Behind the Smiles

Being on a Disney Cruise was like living a dream. If the company's parks and resorts are dubbed "the happiest places on earth," the Disney ship could very well be touted "the happiest place on the seven seas." All crew members, from the captain who steers the ship to the maintenance man who wipes the windows, are in an eternally jovial mood.

We held our breaths as we set foot on the humongous vessel and entered the grand lobby atrium of the Disney Magic. The P.A. system enthusiastically announced our arrival. "From Orlando, Florida, let us all welcome now...the Jadie Family!" It was like being transported to another world where guests are treated like royalties, pampered with radiant smiles and lavish attention. Food and drinks were abundant and overflowing, and were available 24/7. Service was exceptionally personal. The world practically revolved around us.

As the ship steered on to its next destination, we got to know better some of the crew. We couldn't help but think how exciting it must be for them to be working on a cruise ship - and Disney at that! You get to see different places and meet a lot of people with diverse backgrounds. Imagine, working and having fun at the same time! It will not be like going to work at all, would it? But soon we discovered our misconception and saw certain hard truths behind the seemingly incessant smiles.

Winda is our stateroom host. He makes up our bed and replenishes our supply of toiletries and other stuff. Whenever the ship docks, he goes ashore not to go sight-seeing but to call his wife and kids. In the middle of the cruise, he suffered a toothache due to wisdom tooth eruption. With a sigh, he said he has to finish his contract of 3 more months before he can seek full dental service. Asked if he plans to take his family on a Disney cruise, he said yes but only in his dreams because the cost will be staggering.

Gian is one of the ship's professional photographers. He tells us it's hard work. It's not unusual for them to have to skip lunch and miss their meal ration. They then have to get by with instant noodles and bread. Sometimes, they are asked to do photo shoots after their shift and at ungodly hours. They were very thankful to see us Filipino guests which happens only once in a blue moon on a Disney cruise because it somehow eases their homesickness. "A breath of fresh air," was how he described us in contrast to other guests of different skin color who treat them shabbily.

Day in or day out, at sea or ashore, men in yellow jumpsuits are ubiquitous around the ship wiping windows, sweeping floors and painting railings. Refurbishments are done endlessly to keep the ship looking good as new and sparkling clean. They are the maintenance team and Anto is one of them. With beads of sweat forming at his forehead, he was still able to manage a smile when we exchanged pleasantries. He says he longs to go back home and be with his family permanently. He has already missed some of his children's youth and is afraid they do not know him anymore. He suffered an injured back because of work and was given the chance to go home to recuperate. But his family time was cut short as he decided to go back to work so his son can graduate. He dreams of putting up his own business so he can be with his family and never be geographically and emotionally alienated from them.

Despite these hardships, they still go on and work with a happy face. "Just whistle while you work." as Snow White had sung. They know their priorites. They are adaptable and can endure tough times making them tough people; the latter, as we know, are the ones that last. They are still able to smile despite their personal obstacles, health setbacks and financial constraints.

I know we were on vacation and ought to have a good time and not think about this stuff, but I couldn't help seeing these people under the light of truth. I know we were supposed to have fun and they were supposed to be working; but having grown up and practically co-managing a family business had given me the opportunity to look at employees not as lowly mortals to whom we owe a certain amount of money at payday, but as people who have their own unique situations, needs and aspirations in life.

Magical Adventure

The Disney Cruise Line building in Port Canaveral was all abuzz around early afternoon on December 30 as thousands of passengers made their way through pre-board proceedings. All guests were aboard and on decks 9 and 10 around 5:00pm to bid the port goodbye. The ship's stack blew out steam as the horn played the seven notes of "When You Wish Upon A Star," and off was the Disney Magic for its 7-night Western Caribbean cruise that will meet the New Year out in the open seas.

The last morning of 2006 beamed with festive glory as the Magic docked on Key West. The streets were bustling with different activities. Tour coaches and trolleys full of visitors were going to and fro various points of interest. As for us, we went for a home industry ice cream and, of course, Key Lime Pie. Incidentally, the Key Lime Pie Factory has been featured in The Food Network. As for the product, the merengue was soft, fluffy and had just the right sweetness to balance the soury tanginess of the key lime filling. We got a good kick out of it. We also visited the Southenmost Point of the country.

All were aboard by 5:00pm when again the ship's horn played "When You Wish Upon A Star" to signal the ship's port departure. At 6:00pm all four of us in semi-formal mode made our way to Palo, Disney Magic's premiere restaurant, where we had made reservations for a New Year's Eve supper. Most especially, it was our Mother's 60th birthday meal. We give the restaurant an E for excellent, and that goes for service and food. But the highlight was undoubtedly and uncontestedly - dessert. Palo's Chocolate Souffle, made by a Filipino chef aptly named Tagumpay (Success), was a rhapsody in texture and flavor as it reached the pinnalce of cocoa richness and silkiness. It was simply to die for, and in our case it was a double murder because each of us asked for a second helping. According to our server their record number of order of the souffle per person is six, and no one has yet been able to beat it.

New Year revelers started to fill the lobby atrium at 11:00pm. Champagnes were passed. Hats for gents, crowns for ladies and toy trumpets for evveryone were distributed. The joyous mood was intoxicating. Guests joined Disney Magic entertainers in dancing and singing the night away. 15 minutes before countdown, Disney characters one by one joined the crowd. Countdown started at 10 seconds. The chants grew louder as the numbers went down. Winecorks flew up in the air and balloons swooped down from the ceiling as everyone sounded their trumpets and shouted "Happy New Year!" With encouragement, guests bursted balloons for noisy fun. There was New Year's Eve buffet in all the ship's three restaurants.

We kissed the New Year morning by indulging in some fun splashes in the pool and jacuzzi. There are a lot of activities on board the ship so guests can busy themselves on days at sea. As a matter of fact, you can stay on the ship even if there's a port of call and not get bored. Walt Disney Theatre stages musicals every day starting at midafternoon. Buena Vista Theater features various Disney movies. There's also a TV in each stateroom for the couch potato. The sports deck offers different ball games, and there's a gym and spa for fitness and beauty buffs. Deck 4 serves as runners' or joggers' path. Shopaholic? Go to the ship's mall and see what might catch your fancy at Treasure Ketch and Mickey's Mates. And if dining is your guilty pleasure, there's a fastfood joint, a beverage bar and an ice cream stall that are all open 24 hours. What's great about the cruise activities, though, is that these are categorized for specific age groups so no one is left out.

There are many water and land activities to enjoy at Grand Cayman Island, a British territory, but we decided to just hang out and walk its streets. Being a touristy place, tour rates are quite skyrocket-high you'd think you're being offered a blast off at Kennedy Space Center. (,") For remembrance, we just took several photos. By this time, I have made SOP getting a fun and colorful refrigirator magnet from each port of call.

Isla Cozumel in Mexico is another touristy place. Barkers hollering tourist activities and services greet visitors as they make their way to the city center. As usual, we took obligatory photos along its seabord and some points of interest.

There was no better way to culminate the cruise than to spend a day at Castaway Cay, Disney's exclusive island resort in the Bahamas. It was a fitting finale. We were greeted by Captain Jack Sparrow, with the ghostly Flying Dutchman anchored in the cay lagoon not far behind us. The white sand beach and crystal clear seawater is a wonder to behold. Fishes swim freely alongside us. We even had a close encounter with a skate. And food was again overflowing. We had never been so fed in our entire lives that there almost came a point that we were...fed up. Hehehe. Our servers kept to their word that they will not leave us hungry at any time during the whole cruise.

Cruising is a fun and wonderful way to visit other places. Having been on a Disney, we would expect nothing less next time we fancy another voyage in the sea.

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Photos in this post are author's property.

New Year Vision

Wow, it's 2007! Time truly sweeps past fast! (,") It is a common sentiment, really, right? It always feels like time went by without us noticing. Most possibly like the previous new year, we'll still make the mistake of writing "2006" or "06" as current year.

For some people, the turn of the year usually comes with New Year's resolutions. We used to make this composition in High School, if I'm not mistaken. I have made a few back in my teens but it never became a habit. I prefer to look at it as a work in progress so it is viewed in a fresh perspective. My resolutions are scattered throughout the year, not just highlighted at the first light of the new year and then forgotten to gather dust in a dark corner somewhere for the rest of the 365 1/2 days.

Let me share a piece of guidance on how to make this year better than last year. I actually got this thru email in New Year 2004, but the idea is timeless instead of time-bound so it will be applicable for this year and every new year to come. It's a feel-good read that we just might need to perk up our souls and psyches for the challenges up ahead.

Happy New Year!

7 Ways to Make Your Happiest Year Possible
Written by Kathy Gates, Professional Life Coach

1. Starve a bad habit; feed a good habit. Things that you nurture and support and give energy and time to WILL grow in your life. In contrast, things can't exist if you don't support them. If you have something in your life that you don't want there, identify how you are supporting it.

2. Give up all hope of ever having a better past. You can't change it. But you CAN create a better future. If you get up every morning unhappy about what happened 20 years ago, or even yesterday, you give it power over you. Decide that the past will not rule your present.

3. Do it anyway. You don't have to feel like doing it (exercise, cutting spending, asking for help, saying no) to do it. Make a plan, then do what needs to be done.

4. Ask for what you want. Nobody ever gets more than they asks for. If you ask for very little love, support, opportunity, courage, interest, etc, that's exactly what you'll get. Decide what's important to you and be willing to ask, try, work and experiment until you get it.

5. Take small steps. It's easy to get overwhelmed and do nothing. Instead of focusing on the ultimate goal, focus on what you can do "just for today" to move in a new direction. For example, if financial stability is your goal, decide that "just for today" you won't create any new debt.

6. Do something different. If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten. Change your routine, add a good habit. Start small, then build on it. Just add an apple a day to your diet for 1 month, then include a v-8 juice the next month you get the idea.

7. Learn something new. Expand your horizons. If you're not willing to learn something new, you'll stay stuck where you are. It's very hard to ask for something when you don't even know it's available. Surprise yourself.