Good Morning Blogsters.Let’s start with the usual Q and A results.
LINDA AND KEN – Wow, 24 days, that is going to be some vacation. Here are some photos of the Freedom in Venice to whet your appetite a bit. Thanks for the kind words about the blog and I promise to keep going as long as I can.
SEWING NUT (great blog name) – Are you sewing right now? Can you knit me a thong? I am sorry but the private tour of the Vatican is not running. We can only do this tour when the Pope is not in residence. His Holiness does read this blog, however, so I ask him kindly to allow reconsider. If not, there are many other great tours that take in the Vatican. I look forward to sharing your anniversary with you. The Internet Café charges 75 cents a minute……do they have Internet in CanadaBy the way, I love Tim Hortons – hint, hint.
LYNNA & MIKE – Thak you firstly for your loyalty to Carnival Cruse Lines. Ah yes, my old mate Sweaty Pete. His real name is Peter Gibbs and he was and still is a great friend. I started him on cigars as I have many other cruise directors and what a great tradition you have of the men sharing some quality time with a good cigar. Peter is now in Africa working for a charity organization and we all miss him here. He was a great character. Please give my best to the cruise director on the Liberty, TODD, who is brilliant and will make your cruise one to remember. Hope to see you soon and thanks for reading the blog thingy.
JANA’S MUM – I am not surprised you miss her, Jana (one of our musicians) is a special girl and I am looking after her for you. Thank you for your kind words about John’s passing. Take care and please keep reading.
MARY AND RANDY – Glad you liked the cat story although the cat was not the only bad tempered animal in that releationship! Thank you for your sincere words for Joanne. She is finally flying home to Baltimore today and now has to arrange the funeral, etc. Please continue to pray for her.
JO – There are four dinner seatings in the regular dining rooms at:
5:45 pm
6:15 pm
8 pm
8:30 pm
The Supper Club is open every night except the first night and I think any night is special there. Try the porterhouse – mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
HYACINTH 1 – Hello mate. A bag of cheese and onion will be wonderful. Heidi is partial to Ready Brek!! See you soon and I will have a chin wag.
MR PETE – Sorry the link does not work, can someone else tell me if they can open it. I will post again on the next blog for you.
TOM PINKSTON – You had every right to be mad Tom. We had 2,500 people on tour and the lines were ridiculous. Most of it was our fault although we did have a group of guests (you know who I mean) that would not listen and where one went, 400 followed. I take full responsibilty for the lines and although, it will not help you, I promise that we will do better and have learned by our mistakes. Thank you for your patience and I am sorry we let you down. See you next time and best to your family.
MINNIE AND MICKY DUCK – Here is a link to the web cams, hope it works for you and see you very soon. www.mediacons.it/infocarnival
BOB – A man after my own heart. I can only guest that the Deck 3 bathrooms were designed by a very small man or by a lady who does not understand that we bigger men do not fit. One size does not fit all. Seriously, I have brought this up with the powers that be and hopefully we will be changing it soon. Happy peeing until then:)
As for the canolis, they are a typical Sicilian delight and the best ones are in my opinion in Taromina. Love the idea about throwing the towels in the pool.
KAREN – Thanks for discovering the blog thingy.I have had the Web site for a few weeks, that’s all. I am glad your husband remembers me and I still love performing the bedtime story. The book……well that’s going to be written one day but I think it will be best to write that when I am retired and living in a land far, far away. I hope we are lucky enough to sail with each other again soon.
BIG ED – The idea is that we sit in a boot, get stuck, and have to stay there for all four of the dinner sittings:) Love your site and yes, let’s get together onboard and walk down the corridor side by side! Thanks for the congrats on 100,000 mate.
PATRICK – I am still in the dog house after taping over the Disgusting Housewives thing so I tried the romantic touch again tonight by not leaving my underwear on the floor and putting them in the basket myself……and…………….nothing. Looks like I may have to go to plan B and move to buying her chocolate! The Nude Cruise was organized and chartered by a company – the name escapes me at the moment but I will check and let you know.
LINDA AND THE HANDYMAN – Bring you tool box mate, we need help with making the toilet booths bigger (see above). I will indeed take photos of the restaurant and post a menu or two for you.I will save the story of Heidi and I meeting for another blog although that’s if we are still together now I have recorded over her Deranged Housewives thing. See you for Thanksgiving.
ESSEXMAN – Ah yes, a nude Klingon should do the trick. Save a seat and be attacked by a nude Klingon who if you do not listen will kick you in the Vulcans – ouch. I shall miss old Tarquin who now swims with the Fish and Chips.
KATHY AND PAUL – It was where the nudists carried their Sail and Sign Card that worried me! See you soon.
JIM AND PEG – let me get back to you. You are correct — I should post the benefits of being a Platinum guest of Carnival. I hope to meet you in person one day.
Someone upstairs decided, right, enough of the cold weather let’s turn up the heat. The result was a beautiful day in Rhodes with our highest temperatures yet. Everyone was in shorts and T-shirts and it all meant that it was a fantastic day for all the guests. The old town must have been doing a roaring trade in the bars, restaraunts and shops and I am sure as always the Carnival brand was enhancing the local economy.After tour distribution Heidi and I went for an afternoon walk. The birds were singing, the sun was shining, the blue water of the Meditteranean was sparkling like Angelina Jolie’s smile and Heidi had not mentioned that Dangerous Howives tape for nearly 10 minutes. It was, a Perfect Day when suddenly I heard “JOHN, JOHN, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU “. Now, this is one of the prices you pay for being a cruise director. Even off the ship you must always be available and hospitable to the guests as your social and working life are one in the same.
So, as this lady screamed my name from the other side of the road I thought this will just be another guests who wants to say hello or has a question………WRONG
I crossed the road and met this lady who greated me with these words. “Oh John, I can help you, I really can.” I must have looked bemused and a lttle unsure where she was going with this as I asked how she could help me – which was a big mistake. “I can sell you a wonderful brand of teas that can help you lose weight.”
I was a little taken aback by this and then she continued without pausing, “It looks like you can do with losing.” She then studied me looking up and down as though I was a Michelangelo sculpture. And after a pause of what felt like hours she continued “Mmmmmm, about 35 pounds ). Then the sales pitch started before I could even get a word in and I stood there nodding and holding my stomach in as much as I could. She talked about how she had helped many people and the global company she worked for was the leader in the field.
I could feel Heidi’s body heat rising next to me and thought any minute she may just explode but being the wonderful person she is, she remained silent. Eventually the lady said the funniest words of the day “Well, nice talking to you.” I had not said a word for over five minutes!She said she would leave some samples for me at the front desk with her cabin number and we could discuss a plan that was right for me. With that, she walked away.
I stood there and Heidi and I just looked at each other. At first I was angry that people have the nerve to stop you and discuss private and personal things as though they have known you for years. Then as Heidi walked on to town we both began to laugh about how the lady herself needed help from the “fashion police” (I hope she does not read this blog!)
We had a wonderful lunch of a typical Greek gyro (spicy lamb) on Pita bread. I took a few photos with some great guests including a group from Sri Lanka who were very kind and I know have been reading this blog thingy.
When I got back to the vessel I found that indeed “Mrs. Weight Loss” had indeed left seven different packages of teas at the desk, her cabin number and a brochure explaing that for only $59 I could lose 20 pounds in 30 days.
Now, being a Brit, I love tea so I though what the heck and tried the Green Mint and later the Apple and Rose. Both were OK although a they smelled a bit strange. Anyway, time to get ready for the show and I will be back later (I have no idea why I always write that as though I am writing in real time – I am weird ).
The show was great tonight and my encouragement to have guests walk the decks at night seems to have worked as Heidi and I saw many doing it tonight. As the weather was so nice the evening remained mild and a lot of guests weere watching the late night movie on Carnival’s Seaside Theatre big screen as we were showing “Master and Commander” which looks fantastic on the huge screen.
As it has been a strange day I am going to leave you with a personal note. Heidi and I had to cut our walk on deck short as I got a very sudden call of nature. I had to run (OK, walk very fast ) to the cabin.
Heidi said it was the gyro I had for lunch. Personally, I think it was the bloody tea……………………no wonder you lose weight!
Goodnight
Your friends
John and Heidi
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.
Hi,
I’m the girl that met her hubby on Carnival and got married on Carnival too. We are looking forward to a post baby cruise in Feb, 2008.
Just a quick question. On the Freedom, the Mehi Sushi Bar, is that like the coffee bars in that everything is extra money or is the sushi free and just the Sake cost extra? Can you please explain in detail all the places we can get sushi on board and if it is extra?
Thanks so much
Thanks in advance
Yup. Bet it was the tea.
Errrr….at least I hope so. I’ve never had a gyro before and I have it on my “to do” list…I don’t want my “to do” list becoming my “to go” list!
Terri
John and Heidi…
We’ll never look at our Sail and Sign cards the same way again !!!!!
Kathy and Paul
I had no problem opening the Supper Club menu. I was even able to print it. Do you have excursions that sell out? Do you suggest booking on line prior to the cruise or waiting till we are on board?
John,
I love your blog, read it every day, and commend you for writing as often as you do.
We are sailing with you on your July 24th cruise (family of 5 plus loads of friends and their families). This is my first cruise and after reading your thoughts am sure that it will be a blast!
To reply to an old blog of your thoughts of 9/11… My firm was the largest tenant of the WTC and I traveled there often for meetings, etc. The day of the attack, I seriously didn’t know if the firm would survive. Well, we lost 11 wonderful people that fateful day but the firm survived and prospered. However, to this day and many trips back to New York – I have never been able to visit ground zero. Weird, but I am sure a feeling also shared by many other people.
Keep your blog coming and I’m looking forward to buying you a drink on board!
John,
Great story – multilevel marketing never sleeps (or vacations apparently).
Just checked the WordPress stats and you’re 100 times better than the average. In March, there were 184 Million views of 105,000 blogs – which would work out to 58 views daily on average. Mere pikers compared to your 5,000 bloggers.
For your guest Linda and the Handyman, here is a link to Freedom menus http://www.zydecocruiser.com/free07/menus.htm
You may want to refer bloggers to cruisecritic – many of the questions are answered there.
John and Michele
Sailing August 17, 2007
Wow – I hope that tea doesn’t find it’s way into the Lido as a cover for the usual brand. That could be a great candid camera moment!
Hearbalife tea I bet John. My wife laughs at me when I have to make a run for the bathroom. It happends in the strangest place’s. Keep up the blog, I read it everyday.
John,
I envy you guys with how warm it is getting! We just had about 4 inches of snow here in Ohio and its APRIL… seriously… It just makes me look more forward to the cruise in June
I’m really excited for the cruise and spending time in Italy. We just met a pizza guy in a local shop in my town who is from Naples. He was telling us we needed to spend more than a day there, but we also really needed to get some pizza (which we plan on).
Also, I was wondering, does carnival do anything special for people celebrating Honeymoons? Since this will be our Honeymoon cruise I was wondering if I should get something for my fiance and surprise him…
Anyway, thanks so much for sharing your day with us… and Heidi must have some resolve for not punching the lady in the face (I would’ve if it was me and my fiance… but I’m over aggressive
~Sarah
John, I don’t think we will be allowed on the same side of the ship at the same time. I have already been told when you are on stage at the bow of the ship I must be away aft.
The direct link to the webcam in todays blog still don’t work. Bloggers, If you want to see all Carnivals web cams just go to my site. They are listed on the right under BLOGROLLS.
“BIG” Ed
PS. Making a list of John Heald’s bloggers cruising January 26, 2008. Add your info to the list. Just click on BIG ED at the top and it will take you to my site.
Hey John, been down to Tracey’s for a week so just saw your comments about the Legend and Shanaz trying to tackle you as you headed to the stage with Mr Ariston. I have tears in my eyes as I can just picture that happening and I think you are lucky because I would put my money on Shanaz in a one on one! Yes I know about Ralph as we e-mail quite often and he is deserving and has a following. Hope to see you soon buddy and a big hug to Heidi!
Robocop
John, Love this blog thingy. Truly enjoy reading you every day. We are sailing on The Freedom January 12, 2008. This will not be our first cruise, but, our first Carnival cruise. We will be sailing with a small group of friends. My husband and I can’t wait to try Carnival and to meet you and your wife. Keep up the great work and stay away from the tea!
Lori
John I have been following your blog since you started and have been counting down the days until my May 1st sailing. This will be my first cruise and I cannot wait. I was also excited to hear you were our cruise director after watching you on a friend’s video of their cruise in the fall. You had me laughing then and I’m sure I’ll be laughing in May. I will keep reading until I leave, and looking forward to seeing you on board.
Hiya John,
Lovin’ your blog! It gives me a little taste of all I have to look forward to on my sailing in May. I actually have a question about the Rome excursions… We want to do Rome at its Best, but it finishes at 5:30pm or so and we figured that since it is our last night and all we might want to really “live it up” in Rome. We want to spend as much time as we can really taking it all in since we are not lucky enough to be staying in Rome before of after the cruise. Anyway, we figure if we stay behind to enjoy Rome at night (none of us have ever been) that we will have to find our own way back to the ship, which might cost an arm and a leg. I was wondering if it is at all possible to catch a ride back at a later time with another excursion or anything like that. We don’t actually want to book another excursion because we want to have the chance to explore on our own. Well, I hope you can help, have a good night,
SaraJane
John
Can I ask a big favour and take you up on your kind offer to book the supper club for us (3) when we cruise with ‘freedom’ on 17th August. any ‘sea day’ will do.
Where would we all be with out this blog thingy! It is truly amazing that you are reaching thousands of people all over the world and giving us so much pleasure, just think, some of us still have the cruise to come as well!!
Best wishes to you and Heidi.
Bill and sue
Hi John
Sharon here again – Make you a deal – I’ll bring you a couple of Tim Hortons coffee packet (since it will be cold coffee if I bring you an actual cup from Toronto) to make up to you the couple of strange guests you have had to deal with. Since I haven’t heard from you personally about the Mellow Yellow meet and greet (I don’t give up do I) I’ll bring the packets to the meet and greet – all you have to do is show up. Deal!!!!! Also if you could put in a good word at Shore tour desk, since I’m going to have to line up so our group the M/Y can all be together I’d really appreciate that (not part of the coffee deal – so don’t worry if you can’t)
John,
Hey, I may be able to help you. No, it is not another tea ( I am totally sure it was the tea!), I don’t know how fast is the internet connection in the Freedom but, you can tell Heidi that after a lot of research you found a place where she can watch as many “Desperate Housewives” episodes as she pleases, just follow this link : http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/
Hopefully that will take you “out of the doghouse”.
We will be on the May 1st cruise with you; it will be our first cruise. Looking forward to it. Hope to see you then…
Daniel and Marina
Hi John, Thanks for more pix, love them! Mike is ready with his toolbox! HA! He would LOVE to stow away and not come home! HA! HA! We both still work but will retire in the next 3-5 years so who knows, we might do back to back cruises by then! IF we can afford it in retirement! Keep up the BLOG for as long as possible, everyone LOVES it! One day do a blog on “How you and Heidi met” etc. ok? You are everyone’s FAVORITE cruise director by far! You are so lucky to be able to travel the world as a cruise director, and Heidi too, what is her position with Carnival, or does she just travel with you? Are the movies first run movies on the Big Screen on the Freedom? Well, I will say Goodnight to you now, I realize it is the middle of the night for you but it is only 7:30pm in Florida. Your friends, Linda & the Handyman (Mike) PS Thanks to Michele for the Freedom menu, I just downloaded it. Great!
John, having tried every diet known to mankind, and being employed in health services, I KNEW instinctively how your story was going to end. It wasn’t the gyro mate…it was the tea (recall the ending scene from Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, wherein Mr. Death pays the Americans a visit and they then proceed to debate with him what exactly killed them off – I can hear Mr. D saying “shut up…you’re dead now”. I digress…finally one of them deducts “It was the mouuse.” Well my friend…as soon as I heard about your nature “call” I too proclaimed “it was the tea.”)
Be that as it may…keep up the good work. I, like many of my fellow bloggers, truly look forward to your views of the day gone past. My pattern now is to come home from work, eat dinner, make myself a hot cup of tea and come to this electronic “fence” to hear how your day has gone. My day is not as interesting as yours however yesterday, while walking through the garment district in Manhattan, I saw two fellows wheeling two huge racks of beautiful mink coats down the street. And with a bit of luck, tomorrow I’ll catch the elephants being walked about (the circus is in town) during lunch. And today I caught a glimpse of a beautiful cruise ship sailing down the Hudson to parts unknown…you know, my days aren’t too bad either yet my preference would still be to be onboard with you and yours. Be well my cyber friend…and stay away from the “special” tea. It will only dehydrate you (if I read correctly between the lines) and, quite frankly, I think you’re fine just the way you are (and I would bet your lovely wife does as well!).
Ciao,
W A W W
Hi John,
I have been hooked on your blogs since the very beginning. Sorry to hear about this fashion nightmare making random suggestions. GEEZ!
Anyway, I wanted to thank you for lighting up our days with your blog. I love your sense of humor and your writing style. I don’t even bother reading the news anymore. I rather know whats happening on the Freedom.
I will be sailing on the Freedom on August 17th with my husband. We’ve been planning this vacation for over a year. When I say planning, I mean planning. We have shopping list for every port of call, “must do” lists, and have a schedule for our activities on the ship. Talking about activities….one particular activity we are looking forward to is…..well, let’s just say we’re planning for our first baby.
Once again, thanks for being so great and writing so much. I’m looking forward to seeing you in person.
See you in August!
Dear John
It a deal but you have to tell me what a Monte Cristo is frist Im setting here and hearing about all the sites and im hooked. I have desided that for our 35 wedding annversary. That we will take a trip to the med.that give me two years to save for it. my wife has seen most of it once when we were station there when we were in the army.234 day and counting till our trip in Dec going nut waiting.
can you tell me when they planing being back the trapshooting .I also saw the Freedom has now a Mini Golf Course. What other new thing is Carnval coming up with for it Guest. Looking to meet you and chat God Bless the USA and those who defend our Freedom
Fangclaw aka Dave and Diana
John,
Thank you for giving me the correct web site for the web cam. Now not can I only read what is going on about the ship, but I can see. Thanks for following through. Also, thanks for telling me about the masked parade onboard while in Venice. 40 days until we arrive in Rome for our pre-cruise….but who’s counting?
Minnie
john we have been enjoying your blog so much. we last saw you on your last cruise on the glory, and are so happy to see you again. we too are mello yellows, but we are true greeks so let us help you along when in a foreign country ha.
My husband and I sailed with you on the Liberty in September 05 and you said then that Carnival was planning to do the Greek Islands in the future. I have been waiting very impatiently since then and have now booked the Freedom for May 08. I am thrilled that you are the CD. You are the best! You truly made the cruise even better than I expected and I can’t wait to see you again. I read your blog daily and it is putting me in the mood to cruise. I especially enjoy your comments about shore tours and things you and Heidi do on shore. I can’t wait.
Hi John & Heidi!
I enjoy reading your blog and am counting down the days to our next cruise! We will be sailing with you April 12, 2008 on the Western Caribbean with 8 other couples and cannot wait, this is our second cruise. We look forward to many more with Carnival! See you in 356 days!!!
Goodmorning,
I want to tell you how much I’m enjoying your blog.
I have Lupus and I spend a lot of time just resting and reading things on my computer. I love cruise critic and now your blog is right up there on top. I feel like I’m cruising right along with you.
When you have a disease that keeps you home most of the time it is so nice to have something to look forward too. I do cruise and my goal is to crusie carnival 10 times so I can get to be one of those who get on the ship first!!
Sometimes the lines are hard on me.
I have a cruise planned for April of 2008. That will make five so I will be half way there.
I plan on doing some cruising closer to home (Seattle) like Long Beach and some of the shorter cruise to build my quota!
Well I just wanted to thank you for doing this blog. I really do enjoy every bit of it.
thank you,
Carla Schillereff