Golden Birthday

Posted on September 2, 2013 by CaseyT

On August 25^th, I hit a different kind of landmark… a landmark on the road of life. I have now lived for a quarter of a century. I was a little stressed out in the days (actually, months) leading up to my birthday, because I started thinking about how drastically different my life actually is compared to what I thought it would be. As a child, I imagined that I would go to college, get married shortly after graduating, have babies around 26, and live out my days in marital bliss. Instead, I deferred college, joined a ballet company, moved to San Francisco alone, and am now on a ship. While I’ve had significant relationships, I’m nowhere near walking down the aisle. I started fretting about how quickly time passes, and how much more I want to do while I’m still young.

Ice Skating!

When the clock struck 12 on the eve of my birth, I was skating on the ice rink on board. I don’t remember the last time I went ice-skating, and I had certainly never skated in the middle of the ocean! I am shockingly clumsy for a dancer, and while I felt like Bambi on ice, I managed to stay on my feet the whole night! I was so proud!

We all scream for ice cream!

The morning of the 25^th I had a tech run, then promptly got off the ship. We were ported in Jeju, South Korea. I went with some friends to a café, where I enjoyed another cinnamon mocha and was able to Skype with my family and a few friends. After that, some cast mates and I wandered to find lunch. While we were searching, we came across a carnival, and ended up going to ride the Viking Ship. I laughed so hard I cried as we rocked back and forth on the ship, just the 3 of us. We then found a delicious Korean barbecue joint, ate ice cream cones, and got back on board in time to nap.

My goodies

That evening, we performed Music in Pictures. I loved having the chance to be on stage on my special day. Since our show times fall in the middle of dinner, we always get food in the theater after our performances. My cast surprised me with a delicious chocolate cake along with our show food, and also gave me some really nice gifts. I got a hand-drawn “Ginger Ninja” card, a stuffed koala bear, and a bottle of bourbon. They know me so well! I also got 2 bars of dark chocolate from my roommate, and a box of Ferrero Roche chocolates from one of the singers. Yum!

With some of my dancer girls

I ended the night with a drink with friends in the staff bar. I was pleasantly surprised to find that my beverage of choice had finally been restocked! The timing could not have been better.

My birthday buddy

The next day, I was able to sleep in, and after 2 Farewell performances and a parade, got dressed up for my party! One of my cast-mates was celebrating his half birthday on the 24^th, so the 2 of us had a joint celebration. We had a white party, complete with black lights loaned to us by one of the light techs. Our clothes glowed, as did our smiles. It was a fun night, full of shenanigans.

The cast in WHITE

Now that I have passed this landmark, I see that I was worrying for nothing. Although my life is different than I thought it would be, it is full of love. Instead of spiraling into a deeper state of panic, I have become more aware of what I have already accomplished and experienced. I am excited to see what the future will hold!

Finding Peace

Posted on August 24, 2013 by CaseyT

Street in Nagasaki

Before this contract, Japan was the only country I’d visited in Asia. About a year and a half ago I went to Tokyo and Kyoto and loved both cities. I found the country to be clean, beautiful, culturally vibrant, and full of nice people and delicious food. I’ve been looking forward to exploring more of Japan.

View from the Peace Park

Last Sunday was my first opportunity. We stopped in Nagasaki, and had an entire day to see the sights. My dance captain took charge for the day, and helped guide a group of 9 clueless Westerners on the bus to reach the Peace Park.

Statue at the Peace Park

The park pays tribute to the victims of the bombing in Nagasaki, and is intended to make an appeal for lasting world peace. Information about the tragic bombing is scattered through the park. There are also large statues that were donated by other countries. Each statue represents peace. It was beautiful to see the various depictions of the same theme.

Donated statue

A different style

The main attraction at the park is The Peace Statue by Seibo Kitamura. It is a man with one finger pointing to the sky, a reminder of the threat of nuclear weapons, and the other hand outstretched to represent world peace. One leg is folded in as though in meditation, while the other is poised for action in defending humanity.

The Peace Statue

From there, we walked to the Atomic Bomb Museum. It was interesting to learn about the bombing, but was very emotional. There were testimonials from victims that brought tears to my eyes. Paper cranes were strung together all around the museum, giving a refreshing pop of color to the otherwise harsh museum.

Paper cranes

Inside the museum

Next we walked to ground zero and saw a remnant of the Ukami Cathedral wall. The section was moved to ground zero to make way for the reconstructed church and to remind visitors to pray for the souls of the victims of the bombing.

Wall remnant

We ended the outing with an authentic Japanese meal and a bit of shopping. It was nice to lighten the mood a little, and have a break to process what we had seen.

Next week: more Korea!

All That Glitters

Posted on August 17, 2013 by CaseyT

Sorry for my absence lately! I’ve been returning to the same ports every week, so I don’t have much new information to share. The nice thing about the repetitive route is that I can spend port days relaxing with a nice cup of coffee and Skype with friends and family back home. It’s been necessary for my sanity.

To reassure you that I am not gone forever, here are a few photos of my fabulous costumes. Enjoy!

Rhythm and Rhyme

After You’ve Gone

Pink Panther

Watch Closely Now and Oh Nikki

Pasadoble and Man of La Mancha

Farewell

Dreamworks Parade

Next week: Japan!

Ship Life

Posted on August 3, 2013 by CaseyT

Yesterday, my friend Kat sent a series of questions about life on the ship. I’ve been less adventurous at ports this week, so I decided this was a great time to answer those questions and give you all a glimpse of ship life. If you’re wondering about anything else, feel free to send me more questions!

Home sweet home

Have you had any storms yet?

We’ve gone around most of the bad weather, but have still had some rocky nights. You get used to the motion pretty quickly, and it normally doesn’t last too long. I have not yet had an issue with seasickness (knock on wood!).

Do you ever get scared?

Yes, but not for the reasons you would think. I feel safe on the ship, and intrigued, not intimidated, at the ports.

I get scared that the conditions on the ship (rough water, etc) may prevent me from performing to the best of my ability. I worry about being pegged as a clueless new hire. I am uncertain what I am doing with my life after this contract, and wonder if this period of time will make future work more difficult. I am unsettled by the fact that everyone I love is on the other side of the world. Honestly, I feel scared a lot, but with that fear comes excitement.

Johnny Rocket’s

Do you eat in a special cafeteria or do you get to eat at the lavish buffets?

I eat in a staff cafeteria. It is a large buffet, but isn’t as lavish as the guest food. We also get crew discounts at the restaurants on board, so I’ve also gone to Johnny Rockets (mmmm onion rings) and Portofino’s for a delicious 3-course meal with the cast.

Have you gained weight form all the ship food? Or lost weight dancing so much?

This is a complicated question. I lost weight during rehearsals in Florida, but gained quite a bit, if not all, of it back the first two weeks on the ship. The free buffet was very exciting at first, but has now lost it’s luster. I’ve started eating a normal amount of food again, and have been going to the gym everyday. I have no idea what I actually weigh at this point, but I’m at a healthy size/shape.

Baby cabin

How is life living in a cabin with a roommate?

I was very concerned about having a roommate. I lived alone for 4 years, and while I had a roommate for the past 2 years, we both had our own rooms and ample space. Living with my current roommate has been shockingly easy! Laura is really friendly, we like to wake up around the same time, and we are both clean and organized, but not too meticulous. We got to know each other well when we were sharing a room in Florida, so the transition to the cabin has been pretty simple. Our cabin is very small, so we do frequently have to dance around each other to get out the door or into the bathroom, but we haven’t had any real problems.

Who does your laundry?

I do my own laundry. There are machines backstage and right around the corner from my cabin! I’m still trying to find the best time to use the machines, but they are at least conveniently located.

Wigs!

What do you think of your costumes?

The costumes are fun. They’re colorful and sparkly, and often include wigs. They look great on stage, and make me feel like an entirely different person for every number.

What do you think of the choreography?

The choreography is so different from what I did in San Francisco! I really enjoy it though. I get to do a lot of different styles, and really have fun with the movement. I like some pieces more than others, but they all are entertaining. The amount of shimmies I do has made my unintentional shimmying habit get a little out of control!

Do you get a day off from dancing?

Yes. The longer the cruise, the less dancing I do. We will perform both shows during each cruise. On show days, we do a tech run and two performances. We also have a welcome number, a farewell number, and 2 parades. 4 and 5 day cruises I will only get one day off, but when we get to 14 day cruises, I’ll have quite a bit of free time.

Do you have to understudy other parts?

I understudy 3 numbers.

Looking good in guest areas

Do passengers follow you around or want to hang out with you after the show?

Passengers don’t want to hang out after the show, but they do want pictures! Any time I’m in guest areas, I am blinded my camera flashes. Being in Asia, my blonde cast mates and I stand out a lot. I never know if they want a photo because I’m a dancer or just because I’m a redhead.

Do the dancers teach technique class to each other?

Yes. The cast does 2 technique classes a week. On off days, I either do yoga or a Sparticus workout routine with some friends. I do barre by myself before each rehearsal and performance.

Have you ever worried that you don’t make it back to the ship after your land adventures?

No, I always head back early!

Less technical dancing 🙂

Do you get to call/Skype your family?

Not as often as I’d like! Normally I have internet access when everyone at home is sleeping. I was able to talk with my parents on FaceTime yesterday, and Skyped with a couple friends last week. I’ve been emailing as much as possible, and trying to keep Facebook updated. This is one of the hardest things for me, since I usually talk with my family every day or two.

I’ll be stopping in Jeju and Incheon/Seoul again next week. Check back for details!

Tackling Taiwan

Posted on July 30, 2013 by CaseyT

The Voyager in Hualien

Friday morning I was able to leave the ship with a group of cast mates to explore Hualien, Taiwan. We had heard that there was a beautiful national park in Hualien, so we bartered with two cab drivers to take us around for the day and show us the highlights.

Dance Captain negotiating

We drove for about a half hour before reaching our first stop: the entrance to Taroko National Park. There was a Chinese style gate, various statues, and a lovely view of the Liwu River. One of the drivers proved himself to be an excellent photographer!

At the entrance to the park

Next we stopped at the Tourist Information Center. There was a market outside with beautiful peaches, small statues, and handmade jewelry. Inside, there was a model of the park, information comparing the size and features of the park with other well-known national parks across the globe, and display cases of some of the plants and animals.

Shakadang Trail, view from the bridge

Our third stop was the Shakadang Trail. The entrance to the trail was on a large bridge adorned with lion statues. Each of the 100 statues had a unique face and features. The trail wound alongside a stream below a steep cliff. There were butterflies, lush trees, and colorful rocks all around.

Eternal Spring Shrine

View from the shrine

We moved on to the Eternal Spring Shrine. We followed a short trail across a bridge and through part of a mountain to reach the shrine. It sat atop a small waterfall on the side of the mountain. The setting was incredible, and the vibrant colors of the shrine were a stunning contrast to the green trees.

Close up of the Eternal Spring Shrine

Our final stop was the beach. There was a light breeze coming off the water, which was wonderfully refreshing after hiking the trails! The ocean and sky were a bright blue, and the beach was made up of small, smooth grey rocks. We enjoyed sitting down and relaxing by the water before heading back to the ship.

My group

Beautiful beach

The following day, we went to Keelung, Taiwan. We drove up to a temple with a large, white statue that you can climb inside. A friend said it was like “Rio meets New York”, the Cristo Redento combined with the Statue of Liberty. Surrounding the temple were carnival like games and decorations. It was really random, but fun to see! I got to ring the gong outside the temple, which, according to legend, will bring me good luck.

Temple in Keelung

I hit the gong!

The statue we climbed up

We walked downtown, stopping outside another temple on the way. By the time we made it into town, I was starved! We wandered down a small street full of food carts and small open restaurants. I was deterred by the tentacles on a stick and fried balls of gunk, and ended up going to a safe seeming café across the street. It offered familiar looking food, but had no English speakers. My group of 9 had an amusing time ordering!

Downtown Keelung

After lunch, we did a bit of shopping. There is a theme party coming up, so we all needed items for costumes. We came back to the ship pretty early to rest up before our Island Frenzy parade.

It’s like Hollywood!

Sunday we stopped in Taichung, but since there were 2 performances that evening, I decided not to get off the ship. I had a great 2 days in Taiwan, and would love to go back again!

Another statue at the temple

Next, I’ll be returning to South Korea. Check back soon for tales from Jeju and Incheon and/or Seoul.

The Aptly Named Great Wall of China

Posted on July 26, 2013 by CaseyT

A couple days ago, I was lucky enough to visit the Great Wall of China. Needless to say, I was eager to see it. The prospect of visiting this World Wonder weighed in to my decision to accept this contract.

The Great Wall of China

I was part of a large crew tour, so it took awhile to get everyone off the ship and onto buses. We had approximately a two and a half hour drive from the port in Tianjin to the Great Wall. I slept for most of the drive, and played Spider Solitaire and took in the sights for the rest. Driving through China was fascinating. The landscape quickly alternated between developed towns and wide-open spaces. Some of the areas we drove through, including our port city, actually used to be water.

Carting to the top

By the time we reached our destination, we only had about an hour and a half before we needed to head back to the ship. I was one of many crewmembers that opted to take a golf cart to the top of the wall rather than hike up from the bottom. The hike takes around two hours, so there was no way to make it all the way up. I’d love to go back some day and climb!

View from a turret

Even though I rode up the mountain, I worked up a sweat walking up and down the stairs that cover much of the wall. I wanted to see as many sections as possible, so I moved quickly! It was interesting to see the range of the age and type of stones used throughout.

Gorgeous views!

The views were absolutely incredible. The wall weaves like a giant snake, and from any point you can see beautiful mountains and trees. I was actually surprised by how narrow the wall is. It is about the width of a single lane road. The length, however, is astounding.

Before riding back down to the bus, I wandered through a little market. I attempted to bargain with an old woman for a pack of postcards, but ended up paying her asking price. Some friends of mine were more successful negotiators. Apparently I need to work on my bargaining skills.

Dancing, as usual

I slept through much of the bus ride back, then had a busy evening on the ship. I learned how to work the spotlights for the ice shows, participated in a passenger drill, and performed a short number in a Welcome Aboard show. It was an exciting, exhausting day!

Strike a pose

If you ever want to read an amusing, non-fiction book about China, pick up a copy of Lost in Planet China by J. Maarten Troost. It’s about a spontaneous tour of this giant country. The author is moderately crazy, occasionally clueless, but very entertaining.

Next post, Taiwan!

Inching through Incheon

Posted on July 22, 2013 by CaseyT

Land, Ho!

Even though the Voyager is a large ship, I’ve felt like a caged bird for the past week or so. Getting off the ship and setting foot on land was just what I needed to settle my anxious spirit. Luckily, my first opportunity to disembark was at an overnight port, so I had plenty of time to wander. I was able to get off Saturday evening and again Sunday morning to take in the sights of Incheon, South Korea.

Chinatown in Incheon

Originally, I had planned to take the train into Seoul, but I ended up staying closer to the port and exploring the smaller city with some friends. Saturday afternoon, we wandered through Chinatown, and found a lovely wall of murals.

Mural wall

We proceeded into Jayu Park, where we found a multitude of diversions. The first point of interest (for me at least) was a tasty little coffee shop on the outskirts of the park. The coffee on the ship leaves much to be desired, so I thoroughly enjoyed my latte. Outside the café, there was a giant teddy bear and random sculptures. I couldn’t resist jumping on the unicorn statue!

Unicorn!

Walking deeper into the park, we came across what appeared to be a Jazzercise class working out to “Gangnam Style”. The class was thoroughly amusing, as was the crowd. There was an adorable little boy driving around in a toy Mercedes, an old woman secretly participating in the class while hiding in some bushes, and kids of all ages chasing giant dragonflies.

Gangnam Style Jazzercise

Baby Boi

Near the stage, we came across the statue of General MaxArthur and an outdoor gym. Why there were weight machines in the park is beyond me, but there were a few women that were very thankful for their existence. I briefly hopped on a weight machine for a minute of my required daily workout.

General MacArthur

I’m a beast!

We continued wandering, and ended up running into more of our cast mates near some of the shops. The 9 of us found a Korean barbecue restaurant to stop at for dinner. We sat on the floor in a private room and enjoyed a massive feast for just $16 each! I have no idea what some of the condiments were, but it was very tasty!

Dinner time!

After dinner, we stopped in another the many cafes for gelato and wifi! Once we had all reconnected with the outside world, we took the bus back to the ship.

Hitting the streets

It is now late Sunday morning, and I am enjoying another latte in Incheon. Next on the agenda is a walk through Sinpo Market and a bit of shopping! We have to be back on board around 2pm for a tech run, and tonight are performing the Broadway show again.

Rhythm and Rhyme

Check back soon for details about my trip to the Great Wall of China. It’s just 2 days away!

Set the Stage

Posted on July 21, 2013 by CaseyT

Since we signed on, we’ve been in “install”, meaning we are installing the productions in the theater. Transferring the shows we learned in Florida to the stage is quite a process! Due to long tech rehearsals, performances, and trainings, we’ve been unable to exit the ship for over two weeks. Today our rehearsal director is signing off, officially marking the end of our install period. Trainings and rehearsals will continue, though with less intensity.

La Scala Theater on the Voyager of the Seas. My home theater!

The evening of the 19^th we opened our second show, “Music in Pictures”. In terms of stamina, this show is much easier for me! I was less nervous than I was for the opening of the Broadway show, so I was able to really enjoy my time on the stage.

The “talls” and our leading lady

After the second show of the night, we celebrated the opening with a champagne toast and snacks. It was nice to be able to chat more with the band and production team. It turns out my Production Manager sometimes works with Texas Ballet Theater! We have a number of mutual friends/acquaintances in Fort Worth. What a small world!

Champagne toast

The following morning, we had to set the Welcome and Farewell numbers on the stage. Waking up was rather challenging, so I appreciated that the rehearsal wasn’t too long. In the afternoon, I completed my Safety Training. I learned how to properly jump into the water in case of an emergency, how to climb into a life raft from the water, and how to flip a life raft. After that, I was finally able to get off the ship!

Private tour of the bridge

Check back tomorrow for tales of my escapades in Incheon!

Happy thoughts!

Let’s Get Down to Business

Posted on July 15, 2013 by CaseyT

Written 7/13/13

Time has flown by since I joined the ship last Friday! After signing on, we went straight into orientation. Various safety and policy trainings have been spread throughout the week, in addition to rehearsals, costume fittings, parade rehearsals, and practice safety drills.

En route to the ship

Days have started blending together in my mind, and my sleep patterns have been more than a little unusual. The only constants have been meal times, though today I was unable to even make it to lunch. We had our first full dress rehearsal of the Broadway show this afternoon, and have just one more run in costumes before we open the show! I’m struggling with some of the quick changes, so I hope I can move faster tomorrow.

The water has luckily been pretty smooth during rehearsals, but simply being on a ship while dancing has added a whole new challenge. There are also a lot of intricate costumes and large prop and set pieces in all of the productions, so they have dramatically escalated in difficulty. I was teased quite a bit during our parade tonight (first one!) because I looked somewhat panicked every time I left the parade route to change props. I spent most of the day essentially paralyzed by anxiety.

The ship has stopped in Tianjin and Jeju, but I’ve been unable to go on land because of rehearsals. I’m looking forward to getting off the ship and exploring soon! I’m especially excited to go to Jeju. From what I can see, it’s beautiful.

Home sweet home

I’ve made the most of the little free time I’ve had on the ship. I’ve met some people from other departments, went to a crew skate night, attended a “strum session” at the staff bar, and went to a beach themed crew party. I was also able to see the previous production cast perform our Movies show and watch the ice show! I’ll start helping with lights for the ice show soon, so it was nice to see what I’ll be dealing with.

This week has been a roller coaster. I’ve had emotional highs and lows, feeling joy, anger, and everything in between, but overall, I’m still optimistic. Once I get into the swing of things (and stop getting lost), I think I’ll have a great time.

Port updates coming soon!

My Bags Are Packed, I’m Ready to Go

Posted on July 3, 2013 by CaseyT

I can’t believe I’m leaving Florida today! I won’t return to U.S. soil until 2014. How crazy is that?!

Farewell!

Over the weekend, I took advantage of my free time, and relaxed. I had a movie night with a couple of the girls after rehearsal on Saturday, and Sunday treated myself to a “Princess Day”. I slept in, ran a few errands, then went to a hotel on the beach for an afternoon at the spa! I had a lovely “Heavenly Massage” at the new Heavenly Spa, enjoyed the steam room, sauna, and relaxation room, and after hydrating, sipped on a delicious ginger martini at the hotel bar. It was great to have some time to myself to decompress.

Lovely legs

Monday morning we had a late start time, a few hours of review and rehearsal, a send-off meeting, and most importantly, our office run! Our performance of the Movies show went really well! I loved performing with my cast. A friend from another ship actually commented on how great our group dynamic was. Most of the other feedback I received was about my legs. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thrilled about that.

A great team

We went back to the Mexican restaurant downtown to kick back after a rather stressful afternoon. I had a hard time winding down, so I was grateful to be able to sleep in on Tuesday! I ran a bunch of errands, did final loads of laundry, and re-packed all my things! Somehow, my luggage has gained 10 lbs in 5 weeks. I’m hoping I can avoid overweight luggage fees, but they may be inevitable.

Happy thoughts

We are leaving the apartments early in the morning, then flying from Miami to Tokyo, with a short stop in Dallas. I wish we had a longer layover so I could see some of my friends from home! We’ll be in Tokyo for a couple hours before flying to Gimhae in Korea. We are going to spend Thursday night in a hotel, and will join the ship Friday afternoon in Busan. It’s going to be a long trip, but I’m really excited! I have a giant book and a Nook (on loan from my sister), so I should stay entertained on the plane. Unfortunately, I’ll miss out on any 4th of July festivities.

Let me entertain you!

Next time you hear from me, I’ll be on the ship! Things are about to get interesting…

waltzing on water

Author Archives: CaseyT