Ahoy!

I wrote the German version of this the week before Christmas and I’m just now posting the english one for the completeness of this blog. A lot has changed ever since but I’ll tell you about that in the next post.

We have guests! I usually start my blogposts by saying „Ahoy“, but this time I was just too excited! I’ve been on board of this ship for 67 days now and I’ve been waiting so long to say this: we. have. guests!

Real guests!!!! I still can’t believe it.

The last 67 days have been a rollercoaster of emotions. I’ve experienced so many new and exciting things, got to know so many people, discovered talents in myself and learned things about myself that I would never have thought possible. Who would have thought, for example, that you could put me on stage with a microphone and that words would actually come out in the end? And I even enjoy it! I’ve eaten so many delicious dishes, drank drinks, listened to great music, seen shows, played games, just lived. In the midst of a pandemic, our AIDAmar was a safe place. Of course we adhered to all the rules and restrictions on board, kept our distance and wore masks, but the whole Covid-19 story was somehow further away from us. Two weeks ago I had the chance to go ashore for a day in Tenerife (in a guided crew tour). Of course, I did it straight away and endlessly enjoyed walking more than 100 meters, feeling new ground under my feet, smelling new smells and hearing noises again. Nevertheless, after 2 hours ashore I was somehow totally happy to be „home“ again. And I think that describes my life here on board quite well. I feel so safe here, I’ve arrived, AIDAmar has become my home. But one thing was missing from my home for the last 67 days: guests.

I was there three times when planned cruises had to be canceled and by now I had already prepared myself for the fact that our Christmas trip would also be canceled. Every time the captain came on stage and talked to the crew, I thought, „here it comes! Now they are canceling“. But it didn’t happen that way. It didn’t happen two weeks ago, not a week, not three days ago. Not the day before yesterday. The night before yesterday I laid in my bed and thought „Wait a minute .. now nobody can cancel! It’s actually happening! „

And suddenly everything went so much faster than planned. Final preparations, meetings, trainings, and suddenly the time had come. December 20th came and I was allowed to leave the ship to check in the guests in the harbor. Even at the check-in counter, we all joked that we only believe it when the first guest is on board. And suddenly this very person entered the terminal! We all applauded and suddenly it was real! Our home, which we have cleaned, cared for, prepared and learned to love over the last few months, has finally been filled with life today!

I couldn’t hide my glow all day. I was allowed to greet guests, check in and give them their boarding passes and in the evening in the Theatrium I was allowed to seat the prime time, where I was able to talk to a few people again. And then I watched the departure from the crew area on deck 5 and realized: we are really starting our first voyage!

Tomorrow morning I have a pool duty, where I take care of the physical distance and compliance with the hygiene rules, at noon I can check in the guests in front of the restaurants and then do arts and crafts with them at the creative meeting. Even if it doesn’t sound exciting, I look forward to each and every one of these tasks. I am looking forward to seeing new faces, experiencing new things and going on my very first trip with guests! This is what I have been working towards all of last year and now I have reached my goal. It’s been a wonderful journey so far and I hope and think that it will be even more beautiful from now on!

I’m so looking forward to the week ahead.

I’m just so happy right now.

 I know this blog post had no system and no real core, but I just wanted to share my thoughts with you for the first time in a while. Thank you for reading this far and I look forward to telling you about my first trip soon ♥ ️

Until then, all the best and a Merry Christmas,

Sea you soon,

Saskia