Congratulations cruise ship speaker

This afternoon I received an email saying that…We are pleased to inform you that we have completed the qualification process and that you are now qualified for cruise opportunities with Sixth Star Entertainment. Congratulations and welcome to the Sixth Star family. We are confident that you will do very well and we have high hopes for your future with us. You are currently eligible to present Destination programs onboard premium vessels including
Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Voyages of Discovery. Sixth Star operates a tiered placement system onboard Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line and the high end luxury line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. When you have gained experience and presented a successful program onboard Princess, Royal Caribbean or Voyages of Discovery, you are eligible to apply for a Celebrity Cruise or Disney Cruise Line assignment. With positive comments onboard a Celebrity or Disney vessel, you will then be eligible to apply to be a speaker aboard the high end luxury cruise lines Regent Seven Seas Cruises as well as European itineraries aboard all lines, which are always in high demand. The directions also included applying for edu-tainment opportunities and arranging discount airfare for ‘shipboard enrichment staff’

After setting my mind to it and working on the project for just a year it’s worked out so I was most grateful to my references, photographer, videographer and all those who contributed (yes it does sound like an acceptance speech doesn’t it?). So you can imagine that I floated home after checking out the available cruises for the fall, forgetting all about the hateful workday, which had just passed.

Princess line has a few openings for September and October. There was a gem of a 19-day repositioning cruise from Canada/New England to the Caribbean the last of October. But by the time I ran the itinerary by the travel partner after supper and believe it or not he said, “well I don’t have to go deer hunting the first week of the season” the listing had disappeared. Not to worry, it sure proved that he was serious about not being left ashore this time around. And as the now cooperative co-traveler noted “well you are getting in late in the game for this season but the other destinations would be good too”.

I put my name in for a 10 day cruise on the Sea Princess (1950 passengers) from Quebec City to New York with stops in Charlottetown, Sydney, Halifax, Saint John, Portland, Boston, Newport RI and New York running Oct 13 - 23. As a second choice I applied for a 7 day run on the Caribbean Princess (3100 passengers) round trip from New York September 7 – 14 with ports of call being Halifax, Saint John, Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport RI. The thinking being I can visit with my buddy in Cape Breton and Halifax daughter along the way. I will have to wait until at least May 20th when the account manager returns to see if I’m accepted. At a savings of either $1500 to $3500 on a double package it’s a good deal and it’s not as if we’ll need to spring for shore excursions at any of those destinations although apparently you can offer to lead a group if you wish. Here's a link to check out the two ships:

http://www.princess.com/learn/ships/

I spent a chunk of time sorting out the Princess rules – not too onerous – you can’t bring a firearm, if you show up inebriated to board the ship without the Captain’s permission you can be sent home, you can’t play the casino – none of those pose a problem. I ordered a copy of the 2008 Destinations DVD. Have been drooling over the facilities from pools, spas, restaurants, movies under the stars, staterooms and even the most basic were more than acceptable – apparently accommodation equals senior officers so…. the main concern will be getting the Captain in this house into a presentable state beginning with a hair cut and then working on the wardrobe. Tomorrow I’m up and off early to drop daughter # 3 at work for her 12 hr orientation shift on the Alzheimer Unit so all this daydreaming has to stop. Well maybe not, this is retirement planning at it’s best!