FIFTY!

Since this is my 50TH POST!!! I decided to compile another list of top 10 questions. The last time I did a top 10 questions post it was about questions that guests would ask me on a daily basis. This time, because I'm new to this ship, I thought I would make a top list of questions that other crew members ask the newbie. 

So here we go: 

1. What do you do on the ship?

2. How many contracts have you done?

3. What ships have you been on?

4. Oh, you've been on that ship! Do you know so and so? 

5. Who's your roommate? 

6. Where are you from?

7. What did you go to school for?

8. Have you ever been to any of these ports?

9. How do you like it so far?

and rounding it out is not question that is just of newbies but is asked on a port daily basis.

10. Did you get off today? 

So there it is. Those questions have been on repeat since I got here every time I've encountered somebody new - and that's pretty much everyday. 

Oh, also, I thought I would add in the ship's address just in case anybody feels like sending me a lovely little piece of home whether it be a card or some good old Canadian goodies. 

Regular Mail: 

Jodi Samler, 454120

Carnival Spirit

Carnival Australia

P.O. Box 2006

North Sydney

NSW 2059

Australia 

Registered Mail (packages):

Jodi Samler 454120

Carnival Spirit

℅  Carnival Australia

15 Mount Street

North Sydney

NSW 2060

Australia 

Sending love from Tasmania! 

Also, for those that don't have access to my Facebook to see pictures, that I would share a few on here. Enjoy! 

The Sydney Opera House my first night in Sydney 

The Harbour Bridge in Sydney 

Hanging with some Roos in at the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania! Roo selfie anyone? 

Right out of a Movie :)

It's been quite a whirlwind these past few days! 

After finally getting settled in my hotel room and getting a quick shower and nap in got ready to go out with Joel. We went for some mediterranean food and gelato in Newtown. Then we drove into the city to see the harbour at night. He couldn't stop laughing at my face and my reaction to seeing the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge coming around the bend into the city. I basically just kept repeating 'I can't believe I'm here!'. We went and parked and walked over to the harbour. Everything down there is sand stone and it looks amazing. Seeing the Opera House at night is a whole other sight than seeing it during the day. It's absolutely incredible. Then we walked over to walk under the bridge and I could see Luna Park across the water which was also a highlight. For those of you who don't know, I'm obsessed with Mary-Kate and Ashley and I watched Our Lips Are Sealed (one of their movies) before coming over here and walking around that area I was pointing out everything out from the movie. Yeah, I'm a dork. 

After a quick drink at a pub called Hero of Waterloo I went back to the hotel and craaaashed. Such a long day - amazing day - but loooong. 

The next morning I had to be in the lobby by 6:30am with the rest of the crew that was signing on that day and we got to the ship at about 7:45am. We handed in our passports and went through our orientation. I met my roommate, who is a dancer on the ship, while I was at breakfast that morning. I didn't really do a big tour of the ship or anything cause I've already been on this class of ship so I pretty much know where everything is, it's just a matter of learning what lounge is what. 

I've quickly learned that activities are SO much different on here than they are on an american ship. There are so many things that entertainment staff don't do on this ship that they would do on a ship out of the states. We don't do Groove for St. Jude which is a deck party where we raise money for the St. Jude's Children's Hospital (which makes sense because Australians wouldn't know what it is). We don't have a sail-away from Sydney party like we do on other ships. The entertainment staff isn't involved in Bingo! What?! The dancers take care of it all which is CRAZY to me. I've found all kinds of new sports that I've never heard of it and have been shadowing one of the other hosts all day following him to all the stuff such as the Fair Dinkum Golf Open, Bean Bag Bocce, Golf Chipping and theres some other ones that I haven't done before which is Backyard Cricket? No idea what that is but I guess I'll find out eventually. Something that I haven't done by myself before is also Karaoke which we do on a rotation which means we have to arrange the Carnival Legends show as well which makes me a little nervous but I guess I'll have to jump right in and do it! 

I'm about to host my first activity by myself. I still get nervous since it's always new equipment and who knows how to work the stuff. But the hosts have been SO great giving me all of the information that I need. The team is great - unfortunately 2 of them are leaving in the next few cruises but that's ship life. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming which is nice. I thought I knew a few people on here but turns out I know a lot more than I thought. Some of them I don't know KNOW but they are faces that I've seen on previous ships so it's nice going to the other side of the world and running into people you know. How many people can say that? That they just ran into somebody in Australia - right out of the movie stuff. 

This cruise is also kind of all over the place. The Spirit doesn't normally do such short itineraries - this is a 5 day, normally its 10-12 day cruises - and already we've had to cancel one of the ports because of weather down in Tasmania. We were supposed to have a sea day, then visit Hobart and Port Arthur but because Port Arthur is a tender port (meaning guests have to use a smaller boat to get to the island because we don't dock directly at it) it wouldn't be safe for us to use the tenders. So, insteaaadddd we're over-nighting in Hobart! We're going to be doing 2 full days in Hobart. Getting there at 7am on Wednesday and leaving at 4pm on Thursday and then a sea day back up to Sydney! that should be an exciting few days. 

Well, tonight is formal night, so I best be getting ready for that because I'm not going to have time between my trivia and the captain's celebration. Time to get pretty! 

Hope all is well back at home and I'm missing you! 

Wish you were here xo 

G'day mate?

Iiiiiiii'm off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz!

Not quite … but I did make it to Australia and I'm not quite sure where the wizard lives. The journey did have its ups and downs - and I'm not just talking about the 3 different planes I went on that went up and down ;) See what I did there … I'm the next headliner at The Punchliner comedy clubs on Carnival - everybody come check out a show or nahhhh. 

Let's start with the downs so things will look up at the end of this entry.

1. The United airlines desk at the Ottawa airport are pretty ace at avoiding eye contact. My family and I stood in line for almost an hour waiting to be checked in. In that time 4 different people were at the desk, none of whom were in any rush to help me - they were concerned about the girl that was at the desk already. Should they not have moved her aside and process the others through while someone else sorted out her stuff? 

2. On my first flight I was sat at the very LAST spot on the plane. Like, if I went any further I would have been in the toilet (along with the guy who got stuck in there haha) 

3. We ended up leaving Ottawa a little late so I was afraid I was going to miss my connection in Chicago. Why is it that if you EVER have to make a connecting flight, you always have to go from one end of the airport all the way to narnia to catch your next flight? We landed at 5:15pm (ottawa time) and my flight was supposed to start boarding at 5:25pm… Chicago time. After I RAN to make my connection and was a sweaty mess I looked up at the board at my gate and realized it was only 4:40pm and I had a good 45 mins before I was to board my flight to San Francisco. 

4. I discovered before leaving Ottawa that I had recorded to different passport numbers in places - one from my old passport that the US Customs agents ripped and the one that was on my now valid passport. I didn't have any trouble getting out of the country - but getting into Australia was another story. Mark (the very cute customs agent) asked if I had another passport and I explained to him what happened. Thankfully the immigration lady was able to figure it out in less than 5 mins and I was through! 

THE UPS:

1. I got to share a laugh with the flight attendant on the way to Chicago about the guy who got stuck in the bathroom. 

2. I also got a giggle out of the fact that my seat partner from Chicago to San Francisco looked like Vladimir Putin - he didn't just look like him though, he was also Russian. Weeeird. 

3. By the time I got to San Francisco I figured out the whole time change thing and didn't have to rush at all to my next gate. Thank god I learn from my mistakes. 

4. The guy I sat next to on the way to Australia was SUPER nice - we talked for a good chunk of the way before we both dozed off a bit. Him thanks to his sleeping pills and me just because I was ridiculously tired. After 2 'airline delicious' meals and countless movies and tv episodes later, we finally landed in Sydney - to an overcast rainy day. 

5. When I got to my shuttle bus area, a nice gentlemen from Hawaii helped me pile my suitcases into the back of the bus so that was a nice gesture helping out this lost Canadian. 

6. I had lunch at the restaurant in the hotel and watched an encore presentation of the US vs Slovenia hockey game … with another Canadian which was nice. Its just too bad we couldn't have watched a Canadian game. Next time I guess. 

7. I'm now just waiting for my friend Joel to come get me so we can go out for dinner! :) (and currently watching So You Think You Can Dance Australia and just gotta say that the US dancers have gotta step it up .. oh and why is Paula Abdul one of the judges?) 

Well, that was pretty much my day. Or 2 days. Or whatever. I don't know what's going on - it is 3:30pm on Feb 17 so most of you could be sleeping or not because its family day tomorrow at home for you lot. 

Not sure when the next time I'll be updating is but just know that I'm safe and sound in Oz and will be joining the ship tomorrow morning at the Sydney Harbour!