FIVE DAYS ON THE OCEAN

In five days we reach American Samoa, then afterwards is New Caledonia. I don’t know what Old Caledonia is like, but that one’s not on the cruise. Before we get there we have five more days at sea.

SHORE EX

We spent our lunch with two guys from the shore excursions team, Kevin (The British guy I left hanging) and Michael. Both have been doing the job for a long time and have seen a large percentage of the world. Michael has lived in Germany, Canada, Australia and New Zealand on and off for the last fifteen or so years. We discussed other cultures, foreign food, last meals and what we would do if the ship was sinking. Michael optioned: Find the nearest Philippine crew member, take him to his cabin and rape him. It was a weird answer, but as least he’s honest.

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

I found out today that Woody Allen’s new film was playing in the showroom. I’ve wanted to see it for ages and thought I’d have to wait ‘til I got home in May next year to see it.  It’s probably not a good sign that one of the most exciting parts of my adventure was a movie playing on the ship. I enjoyed it. I’d go so far as to say it’s his best film of recent years, maybe even better than Vicky Christina Barcelona. It had some wonderful references to writers and artist from the twenties, fantastically portrait by a cast of great actors, and was an all-around entertaining and interesting movie. I watched it again on TV the next day.

KING NEPTUNE CEREMONY

Upon crossing the equator the ship have a show they like to perform for the guests. It involves all the crew members that have yet to sail the equator. Polywogs, as they are commonly known. They have to kiss a huge frozen fish, get covered in spaghetti and gunk, then are pushed into the pool by other crew members dressed as pirates. I, however, managed to avoid this humiliating experience as I was charged with filming it. It seems like great fun. I try to avoid having too much fun whenever I can.

CREW PARTY

The crew party took place on the sky deck at night. There were about three hundred people crammed into a small area, decorated with fake palm trees and grass carpet. There was music, dancing and free alcohol. One of which I used to its full advantage. It was like being in a club but there was no roof and everyone there says hello to you and puts there empty’s in the bin as oppose to dropping them where they stand so everybody stands and slips on them. There were no fights. There’s no piss all over the floor in the toilets. The people behind the bar don’t hate you. It was a good night.