There are many supposed cures for jet lag. I have tried them all and I can promise you none of them work. I always feel like somebody has given me a wake up call with a baseball bat, my mouth feels like the inside of a basketball player’s shoe after overtime and I generate a smell that a skunk would be proud of.

So, why is it that after similar flights, 3,000 guests are fresh-looking and smelling like a rose on a summer day. As I walk around during embarkation, I see the excitement in the air as people wander around getting to know their brand new home for the next 12 days.

Someone once asked me if they should do a pre- or post-package in Rome. Personally, I would see Rome at the end of the cruise. Why not let the friendly crew serve and entertain you on that first night, just walk into your cabin unpack for 12 days and then at the end of the cruise you will be able to see the wonders of Rome without the feeling that is unique to long distance flying.

On the Carnival Freedom run to the eastern Mediterranean we now have a 24-hour stop in Rome at the end of the cruise. You can now use the ship as a hotel and take one of our exclusive tours and then come home to the ship rather than booking into a hotel….it is fantastic.

One of the questions I was asked on the web site was for a top FIVE list of must see places and things to do in Europe on our current Itinerary. After much thought, here is my personal list.

1. Visit the Vatican by taking our unique, exclusive behind the scenes tour – it is one of a kind, and regardless of your beliefs, will leave you speechless.
2. Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia – Islam and Christianity living together side by side in this architectural masterpiece. (Here’s a picture of the skyline of Istanbul)
3. Ephesus – walking the path of emperors. (This is my wife Heidi at Ephesus)
4. Sorrento, Pompeii and Capri – the three must-see places while the Freedom is in Naples.
5. The Leaning Tower of Pisa and Miracle Square

Now, I did not include any food in that list so I will add my top 5 “must-EAT” items sometime soon.

We are currently sailing to Naples. 3,023 guests are onboard and the weather in Naples tomorrow is expected to be 68 degrees and sunny. Heidi has just made me a cup of tea and 18,000 people have read my new blog on the Freedom web site. I am truly blessed to have found a job that allows me to entertain and now allows me to share my experiences in public.

I want to say a special hello to all the people who have added comments. I am sorry that time does not allow me to write to you all but please know I read every single one. If anyone does cruise with me in the future, please drop me a line at the Information Desk saying you read this site and I will send you a little thank you gift for doing so.

Now it is 10:50 pm. I have two hours of paper work in front of me and then a 7 am start tomorrow. I am tired, but you know what, I do not care. Why? Because 18,000 people read my site, I may not be rich, I may look like someone who has run a 100-yard sprint in a 90-yard gym, but tonight, I feel fantastic.

Below are some additional pictures I took during the inaugural cruise. One is of me during at tour of Pergamum and the other is one of my favorite signs that I saw in Turkey. (Click on the images to view them in a larger format.)

I LOVE BLOGGING!GOODNIGHT – SLEEP WELL

It is 6 am and I am sitting here typing between announcements for the debarkation process in Civitavechia. The first cruise has flown by and now we start our regular 12-day Mediterranean & Greek Isles cruise program calling at ports in Greece, Turkey and Italy. I am particularly looking forward to Istanbul, which is a city that really feels vibrant and still has mysterious qualities that give it a certain edge.

This cruise went well. You only really know if what you have planned is going to work until you put 3,000 guests onboard. It is only then that you can see the traffic flow and what works and what does not. Overall though, it does appear that the guests had a great time. Although we need to change a few small things, I think everyone left happy.

As usual, I was asked some great questions throughout the cruise, some of which were unforgettable. Yesterday while walking off the ship in Naples, Heidi and I were stopped by a guest who was very upset because the local shops refused to take U.S. dollars. I explained that in Europe the euro was the accepted currency but this lady was adamant that the dollar is accepted all over the world. (Hope she is not reading this ).

One of the hardest things about working on a cruise ship is, of course, being away from your family. I am sure all of the 1,200 crew feel the same emotions in this regard. I was speaking to a housekeeping assistant who is on his first contract. His name is Alex and he is from Russia. He was telling me that he is able to support both his parents by working on the ship and also help his young brother through school. He has a degree in civil engineering but by working here on the ship he is able to earn more money – not for himself, but for his family. This is not uncommon and often the reason so many of our crew are here. I salute them all for their hard work and dedication to their families.

Talking of the dining room, I want to welcome back maitre d’ Ken Byrne. Ken was with us for many years and left in 2005 for some time at home. He is back now and I hope some of you will have him as your host in the dining room when you cruise. He is as warm-hearted a man as you will ever meet and also a lover of big band music. You will be treated to some great songs by him during your dinner. It is great to have him back as he really is one of a kind.

It is now 8:30 am and we are nearly done with our debarkation. So, it is one last announcement for me and then a staff meeting before which I had better put some clothes on

I’ve included some pictures below of some of the sights we’ve seen. (Click on the picture to see it in a larger version as well as location information.)