The Jade.

I've successfully completed two and a half weeks on the beautiful Norwegian Jade! (But it feels like I've been gone for a over a month.) I am thankful for this job but miss my family & friends already. This blog post is a very scattered mash up to update y'all about what has been going on! 

I have been going to the gym a lot and am determined to maintain a healthy lifestyle this contract. I've wasted way too much money on wifi and have watched way too many episodes of Friends. My cabin is much tinnier than my cabin on the Star and I have the top bunk again. My roommate is a beautiful Romanian named Sylvia. She sings with the party band and looks like a character in one of the Bourne Supremacy movies. 

May 30. Thursday. 

That afternoon my lovely parents dropped my off at the airport. Leaving never gets easier. But it helped knowing that I will get to see them at the end of the month! I flew from Tampa to rainy Detroit. Then I sadly kissed cell phone service goodbye and hopped on a transatlantic flight to Amsterdam. 

May 31. Friday. 

That morning for the final leg of my journey I flew from Amsterdam to Venice. I was met at the airport by a driver and taken to a hotel NCL booked for me. I was exhausted and the queen size bed looked so inviting and irresistible. But I could hear Mama Stoney squealing in my head that I was in ITALYto get up and go have an adventure!

I took a shuttle from the hotel onto the island and surprisingly it was pretty chilly. That city is absolutely magical. I wandered up and down the small streets and across a million bridges. There is literally no place like this in the world. It was so surreal that I had to keep reminding myself that this was real life! After a marvelous lunch and some free wifi, I caught the shuttle back to the hotel. I slept soundly that night looking forward to my next adventure!

Side note: I kept thinking back to when I studied abroad in Spain two summer ago. My lovely roommate, Laura Powell, and our group of friends planned to visit Rome one weekend. I wanted to go with them but my parents encouraged me to use that time to continue soaking up the Spanish culture. I followed their advice and chose to stay in Madrid that weekend. I traveled with my host family to the south to visit our Padre's family. We picked cherries on his uncles farm and it ended up being on of the most magical experiences of my life. I vividly remember telling Laura that I was disappointed I was missing out on seeing Rome again but that I just knew I would be back in Italy sometime within the next ten years. Little did I know how soon that prediction would come true! (You can read about that adventure here: Spain blog)

June 1. Saturday. 

Bright and early that morning a shuttle arrived at the hotel to take myself and the other Norwegian crew members to the ship. I was really nervous as we drove into the port but when I stepped on board the ship I felt a little bit at ease. It's nice to know what to expect and already understand the ships layout! Joann, the current Wardrobe Supervisor, met me, helped me find my room, and gave me a tour of the theater. She had joined the ship with the cast two months earlier and I was there as her replacement. Joann stayed until the end of the week in order to show me the ropes!

Week 1. June 1-7

Greece Run:

Venice, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, Katakolon.

I really focused on work this week and learned as much as I could from the current Wardrobe Supervisor, Joann. The Jade rotates between two seven day itineraries each week around the Mediterranean and Adriatic Sea. My first week we did the Greek itinerary. One night that week the entire cast met for dinner in the steak house restaurant on board. Everyone was so sweet and welcoming to me.

Out of fourteen cast members, everyone is American except for two people! (Lisa is Welsh and Tonto is Dutch) This is because they all worked together on the Pride of America and then requested this ship. (The PoA is Norwegian's ship that is permanently cruising Hawaii. So because the ship never leaves American waters crew members must be a US citizen or have a green card.)

Week 2. June 8-14

Croatia Run:

Venice. Dubrovnik. Piraeus, Greece. Izmir, Turkey. Split, Croatia. 

Joann left and I was officially in charge! One of the female dancers, Cassa, left too because she was offered a contract with Cirque de Sole! She is going to be in their Beatles show "Love" in Las Vegas! Too exciting. The week before we had found out that my friend from my last ship the Star, Montana, was coming as her replacement!!!! I was overjoyed! Our reunion that first day included a lot of screaming and dancing around. Having her there made me so happy and feel more at home. 

Week 3. June 15-21.

Greece Run:

Venice, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos, Katakolon. 

June 18. Tuesday.
This week I got off the ship for this first time since arriving on the Jade! I ventured into Santorini with a group of my friends from the cast. I had never been to Greece before and I am struggling with how to even describe my phenomenal first experience. It is impossible for cruise ships to dock there so you have to take a small tender boat to land. Looking up at the massive jagged cliffs spotted with little white houses as we bounced over the Mediterranean waves was surreal. (It's embarrassing but I'll admit since seeing the film "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" in high school, I have always dreamed of visiting Greece.) Once on land, there are only two ways to make it up the mountain and into the city. You can either take a rickety cable car or ride on the back of a donkey up a steep stone path. Welcome to Greece!

I had a fabulous afternoon wandering around the narrow streets, dodging donkeys, and trying to absorb the breathtaking views. It was gratifying knowing that I was getting to enjoy this amazing experience because of my perseverance and hard work. As the day wound down, my friends and I enjoyed a delicious dinner overlooking the ocean as the sun set behind the mountains. This time last year I had just begun my first "big girl job" at Stagedoor Manor in New York. I could have never imagined that only twelve months later I would working on a cruise ship and get paid to be in Europe! So much has happened this year. I am completely blessed.

June 19. Wednesday.
Mykonos! This beautiful Greek island is known for it's picturesque beaches and summer parties. (Don't worry Mom, it wasn't wild like you had heard!) Three male dancers and I hopped in a bus and headed to a small beach on the other side of the island called Super Paradise. It was fabulous. 

June 20. Thursday.
Katakolon! Today as I am writing this, Tonto and I have been enjoying a beautiful view of the bay and free wifi! I am one lucky girl. 

*Five days until my birthday and eight days until my family boards my ship!!*

Week Nineteen.

After everything that happened during the last two weeks this one is pretty boring to write about! But sometimes boring and normal can be very nice.

February 24. Sunday.
Since I had been medically disembarked for seven days, I had to go through US immigration that morning. Waking up at 6:45am is such a treat. Afterwards I crawled back into bed for a few hours until it was time to hop off the boat for brunch! I had never been so happy to step foot in New Orleans! James, Rosie, Cameron, Hannah, and I (all the blondes) enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the French quarter. Afterwards we ran errands for awhile before camping out at a different restaurant for lunch and wifi.

The events back on board were typical. We had rehearsal and then the shows. Cameron and I ate dinner together and then made our last few phone calls to loved ones.

February 25. Monday.
It was a typical Monday and I was happy to get back to my normal routine. Jess and I worked the shopping talk and then I went to work in the dressing room. Band on the Run went great that night. Afterwards some of us ate in Blue Lagoon and then Montana and I went for a late night swim in the indoor spa pool.

February 26. Tuesday.
Costa maya! I got off with James and Rosie and we chilled in an internet cafe all afternoon. Back on the ship a bunch of the cast went to the gym but I still had to take it easy on my body. So I did yoga in my cabin and surprisingly like it! Cameron and I went to dinner together that night. Afterwards I organized and deep cleaned my entire room. And it was still only 9pm. So Sophie, Montana, and I watched silly TV shows together the rest of the night. PJ nights are my favorite.

February 27. Wednesday.
After the weekly cabin inspection, Jess and I had breakfast together. Almost everyone in the cast is on a big health kick right now which is annoying but also good accountability to eat healthy. I chilled in Sophie and Montana's room for the rest of the day watching TV while working in my costume bible and handover notes. Both Shout shows went great that night. The girls and I have so much fun dressing up in crazy costumes to make the singers laugh during their quick changes backstage. I don't think I will ever stop being a kid.

February 28. Thursday.
Happy (kind of) birthday Grace!!
After boat drill that morning I went to work for a little and laid out on the top deck. That afternoon I had fittings with the new Greek Magician and his assistant for their Elements costumes. That night Rosie, Jenna, and I went out to sushi. Rosie and I spent the rest of the night in her cabin talking and laughing in our pjs.

March 1. Friday.
Cozumel. I met James and Rosie at, ile, a cool restaurant with great wifi that we love. It was a very relaxed day and uneventful evening.

March 2. Saturday.
Elements day. After the tech rehearsal I spent the rest of my day working up until showtime. After the shows Cameron and I grabbed a late dinner in Blue Lagoon.

I almost forgot to mention that this week Rosie discovered that Lays produces "waffles and chicken" flavored chips. Who knew?!

Week Eighteen.

Hello darling readers! 
It has been awhile, but after lots of reminding from my mother and a desperate search for free wifi, I finally finished week 18! & I have a few more blogs about the Star sitting in my draft folder. So after those are uploaded I will move on to all the exciting new things that have been happening! I wasn’t the most consistent blogger.. But I think managing to write about twenty out of the twenty-nine weeks I was aboard the Star is pretty good!

I know that old saying "when life gives you lemons make lemonade" is cliché, but it is literally what Mama Stoney and I did. She made me see the bright side of the ridiculous situation we were in and we had a fabulous adventure together!

February 17. Sunday.

Daddy Skip flew home that morning. We were sad to see him go. I had to stay in Belize until that Wednesday when my ship came back and was so thankful my mom could stay with me.

That afternoon Stoney decided I needed some fresh air & visiting the zoo would be a fun, leisurely activity. So Levi, the cab driver she'd befriended, drove us an hour outside the city to the Belize zoo! It was actually pretty amazing. Let me remind you, Belize is a third world country. So instead of high tech electric fences surrounding the animal habitats, there were literally just ordinary chain-link fences separating us from these exotic wild animals. Hilarious. I loved seeing all the vibrant toucans. We saw animals I didn't even know existed! 

Hands down the highlight of the day was meeting the rescue spotted jaguar, Lucky Boy. Stone paid a little extra donation so we could have the full experience. They put the big cat away, then took us inside his jaguar habitat and put us in a big metal cage with the jaguar trainer. Then Lucky Boy was released and he ran right over to us! We got to feed him chicken bits and pet him through the cage. The trainer then had him jump on top of the cage and lick our foreheads! Unreal. Daddy Skip would not have been pleased. But it was absolutely one of the coolest things I've ever done!

February 18. Monday.

This day will go down in the books as one of the most epic days of my life.

Before even arriving in Belize Stoney had discovered that off the coast of this tiny country was the second best barrier reef in the entire world. So she was thrilled when we found out that I'd be staying in Belize that week because she'd get to stay too! Stone immediately did a little research, found a highly recommended snorkel tour company, and booked it. That morning we woke up early and took a tiny eight-person plane over to the little island Caye Caulke. It was the definition of paradise and a popular scuba diver vacation destination. A golf cart taxi took us from the small airport into town. (but seriously, the landing strip was basically just in the middle of a field) We had a lovely breakfast together in a open air restaurant while enjoying the breathtaking view.

We wandered over to the tour place to check in and met the owner, Carlos. The entire thing was straight out of a movie. Carlos split the tour group in half and put us in a boat with Geri & Gary (an unintentionally funny older couple from New York), Stefanie & Susan (blonde German lesbians), and his assistant, Romeo. Stoney and I could hardly handle it. Comedy gold.

The tour made four or five stops along with a lunch break at a nearby touristy island. It was absolutely amazing. We first stopped at Stingray Ally. The stingrays were huge and I got to pet them! There were also several adorable sea turtles swimming around with us. We were in heaven! The second stop was over a giant part of the reef with the most coral and fish life. Stone and I followed our guide and free dove down through a cave! Everything was so beautiful and the colors were so beautiful you just wanted to cry.

The best stop by far was when we got to swim with sharks! Yes, real nurse sharks. In the wild. Insane. There were at least 40 just swimming around the boat. Our guide wrestled one to the ground and flipped it on its belly so it would pass out or something. Then he held it and we all got a turn petting the shark!! Crazy. Literally one of the best days ever. (Thanks Mom!!)

February 19. Tuesday.

We just watch Downton Abby, rested, packed that day.

February 20. Wednesday.

Saying goodbye to Mama that morning was so sad! She headed off to the airport and I waited for the port agent to pick me up. It was so strange getting back on board the ship! It felt like I'd been gone for a month. I immediately found James & Rosie and debriefed on all the craziness that had happened. The entire cast was so loving and happy to have me back.

February 21. Thursday.

Life was back to normal. Boat drill. Weigh ins. And back to work to catch up on all the repairs that had piled up in my absence.

February 22. Friday.

Cameron and I chilled in the shade by the water at No name all day. Very relaxing. We had to work that night because the show Shout had been rescheduled to that night. It was good to be back!

February 23. Saturday.
Tech rehearsal that morning and two Elements shows that night!