LUV2CRUISE & JOHN FROM MOUNT HOLLY – Leona & John, of course I would come and say goodbye to you both. It’s always strange to leave before the cruise is really over, but it just worked out that way that I flew home from Pisa. Looking forward to seeing you on the Bloggers Cruise!

ROCHELLE – I have decided to write a blog each cruise as I need to be able to rectify John’s mistakes on the numbers concerning our marriage, etc…:)

He is definitely taking good care of me;I can’t wish for a more thoughtful and caring man than he is. I think you should cruise on the Carnival Splendor and before embarking in the UK spend some time in Holland. There are many direct flights to Amsterdam from the U.S. so that won’t be a problem. If you ever decide to visit Holland let me know and I will give you some tips of where to go and where not to go.

WENDY – Mum’s cooking is the best, especially now I can request what to have for dinner. When my brother and I were younger, we would eat what was on the table, she didn’t take requests then, so things change once you leave home. My brother is a good cook, as well, we both learned from my mum and when John and I are at home. Sometimes I will still call her in the middle of preparing dinner to ask her quickly how to do certain things; some things you just can’t learn from a cookbook. Thank you for your comments — it’s nice to hear from a “mom” from California.

HEIDI – BETH – Wow, what a beautiful name! I only have one name, not even a middle name. Always meant to ask my parents why that happened as my brother has three names — some things just aren’t fair…….I am sure you will enjoy your cruise on the Carnival Glory. John and I have very happy memories from that ship. It’s funny how you just remember more from one ship or the other. Let us know what it was like!

PAUL F. PIETRANGELO – Hello Sir. I feel like I have to call you Sir, with a name like that, wow!
There is as much hope of John slowing down as our desk ever being tidy or me not finding any underwear on the bathroom floor, so the answer to your question has to be no…. Ciao for now!

PAM – It seems like your brother has been around the world a bit and now, living in Hong Kong, he could be John’s sister’s neighbor. She moved there for work and her family is joining her in August. Austria is probably my favorite country in the world. I went there with mum, dad and brother from the moment I was born. Skiing and summer holidays, climbing mountains with my dad, me secured by him on a rope.

He was a great mountain climber. We would have backpacks on with our lunches in it, which always included a Milka chocolate bar and an orange drink in a plastic bottle in the shape of an orange. Wonderful memories! Looking forward to seeing you on the Bloggers Cruise and yes, you will get to meet Alan. He really is a sweetheart and takes a lot of abuse from John…..poor thing. The only time he really got his own back on John was at our wedding when he was John’s best man and he had “freedom of speech” in his best man’s speech. That time, John couldn’t get back at him as all the family and friends were present J

DOUGNEWMANATSEA – Hello Doug from Nieuw-Nederland! Thank you making the effort to send me a message in Dutch. It’s perfect, thank you. On the subject of Herring: Last week, the first fishing boat came in to the harbor with the first “Nieuwe Haring” (new herring), which is always a big moment. Celebrities in Holland all come together and then they auction of the first barrel of herring. Especially for you, here are some more facts:

The ‘Hollandse Nieuwe’ (Dutch New) is the first herring that is caught in season, usually in May. As soon as the herring has a minimum of 16% fat, it may hit the market as ‘Hollandse Nieuwe’. But there are other demands. The herring must be gutted, ripened, salted and filleted in the traditional Dutch way. During gutting, the gills, intestines and throat of the herring are removed. The pancreas remains as it helps the herring ripen. Herring is caught nearly all year long, but not all herring can be called ‘Hollandse Nieuwe’ or ‘maatjesharing’ (young herring).

I hope you get the opportunity soon to try this delicacy.

MARIJ VAN DINTER – Kijk er naar uit om jullie aan boord te mogen begroeten. Wel gezellig, zo’n stel Brabanders! Heb jij de Hollandse Nieuwe al geprobeerd? Wat is dat toch lekker zeg….Geen zorgen hoor over je Nederlands, zoek me maar op als jullie iets willen weten over de toers enz. enz. daar ben ik voor.

En ja, hij bedoelde saucijsengbroodjes, heeeeeerlijk! Alvast een goeie reis naar Rome! Haudoe he. (is dat goed??)

SHARONR – Hello Sharon, it’s indeed hard to slow John down, he doesn’t want to let anybody down by not responding to their comments, but I wonder how long he will be able to and still do his job on board and keep the guests on board entertained and informed. There are more and more comments each day…..Looking forward to meeting you on board.

LOOKINGFORWARDTOTHENEEARLYSMOKEFREE-CARNIVALFREEDOM – I am sorry I disappointed you by not reporting on the state of our cabin…I thought that by now all of our blogging friends realized that the state of our cabin will never be neat and tidy. It’s quite amazing how much mess he manages to make in such a small place. Picking up after him is a daily cardio workout for me, so the gym is not really necessaryJ  132 days now I think (I am writing this on June 18)

NUMBER12 - Hello number 12. If your dining sitting is at 6:30 pm, then you will enjoy your daily dinner in the Posh Dining Room, located in the aft of the ship on decks 3 and 4. I highly recommend the melting chocolate cake as a dessert (every night!)

R-D-C-ETTEDEBBIE – Nutella on a pancake/crepe is also very nice! Actually, just sticking your finger in the pot and licking the chocolate of your finger is good, too….

I was happy to share my saying goodbye idea with everybody. It’s the only way to do it when you say goodbye to someone you love. California is also on my list of “places I would still like to visit,” not just for the wine….Hope you enjoyed your camping trip.

KATHY KROLL – Hello Kathy and Paul. We didn’t get to have a cup of coffee together, but on the Carnival Splendor I will definitely make time for that, I promise.

Organizing 1,800 guests leaving the ship in various ports to go on tour is hard work, but always gives you a good feeling when once it’s done.

John is thrilled, but so am I. We might have been together for over 10 years, but we still act like we just met yesterday. I think if you can work and live together in such small surroundings, you are meant for each other. Coffee is on me on the Carnival Splendor!

SONJA BONISCH – Lieve Son, bedankt voor het lezen van onze blog. Zo blijf je tenminste bij van onze belevenissen nu we elkaar zo weinig zien. Dikke kus voor Daan!

Lieve groeten voor jou en Jan.

BLESS1045 – Thank you for the nice comments about my mum. My mum is turning 65 this year and I wish I had the same beautiful skin as her. Unfortunately I don’t…she looks really good for her age and I make sure I tell her every time I see her. I will write a blog once a cruise, so watch out for the next one, thank for reading all the blogs.

LINDA HERNACKI – Hello Linda & Handyman Mike. John and I both love children, so we hope to have a family sometime soon. My brother has three children and John’s sister has two, so we are used to little ones in the family. It seems that your children keep you busy as well, with all the grandchildren. I hope everything goes well with your daughter’s delivery, let me know if it is a boy or a girl and his or her name.

DRIEK & TIL – Ha die oom en tante. Ja, de foto’s waren goed gelukt, alleen jammer dat ik bij ome Taxi en ome Vleeshandel geen foto’s had gemaakt, want die zijn nu jaloers en daar word ik nu dus noooooit meer uitgenodigd…

Nou ja, de bunch en de heerlijke tong met warme vruchtjes heb ik in ieder geval “in de pocket.”  Tot schrijfs maar weer.

DEBBIE IN LOUISIANA – Hello Debbie. Welcome to John’s blog world. As for your question, on non-formal nights, a pair of slacks and a polo shirt is just fine; the first of the two formal nights is the most formal, as it’s the Captains Gala. You will be invited for the Captain’s Cocktail Party, then you go for dinner and after that you will be able to enjoy one of our wonderful shows on board. Make sure you come and say hello to us!

EVA – Your comment came through loud and clear. Maybe I might not be working on the Carnival Splendor, but believe me, I will be sailing a lot! So the chance of meeting each other is rather big. I hope we will meet, until then take care.

BARB & CARL THE BEARS – Hello Bear Friends. Thank you for all the candy we received from you both. I will make sure that Zuzana receives her candy tomorrow. You two are too sweet. Thank you for the nice comment about the photo on the blog heading. I never like the way I look on photos, but this one got my permission, could have been worse, John could have posted on of me in bed…:)

Good Morning……………….It is now 5:45am and I am here with Heidi preparing to start debarkation in Rome. The sun is already shining and it looks like it will be a beautiful day. I found it hard to get out of bed today and I feel quite tired. Heidi and I have now been working flat out since February 10th and I guess it is catching up on me today. So, as I stiffle a big yawn and in between disembarking the guests I will attempt to catch up on some questions and also have a bit of fun with you all as well.

Oh, by the way, talking of February which was when Heidi and I arrived in the shipyard, here are some photos that I thought you would enjoy. These photos are of the ship a few months before it was ready to sail and also some of the Cunard ship Queen Victoria which was being built alongside us. I have been wondering when to post these. But as you will see from below today is the perfect day.

Last night the cast held a party backstage to say goodbye to Heather our Senior Entertainment Technician who is responsible for the backstage operations during the shows. Heather will be missed and as I know her family are blog readers I wanted to make sure they knew how proud they should be of her work here. We will miss her.

This morning, we are at our new terminal in Civitavecchia and things are going a little slower than usual but that is to be expected. I said goosbye to as many of the BLOGGERS as I vould but I missed some so I hope they got the messages I left on their voice mails. I enjoyed meeting you all and wish my job allowed me more time to spend with you and I hope you all continue to read the blog thingy until we meet again.

I spoke to my mate Alan yesterday who is loving all the attention he is getting on the blog. He and his family are sailing in August so I will make sure we take lots of photos of him in his Speedos. As we chatted yesterday Alan was give me a good ” bollocking ” which means he was not happy about me discussing with thousands of people that he used to have a van with The A Team Stripe down the side. I apologized and told him it could have been worse if I told everyone about the time he was coming home from an office party on the train……………..he asked me not to mention it, so I won’t……….for now.

Back on board we have been debarking guests for about 1 hour and 45 minutes ( shows you how long it has taken me to type the little I have ) and we have 1200 guests off the vessel.
I read stories all the time about private transportation that arrives late and some not at all. This is the case this morning with a group of 42 from a group called ………actually, maybe I should not mention the travel agency as they are a very large organization and I do not want to be sued. So, this group have been waiting outside on the pier since 6:30am, I know because they are right outside my window. I asked a staff member to go over and talk to them and they have people within the group with 9:45am flights. It is now 7:44am and if the bus does not come soon, I think they may have problems making the flight. The Group Leader is trying to call the bus company but from what I understand, she is having no joy.
The problem is that we don’t have spare buses for people just to hop on. All the buses we use have to pre ordered and therefore at this point there is little we can do. I hope the bus comes.
Now, some of you may be thinking that this is John’s way of telling us to buy Carnival transportation but honestly it is not. All I am saying is that the sort of thing that is happening to this group is common wheras the gentlemen who is charge of our transportation Perry is the king of his world and provides a 100% service.
So, please be careful and make sure you research the company you are using. Most are excellent, some definatley are not………………..the bus is still not here.

Heidi just called me on the radio and said the group leader is now really desperate. We are all trying to get hold of the bus company she has used ( I would love to publish the name but I cannot ) but we are getting a voice mail message.

On a lighter note and just before I start the Q and A, I wanted to let you know about a guest who last night did something that is common place. She packed all her clothes, put her suitcase outside the door as required and woke up this morning ……………with nothing to wear except her nightdress. Now, you would have expected her to call someone to help her but she decided to walk ashore with her husband who also had nothing to wear except what he slept in wearing bathrobes.
Guests walking of in bathrobes have no place to hide and they might as well hang a big sign round their necks saying ” we left nothing out to wear, please laugh at us “………………………and everyone did. Heidi escorted them off the vessel and I asked if I could mention them in the blog – they had no idea what I was talking about but they were happy to share their embaressment if it would help others and as heidi gave them the blog page adress thingy, I know they are reading this.

Therefore, good morning to Mr and Mrs Margret and Harold Chambers who are home now and had to change into their clothes in the terminal bathrobes. Harold was apprently dressed only in the bathrobe when he disembarked but got through customs because he had NOTHING TO DECLARE. Thanks to you both for adding to this fun cruise.

Just received a care package from Carl and Barb, my favorite Bears. I received some sugar free chocolates, Heidi got some starburst and most importantly I got a matchbox DB7 car. Thank you so much for your generosity, I am truly touched by this. I also got 11 other letters from bloggers and past cruisers so I guess slapping on my address was a good idea. I will reply to you all via the blog ASAP, but thank you so much.

Here is today’s trivia question.

THE MOVIE TRIOLOGY ” LETHAL WEAPON ” HAS A CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE CONNECTION – WHAT IS IT?
Ok, its off we go with today’s Q and A.

JO MYERLY – Yes Jo, the Eiffel Tower lady was indeed a trip but she unfortunatley blamed me saying that I had called it this and spoke about it during my Cannes Travel Talk. I apologized and said I was sorry if I had mislead her…………….sometimes it is better to admit defeat before the battle starts. I hope she enjyed her trip to the Leaning Tower Of Eiffel, we all make mistakes, it is what makes the world so much fun, wouldn’t it be boring if everything was perfect all the time?
Hope you are well Jo and talk to you soon.
THE PRIVATE GROUP’S BUS HAS JUST COME – 1 HOUR AND 40 MINUTES LATE – I DOUBT SOME WILL MAKE THEIR FLIGHT
ROCHELLE – That is very interesting. So RCCL had saved all the clothes that people leave behind for guests with missing luggage. I am not sure our guests leave too much behind but it certainly it is a good idea. I am going to make a call to the Pursers and Houskepping now and see how many items are left.
Ok, we do have some items but not enough to start handing out clothes to guests with missing luggage. However, I think it is a good idea and maybe we can pool our resources from around the fleet. Thank you Rochelle and I will let you know how this goes. Hope you keep reading the blog thingy and all the best.
HEIDI – BETH – I am glad you like the blog so much and Heidi really likes your name. There is as you have seen always something going on here that will make you smile or sometimes laugh out loud. Then, there are situations that make you ver sad indeed………………..thats life on a cruise ship.
The best thing about your comment was that you mentioned Aston Martin and asked if there is room on the ship to drive one……………..yes – round the jogging track although that might be difficult because I have never been able to find the jogging track.
I am sure you are excited about your Carnival Glory trip and if I can help in anyway before hand please let me know.
BOB HICKLY – And of course I rember you and your group, how could I not as you and the entire group were so much fun, all the time. You must be exhausted. I am happy to hear that you are cruising with me in April next year and I hopw we can have just as much fun as we did a few weeks ago. Please say hello to all the family from Heidi and I and don’t worry about my Alabama friend, it is people like her that brighten my day. Missing you all here very much. Yaba Daba Doo.
STORMIN NORMAN – I had heard about Lorraine Artz the passenger who was Godmother of the Royal Princess from PA 007. Apparently she did a great job and PA 007 reported that Mrs Artz was resplendent in a beautiful dress by top designer T.A. Too ( Honk Kong’s top designer ) and as she stood a breast of the vessel the bottle smashed first time which is the main thing. Congratulatioons to princess and congratulations to Lorraine who must be so proud. She has spent as you said 4,100 days at sea and to thank her Princess gave her this honour……..and as a special gift………………….they gave her a free cruise!
Hope all is well Norman and Ausie, Ausie, Ausie.
DOUGNEWMANATSEA – The sun story is brilliant and proves yest again that the tourist is the best source of comedy in the world. I will pass your thaks to PA 007 who does indeed have some great sources but I am concerned that soon PA’s boss – M – will indeed that instead of doing what PA is supposed to time is being spent in clandestine operations for me. I have this image of PA turning up for work back in Miami in the corner cubicle wearing all black and a black balaclava.
I am sorry you cannot open any of the Grand Turk photos but thank you for correcting me on the name of the Holland America ship. I was told by the chap that took them that it vws the Prinsendam but after research you are correct that it is indeed The Oosterdam.
I would love to sail on a Holland America ship and you are correct Mr Arison did buy them first and even though some people were concerned that Carnival would change the lines tradition and style all Mr Arison did was make sure they were elevated into a postion of strength thanks to marketing and of course providing them with new vessels in which to keep those traditions front and center at least that is what I think but when the decision was made to buy Holland America I could not attend the board meeting as I was having my hemeroids seen to, otherwise I would have been there.
When are you on the Carnival Victory? Hope to hear from you soon and if you have any more missions for PA 007 – let me know.
JERRY CALVERT – Thanks for the comments and Carnival is as you say working very hard to make sure that the piers in Cozumel are indeed rebuilt after the dreadufl hurricane damage they endured. With regard to your TransAtlantic information, can you be a liitle more specific on what details you need help with and I will be more than happy to make sure you get the right information. Looking forward to hearing from you.
ESSEXMAN – You forgot Pater Pans Playground and Alan’s favorite Leigh Tip. Your three serious suggestions are spot on especialy Colchester being the oldest town in England. Sometimes we take the micky out of Essex but it is a beautiful county. Heidi sends her best to you and asks if you know any Essex Girl Jokes?
HIJEAN – If you were here, I would kiss you ( on the cheek ) and then have you tel;l this story on stage tonight. I am sure that when we sail that we will have people with missing luggage and maybe your comments will reasure them that our onboard staff will do their best to make sure the airlines work hard to get the missing bags here. I am going to forward your comments to the Pursers to let them know that their efforts are appreciated. I hope things improve in the airline industry and with the ever increasing costs, smaller seats, long lines, extra security and the chance of arriving with no bags, those little bags of peanuts they give us should be little bags of lobsters and caviar.
So, thank you for this and all the support you give the blog thingy.
R – D- C-ETTE DEBBIE – The weather this cruise was much better apart from the rough seas in Cannes so the guests were very lucky. I have no idea how I will manage without Heidi next year on the Carnival Splendor. She will obviously visit me as much as possible and we will see how it goes. Thank you for thinking of me and Heidi and your kind thoughts help me get through the busy day ahead.
JUDY MICHAELS – It is a small world is it not that just at the start of this blog I was typing how a group had booked a bus to pick them up and that it was nearley two hours late, and then I read your comments. I am sorry that you went through the misery of being stung for $186 dollars when your transport did not arrive and hopefully people will indeed be wary of the perils of private transportation here in Italy and indeed other destinations.
I am so glad you enjoyed the cruise and I thank you and your family for spending your valuable time on the vessel with us and I hope the overall memory will be one of fun and great exploration rather than the issues we just discussed. Until the next time, please keep reading the blog thingy.
LINDA HERNACKI – As always Linda your comments brighten my day. Thursdays indeed may not be enough and I am looking at the possible adition of Monday afternoons as well, I will keep you posted.
When you said that the bloggers were extended family for Heidi and I ayou are indeed correct and I am sure that whatever happens in our lives we will be sharing it all, the good and the bad with you all. Best to you and Mike the Head Of Bulb Exchange.
Essexman – Smart man !
THERESA TAYLOR – Larry would not take my call. Oh well, there will be other oppertunities to make AJ see that this is one chance she should take to be by my side……………………and of course to be Godmother of the CS. With your support and others on this blog I will not give up the Quest For The Holy Jolie.
Hope to see you soon Theresa.
VIKKI – Look for Heidi’s next blog which is due soon and she will be telling you all about the joys of Herring. Personaly, I like my fish to come in newspaper and accomponied by chips and not with the head still on and a pair of eyes staring at me saying ” you bas%$#@ ” for eating me.
Where is Mat?
FREDDY BEACH – Great Name. October will be here before you know it and yes, you are considering a great tour and one I love…………Mount Etna at 2900.
Up you go to the bottom crater by bus, then its all on a cable car and from there the 20 minute ride to the top. Once there you get in a Unimog 4 wheel drive truck and down into the top crater you go. You will need a coat, there will be snow on the ground and all I can say is WOW…………..this is an amazing indescribable place. There you will be, standing atop a live volcanoe……………………..incomparable.
So Freedy, book it now because this is one tour that does indeed always sell out.Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
JAMES NOLAN – Good Morning Iraq. This is indeed an honour ( spelt correctly ) to have you grace our website from where you are. How fantastic that you enjoyed your cruise so much, it feels like you were just here and now you are back serving your country. We all salute you kames and hope you stay safe. Please let us know when you can how you are doing.
SEWINGNUT – How is my wollen G String coming along. Crossfire was a game…………..you know what, Mum, please can you take a photo of my crossfire game please………………….one will be here on the next blog. Until then, get sewing, winter will soon be here and I refuse to wear these boxer shorts as heidi wants. It is always great to hear from you.
BREAKING NEWS FROM PA 007
QE2 To Leave Cunard Fleet And Be Sold To Dubai World To Begin A New Life At The Palm
June 18, 2007
Cunard Line today announced the sale of QE2 to Dubai World, in a US$100 million deal which will turn the iconic liner into a first-class tourism destination at The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.
QE2 will be delivered to Dubai World in November 2008, where she will cease her role as an ocean-going passenger vessel and be refurbished and adapted for her new home. From 2009, the vessel will be berthed at a specially-constructed pier to create a luxury floating hotel, retail and entertainment destination at The Palm Jumeirah, the world’s largest man-made island.
The ship, which was launched by Her Majesty The Queen in September 1967, 40 years ago this year, is the longest-serving ship in Cunard’s 168-year history, and was their longest-serving flagship. Since she came into service in 1969, she has undertaken 25 world cruises, has crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and has carried more than 2.5 million passengers.
QE2 has been purchased by Istithmar, the investment arm of Dubai World, a wholly owned company of the Government of Dubai. Nakheel, developer of The Palm Jumeirah, is also a Dubai World company.
Carol Marlow, president and managing director of Cunard, said:”We are delighted that when her legendary career as an ocean liner ends there will continue to be a permanent home for her that will enable future generations to continue to experience fully both the ship and her history.”
Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai World, said:
“QE2 is without a doubt one of the wonders of the maritime world, and is easily the most famous serving liner in the world today. I am delighted we will be able to create a home for her on the newest wonder of the world, The Palm Jumeirah.”
“QE2 at The Palm Jumeirah will become one of the must-see experiences of Dubai and of the Middle East. We are investing in creating a truly global tourism destination.”
“Dubai is a maritime nation and we understand the rich heritage of QE2. She is coming to a home where she will be cherished.”
Istithmar said its refurbishment programme will aim to recreate QE2′s original interior décor and fittings. QE2 at The Palm Jumeirah will also include a museum celebrating the rich history of the ship.

So, now you know why I decided to print the photos of the Queen Victoria being constructed in the Marghera Ship Yard outside of Venice.
As one grand old Queen leaves us another takes her place. So it is goodbye to probably the most famous Cruise Ship in the world ( still afloat ) and hello to a new addition and one who I am sure will take her place with regal dignaty beside her fellow royal The Queen Mary 2.

I wonder if there will be a third Queen soon. I obviously have no way of knowing but I am sure the brilliant minds at Carnival Coperation are already thinking of adding a third Queen to the fleet of this famous line………………………….I wonder what Queen she will be named after…………………….Maybe Queen Elizabeth 3, how about Queen Vamilla…………..oh no, forget that ……………………………what other Queens…………………………………….ah yes……………………………perfect………………………..Queen Elton John………………………….he can be the Godmother as well.

I have to go and do some proper work now and host my Welcome Aboard Talk…………………….wish you were here.

Your friends

John and Heidi

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL DADS – WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT YOU?

Wow, What A Day………………..I am very tired as I start this blog at 8 pm. The ship was in Cannes, South Of France today and I awoke at 7 m ready to start the tendering operation. Yesterday evening, Captain Marino had discussed with me that due to high winds that were expected the afternoon we would be there that he may have to maneuver the vessel away from the usual anchoring spot to the other side of Cannes behind a small island called San Michel.

I decided therefore that it would be best to alert guests to this fact because they would return to the tender station ashore from their tours and exploration and see the ship GONE. This would be due to the fact the ship would be the other side of the island in front of Cannes and I imagined the panic in peoples mind when they see nothing but ocean and their cruise ship nowhere to be seen.

So, I had prepared the guests for this and I awoke this morning hoping that it would not be the case. We started tendering guests ashore in calm seas and, by 11 a.m., 2,800 guests were ashore leaving only 400 onboard. The winds were calm and the sun was shining as I made a general clearance announcement and then headed back to the cabin.

Then, at 12:10 pm the phone rang and the Captain said shortly he would have to move the ship as it was unsafe to take guests ashore and to have guests return to the vessel. Why, well we have two platforms or pontoons that are used for guests to board the tenders from and these were now virtually underwater, the swells were getting bigger and the wind was reaching 50 knots.

Heidi and I got ready quickly and grabbed Stephanie one of the entertainment staff and we caught the last tender going ashore before the Captain took up the anchor.

Previous to this, I had made an announcement that we would be moving the ship and therefore the tender service would stop for approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

The ride across to the pier was very rough as the tender danced to Mother Nature’s anger, so I knew we had made the right choice. Once at the pier we positioned ourselves around the entrance to the tender service pier and talked to guests suggesting that they take a walk into Cannes and return in an hour. Most did, some did choose to stay and wait.

The wait lasted one hour and 30 minutes and during this time Heidi, Stephanie and I spoke to guests and I remained in contact with the ship by my cell phone as the radio was out of distance (thanks to Roger in advance for paying my cell phone bill):

By 2:20 pm we were ready to start the tender service again, it had been a wait of 1hour and 45 minutes. I had called the ships agent Roberto (thanks for your help today, MERCI) and asked for an extra tender. By the time we started we had about 400 guests waiting to return and as they boarded I stood by the gangway and thanked them all for their patience. It is amazing 390 people said how they understood, a few said “What about lunch?” and, of course, there was one guest – there always is – who looked at me and said that this was “organized chaos and Carnival should be ashamed.” I tried to explain but after just a few words he said I was “full of sh#@” and got on the tender. I admit now, to the thousands of readers that I was close to losing my temper but I did control it and said nothing.

Anyway, I had called the ship and asked F&B to keep all the lunch options open until 5 pm which I am sure helped the guests – as to how many felt hungry after the roller coaster ride back to the ship. I am not sure.

Heidi and I stayed on the pier until 3 pm. I felt a bit “wobbly” as I had not eaten all day and my sugar level was probably low so that was a good excuse to go and have lunch/tea ashore.

The ship has just left and we were only 40 minutes late in sailing and, considering the tender ride was double the length of time it normally is, that’s not too shabby.

Here are two photos, one of the ship a long way away from the shoreline and one we took on the bridge of the tender boat.

OK, it is show time so I will continue later.

OK, I am back and I have an hour and 30 minutes before the next show so while Heidi prepares the schedules for next cruise I will get on with some Q & A.

Oh, by the way, someone had a great time in Cannes today. Here is why with a message from Nate, our onboard golf pro.

John,

If you wouldn’t mind mentioning in one of your talks or on one of your shows before the end of this cruise, that Leland Stoddard III (age 17) of Beaufort South Carolina had a hole in one today on hole #8 at the Royal Mougins Golf Club. The hole was 160 meters long and he used a 5-wood.

And maybe could put it your blog as well. Here is a picture of him and his father.

Congratulations mate. I nearly hit a hole in one once but the clown’s arm came down from behind the windmill and blocked the ball.

Let me start by answering a few things from yesterday courtesy of my PA 007 who has provided us with the following information.

HERE IS TODAY’S TRIVIA QUESTION……………………….On what Carnival Ship would you find a lounge called TERRACES IN THE GROVE?

First of all, to the worried blogger who was concerned that the HOLIDAY was going to leave Alabama at the end of the year, I have this message.

There are no plans to remove the Holiday from Mobile. All programs are out thru 08 and Holiday is there.

So, great news for Alabama and I hope that PA 007 does not get into trouble for releasing this information. PA is after all only a filing clerk but has great connections in all of Carnival’s departments thanks to being part of Carnival Cruise Lines bowling team……………..PA tells me that there is always lots of gossip round the bowling lanes.

Also: I mentioned that P & O has Carnival’s ex-Jubilee ship sailing out of Australia and we were wondering about her name. PA 007 tells me it is PACIFIC STAR.

Finally, the godmother issue. The question was has anyone been godmother twice. The answer is yes, Madeleine Arison, the beautiful wife of Carnival Corporation & plc’s Chairman and CEO Micky Arison. Now, you are going to ask what ships? PA 007 will have to figure that one out as that information was not provided. Maybe, during the next bowling match PA can find out.

BREAKING NEWS JUST IN……………AS 007 IS FANTASTIC AT MULTI-TASKING. I RECEIVED THIS INFORMATION WHILE PA WAS BOWLING THIS EVENING IN A CARNIVAL vs COSTA BOWLING TOURNAMENT.

Tropicale, Carnival Triumph as well as Holland America Line’s Ryndam Costa Cruises’ Costa Tropicale ARE THE SHIPS NAMED BY MRS ARISON………………by the way, I am wearing am wearing a pair of hired bowling shoes……ouch!

Let’s start the Q & A from the BLOG WITH NO NAME addition……………….I have decided to tell you which blogs I am answering questions from as I am falling behind. This is due to the average comments reaching 60 per blog and I do not want people to think I have forgotten them.

Here we go.

VIKKI AND MATT – And this is the perfect place to start. Yes, I do remember when I only had five comments and questions to answer. Oh well, at least it shows that people are still reading the blog thingy. Thank you for saying you love the blog and that is the perfect way to give me energy to answer the next 14 pages of comments. Thanks Vikki.
BILL, MICHIGAN – Go ahead and link the photos Bill. We all look forward to seeing them mate.
I&MsMOM – At the time of writing PA 007 has not been able to glean any further information on the South America cruise in 2009. That information is locked in a vault well away from PA’s corner cubicle and only the top people at Carnival know what, where and when. However, I have the utmost faith using his skill and expertise PA 007 will be providing us with more information within the next few weeks. Stand by, PA always comes through. I am glad you are excited though as you are correct, it is going to be a great adventure.
BARBARA LYLE… – Now the MAGIC reference makes sense. Let me know when your Cruise Critic party is and if I am not on stage I will, of course, be there. You asked about the Rijksmuseum (it is one word in Dutch and notice the J) and if it is open. Heidi has checked and it will be open. Here is the link thingy that takes you to the information page.http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/index.jsp
While you are there you must go to Anne Frank’s House and also another Dutch tourist attraction called The Banana……..never mind. Have fun, Amsterdam is amazing and we will see you here in September.
RowdyCamperetteDebbie – I now acknowledge that you have indeed changed the name of Ma Jong to MaJohn, it is just that even writing the word gives me goose bumps and gas! I spoke to your friend live on the Morning Show and she was shocked and surprised to know that she had a big birthday and now the entire ship knew as well. We had a lot of fun and you sent her a gift as well. I loved the words “I am living a cruise through this blog” because that is one of my major objectives to make you all feel at home here. Thanks again from me MaJohn.
BIG ED – Spoke to all the bloggers onboard this week and your name as usual came up. To have you NOT on the Bloggers Cruise would be like Carnival without the Fun, Eggs without Bacon and Angelina without me…….Come on mate, I even promised to wash your underwear. I have spoken to my PA 007 about you becoming the assistant PA 0000001 and once PA is promoted then the job is yours along with a small corner cubicle. What do you think? As I was saying to Carol, it is a very small world. I DO NOT THINK I AM BEING CRUEL to Alan and when you meet him on the BLOGGERS CRUISE I am sure he will spill the beans on many things I got up to as a lad.
Here is today’s photo of Alan at 14 in his school uniform.

Thanks mate for the heads up with regards to Anita. We will be taking special care of her while she in on board.
CAROL SCHOENBERGER – I cannot believe that you not only got the trivia question write but you WERE THERE. So was I and in 1988 I was a social host for the first time with Gary Hunter as cruise director. It really is a small world and indeed a fantastic one that nearly 20 years later we can reminisce about this awful movie………………and it was, awful. I am so happy you got the question correct but I would have rather you had won the island. I thought it was a charter but I guess I was wrong. I do remember Cyndi performing her hit “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and I also remember her bodyguard was a wrestler who for some unknown reason had a elastic band round his long moustache. Do you remember his name? I wish I could send you a prize but I hope instead that you consider my thanks for writing and my friendship good enough until we meet again when I will bestow chocolate covered strawberries upon you. Thanks Carol…………………..we go way back eh.
DWA76 – George and Ante were indeed maitre d’s and, as far as I know, both are still with us……………let me check and get back to you. I will indeed provide you of a photo of Alan’s A Team van, as I am sure I have one somewhere at home. Sorry the trivia question was so tough and how crazy that Carol was on the cruise it was shown. Maybe you will get today’s trivia question. Thanks for your comments and hop to hear from you very soon.
LINDA HERNACKI – I hope things work out for you and you are reunited with your brother. There is nothing more important in this world then family. Heidi is back on board now, all is well, except for I can’t find any clean socks as she has moved them somewhere. My best to you and Mike the Bulb.
KATHY KROLL – What a wonderful cruise history you have. Starting in 1969 till the present day. How funny that you mentioned Nick Navarro who, you are correct, did indeed choreograph our shows on the Ecstasy, Sensation and Imagination. Glad to hear that he is still going strong, please pass on my best regards to him, if you ever see him. As regards to you, I am sure you and Paul are still going very strong and hopefully strong enough to cruise soon.
Best Regards to you both.
LisaMarie & Sean – Welcome back home and I love hearing from people who have recently cruised on the Carnival Freedom. I am glad you took the rain in Venice and the angry seas we encountered in good spirits and I hope you had your sea legs. Comparing me to Julie from the Love Boat was interesting. I must admit, I have never have seen an episode, however, maybe it is time for a remake. Set on a ship where there is more than one bartender and from what I understand they show the cruise director doing a bit more than making sure people fall in love. You asked for a refund because of the rain and instead of money I am giving you a free Ma John set. I hope to see you soon, send my best to Sean and if I had known you were a dietician I would have asked you for some herbal tea.
HIJEAN – Although I am working very hard to include transfers from Ciampino, I do not think we will have them up and running for your cruise at the end of June. So, unfortunately I suggest you book yourself private transportation ahead of time as on the spot taxis are very expensive – approx. 150 Euros. Don’t worry about having wrinkled clothes, every one is wrinkled after flying for nine hours your hair will be a mess, everybody looks awful, so what’s the first thing we do…………………………………..WE TAKE YOUR PHOTO. This is one photo everybody buys very quickly, so that no one else can see how bad you look. It’s our most popular photo ) See you in 12 days time. Have a safe flight.
JO MYERLY – Jo, I will of course keep you informed and if my PA 007 hears anything I am sure he will let me know. It will I am sure be a wonderful experience which I hope we share together.
JANET GUARDINO – What wonderful ideas for movies on the Carnival Splendor. I shall have to give the Carnival Splendor’s activities some serious thought soon I guess. I will keep you posted on the T-shirts and I promise we will have big sizes. I am glad that we have been able to include Russia as it is one of your dream ports and who knows, soon your other dream ports of Australia and Tahiti may be on the Carnival list of places to go. Thank you for your kind comments to me, it really made me smile. Please keep reading the blog thingy.
TORNWORDO – Welcome to the world of Blog. I am happy that you have discovered a new group of friends and hopefully you will find the information fun and informative ready for your cruise in June 2008. Please let me know if I can help in any way.
LINDA THE MOUSE – I am not surprised that shopping came first and I do not think you will be seeing the Titanic movie very soon on Carnival ships, however, I agree you haven’t really lived until you have seen a cruise ship sink on a big screen while on a cruise ship. Thanks as always for your kind comments, hope to hear from you soon.
SHEREE – Not long now and you will be here and I am sure the weather will be just perfect. Cell phone charges on board apply specific to your provider. While it is great to have constant service, I do have to admit that it is not cheap. So, I would advise that Courtney checks her messages as little as possible. Congratulations to her on her interview and I am glad you are enjoying the blog so much. I look forward to meeting you very soon.
SHARONR – You should right now have read my answer to your posting. I am working approximately three days behind in answering questions. I hope you understand sometimes it’s difficult every question on the day they are posted. Keep reading the blog and I am so happy that you have discovered it.
CAPTAIN CHUCK – I hope you are wrong too mate. It is getting harder to keep up with all the comments and questions, especially now we are averaging 60 per blog. I also have to say, that you are correct that I do not have much of a social life, however, I have an obligation to 350,000+ people who have thumbed on this blog thingy. The most important thing is, I will try very hard to continue to find a median in which I can provide a fun time for the guests on board and still provide my new friends on this blog as much fun and information as I can. Thanks for your concern mate.
Maybe if there was a chance of an Aston Martin at the end of the year it might help me get through this. )
CINDY GESKEY – Cindy, I think you have made the right choice in not taking a tour upon arrival in Rome and instead waiting till the following day. There will be a Carnival representative in the hotel so you can wake up in the morning and see if you feel like taking a tour. You may also want to just walk around on your own. Again, depending on the yet lag. I hope your passports arrive and if you have any other questions before your cruise starts, I am at your service.
LFTTNSFCF – Congratulations on being chosen as editor of Flatulence Magazine which will offer fashion advice for travelers. I suggest your first article be about your wife, as she obviously needs as much space for her suitcases as possible. May I suggest you charter the Holiday, just for your wife’s luggage? I am not sure about your choice of Alan as European fashion related traveler or E-FART, as Alan’s idea of dressing up is to put up his Tinky Winky costume. Big Ed is the natural choice for your staff and he, I am sure, will provide wonderful articles about the correct dress code for being stuck in a booth in the dining room. Please send my regards to Mrs. Lfttnsfcf and I look forward to the launch of the magazine and suggest the front cover of the magazine of Alan (Tinky Winky) and Big Ed on the bridge of the Carnival Freedom. Thank you also for your continuing help to get AJ to be Godmother. I know we have 13 months yet, but I am feeling a little despondent today; don’t know why, I just hope somehow we can get through to her. Thanks again mate.
JAKE BROWN – Really happy that you discovered the blog and it sounds like you had a fantastic time on the Carnival Miracle. I will pass on your congratulations to Brent and I am sure that everyone else who will be going to St. Thomas will be grateful of your tour recommendations. Heidi is a great fan of the horse riding in Puerto Rico. I am happy to hear that the free champagne at the art auction worked and you bought a painting. I once bought a painting after a few glasses of champagne and it’s proudly hanging on my wall at home. Unfortunately it has a lady revealing her breasts, which Heidi does not care for. The painting therefore is now hanging proudly in my shed. Let me know if you need help deciding on your next cruise and if you love the ports then maybe a European cruise is for you. You are one of many thousands of guests who have discovered our supper clubs to be one of the highlights of the cruise. It really does provide a different kind of evening on board. I am always here for you, I am glad you are enjoying the blog.
JOAN CHRISTIAN – First of all, thank you for your comments and let me start by answering your question about Pisa. I am not sure why somebody would say Pisa is not worth your time as you are seeing one of the 7 Wonders of the World and how often can you say you saw that? Pisa is not just about the tower, has there is a beautiful cathedral, wonderful shopping all set in a charming Italian village. It does get very busy, but that only goes to show how popular that destination is. So, personally I think a trip to Florence and Pisa is a fantastic combination. I think you are very wise to have a rest day in Katakolon especially considering the wide ranges of your family’s ages. Please let me know if you consider any more tours and need advise for them and I will be happy to help you. I look forward to meeting your entire family soon.
CATMAMA044 – You are correct in saying that I cannot talk further about the cruise to South America on the Carnival Splendor. I do not want to get my PA 007 in trouble. PA is an office junior and is providing this information to me as a favor. The PA’s boss is a beautiful lady, but definitely would not be happy with him spending so much time talking to me. However, more news I am sure will be forthcoming. Which ship are you sailing through the Panama Canal on? Thanks for writing; I always look forward to hearing from you.
KENT SMOLL – Welcome home from your Carnival Freedom cruise and I am glad you had such a wonderful time. You are indeed correct that the Private and Exclusive View Of The Vatican is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and seeing the places most people never get to see inside this incomparable country is breathtaking. I know Luigi very well and he himself is a walking history of the Vatican and the perfect man to take you around. I know how you felt when you were in the Sistine Chapel, all alone with the thousands of regular guests having left……….words cannot describe how I felt and I am sure you feel the same. So, I hope we sail together very soon and thank you so much for sharing your valuable vacation time onboard the Carnival Freedom.
SUSAN B – It is funny that you should ask about dictating the blog every day. There is something strange happening to me though, I feel like I want to wear women’s und……..sorry, not that…..I mean that I seem to be a better writer when I type as I think, I don’t even know if that makes sense, but the words seem to flow better if I am writing them myself. I have tried dictating with Heidi typing but it seems to take longer and when I look back at the content I do not think it is as good as when I type it myself. Saying that, I am now reading what I have just written and typed myself and it is dreadful and makes no sense so I guess I am just going slowly mad……..oh well. Thanks for the promotion saying I should be paid more but honestly I am happy to do this for the love of the job, the laughter it provides, the information that makes guests enjoy their cruise that bit more, the chance to meet new people, the joy of knowing I have helped my fellow human beings and most of all because……..one day an Aston martin Dealer may read this and give me a great deal on my dream car. Thanks again for all your kind words and offers and I hope we meet in person one day soon.
DOUG NEWMAN AT SEA – It is interesting that the identity of my PA is causing a bit of a commotion and even more interesting that some have already taken it for granted that PA IS A SHE. I am not saying she is and I am not saying he is not. What I can tell you is that I have to protect their identity as PA 007 is not exactly at the top of the tree so the last thing I want is to get them fired……………….although PA is Heidi tells me very good looking/pretty and could easily be on the front cover of Vogue/GQ/Solider of Fortune/Playboy/Playgirl. You are right, of course, that I should be M not Moneypenny although naked I do look like a Q. If you need any more information on the Marco Polo sale, etc., please let me know and I will activate 007.
Thanks mate.
JAMES SPEELMAN – I think your ideas on the Web Cam are great. It would be nice to have a title stating where the vessel is. I will speak to Roger about this. You asked about the difference between GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) and where we are. The answer is ONE HOUR. So, if it is 6 am in London it is 7 am in Rome and Cannes while in Istanbul and Athens it will be 8 am. There are no clock changes on our Grand Med cruises while on the Greece/Turkey cruises we change our watches twice. Hope this helps and please let me know if you need anything else. Thanks for reading the blog thingy.
LUV CRUISIN – Welcome first time blog reader and welcome first time Carnival cruiser who will be having her first vacation experience on a Fun Ship, the Carnival Freedom in December. What a generous gift you are giving your daughter Nikki, this will be a graduation gift she will never forget. You asked about what activities and public events there are onboard. There are so many but here are a few you can look forward to.
Pool Games
Deck parties
Big Screen Movies and concerts under the stars
Trivia
Newly Wed Game
Cooking Demos
The hairy Chest Contest
The Ladies hairy Chest – oops – that’s been canceled
Bingo
Karaoke
Dance Classes
And the list goes on
As you are new to Carnival, please feel free to use this blog thingy if you have any specific questions. Remember there is a few days delay in me answering them but I always will. Welcome Aboard.
ROBERT J COLONNA – Thank you kind Sir for your comments. I have no say that your comments do prove that for many the Carnival way of dining makes sense although I am sure that there are many loyal fans who would disagree. You know, there are enough lines these days created by the sheer number of people on a ship and the one place you should not have to line up at is dinner. That’s my opinion anyway. NCL is a great cruise line and Freestyle seems to work for them but if this blog is anything to go by I think the old tradition of knowing your tablemates and your wait staff knowing you seems to be the most popular. Let the debate continue. Enjoy your cruise on the Carnival Liberty mate and I hope also that you try Harry’s supper club — it is brilliant. Hope to hear from you very soon.
MRS MTSFPBLFTTNSFCF – I know what you are saying about your luggage and the collection and dragging and carrying, etc., however, your problems are solved because your wonderful husband has just chartered the Holiday for your luggage. Seriously, I know how difficult it is to travel. Heidi and I have our entire lives in suitcases as we travel on the ships…it never gets easier and I am sure it is the one part of taking a vacation that we all dread. Maybe we should sell cruises with clothes already included. You buy a cabin and then tell us what clothes you want hanging in the cabin……………..what do you think?
SHEILA – My advice is that unless you are unsure what tours you want then please wait until you are onboard, come to the travel talks and then decide. I will also host a Q & A after each talk should you have any questions. The sunshine will be waiting for you and if I provide that can you provide some Scottish cheddar cheese? Och Eye the Noo and see you soon.
SUSAN B – I am unhappy to read that on a seven-day cruise that you do not go to the dining room because you do not want to “dress up.” While the food in our Lido deck restaurants is delicious you really are missing two great meals and that is a shame. Would you consider semi formal/elegant casual – this just means no T-shirts or jeans, maybe a blouse and pants, etc.? What do you think? You would not be refused entrance and you would enjoy two sumptuous meals? I have now made sure that fleetwide a large variety of non-alcoholic drinks will be served at the formal parties. Let me know your thoughts please. Many thanks and I appreciate your time.
JAMES EMM – The article you are reading about P & O being taken over by Royal Caribbean is an old one indeed. Carnival Corporation & plc now includes P & O Cruises under its umbrella of companies and they have been and continue to be a brilliant cruise line and we are proud to have them in the family along with Cunard, Costa, Princess, Aida, Seabourn, Ocean Village and Holland America. Thank you for your kind words about Heidi and I look forward to hearing more from you soon.
JOHN FROM MOUNT HOLLY – John, call any travel agent or 1-800-CARNIVAL and you will be provided with the best rates for the Bloggers Cruise. Please let me know if you have any concerns……………we missed you here this cruise.

That is all the time I have for Q & A…………………….more tomorrow I promise.

MEN, I NEED YOUR HELP.
Heidi has read in one of her women’s magazines that boxer shorts are much healthier for men than briefs and has now told me that I have to change what I have enjoyed for all these years and move to boxers. I argued but she says she is unanimous and that’s that…………..have any of you heard this nonsense? Again, I know this has nothing to do with cruising but please help me, I nee your support — in fact that’s why I hate boxers, no support!

I await your advice.

I want to thank all of you who have been trying so hard to get AJ to be the GM of the CS.
I was disappointed that our question was not answered on Larry King as many of you have noted in this blog. I am getting a bit despondent but after hearing your words of encouragement and the various online petitions you have all started I must keep going and with myself, Carnival and all of you trying we shall succeed. I shall think positive.

We have just left Livorno today and the weather was nice and dry although a little humid. The guests are always full of mixed emotions knowing tomorrow it’s the long flight home and back to everyday life.

It has been a great cruise and I want to say goodbye to all the bloggers I met. I am sorry that we did not get time to spend more time together but the time we did spend was excellent and proof positive that I must keep doing this blog as much as possible

I want to end today’s blog not with the usual amusing story built with the overriding memory of this cruise.

It involves Jason who I found crying by the coffee bar on the second night of the cruise.

I know that this should have been 12 days of joy and fun for Jason and his fiancée but instead it was instead 12 days of thinking what should have been.

Jason has promised to read this blog upon his return home and I know that we all send our thoughts and prayers to Jason and the family of his beloved fiancé who lost her life while just simply going to Virginia Tech…………………………as Jason said as I called him to say goodbye…………. “She would have loved this cruise “.

Enjoy life now.

Goodnight

Your friends

John and Heidi