Excited youngsters felt the ‘wow effect’ when they were treated to their first exposure of life at sea.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda was given special permission to climb onboard NCL cruise ship Norwegian Spirit for a behind-the-scenes tour.
Growing up in Bermuda, the ‘Littles’ aged about 13 to 19 are used to seeing cruise ships docked around the island. But it was the first time many of them had stepped foot on a cruise ship and they were immediately impressed with what they saw.
So much so that some of the teenagers have already expressed an interest in a career on the waves.
Esme Williams, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Bermuda, said: “You could see it in their faces straight away, the kids were fascinated.
“It was a wow kind of thing. You could hear lots of oohs and aahs from the children and they all wanted to ask questions.
“It was the most wonderful day, everyone got so much out of it.”
About 35 Bigs and Littles and three charity staff members spent three hours onboard the Norwegian Spirit, which was docked at Dockyard, on Sunday.
NCL’s group services coordinator Raquel Nunez gave them a sneak peek of the ship’s restaurants, casino, theatre, pool deck and reception area. The group even got a chance to see entertainers rehearsing for that night’s show.
The group learned how the ship, which started cruising in Asia in 1998, has 900 staff, a capacity of about 2,101, and boasts 11 restaurants, 9 bars, an outdoor pool and four hot tubs.
They were then “treated like VIP’s” with a three-course lunch with window seats in one of the ship’s formal dining room. The children enjoyed ordering off the menu as well as discussing how high up they were and what it would be like to dive into the water.
And the adults seemed to have just as much fun as the children with the Bigs saying it was the next best thing to a cruise ship vacation.
The visit was organized after Ms Williams wrote to Cherie-Lynn Whitter, the permanent secretary of the ministry of tourism and transport, asking her to help expand young people’s knowledge of the tourism industry.
She wrote: “As the cruise ship industry is a prominent part of Bermuda’s economy and day to day culture, we think it would be very interesting for our teens to get an inside peak of this industry.”
The event was “a first for all those involved” but it now looks set to become an annual event.
Big Brothers Big Sisters matches children from single parent homes with adult mentors, who are positive role models and friends.
To find out more about the charity phone 232-2802 or visit www.bbbs.bm.
