Spare Some Change

I’m not going to count my chickens before they hatch, but the last 48 hours on board the ship have been a real breath of fresh air.  We recently went into a dry dock, where the ship gets put into a dock, all water is drained out and they paint, repair, re-carpet and generally revamp the ship in 10 days.  It’s amazing to see the ship out of its element and stripped of its gold plated glamour for a few days.

With this dry dock came a big change in crew as well, which can mean a major shift in morale and overall comfort.  As a crew member, regardless of company or ship, we generally do a 6-8 month contract in one stretch.  From Australia to Alaska, each crew member is separated from their family and friends.  Yes, we chose the life and job we have, but it’s still hard.  I’m the first to admit that I am not good with big change, and the first time I came onto a ship it was not only the first time I was living with a stranger, it was also the first time I had ever even seen a cruise ship, let alone lived on one.  Your schedule changes, eating habits are different, and you meet people from all over the world just by walking down a hallway.  You must learn to tolerate people who are not used to the words “excuse me” or “please”, and you must adapt to a class system that while not completely tragic, is startling when you’re used to eating or going where you want, when you want.

A 6 month contract can feel like forever when you are dealing with people you don’t always mesh with.  This is especially hard at sea, and different from any land job.  There is no escape here at sea, no secrets left locked up.  Work is your home, and vice versa.  A job on land brings the relief of neutral zones like the gym, a night out to the movies or your own home, but not the case on a ship.  Personal problems are hard to leave at the door, and it can become difficult to see the light at the end of the 6 month tunnel. 

Coming back from this dry dock started a very long 9 month journey for Adam and I.  We have decided to extend our time here on the ship to save up and keep working consistently.  To come back to a bright clean ship with fresh faces and a new exciting outlook on the job is a great way to start this long journey. 

So while the changes to the Island may not be apparent to those passengers who join us for a short time, the most important changes are those that have lifted morale and helped let a little bit of light through the tunnel that once seemed to just be a dead end.

Change, though sometimes scary, is good.   For now.