My first mission after getting on the ship and getting settled into my stateroom was to find the cruise activity director. S/he was going to tell me my schedule. I was more than half expecting to find some sort of welcome package on my stateroom desk or on my television.

Nothing.

I headed to the guest relations where I met somebody whose name I couldn’t pronounce.

“Oh, you need Jamie. Let me call him for you.”

“Hello, Jamie. I have Mr. Belew here. He is one of your speakers. Oh? Oh? Um. Oh? Okay. Okay.”

“Jamie, says he’ll get in touch with you first chance. Enjoy your cruise.”

8 hours later back in my stateroom. The message light is blinking.

“Hmm… I don’t know anybody on the ship. Jamie!”

“Your first presentation will be on Day 3 in the On Air lounge at 1 pm. Please be there by 12:45 to set up. One of my staff members will meet you there. We will only need you for 3 presentations instead of the 4. The others will be on Day 6 at 4 and Day 7 at 2.”

“Works for me, Jamie. I can do less than you asked. I also brought a couple of extra presentations just in case you need more than you had planned on, too. I am here to serve you and the ship’s passengers.”

“That’s great, Bill. That’s really great. Thanks. Let’s meet when we get a chance.”

And that’s that.

I scouted out the On Air Lounge to get a feel of the place. It’s a lounge. With 4 chairs to a table and a bar on one side, disco lights and quotes from Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Cher and other artists on the wall written in silver on a dark blue background. Lots of LCD screens for when they do karaoke in the evenings.

Point – Be ready for anything. I am ready.