Hi there Bloggers, Roberto here! I have some late breaking news for everyone.
It’s official! John’s blog has broken the 1,000,000 mark!!!
Please join me and the rest of the Carnival family in congratulating John and Heidi on this momentous milestone.
Filed under: Catherine Zeta Jones, Tales from the Ship | Tagged: Splendor Godmother, Tales from the Ship
BRAVO!!!!!!!
So well done!
My most hearty congratulations to you John and, of course, ROBERTO!! You’ve provided thousands upon thousands of people an opportunity to share your life as Cruise Director on one of the most beautiful ships in the world.
Thank you… thank you both.
Warmest regards,
Greg
Oooops…
Please excuse my faux pas in failing to include the Lovely Heidi in my note of congratulations!
As we all know, behind every successful man there is a woman and in this case I believe the proper address would be ‘Wonder Woman’!!!
Congratulations, Heidi, for your most important role in the success of this blog!
Greg
This just in
One Million slaps it has been
Short lived the blog was to begin
For his Work John should get an Aston Martin to take on a spin!!!!!
TO JOHN, HEIDI, ROBERTO AND HIS STAFF, PA007, AND YES THE BLOGGERS TOO.
Congratulations to ALL on the MILLION mark. Boy those last 200,000 just jumped by.
John, and you thought this would only last a couple weeks. If you do a book it will go the same way. Start off slow they blast off once people tell others about it.
Heidi, WE thank you for giving us your man to make our days better at your expense. WE thank you for all your blogs and help you gave John.
Roberto, thank you for a great looking blog and all the help you’ve given John and the bloggers.
PA-007, thank you for all the insider information you have given us.
Bloggers, thank you to those that have been her since day. To all those that have joined us in the last 200,000 jump We welcome you and hope you enjoy this blog just like us that have been here from the start.
BUT MOST OF ALL
Thank you to CARNIVAL for giving John the opportunity to do his THINGY. But most of all to the person who’s idea it was in the first place to try this blog whoever you are WE THANK YOU.
“BIG” ED
congrads
oh mighty blog master,,,,,,,,,,,,
way to go,,,,,,,keep up the good work,,,,,
tom& jane
Congratulations, John!!!
What a wonderful milestone you have accomplished with your Blog Thingy. The blog has become mine and I know many more people’s highlight of the day. It is read daily, and sometimes it is read before my email. Hope you and Heidi have a wonderful vacation and tell Alan and his family that we have them in our prayers. Travis and I look forward to seeing you and Heidi again on January 19th. How bout’ those Cowboys!!!
Mary
Well Done everyone………..John, Heidi, Roberto and everyone connected with the Blog and Carnival! Keep up the great job of bringing us all some insight and laughs from the FREEDOM.
Now John and Heidi………………..take some time off!
You’ve both earned it.
Roberto………………..take a breath and relax!
Looking forward to you return and some good news about Alan.
B&D from Canada
CONGRATULATIONS
JOHN & HEIDI
(& Roberto too)
FOR A JOB WEL DONE!
And applause to all those bloogers out there
John did you ever imagine when you started this “bloggy thing that you would hit this number?
Hip hip hurray
Here’s looking at 2,000,000!
Good morning and CONGRATULATIONS John and Heidi on the Million hits (slaps) on your Blog Thingy.
Take care
Joan
GO PISTONS!!!!!
What a feat!!!! You are doing a great job!!! See you soon on what was to be the inaugural cruise – (will it still be?). 7-13-08 Can’t wait!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!
John, Heidi, and Roberto…
Thanks for sharing the life of a cruise directors. Your everyday writings are a highlight of our day!
Enjoy your vacation and we’ll keep reading!
John & Susan
Wow – John and Heidi, this was fast! I thought it would happen by the end of the year, but this fast – wow! Congratulations – this is really amazing. Please enjoy your vacation and come back refreshed and full of energy. My best regards to Alan and his family – good luck on the seventh!
John it was October 15th one week ago that you said “You are in great company, in fact 785,000 people have slapped on this blog thingy of mine since I started writing it (with two fingers) back in March”. So thats 215,000 slaps in just one week. How many commercial sites get that may hits in a week?
I bet ASTON MARTIN does’t get that many hits on there site. Well maybe now that your bloggers are going there.
“BIG” ED
T-88 days and counting
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY WIFE MRS. “BIG” ED
congrads
how does it feel to be,,,
a MILLONAIRE,,,,,,OH MIGHTY BLOG MASTER,
way to go,,keep up the good work.
now order that AstonMartin….
tom & jane
That is Great… Here Here for John and Roberto, and Heidi. Keep up the the Good Work.
Mazel Tov John, Heidi and Roberto!
For all your hard work and dedication we thank you so much!! Here’s to the next 1,000,000!
Elaine and Lisa
john and heidi,
congratulations on getting slapped 1 million times.
keep up the great work.have a wonderful vacation.
john steers
carnival cruise lines
port canaveral
Congratualtions, John, Roberto and Carnival. Reading this blog is on my “must do” list every day. Thank you to all who have made it possible. And the icing on top of the cake: I’ve many new blogging friends!
Lori
aka catmama044
Congratulations John, Heidi and Rooberto.
You have made a great contribution to the cruise industry. Many of appreciate your efforts.
Dave (Jo and Dave)
John and Heidi,
This is soooooo exciting! I know this has taken a lot of time and effort on your parts, but it has truly been worth it! I am sure Carnival realizes the importance of this milestone! What a super note to end with before vacation! I want the two of you to really celebrate your victories. You have done an incredible job. Hope to hear from you while you are enjoying your rest.
Heidi, a special thanks to you for putting up with all the hours John has devoted to this project.
BRAVO John and Heidi, and Roberto too! I knew you would hit 1 million before you started your vacation. We will all miss you while you are away but look forward to hearing from you just the same. I am home today recuperating from my Kidney infection having been released from the hospital last night, have to make some drs. appts. and fill prescriptions today. And REST! Talk to you soon! Linda & Mike
WOO HOO! Congrats to all!
Quite a milestone, John. Congratulations!
John and Heidi,
A very hearty congratulations. 1,000,000 mark is quite an accomplishment! Keep up the good work and soon you will see you 2,000.000 mark.
See you soon,
Barb and David
Congratulations John and Heidi. Also thanks to Roberto, PA 007 and everyone else that contributes to the blog including the bloggers. We know this takes a lot of your time but it sure has evolved from the beginning when it was just information about the Freedom. Now it’s information about the whole CCL company and any other cruising questions, concerns people have. I’m sure that Carnival has taken notice of what you have accomplished for them because this is so much more than just “your” blog. It’s for the whole company. It’s great this happened before you go to Miami so you can be properly congratulated – maybe with an Aston Martin!
Linda and George
John, Heidi, Roberto, PA007,
What can I say, this is a great day for you all. Congratulations on One-Million Slaps. Who would have guessed other than all of us bloggers
. We all thank you for all you have done and all the typing the two stubs have produced. First 100,000 then 250,000 then sea trader, and now one-million. lets keep going I’m sure this will just get bigger. Enjoy your vacation John and Heidi, you deserve it and carnival should give you 1 euro for ever slap you have received while working on board the freedom 
Best to all and congratulations
Kevin
WOW! I stand in awe!!! Way to go…WHen you do somethin’ do it BIG!!!!!! go John!
Congratulations from Dick Little, Dastardly and Gary’s granny here in Atlanta, Ga. on reaching the 1,000,000 mark on you blog thingy. We still read it each day. Carry on the good work. I Hope you and Heidi have a good vacation when you finally get one.
Confetti is flowing as we speak (or actually type)
CONGRATS!!!!!!
Congratulations John and Heidi et al!
We have been lurking and laughing and crying and chatting about your blog since our cruise thru the wonderful Med last May with Jo and Ron.
Who knew as we disembarked that the wonderful journey would continue so warmly and happily for so many months afterward. We are indeed grateful.
Enjoy your well deserved holidays. We look forward to your future comments and stories. All the best to Alan too and his family and friends.
Time for a “slap” joke.
Kiss and Slap
A young Technician and his General Manager board a train headed through the mountains on its way to Jasper. They can find no place to sit except for two seats right across the aisle from a young woman and her grandmother.
After a while, it is obvious that the young woman and the young tech are interested in each other, because they are giving each other looks.
Soon the train passes into a tunnel and it is pitch black. There is a sound of a kiss followed by the sound of a slap. When the train emerges from the tunnel, the four sit there without saying a word.
The grandmother is thinking to herself, “It was very brash for that young man to kiss my granddaughter, but I’m glad she slapped him.”
The General manager is setting there thinking, “I didn’t know the young tech was brave enough to kiss the girl, but I sure wish she hadn’t missed him when she slapped and hit me!”
The young woman was sitting and thinking, “I’m glad the guy kissed me, but I wish my grandmother had not slapped him!”
The young tech sat there with a satisfied smile on his face. He thought to himself, “Life is good. How often does a guy have the chance to kiss a beautiful girl and slap his General manager all at the same time!”
Wow !! – One million hits. Congratulations John, Heidi and Roberto. What a great way to start a much deserved vacation !!
Congrats John and Heidi!
“This just in”…….as I write through the smoke filled air from California. Mary Hyder just e-mailed me to see how I was as she too is in CA south of me in the San Diego area. She’s ok!! I’m in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles and to all my fellow Calif. Carnival cruisers, hope you’re ok too !
We may not be Greece, but we sure compete with The Amalfi Drive……and our bathrooms are free!!
Kathy and Paul
CONGRATULATIONS MR. HEALD, HEIDI, ROBERTO, CARNIVAL AND ALL THE BLOGGERS FOR ONE MILLION SLAPS.
Doing this blog has been at the expense of your personal time and health. Heidi you must be very proud of your husband but I’m proud of you for allowing us to be with Mr. Heald which has to take away from your personal time with him. Thank you so much Heidi. Roberto you have been the glue that has made this blog stick together so well. Thank you. And finally, you Mr. Heald. Without your personal touch in this blog, the caring for people who haven’t met you and the love that you have given to all of us, a very large thank you.
Mr. Heald & Heidi, I hope that some day I will have the opportunity to sit down and have a quiet time to converse about this blog. Thank you oh so much. Ciao.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
John and Heidi,
Congratulations! Your humor, candor, and caring I believe is the key to your great success. Keep it up, and careful not to injure your typing fingers
Your thingy certainly gets slapped around an aweful lot. Congrats to the whole team.
But, let’s be honest here, how can I act surprised?
I had no doubts that would happen. This is a fun blog and you make it that way!!! Your so funny and I love hearing about Heidi and how she handles you. Congrats to John, Heidi and Roberto!!!! I foresee a larger number in the future, don’t you agree?
CONGADULATIONS John and Heidi ( also Roberto) on the million slaps. Does this make you the million dollar man? Of course it does.
Looking forward to Aug 6 of 2008. See you then. Enjoy your vacation.
Jennifer and Danny
Congratulations!!!
A job well done by all involved- John, Heidi, Roberto and photographers!!
Who would have thought being “slapped” so many times could feel so good!
Congrats!
Anne E.
Congratulations John & Heidi, Roberto, PA 007!
John & Heidi, thanks for welcoming us into your lives and sharing with us the good and the bad.
Karen
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!
That is great!!!!!!!
Congrats on a MILLION slaps. Happy to say as Kathy Kroll reported my friends and family in San Diego area are okay. Glad she is okay too. Prayers are for any California Carnival Cruisers in harms way. We could sure use the rain they had in Messina.
John and Heidi thanks for the forum and community you have generated on the blog thingy.
Just goes to show that JOHN IS ONE IN A MILLION!!!!! Congratulations John, Heidi and Roberto!
Julie
Congratualtions John, Heidi and all who have made this wonderful Blog possible!!!!
1,500,000 by the bloggers cruise????
AWESOME!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!
JOHN & HEIDI HAVE A GREAT VACATION. THE BEARS
Congrats John/Heidi/Roberto/007/etc.
1 million. Wow!
Here’s hoping we hit 2 million!
WOW John!! Congratulations!!!!!!! Felicidades!!!!
What a great way to start your vacation! Enjoy it you deserve it for a job well done.Dont worry about us we will be here waiting for you.
What more can I say that I havent said in all this months ? You know how much this blog means to many of us. You have been here in the good times and bad times.I wish you and Heidi and Roberto and to all the people that is involve in this thingy the very best in life. You are great and we love you but that you already know
Congratulations John, Heidi, Roberto and all who have slapped this blog thingy a million times. When the slap count was at 750K I commented that maybe it would reach a million by the TA. And so it has!! Woo Hoo!!
John and Heidi – - I’m packing now. Hope you are also. Your much needed vacation is just a few days away, and so is mine. See you Sunday.
Sue (and the girls)
Whoo-hoo! Way to go, John. What a way to start your vacation. I’m going to the Food and Wine Festival tonight and drink a glass of champagne to celebrate (on your behalf, of course!).
Congratulations,
Myra
A Millionaire not in money but in slaps. What a claim to fame, John!
A big pat on the back to Roberto and Heidi who support the blog thingy with all their might.
SewingNut
John, Heidi, Roberto, and Pa 007! Woooooohooooooo and hot diggity dog! All of you rock! John, thank you so much for sharing your life and love with us. You make me smile each and every day. Heidi thanks ever so much for sharing John with us. I know it takes away from your personal time and you are so very kind to do this for people you don’t even know. Roberto, with out you we’d never have this to read. Thank you for all your hard work. Pa 007, what can I say? All your inside info has been the best. Congratulations again and I hope to see you and Heidi in Feb.
Leasa
Congrats on passing the MILLION mark. Who would have known when you started this John. You, Heidi, Roberto, Pa007 and all of the others who have support you on this project have reached out and touched so many peoples’ lives. What away to start your vacation you got to be high as a kite. Lynn and Mike
Congratulations ……isn’t it great being slapped silly
Way to go!! Congratulations to John, Heidi, Roberto, PA007 and all the others it takes to slap a blog thingy 1 million slaps. Keep up the good blogging, but take some time for yourselves on your much deserved vacation. My best to all of you and hope to be able to cruise with you again soon!!!
Felicidades Juan, Heidi, y Roberto!!!!!
This is a milestone and glad to be a part of it. Keep up the GREAT work. John, does this mean you get your Aston Martin!?!?!?!
WOW!!! One million hits!!! The way I figure it…if Carnival paid you $1 for ever hit…you could buy a fleet of any car you little heart desired. Also I know for a FACT that because of this blog, Carnival has increased their business, since one of the reasons we are on the “Blogger Cruise” is because of this blog. We are looking forward to meeting all our fellow “bloggers” and making new friends. Congrats on a million hits! By the time we leave in January…who knows???? maybe 2 million??????
There’s nothing left to say because all the blogger’s have said it so well.
Congradulations John, Hedi, and Roberto. All of your work is very much appreciated!
John, if you remember in private I told you about me and my health problem…well, your blog gave me reason to get up and check the blog out. Some days it’s all I had. I thank you for that. I thank you for the jokes that have made me laugh, the wonderful stories that have brought tears to my eyes, smiles to my face, and a friend when I needed one. This has been much more than a blog to me.
Ok, enough of the sappy stuff that men hate so much….ya think this will earn you a raise from Carnival (I’m always trying to get you one!)
Thanks for pouring out your heart and your life to us!
Susan
Ah, if only slaps were British pounds (and why not tax free ones).
Congratulations!
John and Heidi,
Just imagine how many slaps there will be while we await the first words while you are on your vacation. I already click on the site at least 4 times a day to see if there is anything new. Now I will be clicking to see when the 1st vacation blog or podcast has been done–certainly don’t want to miss it!!! My congrats to you both and also to all others responsibe for the blog!! (Also to all the idiots who give you something funny to write about John, and also to Alan who has been brought into all our thoughts and prayers thru this blog. We all love him, no matter how ugly he is!) Enjoy the Aston Martin, for if Carnival doesn’t give you one, they will have missed the boat! Sheryl
Happy Birthday to Mrs. Big Ed!
Linda Hernacki, get well soon.
Kathy Kroll and Mehyder, stay safe over there
in California, I wish you all the best.
Julie
Congrats on your Million Milestone!
Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Peter Ward
John, Heidi, Roberto, et al:
1,000,000 and counting. Woo Hoo.
Congratulations. Who’da thunk it?
And happy Birthday Mrs. Big Ed.
Regards,
Carol
Dear John and Heidi:
Congratulations!!! I’d swim 1,000,000 miles – for one of your smiles . . . (when you don’t have a boo-boo!)
Hello John and Heidi,
I apologize for the late entry. My BRAND new EXPENSIVE computer shut down on me and now needs a new mother board. Uugghh! I am on a back up system and just now found out the great news! I think all of your fellow bloggers knew it would happen, I just didn’t think the last numbers would fly by so fast!! Definitely a testament of how your daily diary of ship board life and entertainment have been received by the masses who love to cruise! Like my wife and I always say: “Once you’re bitten by the cruise bug, there’s no hope.”
Congratulations to all involved in bringing ship-board life to all of us here on land. It is a great accomplishment. One more thing your dad can add to his home office shrine to his son, John Heald! Here, here!
I hoped that you would hit 1 million before your vacation starts. Wow… what a milestone.
Congratulations John, Heidi, Roberto and all the Carnival Freedom team.
Cindy
Wow a million slaps on this blog thingy!!!
Congratulations!!!!
WOW!!! One million hits on this blog thingy!!!
Congratulations!!!
Brovo to you John and the lovely Hiede! The blog thingy is such good fun for all of us, I’m glad you are getting the recognition.
Marilyn
Have a great vacation and look forward to seeing you in July!
3 good things about Carnival
1. You
2. Pricing
3. Ports
3 things that could improve
1. Food
2. Possibility of more perks for less than 10 cruises
3. Excursions; longer times in port
Dear John and Heidi.
I have been reading this blog since the end of March and enjoyed every line of your stories from board the Carnival Freedom and the ships of the “Family”. Starting to read this blog I could hardly await our cruise at the end of September, and the “live experience” of CD John was even more entertaining and an excellent “topping” for a wonderful cruise (only sunshine, no clouds for 12 extraordinary days). This was our second cruise with John & Heidi and I hope will not be the last, even if we like to see some more ships and iteneraries of Carnival. Isn’t it fair to have the opportunity to “book” an extraordinary cruise director as well as a ship or the itenenary. (But I fear, there would be a lot of competition to our booking preferences by nearly one million blog-friends in the world.)
Please continue this amazing blog and the reports from Carnival and it’s family. We have adopted your blog to our personal cruise experciences and will continue reading your stories.
The experience of our cruises with John and Heidi (and a lot of other ships, stewards, excursions, … on our Fun-Ship-Vacations) will keep us on track to our platinum membership (hopefully next year).
All the best for the next months, God bless your friend Alan (and all other friends of Carnival in trouble), and “Auf Wiedersehen” send by a friend from Germany.
Congratulations John….what an accomplishment to add to the long list you already maintain! Now…onward to 2 million!!