Christmas week provided several opportunities to get involved in projects onboard. We invited about 30 children from a Mazatlan orphanage on board for lunch and a visit from Santa. The night before several crew members got together to wrap gifts that the crew donated. There lots of Holland America Line Barbies (officer status, I might add) and marine plush toys that we all wanted steal.
Santa's Elves Wrapping
The kids arrived and really put me into the Christmas spirit. Our cast members dressed up and met them on the dock in Mazatlan. We took them on a tour of the bridge and ship and then into the Lido for lunch. I was glad not to be riding home with them in the bus as they stuffed themselves with hot dogs, hamburgers, fries, burgers, fries, ice cream, cake, pizza. I was glad I didn’t have to rise back on the bus with them! But they loved it. Santa Paolo showed up with gifts for all of them, right down to 9 month old Santiago. It truly put the the spirit of Christmas into the day.
Our Christmas Visitors from Mazatlan
The next night we had crew bingo where I sold raffle tickets and Michael called bingo. This is always a good way to meet a lot of the Indonesian/Philippine crew.
Christmas Eve we attended a crew cocktail party before our dinner. Formal night so we all looked great and of course, I forgot my camera, so no pictures. Oh well, another night for photos will present itself.
Santa Paolo
This is our first Christmas cruise as crew although as a family we have taken many. It is a different experience on the other side of the desk. There are no days off on the ship, only hours off. Christmas day is a regular workday. As it was the last day of the cruise and our busiest booking day we actually worked straight through from 9am to 11pm with about a 45-minute dinner break. No complaints, mind you, we did well and that is what it is all about. Work hard but play hard.
Living in an Inside Cabin 
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