Memory Lane

Memory Lane

8th April 2013

Logging into my Facebook account, I had a notification from Gudrun, from my Miami training group.

“Exactly two years ago we all finished the training in Miami.”

Two years ago today we finished training and were slowly despatched from the group to join our cruise ships and start our first contracts. Three days after this photo take was taken, Hernan and I join the Mariner of the Seas in Rhodes, Greece.

It seems crazy that it all happened two years ago and it only seems like yesterday. To be fair, I’ve been lost in time and telling people I started working on cruise ships three years ago in 2010, rather than 2011. Whoops! Bubaloo!

So, what’s changed? To be fair, pretty much everything has changed.

Unfortunately, I had to resign from Image in December 2012 due to having surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. After having surgery and getting the all clear to return to work from the surgeon, Image Human Resources informed me that I needed new medical papers.

Renewing medical papers in Uruguay isn’t the easiest when you aren’t a member of a Uruguayan hospital or have medical insurance. The cheapest medical quote I received was a tear jerking $3,000!

Image being Image, wouldn’t give me a new assignment until I had new medical papers. My existing medical papers still had 3 months until their expiry date. Flying to Miami where the medical is $350 and then join ship, wasn’t an option. Image insisted I’d have to fly myself back to Uruguay from Miami (roughly $2,000) and wait for an assignment… only to fly myself back to the United States, quite possibly Miami. See the logic? No, neither do I.

Emailing Image for the penultimate time, I told HR the score. There was no way I could afford to pay $3,000 for a medical and $1,000 plus for a flight to my next ship or pay $2,000 for a return flight to Miami, $350 for the medical, 5 days in a hotel to then pay $1,000 for another flight to Miami to join my next ship.

            “Let us know what you are doing” was their reply and that was the last time I heard from Image until I sent in my resignation a month later.

Taking a walk down memory lane, I can still remember us all sitting by the swimming pool, drinking beer, tapping away on our laptops, Pavlo, my Image “husband” acting the ass making trash art movies and a couple of the lads shooting hoops. Even to this day, we are still in contact, all thanks to Facebook, but only a few remain with Image.

Gudrun, is preparing to start her 4^th contract and making her way around the Disney fleet.

David, the portrait/candid photographer will be signing off from his 3^rd contract soon and planning to go back for a fouth. Out of all of us, he’s done the most travelling thanks to working onboard a Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 for the World Cruise.

My lovely stepbrother “Hermanastro” Hernan is in Buenos Aires and started up a photography business with Fede (from Mariner of the Seas) and things seem to be looking up for him.

Becks… meh, Becks is still being Becks and given up of the idea of returning to ships.

Sasha has quit ships and now living near London working as a wedding photographer and as she puts it “loving it!”

Chetan left after his second contract and the lucky git in living the high life working as a photographer in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I use the word “working” loosely as the man spends the vast majority of his time drinking and getting “crudo”.

As for myself, after resigning from Image, I packed my bags (not that I’d unpacked them) and arrived in London at the end of January.

Now, here I am in…Nottingham. Not exactly where I thought I’d see myself, but I’m having a great time. As small as the ship world is, I met up with a “nearly Image photographer” Tom Johnson from Zoran and Sanela’s training group, who I’ve been in contact with for about a year and a half and lives in Nottingham. Like all people I’ve met from Image/cruise ships, he’s turned out to be a great friend.

As much as I miss my days on cruise ships, mainly Mariner of the Seas, that particular chapter was drawn to an abrupt close and the chances of going back are slim to none. I’m back on land, enjoying the freedom, everyday ways of land life, driving a car and throwing snowballs!

The best thing I gained from my time on cruise ships, other than the travel and experience, are the fantastic people I’ve met along the way: Lee, Luci, Chet, Becks, Tom, Hernan, Zoran, Sandra, Aniko, Carolee, Dom, Gaz… the list goes on and on! It’s not about the itinerary. It’s the people. Your team. They are the people that make your contract extra special. It’s all about having a smashing team who work hard and play harder.

As Hernan so nicely put it, hitting the nail square on the head, “Ship life changed everyone’s life and perspective of the world. It was a great experience…”

…and one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and will never forget.

The ship has sailed, cheers to the good times and here goes nothing… a new start; a new chapter on land.

Pavlo & Chet - Image Training

Last Day on Land with Becks

Vision Vs. Mariner of the Seas. Istanbul 2011

The BEST gangway photo - Chania, Crete

Dead Sea, Israel

Sexy Times in Genoa

The Cabin Mascots

Break Dancing in the Photographer's Corridor

Mariner of the Seas Basketball Match

Formal Nights!

The Lads - David, Hernan and Zoran

The Greek God and Goddess and Hernan

Mud Baths at the Dead Sea. 2011

The BEST cabin mate you could ever ask for: SANDRA

Ashdod, 2011

Last Night on Board Mariner of the Seas with the Team.

Mayan Ruins, Cozumel on Disney Magic

Driving Around Cozumel. 2012.

Southernmost Point, Key West, FL. 2012

Biking Around Key West. 2012

Disney Magic.

Airport Beach, St. Maarten. 2012

Travel More, For Less!

Travel More, For Less!

It’s fair to say that many of us are addicted to social networking sites such as Facebook. I won’t deny that I am one of those Facebook addicts. It’s the one way that we can keep in contact with friends and family while we’re travelling or living abroad. Not only that, it’s a fantastic way of getting in touch with ‘long lost’ school friends.

A couple of months ago a friend from primary school got in contact. Sixteen years after I left England, I might add! Can you imagine how old we must have felt?

It turns out travelling is a huge factor of both our lives. However, our travelling styles are completely different. Most of my travelling has been done at sea, while working on cruise ships or living in a particular country. Tim on the other hand, is based in the UK and flies to all his destinations… in business class, for economy prices or less!  

“How?” must be the question on everybody’s mind, it was certainly the first question that popped out of my mouth.

Air miles.

So if you are looking in to travel, whether for business, returning to ships/home or pleasure for a lower cost and in style, I highly recommend reading Tim’s blog, Points to be Made http://pointstobemade.com.   

If you’re new to the system of air miles, like myself, don’t worry, there’s an abundance of information and tips in the Beginner’s Guide - http://pointstobemade.com/why-and-how-to-play-the-points-game/

At this point, I should warn you about collecting air miles and travelling more, for less. As Tim puts it: “if you can crack it, you will become obsessed”

Enjoy reading and keep your eyes peeled for Tim’s regular updates.

Cruise Ship Medical Papers

Cruise Ship Medical Papers

Gathering all my paper work together to return to ships, I stupidly thought I had another six months on my medical papers. Turns out, I only have four months left. Nowadays you have to return to the ship with a medical for the entire contract. You can’t renew your medical half way through your contract like before and the paperwork is only valid for two years. So, I’ve now got to renew my medical papers before I can return to ships. Is someone trying to tell me something?

What’s a cruise ship medical? Basically it’s a huge list and group of tests. First round is always the quick fire “yes or no” round where you’re asked about 60 questions like:

Do you wear glasses/contact lenses?

Have you ever had surgery?

Do you take any medication?

The only question they don’t ask, is what size underwear you wear!

You’ll also have a quick eye and colour blindness test.

Next are the blood tests. Usually the doctor will take about four vials of blood. The tests: complete bloody analysis (sugars, cholesterol, white and red blood cell levels etc.), sexually transmitted diseases (remember, cruise ships are knocking shops at sea!), drugs tests and finally a HIV test.

Round 3 consists of your reactions and getting your knee cap hit with a medical hammer, much to the doctor’s amusement! Also, one or two chest X-rays to confirm that you don’t have TB (tuberculosis).

If you’re female, you can expect a pregnancy test too. Don’t forget, you’ll also be signing an agreement stating you won’t get pregnant while working on cruise ships. If you do, you’ll be fired quicker than you can say “Wham Bam, Thank You Ma’am”!

That’s not the only thing girls will have to do. The check list also requires you to have a mandatory pap test. In my humble opinion, a trip to the gynaecologist for a job or to return to work is slightly degrading! This in many countries would be illegal or straddling between legal and illegal. Having said that, some doctors will just tick the pap test off, giving you the all clear, without you having to spread your legs! My first doctor did. Unfortunately, not all will!

Once that is done and you’ve handed over your money (usually around 3-500 US dollars), you’re ready to return or join cruise ships as a crew member/staff.

Prices obviously vary between countries and medical facilities. A friend of mine, Lee, had his medical papers renewed in Miami at the song of $300. Myself and many others used a recommended private doctor in England and paid approximately $480 (300GBP). According to Zoran, a previously team mate, it costs around €150 in Serbia.

Being in Uruguay, I didn’t think I’d have too much problems in renewing my cruise ship medical at a good price. How wrong can you get?

Going to my parent’s hospital, Mautone in Maldonado, I spoke to the head receptionist.  I know Magdalena very well due to my Mum’s extensive stays, treatments, tests/result collecting at the hospital. She’s the one to talk to! After about thirty minutes of waiting and Magdalena making a series of calls and running around for answers, I got a final price. Because I wasn’t a member hospital, I’d have to stump up a fee. Not a problem, I was expecting it. Jumping through a few hoops, Magdalena managed to get the price down for me: I was Uruguayan, lived in the country and area and my parents are “VIP” members. The final price, $750! That’s without the pap test!

Driving around, we stopped off a couple more medical facilities for prices. Unfortunately, no one could do the whole shebang. I’d have to go to numerous different clinics and labs for testing. Just to see a doctor to fill out two pieces of papers (Quick fire “yes or no” round) would cost between $60-80. No one had the slightest idea how much the blood and other tests would cost. They did, however, let me know that it’d be “very expensive”. There's also no telling when you'll get the results back.

My other Uruguayan friends and Hernan from Argentina all had their medicals done for free because they are members of hospitals/health clinics.

Back at home and speaking to my parents, it’s an extensive, time consuming process just to become members of Mautone hospital. Also, I’d have to have the majority of the tests done (you don’t get the results though) to become members.

Flights to the States are also on the rise, thanks to South America going into summer/high season and the monopoly the aviation companies flying from this part of the world have. Unlike Europe, there’s no competition between rival companies. A one-way ticket to Miami is $1,300 plus.

At the moment, I feel like I’m going around in circles and not getting anywhere. If I paid $750 for the medical plus a flight to the States (if I’m sent there) I’m looking at $2,050 minimum before I even start work and earning. Depending on the ship I’m sent to, that’s between 1.5-2 month’s work to get out of the red.

More than ever, I really wish I was back in Europe. It may be up Shit Creek without a paddle, but it certainly does have a large amount of advantages!

I’ve been dealt a pretty shitty hand and not quite sure which card to play next. The big, multi-million Dollar question is: What do I do? Is it financially possible for me to go back to working on cruise ships? I wonder how most people in my position pay for it all. Keeping in mind I’ve just had surgery for a work related “injury”, it is really worth going back to cruise ships on both financial and health levels? Or will I just be burning a great hole in my pocket, especially if more surgery could be on the cards and messing up my wrist some more?

Fit to Return to Work

Fit to Return to Work

27^th October 2012

The good news is, my right wrist has been operated on for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. After a series of tests, having my wrist tapped to check for pain and pins and needles, and electric shocks being sent down my arm, I had Open Release surgery. Open Release surgery consists of a small slit in the palm of my hand and the tissue being removed/cut away from the median nerve. The procedure takes about twenty minutes.

It’s a strange feeling as you are under local anaesthetic and can feel what’s going on. Cutting my skin sounded like someone cutting into fabric! You can feel the tugging, but there’s no pain. A tiny stream of blood trickles but it doesn’t tickle. I wish I could have taken a photo, but I wasn’t allowed to look and had my face covered by a sheet!

Straight After Surgery

Sausage Fingers

After surgery, the median nerve was “stretching out” and it felt as if there were continuous volts of electricity pounding through my hand to my fingers. It wasn’t necessarily painful at first, just very uncomfortable. 

A week later and the stitches were out. Having said that, as soon as the stitches came out, the slit slid open and up flowed a small current of red. Butterfly stitches were then applied to keep the wound closed.

Four days later the butterfly stitches were nervously removed by myself. All that was left was a pink-red, scabbed line and a couple of pin-point dots.

Butterfly Stitches and Tape

Stitches Out and Tape Removed

In between all of this, I was going back and forth to the surgeon’s office for medical leave paper work for Image and their American Maritime medical company. Quite frustrating as they need an update every month, even if the surgeon has signed me off for two months. In return I received a whopping $6 a day medical leave payment!

Once the two months was up, I was back again with another piece of paper in my hand for him to fill out. He must have been sick of the sight of me! The surgeon knew what my job consisted of – repetitive movements and lifting/moving heavy weights. As a precaution, he signed me off as “fit to return to work but on light duties for 1 month”. Why? Chances of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome returning are high with my type of job. Being a ship photographer and only 25 took that “high” rocketing up. The surgeon actually expects me back soon to have my median nerve released again, if I carry on with the job I’m currently doing.

Five Weeks Later

A month and a half later, I’m officially off medical leave, fit to return to work!

Here comes some bad news. I’d gone back to the surgeon to let him know that I have pain, swelling and pins and needles in two and a half of my fingers in my right hand. Annoyed, he explained that the Ulnar nerve in my wrist which controls the (right half) middle to pinkie finger must be trapped too.

Turns out, as my medical debark papers from the cruise ship stated “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”, that’s what I was tested and operated for. As the pain was all across my hand, the surgeon didn’t think the check both nerves and thought once the median nerve was released, all the pain and aching would stop. Instead the Ulnar nerve is trapped inside the Guyon’s Canal.

What’s the solution? More Open Release surgery, but it can’t be done for a long time because I’ve just had one batch of surgery and the tissue will still be scarred. Wonderful! Just what you want to hear! 

In the meantime, I can take anti-inflammatories and wear a wrist brace for support. Wearing a wrist or hand brace was always on the agenda as a way of guarding the scar on my palm and prolonging any chances of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome returning. It’s disheartening and frustrating knowing both nerves could have been released at the same time. I will, however, be holding out for as long as possible until I get the Ulnar nerve sorted.

Looking on the bright side, my wrist will one day be fixed. Having said that, my job as a cruise ship photographer will probably have to draw to a close soon. My work as a photographer, won’t! 

Straight After Surgery

Six Days Later

Six Days Later: My fingers look like fingers again

Seven Days Later 

Shower Time!

Eleven Days Later

Five Weeks Later

Three Months Later