A Foggy Day in London Town

Posted on June 15, 2014 by CaseyT

Our flight to the UK landed around 10:30am, so we were able to drop our bags at the hotel, clean up a bit, and go into London for the day! Although I was pretty sleep deprived, I headed out there with two of the other dancers as soon as possible.

Hello, London!

We caught the tube at the airport and came out right in front of Big Ben! The clock tower is much larger than I’d realized from pictures. The whole building is beautiful!

Big Ben

Next, we walked across the bridge to look at the London Eye. We chose to keep exploring, rather than waiting in line to ride the Eye. We did, however, wait in line at a nearby café. Coffee was very necessary to fight the jet lag!

London Eye

We then walked back across the bridge to stop at Westminster Abbey. The architectural details are really impressive! I found myself quoting the London episode from “Friends” while we were wandering around. Ex: “What did you think of the Abbey, Chandler? Best abbey I’ve ever seen!”

After asking for some directions, we walked along St. James Park to Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, we missed the Changing of the Guards, but it was still nice to see a few of them marching around.

Buckingham Palace

From there, we walked to Trafalgar Square and then to Piccadilly Circus. We walked through a massive tourist shop before moving on.

Piccadilly

Next, we went to Covent Garden. We stopped in Pineapple Studios to look around. It reminded me very much of the old Broadway Dance Center studio. Classes of all styles were packed! The audition notice board also had a sign up for a Royal audition.

Lots of flags!

Soon after leaving, we walked into a vocal director from the company. He was in town for the audition. I never expected to see a familiar face on the street in London! Our final stop was for some fish and chips. I have a feeling I’ll be eating that regularly this contract!

Guards at Buckingham Palace

The ride home seemed longer than the trip out, since we were quite tired. We squeezed onto a free bus to the hotel from the airport tube station. As soon as I got to my room, I started organizing my things for a 5:15am departure!

In front of the palace

The bus ride to the ship was easy, and the sign on procedures went pretty smoothly. I’ve now been on board for 4 days, and am settling in well. I’ve made some new friends and seen a few old ones.

Take me back to London!

Rehearsals have been intense, but good. Our install choreographer is very nice, so everyone is in pretty high spirits. We open our first show the day after tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Born to Fly

Posted on June 10, 2014 by CaseyT

The last week of rehearsals was intense. We were running all 3 shows, and also cleaning our Vegas show to get ready for our office run. An “office run” is when we perform one production show in front of the staff, other casts in the studios, and local family and friends at the end of the rehearsal period. It allows the staff to ensure that we are ready for the ship and are maintaining the integrity of the shows. Since we were the only cast in rehearsals for a few days, we also had staff members pop in to watch us run the other two shows.

The cast

By the time we were performing on Friday, I was worn out! Learning three shows was physically demanding, but was also mentally exhausting. There are so many details in the choreography, and some of the techniques are still sort of unfamiliar, so my brain was never really resting. Despite my exhaustion, the office run went really well! The whole cast felt happy with our performance, and we got some nice feedback form the audience. I had some family member in attendance, and really enjoyed talking with them after the show.

Office Run

The following day, we were back at the studio! We spent Saturday cleaning our ballroom show, and Sunday worked on the Welcome number, Farewell show, and our Rock themed production show. It was a busy day, but I feel much more confident with all the material now!

We match! Cast jackets!

Sunday and Monday new casts were arriving. 4 of my friends from my last ship are now here! It was so great catching up with them. I’m excited to hear about their upcoming contracts, but selfishly wish they could come with me! I’m still getting used to the constant goodbyes that are part of this lifestyle.

Friends

I spent Monday running errands and packing. This evening, we will be flying to London! We land in the morning, and have the rest of the day to go into the city and explore. It’s been years since I’ve been to London, so I’m really excited. The following morning, we will drive out to join the ship, and then the real madness begins!

My people 🙂

I feel like this rehearsal period has flown by! I’m loving my cast, and worked with some great choreographers. It has been such a positive experience thus far, and I can’t wait to see what the next few months will bring!

Bye, bye Po!

The Final Countdown

Posted on June 2, 2014 by CaseyT

Big news! There is just over one week left until we leave for the ship!

Last week was packed with excitement. We finished learning our third and final show, and did our first run through. I have to be honest, this show is hard! It is the most technically demanding show I’ve done with the company, and also requires a lot of stamina. When I get more comfortable with the choreography, I think I will enjoy it a lot, but at the moment, I feel somewhat overwhelmed! I appreciate the challenge, though.

Something to smile about! Puss in Boots stopped by rehearsal!

4 other casts left to join their ships last week. A few days before they left, each cast performed one of their shows at the studio. It was great to see what the other casts have been doing! The studios will be lonely this week without them. Other casts arrive at the end of the week, right before we leave!

Gloria is leaving us, too!

Last weekend, the my cast got together for a barbecue by the pool. It was so nice to spend time with my new “family” outside of the studio. I feel lucky to be with such a great group of people!

Cast barbecue

Two cast members had birthday last week, so we had a couple nights of celebrations. I’m already trying to come up with theme ideas for my birthday. It’s less than 3 months away! Theme suggestions are welcome!

With the birthday girl

I’ve spent my Sunday sitting around and relaxing. I’ll need a lot of energy this week! We’ll be running all 3 shows and cleaning them up. Friday, we perform the Vegas show at the studio. I can’t believe the rehearsal period is already coming to a close!

Up and Down and All Around

Posted on May 24, 2014 by CaseyT

Always posing

The past couple weeks have been busy! We’ve already finished learning our second show, a Vegas themed production. It’s a very diverse show. In the opening and finale, I’m a showgirl, complete with a rhinestone bikini and feathers, but in the middle of the show, I do a fierce number to “Dark Lady”, a fun number to a Bette Midler song, and at one point, even dance with boxing gloves! It’s a little challenging to switch into so many styles, but is very fun to do.

Rainy day in the studio

We’ve now moved onto our third production show. So far, I’ve learned the opening number, full of more turns than I’ve ever done on stage, and half of “Queen of the Night”. This show also has a lot of variety, and is known for being technically difficult and requiring a lot of stamina. I’m enjoying the rehearsals, but am looking forward to a day off on Sunday to rest!

Kristin Chenoweth

In other news, I got to meet (or pose with) Kristin Chenoweth! She visited the studios for an event for a new ship in the fleet, and I was able to snag a photo and get her autograph. I’ve been a big fan of hers since I saw “Wicked” in New York. In person, she was lovely. She was so kind to all of the cast members, and looked gorgeous.

So exciting!

I’ve been enjoying getting to know the other girls in my cast. Each night, we end up chatting for hours. They’re all so down to earth! We went out for a “girls’ night” last week and made mojitos at the apartment on Saturday. This weekend, we’re planning to do a cast barbecue, and maybe even go out for Sunday brunch!

Homemade Mojitos

I’ve been having a difficult time adjusting to the busy schedule while also maintaining a long distance relationship. My beau, who I met on my last ship, was just sent to a ship in the Caribbean. His hours are very different than mine, so we’ve not been able to talk as much as usual. As a result, I’ve been somewhat emotional. My amazing sister sent me a box of “happy food” to try to cheer me up. Supposedly goji berries and hemp seeds help to boost your mood, so I’ve added them to my diet! I don’t know if they actually help, but I smile every morning thinking of my sister while I add goji berries to the top of my cereal.

Happy food!

Overall, things are going really well. I’m looking forward to finishing the last show, and getting ready for the ship. We sign on in less than 3 weeks! More stories coming soon.

This is My Dance Space

Posted on May 9, 2014 by CaseyT

I’ve been in rehearsals now for over two weeks. In that time, I’ve learned many new styles and techniques. The first show we learned was a ballroom show, so I had to learn cha cha cha, foxtrot, quickstep, salsa, rumba, and lindy. It was a lot of information to take in, but I really enjoyed it. Our choreographer was an excellent teacher and was very supportive, and the featured ballroom couple would help the rest of us with some technical details.

The day after we finished learning the show, we performed it in the studio for some of the staff. It was a little stressful, because the material was so new, but was also very exciting. Having an audience gave us all a lot of energy. I already loved this show, but now I’m excited to put it on stage. It will be really fun to perform.

Post-performance celebration

Yesterday, we started working on our second show, a Vegas themed production. It felt strange to be doing jazz again! I’m looking forward to learning more today. We get to dance to some great music, and I’ve heard the costumes are pretty fabulous.

Some of the boys stretching

It’s shocking for me to think that I’ve only been working with this group of people for 2 weeks. I feel like I’ve gotten to know them very quickly. The first weekend, we went out to a Mexican restaurant for a cast dinner. After of in-studio performance, we celebrated with a drink down the street. This weekend, we’re celebrating a cast member’s birthday. It’s an energetic bunch of people, but I think I’ll really enjoy working with them for the next 6 months.

Mexican restaurant mmm

Check back next week for more!

Time for an Adventure!

Posted on April 26, 2014 by CaseyT

One of the loveliest sunsets of vacation

My vacation has finally ended. The past 3 months have been a bit of a blur! I traveled a lot, and was blessed to be able to spend time with friends and family. Here are some of the highlights.

Snow! Didn’t see that in Australia!

After about a week back “home” in San Francisco, I went to visit a very close friend in Portland. We were mainly focused on catching up, but also managed to do some tourist activities. She took me downtown a few times and convinced me, quite easily, that I should move to the Pearl District when I’m done with ships. We also drove out to Multnomah Falls. Due to heavy snow, we weren’t able to climb up the bridge, but the view was amazing!

Charlottesville, VA

I went back to SF for a training course, and then packed up my winter gear and went to visit family in Charlottesville, VA. I enjoyed some much needed time with my sisters, took a few yoga classes, and played in the snow! Unfortunately, I don’t know how to drive in snow, so I was housebound for most of my visit. I’m now an expert at snow angels, however!

Snow Angel Pro

My next stop was Romania. I went to visit a gentleman from the ship that lives outside of Bucharest. Early in the trip, we went to Peles, a beautiful castle built in the German Renaissance style.

Peles

We also went on a tour in Bucharest. Our first stop was the Museum of the Romanian Peasant, where we were able to walk around a village of sorts featuring houses, mills, and chapels in traditional styles from across the country.

Museum of the Village

After lunch at a Lebanese restaurant, we went to the House of Parliament. It is the second largest government building, after the Pentagon. We took a tour inside, during which I learned a lot about the country. The decor is beautiful, and I was fascinated to learn that all of the materials used to build and decorate the building, except for one set of doors, are from Romania.

Parliament

Towards the end of my trip, we went to Brasov. We went up to a ski slope to meet some friends, wandered in the city, and took advantage of the nightlife. It was a great week. I was able to explore a new country, learn more about a special friend, and meet some wonderful people.

See ya, Romania

Upon returning to the States, I spent some time with one of my sisters in Northern Virginia. From there, a friend from the ship picked me up to drive to New York. There, I saw a few ship folks, including my roomie, and some recently relocated friends from SF. I did a few touristy activities, like going to the MoMA and walking through Central Park, but mostly made the rounds to see my people.

Washington Square Park

My next stop was Texas. I was able to spend a good few weeks with my parents, see my old friends perform with the ballet, throw my best friend a bridal shower, and do a photoshoot with an old dance buddy. It was nice to be home, but I was anxious to get moving again. I needed to feel like I had a purpose once more.

Bridal shower

For the past few days, I’ve been back in Florida. I just started rehearsals for my next ship, the Adventure. In the past 3 days, we’ve learned a hip hop routine, a lindy, cha cha cha, foxtrot, and quickstep. Only one of the dancers from my last cast is with me this time, so I’ve also been busy getting to know my new group. So far, things are going well! Check back next week for more updates from rehearsals!

Returning to the Real World

Posted on February 11, 2014 by CaseyT

I’ve now been home for about a week and a half. In that time, I’ve reflected a lot on my experiences the past 8 months. Overall I had an excellent first contract. I was challenged in many ways, but also liberated. I saw many new places and met some wonderful people. Returning to “the real word”, normal life, has proven to be a bit of a challenge. Right now, I don’t want to be in the real world. I want to continue the adventures. I want to seize the day, take chances, make mistakes, and live my life. But more on that later…

Voyager of the Seas

First, I want to share a few of the highlights from my contract on the Voyager of the Seas.

Best Tours

The Great Wall of China

Dancing on the Great Wall

Riding Elephants in Pattaya

Riding elephants in the rain

Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane

I cuddled a koala!

Best Beaches

Bondi Beach, Sydney

Bondi, famous for a reason!

Manly Beach, Sydney

Relaxing, sunny spot

Jeju, South Korea

Small and beautiful

Best Nightlife

Pattaya, Thailand

Everybody in da club!

Busan, South Korea

Overnight = endless fun

Most Beautiful Countries

New Zealand

Milford Sound. No filter needed.

Taiwan

A little bit of everything. A lot of beauty!

Favorite Overall Ports

Sydney

Full of possibilities

Nagasaki

Nagasaki Bridge

Obviously, I had a pretty incredible time.

While working on the ship, many things were taken care of for me. I felt more relaxed than usual, and loosening the reigns a bit allowed me to grow. I was less stressed, more carefree. I felt like a person, rather than a walking calendar. I was less focused on budgeting, and more focused on experiencing. It was wonderful.

San Francisco, my home sweet home

When I returned to San Francisco, I felt like I never left. While it was comforting to return to such a familiar environment, I expected to feel different. I’ve changed, so why hasn’t the city? Shouldn’t I be seeing things differently? The longer I spend there, the more I feel myself slipping into my old skin. I’m acting like the person my friends remember, rather than the person I’ve become. The main challenge of this vacation will be learning how to blend the two versions of me. I must learn to face reality without losing my sense of freedom.

Leaving the ship

Over the next few months, I’ll be traveling around the country to visit family and friends. I was very isolated on the ship, so now there are a lot of people I want to reconnect with! During this time, I will not be posting. The blog will be up and running again at the end of April when I return to Florida to start rehearsing for my second contract. Then, I’ll be embarking on a European tour on the Adventure of the Seas.

All smiles 🙂

Thank you for reading, and stay tuned!

Buddies, Beach, Brunch, and Bars

Posted on February 3, 2014 by CaseyT

Since my Sample of Sydney post, I spent a few more fabulous days exploring the city. I wanted to share some of the other highlights.

Picnic at the Botanic Gardens

The gang at a picnic

One of my fellow dancers and close friends had to sign off due to an injury. Luckily, she lived outside Sydney and was able to drive in to spend the day with us when we were in port. One such day, we invited our cast, some of the ice skaters, and a few other friends from the ship to join us for a potluck style picnic at the Botanic Gardens. We had an abundance of food, a frisbee to play with, and great company! It was one of my favorite afternoons in the city.

Manly Beach

Manly Beach

We took the ferry from Sydney Harbor, right next to the ship, to Manly Beach. Between the ferry terminal and the beach were a number of cute shops and restaurants. The beach was beautiful. It was less crowded than Bondi, so we had space to play frisbee. Again. There was no shade to be found, so I unfortunately had to retire early. My poor, pale skin can only take so much sun! If I am able to return in the future, I hope to take advantage of the surfing lessons available!

The Coffee Club

Girls reunited at brunch

Our last day in Sydney, the remaining female dancers in the cast met our local friend and injured castmate for brunch. We had been to The Coffee Club two or three times already, and enjoyed it every time! The eggs benedict is amazing! We ended up sitting there for hours, catching up and laughing. It was a great setting for a friend date.

I’ve also visited a Coffee Club in Noumea, New Caledonia! Obviously, I’m a fan.

Barhopping Near the Port

Walking near the harbor

After brunch, we met up with a few other friends to grab a drink. We ended up passing through a few bars, and enjoyed a nice walk along the way. Our first stop was Jackson’s on George, an Irish pub with a patio in front and, best of all, wifi! Next, we attempted to go to Palmer & Co, a speakeasy that one of the guys accidentally stumbled across on a previous port day, but it was closed. We continued on to Hart’s Pub where we found a nice table outside and a nice pint of cider. Our last stop was a bit of a hike away, but is one of the oldest pubs in Sydney. We were seeking Lord Nelson, but ended up stopping nearby at the Hero of Waterloo. The bar was recently renovated, but is in a great area, full of character, and has a great selection on tap. It was an awesome way to spend our last afternoon in Sydney!

I’m going to miss this city, but am so glad I was able to have such wonderful experiences there!

Soaking in Suva

Posted on January 31, 2014 by CaseyT

Slippin slide

My second to last cruise on the Voyager included a stop in Suva, Fiji. I got off the ship with a small group of my fellow dancers, with plans to meet some other friends at a resort. Upon talking with a cab driver, we learned that the resort we had planned to go to was on an island accessible only by boat, so we set off for a different hotel, The Pearl South Pacific.

Beautiful beach

Our driver was quite a character. He admitted to liking crew members better than guests, because we asked less questions. Just because we weren’t asking questions, doesn’t mean we didn’t get answers! For the entire 45 minute drive, the only time he shut his mouth was when he ran into a gas station to get a Fijian brand of Cheetos for us… without us asking.

Strike a pose

We started with lunch, a cocktail and fish burger, then hit the beach. The water was warm and beautiful! After about an hour, I decided I needed some shade, so we went by the pool to find me an umbrella. Shortly after we relocated, it started to thunder. Minutes later, the skies opened up! There was thunder, lightning, and pouring rain.

Storm is coming!

Surprisingly, we were pleased rather than bothered by the storm. After spending so much time inside the ship, the sound and smell of rain were oddly comforting. We sat by an open window until the rain died down, then found our driver to head back “home”.

It was a great day with a fun group of friends. I highly recommend this resort if you ever find yourself in Suva!

A Fantastic Day in Fiji

Posted on January 19, 2014 by CaseyT

First Landing

On our most recent stop in Lautoka, Fiji our Cruise Director, Luke, organized a cruise division outing to a nearby resort called First Landing. We had shuttle service to and from the resort, as well as a buffet lunch. This was the first day I was able to get off the ship in Fiji, and I loved every minute of it!

Entering the resort

The resort had a large pool with a volleyball net, an outdoor bar, attentive albeit slow servers, beach access, kayaking, and even a small putting green. I started the day with a dip in the pool, and soon after grabbed a cocktail.

Cocktail in a coconut

After a game of volleyball, I joined some friends on a stroll down the beach. The tide was in, so there wasn’t much sand, but the water temperature was perfect for wading in.

Pool volleyball

Lunchtime came quickly, and was followed by an attempted nap by the pool. There were too many distractions, so I quickly gave up and went to watch some of my friends attempt to kayak. Some were more successful than others! Next time I’m in Fiji I’ll give it a shot myself.

The lovely beach

The afternoon ended with a drink on the beach and another brief swim in the pool. The bus ride back to the ship was slightly uncomfortable because one of my cast-mates dunked me in the water just before we left, but the day overall was practically perfect! I’m looking forward to returning to First Landing next cruise!

Hanging by the pool

waltzing on water

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