Tuesday, January 1st, 2008...12:00 am
Happy New Year!
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Wishing all of you and your loved ones a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2008!
John and Heidi
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51 Comments
January 1st, 2008 at 12:17 am
…and to all of my fellow bloggers here I wish all the best for 2008 with fair winds and calm seas.
God bless us all.
Greg
January 1st, 2008 at 12:18 am
HAPPY NEW YEAR
To John and Heidi, Alan, Roberto, all the bloggers, MY CREW and all your families. May all your wishes and resolutions for 2008 come true.
“BIG” ED
19 days till I meet all my new blog friends.
January 1st, 2008 at 12:53 am
Its 11:51PM here in NE Maryland and the ball has not yet fallen in Times Square, but
Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar (translation thanks to Babelfish)
(that’s Happy New Year to you, John)
The Ketchams
January 1st, 2008 at 1:02 am
THANK YOU! And you as well!
JULS
January 1st, 2008 at 3:19 am
John,
Any comment on the recent norovirus outbreak on the new Queen some are calling “The Curse of Camilla”?
January 1st, 2008 at 9:38 am
Happy New Year to you also and to all the bloggers! I am off to work–hopefully we will have a New Years baby to welcome into the world this morning! May 2008 bring all of you health and happiness!
Sheryl
January 1st, 2008 at 9:47 am
Happy New Year John and Heidi and all The Excellent staff at Carnival plus all the Bloggers!
Jeanne and I have had such a fantastic year and our Greek Isle adventures on Freedom in 2007 is now locked in our memories like so many of the fun times we spent on Carnival Fun Ships in past years.
2008 will be a blast on Splendor.
We are looking forward to exploring St Petersburg, Amsterdam, and all the ports.
Most importantly, we wish good health and happiness to all. Ray & Jeanne
January 1st, 2008 at 10:59 am
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERY ONE….
January 1st, 2008 at 11:03 am
Happy New Year, John, Heidi, Roberto, Chris P., Alan, Big Ed, Paul P., Nanette, Bee, Kevin, Carol S., and all my blogger friends! My wish for you all is Good Health, Happiness, Happy Cruising (especially the Bloggers cruise), and most of all Good LUCK in the New Year whatever your endeavors might be! Linda & Mike
January 1st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Thanks for a wonderful Year and Cruise onboard the Freedom…MAY YOU ALWAYS KEEP İN YOUR HEART THE SPECİAL BEAUTY AND
CHEER OF NEW YEAR.
Frank & JenniferC
Splendor
8/30/08
January 1st, 2008 at 12:50 pm
happy new year john and heidi!! see y’all soon…
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
January 1st, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Wishing you all a Happy & Healthy New Year! John….will you be sailing on the Freedom in June of 2008? I hope so!
January 1st, 2008 at 1:29 pm
HAPPY NEW YEAR BLOG BUDDIES!!
John another thing U can pass along to “The Powers That Be” is that they need to outfit the older ships with the Large LCD Movie Screens like the Liberty/Freedom/Splender,that added so much to our experience on Liberty and our daughter loved it that was our late evening thing to do!! Wanted to do Southern Carribean again to visit St.Lucia but the ship(Miracle) doesnt have the outside Movie experience .
Tks!
Sandra
Canada
January 1st, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Happy New Year, Y’all!
See ya in a few weeks. I can’t wait!
January 1st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Happy new year to John, Heidi and all my blogging friends. 11 days and counting.
January 1st, 2008 at 5:41 pm
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND HEIDI!!!
MAY PEACE AND HAPPINESS BLESS YOU BOTH THIS NEW YEAR OF 2008.
PAULA AND NELSON BAKER
January 1st, 2008 at 6:01 pm
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO JOHN, HEIDI, ROBERTO, AND ALL MY FRIENDS ON THIS BLOG THINGY.
January 1st, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Happy New Years to everyone.
Here’s to save cruises, new friends, calm seas, and health and happiness to everyone.
January 1st, 2008 at 8:43 pm
John & Heidi,
Wishing you and yours health, happiness, and prosperity in the New Year.
Hope to see you in the Baltics
January 1st, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Happy New Year to John and his wife and everyone that we have met on the Carnival ships that we have sailed on. Hope to see most if not all you soon.
January 1st, 2008 at 8:55 pm
” HAPPY NEW YEAR”
2008
to you Mr. Heald, Heidi, your mum & dad, Alan Roberto, Chris, the Carnival organization and most important all the bloggers. I hope for love, success, friendship, health and more cruises. Ciao all my friends.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
January 1st, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Happy New Year to all my blogger friends. May it be a wonderful one for all. Big hugs to all!
January 1st, 2008 at 9:23 pm
happy new years to everyone. have a wonderful year in 2008.
January 1st, 2008 at 9:51 pm
A very Happy & Healthy New Year to John and Heidi and all of the Carnival Bloggers!
See you all on the Blogger’s Cruise!
Lance & Ilda
January 1st, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Happy New Year everyone!
January 1st, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Happy new year to the two of you.
If you can ever find the time, can you tell us about the Elation which is now stationed in San Diego. Thanks.
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:52 am
To John & Heidi, and all the bloggers (especially Big Ed and all my new friends from the evil crew),
We wish you a healthy, safe and adventurous 2008! Happy New Year!!
Mary & Randy C.
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:19 am
Hope everybody had aHappy New Year ! We’re on our way to Vegas, back on line next week !
Kathy and Lee
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:03 am
Happy New Year to everyone. Safe cruises and calm winds in 2008.
Luis & Maria Torres
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:09 am
Happy New Year!!
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
I know it’s January 2nd but Happy New Year to all. And I hope to meet everyone on the 2009 Blogger’s Cruise – wherever & whenever that may be.
Hugs,
Carol
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:35 am
Hi John and Heidi!
Happy New Year to the two of you also. I have been thinking a lot about the approaching bloggers cruise and wish that Jim and I were able to take the cruise also! We are instead waiting for the maiden voyage of the Splendor! I can hardly wait for July to arrive.
John, I had one question. My husband really loved the blog thingy tee shirt that I got him for Christmas. The problem is that I only bought two- one for each of us. Well, he wants our daughter and her boyfriend who will be accompanying us to have them also. Are they still available? I hope so because he wants us to have matching shirts. That shirt was a tremendous hit with him! Please respond and let me know if they are still available. I am hoping they have not all been purchased.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Ruth
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
John,
My glutus maximus (It is a max) doesn’t squeeze into the chairs on the balcony. Short of not getting a balcony in the future is there anything else I can do? Do the ships have any plastic or outdoor furniture that doesn’t have arms? If not, I would make that recommendation. Those blue rockers around the pool would be great. Of course, who is going to bring one of those down to my cabin. Oh well, in the meantime I’ll try to make the maximus smaller.
Tom Potter
Buford, GA
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Just saw on the news that there is a fire at a London hospital. Is Alan there and is he okay?
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
Ruth Jamison,
Yes they are just click on Bloggers Tshirts! on the right near the top just above Recient comments.
BIG ED
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Dear John,
Just wanted to let you know about some outstanding folks you have on the Carnival Conquest.
We sailed on the Conquest
January 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Dear John,
We sailed on the Conquest the week before Christmas (Dec. 16- Dec. 23) with my wife’s folks. We’d been on this cruise before and wanted them to have a special time…they DID!
Just wanted to let you know about some outstanding folks you have on the Conquest:
• Cruise Director Mark Price: The ESSENCE of Fun Ship.
• My Massage Therapist in the Spa: Mai Lee (SP?) An Indonesian “miracle worker.” Her hot stone massages were AWESOME. I booked a second one after I had the first.
• Our waiters in the Monet Room: Wes & Ceasar, also Galya. We’ve dined around the world and this was the BEST 5 diamonds service we’ve ever had.
• The cuisine in the Monet Room; Also 5 diamonds. Our compliments to the chef! Hard to believe you can maintain that level of excellence at that volume.
• Our Cabin Steward (Cabin 7401): nicknamed “Super.” Always smiling & cheerful.
The Christmas Show was wonderful!
Bob & Cathy Chandler, AZ
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Same to you John!
Sorry i have not been posting comments, i’ve been so busy with he holidays, exams for school, and the family.
I hope all is well!!!
Warm Regards (from cold south florida)
-Nico R
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Jimni,
I saw that also and had the same concern. I was not able to pull up any details about the fire. I also hope everything is well with Alan.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Happy New Year to you, your family, Alan, bloggers, etc.
Let’s hope for a happy, successful 2008!
Thanks,
David
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
25 more days and the wife & I will be back on the Liberty for our 4th Carnival cruise!
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
To all our Blogging Friends:
Wishing all of you, Good Health, Good Friends, Prosperity, Love and Happiness in the New Year!
Barb & Carl
January 2nd, 2008 at 8:19 pm
John, Heidi, Roberto, and Alan…
May God Bless you each and every day in 2008.
And to all the Bloggers:
Happy 2008 to all of us!!
May all our cruises come true!
Best Regards,
Kirsten
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 am
Hi Roberto,
I noticed on one of Big Ed’s notes that John will be hosting a table at dinner 3 nights on the blogger’s cruise. Is there anyway to get on a list to join his table one night?
I know he can’t host everyone, but wasn’t sure if there would be a way to sign up or not.
Thanks,
Lisa
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:01 am
HEY TOMP!
You’re not the only one with the gluteus maximus problem. Big Ed and I have been requesting sturdy armless chairs, especially on the Lido deck, and Big Ed has been pushing for super sized robes. I think Carnival
is listening, because I am under the impression robes should be available
for the upcoming bloggers cruise. (Wish I could be there). I also requested
sturdy and higher off the ground lounge chairs to enjoy on deck. I’ve never
had any problems being accommodated in the fancy dining rooms as I call the matri de when I get on board and tell him my situation and a sturdy armless chair is waiting for me each evening at diinner. I do hope Carnival
becomes more accommodating on the Lido deck though, especially for the buffet eating area. I think it helps that our favorite crusie director, John, is a person of size as he understands the issues we face.
Happy Cruising,
Julie Gantt – A Supersized BBW
January 3rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
Hi John and Heidi,
Hello from Maine. As I have mentioned before I am taking my daughter on a cruise in April on the Freedom as a high school graduation gift. One thing she wants to do is swim with the dolphins. Your suggestion was to do that in Jamaica combined with the Dunns River Falls so that we can do the Jeep tour in Cozumel. I have searched those Jeep excursions and it seems there are quite a few. Can you or anyone out there tell me which of these two would you recommend and why: The Caverns by Jeep and Beach Combo or Exploring Cozumel by Jeep with snorkel. We can’t decide. I’m also confused about this passport thing. I have my but my daughter does not. Will she need one? I think if she does I will have to do an expedited request because it sounds like they are taking a long time to come in. Thanks for all of your help.
Cheri
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Happy New Year John!!!
Just wanted to thank you for the great time we had on the Freedom in July. You really made the cruise for my family. You may remember my son became a “teenager in Turkey”. You were terrific, you called him during your morning show to wish him a Happy Birthday and sent some things to the room for him to remember his day. You even recommended a great tour for the day.
I never realized how much a Cruise Director can make or break a cruise.
That cruise was #24 for me and NEVER has there been a diector like you!!
We are booked again on the Freedom in June and are hoping against hope that you will be there. We know you were to go on the Splendor. We are also booking on the Freedom in March, in the Caribbean. That will be three Freedom cruises in a year.
We love you John!!
Jane Reif
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Cheri,
I was just reading your question about the passport. It is my understanding that everyone who travels to the Caribbean, Canada, etc. needs a valid passport. Yes, it is taking some time to get them issued. I had a friend who had planned a trip to Europe last summer. The departure date was rapidly approaching and she had no passport. There is an address through a government website where you can e-mail questions. They are good about getting back to you. Basically, you have to be within 40 days of the trip before they get really antsy. So, go ahead and take care of the paperwork. The website address is identified on the passport documents. I hope that will help!
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Hope everyone had a Happy and safe New Year!
Heidi-Beth
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
My very cruise was in 1995. My friend’s father and mother were booked on this 19 bow and arrow year, 14000 GRT cruise ship. Now his father got sick, sick enough for him not to travel out of the country, but not enough for the mother to stay home. So mother and son went on the trip, but the son did not want to go unless he had a friend on the ship. This is where I came in.
We boarded the ship, and soon found out the average age was passed deceased. We ran around this old Greek liner as if we owned it, and made the best out of our situation. By the end of the first night we loved the idea for cruising. The concept of being in the middle of nowhere, but having every little thing you may want right there!
On the morning of day two, we got up early, and watched our ship cruise into the Port of San Juan. Feeling on top of the world and just fishing our breakfast on Lido, we cruise passed the fort, and headed towards the piers.
It was then we were gob-smacked!
Our 14000 GRT, pulled close to the near new 70 000 GRT Carnival Fascination, and another Real Crappy Cruise Line. Our mouths dropped, and we promised “that is what we are going on next!”. Much later that same night, we watched the fun ship Fascination sail away to music pumping, lights flashing, and guests dancing on deck. Sadly, once the Fascination faded out over the dark horizon, we turn back and looked at our deck. It was empty, not a single person about – and it was only 10:30 pm.!
Well a year later, Dec 14, 1996 I sail on the Fascination – Wow!
My wife to be did a couple of cruises on some Northern Crap Line, mainly because we were with other couples who booked the trips. By this time I have heard of this “John Heald”, manly because of the coverage of the Destiny. The Learning Channel show, “big stuff” did a featured of the ship, no, not you John.
“and your 7 day vacation starts Now!”
In 1998 we traveled on the Grand Princess, and 1999 on the Sea Princess with CD Alastair Greener, that was a treat. With my love of ships, as my grandfather Harry worked at Temple Thomson & Clark, steamship Brokers, # 4 Lloyd;s Avenue, London, it was a real to sail on the Carnival Paradise in early 2000. Joe did a great job with all the greatest liner names aboard.
Then Married life and Children were my focus for the near future. In February 2007 my wife, 2 daughters age 2 & 4, and I finally got back to cruising on the Carnival Valor. This year we are on the February 2nd sailing on the Freedom. At the time of booking, I knew you were planning your vacation, so I had not thought it be possible that you would be my CD. Then in one of the latest blogs, you gave me great pleasure informing me that this will be your return to the Freedom until the end of March!!!!
I have been reading your blog since May, and have enjoyed it very much! Thought it was neat to hear about Southend so much, because as a Kid I often travel there. My Grandmother lived in Rayleigh, and the short trip to the pebbly beach was a treat. I was last in Southend over the Easter Monday Bank Holiday, 20 and sunny the first weekend of April. A small block of flats, to the west on the town near The Leas & Crowstone Ave reminded me of a cruise ship. Its blue and gray motive, and windows had a art deco theme, or so I thought.
Keep up the great job, and looking forward to see you both in February.
Timothy Croker
Barrie, Canada
StateRoom 2408
January 8th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Enjoyed reading the blogs…keep up the good work.
I will be cruising the Conquest on Feb. 3rd 2008 and our group is already excited! This will be my second cruise on the Conquest the first was out of New Orleans in 2003 (before Katrina) and this time we are departing from Galveston, TX. We have had several other cruise experiences but none of the dining even came close to the quality we experienced on the Conquest. Any new delights on board since our last Conquest cruise?
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