Comments on: The magic stick http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/ The official blog of Carnival Cruise Line's Sr. cruise director, John Heald Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:50:57 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Deanna http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29317 Deanna Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:58:14 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29317 Hello John~ while on the cruise i had only one complaint. I am an exercise addict and was greatly disappointed when the fitness center was only open 6- 8 or 10pm........ you can eat 24 hours, find almost anything to do 24 hours, yet I couldn't work out 24 hours. Ya, Ya i know there is the track on deck, but I have pretty bad knees so walking in a circle for 5 hours (which is about how long it would take me to burn as many calories on the ellipical for 1 hour) is not my idea of fun. I hope that perhaps someone else has brought this up. I don't see how it can be a liability because there are many hotels that I have stayed at that have it open and unsupervised. Just my suggestion! Thanks Deanna Hello John~ while on the cruise i had only one complaint. I am an exercise addict and was greatly disappointed when the fitness center was only open 6- 8 or 10pm…….. you can eat 24 hours, find almost anything to do 24 hours, yet I couldn’t work out 24 hours. Ya, Ya i know there is the track on deck, but I have pretty bad knees so walking in a circle for 5 hours (which is about how long it would take me to burn as many calories on the ellipical for 1 hour) is not my idea of fun. I hope that perhaps someone else has brought this up. I don’t see how it can be a liability because there are many hotels that I have stayed at that have it open and unsupervised. Just my suggestion! Thanks Deanna

]]> By: tom & jane http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29284 tom & jane Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:01:23 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29284 HI ,,, # 9 WAS MY FAVORITE,,,,BUT #11 IS GOOD TO,,, ITS SAYS GERRY WILL BUY JOHN THAT BLACK ASTON MARTIN,,WHICH HE TRULY NEEDS. KEEP BLOGGIN,,,,WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU,,,CANT WAIT TIL # 2 IN NOLA. CAN YOU USE A POPCICLE STICK FOR A PEE STICK? WE MISS YOU GUYS HUGS TOM AND JANE HI ,,,
# 9 WAS MY FAVORITE,,,,BUT #11 IS GOOD TO,,,
ITS SAYS GERRY WILL BUY JOHN THAT BLACK
ASTON MARTIN,,WHICH HE TRULY NEEDS.
KEEP BLOGGIN,,,,WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM
YOU,,,CANT WAIT TIL # 2 IN NOLA.
CAN YOU USE A POPCICLE STICK FOR A PEE STICK?

WE MISS YOU GUYS

HUGS
TOM AND JANE

]]> By: bettyb00p1bigkahuna http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29283 bettyb00p1bigkahuna Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:08:15 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29283 OMG JOHN! TALK ABOUT BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS! NO WONDER YOU ARE EXHAUSTED! BUT YOU HAVE TO ADMIT ITS FUN TRYING! SHREDDED WHEAT IS GOOD STUFF I LIKE IT A LOT BETTER THAN BRAN, BUT RICHARD D HAS TO REMEBER YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR SUGAR BEFORE I HAD TO WATCH MY SUGAR I USED TO SNACK ON THE FROSTED SHREDDED WHEATS! BETTER THAN CHIPS... LESS FAT... rE YOU CONFERENCE, LOVED THE PICTURES. & YOUR LIST... I LIKED NUMBER FOUR ON THE LIST AND WAS LEANING TOWARD # 2 AS WELL.. CAN'T WAIT! THE NEW ALLEDGED CONVERSATIONS ON THE PICTURES ARE SOUNDING GREAT AS WELL, AND HEIDI PLEASE DON'T KEEP JOHN IN THE DOGHOUSE FOR SHARING THE STICK NEWS" WITH US.. TAKE CARE IN YOUR "MOVING OF SUITCASES" THE TUCKERS ELIZABETH & ARNOLD OMG JOHN!
TALK ABOUT BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS! NO WONDER YOU ARE EXHAUSTED! BUT YOU HAVE TO ADMIT ITS FUN TRYING!

SHREDDED WHEAT IS GOOD STUFF I LIKE IT A LOT BETTER THAN BRAN, BUT RICHARD D HAS TO REMEBER YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR SUGAR BEFORE I HAD TO WATCH MY SUGAR I USED TO SNACK ON THE FROSTED SHREDDED WHEATS! BETTER THAN CHIPS… LESS FAT…
rE YOU CONFERENCE, LOVED THE PICTURES. & YOUR LIST… I LIKED NUMBER FOUR ON THE LIST AND WAS LEANING TOWARD # 2 AS WELL.. CAN’T WAIT!
THE NEW ALLEDGED CONVERSATIONS ON THE PICTURES ARE SOUNDING GREAT AS WELL, AND HEIDI PLEASE DON’T KEEP JOHN IN THE DOGHOUSE FOR SHARING THE STICK NEWS” WITH US..
TAKE CARE IN YOUR “MOVING OF SUITCASES”
THE TUCKERS
ELIZABETH & ARNOLD

]]> By: deb http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29280 deb Sat, 09 Feb 2008 21:15:52 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29280 Hey! Would Carnival PLEASE explain, more clearly, about these past guest...Platinium levels! Seriously....I did my homework last year preparing to go on the Glory with hubby...our first cruise...I read internet sites, blogs...searched out the islands...had a 149 page, cut 'n pasted binder...We were totally prepared to board the Glory for our very first cruise! and I can tell you, that I found zero...I repeat, zero direct information about past guest, platinium or anything else that announced to me that if....I chose to be a regular guest...and make Carnival, my cruise ships of choice, I would be rewarded for my loyalty.....This information should be shouted fromt he mountain tops....I should not have find out that there is "something" out there in Carnival cruise land that may interest me in becoming a re-tournee...... So, how about something on the CArnival.com site....It's a selling oint...a win-win... My hubby and I were thrilled to find an invitation on our beds, to a past guest get together, for that evening.....Good marketing practise would have me knowing about this , at least, on my first cruise....by way of a flyer in our stateroom, a few days before disembarkation...thanking us for choosing Carnival, and inviting us back...and here are the perks for your loyalty:...etc, etc...This could come as a note, signed by the captain! Why not? He needs to be profiled more...this is a great way, without taking up his valuable time....Anybody else out there in blog land have suggestions? Missing that great weather...we're scheduled for 100 cm on snow in the next 3 days!!!! Deb in Atlantic Canada John, forget the Shreddies... go for the Fruitloops!!!! Hey! Would Carnival PLEASE explain, more clearly, about these past guest…Platinium levels! Seriously….I did my homework last year preparing to go on the Glory with hubby…our first cruise…I read internet sites, blogs…searched out the islands…had a 149 page, cut ‘n pasted binder…We were totally prepared to board the Glory for our very first cruise! and I can tell you, that I found zero…I repeat, zero direct information about past guest, platinium or anything else that announced to me that if….I chose to be a regular guest…and make Carnival, my cruise ships of choice, I would be rewarded for my loyalty…..This information should be shouted fromt he mountain tops….I should not have find out that there is “something” out there in Carnival cruise land that may interest me in becoming a re-tournee……

So, how about something on the CArnival.com site….It’s a selling oint…a win-win…

My hubby and I were thrilled to find an invitation on our beds, to a past guest get together, for that evening…..Good marketing practise would have me knowing about this , at least, on my first cruise….by way of a flyer in our stateroom, a few days before disembarkation…thanking us for choosing Carnival, and inviting us back…and here are the perks for your loyalty:…etc, etc…This could come as a note, signed by the captain! Why not? He needs to be profiled more…this is a great way, without taking up his valuable time….Anybody else out there in blog land have suggestions?

Missing that great weather…we’re scheduled for 100 cm on snow in the next 3 days!!!!

Deb in Atlantic Canada

John, forget the Shreddies…
go for the Fruitloops!!!!

]]> By: CruisinGrandma http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29279 CruisinGrandma Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:50:29 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29279 John & Heidi, My mother always said relax and enjoy. A good meal a glass of wine and you will be fine. I agree with nanni that we will all pray for you two it sure helped me, and I will start knitting a special blanket. Will write later. CarolAnn John & Heidi,

My mother always said relax and enjoy. A good meal a glass of wine and you will be fine. I agree with nanni that we will all pray for you two it sure helped me, and I will start knitting a special blanket.

Will write later.

CarolAnn

]]> By: Ivana http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29278 Ivana Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:41:24 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29278 Johny, you are too funny. Good luck with the smiley face stick and few extra Thursdays. You can do it! Johny, you are too funny. Good luck with the smiley face stick and few extra Thursdays. You can do it!

]]> By: Deanna http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29277 Deanna Sat, 09 Feb 2008 18:38:43 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29277 ROFLMAO!!!!!!!! We had some friends that went through the whole infertility thing, testing, peeing, etc, etc. They now have to wonderful little boys. One of whom we are the godparents of. We wish you the best of luck. Me I think #1 is the best. But #4 is a close second. The bloggers cruise on the Freedom was our first cruise ever and it was awesome. We are already booked on the Triumph next year for the Eastern Caibbean and then either later that year or the next we will try to get on the Splendor for a European cruise. We didn't get to met you personally but our friend Michele did 3 times so that made up for it and hopefully on some other cruise we will get to. Thanks for this blog it is appreciated that you take the time for it. Good luck with the bambino! Deanna ROFLMAO!!!!!!!! We had some friends that went through the whole infertility thing, testing, peeing, etc, etc. They now have to wonderful little boys. One of whom we are the godparents of. We wish you the best of luck.

Me I think #1 is the best. But #4 is a close second.

The bloggers cruise on the Freedom was our first cruise ever and it was awesome. We are already booked on the Triumph next year for the Eastern Caibbean and then either later that year or the next we will try to get on the Splendor for a European cruise.

We didn’t get to met you personally but our friend Michele did 3 times so that made up for it and hopefully on some other cruise we will get to.

Thanks for this blog it is appreciated that you take the time for it. Good luck with the bambino!

Deanna

]]> By: Terri910 http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29274 Terri910 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 17:25:56 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29274 I've been MIA in my comments, but still faithfully reading your blog, John. Since in today's blog you have requested we "keep the comments coming" and I haven't read a reply from you regarding one I made back in December (I'm not complaining, I just hope you did read it), I'll repeat it. We had a very nice weekend cruise on the Paradise the weekend before Christmas (returning on Christmas Eve)...We had high praise for piano bar entertainer (Barry Miller), but great disappointment that we were told that there was a "new policy" that passengers could not use their own karaoke discs in the Karaoke Lounge! There is a thread on CruiseCritic.com about it, and it was unanimous among karaoke enthusiasts that this was a really negative thing. Since karaoke is one of the main shipboard activities that Larry and I enjoy, this had quite a negative impact on our cruise experience. We did go to the Cruise Director (Mr. Halliday) to ask about it, so we learned the reasoning behind the decision, but are dissatisfied that the solution was anything more than the easiest and most expedient for Carnival without taking into consideration any other possible resolutions that would not spoil the activity for those that participate. A simple one would be to have passengers sign a waiver regarding possible damage to personal disc (covering one reason given), and to allow passengers to use personal discs during Adults Only Karaoke (covering the other reason given). We truly hope this will be given due consideration. Perhaps you read my post back in December and remembered it, but I'm reiterating it just in case it fell between the cracks! :) We are booked on the Spirit for September of this year, from Vancouver to the Hawaiian islands. 5 consecutive sea days. I hope we are able to enjoy karaoke for those days, as we were unable to do on the Paradise. Terri P.S. This is no reflection on the Paradise's karaoke hostess, Misty -- she is great, but had to follow policy. I’ve been MIA in my comments, but still faithfully reading your blog, John.

Since in today’s blog you have requested we “keep the comments coming” and I haven’t read a reply from you regarding one I made back in December (I’m not complaining, I just hope you did read it), I’ll repeat it.

We had a very nice weekend cruise on the Paradise the weekend before Christmas (returning on Christmas Eve)…We had high praise for piano bar entertainer (Barry Miller), but great disappointment that we were told that there was a “new policy” that passengers could not use their own karaoke discs in the Karaoke Lounge! There is a thread on CruiseCritic.com about it, and it was unanimous among karaoke enthusiasts that this was a really negative thing. Since karaoke is one of the main shipboard activities that Larry and I enjoy, this had quite a negative impact on our cruise experience.

We did go to the Cruise Director (Mr. Halliday) to ask about it, so we learned the reasoning behind the decision, but are dissatisfied that the solution was anything more than the easiest and most expedient for Carnival without taking into consideration any other possible resolutions that would not spoil the activity for those that participate. A simple one would be to have passengers sign a waiver regarding possible damage to personal disc (covering one reason given), and to allow passengers to use personal discs during Adults Only Karaoke (covering the other reason given).

We truly hope this will be given due consideration. Perhaps you read my post back in December and remembered it, but I’m reiterating it just in case it fell between the cracks! :)

We are booked on the Spirit for September of this year, from Vancouver to the Hawaiian islands. 5 consecutive sea days. I hope we are able to enjoy karaoke for those days, as we were unable to do on the Paradise.

Terri

P.S. This is no reflection on the Paradise’s karaoke hostess, Misty — she is great, but had to follow policy.

]]> By: monica http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29273 monica Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:00:15 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29273 Just found your blog, how did I miss this? We've been on 6 cruises in the last 3 years, three Carnival. Anyway.... 1- Seeing a picture of Wee Jimmy cracked me up. He was with us on our Feb. 2006 Virgin Island Cruise, taking over for our sick cruise director (whose name I can't remember) and he was the best ever!! Back on the Glory 9 months later and was sad he had moved on. 2- Mention of cruise photos. My husband has always said there should be some way to purchase those from your room like you do shore excursions. Or... put them on some sort of card, like they do at Disney World, and you can order them online when you get home. Just a thought. Just found your blog, how did I miss this? We’ve been on 6 cruises in the last 3 years, three Carnival. Anyway….

1- Seeing a picture of Wee Jimmy cracked me up. He was with us on our Feb. 2006 Virgin Island Cruise, taking over for our sick cruise director (whose name I can’t remember) and he was the best ever!! Back on the Glory 9 months later and was sad he had moved on.

2- Mention of cruise photos. My husband has always said there should be some way to purchase those from your room like you do shore excursions. Or… put them on some sort of card, like they do at Disney World, and you can order them online when you get home. Just a thought.

]]> By: Cathy Short http://johnhealdsblog.com/2008/02/08/the-magic-stick/#comment-29271 Cathy Short Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:24:23 +0000 http://johnheald.wordpress.com/?p=2156#comment-29271 Good Luck with the smiley face!!! Good Luck with the smiley face!!!

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