In the summer of 2006, my family and I took a Caribbean cruise out of Galveston, Texas. We traveled to three ports, including Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Mexico. As we sailed for days at sea on the magnificent ‘CONQUEST’ ship, we planned what activities to do in each port.
Jamaica and Mexico involved shopping, but the Cayman Islands involved a vast pirate adventure, during which I was the main attraction. Obviously being played off ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, the pirates on this ship looked like college boys and the Captain, Captain Tompkins, was a man of mystery and secret. Boarding the ship, one of the pirates was giving me the eye and making faces to his friend.
I didn’t know at the time, but those faces put me in the spotlight — the very middle of the entire show. As the ship sailed on I hoisted sails and got the guns ready. All of a sudden, the crew decided I had done some dirty deeds against the Queen of England.
The two college boy pirates grabbed me and put me in a noose. They named off my crimes, including disobeying my parents and failure to do my chores or clean my room and they poured ice-cold seawater on me while everyone watched. They then shoved me to the deck and gave me a toothbrush.
I was confused and wasn’t sure exactly what I was supposed to do, so they poured even more of the freezing ocean water on me and told me to scrub the decks. After I did as told, they each gave me a hug and the show was over. After the initial play, they ‘parked’ the boat in mid-ocean and allowed the audience to swim in open water.
One of the pirates obviously fancied me and picked me up to throw me over. I didn’t want him to, so he settled for me walking the plank. Later on, he took me to the front of ship and let me shoot off the gun by myself and got to know me a little better.
His name was Mikal and he was from South Africa. We exchanged stories about where we grew up and where we went to school and things like that. Then, he announced to everyone that I was his ‘wench’ and that nobody could have anything to do with me unless he said it was okay.
It was an amazing day at sea and I made a new friend. Now, if I wish to return there, I will be under Sir Mikal’s orders! I will always remember the beauty of the Cayman Islands. The water was crisp and blue and the beaches were almost white.
All of the sights and sounds of the pirate ship are tattooed in my mind. The best part was getting carried off the ship, hugged and bid adieu. Memories blossom from such funny things as pirate ships and sea adventures, but it was fun and I recommend that adventure to all!
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