Sunday…………a day for reading the papers, watching soccer and finally having a proper day doing bugger all…………which is a good job really as its 28 degrees here and with no air conditioning I have as much energy as the energizer bunny whose had his battery stolen…………what I wouldn’t give for some air conditioning. Good Morning and I hope this Sunday finds you well and once again a very happy Mother’s Day to you all. Heidi made good her promise to allow me an afternoon of watching football which I thoroughly enjoyed however having spent the morning reading about the poor people of Burma it was hard to celebrate when my team scored………..it is unbelievable that the joke of the Government are still blocking some of the foreign aid………….it makes me very sad.
It is said that the West has missiles that are so precise that they can hit any target no matter how small well surely there has never been a better time to use these and send one right up General Scru Yu’s bottom and in turn allow the world to help these desperate people.
Anyway, during the reading of the Sunday Papers which must have taken seven Brazilian rain forests to create, Heidi came out with her next vacation desire…………..she wants to go on a Safari.
I’ve never really seen the point of a safari. First of all, apart from the threat of being eaten by a Lion on the Adkins diet (and lets face it, if anyone looks like a grazing Bison it ‘s me) worst of all you have to live …………in a tent.
Now camping is OK if you are seven years old and playing Cowboys and Indians or if you are protesting about something…………but for vacation no way. I mentioned this to Heidi who replied that she wanted to get close to nature and my reply telling her to go stand in a field was met by yet another close encounter with a household object.
I look upon camping the same as barbecuing………now don’t get me wrong had a nice time with Alan and family (video will be posted later today) yet what’s the point of having your food covered in ash and dead flies when you have a cooker indoors?…………..no camping makes no sense to me especially if there is a snake wanting to share your sleeping bag with you and a scorpion having a nap in your Reeboks.
It was at this point that Heidi showed me the article from the newspaper travel section and she did so with a huge smirk of satisfaction on her face as if to say look at this smarty-pants.
Unfortunately the article did not show pictures of ragged old tents, sleeping bags and people pooing in a bucket instead the tents had shiny wooden floors, and flushing toilets, big soft beds laden with crisp white Egyptian cotton sheets and all the luxuries that would have you feel more like Clive of India then Tarzan. All of this comes with a private butler, a chef and there wasn’t a snake or a scorpion to be seen……………Heidi really wanted to do this and I knew I was in trouble and the possibility of spending next winter being chased by Larry the Lion was very real.
More on this in a moment.
109 comments so far……………..109 comments and opinions on the subject of anytime dining. First of all I want to thank each and every one of you for taking your valuable time to slap these on the blog thingy. I have just finished reading each and every one of them and it seems that opinion is very much divided. However, it all seems to me that the one thing each one has in common is that you all want choice………..the freedom to choose between assigned and anytime dining. ………and that is what will be offered on the Carnival Legend.
For me, choice is very important and I agree with all of you who say you would miss the fun of meeting new friends who you get to know better and better throughout the cruise and whom some, stay friends for life. I also agree that having the same waiter who understands your needs and as the cruise progresses anticipates those needs is something you all relish.
However, I also agree that you should have the choice to eat when you are hungry rather than when we tell you to. This definitely comes into play if you have taken a long excursion or want to enjoy more time in the sun or on the open decks.
Yep, choice………….it’s the future and the smart people at Carnival realise this and I have a feeling that everyone will eventually be happy with the outcome.
I will be discussing your comments with the big bosses on Monday and I will let you all know what was said……….and thanks again for getting involved.
Well, the Carnival Splendor is getting ready and I spoke to the Hotel Director Duncan and the Chief Purser Lui who are both already at the shipyard. They both say the ship is looking great and I will be joining them on June 2nd. The Captain is acquainting himself with some of the ports by sailing on a Costa vessel right now. When he returns I will post an interview with my friend Captain Georgio Pagano whom I know you will all enjoy meeting.
The Carnival Freedom has begun her first Grand med cruise and today she is in Naples…………I am sure the guests are having a wonderful time and I will catch up with Captain D’Aita in a few days and we will report on how things are going.
Also near to being launched is Holland America’s Eurodam and look out for a follow up with her Captain and an interview with another Blogging Captain of the Veendam very soon as well.
So, back to the Safari that Heidi was so desperately trying to get me to agree to go on. Now, the 10 day Safari was $4,000 per person and way out of our price range but that is a hard thing to argue with your wife when just the other day you had nervously suggested that you spend half that amount on a new Plasma and surround sound system.
It’s the animals she said piercing my defenses with her Spaniel eyes and extended bottom lip.
Here to we disagree. On TV we are always told to marvel at these beautiful creatures of the wild. Even the sight of a Gazelle having its head ripped off by a Leopard is still something that narrators like the BBC’s David Attenborough can make sound enjoyable and easy to watch.
However, I doubted that seeing this from an open top Land Rover and being splattered by Gary the Gazelle’s blood as the hungry Leopard chomps down well I would think this may be a bit more ……….real.
You see, Heidi has always looked at beasts of the wild as cute (if they are babies), elegant and graceful me…………I have always looked upon beasts as either dangerous things that bite, sting, poison and kill you or…………dinner.
Heidi though would hear none of it and off she went with her list of animals that we would see on a safari.
These included the usual subjects and she got very excited as this particular Safari guaranteed that amongst some of the animals you would see would be “monkey’s and baboons.” Heidi was of course thinking about the type that Tarzan had as a friend you remember……….I think its name was Cheetah who spoke five languages and could drive.
To me, when they say you will see Baboons I think of the ugly one who God obviously decided to have a bit of fun with and put its red arse on inside out. The other animal that delivers a huge OOOHHH and an AHHH from Heidi is the Meercat. She had seen that program called Meercat Manor which portrays this band of cute and cuddly things that Heidi would just love to hug and take to bed with her. Of course, she forgot the bit where one of the Meercats ate another Meercats baby………they don’t even do that in Desperate Housewives.
Heidi also showed me a photo from the newspaper of a night scene in the jungle where tourists were sitting round a torch lit area feeding on a huge and lavish meal being entertained by a local African tribe who probably were very nice people but had not taken a bath since they were nine……….I am not paying $4,000 and flying half way around the world for that, why should I…………Paris is just 30 minutes away.
However, despite all my arguments Heidi kept on about how after all upcoming hard word on the Carnival Splendor that this would be the vacation of a lifetime………..my arguments so far had proven pointless………….and then…………..I had a brilliant idea.
I showed Heidi a website……………..and the thought of going on a safari disappeared immediately.
Here it is: http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/november/baboon.htm
Instead of her spending her vacation with a spider the size of a small car…………we are going on the Ruby Princess inaugural and she can lie by the pool, sleep on a beautiful bed and not worry about being a Larry the Lion’s supper.
As George Peppard’s character used to say in the A Team “I love it when a plan comes together.”
Goodnight
Your friends
John and Heidi
Look, friends — there are a few things you should remember before you comment. The space below is for you to post your comments about the post I've just written above. If it is something that's unrelated, please use the Ask John tab above. Now, while I may not be able to reply to your comment below, I do sit in my underpants almost every morning and read everything that is here. So feel free to comment on the comments and then if someone wants to comment on the comment to the comment then go ahead as well. Please be courteous unless the poster is French...........then you can say whatever you want.
Hi John….i’m with Heidi on this one. An African safari sounds fantastic. You are right though, it’s pricey. You could take her to the Animal Kingdom at Disney World for a lot less money. (sorry Heidi) At least you could see some Meerkats.
What is the mater Big Mate, afraid you may get eaten by a Lion? The only thing you have to worry about now is how much money you are going to lose in the casino.
_BigMike
Blog Security Affiliate Chief
Just in case Heidi changes her mind and she insists on going on that Safari by herself – let me know and I’ll go on the Ruby with you. All kidding aside I do know several people who have done the safari bit and they just loved it. Guess it takes all kinds and that always leaves empty staterooms on cruise ships for the rest of us.
John – I agree with you……camping for me involves a 5 star hotel and room service. I can view nature from a distance at a zoo if I desire! LOL
I think the dining experiment on Carnival will work, if certain things are taken into consideration. Like, how many folks on each cruise want traditional vs. anytime and making the appropriate seating allowances based on those percentages.
John – We all look forward to your reports from the Ruby Princess.
John with your bad eyes you better not go on a safari. How do I know your eyes are bad?? Well you read those comments on dinning all wrong. I saw it as most saying leave it alone we like it as it is. Those that had complaints in their comment it was about anytime dinning. From what I read it sounds good until you find out all the reasons you thought were good are what makes it bad. Being able to eat late after a shore day only to find out everybody is doing the same thing and you now find yourself waiting for a table. I bet we will now have lounges right outside the dinning rooms doors so you can wait for a table and oh yes buy a few drinks. Sounds like most of your chain steakhouses will we be given beepers too.
BIG ED
I agree with you John, no camping for me either, the bugs, snakes etc. YUK! If you are going on the Ruby Princess Inaugural cruise, I hope it is not during Thanksgiving week! We (meaning Mike and I and Empress Bee of the High Seas and Prince Charlie) want to see you that week on the Splendor, and meet up with Nanni too, promise you will be there ok? PLEASE ANSWER THIS REQUEST. Alan seems like a nice chap, a little quieter than you though! HA! Thanks for the video, Heidi! Your friends, Linda & Mike
Jihn,
Her us a suggestion. if Heidi want to go on a safri eh take her to the house of Mouse (disney world) in Orlando. they have a park called Animal Kingdome. and teh hotel they have has a saffari of sorts. They have rooms that lok out at the animals or you can loomk out at the pool. we Chose hte pool side, but could sit in special balcony’s and look at the differnt animals roaming around. at night they have a true afferican who comes and talks about the area htey are from around a camp fire of sorts. it is truely a great place to vist. check out animal kingdome at diseny …
Capt Bill
Now, John… I think that spider is just in need of love. I’m positive that it’s a perfectly wonderful creature that would be thrilled to be observed at closed range… until it bit you… or Heidi.
Overall, the Ruby Princess sounds like a wonderful compromise. I’m sure there’s plenty of wildlife on board… just not of quite the same ilk…
Just so that you don’t feel alone, I’m not terribly fond of camping myself. In fact, my idea of roughing it is no olive for my martini…
Here’s a toast to you, Heidi and all the Blogging crew! Thanks ever so much!
Cheers!
GregB
John,
Did you think about offering to take Heidi to the Zoo? She can see all of the wild animals up close, You wouldn’t have to worry about them eating you …… they’re in a cage. You can go back to a motel and sleep in a bed……. And best of all a Zoo only charges a small admission. ……… just a thought….grin
Carolyn
Hi, John
You and my husband are very similar, in that he has no desire to find himself in the food chain! I have done my share of camping, but no safari! The inaugural sail on the Ruby Princess sounds pretty nice!
John,
Whoa!! Creepy spider there. I’ve only been camping in my local area. The only major thing around here may be bears, but thankfully it is highly uncommon around here… I wouldn’t go camping anywhere else though……
Just saw the new Carnival site now and it looks fantastic along with the new photos of the Splendor! I look forward to more info about the Ruby Princess. Take care guys!
Alex G.
Hi John,
At the risk of angering Heidi, you could always stay at Animal Kingdom…it has a safari just outside the luxury hotel.
Ayr
I agree with everything Big Ed said about the dining issue.
Jennifer
Hey John,
I do have to agree with you. My idea of roughing it is Holiday Inn without extra towels. A cruise on the Ruby Princess sounds much more reasonable. We will have to see what happens with our future vacation plans. The economy in Florida is doing quite a number on our budget right now, and with two growing teenagers, we need to keep our priorities in order. It is starting to look like we may have to take a break this year, and let the funds catch up next year. We will let you know. In the meantime, we are looking forward to hearing of the harrowing tales from the wilds of the Ruby Princess. Hope you get through it okay.
Till next time
Kevin
Hi John,
My idea of camping is a 5 star hotel…. I love animals, but a zoo is close enough for me. I’ll take a cruise any day over a tent, even if it has a wood floor and a plush bed. I prefer the wild life at the lido deck parties over Larry the Lion on an Atkins diet!
Looks like you had a great time at Alan’s and the video was great. So glad to see Alan doing so well! Our prayers remain with him and his family!
Hi John
Princess has had the dining options for a number of years now, and the system seems to work pretty well.
The only problem we have encountered is that they allow people on “anytime dining” to book a dining time, which causes long queues at peak times.
Some people book “anytime dining” than reserve a table for their group at the same time every night… this should be refused because it delays the other passenhgers and after all… if you want to eat at the same time with the same people, that’s what traditional dining is all about – so why don’t they book that!
If anytime dining is run the way NCL run it, with no reservations, no priorities, just come, queue up and be seated, the anytime dining option runs perfectly. Otherwise, the pre-booking needs to be very strictly limited and the peak times need to be blocked out.
With those provisos, the concept that Carnival are about to adopt, just as Princess have used for several years now, is an excellent compromise that satisfies all passengers, whether they want formal sittings or freedom to choose.
Now you need to make sure that all the Travel Agents are familiar with the dining options… many UK TAs are still unaware of how Princess’ system works, even after all these years, and it is important that the passenger makes the right, informed choice, to be sure that the vacaion runs smoothly.
For me – I love the “anytime” concept. We meet more people, yet we feel free to try the alternative dining venues too – because we are not being absent from our regular table-mates.
Hello John and Heidi,
My first choice for vacation is (after Carnival) the Ruby Princess. Second would be Animal Kingdom at Disney World. The safari is on the bottom of a long list. Sorry Heidi.
I can’t wait for New Years Eve on the Carnival Splendor.
Love ya, Florence
John, my big what if with anytime dining is, with anytime dining taking over the dining room, what happens with those of us who prefer fixed dining and do not get our requests for fixed dining? That right there would ruin the whole vacation for me. I fear that lots of people will sign up for fixed dining because they don’t want the anytime dining choice, locking those of us, who really do not want anytime dining, into having to select anytime dining.
John and Heidi,
Sixty-one days! It is hard to believe. I can not wait to see actual pictures of the Splendor. We were talking about it with our daughter and her boyfriend last night over dinner. Everyone is getting excited!
Dining……well, we really enjoy being at the same table every night with the same wait staff. They get to know what you like and often can provide valuable suggestions. I just feel that if people have been out all day and they want to eat, they have the option of the Lido deck. I truly hope we do not reach the point where you are given a beeper and it goes off when a table is ready. I can get that here at a steak house.
Looking forward to seeing the two of you soon!
Ruth
dude!
shhhhh. i told prince charlie that cruising WAS camping and he believed me! (he also thinks it costs four bucks a day but that’s another story!)
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
Hi John,
I agree with you – no camping for me. Bugs, crawly critter, snakes, yuk – I need a real bed & bathroom, tv, a/c, etc. I’ll take the Ruby Princess, thank you very much.
I’ve seen those pricey safaris – very luxurious, but what’s the point? Go to Animal Kingdom or Busch Gardens to see the animals. Or even better, next time you’re in NY, come up to the Bronx Zoo and see the best zoo in the world.
Take care,
Carol
You think you were kidding about Cheetah? Think again! That chimp is still alive (at 75 — more than you can say for Tarzan and Jane) and creating art. Yep. You can buy a Cheetah original artwork. Don’t believe me? Google it for yourself. I’m talking about the Cheetah who was in the first 6 movies starring Johnny Weismueller, of course. Still going strong.
A safari is one of my dream vacations. My husband abhors the idea of camping, but even he sees these nice safari camps as something completely different. He’s willing as soon as the budget is. But that’s an entirely different matter. LOL
We leave for the Ryndam tomorrow. Woo Hoo.
Heidi,
Here’s a great video for anyone interested in going on a safari, or in wild life in general. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM. I love it when the underdog wins!
John, you may find it interesting also.
Really enjoy reading the blog, keep up the good work.
Donna
John,
That spider would work on me, too, although it is Australia I want to see.
Glad to hear the Freedom is back in her home waters. We are all very fond of her here in our house. Can’t wait for updates from Captain D’Aita.
One more thing- Big Ed is absolutely right. How come he does not work for Carnival?
shellyp
Thank you shellyp. Maybe If they use one of my ideas I will get a robe in my cabin that fits. RIGHT JOHN????
BIG ED
Hi John/Heidi:
Welcome to my world. At least you’re able to get a word in edgewise. In my situation, i’d probably be out the $8k.
I do hear that it is quite an amazing journey though.
Can’t wait to start reading about things from the Splendor. I”m guessing you’re a bit sad today as the Freedom starts her Grand Med season. Seems just like yesterday we were sitting here as you were making those first voyages.
Thanks for keeping in touch!
David
Ruby Princess sounds good to me. From my location a lot of water looks great
John,
Share this video with Heidi. People in little trucks in Africa are known as BAIT!
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/player.html?channel=1807&category=22449&title=05279_00
Rus Franklin
John -
Glad to see you understand your wife’s decision making process
Personally, I used to enjoy camping out for the races, but haven’t been in years. As I grow older, I believe that RVs are far more appropriate – the best RV, of course, is a Carnival cruiseliner.
LFTTNSFCFNCTMWTANACD
on the Ruby Princess … Darn we were booked on the Ruby’s 1st inaugural, then they moveed it up a week and now we can’t meet. You will have a blas as always on Princess (we’ve been on 9).
Good Morning John,
Camping is something you either love or hate.
I personally don’t mind it if you have all of the gear to make it comfortable.
Smart idea with the website……enjoy the Ruby Princess!
Just booked the Miracle for Feb. 9th , 2009 .
Celebrating my dear wife’s 50th and Valentine’s day and the anniversary of our new business!
Should be a blast. We needed a few more days than the blogger’s cruise would provide and wish you all a grand time. I’m sure you will keep everyone entertained.
Great to see Alan on the video……….seems like he knows his way around the BBQ.
Busy trying to sell our house in London and moving back to the Stratford area to be closer to the business. I just love (say this with a lot of sarcasm) packing and moving……not!
This better be the last move………..although I said that the last time 9 years ago. When will we ever learn to stop hoarding stuff that we will never use again. Looks like a big garage sale in the next two weeks.
Well better get to work.
Can’t wait for your replies soon.
RE: the dining issue. We prefer the assigned seating but having the option would be nice on some nights.
All the best to Heidi and the blog crew ,
B&D from Canada.
LFTTNSFCFNCTMWTANACD
My idea of roughing it is also our 40 ft. RV….. queen size bed, bath with shower and hot water, fridge, stove and TV with satellite, heat and A/C ….. maybe John should look into buying one. lol But downside is 9 miles per gallon and we use deisel fuel….. more costly than gas……….. It doesn’t move out of our driveway as much as it used to. These gas prices plus the fuel surcharges on cruise ships and airlines, may make a lot of us think about doing a lot less traveling including cruising.
Don and Carolyn
John,
We’re a little late responding about the dining options, but we think that offering BOTH seems to be an excellent suggestion. I am bothered by 2 things from those who are only wanting the traditional seating. First, this option is still available to them yet these people don’t realize that others may want the anytime dining options as strongly as they want to have their way. Carnival is offering both and that seems most fair.
Finally, my biggest problem is with those that say “there has always been any time dining… just go to the Lido buffet or order room service.” This is a ridiculous statement since the food selection, quality and service in the dining room is a completely different experience than sitting in your room or going through a buffet line. This is NOT the same as anytime dining and they need to recognize this and quit suggesting it so flippantly.
I do hope Carnival will be able to continue to offer BOTH choices and this is not just a way to introduce anytime dining slowly as the only option. I also think I prefer traditional, but I like even more the flexibility of the having the choice.
Thanks for listening…
John…
First, on dining choices, again, I say you already offer a choice of an anytime to dine plan… and I’m afraid taking space away from the dining rooms to go with anytime seating would not allow enough freedom of assigned dining times and tables.
Does this mean you are going to limit our choices of dining time even more… to maybe only one dining time… Well, yes, that certainly would phase out assigned dining…
Just the 30 minutes made a difference when CARNIVAL took away the four choices to become two, but I can live with that… Reluctantly but I can!
Please leave dining the way it is!!! Yes, I do agree with choice…
BUT YOU ALREADY GIVE US CHOICES!!!
Now, as for a safari… and COMFORT CAMPING… WOW!! Is that really camping?? I could camp like that forever… But alas… the expense…
Your Ruby Princess sounds delightful!! That’s wonderful… except it’s not a FUNShip… BUT, for you, a FUNShip would be a WORKShip no matter how hard you tried not to! I have a feeling even on a Princess ship, your CD Hat may appear on your head, when the need to smooth out situations arise.
Have a wonderful voyage and we’ll look forward to hearing aout it!
Regards,
Lambie
Great reply John. Now I know where to send the other half when she comes up with a wild hair up her buttom like that.
If you go to Google and type in “Africa web cams” you can find some live cams in some of the wildlife parks. Heidi can then watch all she wants from 4,000 miles away – cheap, too!
Anne E.
John:
I, too, suggest one of the many Safari adventures offered in a controlled environment in the US.
For $4,000, you could see all of them MANY times!!