Home and Solstice

Well after flying more then halfway around the world, the wrong way, I made it home last week. Ten hours waiting in the Singapore airport before my flight was the pits. Then 12+ hours to Germany, five hour wait, 10+ hours to Denver, then a quick flight to Oakland. A few days to relax then It was back on a plane again to the winter wonderland of Washington state to my father's place for Christmas and my Birthday. I can't wait to see my sister and my step-nephew, I heard he is getting big and very cute. I want my father to play Christmas Carols on the piano like when we were kids, I bet he will love them. It is going to be so nice to be here for his First Christmas.

Well as I write this it's 5:30 in the morning, Normally I would say it is because of my Jet lag that still doesn't have my internal clock completely reset. It can take a while when you are 16 hours off. I am awake because of one of my dad's alarm clocks went of at five am.

It's funny to think that as we are having the winter solstice today (shortest day of the year) my shipmates are having the a much longer day, being that they are so close to the equator, I don't think they really have much of a change of length of day, but it defiantly would be the longest day in Australia. Just a random thought to ponder at 5 in the morning.

Merry Christmas to all.

Homeward Bound

Well the time has finally come, the end of the contract. A few short cruises in Asia, my replacement has arrived, I have my plane tickets, so it's time to head for the cold. Fingers crossed for a white christmas. Sorry but heat and christmas just don't go together for me. See you all soon. Merry Christmas.

Asia bound

Well we left our last India port today. I was told that their wasn't much to see, and the reports I got back from friends that were able to go ashore confirmed it. We didn't get in till early afternoon, then had boat drill. With a 4 pm rehearsal, that didn't leave much time to go ashore. Sinapore is in "sight", and I haven't been so excited to come home in a long time. I will write a bit more about India when I get home and have plenty of time, and a better keyboard. Three sea days till land again!

Situation Normal

Well if you have been following the news, and you know where I am in the world, you know that right now I should be heading to Mumbai, India. Well you can breath again, we are not. We are currently in Dubai for a second day, and we are not going to Mumbai due to the current terrorist activities. Hopefully later today we will know if we are going to the rest of the ports in India.

Long cruise update

For those of you that are following where I am at the moment, it is now our third day at sea. After the suez canal we went to Sharm el Sheik, Egypt. I was onduty and had a lot of work to do, I didn't get off. The following day we were in Aquba, Jordan. Most crew really wanted to see Petra, but they wouldn't let any of the crew go. Never really got a good answer why, lot of rumors. I did take the shuttle into town, so at least I could say I have been. Not much really, so just a bit of McDonalds and back to the ship to work. I did take a picture of the sign, just to show people what McDonalds in Arabic looks like. The next day we were in Luxor, Egypt, well actually the port is Safaga, and Luxor is 3 hours away, but that's were all the tours went. I got lucky and was able to go with them. I would have to say the Pyramids are great to see once, but Luxor was much better. The two main places that they took us was Cheops Palace (don't think I spelled that one right), and the Valley of the Kings. No time to go to the Vally of the Queens. It was also nice to see how lush and green the farm land around the Nile is compaired to all of the dessert you see near Ciro. Well one more day at sea to go then we will be in Oman. If anyone is worried about Pirates attacking us, don't. They won't go after a ship with this many people, besides we are scheduled to be protected by a bunch of Navy warships once we get into the Gulf of Aden tomorrow. I hope to be able to get a few photos. Oh and if your also wondering I will be heading home on December 15th.

Congradulations Dad on your new Job!

Suez Canal

Well the Suez is definitely a lot different from the Panama Canal. First of all no locks, and a lot of desert. We entered the canal at around 6 am and then made it about half way when we had to stop to let the northbound traffic pass. So all the southbound ships were tied off to the shore. It was kind of wired being moored to the the sand dunes. we sat all day. Finally around 8 pm we continues on. We finally left the canal around 2am. Very long and boring day. The Panama canal is much better.

Asia here we come

Well Europe is almost in the past, I say almost because we are still in the med until tomorrow morning. The cruise started off very nice, because we were scheduled to leave Italy later then we normally do, the ship scheduled a bus to Rome for us. I haven't been able to get into Rome at all this contract so I took advantage of it. I have seen most of the big things before, so I wanted to go to the Vatican again, and not be rushed. As we were walking up to St. Peter's we wondered why we saw so many people, then we realized the Pope was speaking. Although we didn't understand him, as he was talking in Latin and was very far away you could still see him on the giant screens.

We have spent the last two days at sea heading to Alexandria. We made a brief stop off their this morning to let the passengers going to Ciro off. Then we left heading to Port Said. We should arrive their around 9pm and the Suez authorities have told us to stay docked till 3am, then we can get into line to go into the canal in the morning. It isn't like panama, you are not given a time to go through until you arrive and they put you in line.

Last Europe Cruise

Well the time has finally come, we start our last cruise in Eruope today. It's a thierteen day Italian cruise. Next cruise we start our long 27 day journey to Asia. We will be making 3 stops in Egypt, and the Suez canal. I never thought I would get to go through that, but then again I never thought in my wildest dreams I would get to see any of the places we are going. I should be an interesting cruise, 27 days with the same people and all of them from Australia. The cruise was suppolsed to be two seperate cruises, but a travel company from Australia bought all of the spots on both cruises and resold them to australians as one cruise.

Visa’s and Seamen’s books

Well I finally need to get a few things to work on ships that I never have needed before. I have to get a seamen’s book and a china visa. The seamen’s book is something that a lot of crew members from other country’s have but American’s usually don’t have them or need them. Well it seems that to go to Asia, all crew members have to have them. Not really too hard to get, just some paperwork. It’s too bad that having one in the USA doesn’t get you past the weight restrictions for luggage like it used to. If your wondering what the book does, I’m not entirely sure myself. The paperwork that we had to send them included copies of our medical, and our safety training records. From what I hear in Asia, a seamen’s book means more then a passport. At least it’s good for ten years.

Visa’s
I’m finally going someplace that I need to get a visa, China! Actually it’s not the first one, I had to get one to sign onto the Dream in Turkey, but that’s a visa that you get at the airport. Basically a way to say Pay us and we will let you through customs.
The good news’s is that I have a vacation before I need it. And I live in or at least next to one of the only 6 places in the USA that I can get one, San Francisco. It’s not cheep, but at least the company will pay us back for them. If you wondering it’s $130 USD. They have a few different kinds, single entry, double entry, and multiple entry. You can get a multiple for 6 months or 12. I need to get the twelve.

Finally in Europe

Well the week and a half I was supposed to be in the Caribbean turned into over a month. My time on the Sovereign was good, many nice people and the ship is very friendly. The new sound guy was very good, and he will have a future with the company for sure.
I signed off the Sovereign and headed directly to the airport. I was a bit worried about making my flight as I was told tht the shuttle would be leaving at 11 am. Turns out we left at 10:20 am so the shuttle actually arrived at the airport at 11 am. Now the only thoughts were of how much my luggage would cost. I was on delta, so the second bag didn’t cost anything’s, seems to be one of the only airlines left, but I was charged for the overweight. It was only $150, but hey it’s worth it to know you have the right tools to do the Job.
I flew from Orlando to Atlanta, then had about an hour layover. Then it was time for the long flight, Atlanta directly to Athens, Greece.
The flight was about eleven hours. We were served dinner, and breakfast. The plane was packed, but at least I was on an isle. I think I slept a lot, because the flight didn’t really seem that long.
After arriving in Athens, it was directly to the ship, so I hoped in a taxi. I didn’t have much jet lag the first few days, but I did have plenty of time to sleep so the adjustment was easy.
When arriving at the ship, I went straight into the handover with the currently tech. I think he was more eager to learn from me then anything else.
Flash forward to today-----

I haven’t had much time to get off in most ports as of yet, but I have been off a little bit. I am just now ending my second full cruise. It’s funny to think that in this time the Sovereign has done something like five cruises. I much prefer the longer cruises. I think I would go crazy if I had to do the same port every other day.

Most of the places we go I have been too before, but the one place that we go that I had never been to before is Egypt. Well not knowing what the future schedules would be I took the opportunity this cruise to go. Now I am not saying it is something I would ever want to do again, but it is defiantly a once in a lifetime trip. Being able to see the last remaining wonder of the ancient world. The pyramids of Giza.

If you are interested here is a list of the places that I am currently sailing.
Rome, Italy
Portofino, Italy
Livorno, Italy
Messina
Split, Croatia
Venice, Italy
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Naples, Italy

Mykonos, Greece
Kusadasi, Turkey
Rhodes, Greece
Limassoi, Cyprus
Alexandria, Egypt
Pireus, Greece (Athens)

To the Rescue

Well plans have changed a few times, but here is how things stand at this point.

I am leaving on Sunday to do an emergency fill in on the Sovereign of the Seas for a week and a half, then transfer to the Legend in Europe.

I was supposed to go do the fill in last week, but I turned it down because I didn't have my medical done yet, and it was too short notice. I was told I would do one week, then the replacement would come, and I would be back at home till I left for Europe, but I just had a feeling the week would turn out to end up more. I was right, the tech that would have come, failed his medical, so as I knew would happen I would have been stuck on the ship and transferring to Europe with no tools and I was going to leave them at home, and pick them up when I left again, I didn't want to pay for them 2x. But I found a way around this.

So the suitcases are almost packed, just a few ods and ends to shop for, oh and get my flights.

Back to Sea

Well I had an offer the other day to come back to Royal Caribbean. My former cruise director Bobby has asked the office for me to be on his next ship with him. So come the middle of June, you will be able to find me on the Legend of the Seas, in the Med.

It is a smaller ship then I am used too lately, so things should be very easy, and able to spend time in the ports I have not been too before. I am greatly looking forward to seeing Egypt.

Stay tuned for more information.

New Blog

This blog is not closing, just on hiatus. If you would like to keep up with my adventures, check out the new blog.


http://producerelec.blogspot.com/

The Producers

Some people have been wanting more information.
The tour I am going on is "The Producers".

The tour dates and cities can be found at www.producersontour.com