Good Day to you from the good ship Freedom.
It is 11:40pm local time and I just returned from the show. Before I start with my story of the day let me answer one or two questions that have been left on the blog thingy.
CSPICE – I have passed your words of kindness onto everyone here who knows you and they return theirs to you. I know what you mean about forgetting that you are not onboard a ship. Many times I have said good morning to people while walking down a street as if I was on the ship still.
MISSINGTHESMOKEFREEPARADISE – I know a lot of people feel the same way but I am happy to tell you that there are many more smoke free areas on our ships than ever before. The only lounges where smoking is allowed are the dance club, casino bar and piano bar with cigar smoking only allowed in the cigar bar itself. The Swingtime lounge where John and Diane play is also NON SMOKING you will be happy to hear. See you soon and please keep reading the blog.
Mary and Randy – Welcome to the Carnival family. I will see you in December and I promise you an unforgettable time onboard. Make sure you say hi.
Quentintodger - I am not sure what you mean by docking in an Asian Port. Carnival I am sure is looking at docking its vessels all over the world one day. Who would have ever thought we would be in Europe but here we are. I hope if we do that you are aboard.By the way, your online name Quentintodger is very strange. Are you on the witness protection program or are you inside a Secret Agent Society?
Today we were docked by 9:00am in Istanbul, Turkey. The alarm was set for 7:30am but for some reason I woke at 6:00am and couldn’t get back to sleep. It’s sad to say but routine has taken over my mornings when the first thing I do is check e-mails. We should kiss our loved ones, stretch, make coffee, exercise, walk the dog, etc., but because my cabin and office are adjoined what’s the first thing I do – check e-mail. E-mail has changed the way we communicate everywhere and not always for the better. I find myself emailing department heads who live next door to me on the ship . I am determined to stop this and start a brand new exciting concept in communication called “TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER.”
Anyway, I will return to the subject of e mail in a moment. Today was the worst weather we have had since we started cruising. It rained on and off all day. I went to the area of Istanbul where all the tours drop their guests off for shopping. I spoke to many passengers all of which were in good spirits. I want to say a big hello to some young people who read this blog everyday who are from Canada. I forgot your names but I do remember the name of your 10 month old daughter Chloe. She is our youngest guest onboard and is so beautiful. It was nice to talk to you both and I hope you continue to have a great cruise and hopefully make Chloe a baby brother!
The carpet industry is huge in Turkey and most of our tours feature a 20 minute carpet education where the art of making these amazing coverings are shown up close. The art of the weave has not changed in hundreds of years and is fascinating to see.
I was with Heidi and we decided to have a traditional Turkish Shish Kebab for lunch. She was very happy for me to eat this spicy delight then,but as I write this blog here happiness has changed to a look of disgust and a hunt for the air freshener.
So,here is a tip for guests sailing on the Freedom going to Istanbul. A highlight: sailing away from Istanbul past the illuminated Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia and hearing the call for prayers is a must not miss event.
Back to e-mail. The positives of course out way the negatives and this definitely applies to the crew. Did you know that Carnival has a Crew Internet service onboard all of our ships. This enables our crew to stay in constant contact with their families, friends, girlfriends and wives (obviously being careful if they have both) and has become such a great way for them to stay in touch. Take my fantastic Cabin Steward Spongee who is from Thailand. He e-mails his brother who is a Trainee Commander in the Thai Navy every day as telephoning is never possible. Then there is me. Now I am about to embarrass my Mum and Dad but hey, it won’t be the first time. I ask my Mum and Dad to send me a photo of my Mum’s home cooking every day. It brings a smile to my face and makes me feel closer to home. So, here is today’s photo of my Dad eating Lamb Chops, Cauliflower Cheese, Chips (that’s French Fries to my American Bloggers),Grilled Tomatoes (That’s Tomatoes to my American Bloggers 
) and he is adding mint sauce! If anyone of the now 78,005 bloggers want to pop round for dinner you are most welcome.
To sum up then, e-mail is a pain, causes extra work, becomes the first thing we check in the mornings and if we have one of those blueberry things it can take over our lives completely. However, e-mail has allowed the crew aboard the good ship Freedom to say I Love You to people thousands of miles away, allowed Spongee to speak to his Trainee Commander Brother on a navy boat in Thailand and allowed me to show you that my Mum’s cooking is the best in the world !
Time for bed, I have to pop next door and talk to the Hotel Director about tomorrow’s special functions………….actually, can’t be bothered to get up, I’ll send him an email instead.
Goodnight bloggers
Your friend
John
Filed under: Tales from the Ship | Tagged: Tales from the Ship
John -
Thanks for the kind response. I am pleased to hear that we will be able to enjoy the beautiful music of two of the nicest people on the seven seas (not to exclude the thousands of other nicest people we have met on our six Carnival cruises).
Now, if I can only get two weeks off during budget season.
tell your mum the dinner looks wonderful and tell heidi that there is a spray called neutralizer. ha ha ha…. (evil)spermofthedevil.hell! you are a stitch. see you in october for TWENTY SIX DAYS!!!!!
smiles, s’dreams
That’s Lamb Chops!
….to you (us) American Bloggers!! Ha! Got any more, looks yummy!
You are so right about the internet and how addictive it is. It’s also amazing!!I find old friends that I’ve worked with from all parts of the world. That’s one of the reasons I have my web site and a page dedicated to old pals with current photos of them and their families. I’ve even put together a small reunion dinner for dancers I had worked with over 35 yrs ago! We toured the country with Disney On Parade. Now it’s a skating show called Disney on Ice. It was great seeing everybody.
Yes, the crew on Carnival has always been pleasant and very helpful, that’s why we keep coming back !!!
Kathy and Paul
John – what a great idea getting pictures of the home made meals you’re missing.!
Gay and I got our Carnival DVD today, along with a new brochure. Part of the DVD is dedicated to Joe Farcus, and it got me to thinking. As someone who has been on every class of Carnival ship (if not every individual ship), if you had a chance to chat with Joe what would you tell him was his greatest triumph (pun intended) and his biggest “oops” in designing the fleet.
John, your answer to “Mary and Randy” saying “December” got me one month closer to me January 26, 2008 cruise. Still waiting to see if you will still be CD on the FREEDOM then. When you hit 100,000 bloggers CARNIVAL will have to have a cruise for “JOHN HEALD” registered bloggers ONLY cruise.
Your “a highlight” statements about the sites upon leaving Istanbul will be having your friend calling you the “SPERM OF SATAN” again. ROFLOL. The world would be a better place if the UNITED NATIONS had all their meetings on a CARNIVAL cruise ship. On a cruise we are all just CRUISERS enjoying each other. We enjoy when we dine at a large table being able to meet cruisers from all over.
I also like big tables because I just don’t fit in a booth.
“BIG” Ed, a fellow XXXXLer
John, nice blog.I look forward to the Conquest in August with my family.
Hopefully the CD is as receptive as you are.I too miss the nonsmoking Paradise
that ship was the best cruise I’ve ever
taken, they should bring it back (even
if it’s a fantasy class ship) and move it
throughout the year.
Good morning John. Your blog continues to intrigue and move me closer to reserving for October 2008. Question: do you find that many of your guests come a few days earlier into Rome to see the sights or is their preference to extend their stay?
Ciao!
W A W W
Hola John!!
We were just showing my 17 year old daughter the video of our cruise on the Ectasy 15 years ago, so she could see how funny you are.She has now very high expectations about you. She told us that she hopes you continue to be that funny.JA! We told her that you are now almost a legend.But on that particular cruise there was an entertainer with you, he was extremely funny as a nerd his name is Michael Andrew. What became of him?? We are 8 puertorricans sailing with you on June 6 and very much looking forward to it.We are bringing a photo we took with you in that cruise we were much younger the three of us. I remember we are almost the same age.We cant wait!!
Hi John,
Just a quick note about how much I enjoyed the Inaugural sailing of Freedom. Wish I was still on the ship.
I posted a lot of pictures during the cruise of the ship, ports, etc. Even maitre d’ Ken.
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/free07/free07.htm
Okay, LOVED the photo of Dad having his home-cooked meal. (Are you certain that is your father and not an older brother, Jon? Looks as though he’s kept fit on Mom’s home cooking!)
While we Americans sometimes need a bit of translation for English menus, it’s always fun to find and try something different and just speculate on how the differences came about! I’d heard of Bubble and Squeak and Shepherd’s Pie, and the first and only time I’ve had Fried Bread was in England….but imagine my surprise to find Spotted Dick on a menu!!
When you posted the photo of the Freedom sailing into Istanbul I knew that we would want to be able to see that view….now I’m just as anxious to be able to see it as we leave!
Terri
Hi John
I have been following your blog with great interest as my wife and I, together with 4 other couples will be cruising with you on April 19th. We check the weather daily on the webcams and are hoping that it will be a little warmer 18 days from now!
This will be our 3rd Carnival Cruise in 16 months are expecting it to be the best.
We are Brits transplanted in Canada and are hoping that your dining room serves lamb just like your Mum’s.
Perhaps you could do a write up on the food on FREEDOM. Just to wet our appetite.
Can’t wait to be on board. See you soon.
Keep on Blogging!
Richard and Merrilyn
John,
I am really enjoying your daily posts and will be on Freedom’s May 1st cruise. I just today realized that we will be on Freedom’s first Western Mediterranean cruise. How exciting is that?
Richard
Hi John,
We are from Sydney Australia and travelling on Freedom 29 August 07. Our first with Carnival and hopefully not the last. Have been reading your blog for the last 2 weeks. I usually get home from work at midnight and you have just posted so that’s the first thing I do. We can’t wait to meet you.
Brad and Debbie Rowe
John, I can finally admit it. I am addicted to your blog! I am looking for it at home, when I am at work, anytime of the day or night (I work rotating shifts). This is the best thing that Carnival has done to open up the world to all those travellers who have never been on a cruise before or seen the world. No internet site can do what you are doing for us. My wife and I and a group of friends and new cruisers will be with you on the last cruise before the transatlantic in October. Your daily descriptions and pictures are awesome! We feel like we are cruiseing vicariously through these blogs. I was in Italy as a young teen and I cannot wait to return with everyone in October but most of all, this cruise will be our third time with you at the helm of the entertainment on board ship. My hat’s off to you and everyone at Carnival and all those on the Carnival Freedom for bringing us the world in this way. Bravo! Bravo!
Hi John,
How often do you change the format of the shows?
See you on the 13th May
Peter and Glennis (New Zealand)
John, since day one the aft web cam has been listing to port. Can you have somebody rotate the camara a little bit my neck is getting sore tilting to see the picture.
Dear John,
My husband and I were on the Freedom March 14,2007. We had the time of our lives. We were on your morning show, you called our room after you read a letter I sent you about our 30th Anniversary. My husband’s name is Howard and we met when I was 14 years old. You are so funny you made me laugh all the time. Thanks for a great cruise.
Regina and Howard Broad
Dear John,
We are so looking forward to our Oct. 4th cruise on the Freedom. This will be our second cruise as we tried a shorter one on the Fascination last Nov. to see if we liked the experience. We loved it! Now we will celebrate Paul’s 70th on 10/12 with you and perhaps 3000 of our newest and closest friends! Your website makes it all seem real. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We look forward to meeting you in Oct. Laura
we had 50 euro stolen from our cabin and carnival never compensated us for anything ,not even giving on board credit, security came and searched our cabinand found nothing.it turned out the steward through away our receipts along with 50 euros. but carnival wouldnt do nothing to fix or resolve this situation.so il will notified corporate office in florida to resolve the situation.
Just wanted to tell you that I work in IT, and discovering cruising was the best thing that ever happened to me. When we first cruised with you on Destiny in 1997, there was no email on the ships, and phone rates were something like $12 per minute. I simply told my boss that I would NOT be checking email or voicemail on my vacation. For the first time ever in my career, I found it was actually possible to have a restful vacation in only 7 days. Ten years later, I still do not check email or voicemail from the ships. Of course, that means there will be a lot piled up when I return
I just got back from three weeks in Ireland and had over 1100 emails. I can definitely relate to your frustration. It’s taken me two weeks to catch up–which is how I finally found this blog. I’m glad that you take the time to blog, but hope you don’t let it take over your life.
Picking Out the right first dance can be tricky, why not have a live band play for you..