Hello Everyone – are you still there?
Sorry again that the weekend has come and gone with no postings but I will make up for it with some extra ones this next few days.
What a stunning day in Livorno we were blessed with today. The temperature was 74 degrees and there was hardly a cloud in the sky, so today were we really “Under The Tuscan Sun.”
Heidi and I continued to prepare for the first Grand Med cruise by meeting with all the department heads and discussing schedules and various things to make sure it all goes smoothly. This resulted in there being no time to disembark the ship today. In fact, I have not been ashore since Naples so hopefully in Shivi ta veck ear (spelt phonetically) Heidi and I may have a brief moment to go for lunch or dinner.
One of the biggest things we have to organize is the tender service in Cannes, France. Tendering anywhere is always a challenge and especially in a port like Cannes where everyone is ready to leave the ship at the same time. The Carnival Freedom arrives at 9 am and it takes us about two hours and 30 minutes to get everyone ashore. This involves a lot of planning from my side and a touch of patience from the guests, which most have but a very small percentage do not!!
Talking of Cannes, here is a photo of the beach in front of the world famous Martinez Hotel with the ship on the horizon (Heidi took this one, if it was my photo I would have concentrated more on the people on the beach some of which have, for some strange reason, forgotten to put their bikinis on ).
Can I also just quickly show you a personal photo of my Dad’s office at home? He is a big collector of photos from the various ships that I have started from new as well as steam locomotives and he has a special collection of decks of cards. I have no reason to post this blog except to show you how proud my Dad is of his collection and I guess having your own blog thingy has its privileges. Actually, if you zoom in on one of the photos you can see why the photo of the Carnival Destiny sailing out of New York in 1996 has a special place in the collection and in my heart.
I had better get on with the Q and A which because the site has not been…ummmmmmmmm……….re shoed ( or is it booted ) or something may be shorter than usual because some of the posted comments are not stuck on the thing yet……….I am truly out of my depth here with this computer talk.
OK, here we go
GARY’S MUM – hello Mum. Gary (one of our entertainment hosts ) is doing very well and you should really be very proud of him. He is definitely in the right business and if he puts his total dedication into the job he could be a cruise director very soon. I know he loves his Mum very much and I was very upset that he had no called home for some time. This will never happen again and both Heidi and I have reminded him how important this is. He is very happy and is really looking forward to seeing his loved one very soon. I know they have been apart for sometime, but tomorrow in Rome he and Fred will be together again
RICH – Great idea about introducing the engineering team. I will be doing this within the next few days and posting some photos as well. You asked why a ship is called a SHE, here is why.
A ship is called ‘she’ because there is always a great deal of ‘bustle’ around her.; There is usually a gang of men about; She has a ‘waist’ and ‘stays’; It takes a lot of paint to keep her looking good; It is not the initial expense that ‘breaks’ you, it is the ‘upkeep’; She can be all ‘decked’ out; It takes an experienced man to handle ‘her’ correctly; And without a man at the helm, she is absolutely uncontrollable; She shows her ‘topsides’; Hides her ‘bottom’; And, when coming into port, ALWAYS HEADS FOR THE ‘BUOYS’.
That is why a ship is called “SHE”……………………………….Heidi has just read this and is not happy !
You asked how much she cost – $500 million…..and she is stunning! From a distance she looks like Angelina Jolie.
She has beautiful and clean white skin………………Just like Angelina
She has a well shaped bow………………….just like Angelina
Heads turn when ever she enters a port…………..just like Angelina
She has a huge pair of thrusters………………just ..OK, Heidi says I have to stop now.
JAMIE IN TEXAS – The Cigar with John will be a nightly activity I promise and I will even bring the cigars. Hope that was the push you needed to book the cruise. See you soon…….I hope.
BIG ED – I am not sure which of my blogs will be up first after the weekend so let me make sure that I will not let you down and I will be the CD on the 26th when you cruise. I am so very sorry I could not make the bloggers cruise that week but circumstances took over. Regardless, I have a booth reserved for us on both cruises and we will have a BIG time together. As for the concerns, you have about getting a reply to logging on to the BLOGGERS CRUISE I have been advised that you check your JUNK E-MAIL BOX………..I guess I have been thrown in your trash. Please take me out…..it smells. Love to Mrs. BIG ED.
FRED AND CHRIS – It will not be long before August is here and you are both exploring Europe with us. Please send a reminder to me a few days before you sail and I will pull those strings as best I can. Thank you for reading the blog thing from the beginning and maybe together we might even win an award.
PATRICK TYE – Can you post your mailing address in Kuwait and I will pop a CD in the post to you. How are things over there, I would love to visit one day. Please keep reading the blog and write soon.
SUSAN JORDAN – So your boyfriend has booked you a balcony cabin and three extra days in Rome. He sounds like a real stud muffin and all that’s missing Is a ring on your finger. What a shame you will not be sailing to any romantic cities, somewhere with lots of little boats that sail under gorgeous bridges and through enchanting canals while the man navigating the boat by pushing a big stick up and down sings Italian love arias to you both, giving your boyfriend a chance to kneel next to you and say ” Susan, I Love You Now and for Ever, Will You Marry Me.” What a shame …………..oh……….wait a minute……………we do go to such a place…………………….VENICE………………………..no pressure then! Looking forward to seeing you.
GARY – There are many restaurants in Rome which are simply awesome. Bars and cafés spill out into the streets as Al Fresco eating remains very popular. Most Romans do not eat dinner before 8 pm with most eating around 9 – 9:30 pm.
I am always cautious about recommending places to eat because it comes down to personal choice, however you cannot go wrong on the VIA VENETO. These pavement and indoor restaurants are the best and Heidi and I ate at the one outside the Hotel Excelsior which was amazing. The entrees consist of traditional Italian treats. Heidi said the lasagna verde was historic, and I had the tagliatelle alla Bolognese. Finish off with a delicious Italian dessert such as dolce della mamma, a gelato favorite topped with zabaglione and chocolate sauce.mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm -
I just had an espresso
Anyway, let me know where you end up and we can post any recommendations on the blog thingy.
So endeth the Q & A
Last night I introduced a special man on to the small stage in our Habana Bar. I had been talking to him since the start of the cruise and he became one of the characters of the week. This wonderful man was an old Vaudevillian performer who had danced in movies and shows all over the world. He proudly told me he had four lines in the movie HOLIDAY INN with Fred Astaire and also featured as a featured tap dancer in the movie The Band Wagon.
Hearing this, I asked him if he would like to dance for us and he said he would love to with the Gavin Ahearn Jazz Trio.
So, last night he danced for us to MR BO JANGLES, his feet glided across the floor and as the audience applauded and cheered a smile as big as the ship itself spread across his face. Just for a minute, I think he was back on the film set dancing with Mr. Astaire himself. I should have brought a camera but I quickly grabbed a cell phone and used it to take this photo which does not do him justice………………..but anyway, here is the one and only Sidney Neller (age 94) treading the boards one more time.
See you all soon and again sorry for the delay in posting………………hope you are all still readingYour 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.
John, first of all, I love your blog thingy!! And I am so looking forward to meeting you — we sail with you on the Carnival Freedom on May 13.
In your introduction of the entertainment staff, I noticed that one of them, Stephanie Meads is from Richmond, VA, which is where I live! (well, actually, I live in a little town just a little bit south of Richmond). Anyway, would you please ask Stephanie if there is anything from Richmond that she would like me to bring her?
See you in 13 days!!
John, your post came in order of date. The first had me really confused. To me in Q&A you said you would be in the UK that week. Then to SNOOPY you said you would see me on the 26th. So I figured you must have ment that you would see me as I boarded and you disembarked. In this post you say you will be the CD on the 26th, what changed? As for the Blogger Cruise info I still didn’t receive anything. I don’t have a block on CARNIVAL as I do receive other notices from CARNIVAL on sales and Past Guest sales. Tell them to send it again PLEASE. I’m still trying to get Pat to think about a BTB maybe. I showed her your offer on Ocho Rios, she just chuckled.
“BIG” ED
Hi John and Heidi:
Do you know anything about Roma Shuttle Service? We are considering using them for transfers to/from airport & to/from the port. We have an 11:15AM departure on 10/16. If we asked the driver to pick us up at 7:30AM would we be debarked by that time? I know the blog thingy takes alot of your time, so I will try not to bother you with any other other questions. So I may be silent but I will still be reading daily. We do appreciate all the stories, pictures and information that you give to us and the time and effort that you have put into the blog. I’m sure when you decided to do it that you never thought it would turn out to be this big! Will stop by when on board 10/4 to say hello (will it ever get here).
Hi J & H,
Glad to hear the date for the Bloggers’ cruise is set for 1/19/08. I told my bride, Mary, that I would like to make that cruise, but I’ve been overruled! She is insisting that we go to Hawaii on a cruise in Feb. 08. Something about her 50th Wedding Anniversary and birthday on on the same date, 2/8…Any suggestions ’bout a Hawaii cruise ship?Guess we will see you’ll in mid-June though! By the way John, why does your dad collect railroad pictures? I’m a retired officer from a large railroad in the states, CSX.
See ya soon,
Bob & Mary
John
You forgot to answer some of my questions:)
Go Sidney !!
Sidney’s in better shape than this broken down “gypsy” ! Standing up is a “number” in itself for me! Not kidding!!
I belong to a group of older, retired (some of them!) dancers called the “Arden Fletcher Dancers Alumni” The group is filled with great old performers with reumes like Sidney. They worked with Gene Kelly, Cyd Charrise, Fred Astaire etc. I love to listen to their stories. They were in the golden age of Musicals ! They ‘ll be having a party May 20th in LA, we’ll be in Athens ! Oh well! I have a photo of a couple members on Page 2 of my web site http://www.kathykroll.com
Glad it’s warming up! It was in the 90′s here a few days ago, 85 yesterday
Can’t wait to get onboard!!
Kathy and Paul
John, Added your latest pictures to your album on my site. Heidi will like the captions on some of them. I also adde one I found that I think you will well remember, it’s the very last one in the album for a reason.
WE SHALL NEVER FORGET
“BIG” ED
at: EKONEFE.WORDPRESS.COM or just click on the underlined “BIG” ED above
Dear John:
Please send me Heidi’s mailing address immediately, I want to send her a birthday present. It is a blood vile necklace; you know like the one that Angelina Jolie wore ~ after your birthday card, she can take the blood however she wants too!
Love and birthday wishes
PLEASE pretty please tell us something about Athens. What did you do there? What tours do you like? I haven’t seen Athens mentioned once.
Thanks,
Jo and Dave
Heidi, It was rather ironic that I read about your birthday card while wearing a T-shirt my husband bought me because he forgot our anniversary. It reads “All men are idiots….I married their king”. Would you like one? John, my husband (also named John) and I were at Sam’s Club today and saw a 2 CD collection to learn Italian. Would you like a copy of that when we come on board 5/25? My husband was on the phone with a co-worker while I was reading your blog. He told me to shush because I was laughing so loudly. Thanks for the stories. It’s a great way to start the day. Stay out of the dog house!
Leona
Hello John and Heidi,
Just want to let you know that we still love your blogs and that we still read them every day !
Happy queens day !!! (April 30 th )It’s hot and sunny in the Netherlands. 181 day’s to go to cruise the Freedom.
Best regards, from your friends and fans from the Netherlands.
Vincent
Hi John: Can’t make the January 2008 Bloggers cruise, just too close to our Freedom cruise in November, but I agree with Big ED, and I have emailed him that I want to be on the top of the list for a bloggers cruise on the Splendor on 1/24/09-will you be on the Splendor then? Hope so! So, while you are planning the first bloggers cruise Ed is planning the 2nd and Mike and I are the first to sign up after Ed and his wife. Heidi, hope you have forgiven John on your birthday card issue, it’s an easy mistake, especially since it did have a cake on the front of the card, at least he didn’t give it to you for your anniversary! Now, you both can call it even, since he seems to be upset by the pix you put on the blog of him in bed, I still want to know why he looked so mad in that picture? Was it because you wouldn’t let him watch an Angelina Jolie dvd? HA! HA! So, who is your favorite HUNK Heidi, you can refer to him in the blog and maybe it will get John jealous, and he will stop with this Angelina Jolie nonsense which is all it is you know, because she is “nothing special” very anyway. Well, keep writing this blog thingy and keep posting pix, LOVE seeing them all! Linda & Mike the painter/carpenter/plumber/electrician!
Dear John mate,
My wife and I have had the pleasure to sail with you and dear Heidi twice before and hopefully again in our future. We are booked on our 9th Carnival cruise June 20 the Miracle sailing from New York, but it was our 7th cruise the Grand Med in September 2005 aboard the fabulous Carnival Liberty which stands out as our favorite. You and the staff were terrific and Mother Nature was at her best.
My aunt and uncle (Gerald (Jerry) and Valarie McTeague) are boarding the beautiful Carnival Freedom for their first ever cruise at 70 years old. I know they will have a great time with you and your staff at the helm of Fun Central, I also know you have a very busy schedule, but if you can look them up over the next twelve days and personally say Hello, that would be a real tickle.
Well Mate till our next meeting at sea, wish you smooth seas and blue skies.
Ray McTeague
Southington CT USA
Thanks so much for the reply on what to do if we miss our ship. I certainly will take your advise.
We’re booked on the Destiny in April and have sailed on this ship before and are looking forward to sailing again. I’ve been poking around and it looks like this ship doesn’t have a sushi bar.
The first time I had sushi was on the Inspiration in 1999 and we were so pleased that the Miracle had a sushi bar in 2005. Can we find out if there are any plans to have a daily sushi bar on the Destiny next year? Who would I contact?
Love reading your blog. I’m hoping to talk my brother-in-law onto a Med Cruise in the next couple of years. (I’ve sent links to your blog to him.)
John, The Splendor is here. The date is picked and I’ve been asked to start a sign-up list for those that want the 2nd ANNUAL BLOGGERS CRUISE, January 24, 2009 on the CARNIVAL SPLENDOR. Now just to see if it will have JOHN HEALD aboard. Do I add your name to the title John?
“BIG” ED
Click on my underlined name above to add your name to the list.
Dear John,
First of all, congratulations on the success of your “blog thingy”. Your stories are hilarious and I look forward to reading them every day. I just hope you can keep it up! Here’s a story I thought you might like…(I apologize in advance for its lengthiness)
My fiancee, Steve, and I met aboard the Imagination when we were both just 15 years old. It was November of 1997 and you were our CD. Steve and I met at the teen club and quickly became friends. We went to all the shows together and especially liked the ones you hosted. We still reminisce about the parts of your skits we can recall including: the “crotcheted” tablecloth, your likeness to Gomer Pyle, and the “tinkle, tinkle, tinkle…” of the bedtime story. We were so sad to go at the end of our cruise thinking we would never see each other again…but boy were we wrong!
My family had such a wonderful time on our first cruise that we booked another one for November 1998 (exactly one year later) aboard the Carnival Destiny. Of all the sailings, ships, and itineraries to choose from, Steve’s family chose this exact same cruise. You can imagine our excitement when we learned of this coincidence, and we were further excited to learn that you would again be our CD! Once on board the Destiny, we wondered what new jokes and stories you had in store for us…I won’t dwell on our disappointment when we heard the same jokes from the Imagination…
During our second cruise together, Steve and I developed a secret crush on each other. Neither of us knew about it until we ran into each other online 7 years later. In November 2005, I saw Steve’s profile on a college website. I sent him a message saying “Remember me?”, and the rest is history. Our first year as a couple was wonderful and in November 2006, we, along with 30 (yes 30) of Steve’s family members, went on a cruise together aboard the Carnival Miracle. It was during an evening walk alone on Deck 10 that Steve proposed to me. I apparently was the only one of the 30 of us traveling together who didn’t know this was going to happen!
Considering our history with Carnival, everyone we know is pushing for a wedding/honeymoon cruise with you as CD. So we were wondering two things. Firstly, are there any kind of special deals we could get for a wedding cruise (we’re living on the income of a preschool teacher and graduate student), and secondly, have you developed any new material since 1998?
Sincerely,
Jen and Steve
First and most important HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Heidi.
John – we have been married 36 years and Mike still has not figured out how to stay out of the doghouse.
We leave in 12 days on the Liberty for Costa Maya, Costa Rica and Panama. We thought of sitting on the beach in Costa Maya (never done that in the last 15 cruises), Costa Rica visit the coffee plantation, and Panama take the train. Do you have any other suggestions for excursions? Lynn & Mike
Hi.
I am coming aboard with 8 friends on 5-25-07 for a 12 day cruise around Italy. Dubrovnik. Spain and France. This is going tro be the cruise of our lifetime. One of m y friends is my best friends and we have been friends for 60 years. Only thing I would Like is that you give me a call according to my state room 1011 and invite him and I for a drink to which I will pay. He and I are constantly following you on the blog and I must say it keeps us really ready for this cruise. I hope you won’t forget. It would mean a lot to both of us. Thanks Kevin
Just to let you know it’s 12 more days till your Timmies and donuts. Some people would be excited about the cruise – well you are on the cruise – so beside meeting all of us wonderful Mellow Yellows – you can look forward to your own Timmies and donuts for Heidi. I on the other hand will be excited to meet you both and enjoy the cruise.
John, our Cruise Critic group on the May 13th sailing think 1:30 p.m. in the 70′s Lounge sounds great for our more organized “Meet ‘n’ Greet” on our first “fun day at sea” (that’s the day after Naples, right? Tues., May 15th?) and, as my English friends would say, we are chuffed that you and Heidi will be joining us! If you put an announcement in the Capers, remember we are the “Mellow Yellows”! You’ll recognize us on embarkation day — we’ll be the ones sporting various shades of yellow on our persons and humming or singing the old Donovan song!
Terri
John, Rus and I will be on the Bloggers Cruise. Booked our cabin today. Nina
Hello
Happy belated Birthday Heidi. My birthday is this Friday. On Saturday in Louisville Ky is the running of the Kentucky Derby. The queen mother from england will be in town as well as lots of other celebrities. I will keep my eye out for Angelina Jole for you. This week there has been a balloon race,a parade,The Great Steamboat Race,mini marathon and several hundred events that take place leading up to the greatest two minutes in sports. A few days ago you posted that you might start having quest bloggers. I think that this is a good idea. Maybe you could get the captain,the manager of shore excursions,a maitre d,one of the dancers or the head pastry chef just to name a few. I would love to hear about what they think of the Carnival Freeddom ship and what they do onboard. Have a good day.
Kena and David
P.S,
A very Happy Birthday to you Heidi !
Kathy and Paul
dear john, i really enjoy reading your blog and as i will be sailing with you on july 12th with some friends, i like all the info you provide. I’m an avid cruiser who usually sails on smaller ships ( seadreamyacht club, seabourn, sevens seas ). i wpuld like to know if there is a lmimit to the amount of times one can eat in the supper club, or can we eat there every night if we so choose??. please let me know and keep up the great work, looking forward to sailling with you, best regards, mitchell kunin
Good Morning John, I am with Big Ed for a Jan. 2009 2nd bloggers cruise on the new Splendor, when it comes to Florida for caribbean cruises, I guess you will be on the inaugural of that ship and I see it goes to Amsterdam (where you met Heidi) and originates from London, so you both can visit family! Cannot go in Jan. 2008 on the Freedom for the 1st bloggers cruise, just can’t swing it so close to our Nov. 2007 cruise, so Big Ed and I are voting for Jan. 2009-he has the date, it’s the end of that month, we are the first 2 signed up, so keep that in mind ok? Linda & Mike (the painter)
Well Kuwait is very nice but it’s starting to become VERY hot. It will soon reach the mid 100′s and boy will we be cranking the air. I have to admit Kuwait is a very nice country with little flaws. Despite the fact that in the summer it reaches unreasonable temperatures, it is also known for it’s very scary and bad driving. I think it is like #3 in the world for accident yet it is so small. Being originally from Los Angeles, California the people here I find are very nice. Kuwait is also a very rich country and among the most luxerious I’ve been to. You may ask “It’s by Iraq, don’t you feel in danger?” That is infact the least thing I worry about. The first is the driving as I said. I have lived here for 2 years and in been in 3 car crashes, 2 of those crashes the car flipped a number of 2 times lol. We have been here for 2 years now and above all I like it alot. Where are you from and tell me a little about yourself now
.
Hi John,
Mount Etna is acting up. You should show it to your guest (and take full credit for it… tell them you convinced the Captain to align the ship for best viewing). Anyway, I wish we were there to see it. Maybe it will last a couple of weeks.
Bests, Andy
Hi John
Just a line to say we have just signed to the ‘Bloggers’ cruise and we are so pleased with the destinations. We live in Essex which is a particularly Mountainous part of the UK , as you know John, and although great for us skiers, (we go on the piste every Friday in season),it is a cold harsh environment, we are therefore really looking forward to tropical climes so will the weather be good in the ‘Caribee’ in Jan.?
Bill & Sue
John
I noticed no suites available on the ‘bloggers’, is there any chance of these becoming available if not and we booked through another source would we not be deemed part of the Bloggai.
Best wishes to you and Heidi
Essexmam, I just did a search at CARNIVAL.COM and there are plenty of cabins in all categories still open during the Blogger thingy. Even suites. I know because I’m still working on Mrs “BIG” Ed.
“BIG” Ed
We would like to be a part of your bloger’s cruise. Is it possible to book with our favorite Carnival reservation person. When, I talked to her she said I had to book with group dept. ? Please help me. We enjoyed our April cruise with you. The Freedom is the nicest ship we have been on.