to meet me at the ship. She only lives about an hour away, but I’m going to give her a ship tour and hang out for a few hours. It’ll be nice to see her!
I believe the General Emergency Drill is going to happen any moment, so I’m going to go ahead and get out of here so I can get some sun!
Home is soon!
First things first- 17 days until I go home! I’m really excited about going home and having a little bit of a normal life…at least for six weeks before I head out on my awesome contract! I do have quite a bit to do the first few days – I need to order several VISA’s for Australia, China (where we overnight on my birthday), and I believe some for Japan and South Korea. I’m still looking into those details, but I’m sure its going to cost a few bucks and a few minutes!
I haven’t written in a while because the ship world has been a bit hectic since we got out of dry dock. The last day of dry dock I had to move rooms from B Deck (Deck 3) where all of the “Other” crew live up to deck 9 aft. We moved into this old-pantry-turned-crew-room and it’s an interesting set up. I hate being so far away from other crew and from the washing machine (I lived next to it in my old room). Uh well, only a little while until I go home J
After we left Victoria we went and picked up the passengers for our four day repositioning cruise to San Diego. It was a fast cruise – just stopped in Victoria for a few hours (mind you it was Canadian Thanksgiving, so nothing was open) and had two sea days before getting to San Diego. The two sea days were the worst things ever…especially the first day. I’ve never been sea sick, but we had 21-25 foot seas, horrible weather and of course, the stabilizers that were just fixed in dry dock busted on the way! So we had nothing to even help with the rocking. Club Hal is up on Deck 12 Aft – so pretty high and we felt the rocking pretty bad. A girl named Sarah is on board for two weeks and I had to tell her I was going to lay down because I felt so sick. It was not pretty. The captain said that if the weather had stayed that bad the second day, we would have arrived two days late into San Diego – instead we were only 5 hours late into port. Made things a little hectic for embarkation/disembarkation…but it worked in the end!
In San Diego, we picked up our first ten day Mexico cruise. We are sitting in Puerta Vallarta right now and we are all itching to get off. Unfortunately, this morning we have a fire drill, General Emergency drill and then an Entertainment Department Meeting. You can bet your bottom dollar that the minute the meeting is over, we are on our way to the drug store to buy sunscreen etc, then over to Kristal Resort. It’s a resort that allows crew to utilize the pool and resort. I’m quite excited because it’s a really nice place apparently with several big pools, the swim up bars etc! I just want some fresh air and a tan before I go home!
The bartender in the Officer’s Bar (where we all hang out every night), who was telling my old roommate how much he loved me. I knew he had a bit of a crush, but nothing serious. Well, the other night he gave me a letter telling me how I’ve changed him and he’s been happy since I’ve been on board. I wrote him a letter back (how high school, eh?) saying that I was leaving soon and we could be friends, but that’s it. I haven’t figured out yet whether it’s the language barrier, but I believe he read the letter that I loved him too because he’s getting really protective and making it sound like we’re a couple! EEK!
This week is my last chance to spend a few hours in San Diego and a good friend of mine, Adrienne, from Cruise West is coming to meet me at the ship. She only lives about an hour away, but I’m going to give her a ship tour and hang out for a few hours. It’ll be nice to see her!
I believe the General Emergency Drill is going to happen any moment, so I’m going to go ahead and get out of here so I can get some sun!
Home is soon!
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