Ship Life

Life on board ship is simply complex. Essentially, I live on a floating resort. This resort has about 900 employees and hosts over 1800 guests. At 815 feet long, 115 feet wide with a tonnage of 70,606 this resort feels more like a city. Think about it. It is about the size of two football fields with end zones kissing. On my first day I was just sort of thrown in and told, “Good Luck finding things.”

As a ship musician my life can be pretty cushy as far as crew life goes. My cabin is the forward most cabin on deck four starboard side. It is small, but sufficient with a 21inch screen TV, desk, wardrobe, bathroom (or head to the navy folk), and bunk beds. The crew area of the ship has narrow hall ways that are made to cramp as many cabins in as possible. The crew cabins go from deck 3 to 8. In addition to cabins the crew area has a dance club, bar, gym, and two dining halls. Plus there is a print shop, tailor shop, dry cleaner, laundry mat, internet café, and smoking room. The problem with this seemingly well supplied crew area is the lack of windows, but venturing to guest areas provides all the outside views one can take. Do to my status I am privileged enough to be able to go in guest areas fairly freely.

The guest areas of the ship are quite remarkable. I have not even discovered it all and I have been aboard a week now. It is no wonder that I have not discovered it all when I put it into perspective. There are 14 plus one decks to explore. I head out to check out the piano bar known as Michael’s Club and end up sipping a coffee martini in the martini lounge. Needless to say, after my second martini, a chocolate martini, I still have not been to the piano club. On board we have a cinema/conference room, fully functioning theater, a grand dining room, 5 star spa offering services from hair cuts to acupuncture, fitness center, basketball court, running track, golf simulator, arcade, restaurant, coffee bar, two swimming pools (in addition to the crew pool), three hot tubs, Island café buffet (with sushi bar, pasta bar, pizzeria, and ice cream parlor) casino, ball room lounge, jazz lounge, 4 story atrium, and about 8 shops to browse. There are numerous more things on offer, but isn’t that enough. Essentially at any time of day I can find somewhere to eat, drink, or play.

Only one day we had fairly rough seas that made many sick, but I quite liked it. I would sit in my cabin as the waves slapped the haul. It was a meditative sound that lulled me quickly to sleep. Earlier that day, new crew was allowed the privilege of going to the bridge for a toast by the captain. The bridge was a large command center whose command of the boat was only challenged by the commanding view it provided.

The first spa service I believe I really need is a good pinching, because I still don’t believe that I will live on this ship for six months exploring the most beautiful ports in Europe, while playing music and twice a month I will be handed a large wad of cash. I wonder how much a good pinch runs and what the crew price will be.