MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Goodness, it’s been quite a month! Sorry it’s been awhile since my last update, things have been so crazy. Our cast members received their visas successfully after they were flown out of Brazil and stranded in Argentina for two days. The day they signed back on, we learned we had to perform Boogie that night! They were exhausted, having had maybe a total of 9 hours of sleep in three days. We pulled ourselves together and gave it our best, but it was super rocky to top it all off!

We lost a lot of our crew, so it’s been hectic with people taking on extra shifts to accommodate the guests. Luckily, we have just been working in the theater, doing spots for the Brazilian cast, and they do ours in return. We finally opened Rhythm and Rhyme last night!!!!! FINALLY!!!!! So our install is officially over :D It went well, some technical issues and wicked fast costume changes that will only get better with time. The audiences were great, standing ovation both times!

The ports have been really good too. In Recife, Derrick, Jess, and I walked around enjoying the island. We walked to the town center where they were setting up for the Christmas carnival. I wish we went there more often: it’s the shipwreck capital of Brazil! That would make for some great diving!!!! Rio was beautiful as always, we went to Copacabana and enjoyed the beach. Peter brought his football so we played a bit of toss with that. It was funny to see the Brazilian’s react to our strange ball! Santos is always a bit of a mess because it’s our home port, which means several other cruise ships dock with us. Last time we were stuck in traffic from an hour and a half, when we had only gone to the mall 10 minutes away! I think I will use those port days to do my laundry because the mall is not worth fighting through all those people.

Buzios is always a nice port. We go get our traditional pizza and ice cream, then shop around or head to the beaches. On our most recent stop there, Derrick, Jess, and I shopped for our white outfits for the New Year’s Party. We all found what we wanted but I still need to find the perfect shoes, you know me!!! :D Porto Belo was a new one that I didn’t go to last contract. A group of us tendered into the dock, then bought tickets on a private boat to head to another side of the island. It was nice there; we explored a bit into the jungle, played in the ocean, and ate on the beach. Again, it’s a shame we only go there once because they had all these water sports equipment for rent, a zip line, and other promising adventures!

One downfall I experienced this cruise was another injury. During the second show of Boogie, I was running backstage (in my 3 inch heels, mind you) for a costume change and tripped. I then dropped one of my red heels and because I stepped on that, my ankle rolled over and I fell with a thunderous thud. Michelle, who had been behind me to aid my change, helped me up off my knees and hobble to the other side. She assisted me into my dress while I tried to feel out the damage.

I believe it’s only a twist, there was no bruising so it couldn’t have gone too deep. I finished the show, adjusting my weight and balance to avoid putting too much pressure on my left ankle. I iced it that night, and applied heat the next day. It’s still swollen, but only because I haven’t had a chance to properly rest it. I could barely move it in rehearsals but I wrapped it for Broadway, which helped a lot. Now it’s just a matter of coaxing it back to its full movement and flexibility. I’m just lucky I have strong ankles from dancing for so long, that could have easily snapped my bones.

Anyways, enough with that bad news, it’s Christmas after all!!! Jess and I found a Christmas tree in the dressing room. It’s even fake Colorado pine, so it was obviously meant to be ours. We also stole milar from backstage. It’s shimmery tinsel that’s used for Rhythm and Rhyme. They hang like a curtain but tear down really easily, so we found loads tucked away that had fallen. We streamed them on our door, so it’s now shiny pink, blue and purple! We have also been cutting out paper snowflakes, which has kept us busy for the last few sea days ;) We have an entire wall inside our room covered in them, as well as our best creations on the door. I have successfully made a really cute paper snowman and paper angel for the top of our tree. I’m very proud of our creativity and we have gotten so many compliments, even offers of payment to decorate other rooms!!! LOL.

Despite all the decorations, it’s still doesn’t feel quite like Christmas. I guess it just goes to show you that money can’t buy the perfect holiday with tangible things. I just need my family. But no matter. My mom wisely stated that it isn’t about where in the world you are or what you’re doing, as long as you are enjoying the people you are with and the experiences that are there to be had. And I am determined to do that this year! Tonight, I will go up to enjoy some caroling in the centrum. Followed by our cast Secret Santa exchange, then the Christmas party, so there is a lot to look forward to. And tomorrow, we are in Ilha Bella, which is a cute little island. The cast will be having a Christmas lunch on land and we have the day off so we can enjoy as we please! :D

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday traditions!!!! I miss you all terribly and I wish I could be there with you!!!! Can’t wait to skype the fam on Christmas!!!!

WHAT IS GOING ON IN BRAZIL!?!?!

ALRIGHT. So yesterday we were docked in Recife, Brazil. Because the Brazilian cast signed on, they needed the stage for rehearsals so we got the afternoon off. Jessica, Derrick and I decided to walk around the town for a bit of fresh air. We went to eat in the mess and as we were leaving, we heard an "Alpha" alarm over the intercom. This means there is a medical emergency. Whoever sounded the alarm didn't turn the intercom button off so we heard snipits of the conversation that followed which was panic about the gangway. Calvin, one of our stage staff, came to warn us that there was an accident just off the gangway and we should wait a bit before leaving. He had been out there, just behind an elderly couple, when a wall from an old rusted building toppled onto the lady. OB, our production manager, helped pull her out and sound the alarm. Even though we waited an hour, when we got off there was still a lot of blood and the scene was erie. The wall was huge, it hadn't been just a small chunk of a door or something.

We thought that was surely the craziest thing that would happen today. After dinner, Jess and I got into our pajamas and were going to call it an early night because we were preparing for opening night of Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme the next day. Just as I was getting ready to climb into bed, Wesley (Dance Captain) calls us to say we have an emergency meeting backstage. Jess answered the phone and said it was about our visas, because I had thought it would be about the lady. When we were all gathered Wes told us that there had been a processing issue with some of our visas. They were kicking people off in Lisbon for not having the proper documentation but now that we have reached Brazil, we have learned that 113 crewmembers do not have visas. I guess because there are 3 ships here-Splendour, Monarch, and us, we were the last to be processed so they aren't finished. The Brazilian authorities boarded our ship last night, including several undercover police, and made a list of people who needed to immediately stop working.

For the cast, the Americans are ok and Philip and Connie (Australian and Argentinian) are good. But our three English and our South African were on the list. So we are down two singers, a girl dancer and our dance captian. Two of our costumers were on the list and Sandie, our choreographer. The Brazilian cast was told they are opening their show tonight, they signed on last night. They are freaking out but we are trying to help them as much as possible. The latest we have heard is everyone on the list needs to pack and be ready to sign off tomorrow in Salvador. They have to stay there while their visas are being processed. If they are approved, another boat will bring them back to the ship, wherever we are. If not, they are sent home. Which means we are sent home as well becasue we can't do a show with all those people missing. Two dancers, ok. But two singers as well? OB says the production show would be closed.

That's all we know as of now, it's just a matter of how fast they can get this done. I don't know who messed up but I have a feeling it's the corrupt Brazilian government because the company was fined $500 for each crewmember who didn't have a visa. The ship is ridiculously short staffed so the captain will start asking us to take up extra shifts as cooks or cleaners. OB is refusing to send us out of the theater though, so I think we will be helping the Brazilian cast as backstage staff (since Calvin was on the list and he is the only stage staff who knows the job, we just got two brand new people back there a week ago). I am more than willing to help them of course. I will keep you updated when I know more. Keep your fingers crossed we can get this sorted out!!!! :/

Back to Work!!

So, we made it to the ship!!!! Unfortunately, our hotel in Lisbon didn’t provide internet so I was unable to email or update my blog. Other than a two-hour delay in Munich, Germany due to snowfall, everything went smoothly with our flights and luggage. We boarded the ship and have been working since with orientation, training, and rehearsal. We open our first show, Boogie Wonderland, on Day 6. That’s December 5th for those of you not on ship schedule!!! :D

I definitely need to get used to the ship movement again :/ Yesterday we had a meeting and I had to leave because I was feeling ill. BUT the door I tried to get out of was locked so I ran up the theater steps to run to the bathroom. Didn’t make it :( The clean up crew and medical must LOVE when I sign on. BLAH!!!! Yet another mark I’ve made on this ship. HA. Things should calm down once we make it to Brazil. Until then, I will be either dancing, eating, or SLEEPING!!!!

It’s been really fun to see everyone who was here that last time. Most of the crew are the same and a lot will be returning when we reach Brazil. They have been so nice, welcoming me back with hugs and jokes :D It’s like returning to a family….sort of. HA. I have my secret santa’s gift to start thinking about, since it’s already December! I have Michelle, our Girl 2. I’m excited to look around in Brazil and shop for her. :D

I’m told we won’t be doing a Christmas show because we don’t have enough time to put it together after install is done. But who knows, that could change….
It seems like this contract will go very fast!!! With all the holidays to look forward to, and signing on a month later than last contract, six months will fly by.

That’s about all to report for now, mostly just getting back into the swing of things and adjusting. I hope everyone is well, miss you all!!!!