"Christmas Past?,, Meet Christmas Present!
Dec. 13, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010
Aboard Disney Wonder

So, what do you do over the Christmas Holidays? I think you look back at a past good Christmas and do that again. Cue Christmas Island, we're back with Disney for the holidays.

The checklists are checked, the band name has been changed to protect the innocent, the questionable material has been stowed, and we're back aboard Disney Wonder. Cool, hoist the stuff that needs to be hoisted and let's go!

Monday December 14, 2009... noon
Nassau, Bahamas

We boarded yesterday for what will be 3 weeks. The Wonder runs circles around the Bahamas with stops in Nassau and Disney's private island Castaway Cay. Three and four day cruises instead of seven like the Magic.

We've already played the first night in the Promenade Lounge and have already attended a Kloss (see the magic log for definition). The passengers are awesome. Everybody is smiling and happy and ready for a great vacation. Just one of the reasons we love it here.

Monday December 14, 2009... late night
Nassau, Bahamas

It's after midnight and the ship hasn't sailed from Nassau yet. Every now and then there's a late night in port and that's time for crew to get ashore and let their hair down for a while. All aboard is 2am, and there are some that will just make it. There's this internal clock that some of the seasoned crew have that magically get them back aboard before the ship leaves, but allows them every last minute of land time.

Tomorrow we'll dock in Castaway Cay, and passengers will hit the beach. Looks like 83 degrees, and a beach cookout. They'll wear themselves out, but tomorrow night is Pirate Night and fireworks and they'll just have to sleep when they get home.

The Wonder and the Magic crossed paths at Castaway Cay while we're were onboard last year. It doesn't happen a lot and when it does...it's a horn blast battle. The first 7 notes to "When You Wish Upon a Star" is pretty loud when it's played on Cruise Ship horns. We're hoping it happens again this year. We'll be deaf, but we'll let you know.

Quiet Cove pool for us tomorrow. Should be a lot of fun. All is well.

Wednesday December 16, 2009... mid day
Between Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral

Yesterday was like old times. We woke up docked at Castaway Cay with the ship almost deserted. Passengers love this stop. It's a little island paradise where folks completely forget that it's 34 degrees at home. The weather was perfect for us. 83 and partially overcast. Overcast means we can hide from UV rays a little easier, and the breezes seem to move more cool air around.

Things started to get going for Pirates in the Caribbean Night. The top deck between the stacks, transforms into a huge buffet, and the canons and all the pirate stuff is hauled into place for SHOWTIME! Our part is to get ready at Quiet Cove Pool at the stern. This pool area is called adults only, but you always see one or two kids coming through. It's cool, without them, there would be no need for any of this.

A little before dusk, the ship slowly pulls away from the dock and the 50' Christmas tree gets smaller and smaller and smaller until you can't see it anymore. Looks like it's time for that slow cruise back to Port Canaveral.

Magic kind of night last night. The whole are is covered with hidden speakers, so everybody hears what's happening, but nobody goes deaf. The CalypsoNuts, errr, magic, in hi def audio, cool.

Break 1 and break 2 are nice and long. It gives us time to have dinner, chill out, go to the office like one of us should have but didn't, or just stroll around and take in the stuff to take in.

The weather last night was great. The folks who didn't want to get wrapped up in the pageantry of Disney's big pirate party came back to the pool and the hot tubs, the Cove Cafe and Signals bar. That's the whole Quiet Cove thing. Good crowds all through the night and lots of folks asking about steels pans and us. Where ya from? Are ya married? What are those? The only question that doesn't come up out here is... Can I play those? Man, that's nice.

Some times we'll overhear people starting to use the word "doubledip". That's a great cruise with an "AGAIN AGAIN!" at the end. People are having such a good time aboard the Wonder that they're lining up at guest sevices to see if there's available cabins so they can stay for the next three day cruise. Cool, think we'll do that. What do you call 5 doubledips? 3 weeks, and half of our first one is almost done.

more later.......

Thursday December 17, 2009 ...9pm
A Reelin' and A Rockin' toward Nassau.

This ship is Haulin' Booty!! We're getting it toward Nassau with brand new group of passengers who want to get as much sun and fun in as they can in a three day vacation.

Yesterday was a really slow amble all the way back to the home dock in Canaveral. The perfect at sea day is when there's more than plenty to do, but more than enough places to go to just relax with really slight seas so the rocking and rolling is non-existant. nice nice.

We played 4 sets in the lounge to great, appreciative folks, but you could tell that they had that, "I don't wanna go home in the morning" look about them. Normally we hang around for a good long time and chat with folks on the last night of their cruise, but this was the last night of our first back aboard... (ok, follow me here)
The end of your first leg, you have to present yourself to US customs at 6am sharp for legal stuff. I understand, but 6am? But, I understand. And they make it easier by coming aboard and meeting us is the theater, so we don't have to actually leave the ship.
So,,,it was sleep, wake up, wander, sit for 4 minutes, prove that you're you, wander back, and sleep again.

2 sets in the Lounge tonight so far and...so far, so good. The crowds are smiling, happy and ready and so are we. We got an added surprise in the fact that Larry Solano, his wife Debbie and some other friends and family have made it aboard for another holiday cruise. We met them last year aboard the Magic and have kept in touch since. Nice to see these folks. Now, where in the world is Bob Bedouin?

More of the same tonight and a late night bite of food before we strike the stage and move some gear to the top deck for Pirate Night tomorrow.

Now, if this ship will stop with the shakey shakey, I may be able to hold onto this fakey fakey steaky steaky. burp.

Saturday December 19, 2009...4am
Between Nassau and Castaway Cay

Well, there was no late night bite of food last night. I mean, unless you want ramen noodles or toast or cardboard mess pizza. No thanks. Lynley and I can't just finish the last set and leave people who want to chat just so we can make it to the late night snack in the mess. #1 it's rude, and #2 it's wrong. Some folks have never seen a steelpan before and some just want to chat about whatever. They're on vacation, and if chat is what they want to do, chat is what I want to do. For some people this is their first cruise and sharing the awe and wonder with them is really cool. Kids turn their heads like a Boston Terrier when you point out over the ocean and say home is over there, waaaay over there.We really enjoy talking to people about pans, and cruising, and vacations past, and ideas for vacations yet to come. Some people that we talk to have 30 plus cruises under their belts and they love to describe and compare and that stuff interests us. Who has the best food, who has the best accomodations, who has the nicest staff, etc. It makes for interesting and sometimes long conversations.

And then there's folks like Larry and Debbie and their family, that I mentioned earlier. They both work for Disney in one form or another and have become friends. Conversations are usually light and funny and we really enjoy seeing them. They've watched these ships morph into the beautiful Liners they are today, and are looking forward with Disney to new sea routes to cover with 2 new ships.

Docked in Nassau today was a virtual bank with it's vault doors wide open to the people of the Bahamas. Not 1, but 5 cruise ships were docked right next to each other. I wrote it down , but I forgot, so bear with me.

Inside, closest to the dock was Costa Altantica. Lynley and I have played aboard Costa Magica twice and her sister ship Atlantica is almost a carbon copy.Old World style works in the Caribbean somehow. While other ships are preparing Jerk Pork with customary peas and rice when they sail into Jamaica, Costa is grilling Langostines with butter over angel hair. While we're Cranking up Dollar Wine, they're doing the Tarantella . Nice ships, but brush up on a leeeeetle bit of italiano, it'll help.

Next to her was the Celebrity Mercury. The Mercury has been noted as being one of the better cruise ships without being a behemoth. She's large, yes, but they also pay attention to small details like you'd see on a high dollar cruise. Lots of happy people on her decks taking in what sun was to be had. They'll be fooled when they experience that burn from an overcast day, OUCH.

Disney Wonder was in the middle and looking fine. The Black Hull with red, white and yellow appointments scream Mickey Mouse. The company had to go to the maritime assoc. to get the ok to use yellow instead of orange for their lifeboats. It's never happened before folks. The Disney ships, when compared against some others makes you think of falling back into the time of luxury liners, not mega behemoths. Nothing wrong with huge ships, we love them, it's just that these old world lines and new world technology are what I like in a liner.

Directly on our starboard was docked the Carnival Sensation. There's a reason they call these the fun ships. People from absolutely all walks of life and from all over the globe, flock to cruise a funship. They're noted for their constant GO GO GO atmosphere and their PARTY PARTY PARTY. We've noticed that the overall noise of the ships is higher because of the constant party. They have a zillion ships and they go everywhere and they always run sales. INTERNET IS YOUR FRIEND YOU GUYS. OR Call Lynley and she'll help you along. Just buy her somethin pretty.

Behind her was Royal Caribbean's Oasis of The Seas. Folks, this ship is huge. And,,, it seems to be all balcony rooms. Lynley and I have sailed the Majesty of the Seas and have had the honor to sail aboard Explorer of the Seas with her inside staterooms that have balconies overlooking mainstreet. Amazing class of ship and the food is always top notch and room service is 7 minutes from your door 24/7.

Because one or both of us have sailed these ships or their sisters, we figure a little comparison might be neat.

They are many other lines. Some are owned by larger Companies like Carnival and some that run on their own. A night of internet research will help you get a feel for what fits your itinerary wants and mostly, what fits in your budget. You tube is a huge help as far as the lay of the land and the type people who generally cruise the line. A 3 day can set you back as little as $179 plus alcohol taxes and tipping, or you can spend thousands and some more thousands on a crystal type cruise to european and mediterranian ports.

Ok, enough, back to us and today. There's a tech down or something, so lynley and I moved our gear last night to Quiet Cove pool for today. God, if they'd only let us bring our L.E.D.s We got it up there from the lounge got it stowed and then went for some dinner.. Not! Denied. Chips and chocolate covered peanut had to work. Oh, and a Guiness.

Crashed---Woke no real timeline due to no sleep, Thanks mother nature

Up and at it early after a night of rough seas, and small beds. We actually have a 3 bedroom cabin. Bedroom 1 is the single bed, bedroom 2 is the 3 foot long love seat, and bedroom 3 is the floor.
Needless to say, we got what sleep we could, where we could, and dashed to Quiet Cove Pool for Pirate Night. One of our favorite places to play. Quiet Cove is adults only and it's pretty well watched. Kids in the lounge? LOVE 'EM! Kids at Quiet Cove pool? We don't mind them but the adults having adult conversation and cocktails sometimes do.

Played 2 early sets, 3-3:45 and 4-4:45 and then not again until 9:45 and we played straight through with just a little break for fireworks. It was after the main fireworks show that the weather picked up and went crazy for a while. We didn't mind, we just stood on the pan stands, played out the night and then went over to talk with friends.

The second of 6 cruises is almost over and the stories are already filling hard drives in our heads. It's a wonderful experience to play aboard any of these ships. They're all the same, but they're all very different.

Hoping this beautiful relationship between CalypsoNuts and Disney continues..

For now.. the newest CD is available through www.cdbaby.com and digitally through www.iTunes.com just search Calypsonuts ..and please please sign our guestbook

Saturday December 19, 2009...9pm
..And for our next trick!

Wow, today has pretty much been an adventure so far. After numerous attempts to dock at Castaway Cay, the Captain announced that the seas were too rough and that mother nature was forcing a sea day. We aren't really being tossed, but it's far from smooth as glass. Lynley and I just sit here and watch our port hole. It's like a Maytag frontloader. One second we're looking at sun and the next we're looking at the undersea world. It's pretty cool.

We played one set at the pool today and that was different. No rain, sunny skies, perfect, except for wind and waves. Nobody seemed to mind though. The wind made it cool, but people hit the hot tubs for that one set. Our sets are themed out here and today at the pool was "A Taste of Margaritaville". It was Buffett and Chesney and that kind of stuff for an hour. Cool. Lots of fun.

The tech staff showed up afterward and helped pack it all down to the lounge. We don't mind moving if we have help. So, down from deck 9 to deck 3 and all the way across the ship. With the tear down? 10 minutes. Awesome.

Lots of people in the lounge tonight. I guess they have a lot of extra energy because there wasn't a Castaway Cay stop. And,,, once again we proved that if you get one kid to dance, everybody else will join in.

Sunday December 20, 2009...1am
What's that sputtering sound a car makes when it's out of gas?

1am, and we're toast. We busted our butts today and tonight. The lounge was really full all night, so it was GO GO GO. We had a great time, but we're cooked. I sound like Froggy from "our gang" and Lynley will be close behind if she has to keep covering me.

A usual stop for us after our last set is up to deck 9 for a soda or a glass of milk and a piece of pizza. Tonight we felt a bit of that colder weather that folks are saying is reaching way down into Florida. Add a moderate head wind to a ship that's already traveling 18 knots and this totals cold. Not cold, like 30 inches of snow near DC cold (sorry heather), but still cold.

Seas are rough, but hopefully it'll rock us to sleep and not out of the bed.

1 week down already. Hard to believe.

Monday December 21, 2009... 9pm
Nassau, Bahamas

This cruise is a bit backwards. Pirate Night is tonight and it's Nassau instead of Castaway Cay and we have the night off. Strained the voice pretty bad and coughing hasn't helped matters, so a night off is beautiful. Lynley doesn't have to cover my slack butt either. I sang like 6 songs total last night and she carried the rest. GO GO GO, she's the army ant of singers! So a self imposed "sick day" is just what Dr. Robbie has ordered. Bed rest, fluids, quiet. Awesome! I mean except for the emergency drill this morning and the cabin inspection tomorrow morning. As they say on the mean streets..."What up yo?"

No CD sales on the ship yet, but we're only halfway through our contract, so we're good. CDbaby.com is once again sold out and on temporary backorder though, so we really are good I guess. Another shipment is already on the way to them. Thanks everybody.

As of yesterday, we have a new group of passengers aboard and it looks like these are the dancing type. Lots of happy faces and smiles in the lounge, dancin and singin and movin to the groovin'......People are ready! I mean, how cool is a mom or dad, when they say, "We're going on a cruise during the holidays"? .....and it's not just kids, adults too. This rocks.

Which brings me to the question that hits me everyday in the email box. Disney Cruise? Disney+Cruise? Really? I wouldn't like that. I need a casino. That's not a real cruise.

Wait, wait, wait. There are a few differences between a Disney cruise and a NCL cruise, but there are differences between a HAL cruise and a RCCL cruise too. Here's the difference as far as I see it. Disney has no casino. Ok. Disney is way kid friendly. Ok. That's about it. Disney has mad skills when it comes to child mangement that no other line can compete with, but it's not about that. It's about the stuff that american kids and kids from all over the world grew up with. I grew up with Mickey and Minnie and Goofy and they're here. Young kids grew up with characters that haven't been around so long, but it's the same thing. It's the magic people feel, when they're around it. I mean, folks will go to Disney World 5 times a year, but they have to have RCCL or HAL? Nonsense. You NEED a casino? really? Ok, cool, that's cool, really. I know people who have been on 5 cruises, all on the Wonder. I also know people who have been on the same RCCL ship over and over because they love it. I also know people who have been on multiple cruises on multiple lines on multiple itineraries. Those are the folks who are true cruisers. People who hang with one line are fans of that line or vibe and that's fine, but quit the hatin' and have a little fun. Life's short and you'll miss it if you're not careful.

Ok, nuff!! Love ya, mean it,, really do..

Tuesday December 22, 2009... late night.
Between Castaway Cay and Port Canaveral

We just finished the night and for us, the cruise. Folks will relax and party and stroll the decks all the way back to the docks, but L and I have retired to the cabin to get away from it all for the night.

This 3 day cruise has flown by. It seems like this group just got on this morning and they're already getting off to go home tomorrow. The smiles were wide and the faces were bright and cheery and we feel like we took care of them very well. lots of folks were in the lounge again tonight. Some were dancing and some were just taking it all in. The vibe is great in the Promenade Lounge and we're happy to be a part of it.

With the weather back home the way it is, I hate to report on the weather out here because I don't want to come off cocky, but, the weather is cold right now. No, it's not 15 and crappy, it's just cool and overcast with that constant shipmade breeze of 18.5 knots. Great for me, but some of the folks who work on the ship who are from much more southern climates are freezing.

We did a swing shift of sorts today. We played one set at the pool and then 3 in the lounge. Totally different atmospheres make for totally different sets and that's cool.
Somebody asked usme today if we liked the pool or the lounge better and we had to think about it. We love the pool for all the reasons it's the pool. It's an adult only place, so it's a bit more relaxed (if that's a good word for it) and it's a bit more of a tropical theme to our sets, but the lounge kicks. We're less tropical and more showbandy in the lounge. The lounge is "My Girl" and the pool is "Margaritaville". That's the best way to describe it, so we like them both for different reasons.

More tomorrow and Lynley promises another report from the bridge.

December 25, 2009...1am
Merry Christmas

It seems kind of unreal to be celebrating Christmas again on a cruise ship. Last year we were on the Disney Magic in the Caribbean and this year its the Wonder in the Bahamas. The weather is anything but frightful, and fires are a ship's worst enemy, so there'll be no chestnut roasting. Not that I like roasted chestnuts, but there's something to say for the availabilty and possibility of things that are stereotypically Christmas.

There are not only a zillion different nationalities represented on this ship by the crew, there are also almost as many represented by the passengers. It seems that the majority of people celebrate Christmas, but there are a lot who celebrate either Kwanza or Hannuka or other things I've never heard of. The roots of the celebrations may be different, but the sentiment is the same at heart, and somewhere in there, "Peace on Earth" is at least implied.

So, while Lynley and I celebrate and wish you a Merry Christmas, we also wish you Happy Holidays and hope for Peace on Earth.

December 25, 2009... late night
...and the verdict is....KLOSS!

See you local neighborhood CalypsoNut for a private screening of this post.

Saturday, December 26, 2009... 7pm
Kloss and Grub

Ok, we found out today why Klosses (classes) are as important as we're told they are, and why refreshers are mandatory. It's not because of the people like us, who listen, pay attention and learn. It's because of the people who joke around, kick each other's chairs and could care less. It's these people who might know all the answers to all the printed questions, but it's also these folks who might just get you killed in the event of an emergency at sea. Our instructor "Valeri", not only had the information available, but he also took the time to put it all into practical terms. He explained that emergencies look a lot different in real life than they do in the classroom and to not expect things to go exactly as planned. In other words, if the ship is listing real hard to the port, you can't use the starboard rafts and boats. It's that kind of stuff that you need to have taught to you and that comes to light in a classroom of adults who are interested and engaged. Valeri did a great job at engaging us and welcomed us all into the learning process, it's just that some people are only concerned with cutting up and getting off work. While I hope we're never involved in an incident at sea, I know that Lynley and I will have the training necessary to help us make the right decisions not only for our safety, but also for the safety of other crew and passengers.

Now, with that said...Why is there four kinds of rice in the crew mess? White rice, yellow rice, Indian dishes consiting mostly of rice, etc. There was a beautiful dessert table on Christmas Eve that caught my eye. "I'm gonna go there! It's time to get my dessert on!" The closer I got, the sharper things came into focus. Could it be? Could it be? RICE PUDDING!

Henceforth, anyone bringing rice into my house will be immediately flogged, ridiculed, stripped of anything warm and thrown physically into the cold. If it's not cold, they will be flogged, ridiculed, stripped of anything warm and thrown into the cold anyway.

People are wandering tonight. Some are dancing and some are just wandering. Tomorrow is disembark day and nobody wants to go home. We'd "Party them back to the dock", but this is a Disney ship. With so many families onboard, it's a wonder any of them make it to midnight. As long as they're happy, we're happy. Cue Brahms' Lullaby.

Sunday December 27, 2009... late night
Why Cruise?

Another new group of guests boarded today. Everybodys happy and ready to go. They're ready for Nassau, they're ready for a sun filled day at Castaway Cay and they're ready to get away from the cold back home. If home is anywhere north of central Florida, they're going to be warmer in a few hours. The ship will wake up tomorrow in Nassau and it'll probably be 80 by noon or so. Some folks will venture ashore and spend the day doing touristy things and come back with straw hats or t shirts or jewelry. Others will stay aboard the ship and take in the sun by the pool and relax the whole day away. The options are more than you might think aboard a cruise ship. Some costs a little extra scratch, but some is free for the taking. The sun is high in the sky, the breeze is nice, the band is playing, and there's always a waiter or waitress with a tray ready to bring you anything you want from the bar.

Working on a cruise ship like the Wonder, reminds us why we love cruising. Don't get me wrong, it's great working out here, it's just that it's even better when you're a passenger just lazing the day away or catching local sites. Maybe we'll cruise again as guests sometime in the coming year.

Half of the excitement is the planning. You look at itineraries and ships and lines and costs and specials and dates. You literally go shopping for what's going to be the best bang for your vacation buck. I don't mean, you go looking for the cheapest cruise out there. You can, and that's fine, but it's balancing expense vs the available cruises and stops that makes it fun.

Mr. Johnny BigBucks may just plunk down a huge wad of disposable cash on the most expensive cruise he can find and expect to have the biggest time only to come up way short in the fun or memories department. Mr. Johnny Tightwad may do the exact opposite thing and end up with the same results. Mr Johnny Info, is going to do some research and find what's going to be his vacation of a lifetime and save a few bucks in the process maybe. But, his involvement in the vacation planning will pay off in the long run. He'll know what to expect, what not to expect and he'll have some knowledge about the art of cruising.

These folks are aboard the Disney Wonder because they chose to be. Some are Vacation Club members and some aren't. Some have been going to Disney World for years and some like me, never had the opportunity to go until I was 38! But you can lay a safe bet that everybody out here knows about Walt's mouse. That's the common bond out here. It's not a theme park ride, it's a bona fide cruise on a luxurious ship and a world where the Captain is the Captain, but Mickey is the King!

It's a big giant world, filled with awesome things to see and do.
That's why we cruise.

plus...I didn't even mention cruise ship food. I'll leave that for another time.

Tuesday December 29, 2009... 10am
Kids and Guitars

This happens every cruise. The lounge is situated where we see every face on the ship. Some once or twice and some all cruise long. It just depends if they're coming in or passing through. So, every budding guitarist gets a chance to take a first impression. You can tell who they are from a mile away. They look at you and then they look at the guitar and then you can see them calculating the "is he cool?" factor. I'm just a guitar guy who plays for a living, so I go right on along doing my gig and having a blast.

At some time during the cruise, these kids will walk up to me on a break or before a show and we'll start to chat.

Kid: Nice strat man
R: Thanks buddy, do you play?
Kid: Yea
R: Cool, what kind of stuff?
Kid: Mostly rock and really heavy stuff, but I like Zeppelin and the Beatles too.
R: Great, you play a strat too?
Kid: No, I play an '09 Gibson Les Paul blueburst with this in the bridge and that in the neck and....
(It's cool, but you can tell that it's what he's memorized from the ad in the Guitar Center magazine before mom and dad got it for him.)
R: Wow, that sounds like a great sounding axe (they love to hear axe)
Kid: Yea, what's that? Mexican or American?
R: It's a '95 Roland Ready American standard with a fishman powerbridge and chip. And a Bloodwood Warmoth standard C neck with Stainless wire just about .003" smaller than jazz bass frets and a real thick ebony fretboard. So, American.
Kid: Cool, I was thinking about getting a strat too.
R: So Zeppelin, yea? Nice.
(at this point, I've gone from old guy with a guitar, to cool old guy with a guitar)
R: Alright, nice talking with you. See you around the ship.
Kid: Ok, see ya....Hey are those sperzels?
R: Uh huh, good eye. later.
Kid: Have a good gig. (they love sayin' gig)

And with that, they're gone. Off to do whatever teens or tweens do on a cruise ship. I know however, that if we see them again, they'll smile and wave. Yea, ding ding ding, score one for the home team!

So, kids are cool. A lot either don't know it or are too shy to relax and just have fun.

Yes, I do. Mine was a red Kay SG copy. It was a hardtail with one pickup and black tophat knobs and a string retainer bar just past the nut. And, it came from Ramsey Music on West street in Annapolis, MD.

January 1, 2009 2010...2:30am
Under a Full Blue Moon

A long time ago, Warren Seaburg tried to explain to me how black it is when you look out over a moonless ocean when you're at sea. I heard the story, but I never really understood until I experienced it for myself. Pitch black is as black as it gets. The sky looks like ink and ten feet may as well be ten miles. It's absolutely endless and it starts at the end of your arm.

Tonight was not that night.

We knew about the full blue moon and expected it, but once again, I guess I just had to be there. Unlike nights where the moon is low on the horizon and shines a whitish streak across the ocean, tonight it was straight up and lit up the whole world. You could've turned off every light on the top deck tonight and there would have been enough light to keep on truckin. Very cool.

Ok, it's no big secret that Disney is the only cruise line licensed to shoot fireworks from the deck while at sea. So is it coincidence that on fireworks night you can sea Carnival ships tracking along with us? Tonight's fireworks at midnight were great and everybody aboard the Wonder and the Carnival Something enjoyed them. We were also graced by a helicopter fly-by around 11pm. It came screaming out of nowhere and was just as quickly GONE! It's a big ocean everybody, move over.

All the entertainment was working tonight. Nobody had the night off. It was all musical hands on deck! We all had good crowds and great times, but the BIG party was between the stacks on deck 9. DJ Frankie had the top deck rockin. His energy blows me away. He goes and goes and goes and the crowd goes and goes and goes right along with him. With him and the cruise staff AND disney character appearances, it's no wonder standing room was measured in square inches instead of square feet.

Music and lights and video are everywhere and somebody has to know how it all works. Cue, Justin and Franklin and Alistair and Al and Embong and Ahmet and the others from technical. Without these folks, nothing happens and they're our unsung heroes. It's not a box mixer and a couple speakers out here, it's all integrated audio/video and it's everwhere. They keep the hot, hot, and the cold, cold, and they keep everything looking and sounding good.

We're off tomorrow and then just one more night in the Promenade Lounge before we head for home on Sunday.

Happy New Year!

Sunday January 3, 2010...5am
Rockin' and Rockin'...weeee.

I guess you take smooth for granted out here, huh?

After a cold and windy day at Castaway Cay (yes, cold, 68°, waaaa), we just tromped through 15 foot seas on the last official leg of this journey. We're still a few miles off Port Canaveral, but the sea is finally calm and we're almost home. We'll still have to deal with immigration at 6am and customs at 7:45 and then there's the 10 hour drive, but performance-wise we're done.

The Captain made a shipwide announcement last night saying that we should expect it to be a rough ride after 10pm. He was right. Lynley has experience 20 footers, but this is the highest for me so far, and it's plenty. I'm guessing that there are more than a few people feeling a little ill right about now. The crew all sways at the same time and never misses a beat, but some guests who have never cruised before may have had a bit of trouble. Hope not, but, well, it's a cruise, not a carnival ride.

We stopped a few minutes early tonight so we could see the farewell in the atrium. Disney characters lined the staircase outside Triton's restaurant as Assistant Cruise Director Darren led the show. One last wave and they all said goodbye and only Mickey was left. Darren thanked him for cruising with us and then Mickey climbed the stairs, waving the whole way. The crowd was awesome.

With a countdown from 10, pixie dust filled the air. And, then came the balloons and the confetti and the streamers. It was really something to see. I mean it. It's really cool to hear the simultaneous ooooooh from the crowd as 4 stories of atrium fill with all that stuff. There's magic on the high seas and it's right here!

At 5am, all is well. L is sleeping, but it looks like an all nighter for me. Just hoping the customs guy is in a good mood and we don't have to go through all that ( how do you spell rig-a-ma-roll?), like last time.

Monday January 4, 2010... late night
Another Journey Comes to an End.

It started right after the last entry ended. Immigration at 6am, luggage scan at 7:30, and crew officer meeting at 9:15. The disembark announcement for passengers repeated at 9:30, which means there's still passengers on the ship and they have to get off before crew can disembark. So, we waited. 9:45, there is another announcement, so more waiting. At 10:30 when the crew officer was pretty much over it, she called down to whoever is in charge and they said, "oh yeah, bring them on down".

So, here we are, in the customs area of the DCL terminal. It's cold, we're not dressed warmly, a porter is pulling a cage with 10 pieces of gear and luggage piled up, Lynley is loaded down with stuff, and I'm pulling up the rear with yet another cage full of stuff. The area, which is normally filled with lines of people and their luggage and purchases is now empty except for the customs agent at the very end of the building, and he's waiting for us. This is gonna suck. This guy has had to deal with whiney passengers non-stop for the last 2 hours and he's not looking happy. We're going to have to pull it all apart, explain every piece and hope he clears it all into the states. You know that fuzzy (not the good kind) of feeling you get when you first see the blue lights behind you? That kicked in! Here we go. Just 100 more feet to freedom, but first...HIM.

L:Good morning.
Agent: Good morning.
R: Uh, hi.
(L presents passports, and customs forms)
Agent: What's all this? The band?
L: yes sir, we're the leaving duo.
(Customs agent looks at the sheet and back to the piles and back to the sheet and then at me)
Agent: So, what do you play?
R: Steel drums and guitar primarily. Lynley plays pans and congas.
Agent: Really, you play congas? cool. I was a bass player for a long time
R: That was my gig for 20 years. I cut my teeth as a bass player.
Agent: (stamp stamp) Well, welcome home. Have a good time?
L: Sure did.
(cages and luggage rolls past the customs guy and into the cold freedom of the drop off/ pick up area)
Crew officer: Ok, see you guys later, it's been fun. Be careful on the way home.

The customs man is a musician! What luck! While L and I had nothing to claim and had done everything by the book, Customs can pretty much do what they want when it comes to entering the US. Last time was a mess; this time was a breeze.

Now home, it's cold, but the heat's on and the cats won't leave us alone. It's our bed, and our towels, and our tub, and our little 1050 sq ft cottage that now seems palatial.

This journey is over, but another starts in just a few days. Time to dust off the bluer material and stow the clean cut. Now, where's my damn goatee?

Thanks to all the folks at Disney and to all the guests onboard for 6 remarkable cruises. It was a blast and we can't wait to do it again.

Peace on Earth, R & L (The Nuts)

ps....hope Steve the one-man-wave, and all the New Englanders made it home safe.

Finis... fade to black.

November 25, 2008
Off to See a Man About a Mouse

It's 7am and the alarm is set for 11. Four short hours from now, a brand new type of adventure will begin for The CalypsoNuts. Through this road/sea log, you'll be able to join us.

For the next 5 weeks we'll be performing aboard Disney Magic as she makes 7 day runs to and from the Caribbean.

While aboard, we'll be known as CalypsoMagic. Alter egos allow for parallels, and they also allow for contrasts.

Think of it as kind of a private diary that you have the passcode to. You'll hear of the comings and goings of a Cruise Ship Duo, doing what we do every day of our musical lives.

After this nap we'll drive all day until Orlando, where we'll attend Disney Traditions before boarding the ship for the real start of this new adventure.. Feel free to ring the cell phones or don't hesitate to introduce yourself. We look forward to hearing from all of our old friends and to meeting new friends aboard the finest ship at sea, "Disney Magic".

Peace,
Robbie...CalypsoMagic ........................................... EMAIL US

Tuesday Dec 2, 2008
Rocking and Rolling somewhere in the Northern Caribbean. The porthole in our cabin serves as much time as a diving bell as it does as a window. Kind of eerie. One minute sunshine, one minute aquarium.

Peace,
Magic Robbie

"Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday Woobie one Kenobi
Happy Birthday to you" ................................................... EMAIL US

L

Wednesday Dec3, 2008
We had today OFFFFFFF! Well, kind of. We had to be at another training class by 8:30. YES, AM. Today's class (pronounced "kloss" if you're the South African Safety Officer), was all about life raft (pronounced ropht if you're the South African Safety Officer) usage and procedures. It was really interesting, but it was really early (pronounced early by pretty much everyone there). We learned that is our duty (pronounced Jootie if you're the South African Safety Officer) to assist in the preservation of the lives of guests and fellow crew. Cool, so when do we play nearer my God to thee?

After training, we jumped ship for a while and went into Cozumel for lunch. Guacamole and Cheese Quesadillas just taste better in Mexico I think. With a late departure, we were thinking we'd burn up the night life until all aboard at 1am.. Hahahahahahaha, no frickin way, we were back by 4:15 and way happy to take a nap.

Got a chance to see all the other musicians on the ship play tonight. 2 solo pianists and a 5 piece band. The are all very distinct, different, and wonderful. More about each of them later.

With thousands of crew on the 2 Disney ships, Human Resources pretty much knows the cycle of emotions when it comes to ship life. Let's just say that I for one am proving that cycle true.

Things are ok out here. Missing friends, family and felines, but our contract is very short compared to most cast and crew. 5 weeks for us is nothing when some folks have contracts of 8 months or more.

Oh, by the way, late night crew mess means leftovers. Tonight we had fish, mashed potatoes, pizza, rice, and some pot pie thingy that ended up having meat in it, so I had to eat Lynley's.

No worries today!
Peace and g'night,
RoBear

Dec. 6, 2008...1am

Ok, um, wow, uh, what just happened?

So, Lynley's in the cabin blogging and I'm rushing like a madman to deck 9 to grab a slice of pizza before they close at midnight. It's out of the cabin, around the corner, up from deck A to I95, down to the aft end, out into guest areas to the aft elevators, up to deck 9, forward to Pinoccio's Pizza midship, Ravi hands me 2 slices, boogie back aft to the drink station, grab a glass of milk, find a deck chair, sit, breathe breathe breathe, relax, eat, reverse back to the cabin. Phew, it's so much easier to make it to Jade Villa in Virginia Beach by 1:30.

Met a couple onboard from Annapolis (my home town). Frank and Linda remember Bay Bowl, dances at the armory, and when people from Eastport were fondly known as Eastport O'Ricans. Frank was with the State police and was stationed on Taylor Ave. right next to the fire department when my brother John was stationed. Crazy, small world.

All people (crew, contractors, guests, etc) who stay onboard for more than one cruise, must "present themselves to customs" when they come back into the US for the first time. No problem, got it, good idea, must means must, but 5:45am is gonna suuuu----uuuck. So it's out of the cabin, around the corner, up from deck A to I95, down to the aft end........

Peace,
Robbie

Dec. 7, 2008...2am

First things first please.. I offer my respect to Pearl Harbor survivors, their families and to the families who lost love ones on that horrible day. World peace is still attainable, it's just gonna take a lot of work. Let's get to work, huh?

Got off the ship today for a couple hours and went to Target for cabin stuff. We were only gone a couple hours, but it was plenty to get the brains firing straight again. I guess if you look at an 8 month contract like 8 months you'll go crazy, but if you look at it as a bunch of one week cruises with a Target run on embarkation day once a week, it can be almost bearable. We have one week and one day down and we already know that going home in 4 weeks is gonna be bittersweet. Gonna be sweet to see friends and the cats, but it's also gonna be sad to leave what is becoming a very cool situation.

Got a chance to talk to some friends on the phone today, but all too soon the service popped back to "Cellular at Sea" . Cellular at Sea" should be called "Got money? Not Anymore!" I talked to my Mom and L talked to her Dad. Both are proud of their kids. Disney? yes, Disney. Like Walt? Like yes. I didn't know he had cruise ships. Isn't he sick? It wasn't that bad, but it was that kinda conversation for both Lynley and I.

We love our parents. They are both behind us 100% in an endevour that is new for us and unheard of by them.

2700 new folks today. new faces, new names, same excitement and enthusiasm. Had them dancing in the promenade lounge tonight. Twisting, shaggin, sliding, lots of fun. Connecting with each and every person we come in contact with is awesome. Everyone is smiling and the ones that aren't just need a little nudge or a little help. It's easy to help somebody get unlost or find the ice cream and if that little bit of help makes their vacation 1% better,,,success. Love that.

We're fine right now. Everybody is on the same page now and things are happening seamlessly like we know the should.

But... missing you folks at home too. I need chocolate nachos from Cheeseburger in Paradise, Tuna Sashimi from G.F.Keagan's, Red Beans and Rice from Summers Past and everything on the red menu at Jade Villa with a large bottle of sake. Soon.

Peace, Robbie

Dec. 9, 2008...1am

Today was our last kloss. It was actually supposed to have been last week, but after the long weekend getting gear on to the ship and getting into the swing of things, we asked if we could make this one up this week. The “yes” verdict came, and we were thrilled! However, in one small way, the joke was on us. We were allowed to substitute that 8am class (kloss)- - but since we went the Eastern Caribbean route, we set our clocks FORWARD an hour last night. Goodbye, 8am kloss, Hello 7am kloss!! All in all though, once again we learned some good stuff that I hope we never have to put into practice- and yet it’s still good to know. By 8:05 we were safely back in our cabin and asleep for the remainder of the morning.

This evening was another fun one in the Promenade Lounge. Smiles were everywhere, and I lost count of the miniature Disney Princesses on the dance floor; some dancing, some just standing and giggling, others running laps. We are never sure whether we are a dance band or merely accompanying the joggers on their mini workouts in the lounge before dinner.

We can see land off the port side of the ship telling us St. Maarten is in sight. We will dock in the early hours so tourists and crew alike can spend a few hours getting to know this tropical island. It will be good for the island economy, the guests’ vacations, and the crew’s morale. I don’t know what kind of shopping there will be, but I will find something pretty and sparkly to buy you can bet!
Well, I’m signing off now. I’m sure RoBear has his .02 to put in… miss and love you all.

Dec. 9, 2008... 4:45am

Wow, the ship is weavy tonight. Not really a steady, rhythmic rocking, but an erratic kind of back and forth, side to forth, to back, to side that's screwing with my equilibrium (and maybe my spelling). Lynley is crashed and weaving away. It doesn't seem to be a problem for sleeping beauty over there and I'm a bit jealous. And a bit nauseous too I might add. Give me those big old, smash water at the porthole waves any day; this little back and forth nonsense is for the birds. Ok, 'nuff of that.

I'm really happy with the response we're getting from the guests. Some folks have been aboard both the Magic and the Wonder numerous times and it's those folks who may have the tendency to look at us with a little more scrutiny. We're new out here and not what they're used to, so it's natural to want to protect what you love. And these people LOVE these ships and their crew. Instead of trying to win them over, we just do what we do and love what we do, and I think they see that we're team players and that it's their team that we're on.

There was a little bit of Magic last night in the lounge. We saw a commotion (ha, I said commotion) by the door and realized that Donald Duck was stopping in to say Hi after a long photo session in the atrium. We dropped into The Tide is High and Donald felt the groove right away. He not only filled our dance floor with kids, but he joined us onstage and played Congas. The Tide was High and Donald was Number 1. I know he has a busy schedule, but we told him that he was welcome on our stage anytime he felt it. DONALD ROCKED!!!

Rambling my way through the weavy waves tonight, but the keyboard is getting weavy too. Gotta try to crash.

Hakuna Matata ,

RoBear

Dec 9, 2008......9pm

Surfing today while on break and found this at Cruise Critic .com.

Very cool! We have a real good idea who this is, they've cruised aboard Magic several times. Had a lot of fun with these folks.

ok, runrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrun, back to the top deck to play during the Pirates in the Caribbean party.

later, peace, robbie, weeeeeeeeeee

Dec. 10, 2008...late

Let’s Rock and Roll!!!
Well, we have heard it can be rocky leaving St. Thomas, and it turned out to be true. For the last 36 hours, both Robbie and I have experienced extreme fatigue from coping with the constant motion of the ship. Today was better, but last night just after we left St. Thomas things were really moving and shaking.

There was no show to perform for us last night, but I did take the time to go see the featured act for the night: Ron Pearson, comedian and frequent guest on That 70’s Show. I was SO glad I went. Having had the chance to talk with Ron earlier and get to know him a bit it was great to see him in action. I listen to an awful lot of stand-up on XM radio and Ron just rocked it. From the physical comedy, to the ship jokes, to the audience participation… Ron is just a world class entertainer and he really “slew ‘em” (that’s comedianspeak). His closing bit involved a 6 foot unicycle with a flat tire, a spinning ball held up by a stick in his mouth, and juggling 3 clubs. Oh- and may I remind you, in approximately 15 foot seas and a rocking boat. Hat’s off to you, Ron… you rate pretty decently in my book.
Castaway Cay must be nearly in sight here at 1am. We have something called "Wet Drill” in the morning that promises to be the last of our “klosses”… safety or otherwise. We don’t know what it is but sounds like a bathing suit is required.
We are really close to having 2 cruises done. Wow, where has the time gone?! I can certainly see where someone could sign on for 4 months and have it be gone just like that. There is a rhythm to fall into once you learn the routes, the schedules and the timings… I can see how some fall in love with cruising as a career.

Well, going to go now… probably need some sleep before whatever this “wet drill” thingy is.
-L

Dec 10, 2008 ..... Late

Been weird. Ship movement, no sleep, no food, cabin inspection and then a couple hours to crash before 4 sets in the Promenade Lounge. We pulled it off and everybody had fun, but I would have loved to have had just a leeeeetle more sleep. Back to the cabin tonight, ready for a long winter's nap till noon or 1 at the least and Lynley informs me that we have "WET DRILL" in the morning at 9:30am. Not sure exactly what "WET DRILL" is, but it has to do with jumping out of the boat into the water in a bag of some sort. hmmmmm,,,,ok, Robbie (that's me) has a moderate fear (PHOBIA) (MODERATE) of ocean water. It's not the water, it's what's in the water. I'll handle snakes, and put out a fire, etc etc, I only have two things that bug me; Water other than pools, and heights that I either have to climb or stand next to.

If I blog tomorrow night, I made it. If I don't blog tomorrow night, it's because I freaked out and called some senior officer something horrible directly after I said, "Sir, with all due respect". The jury is still out as to which way this is gonna go. Nice and easy with a gig tomorrow in the lounge, or really bad with a ticket home from Castaway Cay.

Nice night in the lounge tonight. met a lady who has 32 cruises under her belt and this is her first Disney. She and her late Husband cruised all the time from NY to Bermuda and from FLA to The Caribbean. Since her husband's death she's only cruised a little, but this time she came with 2 girlfriends. they're in for Karaoke, she's in the Promenade Lounge with us. I guess we spoke for 15 minutes about favorite ports and favorite routes and favorite lines. Nice nice woman and she's having a great time aboard the Magic.

Natalie told Lynley that there was a positive note on a comment card, saying we were really great and the best thing they've seen in the lounge EVAH! Well, that settles that I guess... we're officially a lounge act out here.

More later, but know that we did Icky Yucky Sushi toward the end of the night tonight and folks ate it up. Finished with White Christmas on pans unplugged. Very nice touch, really klossy.

Peace, for all our sakes,
Robbie

Dec. 13, 2008...1 am

Yaay, we survived Wet Drill!!! This morning bright and early at 9:30AM … yes… you read that right… we met on the pier at Castaway Cay for our last safety kloss. It was a bit breezy and cool, so the prospect of flinging our sleepy bodies into the ocean seemed even less appealing. Once we got to the site, things progressed quickly so there was hardly time for a “wait, stop, don’t” before we were donning lifejackets and- with arms crossed in front of us and eyes directed to the horizon, we were stepping off the dock into perhaps the saltiest water anywhere in the Caribbean. Once in the water, we learned some survival techniques before climbing back on to the dock. Next section, we got into giant immersion suits (think industrial wet suit) and it was back into the drink for us. Last, we were directed to climb into a life raft (you know, rohft) for some familiarization of the inside.

So to give you the condensed version:
Put this on. Jump into the water. Get out of the water. Take that off. Put this on. Jump into the water. Get out of the water. Climb in here. Climb back out of here. Go back to bed.

Robbie even survived despite a war injury… the winds were strong enough that the life raft (rohft) was being pushed quite aggressively against the dock; as Robbie went to climb out, his foot was pinned between the side of the rohft and the cement dock for what seemed like a really long time. No trip to medical was necessary but he now bears the scars of a wounded seafarer.

Dec. 13, 2008...Later than Lynley

Ok L covered the day hours except for "OUCH".

Night time in the Promenade Lounge was very cool like last week. All the folks we met all week long made a last visit to say "So long" before they disembark in the morning. Parents, little kids and even crew that are leaving in the morning for a few months vacation between contracts. Prakash from India has been in the kitchen for 6 months and his smile today said that he is happy to see family and friends back home.

Erik and Sue from Orlando have been in every night and although it gonna be nice to have a whole new group to play for tomorrow, there are some, like them that we'll miss.

We had another technical, management, musicians meeting today after our first set and before Soul Drive played their first. Both pianists, Daryl and Christian are at these meetings too. Natalie, the entertainment mgr and Rich, the head technical guy, meet with all the musicians to catch up on how things are going and to see if we have any needs or complaints. C'mon, this is a wonderful idea that should be done at even the smallest venues. L and I asked about more consistency between house sound vs monitors and it was absolutely fixed the next day. Love it!!!!

The musicians and bands are getting attaboys from guests and that makes Natalie happy- she knows that her team is working the right way for the people in our crowds.

People who don't know about DCL might joke about mouseboats or whatever, but I'm learning a lot of cool stuff really fast and it's for the most part all good. We're proud to be part of this entertainment line-up.

Now go put your ears on and sing "It's a Small World After All". Go ahead.....I'm waiting.... ok nice ears,,, now sing!!!!!!! Louder! ............Think, "top of your lungs" singing...... you did, didn't you? Don't lie I think I could hear you a little bit.

Much Lurve,
Robbie
(shhhh, Lynley bought me Sorcerer Mickey Ears)

Dec.13, 2008....late night

Day one, cruise 3

We are relaxing in the cabin after our third load of excited passengers embarked today. We are getting the sense of the ebb and flow of a cruise ship; there’s an excitement renewed every Saturday by new guests seeing the ship for the first time. It definitely transmits to us, and embarkation night is always fun for us in the Promenade Lounge.

Tomorrow we will be back at our home away from home… Key West. We are looking forward to all our favorite places as well as visiting a port we know by the backs of our hands. Conch Republic Seafood Company will be a welcome sight- both for friends and for the conch chowder. Hog’s Breath will be another stop… if only to make close friends jump to their PC’s to check out the webcams. It would be nice to say hello to the Cat Man again since we missed him in November.

Life below decks is comfortable. We have settled into a routine of first set, dinner, second set, cabin for nap or internet, then sets 3 and 4 in quick succession. Robbie’s bags of recording gear and cords overpower most of the storage here, but they do come in handy when we actually need them. There are plenty of activities for crew… something every night in fact. Monday night Heath Hyche will be doing a show just for the crew at midnight- - I will be there for sure!

Hugs to everyone. We are approaching our halfway point for this contract and the e-mails and the cyber hugs from friends are definitely carrying us along. We have met some great people out here, but are missing everyone back home. Keep those cards and letters coming!

Much love and missing you! Lynley

Sunday Dec 14, 2008...late night

We were docked in Key West today. The weather was beautiful. 80 degrees and sunny is the best kind of December 14th.

It's kind of crazy when you're on a cruise ship playing a gig on the way to the Caribbean and 2 people come up and say, "Hey, the last time we saw you was in Put-In Bay, Ohio. (you singin' small world yet?) We met mike and Denise at Phlocking of the Phaithful in June and here they come sauntering into the lounge on the Disney Magic. Had to make up a couple verses about that. Wild. ...and I'm guessing Put-In Bay is pretty Put-In Frozen right about now.

Played one set at Quiet Cove pool today and 3 in the lounge. Quiet Cove was cool, but sleepy. The set was called Sunset Love Songs, but it should have been called Nap Time Love songs. Once a week we do a laid back thing up there before the lounge and although it's really pretty and all adult, 45 or 50 minutes of "Fields of Gold" will lull a sugar filled 5 year old to sleep.

The lounge was a different story all together. The 7:30 set was crazy. It always seems like that set starts with people wanting to dance but nobody wanting to hit the floor first. Somebody has to be first, and it's ALWAYS a little kid. Then the floodgates open and it's only a minute before we're playing the Electric Slide. Yes, I said it, and yes, we do it out here. I know we should probably be flogged or some such, but people still request it, and you know us, if you request it we'll most likely play it. But.......with that said, we'd never play Le Freak. [robbie hangs head in shame, knowing that le freak is also on the playlist].

The place was packed and the conga line consisted of EVERYBODY in the place. One guy put his cane down, joined the line and told me afterward that it hurt, but he just couldn't sit still. If I'm lying, you can slap me.

Good times out here and it's a whole lot calmer this week. Can't believe we're almost halfway to the day when we disembark and head north to the VA coast.

Peace,
Robbie

Monday Dec 15, 2008 ...late and tired

I told a guest on Saturday night that I couldn't fill his Elvis request, but if he gave me until the end of the week, I'd fake one for him. Well........ can you tell me what little ol Robbie and Lynley did? Yup, we went to the cabin, broke out the recording gear and the midi brain and stopped only after we had a pretty cool version of Teddy Bear in the bag. We didn't tell the couple, we just went into it. Yea, now that's the kind of suprize I like to deliver. ONE DAY !!! Gotta learn a Harry Chapin real quick too. She wants Taxi- I think she's getting Cat's in the Cradle.

Tomorrow, we are O F F off. Gonna go into Grand Cayman for a while and see what's shakin'(if we dock, the Magic hasn't been to Grand Cayman in 3 weeks because of weather or high seas.). Last time we were here we went swimming with the Sting Rays at Sting Ray City. Maybe this time we'll go to Hell or just shop a bit. What really matters is that we'll be getting off of the ship for a few hours on solid ground before setting sail late tomorrow afternoon, full speed ahead to Cozumel.

Good reports from the mgr, tech and cruise staff, so our butterflies are gone a bit. All the new songs are help as well.Wanna know the new ones, drop us an email.

Loving the Magic, her staff, crew, way of life, and most of all, her guests.

Oh, no classes this week, YAY!!!!

Nite zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,
Robbie

Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008 7pm.......Life at sea…

Last night was crazy fun from beginning to end. We started out in Quiet Cove playing a set aptly titled “Margaritaville”, then tore up the Promenade Lounge later in the evening for our usual pre-second seating dance party. It’s great to pack the dance floor full of kids and parents alike who are getting a chance to work off their 5 star dinners before they even sit down to them… the energy is infectious and we can never just lay back during that set.

Once again, we are meeting people that make us smile even as we make them smile. Last night, we wrapped up our set and were chatting with a few of our “regulars” who were on their way to dinner. I told them to enjoy- and to be sure to have an extra dessert for me since they are all so great every night. One guy who will forever remain in my heart went one step further… As Robbie and I played our last set, he strode up to the side of the stage and set down a covered dish. He had asked the waiter for an extra, and brought me one!!! That totally made my night. We are still smiling about it… not to mention it was absolutely FABULOUS.

Last night was also a special treat for the crew. At midnight, the comedian on board, Heath Hyche (check him out!!! www.heathhyche.com) did a special show just for crew members. This man is off the hook. He reads a crowd well… has some great physical comedy as well as outrageously funny stand up… when he comes to your town, you GO, do you hear me?! He’s been on the Tonight Show, Comedy Central, etc etc… but his resumé isn’t the reason you should catch him. He just is an outstanding entertainer and you’ll do yourself a favor and laugh a lot if you ever get the chance to see him.

Tuesday- Grand Cayman

Today was our day off. Through a Herculean effort, Robbie was up before noon, and we tendered over to Grand Cayman for a few hours of strolling and shopping. You’ll have to wait for the pictures, but there’s a very special celebrity that is all over Georgetown if you don’t already know.

We are back on board now, and Robbie is making up for lost time by taking a siesta in the cabin. After a good soak in the hot tub and a massively relaxing chair massage, I am sitting by the pool typing as we make our way to Cozumel. I have a manicure scheduled for 6:30. A girl could really get used to this.

Tuesday, Dec.16, 2008......late night

So, Lynley told you about Grand Cayman today. Good. That nap that she told you about was awesome.We spent the night going to the mess for dinner and then back to the mess for late night snack. Salads were abundant tonight and so was asparagus and crabmeat soup. Weird, but yummy.

I keep seeing new employees walking up and down the main back hall with "Earning My Ears" pins on their shirt. Some look scared and completely lost, while some look full of energy and afraid of nothing. Most are early 20s and some are mid 50s, there are positions out here for everybody. My brother in law Terry would make an incredible safety officer aboard the Magic, but he'd have to find a way to stop wanting to throw the kids overboard.

All is well tonight and most nights are getting that way. The cabin (state room) is mighty tiny, but I'm finding that I love my wife a million times more than I thought I did, and I knew that I loved her a bunch.

We're halfway done our contract and that means "Midtown" is halfway done their vacation. Reluctantly, I'll hand over my ID card which is also the key to my cabin.

Once again, all is well. Cozumel tomorrow and Pirates in the Caribbean party aboard tomorrow night after we set sail for Castaway Cay in The Bahamas.

Magical days have a way of becoming magical weeks.
Getting sappy,
Robbie

Friday Dec, 19, 2008.......way late at night on the 18th (almost morning)

We'll be docking at Castaway Cay is just minutes and the whole ship is asleep except for the crew that safely settles this ship up to her dock. Those folks and the folks on the bridge are the only people who'll even know we've arrived. .....except for the insomniacs of which I'm one. Today the guests will open there eyes to an island paradise, brought to you by Disney and it's Imagineers. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and all their friends are on the island here and there, but this is not Disney World. This is an island, and a mighty nice island to boot.

The groups of guests who have been here before is pretty large, but the ones who see The Flying Dutchman for the first time will quietly gasp, "Look at that! That's the Flying Dutchman!" Some folks who've seen the Dutchman 10 plus times will still gasp a bit. It's Magic to see it up close.

Beach time, SeeDoo time, a buffet is open, a bar is open on the island, Soul Drive (duo version, Andrea and brian) will play by the bar under the pagoda and they'll be piped all over the island. People will have another amazing time on their cruise and then they'll come back aboard, clean up for dinner and visit us in the lounge for our Farewell sets.

It'll be the last time we see most of these people, and that can be kind of sad. We're starting to understand why so many people have 1, 5, and 10 year pins. The crew looks forward to seeing all the return guests just as much as the return guests look forward to seeing them.

Ok ok ok. Last night Thursday night was a wee bit challenging. We had a family of 4 in the lounge. One of the kids only used his fist to hit the bottom of our steel pans, the other used a bit lighted stick that he got in the onboard shop. They're so short, it's hard to see them coming. What do you do? I mean, I know what I wanted to do. I knew what I would have done in Key west or Virginia Beach, or ANYPLACE in Jersey, but this is Disney. So here's what I did. I thought it, shot Mom a quick, nice glance as if to say "You can't afford what's about to happen", smiled again and she moved little Bosco away. shhhhhhheeeesh, still learning.

We sounded good, Lynley learned 2 more tunes and it's making our dance set even cooler. Oh, we played Wonderful Tonight.........well, what else do you play when two people get engaged right in your lounge. He asked her. She said yes. They danced and then they DISAPPEARED. I'm thinking they were bushed from the mental exhaustion of it all and needed a little quiet time together in their cabin. Yup, I thing I got that one right.

Lynley is sleeping and I'm off to curl in there too.

Peace to you and you and you and you and everyone,
Robbie

Friday Dec. 19, 2008 11:45pm

It’s getting all too familiar… the luggage cages line the hallways of the lower decks, the floor covering is rolled out and the pads are on the brass rails to protect them from the onslaught of baggage headed there, and ALL the little girls have their hair braided with brightly colored beads at the end of each strand. Yes, tonight is the last night of the cruise. Today was a beautiful day at Castaway Cay and the guests came back exhausted and happy. Some even ventured to take part in the weekly 5K race, and followed that up with a beach volleyball game- Now, THAT’S commitment to your vacation, eh, Larry?!

Sad again to say farewell to our Larry group. What a great bunch of people… proving for real that the family that plays together stays together. Other friends we’ll see again soon… somewhere on the water in March… and maybe again on the USA’s “north coast”.

It was very cool tonight to see our friends from the week take the time to stop in and say goodbye before heading to their cabins to pack. We found out two ladies who have been hanging with us all week live SO far away from us- - Chesapeake, VA in fact. Our dessert bringing friends from TX also stopped in… we hope to see you again too.

Our closing set turned out to be a round of “Stumpo El Bando”, with requests from Gordon Lightfoot to James Taylor to more Elvis. Some we attempted (Gordon Lightfoot) some we nailed (Simon and Garfunkel) and some we knew better (Grateful Dead). Hang on Harry… as long as Robbie owns a guitar there’s hope.

Well, I’m off to check out the crew lounge before heading to the cabin to get ready for our weekly pilgrimage to Target…

good night, everyone.

Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 late pm

Christmas is drawing close… just days away, in fact. Nowhere is this more apparent than right here on the Disney Magic. Above decks, there is a magnificent 3 story Christmas tree in the Atrium, and that’s just the beginning. Holly, mistletoe, wreaths, tinsel and every kind of decoration fills every public space. In the Promenade Lounge, where we play, there is a gingerbread house with a roof that crests at around 10 feet… in fact, it’s about the size of our cabin. No, not really, but it IS a really big and REAL gingerbread house. Lots of people have tested that fact by taking nibbles out of it here and there. Trust us, it’s real… but it has been in the lounge since we embarked and I’m pretty sure you don’t want a taste.

Now, let’s talk about REAL Christmas spirit! If we haven’t mentioned it before, the main corridor below decks is called I-95 or Main Street. It runs down the port side of the ship on deck 1 for the length of the ship. For crew, this is THE way to get from point A to point B. Crew office is at one end, the crew bar is at the other and most everything else is in between. Around Christmas, each department is given a section of I-95 to decorate in the way they best feel shows the holiday spirit. We were happy to be included in the musician/crew staff/entertainment display. Andrea, the lead singer from Soul Drive, is heading up our display and so far in the hallway is a pretty decent replica of Rockin’ Bar D made entirely out of bingo cards. She totally rocks. Our contribution was a (sort of) steel pan. If you can imagine cardboard and tin foil in Robbie’s masterful hands, you know that Soul Drive has been very kind to allow our “steel drum” to remain a part of the display. We promise pictures when it’s all together.
There will be a judging of the displays on Christmas Day… we hear a rumor that the Engineering department always wins by basically re-creating the Disney Magic, L’arc de Triomphe and the Space Shuttle in full motion in the confines of the hallway but I think I’ve still got my money on the bingo cards.

Another day behind us… another ahead tomorrow. Look out Cozumel, it’s SHOPPING TIME!!!

Sunday Night Dec. 21.....late

Great day out here. The Promenade Lounge is really getting comfortable for me. I remember being a bit overwhelmed on day one. We were new to the room, the room was new to us, the techs didn't know what to expect and the crowd expected to see a comfortable, non-overwhelmed duo.

At this point, everybody knows everybody, we know the room better, the techs know us, we know them, and the room is as comfortable as an old hoodie.

We learn from our peers whether we know we're learning or not. Bobby Snard of Virgina Beach's Snard Brothers once said, "The crowd is an angry dog; if you don't get them, they'll get you." And, our mostest favorite, Uncle Aguda, Elvis in a little Phillipino man friend Eddie Sal, absolutley OWNS the room whenever her performs. With that in mind, I started week 4, and week 4 is starting very nicely.

Our sets are so different out here and can be drastically different from one to the next. We theme things a bit, so one set might be called Sunset Love Songs (pronounced lurrve songs), or Island Country, or 80's Dance, etc.. The weird thing is, we may start with the theme, but we change up depending on the crowd. It's the crowd that really makes things so drastically different from one minute to the next. at 5:15, people might be on their way to dinner, so it might be quiet unless the kids are amped up from ice cream on deck 9 and then it's nothing less than full on dance set. Or, we may start a dance set and then get 40 people who just had one too many something a' la somethings, and have to go into Smooth Operator mode. It all just depends. In other words, plan all you want to plan, but you'd better be on your toes.

To say "we're learning a lot" would be an understatement. I mean, we've been doing this exact same thing for years, but this is pretty cerebrally demanding. It's also very rewarding when you connect with so many people so quickly. Sure, it gets frustrating like anything can, but I can still honestly say, "I love my job."

Ok, enough drivel from me. Tomorrow we're gigging at sea and then Calypso Magic has the day off in Cozumel on Tuesday.

Time to sing again kiddies. Ready?

"Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A pirate's life for me."

ps.somebody go feed the cats

Tuesday Dec. 23, 2008 ....Off in Cozumel

Ahhhh, Cozumel. It's a dirty little town. Well, more dusty than dirty I guess and we love it. We always walk down the main road that runs along the water. You get a great view of the ships out on the docks and the shops are always a comedy in the making. Some of the shops are kitchy, some are basic t shirt shops that also sell tequila, and some are high end jewelry stores. All of them have people outside trying to get you inside. It's worse one block off, but that's where we head for shopping. The kitch is all the same but it's cheaper in the end and the sales are more friendly. They're just as pushy off the main road, but most of them are older folks who are tired of being slick and just wanna make a living and still haggle a little. With that said (I love that phrase), don't go back there in a hawaiian shirt, pressed shorts, knee socks and dress shoes; they'll eat you alive. An old tiger is still a tiger and if a wounded gazelle wanders by it's toast. Be careful.

Man outside shop: Hola, Amigo, cuban cigars?
robbie: Sorry, Don't smoke
Man outside shop: START TODAY!

Man outside shop: Hola, Amigo, want a great deal on something you really don't need?

Man outside shop: Heeeyy, check it ouuuuuut!

Man outside shop: Something pretty for your wife?
robbie: Nah, I don't even like this woman
Man out side shop: Then how about something for your girlfirend?

man outside jewelry store: Heyyyy, wanna get drunk for free?

Man outside shop: Ok, ok, my turn to try to cheat you outta some money, step right in.

Lady outside shop: Here, let me give you your free necklace.
Lynley: No thanks, I already have one. (anditsaverry niceah)

Man outside shop: Ok, which one of you has the money, huh?

robbie to man in dusty shop: How much for this bracelet?
Shopkeeper: Ohhhh, it's handmaaaaade, very niiiice, normally at least one hundred and feefty.
robbie: ha, ok, thanks, Merry Christmas. Maybe next week, we're musicians on the Disney ship.
Shopkeeper: Deezney Chip?! Half off amigo! Cheap, 75!
robbie: 50 bucks.
Shopkeeper: 51
robbie: hahaha ok sure, deal.
{in the end he charged me feefty}

Watching a jewelry store salesperson pour tequila for a potential customer is crazy. We've seen it before (Hell, we've BEEN it before) and it always seems to be a smart move on the salesperson's part. Before long he's got a couple from Des Moines or Toronto saying hola and amigo and finally, Si! Sold. Thank you very much. Next!

It's our day off, and days off out here are worth my weight in Tanzanite. Unless we're sleeping, it's go go go and it takes time to recharge the batteries and get the synapses synapsing again. Not sure what we'll do tonight, but I don't think I'll be doing it late. The recharging process itself requires more energy than we think. We don't walk 4 miles at home, but we do on our day off when we're at sea.

peace on earth,
Robbie

ps. the cookie fairy came and we shared them with band members from Soul Drive at 3am while they were decorating I95. Thanks to Bob and Liza, and to Teri and her Connecticut elves.

Merry Christmas, one and all!

Well, the ship’s GPS says we’re 1368 nautical miles from Port Canaveral. Which means that at the moment, I can’t accurately point to a map and say where we are at this moment. I’ve never been able to say that on Christmas before… I’ve always either been with family or friends or both, whether they travelled to me or I to them. Several times today I’ve even had a hard time convincing myself that it was indeed Christmas Eve. First because it came so fast, and second because it just doesn’t feel quite like any Christmas I’ve ever had before. Christmas in the Caribbean is a wonderful thing… but it would be much better if you all were here with us. After all the presents are opened and the turkey’s been picked over, what we really have left (and what was the important part in the beginning) is our family and extended family. So- Merry Christmas to you all… we are thinking of you and holding you close today.

Christmas Night 2008

There are many nationalities on Disney Magic. Many cultures, creeds, religions and beliefs. What this has made me understand is that although I celebrate Christmas, I am only one person in a world made up of many. I guess I've gotten the crash course on what they call diversity. This ship operates like it does in large part because of tolerance. Tolerance of other people's likes and dislikes as much as people's differing cultural standards or religious beliefs. Diversity.

I used to be one of those guys who vigorously wished everyone a Merry Christmas, because dammit, it's Christmastime and if you don't like it, tough, Merry Christmas anyway. Magic is not just the name of a ship, Magic is what happens when your eyes are opened to something so different than what you are, to the degree of saying, "Wow, this person is completely different than me, but also exactly the same.

Winter Solstice? Ramadan? Kwanzaa? Chanukah? Well, Merry Christmas is what I'll wish you because that's what I know. The big difference is that now I will gladly accept a Happy or Merry, Joyous, Holiday of your choice with the same openness and glee I accept Christmas wishes. Genuine Good wishes are genuine good wishes to me now. I may not understand what you're wishing me, but maybe that means I'll do a little reading, expand my mind a bit, and understand my human counterparts even better.

I, Robbie Meade, would like to wish you the most sincere Merry Christmas ever wished.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night,
RoBear

p.s. somebody send me some shrimp stuffed tofu, and chinese watercress in garlic....sake would be nice too
p.p.s. Mery Christmas to the piles of awesome guests we're meeting on every cruise, starting with Bob and Chris.
p.p.p.s. Drop us an email, let us know you cruised with us. We miss you and you don't even know it.

Dec. 25, 2008 ...Christmas Night and Counting down to Friends and Furry things…

We have a full fifth of our adventure to go and yet it feels like we are winding down. I can see route 95 through to Emporia, and almost feel Ziggy clawing me at 4am to let him under the covers with us.

We are learning a lot out here… about ships and entertainment and safety and most of all about connections. Not only the guests who have made an impact on us but on fellow crew members who have really gone out of their way to make us feel at home. Christmas today was lovely. We had a get-together with a Secret Santa gift exchange amongst our fellow musicians, followed by sets in the promenade celebrating all sorts of holidays and just life in general. The Disney Magic was indeed a magical place to be today, no matter what holiday was celebrated.

Dinner in the crew mess was FABULOUS, and served by the ship’s officers. The many salads and offerings were just unbelievable, and I must say the salmon was incredible and rivaled Robbie’s (shhh, I didn’t really say that). The desert table was large and we were more than tempted. Thank you to the ship’s galley, not just for this meal but for every one that feeds crew from over 100 nations.

“And I heard him exclaim as he rode out of sight…
Merry Christmas to all… and to all a good night.”

Dec. 26, 2008...late night

.....OK, It’s quiz time!!! If you have been reading along this far, you probably know a thing or two about the Disney Magic and Calypso Magic. Answers may be submitted below. Keep in mind we are looking for one of two things: either the correct answer, or a really creative one. Prizes to be awarded.

.....1. It’s Friday. How do we know this aboard the Magic?
..........a) All the little girls have their hair braided
..........b) Some naked guy ran through the hallway shouting “IT’S FRIDAY!!!”
..........c) We are required to sign in to the crew office every Friday
..........d) None of the above

.....2. There are just some things Robbie won’t do. One of them might be:
..........a) Wear a silly hat
..........b) Learn and sing an Elvis song overnight
..........c) Learn and sing “The Wino and I Know” for a good friend
..........d) None of the above

.....3. Where would I have told Robbie to go to hell?
..........a) Cozumel, Mexico
..........b) Grand Cayman
..........c) Anywhere because I do it all the time
..........d) None of the above

.....4. According to the South African Safety Officer, in kloss we learned our jootie as crew is:
..........a) To assist in the preservation of life of guests and fellow crew
..........b) To learn Nearer My God to Thee
..........c) To get used to waking up at 8am on a daily basis
..........d) None of the above

.....5. The ritual by which all new crew members must plunge into the sea wearing a life vest is called:
..........a) Ridiculous and early
..........b) Baptism by Mouse
..........c) Wet Drill
..........d) All of the above and then some

.....6. Robbie’s injury in the line of jootie is located:
..........a) On his left hand
..........b) On the top of his right foot
..........c) In his brain but this actually happened several years ago and nobody noticed
..........d) None of the above

.....7. Where was the Disney Magic on Christmas?
..........a) Cozumel, Mexico
..........b) Grand Cayman
..........c) We have no frickin’ idea… somewhere in the ocean
..........d) None of the above

.....8. In any kind of seas, our porthole resembles:
..........a) A flushing toilet
..........b) A scene from The Poseidon Adventure
..........c) A Maytag front-loading washer
..........d) None of the above

.....9. One guest entertainer juggled 3 balls atop a 6 foot unicycle in 15 foot seas. His name is:
..........a) Ron Pearson
..........b) John Charles
..........c) Heath Hyche
..........d) Robbie Meade

.....10. Lynley received something special from a guest. It was:
..........a) Four calling birds
..........b) Three French hens
..........c) Two turtle doves
..........d) A dessert

Remember… creativity is key if you’re not quite sure of the answer… or heck, even if you are. ?
..... Submit all responses to : QUIZ_ANSWERS
Good Luck and Happy Friday!

Nite, Lynley

Dec. 26, 2008...3am on the 27th

Wow, the Christmas cruise is officially over except for disembarkation. It's 3 am and the whole ship is asleep. The guests are trying to get a little shut-eye after a long night of partying and reassuring the kids that they can come back real soon. The Guest services folks who work at the desk are napping until a few guests bombard them with questions about their bill. Housekeeping has just laid down for a quick nap after loading the luggage of 2700 guests into big bins. They'll only nap until the ship is disembarked...that's when they'll go into stateroom preparation mode because 2700 new guests will want clean and shiny. When the Captain guides Magic into her berth in Port Canaveral, another whole section of officers and crew will go into action. She needs to be docked safetly and tied tight. Once secured to the dock, Customs will board, do their thing (whatever that thing may be), and then clear the ship for unloading and disembarking. Forklift guys pick up the luggage cages and haul them to the terminal, the guest will haul themselves to the terminal, but just as far as the US Customs lines where they'll be asked a bunch of questions before being allowed to retrieve their luggage. Well, they'll actually find a porter with a big trolley (HAND TRUCK, DOLLY) who will tote all their luggage to their vehicle of choice. Word of the wize to disembarking guests:PLEASE TIP THE PORTERS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO TIP THE CUSTOMS AGENTS.
The next steps get them on their way toward home and memories and plans for another run aboard the Magic.
The ship? Reverse everything pretty much exactly and set sail on a Magical adventure for fun in the sun the Disney way.

For us: 4 weeks are gone with 1 more to go before WE encounter disembarkation and it's peculiarities. We're kinda different; not quite guests and not quite crew, kinda more like vendors. Yes, Disney hired us as musicians, but as an act. Lynley is Specialty Musician I and I am the slightly inferior Specialty Musician II. What that means is there is another whole process that we and a lot of our peers know nothing about. We hoping management has it figured out before next Saturday. All we know for sure is it's probably gonna happen at 4:45am just like our first day coming aboard the ship.

We met AMAZING people again this trip. disboarders from North Carolina, Florida, New Zealand, etc.. We met an Asian couple in their 40s who loves to listen and dance. Dance they did! You can tell they've done that a time or two prior to boarding. We also met a grandparent couple traveling with their family. The younger family members ran and got tired, but William and Estelle the grandparents from Oxford, England litterally camped out in Promenade Lounge waiting for CerrlypsoughMajeek to play. Awesome people. Lots of kids of course, but very well behaved except for a few who got time out I guess.

To cruisers and readers from week 1: The Gingerbread house is still in the Promenade Lounge, but she's been repaired every day. Although it's been up for 4 plus weeks and it's as hard as a mountain elm, people (kids and adults) still snap a piece off and give it a try. From the faces, I can guess it's pretty stale and nasty by now. It's a good thing there's a gingerbread house detail that comes around twice a day to hide the transgressions with more paste consistency frosting.

Here's cool news. We've (all the musicians) have been getting positive comment cards from guests. People have left WOW factor notes about us and the others, some have sent notes to the cruise director and entertaiment manager. Good comments are worth their weight in Emeralds.

Well, Peace to the worldtravelers who go home today, We hope your adventure was as magical as your next one promises to be.

Peace on earth, thanks for making our job sooooooooo enjoyable,

Robbie

p.s. this is my all brother brooke's fault, he started this whole thing by being my guitar slingin hero when I was 3 and he was playing with The Fabulous Avalons.. find 'em on my space

Dec. 27, 2008... late night

Starting the Lasts
Well, with this week, we begin the “lasts”… Last Embarkation, last Formal Night, Last Pirate Night, etc etc… It already feels strange to think that a week from today at probably right around now we will be arriving home on Lenox Avenue, weary and butt-sore from those fabulous van seats of ours.

BUT- - in the meanwhile, we have a fabulous new group of excited guests aboard… the shows were really fun tonight and it is entirely the fault of the oncoming passengers! Lots of dancing and bouncing on the dance floor… not to mention a whole NEW crew from the DIS Boards! And to think, we had never heard of these message boards 5 weeks ago… now everytime someone from DIS comes aboard it feels like saying “hi” to a group of friends we already know. Major cool.

Today felt like a mini-vacation for me. While we were docked in Port Canaveral, Robbie made the decision to study his sleep patterns further, so I went to the van to get some things needed for this final week. Once I got to the van, though… I realized I had keys and time, so off I went! After not driving for a month it felt glorious to just tool around Merritt Island. I eventually found a bank and a Burger King for some coffee, all the while chatting up friends (hands free of COURSE!!!) and talking my fool head off. After 2 hours of uncontrolled talking, texting and e-mailing, all felt right with my technological world at last. The best part? I get to do it all again tomorrow in Key West!

The plan for tomorrow is to meet up with a friend at the Hog’s Breath, to once again taunt those we love by sitting in a favorite bar in front of the webcams. Hopefully they will raise one with us to tide us all over until we see each other again. Rumor has it that’s not far away. Midwinter Meltdown.

Dec. 27, 2008... later than Lynley

The day is done, the night was long, and this doesn't suck. I mean, I miss home and the cats and the friends and the big bed and the shower curtain that doesn't love me in a way shower curtains shouldn't, but I'm gonna miss this too.

4 weeks ago, we climbed aboard this floating world thinking it would (and should) be like what we've known in the past as The CalypsoNuts. Well, it's not (and can't be) like that other world where we landlubbers live. Things out here are different. They're not bad, just different. And, quirky and strange and sometimes bizarre and always very cool. C'mon!, It's a cruise ship!!!!

Couples who share a crew cabin, are NEVER going to shower together.
Cruise ship soap is too tiny to wash ANYTHING!
If you drop the soap and pick it up, you WILL bang your head.
Your hands will always be clean enough to perform surgery.
Today's suprise in the mess? RICE!!!
Oh how we long for a 56k fax modem.
A Christmas Story is great once a year.
A Christmas Story has been running 24/7 since we boarded. (you'll shoot your eye out kid)
If you get on the elevator on 10 headed for 1 and a kid pushes ALL the buttons, that sucks.
Cats who should be on web cams tap dancing for their humans, never are.
Coat hangers breed like rabbits and we hate them.
I already mentioned the unmentionable shower curtain syndrome.
Is today Sunday? Tuesday? sigh....look! Rice!

Quiet Cove for Pirate Night tomorrow in Key West. Full steam ahead for another adventure.
Nite

p.s. by the way... Check out Disney Magic's Showband Soul Drive at Soul Drive live . com

Dec.8, 2008 .....late late laaaate

Today was about as good as they get. We woke up Docked in Key West. Key West is kinda like our second home, we play there as often as we can (well, except for July and August). A friend named Kenny spends WAY more time than us there and the joke is, "Seen Kenny? Ah, Key West". We jumped off the ship and met him for lunch at Hog's Breath. Fun times. He thinks he'll stay until the first.

Tonight was Pirates in the Caribbean night aboard Disney Magic. The big pirate show on the main deck and Calypso Magic at Quiet Cove pool for the folks who weren't into scabbards and swords and tricorn hats. Quiet Cove was anything but quiet by the end of the night. People were up on deck 10 dancing at the rail. The hot tubbers were having a blast and the people passing by, stoppped instead of passing. Real fun night with a bunch of fun people.

Andrea and Brian from Soul Drive video'd the last set and it came out really good, we'll edit and post some when we can.

Lynley and I ducked back to the cabin on our first break and donned our pirate garb. We had almost 2 hours to blow, so we dshed around the ship taking pictures. Those will be up soon too.

Can't believe we're almost outta here, and can't believe I'm already hoping we get the nod for a return. Yup, we're ready to talk to somebody about this.

Peace, nite..
RoBear

Dec. 29, 2008.....midday

Wowwowwow… It’s Monday and we’re at sea today. The weather is unbelievably perfect- 80 degrees with the sun shining just enough to need sunglasses but not enough to cook a turkey. The adult pool was the place to be for lounging, hot tubbing, or just being. We played a quick set topside, and are now resting up before our (Last!) formal night sets.

It’s hard to believe it’s almost at the end. We have become acclimated to ship life, cabin life, and a stage that sometimes moves and sometimes doesn’t. It’s surprising how little you really need in the way of physical “stuff”… I can tell I’m going home to clean out the closets and have a giant yard sale.

We have cabin inspection down to a science. Once a week, officers come to every crew cabin on the ship to be sure that there are no fire hazards, safety violations, or goat farms in progress. There are lots of do’s and don’ts, but mainly, the cabin needs to be clean, and the occupants need to be up (remember, this is at 9am) with the bed made and lifejackets placed on the bed. MOST of the crew wakes up at 9, to sit and wait for the knock on the door. Not us. The night before, I make the bed reasonably well and put the lifejackets on the floor next to the bed. I DO set my alarm for 9am, but when it goes off I turn it off. For the next 45 minutes, I continue to sleep, but lightly. When I hear them knock on the cabin door next to ours, I push Robbie out of the bed, lightly toss the blankets up, and set the lifejackets on the bed. *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* “Cabin Inspection!”… We are at the door just in time- and 30 seconds later we are back in said bed without even a hiccup in the snoring action. Leave it to the musicians to maximize sleep time, eh?

Last night we got some pictures with THE Captain Jack Sparrow… I can’t wait to see how they came out. We will post them unless I am drooling in the pictures. More later…

January 1, 2009 early am

Happy New Year

January 1, 2009... somewhere in the Caribbean by the pool in the afternoon

Happy, Happy New Year Everyone!

First and foremost, may each and every one of you have the best year possible… 2009 is here and holds lots of promise and new starts. I’m not a big one for actual resolutions, but there are a few things in my head that I will not wait to do until 2010.

It really is coming at us fast now. The cages are beginning to line I-95, only this time one of them’s for us. Whoa. We are no longer looking at days left, but hours left on this ship we have come to call home after 5 weeks. It’s going to be really strange to see the ship in our rearview mirror and know that we do not have to be back on board at 3 pm or after our Target run, whichever comes first. I can (and might!) dye the front of my hair pink again, just ‘cuz.

We have made some awesome friends aboard that will be missed… all the musicians… the cruise staff… in fact, everyone we’ve come in contact with has been so awesome it’s going to be sad when we go. For them? Another 2700 passengers will be aboard by 4pm, so they will be right back into the groove of life aboard the Disney Magic.

We are excited at the prospect of what 2009 can bring… let’s ALL make it a magical one.

January 2, 2009...2am

Lynley's packing, I'm blogging and we're leaving the ship in 26 hours. weird.

Tonight was cool. We played in the lounge and did our regular 5:15, 7:30, 9:30, 10:30 shows and the first 3 went pretty much as history would denote. The 5:15 train was nice, mellow and dinnery, 7:30 was full on dance party, and 9:30 was a bit mellower with people in and out the whole time. Then the was the 10:30 train to Weirdsville. We started off like normal and then backed up to repeat a Beatles song for the Ohioans (Ohio-ers?, Ohiaonders?). After that it was time to pick of John about him playing congas with us last night. He was really good, but you can be the most awesome best in the universe and I'm still gonna bust your chops. Found out from Lynley about a guy from Atlanta that didn't walk with a cane when he came onboard, but does ever since Cozumel. The story is that he fell while carrying his daughter and sacrificed himself for her, but, Cozumel?, Senor Frogs?, Margaritas?, of course I changed the story to fit.
Then, with the planets aligned etc etc etc, the Cruise Director walked in during a "make it up as you go song". Oh, that became part of the show and when I told the crowd to raise the roof and make us look good, they did! "Hey Christian, watch this, ROOOOOOAAAAAAR! 15 people can sound like 1,500 if they really want. Ok, 40, but the timing was perfect.

Wow, I'm skirting the issue of leaving pretty well so far.

When you're on a cruise ship for even 5 weeks, you're going to develop friendships that go to "pause" as soon as you leave the ship. You could be like school kids and say, "Hey, keep in touch over the summer", but the truth is, the big round ball keeps rolling. Some of these people we'll see again, and some we won't. You never know who is staying, who is leaving, who is going to the Wonder, etc etc et frickin cetera. The Magic is slated for European tours in 2010 and 2 new ships are coming. With that said, and to quote my brother, "It's still a great ride".

One more night, and just like the last 4 weeks, we're gonna party 'em back to the docks.

Peace,
Robbie

January 3, 2009...2am

We got to the lounge tonight in time to hear Capt. Tom's welcome back aboard message as the ship pulled away from the Castaway Cay dock. The folks who stay on Castaway Cay always wave as the ship leaves. We've seen this every week, but today I actually paid attention to their hands. Mickey gloves. cool.

Two trains tonight. 5:30 and 7:45. We knew that there might be a change in schedule because of the Utah vs Alambama game. Nice, slow train for 5:30, but 7:45 was like a japanese bullet coach. Cutting two sets tonight was very appreciated because packing gear and luggage for tomorrow's debark was gonna be tight with an 11:30 finish. The only bad part was not getting to say so long to our late night crowd. I hope they email us.

We started to shuffle gear around right after we finished at 8:30 and finally finished packing our shipping cage at around 10:45. Got a chance to see all the other musicians before turning in for a few hours. It's like saying goodbye to family.

Tomorrow might be sketchy with having to be at customs at 5:45 (3.5 hours from now), and then meet here, go here, sign this, print and sign, name of first born, anything to claim?, sniff from fido, luggage and gear screening and xray. Honestly, we're not sure what it's going to entail, but we're praying to just walk through.

Oh, we get to debark with the gingerbread house that we told you about. I smelled it everyday for 5 weeks and never took even a little bite, although a bunch of people did.

More later, but I guess this blog is going to come to a pause real soon. Pictures will be posted and of course look for final updates before hibernation and the continuation of calypsonuts.com.

peace, Robbie