My views do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
For this post, there are some very long sentences that, I feel, best express the story. I’ve decided to italicize the bracketed parts for slightly better clarity (even though my mom thinks I should just break up the sentence).
Six weeks before my contract began, I was notified that I would be joining the Enchanted Princess. The day before I got the email it seemed like so many ships were returning to service and everyone I knew had gotten a contract, but I still hadn’t. I was wondering what I had done wrong or who I had offended so much that no one wanted me on their ship! I didn’t know if I would get an assignment in a couple of weeks or a couple months. I resolved to email the office on Monday and ask if they had a general idea of how much longer it would be until they needed me—would I have time to go to Europe for a couple of months? I started brainstorming where I would go on my trip. Then the next morning (Sunday) I got the email: The Enchanted Princess – the newest ship in the fleet. The Enchanted Princess’ inaugural season had been delayed by the pandemic and she had been sailing around with minimal crew and no guests for a year. It is an honor and a compliment to be on the team that takes out a new ship, and apparently they had been saving me for that team.
I had six weeks to lose 15 more pounds of the pandemic weight I had put on (the food at my aunt and uncle’s house is SOOOO delicious, and I wasn’t anywhere near as active on the farm as I was on the ship) before getting my medical certificate (which required me to have a BMI below 30) processed and mailed to me before I left to join the ship, schedule the grooming appointments I had postponed until I was required to get dressed on a more regular basis, get the things I wanted to bring once I knew what kind of climate I would be going to, see the people in Sacramento who I hadn’t gotten together with in person while we were all supposed to be staying apart, pack, and complete various tasks for Princess in preparation to join the ship (like getting both a COVID test and the results within 72 hours of joining). I was so busy making sure that all of the tasks and preparations were taken care of in time that I was hit with a wave of emotion when it became apparent that everything would fall into place and I actually would be going on this next adventure (I was still suspicious that the Delta variant might just shut everything down at any point in time). There you go—I just crunched six weeks into one sentence (which is what it felt like).
Was I excited? Absolutely. I missed the charge I got from doing something I was really good at doing. I missed exploring the world beyond my backyard. I missed discovering I had kindred spirits from all over the world who loved to create entertaining experiences together. I missed using and developing my talents.
But at the same time, I was really sad that this lovely, precious time where I had been forced to stay home was coming to an end. I loved hanging out with my aunt and uncle. I loved getting to know my cousin and his wife as adults. And I was really going to miss my kitty…
I dried my tears, lugged my precisely weighted baggage (three 50 lb checked bags, one very heavy roller carry-on and a bulging backpack with at least five things hanging off of it) out of the car and set out to discover the new normal.
I was absurdly delighted with the San Francisco Airport. As soon as I easily got through security, I found these fancy water fountains (and then later I found them also conveniently located right outside the gate).
There was an exhibit of flight attendant uniforms from the past, and classy, more socially distanced lounge chairs with plenty of outlets and USB ports.
Right above my chair there was a screen that had a countdown to boarding time.
It was like the airport had spent the pandemic trying to anticipate my needs! I took my sleeping pills and boarded the plane for my 10pm overnight flight.
In the ‘before times’ I would typically join a ship by spending the previous day waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning, driving to San Francisco, flying all day, probably with a layover somewhere, landing at 10pm, hoping to catch the last shuttle to the hotel where the elevator would be out of order and I’d have to lug my giant suitcases up the stairs, get into bed after midnight, wake up in order to be downstairs to maybe (or not) get breakfast before getting on the shuttle at 5am to join the ship at 7am where I would complete the mandatory training, put on my uniform and go to work. Typically, the newest member of the team would also be put on late night karaoke that first night, since they were just coming back from vacation and everyone else had been working hard seven days a week.
This time, the red eye flight was no problem at all. I arrived in Miami at 6am (which felt like 3am), was met by a man holding a Princess sign at baggage claim. He guided me (and the eight others who had been on my flight) right to a van that took us to the port. My new Cruise Director, Dan, had arrived just before we did, and he secured me a good spot in line. The bags went through security, our noses were swabbed, paperwork collected, and I was escorted to the ship.
By this time I hadn’t showered in two days, had flown all night, and was a little sweaty from lugging my bags in the humidity. It was the perfect time to take the picture for my ID badge!
I was directed to sanitize my hands immediately upon boarding the ship, and then again about one minute later after my picture had been taken. My bags were sprayed with Virox cleaning solution, and I was directed to a guest elevator where I was not to touch the buttons. A helpful crew member pressed ‘11’ for me and I glided up to my new home. This elevator did feel bigger and fancier than the elevators on my previous ships. By 9:30am I was in my mini suite, complete with a balcony and a bathtub to begin my 7-10 day quarantine.
I called my mom, and let my family know I had arrived safely in the lap of luxury. My mom wanted to know what kind of key they gave me—did I get a medallion (the new fancy Princess technology)? They didn’t give me anything! I’m not allowed to leave my stateroom! After taking a solid nap I spent the afternoon perusing the plethora of on demand movies and tv shows and chatted with my new teammates on the balcony.
After the sun set, we sailed away to go drop anchor for a few days near the Bahamas.
Safety First, Always
I’ve been asked a couple of times if I was nervous about going back on a cruise ship considering how dangerous COVID could be on cruise ships in particular. During the pandemic we had monthly virtual meetings where Princess shared how they were exploring the safest ways to keep everyone onboard as healthy as possible under these new circumstances.
Now that I’m onboard I’m getting to experience all the safety protocols they’ve put in practice. Before joining, I was directed to isolate myself as much as possible, avoid large gatherings and public transportation and to always wear a mask around others for at least two weeks. I needed proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of traveling and I was tested again before boarding. Every effort was taken to be masked and socially distanced with as little contact as possible by both the joining crew and those helping with the process. In my cabin I take my temperature twice a day (I was given my own thermometer to use) and report it electronically as well as noting if I have any COVID symptoms. When food is delivered to a little table that is placed outside my door (they knock to let me know it’s there), I am to wait until that person leaves to retrieve the food. I am not to open my cabin door without wearing a mask. When I’ve finished eating, I am to spray the items with the provided Virox (cleaning solution) and leave them outside my cabin. At the end of the quarantine period, I’ll be tested again, and then when I’m cleared by the medical team I’ll be able to leave my cabin in order to go to work. In my opinion, Princess is doing absolutely everything possible to minimize contact and possible cross-contamination. Pretty soon we’ll have a pretty isolated bubble!
For those of you who are loyal readers, you’ll know that my tendency is to get so busy on the ship that I spend my vacation recounting all of the adventures after my contract is over. My intention this contract is to keep as up to date as I possibly can. We’ll see how that goes. This week I have plenty of time to give you more details than you ever wanted (however, the internet in the middle of the ocean doesn’t seem to be quite strong enough to upload pictures). But these are the details and nuances that I was begging for from my friends who joined before me. What is quarantine REALLY like? What are the new procedures like? What do I need to know about working on a Royal Class ship? What do I need to know about working on a new build? What are the things you wish you’d known before? Unfortunately all of these new things become so routine that the learning curve is hard to remember. Or maybe it really isn’t that hard. I’ll let you know.
As I write this I am on Day 3 and I’m nowhere near bored yet. I’ve been watching The Good Fight (I loved the Good Wife) and Speechless (two shows that had been recommended to me but I hadn’t figured out how to watch them), The Love Boat, Fitness at Sea (my mom is a big fan) and the bridge cam. I’m working on a new Zumba routine, and I’ve decided to unpack a bit (even though I will have to repack to move to my crew cabin). So far I am absolutely loving this vacation at the start of my contract!