Grandma Jarmila, Grandpa Ed and Me at the dessert extravaganza after the show ENCORE!

Grandparents in the Caribbean

Sorry it has taken me so long to put up this post and that there are no pictures as of now.  Seems like the internet picks times it likes to work and right now one picture is taking about half an hour to upload and seeing as I pay for my internet usage I am not going to be doing that right now.  I am going to try to get on the internet tomorrow in Tampa and put up the pics for this post.  I also have some video!


 I am sitting here in bed after a double show day and a glass of wine while the ship is gently rocking back and forth in a cradling type of way thinking about how I am getting a handle of this.  It has been three weeks this coming Sunday and I am surprised with how fast this is going to go.  I am already almost 1/8^th through my adventure!  However, I am beginning to miss a lot of people especially Joe and I am just thankful that I have the limited internet that I do.  That being said, it has been really comforting to have my grandparents (Ed and Jarmila Moore) on the ship with me for this last week in the Caribbean.  They have seen EVERY show I am in including the fact that we do the same show at 8pm and 10pm.  I also know for a fact that Grandma probably annoyed every single person she sat by during the shows saying “that’s my granddaughter” because people know me and I have never met them.  It is really cute and so far all of the shows have been great for them.  The entire casts looks for them in the audience and does the shows for them as well.  As far as our travels, we went to Key West again and this time I could get off the ship and let me tell you it was such a beautiful day and I was so happy to revisit that wonderful place.  We ended up taking a trolley tour that told us the history of the island (and since I am a geek at heart I LOVE that kind of stuff)  It was also go because it was covered because I am avoiding a sunburn at all costs. Let me tell you though, I am getting quite the tan which will be fading as soon as I get to Europe…oh well.  After our trolley tour of course we had to get some key lime pie so Grandpa and I got frozen and chocolate dipped key lime pie on a stick that was featured of the food network (and may I geek out again and say that I watch the food network religiously)….and in case you were wondering it was delicious.  The next place we went to where I could actually get off was in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  Initially we were all going to go kicking up to Dunn’s River Falls by Falmouth, Jamaica but there was so much turbulence that ship couldn’t get there and we had to port in Montego Bay.  It was so rocky that the water came out of the pool on the 11th deck.  Crazy! The grandparents decided they didn’t want to get off the boat that day but that didn’t stop me.  I went with a very large group of crew members to Devil’s Cove Beach and ended up playing sand volleyball and drinking Red Stripe on the beach.  Can I just say that Red Stripe tastes so much better in Jamaica!!!  All of that I am very ok with. 

Today is the last day in the Caribbean then there is 13 days at sea to get over to Europe.  That is going to be a long and rocky 13 days!!

Pictures will be up tomorrow so check back!!

Holding Tigers in Costa Maya and the Opening of Our Last Show, Encore!

Me holding a baby tiger in Costa Maya!!

First Dress in Encore!

Some, NOT ALL, my jewelry in Encore!

First of all, let me say that opening our last show last night was wonderful.  It is also my feature show because the whole show is Ryan and I singing classical duets and solos all night with me wearing the most gorgeous dresses.  We got a standing ovation both times and, for what it’s worth, people who have taken the cruise before many times and had seen other casts do it said “it was the best Encore! they had seen.”  It was a fun and fabulous show and I can’t wait to do all the shows for my grandparents (Ed and Jarmila Moore) who are getting on the boat tomorrow.  They are staying this one last week while we are here in the Caribbean.  Then it is off to Europe!!!  Woo hoo!

 

Secondly, I HELD A BABY TIGER YESTERDAY!!!  We were in Costa Maya, Mexico yesterday and I really didn’t get too much time since we had our opening that night so we had some lunch and shopped around a little bit and stumbled upon a baby tiger (WHAT?!) that you could hold and all the proceeds went to a cub refuge in Mexico.  I have to tell you I was shaking I was so excited to hold this little cutie.  Her name was Sophie and she had the biggest brown eyes and her paws were almost as big as my hands already!!  Whoa!  She was also extremely sweaty but it was well worth being soaked in tiger sweat.  I seriously have been telling everyone because that made my last two weeks so far!!

Costa Maya, Mexico

Madeline and me looking for food!

Sohpie

I just can’t believe that we have only one more week here in the Caribbean and then we are at sea for 13 days with a small stop in Bermuda.  That’s going to be a long time to be on a ship and supposedly the seas get realllly rocky.  I’m gonna have to find a hobby for those days.

Pictures of the MS Ryndam

I know I haven't been the best in the last four or five days in updating but plan on doing so again tomorrow!!  This week has been very crazy with the opening of the last couple shows.  One of which is my feature show.  There have long days and many midnight rehearsals but there are still stories and more pictures to come tomorrow!!:)

On one hand, we were in Honduras today and the Captain said it wasn't safe to port there so no one could get off to the ship.  Needless to say we had many bored patrons just sitting in on rehearsal today just kind of watching.:)   I am going to try to post pics of the dresses that I wear in ENCORE tomorrow so you can see them.  They are HUGE!! And the jewelry rivals the size of the dresses!!   Lets just say Ive got some serious bling.  Otherwise the last couple days have been rehearsing and luckily tonight we don't have a midnight rehearsal like we have been doing so I can get some rest.  Woo Hoo!


These pics that I posted here are ones that I could manage to take without anyone seeing that I had my phone out (against the rules).  I hope it gives you a little idea of how beautiful this ship is in general.

Signing off until tomorrow! I can't wait to tell you all about the opening of Stardust Lounge and Encore with pictures.  

the view outside the Lido Deck (the pool and dining quarters)

View from a window down to the water

Swimming Area (Lido Deck)

Top view of one of the two pool areas on board

Sam standing in the Crows Nest (the bar it the very top of the ship).  The views are fabulous!!

The Promenade that goes all the way around the ship

The Large fountain in the center of the ship that is three stories tall

There is a casino on the ship!!

one of the many lounging areas on the ship

The Pinnacle Grill- one of the finest dining areas on the ship.  I'm not allowed to eat there yet!

the view from the very end of the ship out to the sea

Grand Cayman and Cozumel

Grand Cayman right when you get off the boat

On Seven Mile Beach

Things have been moving along and it is hard to believe that I have been on the ship for only a week today.  There is also a feeling that the ship has its own time.  The past week felt like 2 days but I feel like this coming month will feel like a year.  That being said, I got to visit a few more fabulous places and I haven’t had any shows that I was in so I really got to enjoy the past few days.  First of all, Grand Cayman has the most beautiful white sandy beaches I have seen so far.  The sand was so fine and white, the water was such a beautiful clear blue green and jumping into the ocean was so warm.  It really could be described only as paradise.  We first got there and only have a few hours in port so we walked directly to the well-known Seven Mile Beach and it is very neat to walk by the fish market of freshly caught fish and the cabanas with people underneath.  There was once again fresh young coconut if you wanted to get one.  We ended up finding that great spot on the beach about a mile away from the ship and spend about 2 hrs being lazy on the beach and swimming.  Really I think I could do that every day for the rest of my life.  Granted I did get pretty good sunburn even after I put on the 70spf block.  Bring on the tan!  Seeing as I probably will lose it all when we get to the Netherlands and NorwayJ All I know is that, Grand Cayman will be a place that I will go to again asap.  So after we had a wonderful day on the beach in Grand Cayman we ported in Cozumel, Mexico.  I have to say that this place is crazy fun but when I say crazy I mean crazy. We, meaning the girls since the boys were in rehearsal, got off the ship around lunch time and ended up doing some shopping and decided to get something to eat.  Madeline had been to Mexico before and known about this place called Carlos and Charlie’s and said that it is the epitome of Mexican festivities and I had nooooooo idea what was coming.  We walk in and sit down and this place is already sensory over load.  Everyone is throwing fake bugs at you, immediately you are crowned with a balloon hat while dodging the conga line, and two minutes within sitting down all four of us girls have a woman pouring some sort of fruity shot directly into our mouths.  Whoa.  At first I was a little overwhelmed with the festive people.  However, a few fruity shots and tequila shot later (Hey, when in Mexico) It was easy to get into the fun.  After our “lunch” we had heard about a crew only bar in Cozumel from some of the people we worked. “Built by ship crew for ship crew,” and it was nothing short of fabulous.  It was called the NO NAME BAR in the Hotel Barracuda and you first walk in and it was disguised as a quiet cigar bar with people quietly playing pool but once you walked to the back it opened up to the pool bar right on the ocean.  Wow…where am I?  We saw many people there that we worked with and sat down and dug our toes in the sand.  After a little while there was also sort of a 25 ft tall rock wall that people were jumping off into the ocean and after seeing many people do it and still come up alive I had to try it.J Needless to say, the rest of our day in Cozumel was spent at the NO NAME BAR just taking in the sun and swimming in the beautiful ocean.  I can’t say that it helped my sunburn though!!  I am glad I am getting this time now to enjoy a little bit of the Carribean because next week is going to be a busy show week for me.  My feature show, ENCORE, is going to opening and I have to tell you the dresses are yet again unbelievable.  At least if I just stink at my job, the audience will be dazzled with dresses!!  HA!

Taxi Ride to downtown Cozumel

Taxi Ride to downtown Cozumel

I thought this was an interesting way to advertise cigarettes

at Carlos and Charlie's in Cozumel....oops.

Carlos and Charlie's in Cozumel

NO NAME BAR in Cozumel

NO NAME BAR in Cozumel

NO NAME BAR in Cozumel

Tomorrow was start our second cruise and leave from Tampa tonight. Here goes another week.  Woo hoo!

The Opening of Bob Mackey’s Broadway and Falmouth, Jamaica

Goodnight My Someone in Bob Mackey's Broadway

Seasons of Love in Bob Mackey's Broadway

Yesterday we opened our second show and I have stay say…two shows and two standing ovations.  The audience loved it and it was soooo much fun to do.  I got just a few pictures of the luxurious dresses and the set but there should be more to come.  The shows were at 8pm and 10pm and the 10pm audience was obviously more liquored up but definitely more fun and there was only one time where I really felt the boat rock to a point where I have to brace myself on stage.  Always an interesting thing to deal with while performing but it keeps you on your toes…pun intended.  Here are some pretty fun pics from the last dress rehearsal before the show:

getting ready for the show

first of seven dresses in the show

The Bob Mackey's Broadway set

After the show we all went out for drinks in the Crow’s Nest bar at the top of the boat.  Being dark we there wasn’t much of a view but I had two incredible martinis, both in which I have to figure out the recipes for, and I got them for $7. Oh ship life is going to be good.

Me, Sam, Madeline, and Chelsea in Jamaica

"No Problem Mon" cookies

Man on stilts leaning against a wall

Today we docked in Falmouth, Jamaica and I happen to have the next 4 days off since they are rehearsing shows I am not in!!  Woo hoo!  I went with the other girls in the cast (Chelsea, Madeline, and Sam) and didn’t get to spend too much time there because we docked late due to high winds.  Thankfully, our captain is super concerned about safety and I am OK WITH THAT.  However, I still managed to drink the water from a young coconut (one of my favorite things), see the good and sketch part of town, enjoy a Red Stripe Beer where it is made, and take a few pictures.  The place is neat but the sketch part was pretty sketch to us so we didn’t stay off the boat very long and ended up going back to the boat and sunbathing on the deck.  There was also a man in one of the gift shops just passing out coconut rum to everyone he saw and after he saw us four women he drained the rest of the bottle in our coconuts and we went back to the boat a little tipsy!!  HA!  In all I would say it was a good trip to Jamaica. 

Yep...that's our ship towering over the port in Jamaica

Young Coconut with Rum in it:)

Tomorrow…going to be on the beach in the Cayman Islands.

Day 2- Rehearsing in Key West

Key West

Today was another busy day of rehearsing our second show BOB MACKEY'S BROADWAY. Luckily we do not actually perform this show until tomorrow so we can actually get some rest:) This show is going to be gorgeous! As soon as I get some of the pictures I will be posting them. The dresses are unbelievable and there are a few that cost over $10,000!!!

On the other hand, It is 3am in the morning and I am really just settling in after our last rehearsal of the day which started at midnight. We have the craziest hours this week because the theatre still has to be used for events so that leaves us rehearsing through the night and, sadly, we weren't able to get off because of rehearsal but our next port is Falmouth, Jamaica and sine they are rehearsing the boys show all the girls get to have a girl day in Jamaica on Wednesday! I am OK with that:) I also did manage to get one picture of the beautiful color of the ocean here in Key West.

As far as getting used to the ship I
finding out that I DO NOT get sea sick. Woo hoooo! I'm one of the lucky ones. This morning it was pretty rocky and the ebb and flow of the ship made me feel like I was in a "fun house." Good thing I like things like that:) My room is also coming together. Finally got unpacked just now. Here are a few picks! One is of the room from the door, one is from the bed, and one is of my incredibly spacious bathroom;) at least the shower works well.

I am hoping that I will have more time to tomorrow to actually start taking pictures of the interior of the ship but until then. It is time for me to sleep.

More to come!

Candice