NEXT STOP…FRENCH POLYNESIA

TAHITI

Tahiti beautiful yes but...

...I’m sorry to disappoint all of you that have heard so many great things about Tahiti. I was one of them and like many on board could not wait to get there. And like many on board, both crew and guests we came away with a bitter taste in my mouth.

Speaking for my shipmates that I go ashore with and myself everyone was extremely rude, from the taxi driver to the waiter to shopkeepers that we encountered. I hate to say it but it was the French, they were all the “stereotypical French” that you always hear about. They were rude, nasty and thought they are doing you this great favor in every situation including if it was just a question you were asking them.

The only people that were not were the actual native Polynesians themselves. Those that worked at the resorts or beaches we went to were very helpful and pleasant.

Tahiti was also extremely expensive. The first place we stopped and tried to go to the beach one of the workers at the hotel told us it would be $77 per person to go into the ocean!

$77 per person to go to the beach....next....

Needless to say we went to a hotel just down the beach where going into the ocean was actually free. We did however enjoy drinking $6 beer while sitting in the ocean that they actually brought right to us. We were also able to enjoy using the resorts pool…free.

This is more like it...free beach and $5 beers

The Boys, the Beach and Beer...James and Irish

Football Tahiti Style...

Craig scores...

TIME FOR MYSELF TO SCORE....WITH PICTURES

It didn’t seem to matter what you had to eat, a burger to pasta everything was $20 plus. Then to top it off if you wanted a cocktail it was $20 and above too. Even a small place that I would have considered a dive bar in the states that we ran into a few blocks back from the “tourist zone” was still $19 a drink.

I don’t know if this was true on the backside of the island but it was certainly true around the town of Papeete.

MOOREA

The Rhapsody of the Seas...Moorea

The next day we found ourselves in Moorea. Although still expensive the people of the island were all very nice. I decided to take a tour of the island, which cost me $40 and well worth the price.

The tour took us inland to historical sights, pineapple farms and through the mountains.

Cook Bay

BORA BORA

The last day in French Polynesia was on the island of Bora Bora. At first it looked like it was to rain most of the day. James, Irish (Stephen) and Hadder and myself rented a car for $75 for the day and drove around the entire island. We stopped here and there to take pictures and ended up at Mitira Beach for lunch and the obligatory beer…I mean beers…

Bora Bora with The Boys

James, Hadder and Irish

Myself, Hadder and Irish at Mitira Bay

Crew Lunch at Mitira Beach

Mitira Bay

Sunset in Bora Bora

As an overview although it was very expensive I’d go back to Moorea and especially Bora Bora. As far as Tahiti goes I don’t care if I ever go back, the French can keep it and their crappy attitude!!!!

PEARL....

To those in the Navy it is known simply as “Pearl”, throughout the world it is known as Pearl Harbor.

The last time I was at Pearl was in July 1976 when I was in the Navy as an Aviation Electrician Second Class Petty Officer stationed on the USS Enterprise. We stopped at Pearl on the beginning of a WestPac headed to Subic Bay in the Philippines, Hong Kong and then Hobart, Tasmania. Then I was flown home as my hitch was up in December.

I remember as we made our way through the channel to our mooring near the Arizona Memorial how seemingly quiet it was. The flight deck was lining with sailors in their dress whites out of respect for the fallen. Those that were there that day December morning had a blank stare come over them. My Chief was one of them. I remember him pointing to where the planes came from and what was happening during the attack. It was both interesting and eerie to hear the details from someone that was actually there when the attack occurred.

One thing that I have regretted over the past 35 years was not going to the Arizona Memorial and I was not going to make the same mistake twice. While waiting for the launch to go to the Arizona there were three survivors of the December 7^th attack. They were their signing autographs and handing out on page biographies of their story of that day. I had all three sign copies for my grandkids Basil and Dionisia.

Before you go to the memorial itself there is a short film that explains the reasons for Japan attack. There are film clips from both the Japanese and the Americans and it gives insight from both perspectives.

Once at the Arizona you are asked to keep the talking to a minimum out of respect. This isn’t really necessary as everyone seemed to do so naturally. A quiet calm and reverence was apparent as visitors from all nations looked at the names of Arizona’s fallen listed on the white marble wall at the far end of the memorial or as they looked into the water at the encrusted hull.

Another reminder of the war was the battleship Missouri known as “Big Mo” that looked over the fallen Arizona just a stones throw away. On the deck of the Missouri is where Japan signed its unconditional surrender on September 2, 1945. by surrender was conducted by the Supreme Allied Commander General Douglas MacArthur.

I’m glad I went to the Arizona to pay my respects.

Now it is five sea days until we reach French Polynesia…

MORE HAWAII PICTURES

Rhapsody of the Seas off Lahaina, Maui

Shipwreck off Lahania, Maui

I rented a moped on Kauai for $10 per hour and went to a couple waterfalls and a ride through the mountains...enjoy

yet another waterfall

and a couple river shots

ENJOY!!!!

HEADING SOUTH...

Here I sit in my treatment room waiting for my next and only patient of the day. It’s 4pm local time in Hilo, Hawaii and our first port day after a five days at sea traveling from Vancouver, Canada.

The view from "my office" as we travel near a glacier

The voyage was nice but uneventful for the most part. As those of you already on ships know it’s the sea day that are the long days and in turn where the revenue is made.

My treatment room is the top left corner of dark windows.

This shot was at the dock in Vancouver, Canada before we leaft for Hawaii

Here is a shot of Vancouver from my office

On this cruise that was the case for the first three days though I was busy on my fourth as well finishing packages that patients had previously booked. Usually my seminars have between 12-20 people but the last two have had a total of one person, which did end up booking an appointment. I also had a walk-in consultation that ended up a package of three and that is who I am waiting for this evening and then she will finish her package tomorrow.

The rest of the cruise is island hopping the Hawaiian Islands. I am not expecting any treatments if at all as the ship is basically deserted for this next week. Still I am near $8000 for this week.

I did have a few hours off today to visit Hilo. There is not really much you can do with only a few hours off between “drill” this morning and work this afternoon. That will change somewhat tomorrow as there is no drill and I do not have to be back onboard until 3:30pm to get ready for my one lone patient yet again.

After that it changes as I have two full days off in Maui where we have an overnight stay. Next is Kauai and then Honolulu, Oahu before heading to French Polynesia.

Now lets catch up with pictures on how I got to where I know find myself...

From our mooirng in Seattle before heading to Alaska

First port of call - downtown Juneau, Alaska

The view from Juneau

Another shot of outside Juneau

Moored in Skagway, Alaska

Just at the edge of Skagway

The creek running through town was loaded with salmon....100's of them

A billboard Skagway style...

yes graffiti even here in Alaska

On the way to a glacier in the Tracy Arm Fjord

Getting closer...

Closer....

GLACIER!!!!!!

Headed back to either Seattle or Vancouver

along the Inside Passage

Along the Inside Passage

Sunset in the Inside Passage

Leaving Vancouver for Hawaii!!!

WORK HARD
First let me mention a little of what I have discovered about working with patients and improving the numbers of packages sold and my retail. I think on my first contract of four months in retrospect I held back somewhat. Since then I have more have become more direct in some ways. Rather then talk to them about coming in for a treatment and then deciding how many treatments you would like or how many bottles of herbs they should buy I firmly state that “you need 3-5 treatments and 2 bottles of herbs and one instant refreshing gel.”

When Stephanie first approached me with this method of treatment procedures during training and again by Lisa during a fleet visit I just thought it’s not my style. I’m not about pushing treatments or retail on anyone and I’ll suggest what I feel they need.

That has not changed but what has changed is my confidence in the products Steiner offers. I have not only used but have had enough feedback from crew members and by patients that I now know the quality and the results possible if the patients follow through and do what I suggest.

Here is an example. Last week I had a patient come in for low back, upper back and hip pain. I told him that for best results he needed 3-5 treatments, as this worked on the root cause of the problem not just the related symptom and he agreed to 3 treatments. After the first treatment using the below points he felt 40% better.

I typically use a lot of needles for this treatment but I am also doing three separate treatments at once. I have found for years these points to be very successful. For upper back/neck – SI 11, SI 13, SI 14, Bl 11, GB 21 and occasionally GB 20 depending on the amount of pain in the cervical spine. For low back/hip I use Bl 23, Bl 25, Bl 32, Bl 33, Bl 34, Bl 53, Bl 54, Bl 40 and GB 34. At times I will also use GB 30 if more hip is involved or GB 36 and GB 37 if the pain extends down the back of the leg. I may also use Bl 18 for the livers side function of nourishing tendons and Bl 20 for the spleens side function of nourishing the muscles plus these point are on the erector spinea and pairs well with Bl 23 and Bl 25.

I then stated that he should get one tube of instant refreshing gel and 2 bottles of herbs that he bought. I explained this by stating the homeopathic arnica is quick acting and the herbal formulas are long lasting. I use this rational on every patient. If they are unable to use herbs due to meds I then say they need supersoak and musclease for the long lasting results as they also treat the root cause.

The next day the patient returned for his second treatment. After the treatment he now stated that he was 60% better. He then express that he came on the cruise to get healthy again. I then suggested if he wanted quicker results he should get the supersoak and musclease as well as they soak right into the skin at the exact location of the problem. Again he took my advice.

The next day when he came in for his third treatment he told me he felt so good after the treatment the previous day that he and his wife went dancing until 2am. He also stated that he woke an hour later and his legs really hurt and he was in a fair amount of pain. He then applied the essential oils and the instant refreshing gel and woke the next morning and felt 85% better. He was so impressed with the results of the treatments and products he booked two additional treatments.

After his fifth treatment he said he felt so good and had no pain for the first time that he could remember. He then asked even though he felt better if there was anything I could do for his energy levels and he booked two more treatments for a total of seven in all.

I changed the point prescription to raise the body’s qi and after the last two treatments he stated along with no pain he now has more energy then he ever has. I also sold him musclease synergy to follow up at home along with his other products.

Now I admit this is the exception but it goes to show that if they follow your advice they and you can achieve amazing result. But I will say that if you are firm, talk to the patient with confidence and in a professional manner as a physician they will take your advice and the numbers of packages you sell and your retail will increase also.

There is really no reason why the majority of the patients should not receive a package of 3 treatments, a bottle of instant refreshing gel and 2 bottles of herbs or a bottle of instant refreshing gel, supersoak and musclease. This is my goal per patient. Does it happen with every patient, no, but it does happen with the vast majority.

Using this method I have had my best numbers yet for 7 day cruises, two near $8,000 with retail averaging around $3000 and one at $11,103 with $4500 in retail since my contract started a month ago. I did have one low week of $4100 from a charter jazz cruise where nobody showed for seminars and the entire spa was very slow as there were many events and concerts for them to go to…they just were not spa people. Still over $31,000 in revenue for my first month back is not bad.

PLAY HARD

Day 1 – Hilo Hawaii

As soon as I stepped outside I was sent back to 1976, which was the first time I was in Hawaii. It was the smell, I remember that smell. The South Pacific has a distinct smell. It’s the fresh air, the humidity, the type of rain and the heat combined that makes it unique.

As it was raining and I had to be back at work a few hours later it was just lunch and catching up on the internet. So much for Hilo.

Day 2 – Kona

We are tendered in Kona so we were not able to get off the ship until 11am.

I headed to a beach a few miles south of the town with friends. Once there here myself and a couple ended up at the resort next to the beach and had a great lunch in an outside style bar/restaurant. After that it was sitting in the pool enjoying the afternoon, sunny skies and a couple beers.

I did decide to venture out for a few pictures of the palm trees. I was about to walk through some bushes when I stopped just in time. They were loaded with huge spiders. They were everywhere and only a foot apart. I would have been covered with them. Sure glad something stopped me.

At the resort/beach in Kona

More Kona palms

A the Kona spider

Day 3 and 4 – Maui

Tonight is the first time I do not have to be back at work. I left with James (trainer), Irish (bartender), Hadder (bartender) for a $20 taxi ride, which seems to be the norm everywhere we go, to a beach to relax. We are also in town overnight and plan on going to one of the clubs later tonight when Irish gets off work.

We ended up at the Maui Westin Resort and relaxed on the grounds and on their beach. We also enjoyed a couple beers at the resorts bar as well and just said we’d rather pay cash then put it on our room.

With the boys crashing the Maui Westin

Irish, Hadder, James and myself

After the Westin we headed back to town to find a place for the internet and lunch. This too seems to be the norm as none of us are really up for playing tourist at all the high priced shops and bars.

I ended up with the spa staff at Bubba Gumps for a bite to eat and then to Moose McGillicuddy’s for a few beers before heading back to the ship around 2am. It was very strange being off the ship at night.

It is now our second day in port in Maui and I plan on playing tourist, looking for the odd tidbit here and there for a couple people that are special to me and posting this blog and pics.

Sorry it has been so long between posts and keep your emails and questions coming and I’ll do my best to answer them from my experiences. But know I still have a great deal to learn myself about this life but so far so good.

ALASKA BOUND...

Well here I sit in my one of my two treatment rooms located on the back of the ship, deck 9. I have a great view from one room and the other is an inside room. Right now I am looking out the window at a glacier about a 1/2-3/4 mile away in the Tracy Arm Fjord, which is the highest point of the Inside Passage of Alaska. What a view!

WORK HARD

I made it; I’m on the Rhapsody. Check on was very fast and actually very easy. I was able to get to my cabin and have plenty of time to unpack, shower and relax before reporting to ship training at 1pm.

One of the major differences between Carnival and Royal Caribbean is the amount of ship safety training. It is almost double with RCCL and I had 22 hours of training alone on my first week and have more training this week although not as much. It is also much more hands on, everything from boarding lifeboats to handling fire extinguishers.

After training on “embark” I literally had 20-30 minutes available for spa tours, which meant very little time to book clients. Fortunately the spa staff here is really on top of things and booked a number of treatments the next day for me. I was able to book one for that evening and two the next day myself.

My first week onboard was thankfully very busy. Turnout for all my seminars was about 20 people and I was able to book a number of treatments from them. The turnout for the herbal seminar was also good as was herb sales from it. All in all I had my second best week, close to $8500, since becoming an acupuncturist at sea.

I’d also like to say I am very pleased to find that yet again to have a great manager that has taken my under her wing to learn the routine here and show me the ropes. I am also very grateful that the spa staff are all very friendly and helpful as well and make my work place a pleasant environment. And to top it off and old friend, Peta Gay, from the Dream is working in the spa and it has been great to see and work with her once again.

Some have written me asking about tips. I must say I am very happy that the ship I am on has “auto-gratuity, it makes all the difference in the world. I set my personal best for tips last week and very good tips again this week.

There is a charter cruise of jazz aficionados onboard this week making it a much different cruise in terms of appointments and seminar turnout. The entire ship has been chartered and there are many events and jazz concerts from many Grammy winning artists. It’s been great to be able to listen to them play after work but work has been extremely slow.

My turnout for seminars is non-existent. I went from having approximately 80 people for three seminars last week to a total of 3 people for the same four seminars this week. You all know that you get your weekly patients from your seminars after your initial “take” from the spa tour. I expected to have a very disappointing week for numbers, especially after last week’s great numbers but was able to get just under $4500. Both myself and the manager were surprised to have reached this number especially with no turnout at the seminars.

Oh well next week we are back to a normal cruise so I am looking forward to another great week before we “make the crossing” to Hawaii on 9/9.

As for my cabin it is much smaller then my cabin on the Dream. Still it is nice and not too small. I have a closet with 6 small drawers, a refrigerator, a desk with 3 drawers, and bed with no drawers under it like I had on the Dream and about the same size bath. Oh yeah my TV is larger as is my. I’ve seen a couple cabins for the spa staff and they are bigger then the ones I saw for spa staff on the Dream.

One thing is that on this ship the cabin steward situation is not good at all. You may see him/her once every 2-3 days. Even then service is not very good for cleaning your room or for getting your uniforms back. From what I have been told those that are not up to par in guest staterooms are sent to clean staff and officer cabins. They are here for two weeks and then rotated.

The regular crew does not have cabin stewards at all. I’ve also been told I can go to housekeeping and request that I have no steward which I am going to do. It is just not worth the money to have someone come in a do a mediocre job. I guess I was spoiled on the Dream where my cabin steward was incredible in everyway.

Dining on the Rhapsody is better then the Dream for acupuncturists. We are considered 2 ½ stripe officers and can eat in the officer’s mess. The food a bit upscale from the Dream and we are allowed to order off the dining room menu but we do not take advantage of it often.

PLAY HARD

Now lets talk “Play Hard”. My first port of call was Juneau, Alaska. I did not have much time last week to explore it as I had to get back to the ship for training. I spent about an hour or two walking around mostly playing tourist and looking for some place to get on the Internet to catch up on emails etc.

There is a place in town called “Universal” on the main street where you can buy service. This week I went with James the trainer and Irish a bartender to the Imperial, bar with food and drink and sat at a window seat for free Internet service on Front Street. The food inside the Imperial is the Raven Cafe and though a little pricy was very good.

The town is small and as you would expect mostly filled with tourist shops and excursions. There is a Wells Fargo Bank if needed which was my case. Cell phone service is also available and with my carrier there were on roaming charges.

The next day we are in Skagway, Alaska that is a very small town. There is also a Wells Fargo here by the post office. Again it is filled with mostly tourist stores and a handful of restaurants. I ran into James and Irish and a couple other people at the Skagway Brewing Co. and had a couple beers. They are expensive here, $5.50 a glass. Although I didn’t eat there the food others had did not look that inviting and nobody said it was really that good, average and expensive for $12-$15 for a burger etc.

I walked around town exploring and eventually ate at the Starfire Cafe on 4^th Street which serves excellent Thai food at a reasonable price of $12-$15 a plate. It may be a touch high in these areas but then again you are in Alaska.

After I ate I decided to take a hike. I followed a small creek filled with salmon to the Lower Lake trailhead. It took about 35 minutes to get to Lower Lake on a steep trail that was all up hill until you reach the lake. It is very green and wooded here so not any great views and the lake was very much like the vast majority of lakes in the northwest. Still it was very pretty and a great hike.

We are in Victoria on Thursdays and once again I was on the search for free Internet. I found it at the Starbucks but it is also right at the foot of the pier for a small fee. Victoria is a very nice place with cafes and shops lining its streets. I’ll have to report more on this after this Thursday as I had very little time there once again due to training. Today we are again in Victoria and I plan on going to Chinatown to get some herbs for myself etc.

So that is it for now. As always thanks to those of you that write me with your questions and comments. I also as always hope you find my blog interesting and informational….Time to go to work….

Photos soon to come...

ALMOST THERE...

Well I’m in Seattle waiting to join my ship tomorrow. I’ve heard from both the acupuncturist on board and the spa manger a few times easing my mind on the days to come. The first few days on any new ship can be trying and they assured me that all is well and the transition should be easy. I will go aboard approximately at 10am – 11am and do not have to be at the spa until 1pm.

The Moore Hotel is downtown just two or three blocks from Pikes Market Place, a huge world famous farmers market that overlooks the water. Downtown is also filled with cafes etc. so everything you need and your yen to explore while waiting to board your ship is near. I did a lot of research trying to find a place to stay that was clean, in a good location and a fair price. For a room with private bath it runs about $85 per night and a little less for a shared bath. I could not be happier.

So with that said I am going to enjoy my last few hours of vacation before I start my next adventure. It may take a little time before I get back online on the ship but I will do so as soon as I can and keep everyone updated on what I find and how things are going.

As always thanks to those of you that are following my blog and I’ll continue to do my best to keep you informed and to answer your questions

- larry

TIME TO GET SERIOUS

Okay time to get this going again. I am on my way to my next ship the Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas joining on 8/19.

Ports of call so far are Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Singapore, Bali, New Zealand and Australia. Lucky me!

After leaving the Carnival Dream I visited family and friends, worked on private clients and took my grandkids Basil and Dioni on a road trip from Sun Valley, Idaho to Mammoth Lakes Ca., Disneyland and Yosemite.

Now it is time to get busy with work and preparing to join the Rhapsody. Over the last few weeks I have been getting everything together and been in contact with Stephanie Kimbers.

I have made sure all my paperwork is together and I have 2 copies of everything. That includes getting your medical done from an “approved” maritime doctor. Do this well in advance at least 4-6 weeks prior to joining your ship. I had to apply and received an Australian Visa so that is completed. Also in this case I had to send paperwork to the London office for a “Seaman’s Book” which is required by Royal Caribbean.  Make sure you also have a valid passport that has time to spare according to Steiner regs and either Stephanie or Dan will send you your immigration papers. So to recap when you join the ship make sure you have a valid passport, medical, immigration papers, any visa. I also have copies of acupuncture license and nccaom certification.

I have my flight information from Steiner and it is confirmed. I have also confirmed my transportation needs to and from the airport and to and from the hotel in my port of departure. I personally like to arrive a couple days ahead of time just in case there are any problems with the flight. So in my case I am arriving in Seattle on 8/17 and I board of 8/19. It is also a good idea to arrive at the ship around 10am to embark. Hopefully you can get on a bit early rather then be rushed getting to your cabin and then to spa tours. Your first day is crazy anyhow so you want to make it as easy on yourself as you can…good luck with that…lol

So I guess that is all I can post to this point. Once I get on board and catch my breath I’ll start posting with “Work Hard” and “Play Hard”. As before I will be honest about everything I encounter and give all of you any information I think that will either help you on your ship or help you decide if this is something you want to try.

Also any of you seasoned “acupuncturists at sea” please give me any insight you have. I certainly don’t have all the answers and would greatly appreciate any of your thoughts and suggestions helping me to become better at my job.