I’m sitting on the carnival Destiny enjoying a cocktail and was wondering…How many days of sailing does it take for a new ship to be paid off (that is the cost of building)?

He sounds like a very nice man….though that I had no doubt…Carnival IMO…has always employed the very best…

See you all soon on the TA-Freedom..

~millie

I just wanted to leave a note before we leave for Rome this week to sail on the 9-22 Freedom sailing. It has been great reading your blog this past few months. It has been very helpful in getting information pertaining to our upcoming sailing, plus all the other posts. I know Heidi’s Mom will be on our sailing. I’m sure as a good SIL you will be sure to introduce her at one of your shows.

I’m sorry to hear you bowed to the throne. I had this happen one time on a cruise shortly after eating some mussels and it was no fun. I had never eaten them before and never will again! I missed Antigua the following morning. I’m going to be going to Capri too and I’ll be sure not to get that Ceasar Salad that you ate.

My husband and I will be looking forward to meeting you and Heidi on the ship in the next week. Hopefully when I say this is Mamaw G. you’ll remember me. That’s what my grandkids call me, hence my e-mail name.

Gail in cabin 9229

Like the idea of separately posting the interviews as their own posts. Gives each interviewee (is that a word?) their own place to stand out here…

Good interview, so who’s lined up next for this section? Or is it a surprise?

John, if it isn’t too much trouble, could you have the following message sent to Jude Stewart on the Carnival Destiny? We have not yet heard from him.

“Jude, we want to sail on the Destiny next spring or summer & would love to see you. Please let us know if you will still be on the ship in early June, 2008.”

And, a good idea for you John is to interview Jude, along with his picture, telling us how the waiters spend their days.

Thanks! Love ya!

I enjoyed reading your interview with Mr. Luis. When I’m cruising I’m so wrapped up in who is taking care of me I don’t think about who may be taking care of the staff, I just assumed they had to clean up after themselves, except the Captain and senior officers of course. On my 2/2006 Liberty cruise I had the opportunity to visit with the head of the housekeeping department at the Captain’s cocktail party for about 15 minutes. I had commented to him how impressed I was with our cabin steward because the young man had a master’s degree and spoke three languages. He told me that he had three medical doctors and something like nine or so attorney’s working as cabin stewards because they could not make a decent living in their native countries. I was stunned. As an American I take so much for granted, but I was very moved when I heard about these professionals working so hard out of their field just to take care of their families. It certainly gives you different perspective on things.

I look forward to meeting more of the fantastic Carnival staff through interviews.

Thank you,

Julie Gantt

“This is a post I placed here back in August, I don’t believe you saw it, so here it is again as well as another question or two…”

First off, thank you for answering my questions on the Carnival Triumph and dinner seating times. We would like to know if you can find out what our dinner time is for the 9-22 sailing. It was booked last year while on the ship and I do not recall what time I specified. If possible, we’d like the 8 or 8:30 seating, if at all possible.

My wife and I cruised with you last year on the Liberty for the 10-22 sailing. We were the last 2 people to board the ship and found ‘Wild Willy’s’ lost luggage at the airport and brought it with us. I’m sure you’ve met 7 million people since then, so you’re minds probably in a haze, or your thinking ‘who gives a poop’. Nonetheless, we are cruising with you again on the Freedom on 9-22, and again with a back-to-back on the Splendor next year on 8-30 to the Baltics, then staying on the ship for the next sailing voyage into the Med. and back to Rome. We can’t wait.

After reading this blog, I came across this post:

“BILL(ZYDECO CRUISER) – You asked if both sides of the Carnival Splendor are going to look the same? Have you been at the Bushwackers again? Tell you what, sail on the Carnival Splendor and I will take you ashore in Dover and buy you Fish & Chips. Let me know as soon as you can about the Fantasy. Once again, we have ended up talking about food. What a shocker.”

Ignore the first part, but perk up regarding the fish & chips. If Bill doesn’t take you up on the offer, I want to take his place. Part of my reasons for traveling to Dover is simply to try the fish & chips there. I am a food fanatic like you… I just wear a smaller size of pants.

We’ll see you in 7 days on the Liberty and again in 365 on the Splendor for the double-duty cruise. Luckily, we got the same stateroom for both the Baltic and Med. cruise on the Splendor. That brings up this question… since we have the same room, will we have to remove our luggage from the ship in Dover, just to re-board it again at 5pm for the next leg of the new voyage, or are we able to keep our stuff onboard?

If you have time, let me know. If not, I’ll make a point to find you and say hello to you and your lovely wife. I understand that the 9-22 sailing is a CC cruise or something? Is that when you and Big Ed are going to dance?

If you have any left over Cannoli’s, just leave them for me and my wife in cabin #7211 on the 9-22 sailing. If you happen to eat them all, a massage voucher will suffice.

When’s the last time you saw Preston, the Entertainment Technical Manager for CCL? He and his mother played ‘Venice tour guides’ last year for us.

Sorry for my lack of concentration. Simply writing this letter is a headache, I do not understand how you do this whole blog on a day here, day there basis… your two fingers must hate you.

If you have time, I’d love a response.

Take care of yourself and be sure to have the chef take the anchovies off the menu for our voayage.

See you guys soon!

Ciao,

Matt & Arte Holden

—–

Hey John,

It’s us again… that last post, change the words Liberty on the 9-22 sailings to Freedom and it should ‘all come together’. You’re probably thinking… “I’m not even on the Liberty, you wanker.”

Matt & Arte Holden

LFTTNSFCF