Countdown to Bermuda

Today we begin our last cruise through the Bahamas, and I will have to say my goodbyes to Nassau, Freeport, Great Stirrup Cay (the private island) and Port Canaveral.  I'm a little bit sad - I especially liked being in Florida, but we are all getting really excited for Bermuda.  Three overnights in a row - we will have so many chances to get off the ship and organize outings.  

But we're not there yet!  I plan to wear myself out this week, doing as much as I possibly can in all the ports and taking all the pictures I've been meaning to take for a while.   

Last cruise I kept myself pretty busy as well.  I helped out in the kids center again, and now have my own NCL kids crew T-shirt, which my favorite kid from last week signed.  Besides helping out Stacey up there, I did something else new - helping with the Park West art auctions.  They always need an assistant to register the bidders and then to record the auction as it happens, writing down sales and such.  It was actually really fun to do - I also learned a lot about art as I was working.  And did I mention it pays?  Yep, ten bucks an hour - a great way to help offset the money I spent shopping in Port Canaveral last Thursday (a lot). :-) 

This next cruise, starting today is also going to be really different than anything we've done before.  We are missing a lounge act (solo guitarist had to go home), so all the scheduling is going to be different than before.  Up until now we have done the same thing on each respective day of the week, and I always knew exactly what my day would consist of on any given Tuesday or Friday or whenever.  This week it will be a surprise day to day, playing in new venues and at different times.  Its nice to have a change, really, despite the fact that it will be a bit more work this week.  

Sea World!

Here's a few photos for you!!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2080335&l=dda8d91b82&id=56903845

On Thursday in Orlando five of us took off early in the morning on the way to Sea World!!  We rented a car and Brett drove...actually I should say "hired" a car since I was with four English people and that's how they say it.   I was with Andy, Brett, Francesca (dancer), and Claire (concierge).  We made it to Sea World by 10:15am, and had a really amazing, full day there.  Highlights for me were the two shows we saw, one with dolphins, tropical birds, and aerial acrobats, and another with Shamu and fellow orcas.  It was so nice to get away and do something so remarkable for the day.  But, we did pay for it....we got back to the ship just before sound check, had barely enough time to change before the show, and had a full night of the high-energy show "On the Radio" before finishing at 11pm.   Believe me by then all I felt like doing was snuggling up in bed and watching a little T.V. before falling asleep.  

There have been a few blessings for me this week which I'd like to mention.  Yesterday was the last sea day of the cruise, and this week Andy organized a guest talent show.  We were involved in a couple of the acts, but the best one by far was the final woman, who sang How Great Thou Art with so much passion that it made almost everyone cry.  Seeing her worship with her incredible, huge voice and her face and smile was so encouraging.  Another blessing I had this week was this past Easter Sunday - a pastor came on the ship and gave an Easter morning service, which I really enjoyed.  He also made a point to find me later on in the cruise and encourage me to stay strong here on the ship.  Thank you, God!!