http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/swillett/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from swillett en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:52:51 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:52:51 UTC After our two week repositioning cruise wersquove changed our itinerary for the last time until after I go home for vacation. Wersquore currently doing Great Stirrup Cay NCLrsquos private island Nassau Bahamas Freeport Bahamas and Port Canaveral Florida. Our first week in these ports was pretty cold. In Nassau I was able to spend some time with one of my momrsquos coworkersfrie http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Bahamas/blog-350679.html Our day in Samana was a much different one. By this time I was getting tired of beaches and looking for something different. We had heard that there were waterfalls in Samana and were curious to see. When we stepped off the tender boat there were local men all asking if we wanted to do tours. We found a guy offering tours to two different waterfalls. One was a large waterfall that you horseback r http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Samana/blog-350666.html Our day in St. Thomas was a nice one. Having friends who have already been there I was told I had to do the sky ride to the top of the mountain and enjoy a ldquobushwakerrdquo with the view. We found out that there were reduced rates for the crew so we were off and away. The ride up the mountain didnrsquot take long but it was a gorgeous view. Looking down on our little ship she really di http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/US-Virgin-Islands/Saint-Thomas/blog-350079.html After our time in Aruba we were ready for more antics in Curacao. It didnrsquot end up being as amazing of a day but it was still pretty nice. Nicole Steph Katelyn and I ate lunch at a nice little restaurant overlooking the water. It was so relaxing watching the sailboats and parasailers out on the ocean. We then walked around town visiting some stores and eventually meeting up with Jimy f http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Netherlands-Antilles/Cura-ao/blog-350076.html The day we arrived in Oranjestad Aruba we had no expectations. We thought wersquod go to a beach but never expected the day we had. I think the reason it was so good was not just the port itself but the company with which we spent it Nicole Steph Katelyn and myself met up with Jimy Humberto and Victor bar staff for a day of fun in Aruba. We walked towards the downtown area where we f http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Aruba/Oranjestad/blog-345948.html Our first stop on our 14 day repositioning cruise in the Caribbean was Nassau Bahamas. Unfortunately Steph Nicole and I had to finish our Basic Safety course as it was too cold in the waters of Canada to complete the last element of the course jumping off the ship flipping a liferaft and climbing into it. This is what we did in Nassau. Luckily because we went first we got the chance to http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Bahamas/Nassau/blog-345941.html Our last visit was a great one. The weather was BEAUTIFUL Sun was shining and it was so warm. We kept saying it was a warmup to the Caribbean weather wersquod soon be in Nicole Steph Katelyn and I took a taxi to the mall ran a few shopping errands and ate some yummy Subway. My friend Donray with whom I worked in Honduras then picked us up from the mall for a day of siteseeing. It was http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/blog-342988.html Our last two weeks of our Canada and New England itinerary were rough onesWeek 3 we were in the middle of a storm. We were going so slowly that our arrival time into St. John was later than our departure time so we had to cancel that port and spend an extra day at sea. Everyone was getting sick. Even us youth counsellors were spending our ENTIRE days up in Kids Korner because itrsquos the bes http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-342582.html So last week was our second week in our CanadaNew England run. We spent Monday in Halifax fighting fires. Day 2 we ported in Bar Harbour where a bunch of us got off and went for lunch. Lisarsquos boyfriend Josh firefighter on the ship wanted lobster and we all laughed when our waitress insisted on schooling Josh in properlobster eating. I ordered lobster tail. So fresh and deliciousDay http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Maine/Bar-Harbor/blog-336661.html In order to work for NCL it is a requirement to complete a basic safety course. Included in the course is first aid firefighting lifeboatliferaft training emergency procedures etc. We started our training last week have more this week and then we finish with us having to flip a liferaft over in the water once we get to warmer waters Bermuda. Lucky for us having Halifax as a port meant t http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/Nova-Scotia/Halifax/blog-333983.html This week has been our first week of our new itinerary so wersquove been getting used to the new schedule. It was also a SUPER easy week workwise as we had 5 youth onboard bit of a difference from last weekrsquos 60 We each worked less hours in Kids Korner but also performed extra duties as cruise staff hosting karaoke helping with crowd control during immigration swiping passenger c http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Maine/Bar-Harbor/blog-333239.html This week started with a knock on the door at 9am the morning of disembarkationembarkation day. We were told that we would have to move cabins. We were still being put in pax cabins but we had to move across hallways and to the opposite end of the ship. The rooms are very similar but we joke that wersquore now in the ghetto as therersquos tape covering holes loud rumbling noises and dirt http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Bermuda/Saint-George/blog-330086.html This week I was assigned to the teens program. With only 7 teens on the manifest I was worried about the whole program being cancelled so I actively sought out those teens. I went up to the ldquoSail Awayrdquo party out on the pool deck as we left Philadelphia and met two teens that I gave info to. Another joined us on her own accord the first night and then with the help of me making fli http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Bermuda/Saint-George/blog-327648.html It was a ROUGH night last night at sea. I was woken up around 3am to terrible shaking and noises that sounded like we were scrapping the bottom of the ocean. Of course we werenrsquot as the bottom is thousands of feet below sea level. It was simply us hitting the water after a big swell. This continued for the rest of the night into the morning and still this afternoon. I was able to sleep bu http://www.travelblog.org//Oceans-and-Seas/Atlantic/blog-325342.html Bermuda has been a very enjoyable visit. We arrived Monday and leave today.Wersquove been able to get off the ship a few times. Our first day in port Nicole Steph and I walked through the town of St. Georgersquos to Tobacco Bay Park where there was a small but decent beach and beautiful clear water within beautiful jagged rocks. We swam and tanned and enjoyed the Bermuda sun. The second ti http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Bermuda/Saint-George/blog-324800.html Sunday September 14 2008 Well after being forgotten at our hotel calling the port agent to remind him of where we were being dropped off at the ship only to wait in a small holding room for an hour we were finally brought onto the ship later than all the rest of the new boarding staff there were about 8 of us late to board.Upon arrival we were given paperwork to fill out and told to head http://www.travelblog.org//Oceans-and-Seas/Atlantic/blog-323613.html I made it Here I am in Philly at my hotel with free internet BONUSFlight from Toronto was great on time got my luggage right away and found the hotel shuttle which came within 5 minutes. Then... drama ensued. As I went to check in at the front desk of the hotel I noticed two other people with Norwegian Cruise Line NCL letters like mine. The receptionist was dealing with someone on the http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/blog-322894.html Well I FINALLY got my ship assignment I'll be sailing on the Norwegian Majesty.Home port is Philly until November when it changes to Charleston.I fly out this Friday morning and then am put up in a hotel for the night to get a bus to meet the ship Saturday morning.Here are the ports I'll be sailing between now and January Philidelphia PA St. George's Bermuda St. John New Brunswick Halif http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/Ontario/Kitchener/blog-321690.html My 7th summer at Centauri... and a pretty good one. Just before camp after returning from Honduras was my friend Jordi's wedding. Jordi and I have worked together at Centauri for the last 7 years. Several camp friends were there. Beautiful wedding with all their own touches. They even had a french fry wagon as their midnight snack for all the guests since Jordi loves French fries Great time. C http://www.travelblog.org//North-America/Canada/Ontario/Wellandport/blog-314712.html What a trip. It was truly an amazing time. I went back to visit Walter old students Honduran friends teacher friends and the mountains that I've missed so much. I won't give all the details of what I did but some highlights included Jogging through the streets with Walt Kenny and Bryan followed by watching the guys playing bball in the park Visit to the centre where I used to volunteer http://www.travelblog.org//Central-America-Caribbean/Honduras/Comayagua/blog-295491.html