My friend and I just returned from a cruise to Ensanada, Mexico. Honestly, I had reservations about going because I was still somewhat fatigued from the school year, but my friend and I both had a really nice time. To start, my friend purchased an option that allows you priority boarding and disembarking access, and gives you priority in dining and guest services. We were among the first on and off the ship, though it was a little weird watching the receptionist at guest services serve us, even though others without this perk had arrived first.
Once aboard, we were party to two evenings of family-friendly comedy acts. In one of the three acts we saw, one of the comedians presented a very appropriate rendition of a white man. We were also able to see two musicals. At the second of these, called "Epic Rock," we sat in front-row seats as the actors and actresses danced to classic rock from the 1980s. At two points in this show, actors interacted with graphics on a screen behind them to make one dancer appear as though he had wings and that he was smashing, repairing, then lifting a boulder; and the other dancer appear as though he were controlling fire.
The more memorable events included a Hasbro game show, in which the games were Hasbro games writ large and on stage. For instance, one game was a large version of Yahtzee, and another was a large Connect Four basketball game. Before one of these games, the host played Trivial Pursuit with the audience to gather contestants from each team, and he called me to answer what animal made up half of the half-human mythological centaur. Unfortunately, I answered that this was a bull. The correct answer was a horse. Alas, my saving grace was that no one knew that I am a teacher.
Another memorable event was live karaoke. In front of perhaps a hundred or so people, I sang "Back in Black" by AC/DC. This seemed to surprise an audience that apparently thought the song too heavy for someone like me, for I heard short gasps when the song began. Honestly, I felt like I made a fool of myself, especially since I meant to choose KISS's "Rock and Roll All Night" and not "Back in Black," but people cheered me on and clapped when I finished, so maybe I wasn't as bad as I thought.
The final memorable event was a bean bag tournament. My friend and I were a team against seven other pairs. We advanced to the second round, with my friend and I each contributing points, but were eliminated in the third round. Nonetheless, we had fun.
I also encouraged my friend to take part in a "Hairy Chest Competition." This friend is shy, so I was proud that he decided to join the competition. Neither he nor I knew that there would be dancing involved, but by the time my friend learned this, he was already on stage. He could not leave without being embarrassed, so he danced his finest dance, and was able to impress the lady judges enough to survive the first round. Alas, the dance did not impress enough to allow him into the third round, so that he was eliminated. Still, the combination of his bravery and his unique dance encouraged the host to personally greet him later at a show.
There were also trivia, magic shows, workouts at the gym (running on a treadmill as the ship sways back and forth was a unique feeling), and a wide variety of food choices at all hours. Combined, the activities on and off the ship made the cruise memorable, not least because I enjoyed them with a good friend.
Ultimately, if there can be a lesson learned from events like these, it is that life is best lived with others. I am learning this in other areas of life, as well, but this was an emphatic reminder.
Once aboard, we were party to two evenings of family-friendly comedy acts. In one of the three acts we saw, one of the comedians presented a very appropriate rendition of a white man. We were also able to see two musicals. At the second of these, called "Epic Rock," we sat in front-row seats as the actors and actresses danced to classic rock from the 1980s. At two points in this show, actors interacted with graphics on a screen behind them to make one dancer appear as though he had wings and that he was smashing, repairing, then lifting a boulder; and the other dancer appear as though he were controlling fire.
The more memorable events included a Hasbro game show, in which the games were Hasbro games writ large and on stage. For instance, one game was a large version of Yahtzee, and another was a large Connect Four basketball game. Before one of these games, the host played Trivial Pursuit with the audience to gather contestants from each team, and he called me to answer what animal made up half of the half-human mythological centaur. Unfortunately, I answered that this was a bull. The correct answer was a horse. Alas, my saving grace was that no one knew that I am a teacher.
Another memorable event was live karaoke. In front of perhaps a hundred or so people, I sang "Back in Black" by AC/DC. This seemed to surprise an audience that apparently thought the song too heavy for someone like me, for I heard short gasps when the song began. Honestly, I felt like I made a fool of myself, especially since I meant to choose KISS's "Rock and Roll All Night" and not "Back in Black," but people cheered me on and clapped when I finished, so maybe I wasn't as bad as I thought.
The final memorable event was a bean bag tournament. My friend and I were a team against seven other pairs. We advanced to the second round, with my friend and I each contributing points, but were eliminated in the third round. Nonetheless, we had fun.
I also encouraged my friend to take part in a "Hairy Chest Competition." This friend is shy, so I was proud that he decided to join the competition. Neither he nor I knew that there would be dancing involved, but by the time my friend learned this, he was already on stage. He could not leave without being embarrassed, so he danced his finest dance, and was able to impress the lady judges enough to survive the first round. Alas, the dance did not impress enough to allow him into the third round, so that he was eliminated. Still, the combination of his bravery and his unique dance encouraged the host to personally greet him later at a show.
There were also trivia, magic shows, workouts at the gym (running on a treadmill as the ship sways back and forth was a unique feeling), and a wide variety of food choices at all hours. Combined, the activities on and off the ship made the cruise memorable, not least because I enjoyed them with a good friend.
Ultimately, if there can be a lesson learned from events like these, it is that life is best lived with others. I am learning this in other areas of life, as well, but this was an emphatic reminder.
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