Fall Contract on the Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.

Hello. It's been awhile. 

I just finished the most unusual contract at sea that I've ever done. On Aug. 19, 2013 I boarded the Disney Wonder porting out of Vancouver B.C. 
In the coming three weeks we cruised to Alaska. We ported in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan as well as creeping down Tracy Arm to see the South Sawyer Glacier.
I never anticipated the beauty I would see nor did I know that we would be cruising so close to the shore line while in that area. It was drop dead gorgeous. 
In the evenings when I was getting ready for work, around 6ish, I would see whale tales rolling in the water and spewing water flying through the air. So gracful. So majestic. Each port in Alaska had it's own charming character. Skagway reminded me of the show "Northern Exposure". VERY quirky and seemed like a place right out of the wild, wild west. Juneau was always dark, cloudy and rainy when we were there. Shops were nice and seemed like a lot of good restaurants. Ketchikan was very quaint. I had friends there from back in Ohio. They took me on adventures every Saturday when we pulled into port. All in all, Alaska is someplace that everybody should try to travel to. You will never forget it if you go. 

From there, we began relocating. San Francisco was next. Five day relocation cruise. San Fran was the only port. We had a 2 AM all aboard. Nice. My friend Betsy picked me up and we sat in a wonderful restaurant while watching the America's Cup front and center. She then took me all the way to Antioch, CA to see her home and family. Great day. Jammed with her son, Ethan, who played upright bass. I played piano. They had lots of great wine and it was so nice hang with them. 

We then sailed to Los Angeles to pick up the passengers for our 14 day Panama Canal crossing. I had never played a 14 days cruise and was most apprehensive about doing one. As it turned out, the passengers for that cruise were great. Two of them invited me to eat in Palo, the Wonder's 5 star restaurant while actually cruising through the canal. Most memorable experience. 

We finally relocated to our new home port Galveston. I played two weeks from that port and was then transferred to Miami, FL in order to board the newly re-imagined Disney Magic. I flew to Miami on Oct. 12th. I had a luxurious 5 days in the Crowne Plaza. I suddenly received a call that the Magic was running late due to running into some inclement weather on the way back from Spain. We were then transported to Port Canaveral to board the Magic while they were applying the finishing touches. 

On Oct 23nd we finally sailed back to our intended new home port in Miami. We then hosted a two day media cruise in order to promote and publicize the newly renovated ship. All Disney dignitaries were there. Quite sometthing. It was astounding to watch the process of a company such as that orchestrating historic dry dock  and carrying the completion over the finish line. 
Just prior to signing off, my boss invited myself and my fellow musicians to experience a dolphine encounter. I accepted the invitation. It was precious. What intelligent, gentle and loving creatures. Yet again, a new and mind blowing experience. 

On Nov. 15th, I signed off and flew home to Ohio. Tiny breather. I am scheduled to do two recording sessions of new originals while home with a couple of VERY pro musicians from the area. Should be great. 

I board the Disney Fantasy on Dec. 7 for another contract that will end on Mar 1st. 

That is all for now. 

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