Comments on: Feeling the Cold http://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/ Tue, 22 May 2012 03:49:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: military veteranshttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8366 military veterans Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:40:24 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8366 Great post, thanks for the info Great post, thanks for the info

]]> By: divetrashhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8365 divetrash Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:05:27 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8365 PERSONAL FOR JOHNHi John,Not to be a nudge, but I've also been asked for the Miracle piano bar player as well.Thanks,Laura PERSONAL FOR JOHN

Hi John,

Not to be a nudge, but I’ve also been asked for the Miracle piano bar player as well.

Thanks,

Laura

]]> By: Sharon Patalonhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8364 Sharon Patalon Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:46:06 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8364 I first met you in 1991 aboard the Fantasy. I was on the bridge for the sailing, and took video of you giving the sail away announcements. My fiancee was a senior Deck officer, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I cared for him throughout his illness, and held him as he died. Since his death I have continued to sail on Carnival with the memories of our love renewed each time I sail. It is where I know he is close to me; the sea was his life. My god-child and I sailed with you on the Inaugural sailing of the Liberty last summer, so also witnessed Willy Banger and the Bedtime Story when you were jumped by "big" Mary, and lost your pants, suspenders, and your shoe in the collision. My wish for you is a safe, restful vacation with Heidi. God bless you! I first met you in 1991 aboard the Fantasy. I was on the bridge for the sailing, and took video of you giving the sail away announcements. My fiancee was a senior Deck officer, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. I cared for him throughout his illness, and held him as he died.
Since his death I have continued to sail on Carnival with the memories of our love renewed each time I sail.
It is where I know he is close to me; the sea was his life.
My god-child and I sailed with you on the Inaugural sailing of the Liberty last summer, so also witnessed Willy Banger and the Bedtime Story when you were jumped by “big” Mary, and lost your pants, suspenders, and your shoe in the collision.
My wish for you is a safe, restful vacation with Heidi.
God bless you!

]]> By: Dave Myerlyhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8363 Dave Myerly Tue, 23 Oct 2007 03:52:59 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8363 Heidi was too nice to the woman. Sometimes you have to tell them the truth, Lady your an idiot and no cruise lines give out warm coats for you to keep. Buy yourself a sweatshirt like everyone else would do. I am alwasy amazed at the stupidity of some people and at the care and tact which you apply to help these people. You are Saint John the CD.THINGS I LIKE: 1. The value is about the best however I believe other cruise lines are starting to see this and are beginning to match your prices but they don't have the people nor the ships to fully take us Carnival Cruisers away. 2. Most staterooms are usually pleasant and people are great. The Food is fine but sometimes a little too gourmet for my taste especially in the dining room so we go to the Lido. One of the ships had a special country dinner nite (German, Japanese, American etc) each night and that was nice and well done. However sometimes the Lido needs a kick in the but to make changes as well. 3. Ship choices and iteneraries are pretty good but could use a yearly shake up. Most go the same places and it is boring. We like new small areas to visit, How about Crete? Or Belieze, or Colon PanamaTHINGS TO IMPROVE: 1. Some checkin facilities are a mess. Ugly and too many people trying to comply with last minute things and not enough bodies to handle it. No seats or drinks usually and I like most people do not like to stand in a line for an hour or more to check in especially since it was all pre arranged and paid for. It should take less then 15 min from the time I arrive until I am walking on the ship on the way to my stateroom. You already have my reservation and paperwork but maybe you do not need to do more things your doing at check in time but do more before the guests arrive at the pier.2. I don't want to be near anyplace that smoking is going on. It makes me gag so I just leave. I do not go into the casinos because of this and as a result do not lose at the machines or the tables. SO a smoke free ship would be welcomed.3. We have been on many cruise lines big and small and many cruises around the world. Not many places we have not visited over 30 years. I think in general tours are overpriced and run somewhat haphazardly by the people on the buses once your off the ship. Once your out there and under their control watch out for its another ball game. SOmetimes you are walked to death on a tour that says minor activity becasue the Europeans think of it as little walking. Sometimes you just have to have a bathroom and the Europeans have few available to use and your left to find an alley or a tree. This is a criticle area to check for your customers.4. All sodas should be free for every cruise. Charging agravates people. Does Carnival really need money that bad. Give us a break and make them free. The drinks and beer are way over priced. You do not have to charge $4-5 for a beer and $5-6.50 or more for a mixed drink.Changes I would makeFormal nights are outmoded and should be removed . You should look no more then business casual. Clean and neat only required.Do away with charging for SAIL AWAY DRINKS. This always seems like a contest to see which waiter can sell the most drinks. And at $7.50 each no less + 15%. It is a slap in the face especially as you first board the ship and find this out.Supply much more shady areas and many more SEATS for people to sit on deck instead of in the sun.Wines - While I do not drink a lot of wine I wish there would be complimentary bottle or two on every table each night of a table dinner wine to taste so we may try new wines and see if we like them.Captains and other parties - ALWAYS HAVE SODA as the drinks and Hor Dors are going around - Don't make people ask for it and have to wait. If a waiter can have a hard liqour drink on a tray they can also carry sodas (COKE - PEPSI AND GINGER ALE at the same timeAND FOR GODS SAKE AND THE REST OF US GET PEPSI AND PEPSI PRODUCTS ON YOUR SHIPS.Those are my thoughts for todayDave Heidi was too nice to the woman. Sometimes you have to tell them the truth, Lady your an idiot and no cruise lines give out warm coats for you to keep. Buy yourself a sweatshirt like everyone else would do. I am alwasy amazed at the stupidity of some people and at the care and tact which you apply to help these people. You are Saint John the CD.

THINGS I LIKE:
1. The value is about the best however I believe other cruise lines are starting to see this and are beginning to match your prices but they don’t have the people nor the ships to fully take us Carnival Cruisers away.
2. Most staterooms are usually pleasant and people are great. The Food is fine but sometimes a little too gourmet for my taste especially in the dining room so we go to the Lido. One of the ships had a special country dinner nite (German, Japanese, American etc) each night and that was nice and well done. However sometimes the Lido needs a kick in the but to make changes as well.
3. Ship choices and iteneraries are pretty good but could use a yearly shake up. Most go the same places and it is boring. We like new small areas to visit, How about Crete? Or Belieze, or Colon Panama

THINGS TO IMPROVE:
1. Some checkin facilities are a mess. Ugly and too many people trying to comply with last minute things and not enough bodies to handle it. No seats or drinks usually and I like most people do not like to stand in a line for an hour or more to check in especially since it was all pre arranged and paid for. It should take less then 15 min from the time I arrive until I am walking on the ship on the way to my stateroom. You already have my reservation and paperwork but maybe you do not need to do more things your doing at check in time but do more before the guests arrive at the pier.

2. I don’t want to be near anyplace that smoking is going on. It makes me gag so I just leave. I do not go into the casinos because of this and as a result do not lose at the machines or the tables. SO a smoke free ship would be welcomed.

3. We have been on many cruise lines big and small and many cruises around the world. Not many places we have not visited over 30 years. I think in general tours are overpriced and run somewhat haphazardly by the people on the buses once your off the ship. Once your out there and under their control watch out for its another ball game. SOmetimes you are walked to death on a tour that says minor activity becasue the Europeans think of it as little walking. Sometimes you just have to have a bathroom and the Europeans have few available to use and your left to find an alley or a tree. This is a criticle area to check for your customers.

4. All sodas should be free for every cruise. Charging agravates people. Does Carnival really need money that bad. Give us a break and make them free. The drinks and beer are way over priced. You do not have to charge $4-5 for a beer and $5-6.50 or more for a mixed drink.

Changes I would make

Formal nights are outmoded and should be removed . You should look no more then business casual. Clean and neat only required.

Do away with charging for SAIL AWAY DRINKS. This always seems like a contest to see which waiter can sell the most drinks. And at $7.50 each no less + 15%. It is a slap in the face especially as you first board the ship and find this out.

Supply much more shady areas and many more SEATS for people to sit on deck instead of in the sun.

Wines – While I do not drink a lot of wine I wish there would be complimentary bottle or two on every table each night of a table dinner wine to taste so we may try new wines and see if we like them.

Captains and other parties – ALWAYS HAVE SODA
as the drinks and Hor Dors are going around – Don’t make people ask for it and have to wait. If a waiter can have a hard liqour drink on a tray they can also carry sodas (COKE – PEPSI AND GINGER ALE at the same time

AND FOR GODS SAKE AND THE REST OF US GET PEPSI AND PEPSI PRODUCTS ON YOUR SHIPS.

Those are my thoughts for today

Dave

]]> By: karen brownhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8362 karen brown Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:54:27 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8362 john, we disembarked a month ago today and i am reading your blog from time to time. you are still hilariously funny even though you are miles and miles away. have a great vacation and keep heidi happy! you have no idea how blessed you are to have someone like that to put up with your... cut fingers! cioa karen john,
we disembarked a month ago today and i am reading your blog from time to time. you are still hilariously funny even though you are miles and miles away. have a great vacation and keep heidi happy! you have no idea how blessed you are to have someone like that to put up with your… cut fingers!
cioa
karen

]]> By: Kathy of the HavinsNesthttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8361 Kathy of the HavinsNest Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:35:55 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8361 John, You and Heidi are a blessing and Mrs. Weatherchannel is a nut.I wish we could be with y'all on the Bloggers cruise but we're taking a Christmas cruise on the Conquest (leaving ON our 30th anniversary) and we just can't swing a second cruise a week later.Thank you for the blog, I love reading about your adventures in cruising and in marriage. ;) Tell Heidi my husband leaves his underwear in the floor, too. I think it is a genetic defect.Kathy John,
You and Heidi are a blessing and Mrs. Weatherchannel is a nut.

I wish we could be with y’all on the Bloggers cruise but we’re taking a Christmas cruise on the Conquest (leaving ON our 30th anniversary) and we just can’t swing a second cruise a week later.

Thank you for the blog, I love reading about your adventures in cruising and in marriage. ;) Tell Heidi my husband leaves his underwear in the floor, too. I think it is a genetic defect.

Kathy

]]> By: Maria de Mexicohttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8360 Maria de Mexico Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:15:16 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8360 Hi John, I'm writing to ask for your assistance. Please bear with me as I am utilizing a friend as an interpreter. So forgive our spelling if incorrect. I resently was on a trip on the Freedom. My sister and her family paid for me to come along with them. I have a neice who I love dearly and only wish the best to her. She meet a man on your ship, which we encourage to get to know and she did. The problem is (we thing is a problem) he works on the ship. Any way we can conect them? My neice does not know I am doing this. Neither she or he have made contact. My neice was talking to me about this meeting place, and being the nice man you are I hoped you good help!! From an aunt to a neice. Hi John, I’m writing to ask for your assistance. Please bear with me as I am utilizing a friend as an interpreter. So forgive our spelling if incorrect. I resently was on a trip on the Freedom. My sister and her family paid for me to come along with them. I have a neice who I love dearly and only wish the best to her. She meet a man on your ship, which we encourage to get to know and she did. The problem is (we thing is a problem) he works on the ship. Any way we can conect them? My neice does not know I am doing this. Neither she or he have made contact. My neice was talking to me about this meeting place, and being the nice man you are I hoped you good help!! From an aunt to a neice.

]]> By: Linda Hernackihttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8359 Linda Hernacki Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:30:58 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8359 Hi John, this is your last week on board. Well, I haven't checked the blog in 2 days because I was in the hospital, I developed a Kidney infection and they still don't know what the blood cultures will find, but I got out of the hospital and feel better, just waiting for the results, I CAN'T get sick now, since we leave on 11/17 on our cruise! DAMN! I hope the tests come out ok with the blood work up. I will make drs. appts. for next week for the results. Your friends Linda, and Mike (MR. Handyman) Hi John, this is your last week on board. Well, I haven’t checked the blog in 2 days because I was in the hospital, I developed a Kidney infection and they still don’t know what the blood cultures will find, but I got out of the hospital and feel better, just waiting for the results, I CAN’T get sick now, since we leave on 11/17 on our cruise! DAMN! I hope the tests come out ok with the blood work up. I will make drs. appts. for next week for the results. Your friends Linda, and Mike (MR. Handyman)

]]> By: mrs.missingthesmokefreeparadisehttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8358 mrs.missingthesmokefreeparadise Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:46:15 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8358 Lisa Wiggs: I Love It! I would say instead of Camp Solitude that it would be Camp Escape! But yours is probably a bit more classy. It isn't that we want Adults Only it's that we want KID FREE. A water slide wouldn't be unwelcome! Lisa Wiggs:
I Love It!
I would say instead of Camp Solitude that it would be Camp Escape! But yours is probably a bit more classy.
It isn’t that we want Adults Only it’s that we want KID FREE. A water slide wouldn’t be unwelcome!

]]> By: lisa wiggshttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8357 lisa wiggs Mon, 22 Oct 2007 21:30:51 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/2007/10/21/feeling-the-cold/#comment-8357 More homework thoughts -Regarding changing up the ports, it would be great to alternate between two itineraries. Such as Montego Bay one week and Ocho Rios the next week for the same ship. And Tortola one week and St. Maarten the next week for one ship. (This would also add Tortola to your 7 night cruises, which are now only on your 8 night cruises.)You might consider offering both set dining times and anytime dining so guests could choose which they prefer. (Princess has perfected this system.)I have lots of opinions, just give the Carnival executives my email address, lol. Lisa More homework thoughts -

Regarding changing up the ports, it would be great to alternate between two itineraries. Such as Montego Bay one week and Ocho Rios the next week for the same ship. And Tortola one week and St. Maarten the next week for one ship. (This would also add Tortola to your 7 night cruises, which are now only on your 8 night cruises.)

You might consider offering both set dining times and anytime dining so guests could choose which they prefer. (Princess has perfected this system.)

I have lots of opinions, just give the Carnival executives my email address, lol. Lisa

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