http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Travelling-Artist/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Travelling Artist en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 23:13:32 +0000 Fri, 24 May 2013 23:13:32 +0000 The month that I've declared will be the greatest month onboard ever has gotten off to a great start This last week my sister Alexis and brotherinlaw Kevin came to cruise with me for the first timeI was so excited to see them the day they arrived. I couldn't sleep the night before because I was so excited I was like a little kid.We really packed our port days with fun. First in Co http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Cape-Canaveral/blog-606425.html January has now come and gone. The month started with a bunch of goodbyes . . . The Dream Teen Team was being split up. First Kritina my codirector left to go home for vacation. I miss her in the club so much I have never enjoyed work on the ships more than I have the 2 months I was working with Kristina. We worked so well together had the same balance of wanting the teens to have a good http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Caribbean/blog-605927.html The holiday season has hit the Dream It can be really difficult being away from home family and friends during the holidays. But this year between work keeping me busy and friends keeping me happy it has been a good time.We've broken from our regular itineraries and did a 9 day cruise that included both Christmas and New Years. It was extremely popular the ship booked solid and tons of fam http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Cape-Canaveral/blog-605923.html I got a visit with my family today My Mom stepdad Lee sister Melanie and her boyfriend Andrew are all in Cape Canaveral for a warm getaway and staying at a friends condo only 10 minutes from the cruise terminal. So early this morning I was up and off the ship to get picked up by my parents. They took me back to the condo where Mel and Andrew were getting breakfast sorted. We had breakfa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Cape-Canaveral/blog-565005.html The holidays have arrived in full force onboard the Dream Kristina and I have been working on making decorations for our club which weve finally hung up. Its not quite as elaborate as the dcor job I did last year on the Spirit but it still looks pretty greatIt also means that its time again for the Holiday Show an extra show that the entertainment team is all involved in. Our tee http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Caribbean/blog-565003.html This afternoon I was at work in my club. The teens were playing video games and I was making some holiday decorations. The youth director onboard came into the club with her ship cell phone my boss from the Miami office was on the phone for me . . . to give me some exciting news . . .I have been offered the position to be the Club O2 Director the job I always do onboard for the startup team http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Caribbean/blog-565501.html Today were in Belize and a crew tour was offered. Jenny Duain the directors of the younger teen club and I signed up to go together and we were part of a group of about 40 crew members. Belize is a tender port so we started the day with a 20 minute ride to shore where we then boarded a smaller motor boat. That boat took us down the coast a bit to a nearby river. We spent about an hour s http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Belize/Belize-District/Belize-City/blog-565002.html The last couple weeks have been hectic emotional and tiring. It was my third week on the Dream when I got the news from home that my Grandpa Hedley had passed away. A lot of chaos ensued but I managed to get home to be with my family for the funeral. I had a week at home then to rest see family and get my head wrapped back around work. Two days ago I flew back to Florida and rejoined the D http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Mexico/blog-564999.html This week is American Thanksgiving which means schools are out families are on vacation the ship is packed and we are busy in the teen club I am so happy to have a codirector for the busy holiday cruises especially on this ship because it is so huge. Kristina and I work really well together. Thankfully considering how many teens we have onboard so far things have been going really well a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/US-Virgin-Islands/Saint-Thomas/blog-564990.html Ive made it through my first week on the Dream and so far so good.Im lucky that I have some friends here from previous ships. Circle C is the younger teen club and the directors of that club are the closest thing to an immediate coworker that I get. Jazzy was the Circle C director on my last ship the Spirit and Jenny was her replacement for when I was in Hawaii and Alaska. Currently http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Caribbean/blog-564988.html Its been five weeks since I got home from Fiji and other than the weekend in Memphis theyve all been spent at home well around Southern Ontario which is home. Its been so great to be home because there have been some exciting things happening . . . starting with Alexis and Kevin got married And it was a surprise wedding I was in on the surprise. They actually tol http://www.travelblog.org/Oceans-and-Seas/Caribbean/Gulf-of-Mexico/blog-564987.html Its been a couple weeks since I returned from Fiji and there has been a lot happening but Im going to save that for another blog. I have a few more weeks at home too before I return to work on the ships again more in another blog. But this last weekend I took a mini trip into the southern states for a weddingI met Logan the first time I worked on the Destiny. We lived across the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Tennessee/Memphis/blog-564984.html Today is my last day in Fiji. I havent done much with it. Yesterdays Seaspray tour was my big farewell treat. Today I just lounged in my bed until I had to check out of the dorm. I spent the afternoon reading sorting and editing photos on my computer and just taking time to reflect.Coming to Fiji has been at the top of my travel list for years. Ive planned on making the trip h http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Fiji/Viti-Levu/Nadi/blog-564982.html Its my final full day and night in Fiji and what a great way to spend it First thing this morning I took the bus back to the Denarau Marina to catch one of the ferries. I rode out to Mana Island where I then transferred to the Seaspray a tall sailing ship.Right away we were greeted with champagne and snacks for a light breakfast. We sailed around Mana and headed off to the West past mo http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Fiji/Mamanuca-Islands/blog-564980.html One of Fijis most famous spots is the Blue Lagoon from the movie of the same name. For the last 6 days Ive been able to see the lagoon across the water from the islands Ive been staying on. But today I finally went there.The resort where Im staying offers boat tours over there every morning and afternoon and there was a group of us piled in the boat this morning. It was a slow ride http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Fiji/Yasawa-Islands/blog-533731.html This afternoon right after lunch I said farewell to the island of Nacula where Id been staying on a stunning beach. Then I cross the water to the next island over Tavewa where Ill be staying for two nights. Im staying now at another backpackers resort called Coral View. It doesnt have the gorgeous beach out front but I still really like it here. The property is spread out. Al http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Fiji/Yasawa-Islands/blog-533730.html Yesterday I had another long day of nothing on the beautiful beach at Oarsmans. Actually I organized my photos and got this blog up to date which took plenty of time. I lounged in the hammock too reading. I avoided time in the sun to let my skin have some relief from the sun.Today is the day I leave behind the beautiful beach here and move on to another island. But first I took a l http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Fiji/Yasawa-Islands/blog-533728.html Today rather than just spending time on the gorgeous beach where Im staying I signed up for one of the resorts tours. Soon after breakfast myself and three other guests boarded the resorts small motorboat and headed out across the stunning sparkling blue water.SawaiLau is a small island one of the most Northern islands in the Yasawas. The Yasawa islands are made from volcan http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/blog-533330.html Yesterday morning after a swim with the sharks off Wayalailai I again boarded the Yasawa Flyer and travelled further north through the Yasawa Islands. Im now staying on the island of Nacula at Oarsmans Bay Lodge. Its now my second day here and Ive got three more nights here ahead of me.Its pretty quiet at Oarsmans. Not too many other people. And generally theres not muc http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/blog-533325.html This morning after breakfast the backpackers resort where Im staying offered an outer reef snorkeling trip to see the reef sharks. I eagerly signed up it was one of the things I most wanted to do on Wayalailai the island Im on now.A group of 8 of us piled into a small motorboat and headed out to sea. It was about a 20 minute ride out to the reef. We jumped into the water and swam al http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/blog-533324.html