Savasana at Sea

by Ava Dunne

  I’d like to thank my fellow Sisters-in-Crime, especially Arlene Kay, Alyssa Maxwell, Edith Maxwell, Barbara Ross, Barbara Eppich Struna, and Leslie Wheeler for all their support, along with Nancy Rubin Stuart, Executive Director of the Cape Cod Writers Center.

  I’d like to thank the other writers and readers at conferences and libraries over the years of gestation of the book who asked, “What are you working on?” and when I told them a mystery featuring a yoga instructor on a cruise ship, they all said, “Oh, I’d read that!” You finally can!

  I’d like to thank Centerville Library on Cape Cod for all their help and friendship. My editor, E.C. Bell, who fixes my bad habits and doesn’t despair when I keep coming up with new ones; my copy editor Cady Storr, who doesn’t mind discussing comma placement or whether or not to capitalize something; cover designer Christine Maria Kroell, who takes me vague, “I kind of want this“ gestures, actually READS THE MANUSCRIPT, and then comes up with a relevant cover design.

  And thanks to the readers, who make this possible. I hope you have as much fun with Sophie as I do.

  …

  Read on for tips on choosing a cruise, links to sights mentioned in the book, and the first chapter of the second Nautical Namaste Mystery, Davy Jones Dharma (and more)!

  TIPS ON CHOOSING A CRUISE

  THE CRUISE LINE INDUSTRY IS huge, and there are so many options. How do you choose? Here are some tips.

  …

  Know Your Budget

  This tip is often at the bottom of the list, but how much you can actually afford will affect the choice. Your ticket price usually includes your cabin, your meals, some onboard activities, and the various port fees. There are different price ranges of cabins. Do you want to spend more money on a better cabin and less on other items, and spend more time in your room? Spend less money on your cabin and more time out on deck and in activities? Are all activities included, or do you have to pay extra for massages, focused activities? Is liquor included, or is your bar tab extra? There will be shops on board. How much money do you have set aside to buy things onboard, even things such as running out of toothpaste? Do you want to do shore excursions when the ship is in port? You’ll have to tip, at the very least your cabin steward, and, if you go on shore excursions, your guide. Some ships have casinos — do you have money put aside for gambling? It all adds up. Plus, you have to pay to get to the point of departure and return (airfare, bus fare, etc.), hotel if you get there early or stay the night after disembarking, and any fees associated with traveling to and from the slip.

  Also, remember that some cruise lines have special dining rooms where meals are included and specialty restaurants that have a separate cover charge. Do your research.

  …

  Where Do You Want to Go?

  Do you want tropics? Mountains and glaciers? Port stops in exotic cities? There’s a cruise for everything. Decide what type of scenery you want to look at during your cruise? Do you want to relax and not sightsee? Or do you want to travel somewhere that entices you to get off the ship and explore?

  There are also themed cruises based on sports, entertainment figures, and specialty interests.

  …

  Anonymity or Socialization?

  The staff on the ship will give you personalized service, and how much interaction you choose with others is somewhat up to you. You will have to opt for a measure of peaceful co-existence with your fellow travelers, and decide how much you want to interact during activities or just sitting around the pool, and how much you want to be on your own. You are many on an enclosed space — even the largest ship can feel claustrophobic if your fellow passengers are nasty. While the staff will do everything in their power to make you happy, make sure you are willing to be happy, and remember that they are there doing a job, not to be your friends. It’s possible to make interesting short-term acquaintances on a cruise, but keep perspective.

  …

  What Do You Want To Do?

  Research the on-board activities and the shore excursions. There’s nothing wrong with doing nothing on a cruise except eating, reading, sleeping, and lying by the pool. Resist the urge to overbook every moment and give yourself plenty of time to relax.

  Enjoy the onboard entertainment, if you wish. Shows, movies, dances. Take in a lecture or a yoga class. Try something new. Or sit back and read a book. Most ships will have an onboard library where you can borrow a book, or a bookstore, where you can buy the latest best seller. Of course, if you’ve got your E-reader, you can pack it full of all kinds of wonderful material and have very little to carry around.

  Find out if you have to book shore excursions in advance (which is becoming more and more the norm), or if you can make up your mind onboard. Again, the staff will do whatever they can to help you.

  How much or how little structure do you want in your day? “Free-style cruising” has become more popular over the years. The Norwegian Cruise Line was the pioneer here. It relates more to dining — you don’t have a set time to dine, there’s no daily dress code (ships often have “formal night”, “casual night”, etc.), and there are more dining options. On some ships, it can also mean more flexibility in activities. Again, research the specific cruise line.

  …

  Food

  Food is a primary occupation for many guests. Because food (except, in some cases, in specialty restaurants) is part of the package, there are guests who eat as much as they can so they “get their money’s worth.” You don’t need to be a glutton; nor do you need to deny yourself. You can eat well, eat healthy, and have the occasional indulgence without going overboard (in the gastronomic, not the literal sense).

  Research the restaurants and the food reviews. Most cruise lines hire talented chefs capable of wide-ranging menus, and more and more vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available. Most ships will have a dining room and several other options. Find out which are included in your package, which have cover charges or separate charges, and typical menus for each.

  Also remember there are often “theme nights” during a cruise, and those will often reflect where you’re headed. It’s a great way to sample a variety of cuisine.

  If you have a food allergy, make sure you let the cruise line know WHEN YOU BOOK, especially if it is a severe allergy. The kitchens have to feed thousands of people. You are on a floating city. Let them know ahead of time, and get confirmation IN WRITING that they understand and can accommodate your needs.

  In general, it’s a good idea to get any special requests in WHEN YOU BOOK and get the confirmation that those needs will be address IN WRITING before you leave. Carry a copy of that with you. Check in with the hospitality staff once you’re onboard, show them the documentation, and work with them early in the process to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises for anyone. The same goes with medical requests or special needs. Make it clear what you need when you book; get it confirmed IN WRITING from a SPECIFIC individual, and then follow up when you board.

  People make mistakes; communications can break down. Don’t assume it’s all taken care of, even if you use a travel agent who assures you it is. Have documentation in hand. Also make sure you know when and where you need ID such as passport, driver’s license, tickets, visas, etc.

  Best rule of thumb: MAKE NO ASSUMPTIONS.

  …

  Realistic Expectations

  You’re on a floating city with hundreds, maybe thousands of other human beings. Give each other physical and emotional room. Be patient. Be considerate. Be tolerant. Don’t have the attitude that because you paid for a ticket your needs come ahead of everyone else’s who also paid for a ticket. Be polite to other guests and staff. Don’t bully. Don’t let others bully you. If you feel unsafe, don’t hesitate to go to someone in guest services or to security.

  Things will go wrong. Perfection is a concept, not a reality. Keep a sense of humor, use your common sense, and have a wonderful time! You’re on vacation!

  …

 
Sites to research cruise line options and compare them:

  How To Choose The Best Cruise Line (Cruiseline.com):

  https://cruiseline.com/advice/how-to-book/pick-a-line/how-to-compare-the-best-cruises-lines

  Compare 10 Most Popular Cruise Lines (Cruisecritic.com):

  https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1421

  Cruise Ship Brands: Which is Right for You? (Reviewed.com):

  http://cruises.reviewed.com/features/cruise-ship-brands-which-is-the-right-one-for-you

  SIGHTS VISITED IN SAVASANA AT SEA

  THE CHARACTERS IN THE BOOK visit some interesting places in the book, and I’ve mixed the real with the fictional. I call this “stretching geography” (and it’s one of the topics we cover in my workshops on “Setting as Character").

  …

  New York City

  Obviously, New York City is real. I still consider myself a New Yorker, after decades of living and working there, although now I live elsewhere. I love the city.

  Union Square has lots of yoga studios around it, and, at the time of the writing, a large Barnes & Noble anchored the north end across from Union Square. I spent many happy hours in there. The building where Jack works on Madison Avenue is based on a building I worked in years ago, when I worked for a publishing company; there were several marketing firms in the building. There really was a Nine West on the mentioned corner, where I fled more than once with a shoe emergency. I’m not sure if it’s still there.

  Cruise ships dock in New York; you can watch them enter and leave, usually on Saturdays.

  The Brooklyn brownstone Sophie shares with Fawn and Bianca is based on a brownstone owned by a theatre friend of mine, where I’ve stayed when visiting New York.

  For more information on sights in New York:

  New York City Go:

  https://www.nycgo.com/

  …

  Bahamas:

  Nassau is one of the most-visited spots in the Caribbean. The wharf mentioned in the book is where the cruise ships dock.

  Here are links to some of the other sites:

  For information about the Junkanoo Festival:

  http://www.bahamas.co.uk/about/junkanoo/what-is-junkanoo

  Pirates of Nassau Museum:

  http://www.piratesofnassau.com/

  Straw Market:

  https://www.bahamas.com/vendor/straw-market-1

  Senor Frog:

  http://www.senorfrogs.com/bahamas

  Versailles Gardens:

  https://www.bahamas.com/vendor/versailles-gardens

  Blue Lagoon Sea Island Excursion:

  http://www.bahamasbluelagoon.com/

  Eleuthara & Harbor Island:

  https://www.bahamas.com/islands/eleuthera-harbour-island

  Acklins & Crooked Island:

  https://www.bahamas.com/islands/acklins-crooked-island

  …

  Florida:

  Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral:

  https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

  Cocoa Beach:

  http://www.cityofcocoabeach.com/

  …

  Diamond Island is a fictional place. Several cruise lines have bought private islands for excursions. I thought it would be nice to have one where part of the island was set aside for the cruise staff and crew to play on one side, while the guests are on the other. I believe some of the islands have it — one of my sources mentioned it to me in passing. So I took the idea and ran with it.

  …

  Keep reading for a special preview of Davy Jones Dharma, the second Nautical Namaste Mystery, releasing November 2018!

  PREVIEW OF DAVY JONES DHARMA —NAUTICAL NAMASTE MYSTERY #2

  SOPHIE BATCHELDER EARNED HER CONTINUED contract as the Charisma‘s yoga instructor on the Diamond Line. Treasure fever hits passengers and crew alike as a special-event-treasure-hunting cruise sets out to discover enigmatic pirate Dark Annie Hatchett’s sunken treasure, with an additional prize offered by billionaire Alexander Walcott. As treasure hunters, including Sophie’s lover Sebastian, meet increasingly sinister “accidents”, Sophie must use her skills to hunt down the killer. Route: New York - Bermuda.

  …

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Can we stay here? Or do we have to go back to the ship?” I nestled in Sebastian’s arms. We were in the king-sized bed in the room we rented for our shore off-hours in the Diamond Resort, the cruise line’s private island in the Caribbean. The view across the pink sands to the aquamarine ocean was spectacular. I should be used to gorgeous Caribbean views by now, but I hoped it never grew old. It was the first chance at real privacy we’d had in nearly a month, and I didn’t want to give it up.

  “Depends if we want to keep our jobs.” Sebastian nuzzled my neck. “Right now? I’m ready to say let’s stay and hang the consequences.”

  I laughed, turning to face him. “You know how to make a girl feel special.”

  He kissed the tip of my nose. “As long as this woman feels special, I’m happy.” He eased himself up and checked the oversized diver’s watch on the nightstand. “We’ve still got a few hours.”

  “You know what I miss most about living on a cruise ship?” I asked, sitting up beside him.

  “Privacy?” His green eyes twinkled.

  “Well, yeah. I never realized sex needed so much scheduling,” I rolled my eyes.

  “Or that so much could be done in small, uncomfortable spaces,” he laughed, remembering some of the more creative hidey holes we’d found on the ship in which to be alone and intimate.

  “I miss cooking,” I said.

  He looked at me, not sure whether to laugh or take me seriously. “Cooking?”

  “Yeah. I didn’t think of that when I signed on. Of course, I only expected to be here for ten days.” I’d taken over as the yoga instructor on the Charisma about a month ago, in late April, when I lost my job and my fiancé in the same day, and when the previous yoga instructor had been murdered. “Back home, in Brooklyn? My roommates and I took turns cooking. The kitchen in the brownstone was wonderful — six-burner gas stove, granite counter tops, the whole nine yards. We ate outside in nice weather.”

  “So do we,” Sebastian pointed out. “By the pool.”

  “Not the same as preparing your own food, using tomatoes from the pots on the deck, and herbs from the windowsill.”

  Sebastian gathered me in his arms. “Are you having second thoughts about signing a six month contract?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “Sometimes, I’d just like to be able to go into the kitchen and scramble some eggs, or roast a chicken. The food here’s good and all, but I miss cooking, and that’s not something I thought about when I signed on.”

  “We’ll have a break in the routine next week,” Sebastian comforted me. “I don’t know if you’ll get to do any cooking, but we’re changing to the Bermuda route, and our first cruise out is the Treasure Explorium.” He looked at me. “You’ll like Bermuda. Lots of people running around with British accents.”

  “I don’t really understand the point of the cruise,” I said, ignoring his jibe. I glanced out the window again. It was so wonderful to be in a room with a window, instead of a dark closet under the waterline, which was the shipboard cabin I currently called home.

  “It’s about money, the way it always is,” said Sebastian.

  “But there’s a real team on the ship, isn’t there?” I protested. “Underwater archaeologists, other kinds of archaeologists? Researchers?”

  “The salvage operation ran out of money. This Alexander Walcott guy’s got a lot of money and agreed to step in and fund it again. Providing the salvage team agreed to work in tandem with a specialty cruise and he could sell a lot of tickets.” Sebastian shook his head. “They must have been desperate to keep working. Having a few hundred amateurs hit by treasure fever, not to mention the way it’s going to affect the staff, is going to slow down their work in a bad way.”

  “But if they do this cruise, put up with the hassle for
a single voyage on our part, Walcott’s going to keep funding them?”

  “That’s what it sounds like,” Sebastian shrugged. “They trade a week of frustration and possible theft of anything they find for the money to work when we’re gone.”

  “Sounds like a headache,” I grimaced. “For everyone. I wonder why the cruise line allowed it?”

  “Money,” Sebastian grinned. “Speaking of money, let’s get our money’s worth in the time we’ve got left in the room. It’s private, and we can make all the noise we want.” He reached for me.

  …

  This week’s New York turn-around day was different. The previous passengers, um, guests, were hurried off as fast as possible when we docked, although the staff was careful not to let them know they were rushed. Instead of the usual scurrying back to clean and prepare for the boarding guests, we had to work that around orientation times scheduled by department in the theatre. Without the lights and music of the show, the ribbon Mylar curtain onstage looked abandoned and on the tatty side.

  This was the briefing for the physical fitness, spa, and physical activity staff. I waved to Lindsey, who ran the rock-climbing wall. She sat with Hillary, one of the lifeguards, and one of the women who shared the bathroom with my roommate and me on our cabin level. I could have sat with them; Lindsey’s terrific, and Hillary and her colleagues are a lot of fun.

  Instead, I sat between my immediate boss, Hans Mueller, and Kiki, one of the ship’s massage therapists. It was the first time I’d seen Kiki since the man she was in love with tried to kill me on my first voyage out. She was in danger of being fired then, but I’d campaigned on her behalf for her to keep her job and she was still here. Yet she avoided me whenever possible. I determined to make it impossible today.

  “Hey, Hans,” I said, and he gave me the grunt I now knew meant approval. Hans was scary on a good day, with the big bone structure, muscular physique, and blond buzz cut. “Hi, Kiki.”