When we finally arrived on the ship, we came to a podium with a hostess-type person. Mom gave them our names and showed her ticket. The man looked up our rooms and asked if everyone in our party was together and present. Mom assured him that we were, while Dad muttered under his breath.
The maître d'hôtel (or whatever he was) got on a weird looking cellphone and called someone. Once he finished talking to them, he told Mom that our escorts would be arriving soon and asked us to step to the side to make way for the next group that was arriving.
Dad had just started grumbling again (along with several others this time) when two girls, who appeared to be about my age, arrived. The pair looked like they were probably from one of the two island nations that we would be visiting while we were on our cruise.
They introduced themselves as Kiyana Brown and Raeni Williams. They explained that they were our housekeepers, guides, and whatever else for the week. Kiyana was a bit taller - with slightly lighter skin and a taller face. Raeni was a bit shorter - but not as short as Kay. Her skin was darker than Kiyana's and her face was slightly more round - but not fat. Both of them were waif-like thin. They smiled brightly and asked us to follow them.
The girls told (and showed) us where we would assemble for the safety talk, as we headed inside to an area that was almost like a mall - with shops and restaurants and even a beauty salon. From there, they showed us how to line up for the evening meal - which was a big deal. We were supposed to dress nicer for that than for whatever else we got up to. Lunch and breakfast were more relaxed - and were served on a different floor - in a buffet area. We left the dining room and were shown to the auditorium where the shows would take place. From there we took an elevator up to the top deck to see the pools - then down the stairs to the buffet area - with a couple restaurants around the corner if we decided we didn't want the buffet. After that, we boarded another elevator and returned to the main floor. The girls led us back to the mall - helping to hook everything together in our minds - and then turned back to the elevators and the stairs.
Dad complained that we were going in circles but I actually thought that their approach was helpful. I was confident that I could now find everything that I needed - from one end of the ship to the other. At the elevators, once again, the girls showed us the stairs. They told us that the handrails were sanitized several times a day but Kiyana cautioned us to not touch them unless we had to. She whispered that it was inherently almost impossible to keep germs from collecting there because nearly everyone got tired of waiting on the elevators and took the stairs.
The parents in our group grumbled as we headed up two flights of stairs to get to our rooms. I had expected to be below the main level so I was actually excited. Maybe my balcony view wouldn't be as shitty as I had anticipated. In my experience, the promotional pictures always made it look better than it actually turned out to be.
Kiyana and Raeni led us to our rooms by the most direct route from the stairs but offered that there were other avenues that could be used if there was an emergency - or (as Raeni said, laughing) somebody was hogging the passageway. Kiyana shushed her but was smiling as well. I almost wondered if it was part of their routine - or if they were just that comfortable together.
I asked how many cruises they had served on. The two looked at each other and half-shrugged before turning and offering the same number as the other - five.
"Five cruises?" I asked.
"Oh, no," Kiyana replied. "We've been together five years. We don't know how many cruises."
"Shit!" I gasped. "You two barely look 18!"
Raeni smiled and gave a little curtsy, thanking me for my compliment. Kay elbowed me and smirked.
After that, the girls started showing everybody to their rooms. Lucy, Larry, and John were across from us - on the inside of the hallway. Uncle Sam and Aunt Lori were across from Mom and Dad. Our four rooms were all right next to each other.
Dad asked about the luggage and the girls explained that it would arrive later in the afternoon. They asked if we had eaten and - when Mom said no - they suggested trying one of the restaurants. The first meal on the ship would be dinner that evening. I asked about attire and they said polos and khakis were fine. Tory asked about wearing shorts and the girls told her that a blouse and skirt - or a dress - were preferred. I wasn't sure why she had even asked. I knew the girls had packed dresses just for the evening meals. Mom had been very specific about that beforehand.
Once the questions were finished, they handed out keycards. Lucy shot us a look as she followed her brother and her ex-boyfriend into their room. We headed into ours, leaving the parents with Kiyana and Raeni.
"What's this?" Tory asked.
I slipped into the room and closed the door behind me - making sure it latched. There was a figure on the bed made out of towels.
"I think it's an elephant," Kay said. "Lucy's room had a swan."
She showed us the picture. I was surprised the phones worked.
"Looks like a cock and balls to me," Tory said, indicating ours.
I thought Kay was probably right but I could see how Tory might think it looked like a dick.
"How's your phone working?" I asked my sister. "I thought we had to turn them off."
"Didn't you read the website?" she asked. "Set it to Wi-Fi and load their app. It'll load your contacts and ask you to verify your friend list. After that, it's like SnapChat or whatever. When we get home, you can download all of the pictures you sent back and forth if you want. It's the easiest way to connect with people in your group when you get separated."
"I didn't grab the app," I complained.
"Here," she said. "Scan this QR code and it'll supposedly find it on their network. You've gotta approve side-loading it though - unless you have that unlocked already."
"That's not a good idea," I told her.
"I know that," she snarked back. "I don't have to worry about it cuz I already loaded the app, shithead."
I stuck my tongue out at her. She hip-checked me as she went to look in the bathroom.
I got the app side-loaded and it found my contacts. As soon as Tory saw that I was connected, she sent me an emoji of an eggplant and a peach. She grinned as my notification went off. She reached over and groped my crotch.
"We're supposed to shower in that?!" my sister complained.
Tory and I headed in to look.
"Fuck...," I grumbled. "I knew they were supposed to be small but that's crazy!"
"It's bigger than the one that was in my aunt's room when she took a cruise," Tory commented. "I'll bet you could get two people in this one."
"You'd have to be rubbing against each other...," Kay commented.
"Well, duh...," Tory said, "why else would two people be showering together?"
My sister rolled her eyes at her - and then glanced from her friend to me - and then back again. The look she gave Tory at the end told me that - somehow - she had not figured out what we'd been up to - but that lightbulb had just come on.
I returned to the room. There was a big double bed for the girls - with a large-screen TV mounted on the wall that was showing guide information - most of which Kiyana and Raeni had already gone over with us.
Just beyond the main bedroom was a narrower room that led to the small balcony. This area had a couch, a small table/desk and chair, and a smaller TV above it. There was a little refrigerator hidden among the doors and drawers in the desk. When I looked at the space again, I realized that the room was the same width as the bedroom but looked smaller because the the narrowness of the pathway between the couch and the desk..
A sliding glass door led to the small balcony. There were two chairs and a small table. The chairs could lay back but you wouldn't have enough room to layout and sunbathe there. Kiyana and Raeni had walked us past row after row of deck chairs around the pools - up on the top deck. That was the place to get optimal sun if that was your desire. This was mostly just for watching the waves or enjoying the breeze while you read a book, ate a snack, or visited. We all ventured out on the balcony to take in the view. Thankfully, we weren't on the dock side of things and there was actually stuff to see.
I laid down on the couch as the girls tried out the bed.
"How is it?" Tory asked.
"Why do you need to know?" Kay snarled.
