Yearning for the Caribbean Sun

February 13, 2012

Little did I realize when I joined the crew of a cruise ship that I would continue to experience the changing of the seasons . . . every 12 days. It’s a bit like living in Colorado. Although in Colorado, you can experience all four seasons in an afternoon. Because of our itinerary that takes us from Bayonne, NJ to the Southern Caribbean, enjoy the rich diversity of what Mother Nature has to offer.

As you may remember, I joined Silhouette in mid-cruise on the island of Antigua. I joined my ship on a balmy tropical morning, and my first few days on ship the weather was similar to those I’ve experienced most times as a guest. It was only the last two days before we reached our home port that I realized that all cruising did not reflect the weather consistently shown in the advertisements. As we headed north past the coast of North Carolina the weather changed in color to a murky gray, the winds and waves increased in intensity, and the blue of the Caribbean water was no longer even present in the sky overhead.

By the time we reached home port it was flat out cold! There is a reason that our day uniforms include a wool sweater and a water resistant lined jacket, and that Celebrity knit caps, scarves, and gloves are part of our ensemble. Fortunately, on the day each cruise when it is the coldest is when my department is generating extra body heat through our labors of getting crew members signing off to the port and our new sign ons properly embarked. It is as if the cold weather reminds us that ‘the vacation is over’ and we need to get back to work! By the end of that day we are steaming back out of New York Harbor, eager to return to the tropical warmth.

As a result, the next two days of transit can seem interminable. In fact, my days are generally spent holed up below decks. Without a great desire to stroll in the elements of the North Atlantic, I can go 2 or more days with only fluorescent light. Generally speaking, this early in the cruise I am extremely busy in the office and don’t even spend much, if any, time in guest areas.

Just as on land we eagerly anticipate spring, on the ship we count the days and then the hours until we enter the Caribbean. Sadly, there is no groundhog to tell us how much more time we should expect before enjoying our ‘spring.’ But when it does the mood of all the crew lightens considerably. As soon as the weather begins to warm up and the sea grows more gentle, I find myself taking every outside passage I can find to get to and from my destinations. If I get a break in the afternoon, I like to take one circuit of the ship on the top decks. The only downside with this is that all the guests have been ‘bottled up,’ too. So, invariably an officer walking the mid-afternoon deck must at least double his or her expected transit time, as we find ourselves engaged in frequent conversation.

My favorite moments, of course, are the warm Caribbean nights. I often take a walk topside just before returning to my cabin for the night. The decks are normally quiet then and you can really appreciate the peace, feel the warmth, and admire the brilliant display of stars overhead. There are far worse ways to prepare to go to sleep. These are memories worth holding on to. And one needs to hold onto them.

For in less than 10 days, winter will always return . . . in the form of New Jersey.

And the adventure continues . . .