Chapter 2 of a new series. Kristen and Katy start their cruise with a difference in the Mediterranean. Kristen is not wholly ready. Her husband, Carl, back home in Sydney, is not sure also where this will lead.
Note: This story is entirely fictional written for readers' enjoyment, and bears no resemblance to any people living or dead.
Kristen and Katy stepped off the plane Sunday afternoon at Marco Polo Airport near Venezia. Having already been through customs at Rome, it did not take them long to collect their bags and be ready to be on their way. They had been told to look for a negro guy holding up a sign saying Adonis Cruises, as they passed through from customs into the pick up area. He wasn't hard to find. There was a gorgeous, buff 6 foot plus black guy, in a neat uniform, holding up a sign, and by the time, Kristen and Katy idled through he was already surrounded by about ten other beautiful married women.
The girls all gathered their bags and they were on their way to where the bus was parked. Everald introduced himself; he was from Trinidad originally, but had lived in the U.K. for over ten years. He had taken this job up last year, and was back again this year. The girls didn't have to lift a finger – Everald put all of their bags and gear into the bus storage bays. Soon, they were on their way to where the ship - the Adonis II – was docked at the Canal Scomenzera, just behind the railway station as you come across the lagoon from the mainland. The bus trip only took 20 minutes, and the girls were at the ship.
Excitement reigned. Kristen and Katy looked around them. All the wives were quite pretty, even though some of them were in their mid to late 30s, if not early 40s. At 29, Kristen was definitely not amongst the oldest. That said, as gorgeous as Kristen and Katy were, a few of the wives on the bus were definitely model material, and with the wealth of their husbands, kept trophies. Did all the husbands know what this trip was about, Kristen pondered.
Of the 15 wives on the bus Everald was driving, they had come from all over – some from USA and Canada, and one from Japan. Most, though, came from Europe, including Russia and the former republics (one wife was from Ukraine and another from Latvia). Obviously, the vetting by the cruise company was quite stringent.
As the girls arrived at the ship, the usual procedures when you board a ship swung into action. Passports and tickets were checked and verified; room keys issued; and (black) porters were there to take the girls' luggage to their rooms. This is when Kristen and Katy first really started to notice things might be a bit different. The porters were dressed in cute little sailor uniforms with tight blue shorts and golf shirts that showed off to all the rippling chest and arm muscles and the huge gifts below, as were the Cruise Director and the other staff directing boarding operations. The girls could not help but notice!
As Kristen and Katy got to their room on the top deck for customers, they noted the huge king size bed they would be sharing and the generous storage space and bathroom. It was then that their personal steward, Ramon walked into the room. He was also in of those cute little uniforms.
"Good afternoon, ladies", Ramon said. "My name is Ramon, and I am your personal steward for the entire trip. I am here to attend to your every need while you are a guest of Adonis Cruises. Please allow me to unpack your bags and put those clothes and gear away. I can arrange for a bottle of Mumm's to be delivered here complimentary, if you would like to celebrate the start of your cruise with a difference. Would you like that?"
"Ooh!", the girls replied in unison. "That would be nice", Katy said. "Yes please" said Kristen. "And where do you come from, Ramon?"
"Maam, I was born and grew up in the projects in Philadelphia. My dad passed away a couple of years ago, but my momma is still going strong. I have been working on cruise ships now for nearly ten years, and joined Adonis last year. It is a wonderful company."
"Are you married?" Katy asked.
"No, maam. Sea life doesn't really agree with that. Maybe one day. In the meantime, I have such a wonderful time working on these cruise ships, I don't feel the need," the 6 foot 2 inch 14 stone chisel of muscle in a cute uniform stated matter-of-factly.
Ramon then quietly called up the champagne on his mobile phone, before advising the girls that roll call and the safety debrief would be in 20 minutes up in the main club/restaurant. He also then reminded the girls, "We won't be sailing till first thing in the morning at about 7 a.m.. After the roll call and safety debrief, there will be happy hour in the bar and a welcome dinner at 7 back in the main restaurant. You should wear cocktail wear for that. After that, if you want to get out on the town tonight in Venice, you are more than welcome. It is only a short 20 minute walk to the main ferry station opposite the train station. There is also a courtesy bus. From there, you can head just about anywhere on the ferries. Don't use the gondolas – they are very expensive. The ship will remain open all night for you to come back whenever you want, but the last courtesy bus leaves from outside the train station at 1 a.m.. I know the city and nightclubs well, so if you want me to be your escort, I am more than happy. Although management discourage us from fraternising with the passengers in the other cities, here they are a little more relaxed because the city is larger and you need to walk about a lot."
Soon, the Mumm's champagne arrived. Ramon popped the cork with quiet proficiency and poured. The girls found a third flute in the cabinet and asked Ramon did he want one too. He willingly accepted. Kate was already getting the hots for this buff, tall black guy; Kristen's mind though was in a jumble. She was thinking of Carl, and trying to decide did she really want to do this. They nevertheless all toasted the trip, and headed upstairs for the roll call and safety debrief.
The safety debrief kicked off in the normal way, with the cruise director introducing Captain Shevchenko who took everyone through the safety procedures and practicing how to put on and wear their life jackets.
Then it got different. The tall black cruise director introduced Desleigh, this gorgeous late 20s blonde woman, in a sexy red Versace long dress split up the side, 5" pumps, & bling jewellery hanging everywhere. At this point, the male staff made their way back to their work posts, with only a few waiters staying on to serve drinks.
Desleigh told the assembled crowd she was a passenger too, from London, but she also worked for the cruise company which had put the trip together. Her husband Jeremy worked in the City (yes, in finance) and was excited about her making this trip – her first of this kind. She again went through the itinerary - Hvar, Dubrovnik, Kotor and the private beach at Dhermi in Albania. She highlighted the available tours in the three towns included in the package, but stated "While the activities in the other towns are optional, we will have some special activities planned for Dhermi however that everyone should attend".