Trip of a Lifetime - Panama Canal Cruise
Friday, 10/09 - Home
QUIT MY JOB. I needed a clean break, a fresh start, time to focus on my future. Actually quit on Wednesday, putting in my 2-weeks notice, but I told my parents, and they booked me on their cruise. So Friday was my last day, and thank God for it, because we all know for the last year and 7 months, it’s just been a paycheck. It was good for the resume, and had me write two books and articles, but it’s not what I want for my career and I needed to get out so that I wouldn’t be wasting any more time.
Saturday, 10/10 - Los Angeles, California
My parents and I were taken by our neighbor Cecelia to the Long Beach port and after checking in, we got on the ship, the Celebrity Millennium. We had lunch at the Ocean Café on Deck 10, then unpacked and organized our luggage in our room - 8105 (Deck 8); met up with Judy and Debbie from Crucon at their station on Deck 3, went to dinner at the Metropolitan on Deck 4 (and 5) with Nancy and Seti --- My parents met Seti and Guita last year while cruising down from Florida to Chile - and Nancy is a friend of a friend my parents met a few years ago. In August, my parents, Nancy, and Seti cruised to Alaska; and now everyone, including me, went on this cruise. The 5 of us realized we wanted to interact with more people, so we told our head waiter and the ladies from Crucon (our cruise travel agency), and got it done heh. After dinner, I walked the ship, went to the room and crashed by 9:30pm.
*One Hour Forward in Time
Sunday, 10/11 - At Sea
Woke up at 9:30, but did not realize it was actually 10:30. Dad and I went down to the Rendezvous Lounge on Deck 4 to partake in a quiz, but we didn't realize we were an hour off. So we ate breakfast at the Ocean Café. I hit the gym, played in the ping pong tournament (meeting Les, Jack, Josephine, Leo) - I squared off against my mom and won a Celebrity pen lol. I had a light lunch, walked the ship some more, visited the Fortunes Casino on Deck 4. Before the 1st formal dinner, we attended the Crucon party. We went to dinner and met with our new dinner party (Sue and George from Wisconsin and Barbara and John from Pasadena, CA) - we really hit it off, thank goodness; our new waiters (waiter and assistant waiter) were Singh (India) and Juan (Peru). After dinner, I hit the gym, then the room to sleep. Mom was organizing, so dad and I went to Cosmos, the late-night lounge on Deck 11 and hung out with Judy and Debbie. And by 1am, we called it a night - also, we were rocking that night pretty badly.
Monday, 10/12 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Woke up around 12:30pm, had a light breakfast, walked the ship, took some pictures around the ship. I attended two quizzes back-to-back in the Rendezvous Lounge - (1) Geography, (2) General Knowledge - both held by Joey (USA) of the Activities Crew. Played a bit of ping pong on Deck 10 with Ray, hit the gym, had a light lunch, went for a swim in the outdoor pool (where it rained on me). The weather was hazy and sprinkling, so having been to Cabo before, I didn't feel the need to get off the ship. I walked the ship, booked some excursions/tours at the Shore Excursions desk on Deck 3 (next to Guest Relations), hung out with Judy and Debbie, went to dinner, hit the gym, and made it back to the room to sleep by midnight.
*One Hour Forward in Time
Tuesday, 10/13 - At Sea
Woke up at 12:30pm, had a light breakfast, hit the gym, played ping pong, went for a swim, had a light lunch, walked the ship, went to the casino (watched some roulette - some guy hit the number 11 out of 14 times - $25 --> $218). Went to dinner, hit the gym, went back to the casino and got a lesson in craps from Kevin (England) and Don (Australia). ...and then I played craps. I pulled out $100, but paid $103 for a 3% fee. I watched as my $100 dipped to like $30-something, but I climbed all the way back to $107, took the cash, paid $103 to Guest Relations to cancel the charge, and took my $4 in winnings and gave it right back to the casino in that stupid sucker-machine that eats your quarters in hopes of pushing a ton of quarters out. Went to Cosmos that night (50s Night), then slept by 12:30am
Wedneday, 10/14 - Acapulco, Mexico
Woke up at 7am, had a light breakfast with Pappy, walked the ship and took some pictures from the ship of the view of Acapulco. Had a tour of the city (tour guide Decco): saw the famous cliff divers, a traditional dance, the old and new city, the stadium that holds the tennis tournament for both men and women (okay, we passed it via bus). Once back on the ship, I had a light lunch with Mommy, played ping pong with Pappy, hit the gym, downloaded my pictures to the computer, napped with Pappy haha. We went to dinner, hit the gym, made it back to the room to organize and sleep by 11:30pm/12am (read a bit of Tuesday with Morrie)
Thursday, 10/15 - Huatulco, Mexico
Woke up at 6:15, had a light breakfast, went on my tour KAYAKING, where I met Atziri, presumably the only other 20-something on the ship who didn't work on the ship. She and I had such an awesome time kayaking. After our tour, she and I walked around the port for souvenirs, then had a few drinks and some chips and guacamole. Got back to the ship, showered, had a light lunch with Mommy, played ping pong with the gang (Les, Ray, Josephine), played in the doubles tournament (lost 19-21), hit the gym, downloaded pictures to mom's computer. Dad brought some sushi down to us in the room, so that was nice, then we all went to dinner. Hit the gym, casino, then Cosmos with Atziri, where we met the only other 20-somethings, Chelsea, Ari, and Kristann, all from Oregon. Made it back to the room by 1:45am.
*One Hour Backward in Time
Friday, 10/16 - At Sea
Woke up at 10am (hour change backward because Costa Rica does not use daylight savings time), light breakfast in bed (parents brought me food heh), watched Wanted and an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Hit the gym, had lunch, played ping pong (Anita and Paul joining our regular group), showered/shaved, went to dinner, casino, room to dry clothes (shoes were soaked from kayaking the previous day), organize, watch tv, and sleep by 12:30am.
Saturday, 10/17 - Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Woke up at 6am, had a light breakfast, went on a tour - ZIP-LINING in the Costa Rican rainforest (tour guide Giovanni). Chelsea, Ari, and Kristann, along with Chelsea’s mom Phoebe and sister Brea (and Brea’s boyfriend Craig) were there as well - and we had a blast. After the tour, I walked around the port, got some souvenirs; once back on the ship, I organized, cleaned my shoes, downloaded pictures to computer, showered, had lunch at both the Aqua Spa Café (next to the gym) and the Ocean Café, played ping pong with Josephine and Chris (Canada) - another of the Activities Crew, went to the gym, dinner, casino, room to sleep by 11:45pm
*One Hour Forward in Time
Sunday, 10/18 - At Sea
Woke up at 10am and went for a tour of the Captain’s Bridge. Had breakfast, went to the gym, then to the room and watched Inside Man. Had pre-dinner sushi, then went to dinner (2nd formal night). After dinner, we went to the casino and Pappy gave me $20 to gamble with - I turned his $20 into $40 on the roulette table, but he wouldn’t take the $20 back (awwww, I know). I met up with the 4 gals and we went to Deck 5 to listen to the a cappella guys Wheelhouse (Mike, Judd, Dennis, Shawn), then to cosmos where I finally drank some alcohol and got drunk - 4 shots of tequila and a mojito. …we danced, hung out, had a lot of fun with the gals and the crew. Since we were the ONLY 20-somethings not crew members, we bonded with quite a few of the activities crew, the entertainment crew, etc, as most workers are our age (and most passengers are between 60-80, no joke). So yah, I was quite buzzed, but I was a-okay that night; I made it back to my room to sleep by 3am :D
Monday, 10/19 - Panama Canal (cruising)
Woke up at 8:10am, just in time to catch our ship going through the first set of locks between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Took pictures, had breakfast with the 3 gals (3 gals = girls from Oregon; 4 gals = 3 + Atziri); hit the gym, pool, ping pong all day, with lunch in between. For dinner that night, we did the funniest thing to our waiter - we played musical chairs. He took our orders (appetizers, soups, salads, entrees), and served us everything but the entrees. Once the assistant cleared the table and the waiter was getting the entrees from the Galley, we all switched places hahahah. He got to us and, believe it or not, hardly made any mistakes when placing our entrees to the right person - it was so funny though. As usual, hit the casino after dinner, but only to watch (I’ll say if and when I actually play), then to Cosmos with the 3 gals (60’s night). In bed by 1am.
Tuesday, 10/20 - Colon, Panama
Woke up at 10am, had breakfast with the parents, then went on a self tour with the parents where we just got off the ship, walked around the port, bought some souvenirs, etc. We should’ve taxied to Panama City, but ‘another time’. Once back on the ship, I gave myself a haircut in the shower in the room, and as per usual, had some sushi before dinner, then went to dinner, casino, went to the Celebrity Theatre to attend the show (which wasn’t that good unfortunately - a variety of some sorts. The only good stuff was the a cappella guys; the Piano Man was terribly arrogant and just went up and down and up and down the scale). The 4 gals and I went upstairs to Cosmos with the crew for Hollywood Night and I was in the room by 1:45am.
Wednesday, 10/21 - At Sea
Woke up at 8am, light breakfast, Miscellaneous Quiz with Chris, Ping Pong Tournament with Katie (USA), and then ping pong with the gang as usual. Light lunch, pool, gym, pool with 4 gals (Splash Contest with Chris); Basketball with 4 gals and crew; GEOGRAPHY CHALLENGE with Chris (I knew the flag of Albania - yes, we won); more bball, dinner, casino, *met Brian (CA), the 6th out of 6 20-somethings (the 3 gals met Atziri, who met me, who introduced me to the gals - our wolf pack of 5 was set, but Atziri met Brian and he joined us only for one night - his loss). That night was a pool deck party, so we stayed up, danced, drank a bit, and hung out with the crew - room by 1:30am.
Thursday, 10/22 - Cartagena, Colombia
Woke up at 8am, light breakfast, went on a tour of the city (Judy and Debbie, Anita and Paul were with me). Tour guides Raphael and Victor took us around Cartagena - Monastery, San Raphael Fortress, the Walled City (old city, in which we visited the Museum of Gold and San Pedro Cathedral), rode the bus through the new city, and ended with an emerald jewelry store/museum and then souvenir places (where I was propositioned to buy cocaine twice!). Once back on the ship, I organized, downloaded my pictures to mom’s computer, showered, went to dinner, and then back to room by 8:30pm - I CRASHED.
*One Hour Forward in Time
Friday, 10/23 - At Sea
Woke up at 10am, WON the ping pong tournament with Katie - prize was a Celebrity visor heh. Light breakfast, ping pong, gym, pool, lunch with 3 gals at Aqua Spa Café, ping pong/gym, shower, dinner (formal), casino. Okay, I played blackjack and craps this night. First I played craps with $20 and turned it into $36. I tipped the guys $6 for all their help in teaching me how to play craps and took my $10 and ran. I then played blackjack where I walked away $10 richer again. I even played with my mom next to me gambling and we both won at blackjack. We aren’t high rollers, but heck, I walked away $40 richer from the casino AND walked away a winner from all 3 games - craps, blackjack, and roulette. I went the Celebrity Theatre with the 4 gals to attend the show titled iBroadway - it was actually not that bad, the singing and dancing by the crew we hung out with especially funny (so much of it is cheesy). The 4 gals and I took our ‘group picture’ all serious standing at the staircase, then hit Cosmos to hang out with the crew til 3am. I spent 45 minutes in the library (called Words on the 8th and 9th floors) looking at the globe haha (I had a lot of energy and wasn’t sleepy), and got to the room by 3:45am and slept.
Saturday, 10/24 - Oranjestad, Aruba
Woke up at 10am, had a light breakfast, walked with parents around port, bought some souvenirs - should’ve gone to the beach with the friends I had made, but didn’t wanna impose. Once back on the ship, I organized, had lunch with Pappy at Ocean Café, hit the pool and gym, had dinner, went to the casino with Atziri, then to Cosmos, but couldn’t find the other 3 gals, so we called it a night at 11:45pm. (The 3 were apparently in the Ocean Café at night playing Scattergories with the crew).
Sunday, 10/25 - At Sea
Woke up at 12pm, had lunch, walked around, found Atziri and went to the Ocean Café where we found the 3 + crew. We all went up to the Deck 12 and played basketball, paddle tennis, soccer, volleyball, hula hoop. Then I left to play in the Geography Quiz with Chris again (I got the capital of Azerbaijan - Baku). Showered, dinner, room to pack, casino to watch and say goodbyes to the awesome staff, cosmos with 4 gals and crew - stayed up all night. Singer Sunil (Denmark, then UK), dancer Carl (UK), Chelsea, Ari, and I stayed up til 4am at Cosmos, then went out to Deck 12 and chilled til the sun rose over San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Monday, 10/26 - San Juan, Puerto Rico
Went to the room, got some breakfast, met up with Judy and Debbie because they too were flying to Boston on my flight, went through Customs, taxied with them to the airport, went through security and then had a bite at a sports bar in the airport. Flight to Boston was long, but I slept for most of the way there - was cool near the end when the pilot said “and just outside, you can see we’re passing over Rhode Island.” Landed in Boston, said my goodbyes and thanks to the 2 lovely ladies of Crucon (with whom I WILL be booking another cruise in the future); I called a few friends, but since it was 6pm there, 3pm here in LA, no one answered lol. The flight from Boston to LA was horrendous - long, exhausting, I had a toddler behind me KICKING the whole way. I bought for $10 a Boston Market chicken sandwich and a 1 oz. bag of chips - so not worth it. We landed, but had to wait 45 minutes in the plane before we could get off - another plane was at our gate (sigh). Found my parents at baggage claim and we taxied home. Funny story on my parents’ flight from Miami to LA (after their 1st flight from San Juan to Miami): American Idol Kris Allen was in first class haha - (stalker) mom went from economy to the first class bathroom and guess who comes out of the restroom LOL. She looks at him and says “I voted for you!” and he takes her hand and says ‘thank you!’ Too funny. The last cruise I went on, Amanda and I had seen Ellen DeGeneres in the airport taping her show and then sat next to Ron Jeremy. And now on this trip, mom has an encounter with Kris Allen. We travel too much. Well, that was the trip, pretty much written just for my memory. All-in-all, had a blast, made some friends, and am seriously contemplating applying (again) to work on a cruise ship (shore excursion, guest relations, activities crew). As I always say, we’ll see what happens. Now I gotta get into grad school, find that dream job, and live happily ever after :)
QUIT MY JOB. I needed a clean break, a fresh start, time to focus on my future. Actually quit on Wednesday, putting in my 2-weeks notice, but I told my parents, and they booked me on their cruise. So Friday was my last day, and thank God for it, because we all know for the last year and 7 months, it’s just been a paycheck. It was good for the resume, and had me write two books and articles, but it’s not what I want for my career and I needed to get out so that I wouldn’t be wasting any more time.
Saturday, 10/10 - Los Angeles, California
My parents and I were taken by our neighbor Cecelia to the Long Beach port and after checking in, we got on the ship, the Celebrity Millennium. We had lunch at the Ocean Café on Deck 10, then unpacked and organized our luggage in our room - 8105 (Deck 8); met up with Judy and Debbie from Crucon at their station on Deck 3, went to dinner at the Metropolitan on Deck 4 (and 5) with Nancy and Seti --- My parents met Seti and Guita last year while cruising down from Florida to Chile - and Nancy is a friend of a friend my parents met a few years ago. In August, my parents, Nancy, and Seti cruised to Alaska; and now everyone, including me, went on this cruise. The 5 of us realized we wanted to interact with more people, so we told our head waiter and the ladies from Crucon (our cruise travel agency), and got it done heh. After dinner, I walked the ship, went to the room and crashed by 9:30pm.
*One Hour Forward in Time
Sunday, 10/11 - At Sea
Woke up at 9:30, but did not realize it was actually 10:30. Dad and I went down to the Rendezvous Lounge on Deck 4 to partake in a quiz, but we didn't realize we were an hour off. So we ate breakfast at the Ocean Café. I hit the gym, played in the ping pong tournament (meeting Les, Jack, Josephine, Leo) - I squared off against my mom and won a Celebrity pen lol. I had a light lunch, walked the ship some more, visited the Fortunes Casino on Deck 4. Before the 1st formal dinner, we attended the Crucon party. We went to dinner and met with our new dinner party (Sue and George from Wisconsin and Barbara and John from Pasadena, CA) - we really hit it off, thank goodness; our new waiters (waiter and assistant waiter) were Singh (India) and Juan (Peru). After dinner, I hit the gym, then the room to sleep. Mom was organizing, so dad and I went to Cosmos, the late-night lounge on Deck 11 and hung out with Judy and Debbie. And by 1am, we called it a night - also, we were rocking that night pretty badly.
Monday, 10/12 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Woke up around 12:30pm, had a light breakfast, walked the ship, took some pictures around the ship. I attended two quizzes back-to-back in the Rendezvous Lounge - (1) Geography, (2) General Knowledge - both held by Joey (USA) of the Activities Crew. Played a bit of ping pong on Deck 10 with Ray, hit the gym, had a light lunch, went for a swim in the outdoor pool (where it rained on me). The weather was hazy and sprinkling, so having been to Cabo before, I didn't feel the need to get off the ship. I walked the ship, booked some excursions/tours at the Shore Excursions desk on Deck 3 (next to Guest Relations), hung out with Judy and Debbie, went to dinner, hit the gym, and made it back to the room to sleep by midnight.
*One Hour Forward in Time
Tuesday, 10/13 - At Sea
Woke up at 12:30pm, had a light breakfast, hit the gym, played ping pong, went for a swim, had a light lunch, walked the ship, went to the casino (watched some roulette - some guy hit the number 11 out of 14 times - $25 --> $218). Went to dinner, hit the gym, went back to the casino and got a lesson in craps from Kevin (England) and Don (Australia). ...and then I played craps. I pulled out $100, but paid $103 for a 3% fee. I watched as my $100 dipped to like $30-something, but I climbed all the way back to $107, took the cash, paid $103 to Guest Relations to cancel the charge, and took my $4 in winnings and gave it right back to the casino in that stupid sucker-machine that eats your quarters in hopes of pushing a ton of quarters out. Went to Cosmos that night (50s Night), then slept by 12:30am
Wedneday, 10/14 - Acapulco, Mexico
Woke up at 7am, had a light breakfast with Pappy, walked the ship and took some pictures from the ship of the view of Acapulco. Had a tour of the city (tour guide Decco): saw the famous cliff divers, a traditional dance, the old and new city, the stadium that holds the tennis tournament for both men and women (okay, we passed it via bus). Once back on the ship, I had a light lunch with Mommy, played ping pong with Pappy, hit the gym, downloaded my pictures to the computer, napped with Pappy haha. We went to dinner, hit the gym, made it back to the room to organize and sleep by 11:30pm/12am (read a bit of Tuesday with Morrie)
Thursday, 10/15 - Huatulco, Mexico
Woke up at 6:15, had a light breakfast, went on my tour KAYAKING, where I met Atziri, presumably the only other 20-something on the ship who didn't work on the ship. She and I had such an awesome time kayaking. After our tour, she and I walked around the port for souvenirs, then had a few drinks and some chips and guacamole. Got back to the ship, showered, had a light lunch with Mommy, played ping pong with the gang (Les, Ray, Josephine), played in the doubles tournament (lost 19-21), hit the gym, downloaded pictures to mom's computer. Dad brought some sushi down to us in the room, so that was nice, then we all went to dinner. Hit the gym, casino, then Cosmos with Atziri, where we met the only other 20-somethings, Chelsea, Ari, and Kristann, all from Oregon. Made it back to the room by 1:45am.
*One Hour Backward in Time
Friday, 10/16 - At Sea
Woke up at 10am (hour change backward because Costa Rica does not use daylight savings time), light breakfast in bed (parents brought me food heh), watched Wanted and an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Hit the gym, had lunch, played ping pong (Anita and Paul joining our regular group), showered/shaved, went to dinner, casino, room to dry clothes (shoes were soaked from kayaking the previous day), organize, watch tv, and sleep by 12:30am.
Saturday, 10/17 - Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Woke up at 6am, had a light breakfast, went on a tour - ZIP-LINING in the Costa Rican rainforest (tour guide Giovanni). Chelsea, Ari, and Kristann, along with Chelsea’s mom Phoebe and sister Brea (and Brea’s boyfriend Craig) were there as well - and we had a blast. After the tour, I walked around the port, got some souvenirs; once back on the ship, I organized, cleaned my shoes, downloaded pictures to computer, showered, had lunch at both the Aqua Spa Café (next to the gym) and the Ocean Café, played ping pong with Josephine and Chris (Canada) - another of the Activities Crew, went to the gym, dinner, casino, room to sleep by 11:45pm
*One Hour Forward in Time
Sunday, 10/18 - At Sea
Woke up at 10am and went for a tour of the Captain’s Bridge. Had breakfast, went to the gym, then to the room and watched Inside Man. Had pre-dinner sushi, then went to dinner (2nd formal night). After dinner, we went to the casino and Pappy gave me $20 to gamble with - I turned his $20 into $40 on the roulette table, but he wouldn’t take the $20 back (awwww, I know). I met up with the 4 gals and we went to Deck 5 to listen to the a cappella guys Wheelhouse (Mike, Judd, Dennis, Shawn), then to cosmos where I finally drank some alcohol and got drunk - 4 shots of tequila and a mojito. …we danced, hung out, had a lot of fun with the gals and the crew. Since we were the ONLY 20-somethings not crew members, we bonded with quite a few of the activities crew, the entertainment crew, etc, as most workers are our age (and most passengers are between 60-80, no joke). So yah, I was quite buzzed, but I was a-okay that night; I made it back to my room to sleep by 3am :D
Monday, 10/19 - Panama Canal (cruising)
Woke up at 8:10am, just in time to catch our ship going through the first set of locks between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Took pictures, had breakfast with the 3 gals (3 gals = girls from Oregon; 4 gals = 3 + Atziri); hit the gym, pool, ping pong all day, with lunch in between. For dinner that night, we did the funniest thing to our waiter - we played musical chairs. He took our orders (appetizers, soups, salads, entrees), and served us everything but the entrees. Once the assistant cleared the table and the waiter was getting the entrees from the Galley, we all switched places hahahah. He got to us and, believe it or not, hardly made any mistakes when placing our entrees to the right person - it was so funny though. As usual, hit the casino after dinner, but only to watch (I’ll say if and when I actually play), then to Cosmos with the 3 gals (60’s night). In bed by 1am.
Tuesday, 10/20 - Colon, Panama
Woke up at 10am, had breakfast with the parents, then went on a self tour with the parents where we just got off the ship, walked around the port, bought some souvenirs, etc. We should’ve taxied to Panama City, but ‘another time’. Once back on the ship, I gave myself a haircut in the shower in the room, and as per usual, had some sushi before dinner, then went to dinner, casino, went to the Celebrity Theatre to attend the show (which wasn’t that good unfortunately - a variety of some sorts. The only good stuff was the a cappella guys; the Piano Man was terribly arrogant and just went up and down and up and down the scale). The 4 gals and I went upstairs to Cosmos with the crew for Hollywood Night and I was in the room by 1:45am.
Wednesday, 10/21 - At Sea
Woke up at 8am, light breakfast, Miscellaneous Quiz with Chris, Ping Pong Tournament with Katie (USA), and then ping pong with the gang as usual. Light lunch, pool, gym, pool with 4 gals (Splash Contest with Chris); Basketball with 4 gals and crew; GEOGRAPHY CHALLENGE with Chris (I knew the flag of Albania - yes, we won); more bball, dinner, casino, *met Brian (CA), the 6th out of 6 20-somethings (the 3 gals met Atziri, who met me, who introduced me to the gals - our wolf pack of 5 was set, but Atziri met Brian and he joined us only for one night - his loss). That night was a pool deck party, so we stayed up, danced, drank a bit, and hung out with the crew - room by 1:30am.
Thursday, 10/22 - Cartagena, Colombia
Woke up at 8am, light breakfast, went on a tour of the city (Judy and Debbie, Anita and Paul were with me). Tour guides Raphael and Victor took us around Cartagena - Monastery, San Raphael Fortress, the Walled City (old city, in which we visited the Museum of Gold and San Pedro Cathedral), rode the bus through the new city, and ended with an emerald jewelry store/museum and then souvenir places (where I was propositioned to buy cocaine twice!). Once back on the ship, I organized, downloaded my pictures to mom’s computer, showered, went to dinner, and then back to room by 8:30pm - I CRASHED.
*One Hour Forward in Time
Friday, 10/23 - At Sea
Woke up at 10am, WON the ping pong tournament with Katie - prize was a Celebrity visor heh. Light breakfast, ping pong, gym, pool, lunch with 3 gals at Aqua Spa Café, ping pong/gym, shower, dinner (formal), casino. Okay, I played blackjack and craps this night. First I played craps with $20 and turned it into $36. I tipped the guys $6 for all their help in teaching me how to play craps and took my $10 and ran. I then played blackjack where I walked away $10 richer again. I even played with my mom next to me gambling and we both won at blackjack. We aren’t high rollers, but heck, I walked away $40 richer from the casino AND walked away a winner from all 3 games - craps, blackjack, and roulette. I went the Celebrity Theatre with the 4 gals to attend the show titled iBroadway - it was actually not that bad, the singing and dancing by the crew we hung out with especially funny (so much of it is cheesy). The 4 gals and I took our ‘group picture’ all serious standing at the staircase, then hit Cosmos to hang out with the crew til 3am. I spent 45 minutes in the library (called Words on the 8th and 9th floors) looking at the globe haha (I had a lot of energy and wasn’t sleepy), and got to the room by 3:45am and slept.
Saturday, 10/24 - Oranjestad, Aruba
Woke up at 10am, had a light breakfast, walked with parents around port, bought some souvenirs - should’ve gone to the beach with the friends I had made, but didn’t wanna impose. Once back on the ship, I organized, had lunch with Pappy at Ocean Café, hit the pool and gym, had dinner, went to the casino with Atziri, then to Cosmos, but couldn’t find the other 3 gals, so we called it a night at 11:45pm. (The 3 were apparently in the Ocean Café at night playing Scattergories with the crew).
Sunday, 10/25 - At Sea
Woke up at 12pm, had lunch, walked around, found Atziri and went to the Ocean Café where we found the 3 + crew. We all went up to the Deck 12 and played basketball, paddle tennis, soccer, volleyball, hula hoop. Then I left to play in the Geography Quiz with Chris again (I got the capital of Azerbaijan - Baku). Showered, dinner, room to pack, casino to watch and say goodbyes to the awesome staff, cosmos with 4 gals and crew - stayed up all night. Singer Sunil (Denmark, then UK), dancer Carl (UK), Chelsea, Ari, and I stayed up til 4am at Cosmos, then went out to Deck 12 and chilled til the sun rose over San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Monday, 10/26 - San Juan, Puerto Rico
Went to the room, got some breakfast, met up with Judy and Debbie because they too were flying to Boston on my flight, went through Customs, taxied with them to the airport, went through security and then had a bite at a sports bar in the airport. Flight to Boston was long, but I slept for most of the way there - was cool near the end when the pilot said “and just outside, you can see we’re passing over Rhode Island.” Landed in Boston, said my goodbyes and thanks to the 2 lovely ladies of Crucon (with whom I WILL be booking another cruise in the future); I called a few friends, but since it was 6pm there, 3pm here in LA, no one answered lol. The flight from Boston to LA was horrendous - long, exhausting, I had a toddler behind me KICKING the whole way. I bought for $10 a Boston Market chicken sandwich and a 1 oz. bag of chips - so not worth it. We landed, but had to wait 45 minutes in the plane before we could get off - another plane was at our gate (sigh). Found my parents at baggage claim and we taxied home. Funny story on my parents’ flight from Miami to LA (after their 1st flight from San Juan to Miami): American Idol Kris Allen was in first class haha - (stalker) mom went from economy to the first class bathroom and guess who comes out of the restroom LOL. She looks at him and says “I voted for you!” and he takes her hand and says ‘thank you!’ Too funny. The last cruise I went on, Amanda and I had seen Ellen DeGeneres in the airport taping her show and then sat next to Ron Jeremy. And now on this trip, mom has an encounter with Kris Allen. We travel too much. Well, that was the trip, pretty much written just for my memory. All-in-all, had a blast, made some friends, and am seriously contemplating applying (again) to work on a cruise ship (shore excursion, guest relations, activities crew). As I always say, we’ll see what happens. Now I gotta get into grad school, find that dream job, and live happily ever after :)