A slice of India aboard a Caribbean cruise

Lakshmi Somasundaram took a luxurious cruise in the Caribbean and shares her experience.

The serene beaches of Nassau, the island paradise of Coco Cay, and swimming in the pristine Caribbean's crystal clear waters were all utopias.

But the ultimate paradise was the Majesty of the Seas, our cruise ship. It was a floating mini city with 14 floors and a theatre, pool, restaurants, shopping mall, basketball court and rock climbing wall.

There were 2,500 guests from all over the world; I rarely heard someone speak in English. To make our rendezvous more pleasurable, there was, I discovered, one employee for every three guests.

It was rather impressive that the employees came from 57 countries and had multiple roles. For example, our muster boat leader (emergency coordinator), Erica, from the UK, was also one of the dancers in the theater show. The waiter who served lunch was busy later that evening as a photographer at the formal dinner and was in his swimsuit the next morning training first-time snorkelers. Most of the employees were from the Philippines, but the second largest group was from India.

A majority of the 300 Indian employees were from Goa, well known for its tranquil beaches and tourism industry. Our head waiter and chef were from Chennai and they conversed with us in Tamil. We were part of a large group from the Tamil Nadu Foundation and they were able to organise Indian dinners, lunches, and even breakfast for us! I was surprised to see upma and chutney in the breakfast buffet and rice, dal, nan, and okra curry for lunch. Even the appetiser, rasam soup, and the dessert, carrot halwa were Indian. We were definitely not homesick for our traditional food.

After observing the cruise employees for a few days, I admired their willingness to live a hectic life away from their families and homeland. Their dedication, cheerfulness, and kindness were very evident 24/7. The employees work ten hour days, seven days a week, and the only free time they had was six hours each Friday when the ship gets ready for the next set of cruisers. They get two months off every year to reunite with their families.

Despite their long days and hectic schedules, the employees are always smiling and enthusiastic.

As for the rest of my cruise experience, I enjoyed learning about the lost continent of Atlantis. The Nassau straw market reminded me of the street vendors in Chennai when the Bahamian women would ask "how much you want to spend?" I had to refresh my bargaining skills. Snorkeling in the brilliant blue, warm, Caribbean waters and observing schools of fish and tropical coral reefs was breathtaking. Basking in the bright sun's rays and unwinding in a hammock was refreshing. Despite the relaxing outdoor activities, it was the luxurious cruise ship and its 860 dedicated employees who made our vacation all the more memorable!

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh