towards the end of cruise

Yesterday was Cartegena again, but it was really hot out, so we didn’t go out.

We had a boat drill in the morning, which sucks because we wake up at 10 and then go stand around in life jackets for 45 minutes until they say we can go.

I guess I should describe a boat drill to you, since I keep talking about it.

*bing bong* Ladies and gentlemen, in about 30 minutes we will be having a crew boat drill, this is for the crew only, it is only a drill.

The 30 minute warning is pretty much our call to get up and start looking decent, because *bing bong* at the end of this announcement a crew boat drill will begin BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP (7 short and one long blast means get to your muster station). We grab our life jackets and put them on, and everyone is groggy but nicely dressed. Chelle and I and a most of my friends are (conveniently) in Muster Station E, which as I mentioned before, means we don’t have to participate in the passenger boat drills, which is fantastic. Station E is also in the Martini Bar, which is one of my favorite lounges. We’re supposed to stand still with no talking or laughing, but no one does. We stand there for about 20 minutes until there is one more BEEEP and an announcement to go to our lifeboat positions. We all have different lifeboats that we are in, so if this wasn’t a drill it would be the point where we’d say goodbye and hopefully see you back on shore. The lifeboat station part is the lame part, because its outside and usually hot, and we stand there for a very long time while they call peoples numbers to make sure everyone is there. And everyone is in life jackets and there is no personal space at all. So we stand there until the final *bing bong* telling us the drill is now over. Then the people swarm back downstairs to put their life jackets away and resume normal life.

Anyhow, after the boat drill is my favorite part, because that means we’re all awake enough to go upstairs for breakfast. The downstairs staff mess breakfast is very early in the morning, I think it ends at 8:30. I haven’t made it to that one at all. But the upstairs main buffet is open until 11:30, so we always go up there and eat a lovely breakfast, fruit and yogurt and eggs and bacon, and coffee! Breakfast around here is a rarity because we tend to sleep until lunchtime. 

Not much going on today. We're bookin it back to Florida! if you want a phone call on sunday, let me know! :)