Hi Everyone,

Today we are back in Aruba and for me it is for the last time. We are now 3 days into my second last cruise and for Mum and Annette their last cruise. Since I last wrote we have visited St Thomas (part of the US Virgin Islands). There, we shopped in the morning before we went our separate ways for the afternoon. Mum and Annette did a tour of the island while I went with the rest of the cast on a sailing yacht. Nipples had organised it as a thank you to all of us for helping him with the tours over the course of our contract. It would have been heaps of fun had I not felt seasick…. I was really glad to get back on land.

In San Juan we visited Old San Juan and one of the Forts there before heading to the Mall for shopping. The next day we were in Tortola (part of the British Virgin Islands) and I have to say one of my very favourite ports. We did a tour of the island before meeting Nipples, Bobby and Marnie for lunch at the local pub.

Today (in Aruba) we have just come back from a tour on a glass bottom boat and then a swim at the beach. I’m in good old Dunkin Donuts one last time using their free wireless while I have the chance. I don’t know when I’ll get it again now….. I don’t know if I’ll have time this Acapulco to go to Starbucks.

The new cast get on next cruise on April 9th for their handover. We will be performing some our shows for the very last time this cruise. Unfortunately we don’t know which ones and seems we wont until they get on next cruise.

Mum and Annette are having a great time. They love the shows and the cast, plus all my other friends on board. Tonight we are having dinner in the restaurant with Dave and Nipples and are planning to go and see “Man of the Year” in the Princess Theatre. Tomorrow we are at sea and then we go through the Panama Canal.

I am so looking forward to coming home. I can’t wait to see Chris!!!!!!!! He leaves for Toronto on Saturday for two weeks. We he gets back he’s only got a week and half til I’m home. I hope Megsie (our dog) remembers me.

Anyway, enough from me I’m rambling now.

Love Jess

PS. Sorry I couldn't add more photos. The connection keeps dropping out. The ones that I did get up are of my beautiful flowers the boys sent me for Chris for our Anniversary, Mum feeding Ostrichs in Aruba last time. Mum and Annette in Aruba last time. Mum and I in Tortola on a tour and mum at sailaway from St Thomas.

Hi Everyone,

I know it’s been a while so I’ll try to keep the last months update concise.

Basically as I mentioned in my last update, the ship hit rocks while reversing out of Huatulco, Mexico. The passengers were due to get off the next day in Acapulco which they did. The new passengers due to embark in Acapulco did, but were sent home two days later as it became apparent that the ship needed urgent repairs. After three days in Acapulco the ship sailed four days with only crew to Panama. We weren’t told a lot, but did hear that the ship had three to five holes varying in size of up to 6 metres in length and that there was a massive 45 metre dent. Four pumps worked to keep the water out as we limped to Panama, however apparently if one of those pumps failed it would have taken the ship one hour to sink….not very comforting hey!! We did manage to easily amuse ourselves with no passengers on board by doing a couple of production shows for the crew, dressing up for the Oscars and watching it on the big screen of the Show Lounge, having a party on deck….etc etc

In Panama the ship spent nine days being repaired in dry dock. Dry dock is a unique experience…. Limited air con lead me to remain the ship the Regal Sauna! There was not much to do in Panama except shop, go to the movies, shop, go to the movies and shop and go to the movies. On one day we went to Old Panama which was cool and then across the city to visit some old ruins. Two cancelled cruises and an empty wallet later the ship was finally repaired and we sailed four days to Callao, Peru.

In Callao Mum and Annette boarded the ship and are now over halfway through their first cruise. They had a great time in Peru visiting Machupichu and are now enjoying ship life. After Callao, we stopped in Manta, Ecuador which was okay…. Manta isn’t really tourist spot….. an interesting story about Manta though. A huge plane crashed into the city 10 years ago and the people were paid so much money in compensation by the airline they didn’t know what to do with it, so they all pitched in to help develop the city.

In Costa Rica, we went with Nipples and his girlfriend (another Aussie) who is onboard visiting him to visit a possible new tour. This was a really fun day. We saw so much wildlife and had a great lunch.

Today we are in Aruba. We did a Landrover tour of the island which was fun and at the moment Mum and Annette are shopping but will soon join me to talk to Nathan (my brother) on Skype.

There is so much more to tell but I’m trying to keep this not to long. I’ve only 5 weeks and 2 days to go now. I’m so looking forward to coming home. Chris and I had our 2nd Wedding Anniversary on March 13th. Dave and Josh organised the most beautiful bunch of flowers, chocolates and my favourite perfume for me on Chris’ behalf. Chris leaves for Toronto, Canada at the end of the month for two weeks for work. That will keep him occupied for a while longer til I’m home.

That’s it for me…. Oh except that I chopped my hair off. There are some photos of me doing my Welcome Aboard show which kinda show what it looks like. The other photos are of a group of us in Acapulco at Los Flamingos for dinner on our last night there before heading to dry dock. Photos of Mum and Annette in Lima, Peru and Manta, Ecuador. Some of the animals we saw in Costa Rica the other day and a photo of what the dry dock looked like before the ship went in for it’s repairs.

Will update again soon.

Love Jess x