Holiday Cheer

Sydney Opera House, Harbor Bridge and the Zaandam

Merry Christmas!!! We are only 6 days away from celebrating one of the biggest holidays of the year. The Zaandam is trying it’s hardest to get into the spirit of things, but I will be honest in saying that the Christmas decorations on board this year are a little disappointing. In past years, the cruise ship company has hired a company to come in to decorate their ships. Due to budget cuts this year they decided to try to do it in house….hahaha bless their hearts they need a little help. I am thankful though to have decorations around the ship. There is a little train that runs around the atrium organ surrounded by gingerbread houses, just imagine it, no picture necessary…it may ruin the moment=) We had our first rehearsal for our big Christmas Eve concert. The Indonesian, Filipino, and International choirs participate in the event followed by a mixer in the Pinnacle Grill at midnight. I think it is going to be a lot of fun to share the stage with all my co-workers and celebrate the season together….hey, they are my family at the moment. Our choir is singing, O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, It’s the Most Wonderful time of the Year, and Jingle Bells. Michael also asked me to sing a solo piece with just the piano for transition purposes. And I believe I am going to sing “I’ll be Home for Christmas”…it fits nicely for where I am this year, 1,000s of miles away from home and my loved ones. The cast is participating with holiday festivities as well. We are currently playing secret santa with each other and during the Christmas eve afternoon we are performing a cabaret. All of us got to pick songs to sing and the dancers are working on a few numbers too. I am singing “O Holy Night” and “Happy Holiday”. I have always wanted to sing O Holy Night and I am thankful that I get the chance to do so this year.

The cast also had a 12 shots of Christmas party. We all created a Christmas shot and starting in the Captain’s quarters, the event manager’s cabin, and our cruise director’s cabin we went to everyone’s room and visited, snacked, and took a holiday shot. Ya know what they say about mixing though? I ended up not holding my liquor too well and got sick, but it was probably for the best since I had a show the following day. It was the easiest way to get it out of my system. It really was a special night to have with friends and celebrate. How many people get to hang out with their captain, event manager, and cruise director and enjoy themselves. Good times. Tonight is Meg’s birthday and we are celebrating with another holiday theme party. I am sure I will post pictures soon! The weirdest part about the holiday season this year is not being bombarded by the commercialization of the season.

Auckland Coffee Shop

Currently we are sailing in the South Pacific to some tiny islands, and although there is Christmas music in some of the shops that have them, it is nothing like home. I like the change of pace. Most of the islands we visit on this run have about 100 residents living on them. They are beautiful white sand beaches with azure waters splashing up on the shore. Today we were in Lifou and I saw one of the most beautiful reefs I have snorkeled in to date. Colorful fish were everywhere and the reef kept going and going. I also took a hike up to the highest point on the island where the locals were refurbishing a church. The view was incredibly beautiful featuring our ship, the coast, and both sides of the island…totally cool.

I haven’t written in about 2 weeks due to being out of my room so much. Most of the places on our itinerary we only visit once from here on out so I am trying to enjoy the places as much as I can. Our trip to New Zealand finished great. I hope to go back to New Zealand and do some back-packing.

Me inside the Zorb

The locals say that February is the best time to come and backpack, because the weather is perfect. Some of my highlights from the latter part of my trip was my visit to the Glow-worm caves, enjoying some delicious coffee in Auckland, ZORBing with the cast in Rotorua. ZORBing was the best day of the trip by far because of the adventure of the day. We all chipped in and rented a car to drive the hour trek to Rotorua from Tauranga. It was Missy’s first time driving on the other side of the road, so that was an adventure all on it’s own. Once we arrived at the site to ZORB, it just got better. We all purchased 3 rides down the hill. They put you in a huge plastic ball and basically roll you down the hill. There is a dry one and a wet one.The dry one you are strapped in so you are literally flipping head over heels about 17 full rotations on your way down. The water ones you can do with multiple people, and the course choices vary from straight down to zig-zag, to the drop. I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard in my life when Joey, our acupuncturist on board, and I went down together. I filmed a video from a waterproof camera and our faces light up with pure joy the entire ride down. We finished the day by having lunch at this little pub called the Pig-N-Whistle and the food was a home run! I had a delicious Lamb burger with amazing curly fries! I took a photo and if I can I will post it.

Sea life at the aquarium

I also got spend another awesome day in Sydney and I crammed as much as I could into the day. Meagan, our life stylist on board is form Australia, and she wanted to make sure I had the true Aussie experience. She bought Ray and I passes to the Sydney Aquarium and the Wild Life Park in Darling Harbor. Before going to explore the 2 attractions we all went to have breakfast at this famous places “Pancakes on the Rocks”. This place had any type of pancake you could possibly think of and to make the experience that much better most of them are served with ice-cream….YUM! I ended up getting the Macadamia Nut pancakes…excellent choice! Then Ray, Joey, and I headed to the aquarium. It was a great day overall. Ray let me use his wonderful digital SLR camera to get some pictures of Darling Harbor. Hanging out with Ray is always easy…one of those friends where the silence isn’t uncomfortable and I am very thankful that he is on this contract. We ate lunch at this killer little place right on the edge of the harbor called Pontoon. We both had burgers and chips (what the Aussie’s call fries). After lunch we headed to the Wild life park and encountered some of Australia’s most dangerous and loveable animals up close. I think my favorite was the lazy wombat although the kolas were very cute. The day was complete with a stop at swank little café that specialized in chocolate EVERYTHING!!!! I had a flat white and Ray got an intensely rich mocha….it was the perfect ending. I truly heart Sydney and I hope I get to return in the future. I keep telling Meagan that I am coming to visit as soon as I can afford the plane ticket=)

Darling Harbor 

Our cruisers are a younger crowd this cruise and we have over 120 teens on board for the South pacific run. I like the mixed aged cruises…they are just a little bit more livelier. I have met some really great guests this trip and it will be sad to see them go. Luckily, a few of them are staying on for the Christmas cruise.

Well that is all the updates for now! I hope everyone is really getting into the season and sharing a lovely time with friends and family! I miss having my cell phone to communicate with all of you, but to those of you who have called my room to say hello…thank you…it makes me feel a little closer to home! MERRY CHRISTMAS in only 5 days!!! As I finish this post I am feeling more in the spirit of things when I started because my heart is thankful for my career, my friends, my incredible family who support me in all my crazy endeavors, and for all the amazing gifts God has placed in my life. I am blessed and I mean it! Love to you all!

And since I chatted about Ray, why don’t you get to know him a little better!

Meet Raymon!!!!!!!!!

 

Name: Raymon Tripp

Age: 25 (old and tired)

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Number of ship contracts: 5        

Favorite food found on board the MS Zaandam: I love the Asian food section onboard.

Favorite production show on board: My favorite show is Love Broadway, us boys get to dance a lot in this show.

What are a few things you miss while cruising at sea? I miss watching my young nieces and nephews grow up. I feel connected to my older kin via phone and email but the young ones that cant hold a conversation are very well missed.

What did you find most challenging about the rehearsal process with Stiletto? The rehearsal process is very hard on my body, particularly my old tired hips that sometimes quit working on me in the most inopportune times! For me, every second I get to get off of my feet I cherish it!!!

What was the most enjoyable aspect of rehearsals? The most enjoyable aspect is the fact that I didn’t have to do the entire rehearsal process, since I was a replacement I only had to do the last week of rehearsals!

What is your favorite feature of ship life? I love traveling and learning. Working on a ship gives me so much free time for me to learn about new technologies, study different languages, and different opportunities for photography.

What was the largest adjustment for you in adapting to ship life? The largest adjustment for me on ships is to learn to slow down. Having worked in one of the busiest places for entertainment, LA, I was always on the go from auditions to shows to side jobs and the occasional nightclubs. Working on ships definitely allows me to slow down and appreciate the subtleties of life.

Tell us a little bit about your performance background: I started performing professionally at the age of 17. I started dancing with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury Hip Hop squad during highschool then moved to California to join a musical theatre company called the Young American’s. After a year and a half of performing with them I taught dance in Bad Karlshafen Germany. I then came back to the states to do regional theatre with Musical Theatre West with the show The Pajama Game.  I performed with Riverside Ballet’s Swan Lake as the prince. I then set on to dancing with cruiseships beginning with the Volendam, Maasdam, Amsterdam, then now the Zaandam. In between contracts I had the pleasure of having some small roles in film, music videos, commercials and television, as well as performing in various theme parks in CA including Six Flags, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Disney Land.

Out of your past show credits, what has been your favorite to be a part of? I would say the company Young Americans was such a fulfilling experience, I was a singer dancer in the company and it was so nice to have shows that where written and choreographed around the individual performers.

What’s next after this contract ends? After this contract I would like to move to Las Vegas and continue performing and hopefully start a business or company. I was in negotiations with Norwegian Cruise lines and Universal Studios Japan prior to coming on my current contract so I might also look into getting into those companies as well.

What are you looking forward to the most over the next 6 ½ months? I am really looking forward to going to the greater of  Asia, There are some places I have still not been so it’s very exciting to get the opportunity.

If you could only have packed 3 items when taking this contract, even though it is impossible, what would you consider to be the most important?

My Laptop, those in the cast know I need my electronics.

My Jewelry, I love to wear my bling bling.

My Digital camera, I love taking pictures of the beautiful places

Akaora and Christchurch

I am still in awe of the beauty of New Zealand. Each port the country reveals more and more breathtaking sights. Today I find myself in Akoroa, a small French town on the mid-eastern coast of NZ. I am currently on a motor coach riding back from a shore excursion with the guests of ship. The tour today consisted of a visit to the International Antarctica Center in Christchurch, followed by a lunch at a little boutique winery called Melton Estates. The Antarctica experience is located right across from the International Airport of Christchurch. Due to the earthquake, much of the city is still closed off. I felt fortunate enough to see the outskirts of the beautiful Garden City.

It is funny to join passengers on shore excursions. They make me feel like a celebrity. I met a very kind woman named Joyce, or maybe she met me when I was standing next to her outside of the Little Blue Penguins exhibit by telling me a lot of information about penguins. She was very knowledgeable about many different animals. This peaked my interest so I asked what her background was in. To my surprise she is a retried chemist and now lives in retiree-ville, also known as Florida. It is always refreshing to meet lovely passengers who talk to you about normal things and don’t only pick your brain about ship life. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversations with Joyce.

The entrance into the Men's bathroom at the International Antarctica Center

The Antarctica Center is a training complex for folks who do government research. It is required that those individuals complete a course at the center before they leave for their assignment. The United States, Italy, and of course New Zealand are the 3 countries that use the center. It is divided into a few different sections offering attractions for young and old alike.

The Hagglund vehicle I rode in

When I first arrived at the center our tour guide, Karen, welcomed us in her brilliant New Zealand accent. Hearing people talk here just makes me smile. Then I boarded a Hagglund vehicle and went on a ride through Antarctic terrain. The militant vehicle was originally built by the Swiss and has the capability to handle crazy types of terrain. It climbs steep inclines, maneuvers over crevasses, and can even turn into a boat and paddle through river basins. The ride was a totally cool example of the Hagglund in action.

Once I was done with the ride, I went to a 4D theatre to take a virtual cruise to Antarctica in the Ice Voyage. The movie was complete with wind, sea spray, seal sneezes, freezing air, bubbles, and stunning 3D cinematography. I sat next to this little guy named Cayden (I think he is 5) who literally giggled and screamed the entire movie. His mom, Amy and his grandparents have been on board since San Diego and are on the Grand 39 day voyage. Sometimes I think nothing makes my heart happier than hearing kids laugh.

The movie ended and Karen ushered us to the Snow Storm Experience. All of us had to put on winter coats and shoe covers so the snow continues to stay white. The area was -8 °C before they turned on the wind chill machine and then the area dropped considerably. There was a mini igloo built inside as well as a snow mobile and an ice slide. Poor Cayden didn’t want to go down the slide alone and his mom, being from Texas, was not about to touch the cold ground. I volunteered to take him down the slide and although the slide was small we shot down at a rocket speed. I think if it hadn’t been so cold he would have wanted to do about 100 more times.

Our last stop with the guide was to take a look at the Little Blue Penguins, the smallest penguins in the world. Most of them were burrowed in their nests for an afternoon nap, but there was one little guy out enjoying a bit of sun. Their habitat also had viewing set up so you could see inside their nest as well. I may not have seen them in action, but I saw my share of penguins. There were other exhibits around the center all educating visitors on the climate and survival practices of the continent. It was a great experience and every guest kept telling me over and over again how spectacular their visit had been.

Lunch at the winery was perfect. Melton Estates had a wonderful cabin like atmosphere in the middle of it’s vineyards with big open windows over looking the grounds. I was saddened that we didn’t do a wine tasting as a group but all of us received a glass of wine with our lunch. The only red wine this particular winery produced was Pinot Noir. When drinking red wine I would usually pick a cabernet for its full body, however, I do enjoy a nice Pinot. I was not blown away by the Pinot at Melton, it was lacking a strong flavor profile and my palate was left a bit unsatisfied. Since I was not able to try the Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, or Riesling, I can’t make a fair judgment about the winery as a whole. Their best selling wine was a sparkling Riesling, which had a nice blush color. I am placing my bets that they are known for their white grapes=)

That is pretty much today. Yesterday we were in Dunedin, home of the Cadbury Chocolate factory and Speight’s Brewery. Dunedin is also home of one of the best schools of medicine in all of New Zealand, however I didn’t make it to the university. I visited the other 2 locations previously mentioned but I did not take the chocolate factory tour because I did not want to spend all my time on a tour. Instead, I walked around visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Train Station, beautifully built with a castle like structure. I also was treated to lunch by our Captain Jan Smith at Alibi with Missy and Nikki (I had this amazing Kiwi Lamb Burger that had thick sliced bacon and BBQ sauce…culinary genius at its finest). Of course I found a chic coffee café to enjoy a little free wi-fi and enjoyed a 6 flight of beer at the Speight’s Ale House. It was a fantastic day and I think I said to myself over and over, “I love my life and I can’t believe all the amazing people, places, and things I get to enjoy and experience right now”.

I finished yesterday by line dancing with the Explorations Team at Country night…the tush push is my new favorite line dance. I managed to also hit the gym for a bit after helping the cast decorate the crew mess (putting up a Christmas tree while listening to Meg’s Christmas mix was a GREAT way to get into the holiday spirit). To top it all off I got to enjoy some good times at the crew version of The Marriage Game and The Liar’s Club. I always love our crew activities on board because for one it brings us all closer together dissolving departmental cliques and it usually means a few drinks on the house! The fabulous Miss Ashley and Dale, our facilities manager won the Marriage game, which is hilarious since they were the only couple not married and are rounding the corner of their 3 month relationship. I was happy for them! We really didn’t have a winner for the Liar’s Club, it was just more of a good time. After the crew events a lot of the crew continued the party down in the Officer’s Bar, but I was wiped out and had to be up early for my 8 hour tour today, so I headed to bed! Wise decision because I had a good amount of energy today to handle the charismatic nature of the guests. I am blessed and I am thankful for the good, better, and best things happening in my life right now. Miss and love you all!

Here is another cast mate for you to meet. Without this one I would be quite lonely onstage. She is my leading female singer and partner in crime on stage. Meet Brittany Richert!!!!!!!!

Name: Brittanyanne Richert

Age: 24

Hometown: Sewickley, PA

Number of ship contracts: 3

Favorite food found on board the MS Zaandam: Peanut butter J

Favorite production show on board: Love Broadway

What are a few things you miss while cruising at sea?

My family, my boyfriend, Trader Joe’s, and my preschool students

What did you find most challenging about the rehearsal process with Stiletto?

Trying to satisfy the varying opinions of what exactly your role is in each song.

What was the most enjoyable aspect of rehearsals?

Making new friends and exploring LA

What is your favorite feature of ship life?

Traveling and performing

What was the largest adjustment for you in adapting to ship life?

Loss of internet, missing loved ones, and always being under the laws of the ship.

Tell us a little bit about your performance background:

B.A. in Theatre Arts with a Musical Theatre concentration from Point Park University

Performed in various musicals growing up such as…Oklahoma, Pirates of Penzance, and Smile

Performed at Cedar Point and Idlewild Park

Out of your past show credits, what has been your favorite to be a part of?

Being on cruise ships of course J

What’s next after this contract ends?

Finishing my Master’s degree in Elementary Education at Duquesne University

What are you looking forward to the most over the next 6 ½ months?

Doing what I love while seeing the world and making cherished memories.

If you could only have packed 3 items when taking this contract, even though it is impossible, what would you consider to be the most important?

My sneakers

Urban Decay Make-up

My Gaga Dress

She loves her peanut butter and her running shoes folks!!! Haha, such a great talent to share the stage with night after night.

Till the next adventure!

Brad 

Australia, New Zealand, and the rants of Bradley!!!

Hello from New Zealand the farthest south I could possibly be unless I was in Antarctica. Here is a little fun fact…New Zealand is actually the closest point to Antarctica then any other place on earth. I am currently sitting in my gym clothes, drinking a protein shake and trying to wait as patiently as possible for my 2 weeks worth of laundry to dry while listening to Pete Murray (one of my new found favorite Australian artist). The crew laundry room can be quite the gamble at times, but today I was lucky and found a washer right away and then a dryer when it was time to switch. It doesn’t usually happen like that folks!

I have been out and about exploring Oban today, and there really was not much too it. It is a quaint little fishing harbor. I believe about 300-400 people are residents and it is located at the southern tip of New Zealand. I ran around with one of the Steiner’s from the spa. Her name is Sara and she is from the London. We stopped in for a beer at the local pub in their only hotel, walked around town, up to this peaceful little Presbyterian church, and then sat and had coffee at this little crepe café called Kiwi Crepes and Bakery. It was quite the posh little hang-out for such a small town and only lacked wireless internet. The only wild-life I saw were 2 sheep…in a pin. I was hoping to see a Kiwi bird, but I had to suffice with a picture of the Kiwi Bird crossing sign instead. Tomorrow Dunedin will be much more exciting.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. Our day on board was different from any other thanksgiving I had ever experienced. There are only about 40 American crew members on board so the celebration for us was few and far between. I completely forgot it was Thanksgiving until a youth staff girl wished me a “Happy Thanksgiving” at breakfast. The ship really didn’t do anything special for the crew, which was kind of a bummer, but we did have the traditional Thanksgiving feast for selection at dinner in the Lido. Without my friends on board it would have been a sorry holiday, however, we made the most of it and overall it was grand. I did miss my family, Macy’s thanksgiving day parade, watching football in my pjs, and the ability to just relax all day since we had to work.

I had a lovely time in Sydney and cannot wait to go back on December 9^th. There is so much to see and do there that it is a bit overwhelming to try and fit into a few short hours. The biggest downfall of cruising is the limited amount of time in ports of call. I woke up early for our sail in to Sydney with a few other crew members. The weather decided to act up, but even through the rain and chilly morning air it was a beautiful sail in. A fire tug boat guided us into the harbor and the entire time it sprayed it’s hoses as a salute to the Zaandam arriving. The opera house was bigger than I expected it to be and the design is truly breathtaking from the sea. It resembles the sails of a ship and tucked right next to the Sydney Harbor Bridge it makes quite the Kodak moment. Even though it was raining Brittany and I decided to go on an early morning jog around 7:30. We ran around the harbor directly to the Opera House and then after circling it we headed into the botanical gardens that are just to the right of the House. I will have to say that it was one of the best jogs of my life. First, I was running in Australia, secondly, I was taking in the majestic opera house, and lastly the gardens were amazingly laid out and incredibly beautiful. Some of the tropical plants reminded me of Jumange or Honey I Shrunk the Kids because they were much larger than me. I think we jogged for about 45 minutes in the rain…it was refreshing and exciting. After drying off I went off the ship exploring. I ran around The Rocks, which is the historical district of Sydney and then ventured into downtown for some shopping. I didn’t end up buying anything but the trip was fun with the gang. We ate at this new restaurant that had just opened up. They specialized in smoked meats served with a tasteful and trendy flare. Of course I also checked out some of the local coffee shops in the area as well. The Aussie’s have all different ways of ordering their coffee, “short black”, “flat white”, and other things that I couldn’t seem to wrap my brain around. I need to ask my Australian friend Meagan what they all mean. By mid-afternoon I was quite run down and I ended up finding the oldest pub, “Future of War” and had 2 beers with Liz and Brittany while we talked about how amazing life is at the moment and the greatest that is Australia. I am hoping to see even more of Sydney since the weather was so crummy this last visit. I also am going to make sure to eat a meat pie=)

The weather has been a little disappointing for this cruise…rainy, with highs in the 50s. It has reminded me of my Alaskan summer weather and I could do without. On the flip side today was one of those perfect fall weather days and I truly enjoyed feeling fall since I missed the season change this year. One stop we made before arriving in NZ was in Milford Sound. It was early scenic cruising for us that began at 7am. When I stepped outside on the back deck I said, “ Dear God this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.” There were over a hundred water falls falling over the massive rock faces. It reminded me of the Lord of The Rings scenes. Most of the movie was shot in New Zealand and I could tell exactly why. The morning was full of more rain, but the clouds and mist made for a magical setting where slight rays of sunshine could trickle through between showers. Some of the falls were a few hundred meters high and the waterfalls even with the largest flow were well over 100 meters tall. Unfortunately with no camera, I couldn’t really capture the beauty of the moment, so it will have to be one for the memory bank! Milford Sound was created by the glaciers and I definitely believe it is the most beautiful fjord I have seen to date.

Tonight we have two showings of Southern Nights. All of us approach each show with a little different attitude now since we only have 6 left before leaving in Feb. I am so proud of my cast. We are drama free and have the time of lives together. I am going to miss each of them very much.

Speaking of cast mates, I received a contract offer this week to join the team at Universal Studios Japan for a season. They offered me the role of Dracula in the Monster’s Live Rock N Roll show. It is there longest running show in Japan and apparently the cast in the show are viewed as celebrities in the eyes of the Japanese. The opportunity is an amazing one and I still honestly can’t believe that the casting directors want me. I have a little time before giving my final yes since I have to wait for my contract to reach me on board. There are so many incredible positives about this contract, including the chance to live, breath, and experience the Japanese culture like never before. However, one of the biggest downers is I will only get one week between contracts and this next contract ends March of 2013. It is a long time to be away from family and friends, but 20 years down the road I don’t want to look back and regret not going…it would be life changing!!

So that is all for me. The Zaandam is starting to get into the Christmas spirit. I started cutting out construction paper snowflakes to hang on my Christmas lights. I am still hoping to buy a few ornaments and some more decorations for the season for my cabin. I am getting excited about Secret Santa and The Twelve Days of Christmas progression of drinks, and all the other fun and exciting holiday fun on board.

Zest up your life a little this season, do something out of the ordinary! LIVE and BE MERRY!

Lots of love,

bradley 

Other Side of the World

Take a breath because this one is a bit long...

So the adventure has definitely been in full force since I last updated my blog. I have been sailed to Hawaii, San Diego, Mexico, back to Hawaii, Pago Pago (American Samoa), Fiji, and today we are in New Caledonia. I have had a lot of time on my hands with this last cruise and for some reason I keep avoiding my blog because I know I am long overdue for an update. So here goes!!

Our first trip to Hawaii was a bust. We missed two of our ports and I got sick with strep. The highlight of the entire time in the islands was a great night in Waikiki with the cast and my first official skydiving experience. We jumped at 40,000 feet over O’ahu at the Pacific International Skydiving Center. It was a rush!!!!! I remember thinking on the way up the plane that the only way back was to take the plunge…that was as nervous as I got. When I actually swung my legs outside the plane door, the beauty of the visions in front of me took my breath away. During the 60 free fall it felt like I was flying and it really was incredibly peaceful. There is nothing quite like it in the entire world to compare it too. If you have a fear of heights you should still try and go because it is an exhilarating experience. I felt incredibly safe with my tandem jump guide and he completely prepared me for the jump incredibly well. I did not end up buying a video because I could have jumped again for the price they wanted to charge for it and I decided that I would probably want to jump again maybe in Australia or New Zealand. Next on the list is bridge jump bunjeeing!!!! I hear there is a great one in Auckland!

It has been a breath of fresh air sailing in warmer climates. During our days at sea when we don’t have rehearsals we can lay out and get out daily doses of Vitamin D. Everyone is extremely happier with this set up as opposed to the overcast days of Alaska.

My parents came out to visit me for Mexico and we had a ball. I think we successfully celebrated every holiday that I would miss with them and since we were in Mexico it involved a lot of tequila! For their Christmas presents I took them swimming with the dolphins and out on a secluded island dinner cruise. Mom and dad both loved the dolphin experience. They both love animals so much that being around such intelligent marine animals was a lot of fun….and seeing my dad being pulled around by 2 dolphins was a good time. The dinner cruise was called Rhythms of the Night…think Cirque De Sole meets ancient Mexico tribal ceremony. The entire island was lit by fire once the sun set and the atmosphere was incredible. Austin and his parents were on the same tour with us and we got to eat an authentic Mexican spread with them on the island while enjoying…yes…a few more shots of tequila. It seemed like every time his parents and my parents got together tequila shots magically appeared on the table…hey it’s an upper=) The show itself was steeped in ancient traditions of the tribes of the island and involved a lot of body stunts, fire dancers, and some great special effects. Another highlight of their trip to Mexico was our snorkeling adventure in Cabo. We took a catamaran out to Santa Maria cove and enjoyed a few hours snorkeling. Our guide went out and feed the coral fish so the fish were literally swimming everywhere…it was pretty darn cool! Other than our tours we ate till our tummys hurt and stayed up late most nights enjoying each others company and mingling with all the cast families on board. Overall about 5 families were sailing at the same time and it felt like family week at summer camp. Good times were had by all. I felt fortunate to be able to meet the parents of all those I work with on the Zaandam. It gave me a greater appreciation for who they are as individuals and a little more love for them as well.

After the parents went home we chartered a cruise called The Legendary Blues Cruise. Basically, couples pay to come sail with incredible blues musicians, some of the hottest in the industry. The entire week was like a party. Every night was a theme night from harry hippies, to wig night, to wizard night, and carnival night. The passengers on this cruise know how to live to the fullest and they didn’t hold back on board. I had the entire week off since I was entertainment staff but had to help out about 6 hours during the week at the memorabilia store. Most nights ended around 4 am for the passengers on the back pool deck where they had built a full concert stage over the pool. My favorite act that was on board was Girls With Guitars. They have an album on iTunes and one of their artist Cassie Taylor was the queen of the bass. She was so funky and literally a true artist. Check em out if you are looking for some new soul sounds in your music library!

Our second trek out to Hawaii proved to be much better. First of all we go to celebrate Halloween. Our entire cast decided to put on Thriller as pre-show entertainment for our guest artist. It turned out far better than any of us thought for the amount of time it took us to pull it together. I YouTubed zombie make-up tutorials on-line and found a great one using elmer’s glue and toilet paper to created a rotted flesh look. The process definitely took some serious time but the final product was perfect. I also sacrificed a pair of jeans and a dress shirt to complete the zombie look, so overall my costume was very inexpensive. Once I headed to the crew party I peeled off my mask, pain free actually, and then dressed up as a Newsie. It was a much more comfortable look and once again I didn’t have to spend a dime on it! I give myself a 10 for creativity and low-cost look! Since this cruise kicked off our 26 day voyage to Sydney our guest entertainment was a little better than usual. The Unexpected Boys came sailing with us and one of them happen to be Danny Calvert, he practically stole everyone’s heart with Scott Alan’s Kiss The Air. He is such a great person and totally down to earth. I also go to meet J.D., Eric, and Steven. They are all based out of New York City and take gigs to get out of the city and travel. Their show is based on Frankie Valli and the crowd really enjoys them. All super talented and a lot of fun. The Unexpected Boys have about 30 members in the company and rotate who goes out based on availability. Pretty cool gig if I may say so myself.

This time in Hawaii I went hiking to waterfalls, drank Kava and Kona, ate Poke (raw fish over rice, delicious), did some crazy cool snorkeling on a Captain Zodiac adventure tour in Kona, celebrated Liz’s birthday at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse, went to Pearl Harbor, cliff jumping at a waterfall on O’ahu that included a barefoot mud hike with an excellent tour guide, grabbed Coldstone with Megs and Papa John’s, and tubed the ditch at an old sugar cane farm in Nawiliwili!!!! It was a packed couple of days and I had an amazing time with those I did the activities with and those I met along the way. I bought an underwater camera before pulling away from the islands. I thought it would come in handy going to the Great Barrier Reef and all. Unfortunately when I took it out for it’s first test run in American Samoa…it had a meltdown. Now I have to send it back to Kmart, thankfully I have someone who is going to return it for me, although I fear it may cost a lot to send from Sydney!

Back to the updates: I got sick crossing from Hawaii to America Samoa. Some kind of stomach bug landed me quarantined in my room for a little over 48 hours. Thankfully the cast and shipmates made sure I had plenty of water and entertainment during the process. I am all better now, but that first morning it started was rough. It was great to catch up on rest but due to my illness I missed our King Neptune ceremony when we crossed the equator which is a huge mariner tradition. But I believe I will get my chance on Jan 7^th when we cross the equator again.

Fiji is as beautiful as you could imagine. In Lautoka I sailed out on sail boat to a tiny island called Tivua. The water was clear, azure, and literally the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I was kicking myself for not having a camera at this point. I enjoyed the day snorkeling around the reefs surrounding the island, napping in a hammock like a true islander and enjoying a few beverages with some other passengers and crewmates. We also had a Kava ceremony as well. It is basically Fiji’s national drink. It is basically like Chamomile on steroids and makes you chill out. It works wonders for people with anxiety and insomnia. It comes from a root and is strained through a wet cloth. The ending result is a huge wooden bowl filled with a tan colored liquid that taste like a mouthful of earth. I quite enjoy the taste of Kava but some people feel as though they are drinking dirt=) It is served in a half of a dried coconut shell. Shout  BULA (traditional Fiji greeting) and guzzle away! I think I may purchase a set to take back home. I think I am hooked on beverages from different parts of the world….mate, Kona, and now Kava.

We have one more port before we reach Sydney. It is Noumea, New Caledonia, and since the French inhabited this island the culture here is a little piece of France. Tomorrow I will hopefully be going on a wine and cheese tour. I am looking forward to expanding my wine palate and seeing a new place. It is true that traveling expands your knowledge. It helps you understand other cultures and in some ways helps you get outside of yourself and see the beautiful connective threads of humanity. I’m pumped!

If you can’t tell I am enjoying myself immensely. The perk of this 26 day voyage is that our cast has worked 4 days since leaving San Diego back on Oct. 30, so we have been enjoying each other, the sights, and the ship. I’m one thankful guy right and I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people in my life at the moment. I’m ready to see the Aussie side of life and for all the adventures in New Zealand. And if you are back home in the states reading this post, know that I have not forgotten you and that I think of you guys often. I am thankful to every person who allows me to follow my dreams and support me along the way….I would never be here without you.

I will leave with another Meet The Cast: Here’s Austin!!!!!

Name: Austin Taylor

Age: 22

Hometown: North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Number of ship contracts: 1

Favorite food found on board the MS Zaandam: Banana Cream Pie

Favorite production show on board: On The Air

What are a few things you miss while cruising at sea?

Affordable Internet and phone access at all times, boyfriend friends and family, microwave and full size refrigerator

What did you find most challenging about the rehearsal process with Stiletto?

The most challenging thing I found was how fast everything was taught. Before I had time to really process the material and let it sink in, we were on to the next song. Some days I felt like I was at an audition. You have to be engaged from start to finish otherwise you will miss out on something. 

What was the most enjoyable aspect of rehearsals?

The most enjoyable aspect of rehearsal was getting to know everyone and watch other people work. Its rewarding to watch everyone and everything come together under the same common goal.

What is your favorite feature of ship life?

Discounted prices. It is nice to be rewarded for working hard for the company.

What was the largest adjustment for you in adapting to ship life?

What to do with my free time. I spent a lot of the first 2 months sleeping and not enjoying my time in Alaska. I’m taking the opportunity the next 6 months to really get out there and enjoy what this state has to offer.

Tell us a little bit about your performance background:

Started dancing when I was 3 at a local dance studio. (Ken and Jean Dance Studio in North Versailles PA) I started with Tap and eventually was taking tap, ballet, jazz and acro. I also tested in levels I, II, and III of the Cecchetti Ballet Method. Senior year of high school I started auditioning for colleges and then moved to NYC to pursue a degree in dance at Marymount Manhattan College. While in college I studied various styles of Modern, Ballet, Tap and Jazz and eventually concentrated in Jazz. In May I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance with a concentration in Jazz.  The Zaandam is my first professional job :D

Out of your past show credits, what has been your favorite to be a part of?

My Junior year of College, I performed Concerto Six Twenty Two choreographed by Lar Lubovitch. It was originally choreographed in the 1980’s at the height of the AIDS crisis. This piece was a celebration of life and a celebration of friendship and showed how beautiful it was to see people come together at such a fragile moment. It was also a first. It has a beautiful duet in the middle of the 45 minute work. This duet has two men partnering in a way that you would usually see a male and a female. It was the first time that someone had choreographed a loving partnership between two men. As a gay man it was a privilege to recreate this work. It was an experience that I will never forget.

What’s next after this contract ends?

I would like to do another contract perhaps on a larger ship. I would also like to do some work in Vegas and for Disney. Of course I would love to spend some time in New York City again or on a broadway tour. My ultimate dream is to own a studio and teach children.

What are you looking forward to the most over the next 6 ½ months?

Warmer weather! I love the sun and sand. I’m also looking forward to my family coming on board in October. It’s a proud moment to be able to perform for my parents and show them what I’ve been up to for the past few months.

If you could only have packed 3 items when taking this contract, even though it is impossible, what would you consider to be the most important?

Contacts/glasses… otherwise I’d be blind

Computer… I have to stay in touch with the people I love.

Soap… No one likes the smelly kid.