Ship Life | Deanna Moffitt

Celebrating on the Anniversary

December 18, 2009 in Ship Life, Work Stuff

So December 16th is said to be the actual anniversary of Second City, this year they celebrated their 50th anniversary. And so, in honor of this milestone our cruise director helped us to celebrate by changing our show night to the 16th and bringing out a cake and saying some kind words about us after our second show. The captain who just came on board this week watched our show and also said some nice things.

The cast toasting to a happy anniversary.

Once of the highlights for us though was meeting Jake a make a wish kid. Kid is kind of a weird descriptive since he’s 18 and about 6’5″. He and his family joined us on stage after the show and when we asked him what he had enjoyed the most about his cruise so far he said, “your show”. He also had this incredible sense of humor, doing callbacks to our show and also poking a bit of fun at his own situation. It was such an honor to be a part of his experience and to have him be a part of ours.

Afterwards, Silas our cruise director had us come up to the Mardi Gras nightclub for a champagne toast and we got in on the dancing.

In Chicago we have a friend named Jet, who is incredibly talented and just a wonderful delight. She’s a gifted performer, with what I would call a bit of an ethereal, eclectic personality. Well we got to meet what the woman we called “future Jet”. She was a French woman dancing with absolute joy and she looked like how we imagined Jet will look when she’s 60. Though to be fair, none of us believe that Jet will be on a cruise ship when she’s 60.

Me and "Future Jet"

Tags: 50th Anniversary, Deanna Moffitt, NCL, Second City
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Odds and Ends

December 15, 2009 in Ship Life

We’re in Hilo today and we woke up to another beautiful day. It’s finally just now clouding over and threatening rain which seems more typical for this port at least by all accounts from crew. Speaking of which, we’re doing a crew show tonight which should be a hoot. There’s not a lot of entertainment on this ship and Second City has a great reputation on board, we’ve heard from lots of folks that they plan to be in attendance. The only downer is there won’t be any free alcohol which is normal for most crew shows. So we’re going to have to be extra funny since they’ll be stone cold sober.

Yesterday we got a few little packages sent off to family. We also got our first Christmas card!! Our friends Jeremy and Carrie sent us a card with them and their chickens which now holds a place of honor in our cabin. Thanks you guys! We’d love to get more Christmas cards, so if you happened to be mailing out cards and want to send one our way to Hawaii please do!

Deanna Moffitt (and/or) Rance Rizzutto
PO Box 331179
Kahului, HI 96733

This video blog is from last week, and I never got it posted. So here it is, Mike and I in Queen Liliokalani park in Hilo.

Tags: Christmas cards, Deanna Moffit, Hilo, Second City
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From the Underworld to the Heavens

December 14, 2009 in Ship Life

Yesterday, was really an incredible day, started by finally renting a car and exploring some of Maui. We went along with some of

Gramps Koskinski goes for a stroll on a beach in Maui.

the other guest entertainers on board to Kapalua Bay, which is just a stones throw from Napili Shores, the hotel my friends and I all stayed at years ago. It was great to pull into the road that leads down to the bay and have all of these memories come flooding back.

The beach was beautiful and not terribly crowded and while the snorkeling was just okay compared to some of the other places we’ve been it was nice to finally break out the gear and get it in the water. I did see a bunch of fish I’ve never seen before, and I have no idea what they’re called other than to say they were pretty. Oddly enough, even though it was a really warm day I did get cold in the water after awhile. I wish I could say it’s because I’ve lost a ton of body fat and I don’t have enough insulation but I know that’s not the case.

We stayed at the beach a few hours, long enough to see our entertainment friends come crawling out of the water with all of their SCUBA gear. They’re all certified and that piece of paper and air tanks allowed them to see all kinds of things: Sharks, turtles, lion fish, scorpian fish. Meanwhile all of us snorkelers saw an old man, fully dressed, passed out on the lawn behind the beach. So we’re about even.

With a six passenger van at our disposal we decided to conquer Mt. Haleakala as well. I mean why not go from under the sea to above the clouds in one day. So after a quick trip at Maui Taco and a change of clothes at the ship. We all piled back into the van for the unexpectedly long, twisting drive to the top of the Volcano. Once we got above the clouds it was breathtaking; ethereal is a good descriptive word. It looked like we were above a land of cotton candy with the sun just setting over the horizon. We still hadn’t made it to the crater top but we stopped the van and got out and went on a picture taking spree.

Me at Sunset on Haleakala

Me & Rance

The cast at sunset on Mt. Haleakala

Tags: Black Rock, Deanna Moffitt, Flat Bread Pizza, Kapalua Bay, Maui, Mt. Haleakala, Napili Shores, snorkeling, sunset
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Honolulu Happenings

December 13, 2009 in Ship Life

We woke up yesterday morning to the normal string of announcements telling passengers with Aqua, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Purple (the list goes on and on) colored luggage tags that they could leave the ship. The voice that comes over the intercom starts out friendly as they go through the morning ritual of getting passengers to leave, but by the time the voice had to announce for the third time “This is your last and final call for ALL passengers to leave the vessel” you could clearly hear the anger and frustration coming through.

Before we started our day Rance and I spent the morning playing with the Wii Fit that our friends Jeff and Jeannie let us borrow during our contract. They’re coming back on board when we leave, so our keeping it means they didn’t have to take it with them. It also means we get to practice our ski-jumping skills while it’s in our possession, which clearly I need work on.

We had a wonderful lunch with R. Kevin Doyle who has been an integral part of the Honolulu improv scene for the past 16 years. He took us to one of his favorite dim sum restaurants in Chinatown. Great food and even better conversation; he’s a walking almanac of the local improv scene and it was great to hear how it has evolved over the years.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around and enjoying another perfect afternoon. I think I could get really used to this weather.

Tags: Chinatown, Deanna Moffitt, Honolulu, improv, R. Kevin Doyle
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Playing Catch Up and Looking for Balls

December 12, 2009 in Ship Life

Piero looks for his balls

We played tennis again in Kauai. Mike, Piero, Rance and I made the trek up to the tennis courts, slapped down our $10 court fee (which we found out we didn’t even need to pay since the court we were given was not locked), grabbed a loaner racket for Piero and hit the clay. It was Piero’s first outing with us and it was great to have four of us out there. Though, Piero did hit the ball over the fence numerous times, I think in an effort to get off the court and go dig in the bushes for it. We had quite a few laughs all afternoon.

Although we had been warned of storms we never saw any of it this last cruise. In fact, the weather could not have been more beautiful. It’s not as hot, as we’re coming into the “winter” months and humidity levels are dropping as well. It’s crazy being here enjoying this, knowing that family and friends back on the mainland are going through terrible winter conditions before winter has even started.

Of course the only downfall is that this week marks the 50th anniversary of Second City, and they are having one helluva blowout with a ton of alumni coming back to visit. Seeing photos on FB and hearing the stories leaves a piece of me wishing I could be there to be a part of it all. And then I look out at an amazing sunset just off the ship here in Honolulu and everything’s okay.

Here’s some footage of our amazing tennis skills. To be fair, it’s Piero’s skills that are highlighted and they may not quite be amazing quite yet.

Tags: 50th Anniversary, Deanna Moffitt, Kauai, NCL, Second City, Tennis
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Overnighta is Alrighta

December 6, 2009 in Ship Life

Winter weather is getting crazy all over the US what with snow in Alabama, frigid temperatures in Chicago but here in Hawaii we’re bracing for a Pacific storm that rivals anything seen in the last 20 years.

High surf expected today is only a prelude to bigger waves heading for the Islands on Monday, when forecasters are predicting 60-foot faces on the North Shore.

The weather service has issued a high surf warning for north- and west-facing shores of Ni’ihau, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i and Maui, and on the west-facing shores of the Big Island. A high surf advisory also was issued for the east-facing shores of O’ahu and northeast-facing shores of the Big Island.

All of which means we’re still sitting in port here in Honolulu where it looks like a perfectly lovely day. I feel a bit sorry for the crew of this ship, because to anyone here the conditions look absolutely perfect. Telling Mr. and Mrs. Middle America that it’s for the best that we don’t sail out into the crystal blue calm looking waters is not an easy task. But I imagine as we sail out tonight when the biggest of the swells are supposed to be building and the barf bags are set out Mr. and Mrs. Middle America will be thinking we should have just stayed in port.

I for one am thrilled that we had an over nighter here in Honolulu. It gave the entire cast a chance to perform a long form set at LaughTrack theater. And man, was it fun. This is a really tight cast, many people on the people who’ve seen our cruise ship shows have commented on our chemistry. And it’s true we have a great chemistry both on and off the stage. So it was a blast to blow it out and have no restrictions on what we did on stage last night. And Kim and Shannon the two great ladies who own and run the theater could not have been better hosts. I can only hope we get a chance to go out and do it again real soon.

So now, thanks to Second City, I’ve been able to perform in Istanbul and Hawaii along with all the cruise ship shows. And only six years ago I was an IT Project Manager in Portland, OR. I wonder where my life will go next.

And here’s a fun video from last week’s departure from Honolulu.

Tags: Deanna Moffitt, Hawaii, Laugh Track Theater, life changes, north shore, weather
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This Week in Weather

December 4, 2009 in Ship Life

This last week has really been beautiful on all of the islands. You could not ask for more perfect weather. Warm, but not terrible humid and often a slight breeze would blow in just as I started to think, “boy, it’s hot out here.” It’s been everything you think of when you think of Hawaii.

However, tonight we’re in for a good storm. Jen let us know that weather reports were coming in that we might experience some 32 foot waves overnight. Time to batten down the hatches. As I write this at 4:15pm Hawaii time, I can already see that the weather has turned. The sky has turned cloudy, the wind is ripping over the pool deck and the boat is already rocking. It should be a fun night, especially with our improv show at 10:15.

Mike and I finished shooting a tour of the ship video yesterday. It’s ridiculously fun, especially with his editing. I’m also sure it’s something that in a few years I’ll regret having done. But for now, it’s super silly. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Until then here’s a little something of Rance and I after tennis in Kauai yesterday.

Tags: Deanna Moffit, Kauai, NCL, storms, Tennis, videos
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Finding the Groove

December 2, 2009 in Ship Life

So I’ve been on the ship for 18 days and I finally feel like I’m finding a routine of sorts. And I hate to admit that part of that routine is going to bed woefully early. I think I’ve managed to stay awake past midnight twice so far. Usually around 9:30 pm I’m ready with calling it a day. Officially making me one of the lamer cast members. I did go to the crew bar on for the first time last night, and realized quickly that I haven’t been missing anything. Though, it is larger than any other crew bar I’ve been in, it still holds very little appeal. I just have no desire to rubbed up against, humped on or asked how old I am by a 20 something. No matter how cute they are. That’s just me.

We are in Kona today and Rance and I bought tennis rackets. I’m very excited about the prospect of playing tennis and maybe even playing decently at some point in the future. Though I already feel sorry for any prospective partners. I’m not good, and my hand-eye coordination is even worse, especially when balls are flying at my face. But it sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon, especially when a beach is close by enticing me to dive in for a cool refreshing dip.

Today’s video is from a couple of weeks ago when the old and new cast came together for a game of Pit. We are dorks.

Tags: crew bar, Deanna Moffitt, games, Pit, Rance Rizzutto, ship life, Tennis
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Mistaken Identity

November 30, 2009 in Personal, Ship Life

Twice in one week I was identified as someone that someone else recognized or that I looked exactly like someone from back home; this time home being in Australia. I can’t tell you how many times this happens to me. I have a few theories:

I am adopted and my biological parents have a huge extended family, I have over 30 biological siblings and we have scattered the globe.
I was part of an unnamed government cloning experiment that happened in the 60′s when everyone was doing illicit drugs. The clones have been placed in all parts of the world.
In a past life I was someone of great importance that everyone’s inner spirit recognizes and they recognize me from that past life.

It started way back in high school when I had two different people at two different times, come right up to me and start a conversation of which I had no clue what they were talking about. It turns out that both of these people thought I was a girl from another local high school.

From there it’s been random sightings; people have thought I was their neighbor, their flatmate, someone from back home, someone they recognized from TV, someone they used to work with. On the ship, the mistaken identities become more frequent, and I’m not sure why that happens. But about once a cruise someone will tell me they know me but they don’t know from where. I’m going to start telling them I’m Cleopatra and leave it at that.

Tags: Deanna Moffitt, familiar face, mistaken identity, theory
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A Week of Catch Up and Happy Thanksgiving

November 26, 2009 in Ship Life

Wow, it’s been a crazy week! So much has happened in the past nine days that it feels like a whole month has gone by. A week full of Coast Guard sanctioned classes and daily tests. A written fire exam test that had us all stressed out. A day of practical testing that included: donning fire gear, fire-hose handling, learning all about SCBA how to put it on, use it and change tanks, maneuvering through a pitch black structure in a three-man team while wearing complete fire gear, using a CO2 extinguisher to put out a flame, and putting out a flame with a three man hose team. And that was only the fire portion of the day!

In the second half of the day we went through water safety practical exam! Let’s just say at the end of the day we were all exhausted.

In addition to all of that we were trying to spend as much time as we could with the cast that was leaving especially since several of them are good friends of ours. But truly the long days and jet lag had me wanting to go to bed by 8pm. And our practical exam day coincided with the previous casts departure date so we didn’t get a great deal of time to hang with them. But they helped so much in the transition to this ship, not only with dealing with issues on board but also helping to block our ending piece which they had been doing in their show as well.

Here’s a little clip from Kona last week with Robyn Norris.

Last night we did our first scripted show in the Hollywood Theater and they went over really well. The cast is already very tight and we get along great, so the whole rehearsal process has been a breeze. Our director Commander Matt Craig has had it pretty easy with us and in turn he’s adjusted the process to meet us where we’re at. So it’s been about as painless as imaginable.

We celebrated Thanksgiving today in Kauai. And I really thought we were going to eat somewhere on the ship airplane. But Jen came through and found an amazing place called Gaylord’s, an old plantation that could not have been more perfect. Our producer treated us all to an amazing dinner with all the trimmings and a bounty of bits. It really was great.

Tonight our first scriptless show, I hope I can stay awake.

Tags: Coast Guard, Deanna Moffitt, fire team, fire training, Kona, merchant marine, Robyn Norris, SCBA
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