We start with an apology. I am very sorry that I could post my blog thingy over the weekend so I hope you have not all lost interest and have found a better blog to read like Watchingpaintdry.com or even worse another Cruise Directors blog. I learnt today that an esteemed colleague of mine on another line that will remain nameless has started one. I wish him the best of luck and hope it is very successful (no, I don’t, I hope nobody reads it, get your own idea).
So, this morning started early at 5:30am. We have people with very early flights so debarkation starts at 6:00am. Please remember that in Europe you are still required to check in 2 hours before flying.
Anyway, I began my announcements and by 9:30am 3000 guests were on their way home. It is always a strange feeling saying goodbye to a group of guests you have got to know. It is easy to treat each group the same but they never are. You have to change your timing, content and tone depending on the demographics of the audience.
There is a misconception as well that all Cruise Directors are handsome, Armani wearing models. Well as I can vouch, I am very ugly and Armani does not make XXXL.
I am sure though my fellow CD of another cruise line who has started a blog is extremely handsome .( I bet he looks like he has fallen out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.).
However, as a Cruise Director called Gary Hunter, who I consider the best in the business, once told me that “The microphone should not change your personality, it just makes your voice louder.” This is so true and even if I change my content and tone, I always try and be the same on the microphone as off it. I am sure my colleague from another line who is writing a blog now has a great personality (similar to the Lesser Spotted Mongolian Bog Pig.)
This brings me to another contentious subject. I know some of you have remarked that various “characters” have appeared on multiple cruises and you are all of course correct. I do this quite simply not for myself but for the guests. I want them to be famous and recognized and even though their “stage name” may be the same, each person is very different. I love improvising with guests and it is the part that I love so much about my job.
I read recently on Cruise Critic that one man “hated me” because I had been doing the “same act” for eleven years. Not true, it’s twelve and as long as I hear laughter and see people smile, I will keep making these people famous and allow them to be in the limelight. I also read on Cruise Critic that a Cruise Director on another line was doing most of my routines. I am happy that my shows are now on another line and wish that Cruise Director many great shows (get your own jokes or I will come over there and set Willy Banger on you.)
Anyway, back to today. At the beginning of my travel talk, I interview three random guests just to show “who is from where.” My first was an gentlemen called Eddie Fortuna. He was here with his 7 kids, 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He is Italian now living in Florida and for those people who do not speak Italian I should point out that Fortuna means RABBIT!
Boat drill was at 8:00pm tonight. We did it in Spanish as well as we have 400 guests from Mexico and the Dominican Republic. I just finished a little walk down promenade. There are not too many people about although the Casino is busy as is our Piano Bar.
Can I just answer a couple of posted questions.
Ed – You need a vacation mate – hurry up and get here and let’s talk:)
Jose – I promise you will see Stromboli; bring your camera.
Galadriena – A fellow python fan. We are the knights who say “Neeegh.”
Thais and Fabian – Please post ASAP your inlaws names and I will send them something special.
Lance & Ilda Gunberg from New Bedford, Massachusetts - I remember that cruise well. It was a tough and thank you for the wonderful words.
Thanks again for all the comments and I am sorry I can not reply to them all. We are in Napoli tomorrow and another early start for me.
Rather a random blog this one and even though I make fun, a Cruise Director really can make a difference to your cruise and I salute you all (even the one from another line who has stolen my jokes, my act,and now my blog; keep your hands of my wife!)
Look, friends — there are a few things you should remember before you comment. The space below is for you to post your comments about the post I've just written above. If it is something that's unrelated, please use the Ask John tab above. Now, while I may not be able to reply to your comment below, I do sit in my underpants almost every morning and read everything that is here. So feel free to comment on the comments and then if someone wants to comment on the comment to the comment then go ahead as well. Please be courteous unless the poster is French...........then you can say whatever you want.
John,
What can we say……that’s show biz!!
You must be great ( you are we’ve seen you! )
if they want to steal you material !
See you in May ! That is unless you get a new agent and a movie contract!
Kathy and Paul
Just keep them coming. Remember to that imitation (in this case copying your blog idea) is the HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY! This other CD must truly admire you and is in awe at your accomplishments, wants to be like you, so HE is unable to come up with an original idea and now using yours. We too are counting the down the days to May 13th – when we the “Mellow Yellows” will gather from the 4 corners of the earth onto the Lido deck to greet one another. – Join us it will be a blast!
John:
We sailed with you 15 years ago in June on the Ectasy, then later on the Destiny, and at least two others including one last year when there was talk about you retiring. You see, we’ve watched you grow over all these years (professionally of course).Glad to see that you popped back up and are still at it. Corny as you may be some times, you’re still the best Carnival has, none others compare. We will be embarking on our 14th Carnival Cruise April 15th (Valor), and our fondest memories were of those early years and your humor. Keep it up, and we hope to sail with you once again in the future.
Tim & Patti Kriebel
Oldsmar (Tampa Area), FL
John!
The information on getting AVT refund was wrong.
I went to the ATV and was told I/we had to have a
written voucher and a receipt before we would get our 17.5% refund. We shopped at GEORGES jewellery – Athens. We were not the only ones.
alandanita@cox.net
You are a hoot
We have plans to sail on the 8 day Eastern, Dec 2008. Will you be our director?
John they can steal your lines and some of routines, but they cant be half as good as you mate. During our last cruise on another line, me and my wife even said they are copying john, wow. Even the smiling face underwear that the other CD wears when he drops his pants during one of his shows, isnt as good, trust me.. So let him start a blog page.
I have have said many times in the past, you are a legend, the day you retire from carnival cruise lines will be a sad day for carnival and thousands of your fans. Guys like Baby Ruth, Michael Jordan cant be replaced and you are just like them super stars.
We have been on over 50 cruises since 1994 and we have seen good, average and bad cruise directors. But let me tell you one thing the great ones, like you add so much more to your cruise. The guy on CC does not know what he is talking about, he must not like to laugh and see people having fun. Because we have cruised with you like over 30 times and we laugh so hard at your routines and shows like it was the first time we have seen them.
You supply the best medicine to any guest anyone would want and that is the true meaning of fun and laughter and seeing people smile. If you ever feel bad because of what a hand full of people think compare to hundred of thousands of your fans I will put some black spiders in your bed.
See you on April 19, keep up the good work
John,
As one of your larger “Carnival Exclusive” travel agents, we travel aboard Carnival Ships all the time (Some months we spend more time on board than at home).
We get to meet and see many things on board, from private bridge tours, to getting to visit the engine room on the Imagination in January.
We also get to meet and become friends with MANY great ship crew, both officers and normal crew. Being in the cruise business, we always enjoy socializing with the crew, often more than with other guests.
As many sailings as we have been on (Platinum, several times over), we have never met you as of yet, but look forward to very much. The passengers that we have booked, on your sailings, have ALWAYS come back raving about your entertainment style.
We very much enjoy reading your blog and look forward to sailing with you in the near future.
Thanks for keeping “our” guests happy, and making it show that you really enjoy what you do.
John,
Keep the blog going buddy — myself and another co-worker enjoy your humor and the behind the scene feedback.
I’ll be on the Freedom in Dec. I hope you’ll still be onboard!
Mellow Yellows !
We’re on the May 13th cruise as well! We are flying in from LA, see you on the Lido Deck!
Big Ed, thanks for visiting my web site, I appreciate it !
John, jump in here at anytime , we’re waiting!!!!
Kathy and Paul
John,
Great to see your still with carnival, I sailed with you on the triumph on the very first cruise out of Miami. I had a blast and has Dick Wooden came back for a visit yet? God bless you and hope to see you soon on a Carnival Cruise. Will you be on the ship when its sailing in the caribbean? Godspeed and look forward to seeing you again!
-Chris
Long Beach, Ca
Dear John,
Two or three times per day we check the ship’s webcam and then read your blog, and just “follow” you guys : )
The inlaws/parents of my hubby are Han&Conny van ‘t Hooft, and today, Wednesday 28th, is Han’s birthday! Please send him a big hug! Thanx : )
Many greetings from us here in Germany (we live in Karlsruhe, but I am Brazilian and my hubby Dutch) and keep on blogging cuz we luv it!
Thais&Fabian
Hi, I enjoy your blog very much. My 76 year old mother is on your ship right now – that was our gift to her birthday. I am sure that she is enjoying herself but a little bit worried about her weak knee and about her not spending too much time in your casino! I am watching the webcam everyday and see that the weather is not so good, but I wish all of you a better weather.
Thansk again for this blog.
you read cruise critic? how lovely! i am shipshapegal and you will never find a word from me against you or carnival i promise! ha ha ha
see you in october!
smiles, s’dreams
Agree with the others, after 30 cruises I can say you are best!! We sailed with you 15 years ago on the Ectasy (I have a photo to prove it that I will bring with me to my Freedom cruise on June 6) We have change a bit .We are looking forward to spending more days with you at sea.
I am a member of Cruise Critic. It was neat to know that you do read our postings! I have never had the pleasure of sailing with you as my cruise director, BUT as to the fellow who posted he hated you, I don’t believe everything I read!
Julie ( jrmende63)
John,
Our first cruise was Dec. 8 2001 on the Triumph. I was scared to death about being on a ship that size but you told me not to worry that we would never be more then three miles from land.” straight down” I also remember Dick Wooden And you losing your trousers on stage. Joanne and I had so much fun on that cruise, we have done 11 cruises with Carnival since then, but never ran across you again until now. We are book on the M.S. Freedom on Dec 8,2007 and we are hoping you will be our Cruise Director again. Thank John and have a great year. Greg Kline & Joanne Koep
John
Barbara and I will be on the Oct 28 TA. We have been reading your blog recently and find it very helpful. After many searches we finally found how to ask you a question, but it was worth it. So, how will the entertainment and food menu be different from a shorter, say 7 day cruise? We also read that you are taking vacation in November. Will you be leaving before, after or during the TA. It would be a shame to miss your smiling face on the way across.