I got the night off because I was nominated as an employee of the month. You know, that is a big deal because for the crew members every night on the cruise ship is Friday night and every morning is a Monday morning. 

Having a day or night off on the land is just a regular thing, but it feels like a gift of a century on the cruise ship. So, my friend and I decided to go out to the crew bar. As you know, we all have that one suit in the baggage that we use once in the entire contract (or not even once). 

I dressed up neatly, we went for picture taking, and everything seemed smooth and sensational. We took a picture with the captain, hotel director, and all those glamorous staff; you know the drill. 

After the official protocols of the awarding ceremony were over, it was time for the real treat- crew bar madness! My paisano and I went to the crew bar, and our paisano was also working in soo mucho mafia business. You know how it works. 

The paisano crew bartender took really good care of us, made strong cocktails, and made us feel like a superstar.

You know... that feeling when you don't have to wait to order your drink. 

Before we raise our hand, paisano already made it strong ( yaaaa maaaan). One after another drink, we had a great time and the best seats in the house( you know, those corner chairs in the crew bar where you can have the best view in the house). Those two seats where we were positioned were just in front of the big TV; we felt like those platinum or diamond card guests at that moment. One milion dolar feeling. 

Around 1 a.m. the crew bar was packed. Many housekeeping and restaurant people were also there to celebrate their employee of the month nomination. There was one guy just nearby, who was Assistant Food Manager; he did not like that we were laughing very loudly, and he was giving us that important look to let us know to behave better. But we did not bother; we just kept laughing and having a lot of fun. Maybe that guy was annoyed with our body language or something. 

At one point, Assistant Food Manager took his phone and called security. Apparently, he said we were having too many drinks and acting aggressively. But we were not aggressive towards anybody; we sang our paisano songs loudly and maybe jumped up and down a few times. His arrogant ass could not swallow that, so he took his phone and called security. When I saw which security officer came to " arrest us," I laughed even more. It was my great friend who worked with me for five contracts together. 

Assistant Food Manager talked to him and pointed with his finger in our direction, so my great friend security officer came to us. He said:

"You are drinking without me. This guy called me to complain that you drink a bit too much. He asked me to take you to the alcohol test. He said you two are very violent."

I just laughed. So the security officer went back to the assistant food manager and told him not to worry and that " he will take care of the situation"

We stood up from our Vip chairs and left the crew bar with my friend security officer. But we did not go for an alco test. No, no, no... Instead, we went to our cabin, where I had one more bottle of Jack Daniels. My paisano, a friend security officer, and I stayed until 4 am, till we finished whole bottle. o boy... I was going to start the next day at 4 pm.

it was almost 04 am when two of them left my cabin. I was not sure if ship was rocking or I was rocking. You know that feeling all crew members experience at least once. The last thing I remember is that I slept in the suit I wore in the crew bar. I didn't even know what time it was when I opened my eyes. Clueless about the time, the place where I was, and what’s going on around me.

My first thought when I suddenly opened my eyes was I am late for work! 

I had some weird hangover feeling trying to convince me that I was already late for the job; my watch was showing 5 pm. In a panic, I started to look for my uniform around the cabin; in the crew cabin, there was no little window, and I could not tell the time of the day by the sunlight. I thought it was already the afternoon the next day and that I had overslept my shift, but I was curious how nobody called me in the cabin meanwhile.

Usually, if you are late, you get a banana phone call from your manager. But nope, nobody called. I brushed my teeth and tried to drink a full glass of Listerine ( so nobody could smell me at my work), and tripping over my clumsy pants, I was running around the crew corridor like crazy, thinking that I was late big time. I was already expecting a big banana time! So I came in front of the elevator on deck B, trying to fix my clumsy uniform, and the elevator arrived. When the elevator door opened, I was no longer sure if this was happening or if I was still dreaming. 

My manager was standing in front of me! With apparent hesitation, I entered the crew elevator and gathered the courage to speak up. " Sir, I am so sorry because I am late. I did not hear the alarm; I am sorry; you know that I am never late, Sir. It will never happen again." 

He was observing my messy face and uniform that I was unsuccessfully trying to put in my wrinkled pants. He gave me that confusing look, and finally, he said. 

"Boy, are you ok? Now it's only 6 am; you are starting your shift later on in the afternoon; go and take some rest it looks like you need it" I was confused even more. " But, sir, it's 5 pm."

He replied, "Boy, where did you buy your watch? Can I buy you a new watch for your birthday" he started laughing hysterically.

"Now it's 6 am in the morning; you were just confused and a little too much last night. Go rest now, will see you later" the elevator door opened, and he left.

Apparently, It was only 6 am, and I was not sure anymore where I was, what was going on if I was dreaming all this or not. I returned to my cabin, washed my face with the cold water, and slapped myself in the mirror a few times to see if I could feel anything. 

Apparently, no more Jack Daniels for the rest of my contact. Mucho drama and mucho hangover. Yaaa maaan, ship life.