Selling Sea Day

Selling Sea Day

17^th October 2011

We’re into our second sea day. A casual sea day. The rough, choppy sea sent the ship rocking side to side and bobbing up and down. One of the worst things about having a second sea day, is that some poor bugger has to display images, very early in the morning after only a couple of hours sleep. Today, that was me, Sandra, Alex and Paco.

Plugging my headphones into my phone I kept my head down, listening to my music and got on with the job in hand, trying desperate to keep my eye lids open. On a couple of occasions I was snapped awake by my head bobbing forward. I hadn’t even noticed I’d dozed off. I switch off like a light.

I didn’t have time to stop, as I was in the gallery for the majority of the morning and afternoon. During the evening, I only had a short stint before finishing at 7pm. Having said that, it was a good selling day for me. In a way I wish I’d been more awake but, oh well! In the end I sold four family packages, one 15 package, 2 GTPs – one with prints, and I lost count on how many folios and albums.

After work I was originally going to do the laundry but thought I’d spend my time laying back, relaxing. Getting in my pyjamas I sat in bed typing up my blog entries while watching The Social Network. It’s been on so many times but it was the first change I had to sit down and watch a film from start to finish.

David's laugh came booming from inside his cabin, being nosey, I went to investigate. Both Hernan and David were watching Bruno, and as everything, it was funnier watching with David and hearing his infectious laugh.

By the time Sandra had finished work when the gallery closed, I was fast asleep. I’d been planning on going up to Back Deck with her for a drink… however, sleep had got the better of me – again.

Right in the Face!

Right in the Face!

16^th October 2011

Formal night has reared its ugly head again but compared to normal, I very, very nearly hit my target. It seems strange, after hearing from people on other ships, everyone always hits their targets. Here, it was the norm to not only miss your target, but to not even get close to it.

First thing in the morning I was supposed to be on table sale although, that didn’t go to plan. Paco hadn’t prepared the paperwork or products for the table sale saying he’d left it to Leandro to unpack, count and repack. The repacking hadn’t been done. I was told to wait for Leandro and he’d do it. Leandro finally turned up for work 1.5 hours late. He’d slept in. If only I had a crystal ball so I could have stayed in bed an extra hour.

Virtually no one was around on Deck 11. The ship was bobbing up and down, the sea incredibly rough. Watching out the enormous windows, all you could see was sea, then sky, sea, sky as we see-sawed over the waves. Sanela was feeling so green she couldn’t afford to move too far away from the bathrooms. Every so often she’d dart to the bathroom to throw her guts up. Boy! She looked as rough as hell! Not even the anti-sickness tablets were working for her.

Up on the Windjammer table sale I managed to sell two camera cases and 1 set of AA batteries. Whoopy! Sandra popped over to see me as the Decks had been closed off due to the gale force winds. Some people were up on the upper decks and very nearly walking on the spot due to the sheer force of the wind. From the inside, it was quite amusing to watch. Better them than me, that’s for sure.

During our break before formal night, Sandra and I lay in bed watching TV. There wasn’t anything particularly interesting on other than David Attenborough’s nature programmes. A very bored David slumped into the cabin and sat himself on Sandra’s homemade sofa-chair to watch TV. 

Never in our lives did we think David Attenborough’s nature programmes could be turned into a comedy show… well, we were wrong! Very wrong! With David, it became just that, as he gave his own commentary. He found the most random things side splitting and his laugh automatically started Sandra and I off. 

The best part came when a chameleon whipped its tongue out and caught a praying mantis smack bang in the face. This had David nearly in tears, copying what had just happened, smacking himself in the face with his own hand and making over exaggerated sucking noises. “How could he have not seen that!?” “What do you think the praying mantis was thinking?” “How about ‘oh shit’?” and again we’d all be rolling around. 

These jokes just went on throughout the night and our laughing didn’t get any less. Even if we weren’t within ear shot, the motions of putting your hand against your face was enough to start the other person off.

By the end of the night, I had cramp in my sides from laughing too much, 320 images from ship (only 30 off my 350 image target) and 210 for Ressi (40 off my 250 image target). Overall, it was the best I’d ever done in my studio and by the end of the night, I was completely shattered. It’d been a royal laugh though, that’s for sure.

Camilo on Stairs

Gangway Madness in Naples

Gangway Madness in Naples

15^th October 2011

The team seemed relieved for possibly a number of different reasons. It was everyone’s last trip to Naples and David seemed more hyped up than usual as it was his final cruise. Decked out in the Italian chef costume he was bouncing all over the place, making the guests laugh and doing a great job smudging. I was shooting David and it was a pleasure to do so! Working with David and Zoran on the gangway is always a joy as you know you’re going to have a laugh. That’s basically what gangway is all about – having a laugh.

Thirty minutes after David and I had started, Camilo came out from the ship dressed as the sailor and boy, did he feel stupid. We tried to explain that he was only playing a character, we all do it and to just have a laugh. He tried his best but had a hard time lighting up to it all. 

Sanela was shooting him becoming frustrated because he wasn’t smudging enough. Camilo wasn’t used to smudging; let along smudging in costume so he needed more time, a bit of help and to be pointed in the right direction. David and I were trying to help. One thing that Ivan did pick up on were our little phrases. 

Seeing a couple coming over, Ivan staggered over to them, throwing his arms open slurring “get your picture with the drunken sailor”. It worked! They stopped, laughed and had their photo taken. I think he was finally getting the idea of what to do: Play up and be a sailor. 

One thing Camilo couldn’t do, which most people naturally find hard, is to just grab the guests. It was always something I found almost inhumane. Working with Luci on gangway, you had to just drag the guests in or risk a verbal arse kicking. With time and practise you simply become immune to it.

While on gangway we had a series of empty gaps in between mad rushes of guests. During the quiet times we’d all be pratting around, taking photos of each other. David and I were play fighting and poking each other, running all over the place. Even the crew sign-ons waiting to embark were laughing at our antics. Especially David’s!

A huge group of Koreans came off the ship. The Japanese and Koreans hate, loath having their photos taken. They act as if our cameras will steal their souls… they’ll go running in all directions, hiding their faces as if they were celebrities fighting off the paparazzi. 

David and I decided to have a giggle as he jumped straight into the middle of them all! He got pushed away by some. He grabbed a lady in for her photo and got the strangest reaction. She gave David a big cuddle. Next the strangest thing occured, the lady, getting on his tip toes, brushed her face against David’s a couple of times. It was like watching a cat rub it’s face up against something. Quickly taking a photo, I captured the lady rubbing her face against David’s! The best bit was David’s facial expression, visually screaming “WHAT THE HELL!?” As soon as she walked away we both burst out laughing, our knees buckling. Tears were threatening to roll down our faces. Neither of us have ever, ever seen anything like it!!

A couple of minutes later, another Korean lady was pulled in for a photo. She had his enormous beak cap on which stuck out at least 30cms from her face. Standing next to David the Korean women tried to do exactly the same as the previous: Rub her face up against David’s. The only thing standing between them was the great big, long yellow beak of a sun visor! She ended up stabbing David in the face. Again, we were rolling all over the place laughing!!

By the end of gangway David and I had 419 images while Camilo and Sanela had 165.

Sandra was up and getting ready. Quickly showering and changing David, Sandra, Camilo, Zoran and I headed out and into Naples. We headed over to Antonio’s pizza place where we found Dione. 
Sitting down we all got out our laptops and started catching up with the people at home. The owner of the restaurant, who was introduced to us by Fabio, seemed like he couldn’t wait to get rid of us. Finishing eating, we paid and left. Dione was going back to the ship along with David.

Zoran, Camilo, Sandra and I decided to go for a walk around. It was bloody freezing when the wind caught you. After looking in an electrical store, Zoran decided he was going to go back to the ship to sleep for a bit. Sandra stopped off in a shoe shop and walked out wearing a new pair of ballerina like shoes.

Carrying on up the road we walked aimlessly and came across some amazing sights. Grand, historical buildings and churches. Cobbled stone streets. One of our best finds was a long, narrow back street selling Christmas goods – in early October! The market and shops sold everything from Venetian masks, chili souvenirs, religious statuettes and model buildings and scenery for nativity displays. I had to stop and buy a small Venetian mask – it’ll probably end up hanging on the Christmas tree this year!

An hour later and we were back on the ship. Camilo had to go to work. Sandra and I had two hours off which we put to very good use: Sleep! When I woke up, one side of my face was like a balloon. It felt like I’d been in the boxing ring with Mike Tyson! My wisdom tooth obviously thought it’d be a good time to start pushing through. Great!

The rest of the night was spent in the gallery. Overall, it was a great day and we have plenty of photos between us to prove it.

Bouncing All Over the Place

David the Italian Pizza Chef

Prashant and David

Leandro, David and Alex

David (Pizza Chef), Zoran (who came out to see how we were doing), Sanela (Shooting Sailor), Camilo (Drunken Sailor)

The Costumes - Italian Pizza Chef & Drunken Sailor

 

Sandra at a Little Italian Pasta Shop

Camilo

Camilo and Sandra

V For Vendetta - TODAY!

Camilo, Zoran & Myself

YUM! Sandra's Treat

Looking and Feeling Shattered - Me, Sandra and Camilo

The Last Time

The Last Time

14^th October 2011

The day has arrived. It’s pretty much the last of the last for myself, Hernan and David. We’re in Civitavecchia, Italy and this would be our last turn around day. Next time we arrive in Civitavecchia the three of us will be disembarking. Hernan and I will be going on vacation and returning to Disney Dream and Wonder. David has resigned and will hopefully be coming back as a videographer for Royal Caribbean. Unfortunately for David, it could take months because of a policy both Image and Royal have about "poaching staff".

Camila was transferred to another ship today and the atmosphere in the team is electric. Everyone is in high spirits now that the person who’d caused so much trouble has finally gone. Originally her transfer had been kept under wraps, but Camila being Camila, had been shouting it out from the roof tops so, Reuben decided to tell the team, one by one, in case money was owed etc. None of us saw her leave.

The idea that I’d been leaving dawned on me and a hype kicked in. I was over the moon and jumping around, smudging. Alex and Leandro were telling to shut up and bugger off as I was winding them up. 

The wind was so bad that we couldn’t erect the stands for the background. In the end the ship backdrop was taped several times over to the terminal tent. Every so often, one of us would have to jump up several times to re-stick the tape back onto the tent.

Later on during embarkation someone came along and introduced himself. It was the replacement for Camila. A new hire, fresh from Miami training, named Dmytro or “D” as he preferred to be called. I showed D the way to the crew gangway and called Reuben from security’s deck phone. 

While talking to D, he told me he was from Ukraine. He seemed quiet and not very talkative. His English, from what I could make out, is very good. Then again, who wouldn’t be quiet when you’re in a situation completely different from what you’ve ever experienced and surrounded by strangers?

It was also my last Pax Drill, but not just mine, Darren’s (Head of House Keeping) too. Nearby our stations is a globe. Taking it in turns, we were spinning the globe and stopping it with our index finger. Where ever our finger landed, would be the place we’d go for vacation or next contract. Darren’s finger kept landing on Asia, a place he’s always wanted to visit and where he’d hoped to go this vacation. I got a mix of both America and South America. Oddly enough, I’d be flying to Uruguay, South America to visit the parents, before starting my second contract in Florida, United States.

Next were two stints in the dining room, shooting my last sessions of casual ressi. After we had a long meeting in the gallery office. We were all paid our wages for the fortnight. Once the meeting was finally over, I was having troubles staying awake. 

A large portion of the team headed up to SOB with their music and bottles of drink to play a few games of pool and celebrate Camila’s transfer. Sanela, who never drinks, even had a knees up by having one too many beers! She was over the moon, as was everyone. It’s hard to describe but the atmosphere within the team had changed literally overnight to a mixture of excitement and relief.

Great News

Great News

12^th October 2011

Whenever the ship docks in Chania, Crete, Zoran and I are on gangway. Usually photographers on gangway in Chania is kept to a minimum as it’s also formal night. Zoran was shooting me, Crete Girl and Sato (Leandro) was shooting the rail. It was our last port of call and it can be a slow disappointing gangway. Zoran and I literally peg it up and down the gangway after the guests to spice things up a bit in a last attempt to get the counts up.

Arriving at 07.00 and the weather was awful. It was dark, cloudy and threatening to rain. Occasionally it’d start spitting, threatening to downpour. Zoran and I gave it our best shot and in nearly 2 hours had just under 200 shots.

Yesterday I’d arranged to meet the Germans from the vow renewal. I was surprised they’d bought one of the packages after their friend followed me around taking photos over my shoulder. They’d asked me let them transfer the vow renewal photos from my laptop to their computer. Can you guess the answer I gave them? “Erm… how about… no!” In the end, I was pushing for the second package which was worth $499. It was clear they weren’t going to go for it and rather than lose everything I had a go with the cheapest package. They took it. $199.95 plus two frames – okay so it wasn’t the best, but something was better than nothing. Plus, it was $24 for me. 

Reuben had dropped a hint previously that both Zoran and Leandro had sold the highest packages for $2,000. It was a “just to let you know” which Reuben says with an underlining message. That night I’d been so upset about it, sitting in the cabin crying to Sandra. So obviously, selling the smallest package was a big disappointment, but I was desperately trying to focus on the bright side of things. It wouldn’t be long until I’d be leaving.

Today, in the end the German couple arrived 30 minutes late to meet me because they’d been busy. Handing over their prints and frames, I shook their hands and watched them walk away. Relief!

Formal night was incredibly slow. At the end of the night Reuben called me into the office and told me he had a present for me. There was a cheeky smile spread across his face so I was expecting some kind of joke or comment. My leaving present was good news. In fact, it was great news! Camila is being transferred to another ship and would be disembarking in Civitavecchia. 

When Reuben said “he can’t do anymore” he’d just sent off an email requesting Camila to be transferred. I’d gotten the completely wrong end of the stick. Either way, I kept my mouth shut as Reuben wanted to quietly inform people she was leaving. 

There was one person who I couldn’t help but tell, knowing she’d keep her lips sealed: Sandra. Cor blimey, did she let out a cheer! Next came the bear hug and soon we were hugging each other jumping up and down for joy in our tiny cabin! The others looked on bewildered… until they were informed by Rueben. After, they had their own form of celebrations... a good drink!

The Ghost of the Crete Girl

Our Favourite Family - Repeat Cruisers

Very Slow Gangway

Leandro Strikes a Pose

Such Classy Ladies!

Prashant from Security

Kicked Off the Tour Bus!

Kicked Off the Tour Bus!

11^th October 2011

Lindos Tour – I’ve never been on tour in Rhodes but I’ve seen Sandra and Zoran's photos from previous occasions. It’s Sandra’s favourite place to go on tour as there are amazing 360 degree views – and boy, she wasn’t kidding!

First stop of the tour was to a pottery making factory. I say factory, it was more like a little house in the middle of the countryside. Everything is handmade. There was a demonstration as to how the Greeks used to make clay pottery. The only way to tell if something was handmade as opposed to machine made is by the numerous rings within the clay piece. If there are rings apparent in the clay, then it’s handmade. If the surface is smooth, it’ll be machine made. The man who gave the pottery demonstration made it seem so easy and effortless. A large chunk of the bus (I was on a Spanish speaking bus) were Argentinians and weren’t interested in what was going on. Shame, especially if you’ve not seen it before.

Moving on, we came to the main attraction. The Acropolis at Lindos. Acropolis means the highest point of a city. "Acro" – highest point. "Polis" – city. 

It was a long walk to the Acropolis and I was actually worried about how everyone was going to get up there. To say a few were elderly was an understatement. Some of the people from the bus were almost fossils! According to the guide, there were roughly 360 steps to get up. The surface is marble which has become slippery due to erosion and general weather. I think the tour guide was wondering if everyone would make it to the top, too.

Getting up to the bottom part of the Acropolis, I started running around taking photos of the guests and surrounding areas. Quite a few Spanish speakers were telling me “take my photo with my own camera. I’m not paying your prices”. To that, I’d simply walk away… they could take their own photos!

Climbing the stairs as quickly as possible while doing my best to keep my balance and not slip, I made it to the top. People were slipping and sliding everywhere! The main path was the worse place to walk up. It was so eroded it was like walking over ice. If you ever visit, wearing hiking boots!

At the top I started smudging and gathering people together for their picture. One lady was good enough to take my photo too. Again, Argentinian guests were asking me to take their pictures on their own cameras to avoid paying. No. They didn’t understand why I couldn’t and wouldn’t. If you did it with one, everyone would flock to you with their personal cameras. Plus, no offence, but it's my job and I want to make money. No one lives off fresh air!

We were given 30 minutes free time. Most of the latinos had disappeared and now only had eyes on the shops. I took the opportunity to grab something to eat. What the kebab was or what was in it, I don’t know nor could I pronounce the name. Whatever it was, I’d certainly eat it again! The food is so delicious in Greece!

Back at the bus, I was hurrying a small group of Argentinian ladies along. One went into a panic about not having her camera. Sitting on the floor she proceeded in taking everything out her bag. In the meantime I climbed onto the bus. The tour guide was trying to talk the Argentinian ladies onto the bus... and failed!

Five minutes later, the tour guide came on to the bus looking for me. “The lady’s lost her camera and you need to go with her find it”. What!? I told the tour guide I couldn’t, I had to be back to the ship for work.  The tour guide wouldn’t have it “No, you’re from Royal Caribbean and you need to help this lady find her camera and then get her back to the ship. It’s your job.” Everyone on the bus was turned to see what the commotion was about. “Actually, it’s not my job. I’m a photographer… and if she’s lost her camera, do you really think she’s going to find it? Or does she want to search all the way up to the Acropolis?” The tour guide lost her rag and put it rather bluntly, “You’re going with her. You’re from Royal Caribbean and you are getting off this bus now! We are not leaving with you on it. Get off and help her!” 

I didn’t have much choice but to reluctantly gather my things get off the bus. I had no idea what time we were sailing away. That scared me more than anything, that the ship left without us. It's enough to cost you your job! Just as I was getting off, the tour guide called over to say she’d let the ship know why I’m late. Being sarcastic I asked her if she was going to explain to the Captain himself if I’m back later than Crew On Board or miss the ship.

The guest explained to me where she’d probably lost her camera. None of her three friends had opted to come with her either, which rankled too. It was either one of two shops. She’d slipped over with her camera in her hand and had buggered the lens. So, she took it into a shop where they sold disposable cameras and asked the owner if he could fix it, which he couldn’t. Next the Argentinian crossed the street, walked about five metres and went into a souvenir shop to buy a baby-grow. 

The camera strap had been dangling from her wrist. As soon as she said that, a little light flashed on inside my head. “Did you have the camera in your hand?” I asked. “No, it was strapped around my wrist like this”, demonstrating. Her camera had been loosely hanging from her wrist. I suggested that it could have been stolen. Shocked, the lady looked at me as if I had two heads, asking “How? Who would do such a thing?” How? Well, the thief held onto the camera dangling from her wrist, cut the strap, and walked away with the goods! It’s quite easy and it's a technique often used in Spain. As for who would do such a thing, I reminded the lady about the financial difficulties Greece has encountered. The same finacial difficulties that weren't going to improve any time in the near future. People will go to desperate lengths to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Before getting off the bus the tour guide had even warned everyone to beware of pickpockets and thieves.

Popping into the shops, obviously no one had her camera. The owners seemed quite offended that a women could be coming in to very nearly accuse them of stealing her camera. Turns out, she even left her on the counter while counting her money out and picking up her shopping bags. The lady behind the desk reminded her not to forget her camera.

In the end the Argentinian, who must have been in her late 50s, agreed that her camera had probably been stolen. Now it was time to convince her to get back to the ship. I was wondering how someone could be so naïve. 

She asked me how to get back to the ship and which buses we could take. How was I supposed to know which buses to take? I am a cruise ship photographer… not a bus conductor, working and living in Rhodes! 

I told her we’d have to take a taxi and looking at the price list, it’d cost an almighty 55 euros. To my utter disbelief, the woman said “we can split the taxi fare”. I didn’t want to be blunt, but had to “sorry, I don’t have any money on me. I came on this tour for work and only carry about five euros which I spent on food”. Somehow the Argentinean lady managed to get the price down to 40 euros. Maybe because she was crying her eyes out, begging the taxi driver saying she’d lost everything and only had 40 euros. 

During the journey, she opened her wallet to get the taxi fare out and must have been carrying well over 1,000 US dollars plus a couple of hundred Euros. Maybe she wasn’t so daft after all!

A little later on, the lady told me how she’d been conned in Kusadasi. After the Ephesus tour she’d gone into a leather store. She found a leather bag she liked for 800 euros, an offensively obscene amount of money! Bartering with the owner, the price got halved and she agreed to buy it, part cash, part credit card. She dished up half the money, in cash, and quickly signed the receipt for the credit card payment before jumping back on the bus. 

Once back on board she looked at the receipt and saw that she’d been incorrectly charged. Instead of using her credit card to pay off the remaining half she’d in fact paid double. The bag went from 800 euros to 400 euros and she’d paid 600 euros. She got conned good and proper, yet she couldn’t see how it was her fault, asking me why people would do such a thing. Maybe she had a point. Having said that, if the poor can find a way of ripping off the rich who flaunt their money, then they will. I obviously didn’t tell the guest this. One question I did ask was “why buy leather in Kusadasi when the best comes from Argentina and for a fraction of the price?” Her reply, “I don’t know. It seemed like a good idea.”

Arriving back at the ship, a security officer was talking to one of the Explorations! team. Luci from Explorations! saw me and asked if I’d been the one to stay with the guest. Security asked if I (or Miss-Blue, as they call me) was okay and if we found the camera. Luckily enough I had one hour before crew on board. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough time to go out.

Dropping the signs off to Explorations! Luci asked me what happened, so I retold the story. She couldn’t believe it. The tour guide had told her the exact opposite to what had happened on the bus. Apparently, I’d demanded to go with the Argentinian guest to make sure she found her camera and got back to the ship safely. Luci found it a bit odd, but thought whoever it was must have a heart of gold. When she saw it was me, one of the photographers who get very little time off in our busy schedules, she knew the tour guide couldn’t have been right... and she wasn't!

Back in the corridor I told Hernan, another Argentinian, what had happened. He couldn’t stand the sight of those four Argentinean ladies, saying they were rich, snobby people who were used to living in a bubble and looked down their noses at everyone else. Pointing at me, Hernan warned me, “they are going to bring you nothing but trouble…”

Later on in the gallery, the Argentinian women appeared looking to buy another camera. I’d already sold her an Olympus in the taxi back. Now she was in the gallery to try the camera out. She liked it, so I charged her and set the camera up. While setting up the camera, Hernan’s words were ringing through my head. “they’ll are going to be nothing but trouble". I was starting to think he maybe right too!

View from Acropolis

Hand-made Pottery Demonstration

View from the Acropolis

I Made it to the Acropolis and got a Photo to Prove it!