I am in a transition phase at the moment, and I am really NOT good with change. I am in what we “cruisies”(that’s what we call ourselves, I swear) call install. Install is when the cast comes onto the ship and earns our full contract pay in the first 10 days by working 13 hours a day, every day. Alright, I exaggerate slightly, but it truly is the most exhausting part of the contract, emotionally and physically. We work diligently to get all the production shows up, go to training, do costume fittings, move into our new cabins and become acquainted with the new ship trying not to break any of the 374 rules we were briefed on in the first five minutes of being on board. We eat and sleep in between all of these things, and while we perform one show at night, we are rehearsing three different shows during the day. It’s nuts, and it’s a big love/hate relationship with the job. We love to hate our job.
This install period is quite different from any I’ve done before. I chose to extend on the good ol’ Island Princess until June, making my contract a full year here. So while performing for the final time with my previous (or OLD cast as they kept saying) I was also enjoying debut performances with my new cast. It was so odd. I felt like I was having an affair on my previous cast. By day I would joke around with and get to know my new cast mates, and at night I would celebrate birthdays and carry on with my current cast. I felt sneaky and secretive. It was also very odd to see my cast in the audience as spectators rather then sharing the stage with them. Now, before any of my new cast members read this and think “Oh, well. She doesn’t like us newbies!” Not so! I am very lucky to have a lovely bunch of eager, talented performers to take me through the next 6 months of my life, but as my fellow singer Eric pointed out, you become a little family at sea, and no matter how your family gets along, you are a team, and when your team disbands, it’s hard to witness, and it’s always the most difficult when you’re the one left behind.
I chose my fate, and I don’t regret my decision, (my niece is not thrilled with my decision but she doesn’t pay my Visa bill) but as I get over the first cruise hump of “I should have been home”-itis, I of course look back on the past six months and remember a lot of laughs, a lot of crazy stories, and a lot of crazy people. (You know who you are...Becky.) Anyway, like I said, through good times and bad our crazy family stuck together, dragging each other through hell and back, and even to the gym to do Turbo Jam when all I wanted to do was sleep. So, to any of you Shenanigans who take the time to read this, thank you for everything this contract. And to my new cast, thank you for making me feel like a member of your family so quickly. We’re going to have a lot of fun.
Seriously though, is it June 8th yet?
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