"Wish I could be...part of your world”

So I decided that you might want to know what a typical day is like aboard the MV Explorer for me. I wake up pretty early (like 0620) to get ready and eat breakfast before reporting to work at 0730. Since I’m in the inside row of cabins, we don’t have a window. This means that your cabin is basically a pitch-black cave. So no matter what time you go to bed or wake up, you have absolutely no concept of time (which honestly you already lose that on the ship because everything is thought of in relation to A or B day classes and how close it is to the next port – that’s right, class on weekends). Anyways, it can be dangerous if you want to nap because the sun won’t wake you up.

Breakfast is pretty nice because there aren’t too many people; in fact, there are mostly Life Long Learners there (I’m there at 0700) and they are very cool people and have great stories. Since the MV Explorer prides itself in its cleanliness standards and excellent service, there are several kitchen staff/waiters who will just walk around, whisk your finished plates from the table (if you’re not fast enough to bring them to the plate return), ask you if you want a drink (and bring it to you if you ask) and just any other awesome thing you could think of. It’s so nice to be served but also makes you feel bad because they don’t really need to do that. So then sometimes it becomes a competition as to whether you can beat them to turning your stuff in. Either way, they are very sweet people and try to get to know you and memorize your names. Oh, and you can eat outside on the back patios if you want and watch the waves go by.

For work, I replace the Dean’s Memo (our way of telling everyone what is scheduled for that day since everything changes so frequently) on all of the bulletin boards throughout the ship. I then do whatever admin stuff needs to be done. Classes are generally small, except for the one that everyone has to take. There are only so many classes throughout the ship and most aren’t set-up as traditional classes; for example, two are rooms that would be reserved for special dinners, so they have round dinner tables, several others are rooms that are lounging space they can close off, so they have cool, wavy couches against the walls and cushion chairs to sit at. Anyways, after classes (which end by 1700) there’s dinner and activities. They have Explorer Seminars, mini lectures on topics that might interest you (i.e. how to take professional photos or something related to the next port). These and whatever clubs are meeting go from 7-10pm. So many people go to these and then a lot of people go to the 7^th deck (the highest one) because there’s a bar. Apparently, the age limit for alcohol doesn’t apply in international waters (or isn’t the same in many of the countries we’re going to) so they issue cards for anyone who wants them. I think that’s kind of stupid but naturally it will attract about half the student body up there. (there is also a pool, a ping pong table, the gym, weightlifting machines, and a spa up on the 7^th deck). There’s a study area on the 6^th deck with a piano bar (essentially a piano that anyone can play anytime they want). That’s pretty nice because there are quite a few talented pianists aboard, so they serenade us with gorgeous music.

After you acquire your sea legs, you may stop feeling the ship swaying from side to side, but you won’t be so oblivious to the up and down motion, especially when walking up the stairs. It’s pretty funny, you walk up and it will be strenuous for a couple moments when your legs feel unusually heavy and then suddenly they will be light and you will fly up the stairs. The rooms range in size (according to price), but they all have cabinets for your stuff, a desk and your own bathroom. As I mentioned earlier, the crew pride themselves on their sanity standards. This means that your room is cleaned every other day. Which is kind of crazy and nice at the same time. My cabin steward is amazing. He changes the sheets (which I feel is a bit unnecessary so frequently), makes your bed, cleans the bathroom, and if you leave clothes out (like you woke up late and had to change quickly and didn’t have time to put it away) he’ll fold them and leave them on your bed. Again, makes you feel bad because that’s more work for him and I could just as easily do that, but it is really nice to come in to a beautiful room. *By the way, they try to keep everything this clean because if more than 2% of our community is sick (they said more than 4 people but I don’t think that’s the right percentage) then we can’t dock at a port (unless we lie and say we’re all healthy). Other countries don’t want you bringing sickness to their country (although they don’t care if you get it from them) and that would jeopardize our ability to see the port. So that’s why they do all these things which is reminiscent of some several thousand dollar hotel in NYC. 

Each room has a tv with channels playing updates (our coordinates, other important info), documentaries/educational programs, and some movies. They will NOT play Titanic or hear anything referring to it (they wouldn’t let someone play “my heart will go on” in the piano bar).