Monday, June 9th, 2008...10:40 am
Five of the Best…..And a Very Powerful Set of Lungs
Over the past century there have been a handful of ships that stand out as especially innovative, brilliant and important. If they were paintings, they’d be in the Rijks Museum. If they were animals, Texans would have their heads on a wall. These are the Shakespeare ships. The Mona Lisas and the Mercedes 300 SL - Gull Wing………..these are Mozart ships.
And sitting at the very top of the list is of course The Queen Elizabeth 2. People in cream turtleneck jumpers and blue blazers festooned with shiny gold buttons and wearing sensible shoes speak in reverential whispers about how the engines were cast with metal from a hundred Rolls Royces and how its sleek design was way ahead of her time. They talk of tea and scones in the Queens Room and dancing the tango before dining on Peacock and chips, many are so overcome with emotion; they have to go to the toilet.
This gives me a problem because if I were to draw up a list of the five most important cruise ships ever built I get the Queen Elizabeth 2 and her sister The Queen Mary 2 and then……..ummmm………ummmmm…………bugger.
To me, these two ships have to be on the list just as the Beatles and Elvis would be on the same top five most important musicians, Michael Jordan and Larry the Bird would be on the basketball list of names while Simon Bowel and Ryan Seacrap would be on my list of the most annoying people on TV.
Now, let me explain why I am having this conundrum. This morning I went to visit the Carnival Splendor and while I was there looking at where best to hold certain activities and events I met one of the chaps from Fincantieri who have built many a vessel for Carnival and our sister companies. As we chatted he showed great pride in his work which he should do and then said that “The Carnival Splendor” is the most important ship in the world.
Now, maybe something was lost in translation between his poor English and my even poorer Italian but after I left him I started thinking…………was this the most important ship in the world?
This gives me a problem because if I were to draw up a list of the five most important ships ever made, I’m not exactly sure the Carnival Splendor wouldn’t be on it, which as her Cruise Director is bit like an art collector saying he doesn’t see why people get in such a fuss about the Sistine Chapel.
Now, don’t get me wrong………..the Carnival Splendor is the most important cruise vessel in the world right now and I am beyond honored to be part of her history………….but will she be on your top five list or mine?………….. She will provide the finest of vacations for thousands and thousands of people but will history remember her?
That’s why I am having problems putting my top five list together. Take away the fun you had and the great staff who served you and look at the ships that are sailing today.
Queen Mary 2 revitalized a brand and became a ship so mighty and so powerful that she deserves to be on my list.
However, take a Something Of the Seas ship………..will it be remembered in years to come?……….Nope………….it won’t……….and to put a ship like that on the list is as wrong as putting a man of my size ……………..in a thong.
So, what are the five most important passenger carrying ships of all time?………….My knowledge of days past are limited so it will be interesting to read your list and the reasons why you have included them. Please though…………lets not include the ship that began wit the letter “T”………..it may have been a great ship but if that terrible incident had not occurred would we have remembered it.
Think carefully and I will look forward to reading your lists ………………. remember ……………don’t put a ship on your list just because you met the man or woman of your dreams onboard……………that would be like putting the Harlem Globe Trotters Curly and Meadowlark on the most important basketball players list.
Back to the current most important cruise ship in the world the Carnival Splendor. Here are some photos from our trip today. Hope you enjoy them.
Food from Holland for the ship’s crew
Gold Pearl Restaurant
Gold Pearl Restaurant
Protection for the piano
Robusto Cigar Bar
Robusto Cigar Bar
The Cool
View of the ship yard from the back of the ship on Deck 9
Looks like Cunard Funnels
Work being done on The Grill
Pinnacle Supper Club
Brand new carpet and someone walks in with paint on his/her shoes
The Seaside Theatre big screen
Ocean view Jacuzzi on Deck 10
The broadcast center
Washing the balconies
Washing the balconies
The new Costa Pacifica
The bow of the Costa Pacifica
Oh, by the way……………fancy a slice of Pizza
I forgot to tell you the name of the ship I saw from the bedroom balcony in Sorrento ………and was reminded by PA 007 today. The answer was………Pacific Princess.
Were you right?
Costa set World Record longest pizza in Sydney, Australia.
The event took place in the Italian district. The 221 meters long pizza (the Costa Classica lenght) will be donated to help poor people together with other monetary and cruise prize charitable donations.
I thank you all for your kind words about Myleene our new Godmother. I wanted to show you some more photos but actually should direct you to her website www.myleeneklass.co.uk.
She has a blog and a post book thingy so why not drop by and let her know how excited you are that she has been chosen as the Godmother of the super Carnival Splendor ……….oh, and let her know I said hello and can I have an autograph for PA 007?
On the subject of the Carnival Freedom, I see that there are some disappointed guests and some wondering why we decided to leave Europe. I even saw one slightly sarcastic comment on one of the board thingies that said “Carnival has finally realized it does not belong in Europe.”……………well……………what can I say to that chap except……..sorry mate, you are talking bollocks. We have had three very successful seasons in Europe and Carnival Freedom and Carnival Splendor will make it four special years sailing the Grand Med, Greece and Turkey and now the Baltic.
There were many factors that Carnival Freedom will remain in the Caribbean and they were made clearly by our brilliant management team. Certainly fuel is something we all have to watch carefully and that also may have had a bearing on the matter ……… however, the Carnival Liberty will remain in Europe in 2009 and visit a variety of exciting ports of call
However, saying all of that I realise that when we change ships itineraries or change the dates of an inaugural cruise we often (like so many companies) don’t have the opportunity to say “sorry”…………………..I know that when we do things like this we affect people’s vacation plans and so, on this occasion and for times past, please allow me to say “sorry” for any inconvenience caused. If anyone has concerns please feel free to e-mail me by posting a comment on the blog marked URGENT PLEASE REPLY……and I will.
Meanwhile for those of you who have the taste for seeing Europe onboard a Carnival ship in 2009……………well come aboard the Carnival Liberty……………I may see you there.
I see Bill Zydecocruiser also mentioned that he thinks the Carnival Dream may be calling at a few European ports next year……………….is he right?…………………well PA 007 will let me know ASAP and I will let you all know as well.
Finally, in the news section we come to the subject of Heidi. Many of you wrote expressing your concern about me not having her with me. ………………well yes …………… I will be Laurel without Hardy………….A dog without a bone…………..bacon without eggs………a penguin without its tap dancing shoes………………George Hamilton without his tan……..you get the picture. The fact of the matter is that she has worked ………….really hard for 11 years and now she needs to rest a bit and enjoy our new house………..hopefully one day with a John Jr running around.
So, come October she will go home…………I will continue on the Carnival Splendor until the November/December sometime.
As for next year……………..well I don’t know where I will be outside of our Bloggers Cruise in February. I do know that I will be employed (unless they discover that really I am rubbish at everything) by Carnival and regardless if I am on land or sea I will be blogging everyday until the 50,000 people who read each week tell me to bugger off.
I have returned from my morning onboard and here I am in the lobby of the three-star Presidente Hotel. It did have four stars but considering I had to wait 20 minutes to be served two cups of coffee and a Diet Coke today I crept down in the night and took down one of the stars from the sign outside.
There should be a law where stars are given only to hotels whose staff gives a damn just as there should be laws against flying with very young babies on long haul flights.
“Oh No” I hear you cry……….here he goes again with one of his grumpy flying stories …………. ummmm…………….well…………..yep………..here I go.
The main reason I am writing this is as I do so a few meters away is a mum with a very young baby who judging by how loud he is crying will soon be the new Pavarotti. The thing is Mama is doing bugger all to stop Pavarotti Jr crying, unless her enjoying a cocktail with her friend counts. This has been going on now for five minutes and for all Mama knows Pavarotti Junior may have been stung by a wasp or swallowed a piano ………….she doesn’t seem to care.
So, as he screams and those in the lobby cover their ears and the staff do what they do best which is bugger all…………….I am reminded of a flight I took pre blog.
It was from London to Miami and on We Don’t Go All The Way Airlines ……..or Virgin as they are known.
They have very strict rules. You can’t carry explosives in the soles of your Nikes, you can’t get onboard if you have drunk a vat of vodka, you cant have a cigarette or rumpy pumpy in the plane’s toilets and because of the world we live in if you dare make a joke with the stewardess about anything on any subject you are tackled by her and the rest of the girls, strapped to the seat, the plane is forced to land at the nearest airport where you are arrested for being to cheerful and forced to spend 90 days in jail trying to avoid a man called Big Bubba.
No I want to make it absolutely clear I love kids and hope that soon Heidi and I are blessed with child. However, I would never take any of my children on a long-haul flight until they were old enough to grasp the concept of what we were doing.
I remember this flight because it was the very first time I had, through air miles and stealing money from Heidi’s purse been able to afford a Business Class flight. It is simply not fair to impose your screaming child on other people, people who have paid thousands of pounds for a flat bed and therefore the promise of some sleep………..harsh I know but I remember thinking this as the crying began.
The crying began as the cabin crew served pre flight drinks and gave us those little bags with a toothbrush and smelly stuff in it and built to an Ozzy Osborne wail as we reached the cruising altitude. It went on, at heavy metal volume, without stopping, until we began the descent nine hours later. At which point, thanks to a change in pressure on the baby’s tiny ear holes, the noise reached such volume that I thought the planes windows would shatter and we would all become part of Wolf Blister’s CNN breaking news.
And what do you suppose the mother did to calm her infant? Feed it some warm milk from her bosom or a bottle? Read it a story, show it pictures of a tap dancing Penguin? Nope. She pressed the button that turns the seat into a bed and pretended to go to sleep. I remember thinking that she was not only a useless mother but also that she must have lost her ears in a tragic accident where both her ears were severed by a food blender ……………how could she sleep through this?
While she was sleeping Dad tried to look after it. This only increased the volume from its tiny lungs as a man whom because of his hectic work life the baby hardly knew, and who was bouncing him on his knee. …………..it did no good and even through the noise canceling headphones blaring out music and movies ………..I spent the entire nine hours listening to the baby with the giant lungs howl and prayed that he would not be on my flight home.
It was only as we landed and taxied to our gate that I realised why Mum had let the kid cry and did bugger all about it. She looked at the husband who looked back at her with eyes that can only look like they did after smoking a palm tree or flying with a very young baby for 9 hours.
His was a look of despair…………her eyes though seemed to say. “If you’re going to play golf while we’re on holiday, you can be child minder on the plane. I spend all day with those bloody kids. while you are at work so during this flight……………….I’m doing bugger all.” ………..and you know what……………..having heard the Olympic World Universal Gold medal Winning crying baby champion for nine hours………………..I couldn’t blame her.
If only the overhead lockers were sound proof.
Goodnight
Your friends
John and Heidi
47 Comments
June 9th, 2008 at 11:09 am
*smiling*
When there is finally a John Jr….I can’t wait to read the blogs!
June 9th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Attention John and/or Stephanie - Please respond
Once upon a time John had mentioned we could have a Bloggers gathering on the Splendor Inaugural (July 13th) sailing.
Perhaps Heidi/John can schedule it soon since now seems to be when the Capers are being worked.
Also I think there was to be some sort of sign up sheet added to the blog?
I am quite certain that John also mentioned something about the availability of fooooooooooooood.
Thanks,
bill
June 9th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I am really enjoying seeing some of the pictures of the ship. We will be sailing in November and I am really excited about this ship. Since there isn’t a great deal of info yet about the ship any things that are coming out are very exciting and we just can’t wait until our sail dates get here.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I’m with you one hundred percent, John! Someone needs to start an airline that only allows 18 and older to board. Every flight, screaming babies. If you have babies, stay home! Or at least stay off airplanes until your screaming brat is old enough to not be a screaming brat. The one airline I love is Southwest, because I can choose my own seat. The screaming luggage area allowed to board first, so I can then scope it out, see where the little trolls are seated, then go to the opposite end of the plane. What a great concept. But really. If you have a baby, stay off planes. It’s no fun being a captive audience to your lack of parenting skills!
June 9th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Of course we would remember the Titanic! How could any list of the worlds most poignant ships not include the Titanic? Even without the tragedy, the ship was the first of it’s kind in so many aspects, not least of which being it was the first ever to have a heated swimming pool. The importance of that alone shouldn’t be lost on Carnival.
One could even argue that the disaster itself has made sea travel for the masses safer today since many of the safety protocols now in place come directly from lessons learnt from that sad day.
I don’t think you can omit Titanic because it sank with loss of life. Bloggers please tell John he is wrong if you agree with me.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:59 am
John, I have to agree with Gerald Twatter in saying the Titanic has to be on the list. Without the Titanic movies and the Love Boat TV series may of us would still be land lovers. Since all my cruise have been on Carnival except our first 3 that were on the Big Red Boats of Premier Cruise Lines I would only be adding those ships to the list.
BIG ED
June 9th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Hi John and Heidi,
Well, it is kinda sad to hear that Heidi is retiring, but it is also completly understandable. One thing is for sure, after 11 years of taking care of the small, but inevitable, number of 30-70 year old infants like the “lady” who insisted Carnival was supposed to supply coats, Heidi will be the world’s best mother!
5 most important cruise ships - hmmm…
Well, “important” is kinda vague, but if you mean important to the cruise industry, here’s my list:
-QE II *obviously*
-I think it’s too early to put Queen Mary II on the list - give her a few years to live up to her lineage first - but I do think Queen Mary I fits.
-The original Pacific Princess. The “Love Boat” made many people think about cruising who would never have thought of it otherwise.
-The Mardi Gras. The first ship of what became the world’s most successful cruise line, and the ship that showed people that cruising didn’t have to be just about old ladies in furs berating their children for the unspeakable crime of using their asparagus tongs to pick up the escargot. Horrors!
-The Carnival Fantasy. The flagship of the most successful class of cruise ships ever!
June 9th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Hi, John,
Was just about to say I DO think Titanic should be included if for no other reason than her tragedy has probably resulted in thousands of other lives being spared because of all the safety features and routines that were added to cruise ships over the ensuing years. But Mr. Twatter beat me to the punch so I’ll just say I agree with him.
As for other great ships, I’m not an expert so can’t really mention any. I should think any ship that featured new techology, convenience, etc. would be considered for your list regardless of her origin.
You seem to be hinting that Heidi “may” be expecting, yet you avoid actually saying that it’s so. Are you perhaps waiting for a couple of months to go by so you can confirm without fear of being wrong? Or would Heidi be required to disembark sooner if her “condition” were made public. Let’s see… if the “magic smiley stick” said yes in maybe March, then October would put her at about seven months, which is about when a pregnant lady should probably begin to stay close to home. You’ll be with the ship “probably” through November/December (does that mean November OR December depending on a possible “due date”?) or is it just that Carnival has not told you beyond that where they would like you to focus your awesome energies? You WILL be on the Blogger’s cruise…yes??? Inquiring minds really want to know.
Got to fix lunch, then go to the gym. Hope you get to escape the “Hotel Horrible” soon!
Your Pal,
Myra
June 9th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Stephanie, not sure if you want to post this or not. You decide and thanks for all you do. Sallie
John, I wanted to share with you a little history about ships named “The Pride” in Baltimore. As you will realize, Baltimore and the Carnival Pride were destined.
“The Pride of Baltimore was an authentic reproduction of a 19th century Baltimore clipper topsail schooner commissioned by citizens of Baltimore, MD.
It was lost at sea with four of its twelve crew on May 14, 1986.
The Pride of Baltimore II was a replica vessel of more modern design, commissioned to replace the Pride in 1988, now sails as a Goodwill Ambassador from Baltimore and the State of Maryland.
The modern Pride of Baltimore
Pride of Baltimore Type: Topsail Schooner
Hull: Wood
Built: 1977, Baltimore, MD
Homeport: Baltimore, MD
In 1975, the City of Baltimore, as part of a plan to revitalize its Inner Harbor, proposed the construction of a replica sailing vessel as a centerpiece, posting a notice requesting proposals for “an authentic example of an historic Baltimore Clipper” to be designed and built using “construction materials, methods, tools, and procedures are to be typical of the period.”
A design by Thomas Gillmer was chosen, and master shipwright Melbourne Smith oversaw the construction of the vessel next to the Maryland Science Center in downtown Baltimore where residents and curious visitors could watch the craftsmen working with tools and techniques of two centuries earlier. Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski performed the launching ceremonies on February 27, 1977, only 10 months after the start of construction, and the Pride of Baltimore was commissioned on behalf of the citizens of Baltimore and Maryland by the Mayor William Donald Schaefer two months later on May 1, 1977.
The Pride sailed over 150,000 nautical miles (280,000 km) during her nine years of service, visiting ports along the Eastern Seaboard from Newfoundland to the Florida Keys, the Great Lakes, the Caribbean and the West Coast from Mexico to British Columbia. She visited European ports across the Atlantic in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean.
On May 14, 1986, returning from Britain on the trade route to the Caribbean, the Pride was struck with what the US Coast Guard later described as a microburst squall (see also: White squall) 250 nautical miles (463 km) north of Puerto Rico. The vessel was hit with 80-nautical-mile (148 km) hour winds, capsizing and sinking her. Her Captain and 3 crew were lost, and the remaining 8 crew members floated in a partially-inflated life-raft for four days and seven hours with little food or water until they were rescued by the Norwegian tanker Toro.
The Pride’s lost captain and crew members (Armin Elsaesser 42, Captain; Vincent Lazarro, 27, Engineer; Barry Duckworth, 29, Carpenter; and Nina Schack, 23, Seaman) are remembered to this day with a memorial on Rash Field in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.”
God rest their souls! Now onto the Pride II.
Pride of Baltimore II
Pride of Baltimore II,
Type: Topsail Schooner
Hull: Wood
Built: 1988, Baltimore, MD
Homeport: Baltimore, MD
The Pride of Baltimore II is an American sailing ship owned by the citizens of the state of Maryland, and operated by Pride, inc., a private, non-profit organization. She was launched in 1988 after the loss of the first Pride of Baltimore, and continues the role of Maryland’s Flagship and Goodwill Ambassador, promoting business and tourism in Maryland.
Unlike the original Pride, the Pride II is not a replica of any specific vessel, and though it represents a type of vessel known as a Baltimore Clipper, it was built to contemporary standards for seaworthiness and comfort. Pride II, like its predecessor, is a topsail schooner, with two large gaff sails (one on a boom and one loose-footed), a main gaff topsail, several headsails, and a square topsail and flying topgallant on the foremast. She also flies studding sails (stun’s’ls), rare on modern traditional sailing vessels. These additional sails are set along the edge of the square topsail and the mainsail, supported by additional spars known as stun’s’l booms.
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_of_Baltimore
So John, as you see, the Carnival Pride will be our third Pride vessel. We here in Baltimore take our sailing history rather serious and I for one am so pleased and proud to have the third Pride here and to be able to sail upon her in the same waters that carried Pride I & Pride II.
Thank you again Carnival.
Sallie
June 9th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
MISS YOU FRIEND!!
And that out of my chest let me tell you that I understand Heidi and why she needs a normal life and I know she has posponed that already ( its not the first time that you have said she is staying). I will keep praying for her to keep busy with a baby at home. Many blessings. She deserves this. About you friend , you are miserable without Heidi for a week, so my guess will be that you are not going to stay long or I only see Liberty in your future. I will love ( I wish but right now I cant) to do a Northern Europe soon and the Liberty would be the perfect compliment to add to my perfect Med cruise on the Freedom. It would be a blessing if we could do that with you as CD.
I need a huggo !!
Nanni
June 9th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
John:
First of all (and I say this in all kindness as your Cruise Mom)….when Heidi is pregnant and SHE is ready to announce it …then you can tell us. Until then, we understand that this is a private moment between the two of you!! We don’t expect to be told the instant that the two lines appear on the other magic stick.
Secondly, as a parent, I realized early on that the key to “well behaved kids” is smart parents that do not put these children in a situation they are not ready to handle. This is a child people, not your pet poodle that can be trained at an early age to “follow commands”. Parents should treat them as a child and actually pretend (even if they don’t mean it) to respect other people around them.
The only downside (which I did not write about in our review because it was not Carnival’s fault) was a screaming baby every night at dinner on the Legend. This child was about one year old and the parents were apparently deaf. But sadly that is the world we live in today. Ignorant disrespectful parents raise children to be just like them.
Ok, off my Cruise Mom soapbox!!
As for a list of the most famous ships…I think ships like the SS Norway have left a place in many people’s hearts. I do think of (perhaps not a specific ship) the Princess logo on the Love Boat as my first exposure to cruising. But basically the most important ship I know is any ship I am currently ON!!
Loved the pictures, can’t wait to read about the staff.
I just finished yet another 4 miles today … yea!!
Linda (the domestically challenged goddess of Big Ed’s Evil Krewe now THREE pounds lighter … and I don’t care if it is water weight loss…a loss is a loss!!!)
June 9th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Hummm… five most IMPORTANT ships… I agree about the QE2 and QM2 but I might add the Titanic. Also, I would have to add the famous Carnival Tropicale. As one of the first purpose built cruise ships and the first ship to brandish the magnificent Carnival whale tail funnel she certainly holds a very important place in cruise ship history. Lastly, I believe I’d have to add the newest of the Annoying of the Seas ships… the Oasis of the Seas as I can’t help but believe that this ship will ultimately lead to the economic downfall of that line.
The photos of the Splendor are wonderful. She certainly is distinctive. The two touches I love best are the Cunard like sconces and the sea view jacuzzi. WONDERFUL!!
Is that all? I’m betting you have more pictures but you’re just holding out! C’mon, John, GIVE!!
Here’s hoping the best for Heidi and her new life on land. If you don’t mind… I’d be happy to take her place FOR MOST DUTIES ON BOARD. Forget Thurdays…
Pass along all my best to Heidi and the wonderful MOB, Stephanie!!
Ciao, mate!
GregB
June 9th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
My 5 favorite ships
Queen Elizabeth 2
Original Pacific Princess
Original Royal Princess
Royal Clipper
Normandy
June 9th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Just thought I would chip in some info about the Carnival Dream I don’t remember where I heard this could have been here on the blog, but I believe the Carnival Dream is going to be sailing out of Port Canaveral. Not entirely sure about that but I know I heard that somewhere.
Take care Heidi and John
James
June 9th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
YAY! She’s looking gorgeous! Can’t wait to see her after the shakedown, with all the plastic covers off and the staff onboard. Where’s the vids of the entertainment staff rehearsing? I know, bloody busy enough as it is! No worries.
I can’t think of a top five list, but give me some time over my upcoming vacation and I should have a list. It has to be passenger vessels, barring the “T”, correct? Would troop or war ships count (WWII)?
And I have to abstain on the babies on flights. I have two children, and both have flown as infants. Granted, I can only think of one time one was loud, but that was remedied immediately with the pacifier (which caused her ears to ‘pop’). But I’m sorry, flights are public transportation and I paid the same if not more for my tickets so we’re entitled to fly just as much as the next bloke. And being former US military, with MANY flights back and forth across the pond, I could place a laundry list on here of actions taken by adults that should have them banned from flying (intestinal gases, snoring, girth/obesity, talking loudly with headsets on… when the person they’re talking to is RIGHT NEXT TO THEM, constant lavatory use, dropping their seat back while I’m still eating my snack on the drop-down tray, etc., …). Granted, parents really should look to their kids when in a cramped public space, but sometimes there’s just nothing to be done. It’s not like we can get up and walk around the plane.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
HI John & Heidi
I have been away from the blog for a few days, came back to catch up this evening (mon) and so much has happened. Sorry to hear Heidi is leaving us, but understand how she feels and wish her many hours/days/years of enjoyment. Heidi Come and see me, will go for a coffee and do girly things! Next Freedom leaving the med, have sailed on her twice, once in the med and once from miami, great ship, she will be missed, and finally the godmother announced, did see it in the mail on sunday, hard keeping it a secret for the last couple of weeks, (didn’t tell anyone, honest). Looking forward to the naming ceremony so much. If the Dream is going to do Europe will poss have to book something, let us know as soon as poss as will have to start giving up food and drink and live on water and bread to pay for it!! anyway take care of yourselves.
love Michellex
June 9th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
John, I’m slow. I had to read it twice but I think I got it. I think I know what you were trying to tell us when you said “No I want to make it absolutely clear I love kids and hope that soon Heidi and I are blessed with child. However, I would never take any of my children on a long-haul flight until they were old enough to grasp the concept of what we were doing”. Your telling us Heidi will not be on the 2009 Bloggers Cruise in February because she will be home with what we have all been praying for. My Krewe knows the power of our prayers work just ask Susan B and others we have been praying for.
Uncle “BIG” ED
June 9th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Just found out where I heard about the Carnival Dream it was in the carnival connections here is the news clip from the Connections:
Carnival Cruise Lines has announced that the new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream – the largest “Fun Ship” ever constructed – will be based at Port Canaveral, Fla., beginning in fall 2009. Details on the ship’s itinerary will be provided at a later date.
and here is a link if anyone is interested http://www.carnivalconnections.com/cruisetalk/blogs/carnivalnews/archive/tags/carnival+dream/default.aspx
June 9th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
ATTENTION BLOGGERS
To see the biography of Myleene Klass just click on my name above.
BIG ED
June 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hello John/Heidi:
Beautiful pictures today. The Costa ship is coming along quickly.
I can’t believe how close things are to completion. When do sea trials start?
Thanks for another wonderful blog. You once again showed me why I am not parenting material.
Hope everything else is going well.
Take care,
David
June 9th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
John, I hope and pray that since there is a specific date set for Heidi to retire and stay at home, that she is pregnant. I don’t foresee you staying very far from Heidi for any length of time, anymore than I could stay apart from Don. When you love your mate as you love Heidi and I love Don, life without them is quite miserable even if it is for a week. We have observed when you 2 were apart for a short time how lost and lonely you were without her.
But I am so sad at the thought that we will not get to see Heidi on the bloggers cruise………… sigh The only way it would not bother me as bad, is to find out she is going to be a Mommy.
If per chance you will also take a retirement from being a CD and staying at home to be a hubby and a father, could we impose on you to come out of retirement once a year and have a bloggers cruise?
Carolyn ……..with tears in her eyes and a lump in her throat.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
what about the nina, the pinta, and the santa maria?
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
June 9th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
As far as important ships, how about the Carnival Tropicale. As I recall she may have been the very first ship expressly built for cruise vacations. Everything prior was originally built for transoceanic trips.
Stephanie/John please respond: Have you got the CD schedule for the next 6 months? The last one you put posted only goes up through this month.
June 9th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
5 Best Ships ever…
1. QE2 - not QEII
2. Queen Mary
3. Norway (or her other name S.S. France)
4. SS United States - last ship to win the blue ribband 3 days, 10 hours, 31 minutes
5. Titanic - for the sheer lifesaving changes that were put on to the ships we now see.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Thanks Sallie, great info.
I have to agree - Titanic, QE2, Pacific Princess (my inspiration to cruise). But what about the first steamship to cross the Atlantic (sorry I can’t remember her name)? And without the Nina, Pinta & Santa Maria, who knows?
Carol
June 9th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I just looked it up - it was the S.S. Great Western in 1838.
C.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
We sailed on the Liberty and nothing was more thrilling than pulling into Venice on that tremendous vessel. Carnival knows how to do Europe and the Med.
My hope is that you expand and do Egypt…we will be booked if you do. We can’t wait to do South America….and this August we are with you on the Splendor to N. Europe.
No matter where we go on a Carnival Ship it has always been a good time and a good value!
June 9th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
John, (Please reply)
I read where Big Ed thinks he has it all figured out, but can you tell us, will Heidi at least be joining us on the Blogger’s Cruise?
June 9th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Hi Mommy & Daddy (aka Heidi & John)! The way I figure it, if Heidi isn’t pregnant she never will be able to get pregnant if she is away from you, so I think “the stick must have been smiling” - and what better timing, while you were home for awhile between cruise ships! If it is true as many of us bloggers believe then CONGRATS are in order. AND, if that is so, I wonder how long before YOU will be leaving? We would all miss you terribly! One thing is for sure IF you are going to be parents we bloggers all need to do a LONG DISTANCE baby shower for you guys, and send gifts to Chris P. to forward to you two. SO, when you are ready to share the NEWS - IF it is true, we will be waiting! Don’t keep us in suspense too much longer ok? Ciao, Linda
June 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
My top five are close to Robert Mackie’s (in chronological order, not importance):
Mauretania (1907)
Queen Mary (1935)
Normandie (1935)
United States (1952)
France (1962)
I’d put Titanic on the list as well. Watching movies about the Titanic started my love affair with passenger ships - and ultimately cruising. I think she and the Olympic started the concept that traveling on a ship could be more than just a way to get from point A to point B.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Dear John and Heidi….
We just returned from our trip to Rome and the 12 day Med. cruise on the wonderful Carnival Freedom! Before commenting, I went to Cruise Critic and read what others had to say. Of course there was a variety of evals from great to poor. Is it just me or does it seem the most critical are the ones who reserve the lowest cost cabin and then expect the penthouse? Service should be the same, cabin shouldn’t be!
It is very interesting that you would comment about the crying baby! We left on May 17th from Dallas to Chicago. We then caught our flight on American Airlines into Rome. Susan travels regularly in her job and we were able to use her miles to fly first and business. Our flight to Rome would have been wonderful however, the baby across the aisle started to cry just before take-off and didn’t stop until just after we landed in Rome. So much for being able to sleep in the wonderful seats provided. We also felt ripped….we spent plenty of miles for those seats.
Susan and I saved for this trip and paid everything in advance including Carnival tours in each of the ports and even the gratuities. Doing so took off all the pressure of trying to make quicker decisions after arrival and worrying about the money spent. I must say that Carnival once again did a super job on this cruise. We had a wonderful balcony cabin on the Panorama deck as far forward on the Port side as possible. (1 drawback–the Carnival employees that constantly decided they needed to go on the forward deck just outside our balcony for their smoke breaks. Turned out to be Spa personnel). Oh well, used to smoke myself and was not about to let something that small ruin my trip. The shows were great and the entertainment staff, band, and dancers were full of energy. This particular band was I believe the best I’ve heard on Carnival. I cannot forget the singers……they were really good as well. Our wait staff, Reynaldo, Antonio, and Reul did a terrific job each and every night. Our cabin steward was McKenzie and was beyond reproach. The ships store had two employees that need a pat on the back but unfortunately I cannot for the life of me remember their names. One was a young lady from Croatia (she worked around the jewelery) and a yound man from Serbia in the other store. Both were very friendly and went out of their way to be of service. The casino staff was very friendly. The laundry service provided for Platinum guests was a great service. On a long trip is is great to have laundry done!! We were happy with every single tour that we bought from Carnival. I believe that the only thing missing on this cruise was you and Heidi.
You must believe that Susan and I are very critical of our trips and are not adverse to saying something is wrong. Lido buffet could use some work, not only with unhappy staff, P.O. ‘d omelette cooks, and just the layout of the food. It was in the wrong order. Somehow things seemed backwards sometimes. Uncleaned tables when people were trying to find a place to sit…..were not uncommon. Closing the hamburger and hot dog service just as people are coming back from tours. Again…..small and petty but need work. We’ll be booking Carnival for the fall and are trying to decide if we can make the bloggers cruise.
Overall…….The Carnival Freedom in Europe was a wonderful and memoriable trip for us!!! We would recommend it to anyone!! We are part of the Carnival family and chose to sail on no others!!!
John & Susan
If Carnival every decides to do “Secret Cruisers”, Susan and I would be glad to do it!
June 9th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I’m afraid that choosing my favorite ship would be like choosing a favorite child - it just can’t be done.
However, Carnival has been our favorite cruise line for some years and our favorite ship of the line is the Festivale.
It had the classic lines of an old cruise ship, it was small so you became acquainted with lots of new “friends” and the atmosphere was just more personal.
Now that the small cruise ships are a thing of the past, however, the Freedom has to be our biggest favorite. Of course, meeting John & Heidi is the reason for that choice.
June 9th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Hi John,
You spoke of a possible John Jr. Now that really brings to mind visions of a really high energy, mischievous little fellow. I surely hope he becomes or is already a reality. What a blessing that would be for you & Heidi.
June 9th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
1. Normandie
2. Queen Mary
3. United States
4. Ile de France
5. QE2
June 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
John - Your blog says 5 most important ‘cruise’ ships - that leaves out QE2 and QM2 which are ocean liners and not cruise ships. So here is my list of 5 most important cruise ships -
1. Tropicale - first purpose built CCL cruise ship - the prior three were all converted liners.
2. Grand Princess - first ship over 100,000 tons
3. Statendam - first Carnival Corp ship built for Holland America and really started the re-birth of HAL which until that time was a little struggling 4 ship cruise line.
4. Voyager of the Seas - start of the whole mega ship concept
5. Original Pacific Princess - without it the industry would not be what it is today.
June 9th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
John you are letting Heidi retire? For no good reason? John Jr. has got to be in there somewhere…
June 9th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Hi John,
My list would be, in no particular order:
1. Titanic
2. QE2
3. Queen Mary
4. Pacific Princess
5. Tropicale
June 9th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Your Italian friend is dabbling in the prophetic! It may not seem it, but it is highly likely the Splendor will somehow bring an end to oceanic pollutants and continental famine, and resolve conflicts worldwide.
Even if it’s named after synthetic sugar.
June 9th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Glad Heidi has a new home, but we will miss her here with you.
Queen Mary
QE2
Olympic
Normandie
Canberra
Nieuw Amsterdam 1939
Oh, I could go on for hours.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
HI John & Heidi
Wow, it is like a steambath in (upstate) Ny today!!!!!
Heidi, even though you are retiring, I HOPE that you will be on the Bloggers cruise in February. I HOPE that I too will be there too. Unless, of course, you are at home waiting for the stork.
Wow, and to Jeff who left that comment about babies, that they should not be allowed on planes, I guess you really don;t like children, huh? Wow is all I can say. That last paart about lack of parenting skills, is quite an insult to all of us parents out here.
Love to you all,
Sue frm Narrowsburg
June 10th, 2008 at 12:10 am
John,
You asked for our top 5 Ships, Well here are mine.
1. Queen Mary - If you need back story I need to slap you.
2. Andrea Doria - The Andrea Doria was the lastmajor transatlantic passenger vessel to sink before aircraft became the preferred method of travel.
3.MV Britannic - was the third White Star Line ship to bear the name. The ship was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast. She was launched on 6 August 1929. Like her nearly-identical sister RMS Georgic, Britannic was a motorship powered by diesel engines, not a steamer. She measured 26,943 gross tons and was 712 feet long. At the time of her launch she was the largest British-built motor liner in the world. These two would be the only White Star motorships. She also served as a troop transport carrying over 180,000 soliders In 1950, Cunard White Star became simply Cunard Line, meaning Britannic was the only ship to be owned by all three: White Star, Cunard White Star and Cunard Line. She continued to sport White Star’s colours and fly the White Star burgee for the rest of her career, although from 1950 on, the Cunard house flag flew above the burgee.
In June 1950, she collided with the United States liner Pioneer Land in the Ambrose Channel, but was still seaworthy afterward.
4. The Mayflower - The Mayflower was the famous ship that transported the English Separatists, better known as the Pilgrims, from Southampton, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts,in 1620.The vessel left England on September 6, and after a gruelling 66-day journey marked by disease, the ship dropped anchor inside the hook tip of Cape Codon November 11. The Mayflower originally was destined for the mouth of the Hudson River, near present-day New York City, at the northern edge of England’s Virginia colony, which itself was established with the 1607 Jamestown Settlement. However, the Mayflower went off course as the winter approached, and remained in Cape Cod Bay
On March 21, 1621, all surviving passengers, who had inhabited the ship during the winter, moved ashore at Plymouth, and on April 5, the Mayflower, a privately commissioned vessel, returned to England.In 1623, a year after the death of captain Christopher Jones, the Mayflower was most likely dismantled for scrap lumber in Rotherhithe, London
5.RMS Lusitania - was a British luxury ocean liner owned by the Cunard Steamship Company and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. Christened and launched on Thursday, June 7, 1906. Lusitania met a disastrous end as a casualty of the First World War when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-20 on May 7, 1915. The great ship sank in just 18 minutes, eight milesoff the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, killing 1,198 of the people aboard. The sinking turned public opinion in many countries against Germany. It is often considered by historians to be the second most famous civilian passenger liner disaster after the sinking of Titanic.
So John I hope you enjoy my list. I enjoyed writing it down for you. As far as all the concern about Heidi heading home, I am sure you will manage as long as someone does your laundry, and cleans up after you. But I know you will miss her, and I hope we get a blog from her before she heads back to your barn in England. It would be nice to see a little John in the future, hopefully she gets Heidi’s looks, for his sake and the girls too. But your sense of humor mate he will need that especially when he brings any girl around Alan. Speaking of your best mate Alan how is he doing? Look forward to seeing more developments soon of the Splendor.
Kevin
Oh the time now is 12:07am EST in case you still haven’t gotten a new watch.
June 10th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Here’s my five. Some are cruise ships….some liners. Here goes [in no particular order]
–QE2
–Queen Mary [the first one]
–SS Norway/SS France
–SS United States [I was kind of surprised at her not being mentioned earlier in the comments than she was]
–original Pacific Princess [think the "Love Boat". 'Nuf said
There are others--many others--important to cruising. Almost everything noted by others so qualifies. And others not noted as I type this [such as RotterdamV] so qualify. I wish I could have made this list longer. But I was limited to five
June 10th, 2008 at 3:48 am
I agree with Peters list. Not all passenger ships are cruise ships - they were passenger liners. And these liners were the end all and be all of their time. I will give the Titanic an honorable mention, because of all the lessons that were learned from her demise.
BTW - I do think I got the Pacific Princess right!
I will not specualate at this time why Heidi retiring, but I wish her peace and joy. I know about the need to take a break from you job!
June 10th, 2008 at 8:33 am
I would agree with John H’s list however, replacing the Grand Princess with the Carnival Destiny which beat 100,000 tons 2 years before the Grand Princess.
Carnival Destiny - in service November 1996
Grand Princess - in service May 1998
June 10th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Good morning Mr. Heald & Heidi. With Heidi leaving soon, I believe as Nanni says, you will probably be leaving in the near future. My congratulation to both of you and whatever decision you both make I think everyone will back you up. Since I will probably never meet you face to face, your blog will have to be our method of conversing. Now as I said before, the both of you are invited to have dinner at my home some day. As far as the five best ships, I don’t think you really can choose five. It changes as the ships change. Every ship has it great points and I think that also changes regarding the people who are on them. Everytime I go on a cruise, I think that ship is the best so I will never be able to choose. Once again, the choice of a godmother was a beautiful one and I’m glad that she is also a mother. Fantastic. Ciao my friend.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
June 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
In my earlier response, I mentioned no CCL ships, This isn’t to say they weren’t important. I was just limited to five. If I could’ve expanded the list, I would’ve included Carnival’s 2nd newbuild [I always forget if it was Festivale or Carnivale]…which basicallly told Carnival’s board builfing cruise ship’s wasn’t a “pipe dream”; the Fantasy…which started a “class which showed millions cruising wasn’t just for the “asparagus fork” crowd”; and the “Big Red Boats” [Disney years]. Think Disney/kids/inexpensive cruises.
June 11th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
John, you said “5 most important CRUISE SHIPS ever’, which I’m going to expand by interpreting that to mean ‘any passenger ship that cruised’. Which happily rules out Titanic - she didn’t even complete her first line voyage…
OK, here’s my list:
a) Sunward - this ship started modern cruising;
b) Mardi Gras: like it or hate it, this is the ship which established CCL;
c) QE2: style, grace, and surprising compromises if you weren’t in ‘Queens Grill’ class!;
d) Canberra: a liner, a cruise ship, and when called upon, she was good enough to go to war. She probably kept UK cruising going single-handedly between the late 70s and late 80s;
e) Carnival Destiny - the first post-panamax cruise ship, I believe.
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