Working on a cruise ship is probably a lot like working at a summer camp. I worked at a summer camp for four years. We had week-long camps; everyone would come on Sundays and leave on Fridays. As soon as a group left, we would bust our butts to get the place ready for the next group: scrub bathrooms, disinfect mattresses, wash fingerprints off the windows, and inspect high adventure gear. We had to restock the gift shoppe and rake the beach by the lake. Bright and early the next morning, we'd be up and ready to go: khaki pants, brown belts, staff shirts and name tags. I'm on a cruise ship now; I'm a "passenger". It's pretty much the grown-up version of being a camper-here I am at the traveling boat camp for adults.
This morning I flew from London to Venice to board a Princess cruise ship at our first port of call: Venice/Civitavecchia. People laughed at me when I arrived at the check-in point. I guess rich, adult campers on 12-day cruises usually bring lots of rolling luggage instead of wearing their things in a small bag on their backs. I've always been convinced that traveling light is easiest, most convenient, best; now I'm feeling a bit insecure about it, though.
As soon as I found my cabin and unpacked, I took a water taxi to San Marcos Square. It's a beautiful day, and Venice is a beautiful city! I bought a purple glass ring to replace the orange glass ring I bought when I was here last year. Unfortunately, I have a bad habit of playing with my rings; I just couldn't leave that lovely, orange, glass ring alone until it broke into two pieces when it flew off my finger and into the glass window at Einstein Bros. Bagels on Walton Street. I quit wearing rings after that, but it's probably time to start again. Now I'm just walking around, enjoying the sites, until it's time to go back to the ship for dinner.
I just realized I haven't seen my family yet...
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