Good Morning. I hope this blog finds you all well as we sail away from Izmir, Turkey. A very sunny day but also very windy as well in fact the wind has been with us for two straight days now (Heidi may say the wind has been with me for much longer than that).
We had a life boat rehearsal drill for all the crew today at 10 am after most of the guests were ashore exploring Ephesus. I then had a meeting with the Shore Excursion Manager and the Tour Operator followed by a very exciting trip to the local supermarket where I tried to find out what sugar free was in Turkish – it’s SEKERSIZ by the way.
We have just sailed from Izmir leaving behind a couple who obviously enjoyed the port of Izmir so much that they are still there. The couple who will remain ” nameless ” for now failed to arrive even though we waited as long as we can, I wonder where they are?
And here is the answer. The Chief Purser informs me that they had in fact thought the ship sailed at 6 pm even though everything in print and spoken word from me says 3:30 pm back on board. Luckily, in each port we have an agency who takes care of all the ships needs and they will assist the guests with their journey to Istanbul tomorrow to meet the vessel……………………………………….and with their permission maybe a photo will appear in the blog !
And now the moment you have all been waiting for as I type out on one finger the Q & A.
TONYA – I hope you are enjoying your time living in Spain and we salute your husband as her serves his country in the United States Navy. I am sure it will be a special cruise and I will ask the captain if he will give permission for your husband to visit the bridge. I must inform you however that this is very hard to do these days and we operate under very strict security guidelines as you mentioned. Regardless, I will make sure that you and your husband have a fantastic cruise and I will make sure we do something special for him. See you in September.
GLORIA – Your training regime does sound much more energetic than the one Mr. Freidman and I are doing. In fact, I am training now at my desk and eating some cashews. Thank you for your kind words about the blog and I am sure Carnival are enjoying as I am the number of hit thingies on the site. It will not be long before you are climbing the Dubrovnik City walls, exploring Pompeii and climbing mount Etna so if I were you and would sit down and prepare yourself by eating a large piece of apple pie and a double scoop of ice cream. See you soon.
NATE’S MUM – I love the Caribbean and as listed in a previous blog my favorite ports are Jamaica and Cozumel, Mexico. I have never had the pleasure of cruising Alaska but as Bob Dickinson was telling us today, he is taking his children and grandchildren there as it is a vacation that the different generations can enjoy. Therefore, try Alaska on the beautiful Carnival Spirit and then maybe next year come to Europe on the Carnival Freedom. See you soon and Nate sends his love.
ANETTEALI – Gracias para el huggo de Puerto rico. San Juan is muy bueno con mucho bueno señoritas y mucho bueno comida (food). Rapido and you will be hereo abordo with me o. Un grande huggo para you o nader hug o para el husbando
RICHARD – please tell your Mum not to worry. We will provide a fridge for her. Please have her contact Carnival Cruise Lines’ Guest Access Services Desk at 305 599 2600 and tell them your cabin number and sailing date and they will make sure all is ready for her. This is very common, so all will be well. I hope she enjoys her cruise on the Carnival Destiny and let me know if I can be of any other assistance.
BIG ED – I really wanted to change my hair colour (spelled the correct way) but Heidi seems to think that it makes me look distinguished as opposed to 300 years old. How are you mate ? There are more photos on your blog to add to the files. Best to Mrs. Big Ed.
MR AND MRS SMITH – sorry but my screen is not showing the name of the person who asked about the digital photos onboard so you are going to be MR and MRS SMITH. The gallery will place all your photos onto a disk for you but they cannot empty it as that would mean using a computer and with so many it may not be adaptable so you may want to think about bringing another chip thingy. How many have you done. Please send my best to Mr. Smith.
RICHARD – I
LOVE TO TEACH – Thanks for the kind words and as a teacher and a waitress I am sure you will be ready for some relaxation. May I suggest the Spa Special which is A FULL BODY SCRUB, MASSAGE AND FACIAL ALL FOR ONLY $99. As far as the activities are concerned I have many favorites but mostly I love the shows that involve audience participation. Please do not miss the Marriage Show, The Talent Show and the Single’s Dance Classes. It will I promise be the best vacation of your life.
SOUTHERNDREAMS – As usual you and Bonnie Prince Charlie raise a good point about the longer cruises and your Platinum membership which I shall bring to the attention of the right people as it makes great sense. Hopefully I will get a positive response and your Southerndreams will be happy ones. See yallllllllllllllllllllllll later.
LINDA AND MIKE THE BUILDER – Did you get to call anyone about your missing tags yet? In answer to your questions about my cabin, you are correct in your assumption that Heidi and I are lucky enough to have a nice cabin. I also have an office but I mostly work from my cabin so I don’t have to put clothes on before sitting and blogging and making announcements
The cabin is quite big with a separate bedroom to the living room but it soon gets very small when you have 5 months of clothes and personal effects. Heidi has all the cupboard space and I have been relegated to one coat hanger! We also have a luxury that I cannot do without. a bath tub with a Jacuzzi. If I have time each day I have a 10 minute soak and enjoy the relaxing feeling of the Jacuzzi……………………..Oh, apparently I do not have a Jacuzzi I have been told. So where do all the bubbles come from then?
Best to you both and see you soon
BELLA – a couples massage is $242 on a port day and $292 on a sea day and it is FANTASTIC! See you in June 9 — not for a massage, I mean on the ship ).
MARION – Have a great time in the UK, can I ask a HUGE favor, can you get me a magazine called WHAT’S ON T.V. – it costs a pound. In return I will send you champagne – how does that sound? See you in a few days.
DAVID – The backstage tour can be arranged directly with me onboard mate. You did indeed see a can of Diet Coke on the desk (product placement). I am looking forward to seeing you and the group soon.
BOB AND MARY - welcome back. I hope you had a great time on the Carnival Liberty last year and are excited to be on the Carnival Freedom for our trip to Istanbul and Turkey. The gift shop will have Venetian masks and I hope they have one that you will like. They will not put them out on the cruise you are on but if you ask the shop manager I am sure he will be able to help you.
With regard to your question about Rome Tours, it is impossible to do a full day and night tour and come back to the ship first. May I suggest that after a full day touring Rome and with an early debarkation the following morning you may want to think about just one or the other………….for me, as beautiful as Rome at night I do think that the day tour with entrance to the Vatican is the one to do. Please let me know if you need any specific information. See you soon.
JAMES – We do have videos on the building of the ship and I am not sure if they are available for purchase but I will check and let you know. Please remind me if I do not answer within 7 blog thingies. Cheers.
VACATION MARY – There are very few tables for two onboard but if you would like one that I will see what I can do. I need your last name and cabin number ASAP and I will speak to my mate Ken. Thanks for the kind words about the blog and I will keep going as long as I can. I do hope that you all do not mind me writing the things I do. Like any job there are good, bad, happy and sad things that happen every day so I feel I must represent all of them in the things I write. See you in a few days and please let me know your details.
MARK AND SHELLEY – Actually, as Shelley looks like Angelina I will address the reply directly to her………….sigh. Anyway, back from the world of dreams, I have forwarded the e-mail to Bob and I am sure he will let me know if indeed his house is still near to where you lived. Please feel free to post a photo of yourself (Shelley, not Mark). See you both in June.
AUSSIEJAZZ – thinking of you on ANZAC day !
MARION REYNO – 50 pounds for a trans-Atlantic – and on the Carmania. Just interested to know if there was a cruise director, do you remember?
HIJEAN – Thanks for letting me call you this, I much prefer it to MEANJEAN or BLUEJEAN. As far as your question on which tour to take in Cannes, that is easy…two words………………….MONTE CARLO, the second smallest country in the world. Let’s have a chat when you come onboard as there will be plenty of time. See you then.
BIG ED – Not only are you my Director of New Ideas, Head of Security Chief Secretary and Marketing Manager but now you are my drug supplier as well with the offer of Preparation H. Actually and because you asked, well you didn’t but I will tell you anyway I am a little……um……………….backed up at the moment so maybe “the H” will come in handy. I am currently therefore cruise director of Carnival’s new ship the CONSTIPATION, the ship that never moves. I am kidding of course as the CONSTIPATION has not come out yet. I think it is time to watch a very scary Horror Film!
MAISTRAZO – Thanks for the kind words mate, you have no idea how happy I am to know so many of you are enjoying the blog. I did find the repeat of Desperate Housewives but I am keeping it a secret so that the next time I mess up I have a get out of jail free card. Please keep reading.
I wanted to take a few minutes to introduce the entertainment staff onboard who along with myself will be hosting all of the activities. Here is a sunset photo of them.
They are a great bunch and I assure you that you will get to know them all and enjoy their sense of fun. Here they are
- Stephanie Meads ~ Richmond Virginia, USA ………..”I like Red Wine “. See you soon for the best vacation ever.
- Lloyd Goldstone ~ Durban, South Africa ………….” Look forward to meeting you, I’ll be here all week….please try the fish”
- Shawn Hale ~ Atlanta, Georgia ………” Life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans”
- Adele Hall ~ Liverpool, England ……….” Can’t wait to see you on this Exciting, awesome Super fun Mega Liner”. I am much better than any of the other Entertainment Staff so come to everything I do.
- Gary Brierley ~ Manchester, England ………. ” Hey everybody, Come and join us on the newest addition to the Carnival Fleet, If you see me and say ” Hey Gary ” and give me a hug I will buy you a drink !
Do you remember when you were a kid? What was the family vacation like. I am sure like me you never got to go on a cruise and look what facilities they get when they do. Here are a few photos of the 15 – 17 year olds CLUB O2 and Camp Carnival. Oh, to be young again.
Tonight we held our Past Guest reception which along with the normal entertainment we had the proud addition of Bob Dickinson who came along and gave a special welcome to the 1,400 guests who were back with us again. Here are some photos of Bob, myself and the Captain.
So, what should we chat about tonight?
When you work aboard a ship in a close community practical jokes are very commonplace and I thought I would share two with you tonight. They may not have anything to do with your cruise but it is certainly part of life onboard and I hope you will allow me to share these with you.
The first one goes back to the mid 1990’s and involves an old mate called Lewis Nixon. Lewis is a brilliant comedian and used to work with me on board the Fantasy and Ecstasy. Lewis and I had a running battle to see who could create the most elaborate practical joke. He once had every thing from my cabin taken out, the bed, the wardrobe, all my clothes, I mean everything. So, revenge needed to be had and pretty quickly. I knew which flight Lewis was leaving on and his booking number so I called the Airline (PAN AM – shows you how long ago this was) and pretended to be Lewis. I told their guests satisfaction department that I (Lewis) was suffering from a very bad gastro illness and needed to be sat on the very back row and could I please have instead of the meal DRIED MUSLIX.
So, Lewis boarded the plane and was immediately seated on the back of the plane. The flight attendant was very nice to the point of giving Lewis his own roll of toilet paper and, of course, he was extra mad when instead of being asked if he wanted the chicken or the beef he was given a bowl of cereal! Still, he got his own back on me when we rehearsed a full 20 minutes of comedy where I was going to be a ventriloquist and he and another entertainer Gaetano would be the puppets. We practiced and practiced for days and it was a really funny bit. Showtime came and I went out and the crowd were expectantly waiting for a great show. I welcomed everyone and then said “Please Welcome To the Stage My Puppets.” Applause from the audience and then……………………………..nothing……………………nothing, I said it again thinking they had missed their cue to appear from backstage………………still nothing………the audience fell silent……………..it was just me on stage in the spotlight with 800 people starring at me………….still nothing………..and then as the realization hit me that I had been set up a voice similar to Mr. Nixon’s shouted from the back of the room……………….boooooo, you suck, get off the stage, we want the show, we want the show, 800 people joined in and my evening was complete !
The second joke was a wonderful but very simple joke I played on my mate Ralph “Wee Jimmy” Valente, the now brilliant cruise director of the Carnival Glory and one day I hope all my blogging friends get to sail with him. Ralph had tried a few harmless jokes on me which had mostly backfired so I decided to teach him a lesson. I had the carpenter take off his cabin door while Ralph was on stage. He turned the peephole around. This meant that Ralph could not see out but everyone could see in! Ralph did not discover this for days and wondered why every time he left his cabin there was a line of people outside. I won’t tell you what they saw through the peep hole but it was no big thing and now we now why they call him “Wee Jimmy!”
And on that note I am off to bed. Tomorrow Heidi returns so it is time to tidy the cabin and retrieve the various items I have discarded onto the cabin floor.
Goodnight
Your friends
John and Heidi
Filed under: Tales from the Ship | Tagged: Tales from the Ship
Hi John, Great blog today, and the pix are fantastic, keep them coming. Yes, as I said previously I called Carnival about the missing luggage tags, they referred me to my travel agent SmartCruiser, who in turn called Carnival, and Carnival says they have to mail the tags to my travel agent and they will send them to me, but no guarantees I will have them in time. I emailed you last night with my booking number, cabin # etc. Carnival Glory 5/19 cruise. I am at work so don’t have it here, so if you go back and look at last nights emails you will find all the info. Thanks for all your help! Sounds like you have a nice cabin, just got to keep it picked up! Heidi is not your maid you know. I guess you don’t have room stewards huh? I see where you like Cozumel and Jamaica too, so PLEASE try to arrange the bloggers cruise to include those ports, try for the Triumph next Spring, that would be awesome. Big Ed is asking people to sign up for a bloggers cruise next January, but that is too soon for us after Thanksgiving! Mike the builder is busy this week building me a kingsized headboard for our bed. I designed it myself, as I could not find one of my liking in the stores.
So that is why you call him Wee Jimmy. We met Jimmy on another cruise you were the CD on. You two were a funny pair.
If you still have a problem you could try more of that tea. LOL
Thanks for entertaining us.
Jo and Dave
John,
I am glad the link for “Desperate housewives” worked for you. I dont know how much of a secret you can keep it, I’m sure Heidi reads every blog you write even before is posted online. By the way, I read that you were asking for a copy of “What’s on T.V.”, I believe if you follow this link you will find the online version of the magazine for FREE. The link is http://www.onthebox.com/partner/otb/.
I think this is what you are asking for…
We will see you in a week!
Daniel and Marina
John, Since I’m 61 with a lot of hair and little gray and you are 41 with less hair and more gray it will average out. So I guess the COLOR is OK I should work out as your replacement for the day.
It was said somewhere that somebody had “a face that launched a thousand ships”. I hope the supplies I sent you will be the “H” that launched a new ship, the CONSTIPATION. I hope everthing comes out well in your future. Leave the seat down you may return in a hurry.
Oh yes BOSS I did transfer these new pictures to your album on my site. 91 pictures so far. Just click on the underlined “BIG” ED at top to get there.
“BIG” Ed
John I find your comments on Heidi being away from you and returning home to-morrow very poignant, you see my wife has also been away and like you she returns on wednesday back into the arms of her beloved………………………and when I get hold of our Vicar John I’m gonna kill him!
John
How busy are the various tourist spots in Europe for August as per the ‘Liberty’ cruise last year also was the boat itself full to the gunnels?
Best wishes to you and Heidi
Bill and Sue
Just to let you know, John, not everyone out here reading this blog thingy is thrilled with southerndreams’ idea re: Platinum status. I guess it depends on what the thinking behind the whole Platinum level is. I’ve thought of it as a reward/incentive for loyalty to Carnival, not for how long you can cruise. Not all Carnival cruisers can get away for long periods, and yet, if they can string 3 or 4 days together and they book a Carnival cruise, rather than just going with whichever cruise line is having a special, it seems as though that should count for something.
Just my $ .02.
Terri
Hi John and Heidi,
Thank you for this blog. I really enjoyed this entry today since you talked about my favorite CD so far “Wee Jimmy”. My boyfriend Tim has a few pictures of him on his webshots pages which I am including. I wrote a letter to guest relations about how him and his entertainment staff were great on the Glory on the March 10th cruise. I found out earlier today that the Glory will be in port with the Miracle when we go on our 5th cruise in December 9 during the St. Martin day. Hopefully I can send him a card with my email or see him when we are at port. I really enjoyed him. Also Tim and I would be interested in being part of the blogger cruise that you are planning for next year. If you have any inside information on the new Splendor cruise that is sailing next spring can you please email because that is one of my dreams to go on a first cruise on a new ship. Tim also has a suggestion for Carnival to have a kiosk on all boats so guest can book their next cruise while taking a cruise. I look forward to having the priviledge of having both you and Heidi on a cruise. You both are so down to earth and I love that atmosphere. Keep up the excellent work. Love cruising!!
Hi John and Heidi,
I’ve been following your blog every day and have sent one reply in to you. We are traveling with you in July. Our 2 daughters, Katie is 15 and Allie is 20, will be joining us. The Club02 looks great. Would Kat be able to take Allie to the Clubo2 as a guest? I’m sure Katie would be more comfortable (at least in the beginning) if she had her sister with her.
Also,we booked a pre-cruise package for one night in Rome. I was wondering about the exclusive tour of the Vatican that has been mentioned for those traveling on the Freedom. I’m not seeing it on the excursion page and wanted to know how to set it up before the cruise. In fact, it appears that I can’t book any excursions in Rome until we get to our hotel. Is that correct?
Enjoy being together again. Thanks for the blog, it’s answered a lot of my questions.
Barb D.
to my favorite spawn of the devil: hi john! i await the reply regarding the platinum time for days sailed. this is exciting news that someone will consider this! exciting indeed!
hope big ed was able to help you out with your drug needs. ha ha ha…
now i have another question. have you heard of a podcast? it’s like a video blog. would you consider your morning show on one? seriously it would be GREAT!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie…
Just another thank you for making my days more interesting…I thank God everyday for giving us the computer and a few other things!!
Your blog is wonderful and truly does give me nothing but pleasure.
thank you,
Carla Schillereff
Hi John,
Is there anyway you can help me out with a dining room request?As mentioned before Mom and I have cruised many many times. I have requested a table for 2 in the dining room (8or 8:30 sitting). Mom has to do so much when home and it would be great if we can have a table to oursleves for dinner. Not that we want to be unsociable but for us dinner time on the cruise is something special for the two of us and we like to be able to chat about personal things and well, we just like our privacy when sharing a meal together. I know you must get asked a zillion favors but if there is any magic you can work it will be appreciated! We will be on the Freedom-sailing May 13-Luanne and Nancy D. Thanks again!:)
I’ve been reading since the beginning and it is wonderful to hear your daily thoughts. Our first cruise was way back when you were the CD on the Fanasty and it put the cruising bug in us. We’re only a few cruises from being platinum with Carnival.
A quick question regarding the couple left behind in port. How do you contact the Carnival reps if you’re left behind? We’ve always made sure that we are back before the Caper’s published time but that’s not to say that there would be a problem in transit back to the ship.
We’ve booked the Destiny for next year and have been counting down (only 347 days to go). Good to see you’re still with Carnival. It must be a great company to work for.
John, my husband & I were on the 4-7-07 cruise. I wrote you a Dear John letter, we celebrated our 36th anniversary. You called me, I’m married to the Nerd! Thanks for the book & the picture. We are sorry we were unable to meet you. We always seemed to be in the Casino in our free time…we made lots of friends there, Andy is great. We had a wonderful cruise & are still getting over the jet lag. Next cruise with the grandkids on the Conquest from Galveston in July, not far from where we live…no jet lag.
Thanks again for the gifts, we are big fans, first sailing with you on the Sensation in 1995.
Sorry John-I owe you an apology. You weren’t the CD on my 9/11 cruise,(what a way to remember it) as you were on the Triumph and I was on the Sensation. Though I’m sure you were just as comforting and compassionate as our CD was. Shame on me but I can’t remember his name!
I did have the pleasure of cruising with you on the Liberty in April ‘06. You are truly the BEST CD Carnival has ever had.
Hope to cruise with you again real soon.
Inez
John,
Our Cruise Critic group has our first of two meet-and-greets scheduled for just after the lifeboat muster. Some seem to think that this will not be a good time because it may interfer with dining times. When is the lifeboat muster scheduled, and do you think that we should move it up to an earlier time? We also have one scheduled during our first day at sea which you and Heidi have been invited to.
Thanks,
Richard
Dear John,
Just discovered your blog (thanks to an article on the MSNBC website) and I’ve enjoyed it tremendously.
Although I’m a devotee of another brand (albeit one still in the Carnival family) and not likely to show up on your ship any time soon, I hope you’ll continue with your blog indefinitely as it and you are great fun.
John- I have enjoyed your blog soooooo much! My friends and I are heading your way on May1 – we are 3 nurses looking for some restoration, relaxation, and above all- some laughs!! After reading your blog- I think we have picked the right cruise! I understand that you are going to be at the Cruise Critic meet and greet – we are looking forward to meeting you and Heidi. My friend Penny is worried that sea days will be boring (she is the “wild child” of the group) I have told her that after reading you blog- I do not think that sea days will be a problem for her!! See you soon! Roz
John,
You have made my day. Actually, you have made 12 days – 11 if you take out the one for the Supper Club. I hope Carnival recognizes the extra time and effort you put into this blog thingy. I will be sure and tell everyone how lucky we are to have you for our Cruise Director. As we say in down in New Orleans, “L’aissez les bon temps rouler!!!” See you in seven days!!!
Mary & Damian Leone
Cabin # 7322
John,
My name is Nina (of eight-a, nine-a, ten-a fame). Since everyone wants to pronounce my name with an “ee” sound (Neena), my husband came up with this saying to set them straight. It also helps people remember my name. Well, my husband was chosen for the Welcome Aboard show on the March 14 sailing of the Freedom. Once on stage, you asked him for his wife’s name. He managed to mess up the saying he has done for years! However, for the rest of the cruise, they might not have remembered my husband’s name, but the passengers never forgot mine (especially Lenny!) Our youngest son was in the audience and you told him to sit with the young girl in front of him. He didn’t get very close since at his age (11) all girls have cooties. He left after the introductions—not knowing that his dad would be playing a game also. It was a great show. We purchased the DVD and enjoy showing our 15 minutes of fame to all our friends.
My husband was also chosen to play Dastardly on the Liberty during the October 12, 2005 voyage. What great fun! People recognized him all the way back to the Philadelphia Airport. The way you play off the guests is truly a gift. I especially remember you teasing the interpreter that was signing for the hearing-impaired guests on that cruise.
Our son and his girlfriend were on the 2005 trip with us. He proposed to her on Capri, our first port. The rest of the cruise, everyone made them feel very special. This past Sunday, April 22, 2007, they were married. After such a long time of waiting and preparation, the wedding was beautiful. Everything was perfect. You asked that we share a picture after they were wed. I am now happy to do that. Go to this link to see wedding pictures and Freedom cruise pictures.
http://rusnina.spaces.live.com/
By the way, I love the idea of the blog cruise. I have also been reading it since the beginning.
Good morning John – thanks for the info on the Pompeii and Herculaneum. Another potential marital dispute resolved! And talking about resolving marital disputes and your bride returning to you…PUT DOWN THE SEAT! That was my first thought when I read about your plan to tidy up before she returns.
Clock on the wall tells me it’s time to get ready for work…why oh why do I get the feeling that YOUR day at work is going to be much more interesting than mine?
Ciao,
W A W W
We have been avidly reading your blog as our family of four (Mum, Dad and sons aged 8 and 12) look forward to our cruise on 22nd September. We are heading off from Burpengary, Australia in early September to spend a week in France then onto Venice, Florence, Sorrento and Rome before we join the cruise. This will be our first ever cruise and I worry we may have bitten off more than we can chew!!! Could you please answer some of these questions:
1. As we will be staying in some cheap (and probably dodgy) hotel in Rome close to the railway station (we are on a pretty strict budget)- we thought we would catch the train out to the Port. Have you come across anyone who has managed to do this?
2. Do children attend formal dinners and if so what standard of dress is expected for them?
3. Is it difficult to get a booking at the supper club? Do you need to make bookings for the supper club and spa etc as soon as you get on board to ensure a spot?
4. My eldest son is the Australian discus champion for his age (and record holder) – is there any chance he could throw a discus at Olympia? His next state competition will take place a fortnight after the cruise – is there any where on board he can do any training? (strange question I know)
I have heaps more questions – but that is probably enough for now!!
Thanks for helping to make the anticipation of our holiday and cruise that much more sweeter!! Looking forward to meeting you
Cleo, Garth, Mitchell and Lindsay
John,
I am re-posting this since I received a strange message next to my comments yesterday and I don’t know if you received it.
As far as Platinum benefits go I think it should also be the number of days you cruise. We are Platinum now but mostly have taken longer cruises so we could have been Platinum earlier if the count was by days instead of cruises.
Pretty soon Heidi will be home and you can rest easier.
See you soon.
George and Linda
April 24th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Hello John,
Still enjoying your blog every day and will continue as long as you do. I think a book is a great idea. People like to read about what really happens on the ship and you’re giving a good overview.
I need help with a table reservation. I sent an e-mail to Dino with this request but since I have not received a response maybe the address is incorrect and he never received it. We would really appreciate a table for two in the aft dining room at 8:00 PM in the upper level by the railing. On the Glory there were only two tables like this, one on the port side and the other on the starboard. It doesn’t matter which side it is on. We sent the request to Dino because we met his cousin, Wilson, on the Elation in February and he said he could help us. This would be for both the June 6 and June 18 cruises. Our cabin is 7440 if that helps.
Thank you very much for your help.
Hope you make it another couple of days until Heidi comes back. I know how hard it is to be apart from the one you love even for a short time.
Five weeks until we leave for Rome and six weeks until the cruise. We can’t wait.
George and Linda Mattie
John, you are the best. Love, love, love the pictures. Keep posting them to your blog thingy – it makes it much easier to count down my 262 days until Freedom, Carnival Freedom that is!!!
Hi John and Heidi,
I am sailing May 08 on the Freedom and was just curious. I received an e mail this morning that announced a schedule change from Rhodes, Greece to Marmaris, Turkey. Can you give me any information about this change? Should I be happy or sad? Thanks! You are wonderful and I am really enjoying your blog and am looking forward to the Splendor.
Hello John,
I am excited to be on a June Grand Med cruise!! My husband and I are bringing our daughters ages 8 and 18. I requested the early seating because of the 8 year old. I thought she’d miss the kids activities otherwise. I have been reading comments about show times and dinner times, etc. What is your recommendation for dinner seating times?
Thanks in advance!
Love your blog…..
John,
I have to tell you that it is indeed “A Small World”. I just read Nina Franklin’s post and must tell you that I met her and her family online at the cruisecritic website at a friend’s suggestion who works with me at Disney and who had sailed on the Carnival Liberty. I wound up taking a private excursion to the Amalfi Coast with the Franklins and had a wonderful time; I also enjoyed dinner one evening with them aboard the ship. In conversation they talked about their trip aboard the Liberty and they told me that they had taken an excursion with another girl named Linda who also worked at Disney…upon my return I shared the Franklin’s family picture with my friend Linda and sure enough it was the same Linda!!! Out of 65,000 cast members here at Walt Disney World in Florida the 2 of us know the Franklin family!!! I will be sharing pictures of Craig’s wedding with her…
Welcome back Heidi and please keep this blog going.
Linda (Minnie Mouse)
John, WOW your great you now got a blogger, Linda (Minnie Mouse) that confesses to be a cast member for a company that also has cruise ships of their own. As she said it is a small world after all. All roads in cyber-space do lead to your “THINGY”
“BIG” ED
From your previous reply – RICHARD – please tell your Mum not to worry. We will provide a fridge for her. Please have her contact Carnival Cruise Lines’ Guest Access Services Desk at 305 599 2600 and tell them your cabin number and sailing date and they will make sure all is ready for her. This is very common, so all will be well. I hope she enjoys her cruise on the Carnival Destiny and let me know if I can be of any other assistance -
My mum called CCL today and she was told they don’t provide fridges any more, can you confirm. They said she would have to walk to the Purser 3x a day to get her medicine, then go to her room to take her shot, then back.
Good morning,
I have 2 comments for you. For your little “problem” try taking some ginger tablets. We took them along on our last cruise for my hubby’s motion illness. As it was a little rocky I decided to take them. I usually get your little “problem” when I vacation. After I took the ginger pills my little “problem” was solved. I continued taking them the rest of the week. They worked great. AND hubby never got sea sick!
Ahhh….Wee Jimmy….I had so much fun with him and Karl with a K. Next time you talk to Wee J ask him about his slinky collection. And tell him Victoria sends her love…..
Love your blog! Hope I get to cruise with you someday…..I’ll bring you a slinky!