Some days are just a little bit…surreal. Not because of the day itself, but because of the day before.
You see, about twice a year the fleet has a one night cruise, they serve the purpose of relocating us from the end of the Alaska season to the beginning of the winter itineraries. Usually from Vancouver to Seattle or some such. This glorified and pricey ferry ride is – I think – probably sold so that the ship doesn’t waste fuel by sailing empty (don’t quote me on that, I have no idea if it’s true or not, just what I think might be a logical theory).
Of the 350 people who walked up the gangway yesterday in Seattle, a huge percentage fell into the one-night-only category. It may sound somewhat derogatory, but those are the ones that are easy to deal with. For those guests, we make sure the dance floors are clear, throw open all the bars and the buffet and just let them entertain themselves. They are only here for a night, they’re here to have a good time, and they almost always will because hey, good time not a long time right?
But behind the scenes, we are all busily ramping up for the other half of the embark. Because the flagship is never quite normal, and we never do things quite by half-measures, and this is no exception. The remainder of the passengers who joined us yesterday are doing so to get a jump start on the 50 day South Pacific. A Grand voyage in everything except name. Those guests are the GWVer’s or at least some of the, people who have sailed with us for so long that they know our jobs better than we do and as always , their tastes are simple, they simply want the best.
The GWV team is almost back together, which is very surreal for me as this isn’t the Grand Voyage, not even close, but the mentality is there, and this is the first time Amras has seen it. He’s done long voyages before of course, even done Grands, but he’s never met my team. This is my turf, and I should be at home here – and I am…
But at the same time I looked at Amras across the supper table the other night and confessed something that I had only just really come to understand: I have been sick and snappy and not quite right in my head the last 24 hours, and I couldn’t figure out why at first. But I did, all of a sudden, I did. I’m nervous about this voyage, I think I may be dreading it. Not because I don’t think I can do it, not because I’m not excited, none of those things…but because the last time I did a long voyage on this ship it nearly broke me, and I’ve not done one since. I ran away, far away, I mean hell I changed jobs! And now, I’m getting back on the horse and I’m…scared is too strong a word, but apprehensive, apprehensive is a good word.
So I’m just going to have to keep reminding myself, yes I know these people, yes I know this ship, and yes sometimes both those things can be hard to deal with. But I am not the girl I was when I nearly broke down, I am not the girl I was when I had a job that nearly beat me. I am so much stronger now and I have come a long way, and I’ve grown through more than I thought possible since I last did this..
So okay then…I can be nervous…but that doesn’t mean that I’m not kind of looking forward to getting back on the horse again.
Okay people…bring it on.
Because I’m Super Girl…and I’ve got this.