It was sweet sailing for Kodiak High School Students onboard the Royal Carribean cruise ship Vision of the Sea.

During a week in sunny Mexican waters, the KHS dance team and jazz band entertained the ship’s passengers, getting a taste of professional life under luxurious conditions. While indulging in unlimited supplies of ice cream and gourmet food, the students put on mutliple shows featuring some numbers with the dancers and musicians teaming up.

The taste of life as working performers taught them a few things.

“We learned that we don’t want to work on a cruise boat,” trumpeter Jordan Rodgers said. But others disagreed, noting the free rooms and great food make up for low wages.

Rodgers also pointed out how playing at sea requires performers to rise to new challenges.

“The boat was rocking, so you have to adapt quickly,” she said.

And adapt they did. One pleased [‘puypassenger told KHS music director Dale Lhotka, “You guys are the ones that made this trip.”

Some of the shows were in the ship’s theater, calling for gowns and tuxedos, but one of the most fun performances was an informal poolside gig.

“I was seasick for the third performance and it was the best I played,” said student Alastair Long.

The students shared entertainment duties with professional acts including The Coasters and others they came to admire.

“The reggae band was awesome,” percussionist Jackson Bolger said. “And the house band was good, too. We liked them.”

Chaperone Shawn Finn’s daughters Amy and Marie both went on the trip, one in the band and one with the dance team. He praised the organizational skills of dance coach Joy Green and Lhotka. The students attended nightly meetings to plan the next days’ outings and activities.

“We got a lot of compliments from the crew and passengers on how well-behaved the kids were,” said Finn, who took about 700 photos of the trip.

On shore, the Kodiakans enjoyed other new experiences. Many students said getting to haggle with vendors over the price of souvenirs was a highlight.

Lhotka noted that support from the Kodiak community, relatives, and local leaders including school district superintendant Betty Walters made the trip possilble.