MEMOIRS OF MY DISNEY DAYS - PART 1

We had just settled with our cappuccinos and Marlboro lights at the crew areas when our eyes got stuck on to the TV screens…. Was it a science fiction movie playing but how come on CNN news channel…!!!

Just attended our morning briefing session at the Walt Disney theatre onboard and we were all excited to get our documents to set out, on our travel plans for NYC and DC and of course other places of interest but little that we could think of that ‘Man proposes and God disposes’ will happen so very dramatically that day…

We had just settled with our cappuccinos and Marlboro lights at the crew areas when our eyes got stuck on to the TV screens…. Was it a science fiction movie playing but how come on CNN news channel…!!!

Just attended our morning briefing session at the Walt Disney theatre onboard and we were all excited to get our documents to set out, on our travel plans for NYC and DC and of course other places of interest but little that we could think of that ‘Man proposes and God disposes’ will happen so very dramatically that day…

As we sat with our jaws open in utter disbelief the second aeroplane struck the huge building and then smokes all over….I still cannot forget that the reporting person of CNN going completely speechless at times on screen ….covering that horrendous event. Then what followed is now known to all…. Yes, it was 9/11 one of the most dreadful day for humanity.

The entire crew had just reached Virginia Islands starting from Cape Canaveral, Florida for the cruise ships dry dock as per maritime regulations. No guests, on board so not much of the scheduled work but other duties as assigned mostly with helping out on security tasks and other odd errands as needed be and all of us was kind of in a jolly good vacation mood…with full plans of going around the tourist spots, shopping etc etc… but alas providence had different plans..

It was on my birthday year 2000, still vividly remember - waiting at the lounge of the International airport @ Mumbai to board the British Airways flight to Heathrow and from there to Orlando, Florida….wow what a great excitement to fly off to the USA to join the Disney Cruise Lines and as my new colleague, who became one of my best pal, guiding me all the time…Anil Sharma, who raise the toast and wished me in his ever-smiling grin “ Dada this for your birthday…let’s have a great time together in Disney – Happy Birthday!” I feel so happy for him, seeing him well settled aboard with his family, though I do miss him a lot…and his awesome sense of humour …fantastic times we spent together…

There’s so much that happened during those three years……such incredible life experiences onboard cruise ship, at the Bahamas especially @ Nassau, Cape Canaveral - seeing some of the satellite launches from the other end of the coastline….have penned down the journey, needs to be edited a bit and will put in my blog soon..!!