WAVES

Ok ... I have free time today!  hooooray!  I am now onto my 4th cruise.  It has gone by so so so fast.  The 19th will be one month.  8 more to go.  I have been hearing that there was another blizzard back in Minnesota.  For now, I'm fine being in the Caribbean.  I think one day I will miss the snow (the snow that is, not the blizzardy weather).  Our ship is currently gearing up for our crossing.  We will have a cruise that takes us across the Atlantic Ocean and from there we will start doing cruises in the Mediterranean.  I'm so excited.  I don't feel I've been in the Caribbean long enough to see everything like most of the spa girls here, but I have seen a lot already.  After the Europe tour (about 5 months) we come back to the Caribbean so I will get my chance again!  So far, everyday has been something new.  I'm still getting acquainted to working in the Spa and having a life on the ship.  Every port day, when we are in Miami, is my time to run off and pick up the things I will need for the next cruise.  i.e. shampoo, conditioner, make phone calls, food, etc.  We can get these things on the ship, but it's much cheaper on land.  There are certain things that we can and can't do on the ship, so I'm getting used to it.  A lot of rules need to be followed and since I'm new I have to be extra careful.  We aren't allowed to eat in guests restaurants without permission, we need to be dressed nice, always have our name tag on, etc etc etc.  By now, I'm starting to get the swing of things.  In the spa, I'm adjusted to working.  I did 10 massages yesterday!  yikes!  Our sea days are really busy and port days aren't as much.  So sea days my column is usually fully booked with massages and port days we get busier once guests get back onto the ship in the evenings.  When I have lunch and dinner breaks, I make sure to walk on the outside of the ship where I can get fresh air and remind myself that I am living on a ship and I am surrounded by ocean.  Dinner time is right around time of sunset, so it is an amazing walk to the mess hall.  Here we can all sit around and chat with people who have other jobs on the ship.  Crew staff, sports staff (yes we have a rock climbing wall and a surf simulator!), security staff, ice skating cast (yes we have an ice rink on board), dance staff, and the captain eats with us sometimes as well.  Too many interesting people to talk to and meet in only and hour break!!!
The spa is located on the 12th deck which is the very top.  So when it gets rocky out, we feel every little wave and bump!  It is the strangest feeling.  Giving a massage and I find myself keeping balance every so often from the waves.  The table sways back and forth as well.  My bedroom is on deck 1.  The very bottom (I take an elevator every day to work, mmmhmmm).  When I lie in my bed I can still feel the waves every now and then ... rocks me to sleep.  I'm happy I don't get sea sick!!!
Days off ... ummmm HELLO!  My next day off will be in Costa Maya.  Here we have free reign to go out and do everything that guests do as well.  Have a pina colada on the beach, drive a jeep around the islands, and have another pina colada.  Each island is extremely different.  In San Juan we did some exploring of the ruins there from when Spain had possession, there is a fortress you can tour.  And it's architecture is of old spanish building.  Gorgeous.  And the next day we were in Labadee Haiti.  The perfect island to have a drink and lay on the beach all day.  These two have been my favorite thus far.
  Ok ... well my next goal is to get some pictures posted.  I realize I haven't had any posted from training either ... I will go to an internet cafe when we are in Miami next so I can use better internet.  MY GOAL!!!
  Oh and yes, I am working hard and making good money :)  Tips are incredible, I just need to make sure I don't spend them all on Prada purses or shell necklaces at the ports.  Now to figure out how to wire my money home ... lol
  I miss all of my MN, ND, ... MIDWESTERNERS.  It's fun getting them as guests on the ship and they tell me about back home.  So keep me filled in!   XOXO Love Loves ... Lizzy

Ship Life ...

Liberty of the Seas ...
Ok ... well I apologize for not keeping up with my blog.  Life has definitely changed a lot for me.  For starters, I am living on a ship.  And a giant ship at that.  I arrived to Miami on February 19th and made it to my ship in the morning.  I had to go through quite the sign on process to get on since there are so many nationalities working here they need to be strict.  I finally made it to my room in time to throw my things down, change into my uniform and do my first massage the same day I arrived!!!  This was nice because it allowed me to be aquainted faster.  I had absolutely no clue what to expect from living on the ocean.  The first week was stressful because of how easy it was to get lost!  I started to explore more on my own.  I would get myself completely lost on purpose and make myself find my way back to my cabin.  haha.  Now I know my way around and I am comfortable!  My roommate is Spanish and lived in Germany.  She has helped me out a lot.  I am already onto cruise number two.  We travelled St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Labadee and a few others last cruise.  And now its Cozumel, Belize, and Costa Maya!  I get half days off in most of the ports and can earn more hours off incentives by cross promoting, getting good comment cards, meeting my daily goals, etc etc etc.  So it's worth it to work hard ... so I can play hard :)  I promise I will post pictures as soon as I can!!!  And will post more on my blog in the near future, now that I'm more used to the ship life ...
I miss Minnesota!!! :) so let me know how things are going back home everyone ... Loves and Kisses
Elizabeth