I have enjoyed hearing about all your fun on the Freedom. My husband & I are re-doing our honeymoon on the Freedom this Feb. 23. He had chest pains as we pulled into St. Martin & they kicked us off the ship..(they were wonderful to us).
Five days later back in Orlando he had an emergency triple bypass..at 54. (some say I wore him out…being 15 years younger…they’re just jealous
He is doing wonderful and we are ready for honeymoon..take 2. We’re bringing 6 family members with us. Look for the crazy group at any of the bars. Hope to see you on board!!

Last month I flew from the UK to Miami and back. We went through US Immigration at Chicago… a really happy cheery guy stamped our passports… saw a lot of US stamps… asked us why… we told him that we like cruising.

He kept us for about 10 minutes asking which ship was best for honeymoon for him and girlfriend… which caribbean ports… a really friendly guy.

As we got off the ship after our cruise the guy at Miami port was equally friendly… he corrected our green cards with his biro (we’d put the wrong port of embarcation) asked us how the cruise went, and wished us a good flight back to the UK.

Back home, in Manchester, Englend, the miserable devil couldn’t even respond to my “good morning”.

You can do the same job with a smile or a scowl… it has no bearing on your efficiency.

Welcome back! I am so sorry for the rude treatment of our Immigration and Custom “Officials”. I use the word officials with some disdain. We live in a border town and have to deal with the same attitude when we go across our little pond. I’m glad that you understand and don’t judge all us by a small overbearing agency. They are there for our safety but a little kindness goes a long way. My Grandmother use to say “you get more flies with honey then with vinegar” and that is one of her beliefs I use.

See you Saturday and that will be the only “warning” I will give you. Can’t wait and we are already packed.

Joan

PS do you want me to send my “Boys” down to Miami to give your “Boys” a few lessons?? Sorry, couldn’t resist. I really feel bad for the Heat. They were such a good team and I love to watch them play. Not as much as my “Boys” but close.

Hope you’re enjoying your blog cruise.

Eric

Welcome back! I know you had a long flight and then met with what sounds like a very unkind scene and I’m sorry for that. It was wonderful of you to help that poor young lady. I’m sorry that in these days, we have to put people coming to this country through so much to come here. I know it can’t be helped but I do wish it could be done with kindness. Anyway, I’m looking out for the daily blogs again. You always make me laugh. Only 21 days until Carnival Liberty! But i’m not counting! Take care and tell Heidi hello from me.

Leasa

I sympathize with “customs victims” but don’t feel it’s a bit worse in the US than anywhere else. While living in Europe I traveled through many airports, and border checkpoints (which may no longer be used) and was always tense and felt rather like a bug under a microscope. And if you want scary, watch the security guys roaming around with their Uzis. Or what about the guys who check under your car and in the trunk, etc., before you can get into their airport so you can LEAVE their country. I never met any smiling agents and unless things have changed drastically, the only reason I can see for all the complaining about our customs agents over those elsewhere, is that everyone expects Americans to welcome the world with open arms, no questions asked. I agree that some explanation could be made for those who don’t know what is going on (like the lady from Thailand), but shouldn’t the company she works for have given her some sort of orientation as to what to expect throughout her travel experience? Especially if what happened is a standard procedure. I’m sorry if I’m being excessively defensive (and I’m not so much upset at you, John, as you expressed your understanding of all the factors involved in the situation), but I’m a little tired of all the US bashing, especially by our own citizens. Customs agents in any country are not a “welcome committee.” Their job is to ensure the security of the people who live and visit in the country. It was very kind of you, John, to explain the situation to the young lady.

Anyway…glad you’re back and eager to get to work.

Myra

Sorry about your “welcome” to the US. They often treat we citizens like dirt so I’m not surprised what they do to you “dastardly foreigners”. Several years ago I was returning from Europe & this was before the Euro. I had all my different currencies neatly separated so I could exchange them quickly before my connecting flight. Please bear in mind that I’m a little ol’ lady & look like everyone’s grandma. The customs agent demanded my driver’s license in addition to my passport & then took my purse & dumped it upside down & all the contents went flying in every direction, some on the table, some on the floor. Needless to say, my currency was a jumbled mess along with everything else. What a “lovely” welcome home.

Kevin