Comments on: A Grand Celebration of the Carnival Splendor

By: dwa76

dwa76 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:40:40 +0000

Hi John/Heidi:
What memories. So weird to see the Cele with the paintings on the side. Brings back memories for me from December 1988. Thank you for the trip.
Splendor looks so pretty. Can’t wait to see the final pictures.
SO exciting with all the things going on in Genoa. I feel like i’m right in the action with you.
Hope everything else is going well.
Take care!
David

By: Inma

Inma — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:59:32 +0000

Thanks for the photos. I am one the passangers sailing next July 28th. We are expecting the opinions from the people leaving next Monday 16th.
Do you have any photos of the children’s pool or the children’s club?
Best regards
Inma

By: Jake Silverberg

Jake Silverberg — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:18:04 +0000

Hey , John
Well as you know I have just recently turned 12 so I was born in 1996.
By the time I had a clue of maybe not common sence but…..you know general knowlodge to relize things i was probably3-4 , and carnival ship like mardigrase,carnivale,fesivale wher all pretty much retired , however the tropicale I bealive ws about to be retired and I never saw any of thoes ships.
In 2006 i sailed oboard the valor and we wher re-routed due to a tropical storm and visited free port and if you know me i study every carnival ships itinarary before i go on a cruie to see which ones match mine in a port of call so as we docked and had the shore side clereance i stayed aboard to waite and…..sure enough there the majestic 47,000 ton little cele(as you probably know was her nicname) navigated slowly beside the 110,000 ton valor and docked whith eas.
I snaped some pics to remember when I become CAPTAIN JAKE SILVERBERG that as a boy in 2006 at 10 snaped a personal picture of the celebration by myself.
The piture I toke of her is buetiful and shows the whole ship.
I have an even greater story about the holiday that ill write when she is retired.
from, JAKE S. ( :

By: Stacey W.

Stacey W. — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:15:49 +0000

John,
I love reading your blog. You could write an account of reading the phone book and still make it entertaining. I’m curious as to, with all the publicity your “blog thingy” is getting, whether you’ve been approached or entertained the idea of writing a book on your experiences. All the books on cruising are either guide books, dry fact books or cheesy “romance at sea” books. I’d love a novel-sized “blog thingy” to get me through the year or two in between my own sailings.

Keep up the good work.

P.S.–any word from Simon yet? LOL

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:42:37 +0000

I am always glad when companies decide to breathe new life in older ships. A certain company long ago (at least it seems a long time ago) decided to take an older mothballed vessel of French origination….overhauled the old lady and subsequently revolutionized the cruise industry……. ( SS France became the famous SS Norway)

Similarly another company that we are fond of scooped up another older vessel (Empress of Canada) and revitalized her (MS Mardi Gras)…. and in so doing…. significantly and positively impacted the cruise industry with the idea that cruising is an experience that should be affordable and possible for everyone.

Celebration’s renovations look very attractive and I’m sure the rechristened Grand Celebration will provide a new market many years of excellent service. While it is inevitable that ultimately ships meet the recycle stage…. simply because of economics and the nature of the industry. Upkeep and safety gets exponentially more difficult as a vessel ages and the salty sea takes its toll on ships. Safety and design standards as well as customer expectations also change over time. The Celebration was parked in Nassau back in March and I wondered what was to become of her since she (and Holiday) were the oldest members of the Carnival fleet. Holiday is the last of the “little” Carnival ships …..will she too be transitioned refreshed and rejuvenated?

By: "BIG" ED

"BIG" ED — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:27:21 +0000

ATTENTION ALL

On my blog I have a page for anybody doing a Back To Back (BTB) on the 2009 Blogger Cruise. This will help all going to know who else is on it. This is open to ALL going on it. Just click on my name at the top of this comment to go to my blog then click on “DOING BTB” on the top. Just leave your info in a comment and I will move it up to the list.

For those not yet doing a BTB for the 2009 Bloggers Cruise just think of the fun you could have on this 9 day cruise. With the price of air travel going up why spend all that money for just a 5 day cruise when you can easily make it a 9 day cruise.

BIG ED

By: John H

John H — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:05:41 +0000

John – Thanks for the info and update on the Celebration. We got to cruise twice on the Celebration – once when she was new and again years later to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. In fact, the first time we were on the Celebration she was still one of the six largest cruise ships in the world. My how times have changed. Good luck to the ‘Cele’ in her new life as the Grand Celebration.

By: zydecocruiser (bill)

zydecocruiser (bill) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:57:25 +0000

I’m certain Splendor will have webcams. They may not light up until the end of June, but they will be there.

I am expecting the ship to pop up here:
http://www.infocruise.it/infoCarnival/Global_Info.asp

And the webcams to be here:

http://www.infocruise.it/infoCarnival/ShipInfo.asp?name=Splendor&channel=1

http://www.infocruise.it/infoCarnival/ShipInfo.asp?name=Splendor&channel=2

At least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

I also plan on posting tons of pictures “almost live” from the first three cruises.

By: LambKnuckles

LambKnuckles — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:43:10 +0000

John…
What a smashing ship!! I love the little details and updates… The care and pride CARNIVAL takes…

It’s WONDERFUL!!! Thank you!!

Lambie

By: Official Celebrity Chef Of the Blog Kevin

Official Celebrity Chef Of the Blog Kevin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:40:47 +0000

John and Heidi,
Great blog today John and the pictures are some of the best I’ve seen Heidi take so far and it looks like you might have lost a bit of yourself also. Keep up the good work on the diet. The new Highlight of my day is hiding out at work for a few minutes and reading the blog on my blackberry. I can’t wait to see what tomorrows topic of the day will be. Best to everyone.

Kevin