Comments on: Selling with Maurice Zarmati

By: Agent Dorothyski

Agent Dorothyski — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:02:50 +0000

I sailed on the Costa Fortuna in December 07. Had a wonderful time! The entertainment I found quite similar to Carnivals. The food was pretty good – though quite a bit of Italian in the mix. Roman night was awesome – most got into the spirit of the theme. Some crafted togas from the sheets in their staterooms while others who knew in advance had elaborate costumes ready. There was even one gentleman that had turned his walker into a chariot! I do really like the way that they handle their excursions. they seperate you right away by excursion and and you “follow that sign”. From what I saw (I took two of the ships excursions), they send out a crew member on each excursion dressed in a bright orange polo shirt. If a guest at any point has a question or concern, they just have to look for the really obvious orange shirt. This “obviousness” really stuck out on a recent cruise with the Freedom. We were in Ocho Rios at the same time as the Fortuna and were headed to Dunns River Falls (which we’d purchased through the ship). After quite a bit of chaos, we were pointed to a van (a “just go in there” was grunted by the organizing Jamaican lady). Once we arrived at the falls, more chaos followed and there was no direction. I had a bunch of clients with me and they just hung onto me. Those orange shirts from the Fortuna were everywhere, but not a Funship Friend in sight (that we could tell). So eventually we ended up following them down to where we needed to be. The first time I was aware of Carnival’s presence was actually on the falls when someone offered to take my picture. I must have had an odd look on my face as he then “oh, I’m with Carnival” and moved the jacket he was wearing aside to reveal the carnival logo underneath. Not sure if this was an isolated port/incident as most of the other excursions have been straightforward so haven’t had questions to be answered by Carnival staff.

As for layout and decor, the Fortuna is quite similar to the Liberty – in fact, the staterooms are identical in layout, size and decor. The main difference is that the disco is on deck four but has the two deck high ceiling allowing access from the 5th deck (same location though) and the casino occupies the whole promenade area where the wine bar usually is and they have an open lounge area with dance floor where the casino usually is. The remainder of the ship is pretty much the same. Was alot of fun! Sigh…think I need another cruise!

By: LambKnuckles

LambKnuckles — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:22:41 +0000

SALES… SELLING… the art and timing of asking for the sale… closing the loop… making the buyer feel they got the best deal of their life!

John, you’re the best salesman I know… And you don’t even ask for the sale, you just paint such a glorious adventure, that we can’t help ourselves but join you!!!

Lambie

By: The Bears - Barb & Carl

The Bears - Barb & Carl — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:15:36 +0000

We hopoe we can try a Costa Cruise one of these days soon.
Good interview!!!

By: Duchess Sandy

Duchess Sandy — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:46:03 +0000

Our very first cruise was on the Carla C, way back in ‘73 or ‘74 from Miami to the Bahamas. Then we took B2B cruises in the Med on two different Costa ships just a few years ago. We loved cruising on Costa.

Duchess Sandy and Duke Dick

By: Cheryl D.

Cheryl D. — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:27:18 +0000

Hello John & Heidi,

I enjoyed the interview with Maurice. I was on a Costa cruise in Dec. 2000. It was on the brand-new Costa Atlantica. It came over to Ft. Lauderdale to do Caribbean cruises for the winter. We loved the ship – same layout as the Carnival Spirit class – and the design is great! There is Murano glass all over the ship. The lounge near the entrance to the dining room is called the Paparazzi Lounge. As we walked into the dining room on the last night (toga night) ALL of the ship’s photographers were there with their cameras. What a hoot! For anyone who doesn’t know, the last night of every Costa cruise is Toga Night. They leave you a couple of clean white sheets and an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of drawings with finished togas in your room. The first night of the cruise our CD (Ray Rouse, who was with Cunard last I heard) told us that if we didn’t wear our togas into the dining room the last night, we wouldn’t be allowed in. Silly me! I believed him. After I walked into the dining room, the first thing I saw was a whole table full of people NOT WEARING TOGAS. They just had on normal casual clothes. I was so mad! But most people made some sort of an attempt, even if they just put the toga over their clothes. (Didn’t think of that either.) Some people brought costumes! (Wish I’d thought of that.) During dinner, the CD and his staff – dressed as Caesar and his court – processed all around the dining room. During the passenger talent show, Caesar and his court sat on the stage the whole time, and pretended to be drunk. After each act, the audience was asked if it was thumbs up or thumbs down. Should they live, or should they be thrown to the lions? Then Caesar would come over and overrule the crowd. The Centurions (cruise staff members) would then carry the person off while the sound effects guy played a recording of lions roaring.
The cruise itself was great. We had a Western Carib. itinerary – Key West, Ocho Rios, Cozumel, and Grand Cayman. The food was good, the entertainment was not so good, but one really good thing was lots of live music all over the ship, like Carnival. The reason the entertainment wasn’t that great was that it was all designed for people who didn’t necessarily speak the same language. One night we had a gaucho, whose act was 20 minutes of swinging click-clacks around. The only thing Americans might not care for on Costa was the fact that each announcement was made in 5 languages. English, Italian, Spanish, German, and French. I made a game out of it, but some people got rather impatient. They had a priest on-board, and mass was said in Latin, but we were given little books to follow along – each book was in 8 languages. (Because it’s an Italian cruise line, we were told they have a priest on every sailing.) Obviously, some of this might have changed in 7 1/2 years, but I’ll bet it’s mostly the same. Carnival Corp. usually leaves the different brands alone. There was definately an Italian ambiance which was really nice. The service was good, and the food was good – except for the pizza. We would definately sail Costa again.

Thanks also for the video. It’s nice to hear your voice!

By: Karen Edmonson

Karen Edmonson — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:11:19 +0000

Dear John
You referred to the guy Jaws in the James Bond movies today, I returned on a cruise on the Carnval Elation- sailed 5/31 and he was on the ship!! Also about that cruise- Tina Noble was great, except for you on the Carnival Freedom, I have not enjoyed a cruise director so much. I have 3 more cruises planned and a 4th in the making. I’m sure you will let us all know about next year for your where abouts. Good talking to you again…

By: Robert Loa

Robert Loa — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:12:18 +0000

I cruised in 2 costa ships within the last 12 months.
Ships were- costa serena and costa fortuna.
Overall, the cruise itenary and cruise ships were nice but one recommendation I would strongly suggest is smoking policy/ or smoking area.
Majority of passengers are non smokers and I find Costa ships seems to have more liberal smoking policy than royal carribean. In North America, it.is common for smokers to smoke outside the building + it’s also a safety issue.
I think if Carnival adopt a no smoking inside the ship area but allow the smokers to smoke say in a designated area /room with good ventilation, I think you will have more
customers cruising in Carnival cruiseships.

By: Jake Silverberg

Jake Silverberg — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:59:52 +0000

Hello, john
I have never sailed whith Costa , but feel that I know the line and by viewing images in gallries have found that the interior is much thicker.
I will hopefully sail on one soon.

from, JAKE S. ( :

By: Carol Schoenberger

Carol Schoenberger — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:53:49 +0000

Hi John,

Excellent interview with someone who obviously loves what he does – 40 years – wow! I can say that today – it is my 30th anniversary here. Doesn’t seem like it though. Up until recently we were like a big happy family, but times & people change (It’s a state agency, therefore very political, even scandalous – not the call-girl scandal, another one not as well publicized about a political appointee – would make a great movie (?). Most of the people I started with have been retiring. I’ll stick it out as long as I can – can’t collect Social Security yet. So anyway, nobody here even knows it’s my anniversary, but that’s ok – I do.

And, once again, another reason to cruise out of NY and not fly – Now United Airlines is charging for the 1st piece of luggage. There’s even a story on the news pages about charging people by the pound. Fuhgetaboutit!

More on the Splendid Splendor soon, please.

Ciao Giovanni!

Carol

By: dwa76

dwa76 — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:52:31 +0000

Hi John/Heidi:
Great to hear from Mr. Zamarti again. Sounds like he has his hands full (a good thing).
My mother told me that she will be cruising on Costa out of Florida later this year and she is very excited.
Loving all the blogs. Keep em coming.
Hope all is well.
David