Good Morning………..hope this Saturday morning finds you all well……………..what shall we chat about today?………………I know, lets start with this.
Guest: Mrs. ________ Ref: 002801710A Owner: (KAAC) Kamilla Camilo
Cabin: ____ Booking#: _________ Added-Changed: 07/25/08 – 07/26/08_____ – CANNOT FIND THEIR WAY AROUND SHIP
Mrs. came to the desk stating that she had been trying to find the Black Pearl dining room for the last hour and she still could not find it. Guest stated that she and her husband had asked lots of crew and they had sent them in wrong directions. Guest started shouting saying that the passengers should be given guides to walk them around as they do on other cruise lines.
Purser asked guest if she attended the ships tour earlier in the afternoon but guest said she wanted a guide now. Purser left the desk and escorted Mrs.________ and her husband across the lobby to the dining room. Guest demanded that Purser collect them after dinner to show them where the casino is as they could not find it either. Purser arranged for a deck plan to be given to guests but said she was busy and could not stay with the guests but would ask someone from the dining room staff to assist. Guest said that the service onboard was dreadful and also complained the ship was too bright.
Dining Room notified and Purser to follow up.
Certainly the ship is large and the first days can be a little confusing, however, I am not sure what cruise line offers a personal guide to be with you the entire voyage. …………..and not to say the guest is telling porky pies (lies) but they asked “lots of crew” and nobody knew where the dining room was……………..unlikely. However, maybe her husband told his wife that he had asked when in fact he hadn’t.
Asking for directions is something that as a man I hate to do. Having to stop the car and ask someone implies that they are smarter than me which of course they are not because I am in my nice warm car while they are getting soaked from the rain. However, there have been times when I have to swallow my immense pride and ask someone for help. Usually this happens in foreign countries or in Miami where some of the roads and highways and one way systems seem to have been designed by a 12 year old.
Over the years I have made up my own set of rules for this………………if you ask where somewhere is to a member of the careless or in Miami the Carlos…..public…………and they start with the word “err”……….bugger off immediately………..just drive away…………because they don’t know and if you listen to them past the word “err” or “mummy” you will spend the next 5 hours driving around in circles ending up in some shanty town where you will be attacked by the local gang for driving through their turf.
The problem is that if you do find someone who does indeed know where you need to go and starts describing the route you are still buggered. This is because it is (as Heidi will tell you) a medically proven fact that when asking for directions men cannot hear anything past……….”you turn left at the Taco bell”…………..and then our brain just shuts down………………we can’t take in the information because we are thick and to proud to admit that we had to ask some careless person where to go.
One of the reasons that Hitler never invaded the UK was not just the brave allied troops but because the German troops got lost……..”Wo is ze England”………….”Ich weissers nicht, ich bin lossen”………………..they couldn’t ask the French because they were all hiding. If there had been women generals at the front line then armies would be able to stop, ask for directions and have someone who could absorb the directions.
The subject of getting lost and refusing to ask for directions segues nicely into the subject of instruction books. I recently, as I think I told you, bought a new lap top dancer computer. I had gone to one of the big computer stores where a 17 year boy told me everything about Windows and Virus protection and……………..then I lost interest.
Now, what I should have done is hit him over the head with an external hard drive and walked away but I was too polite so I stood there and pretended to listen to him while in fact I was thinking about getting the computer home to see how fast the internet connection was and if there was a way for me to look at girls from Thailand without Heidi knowing.
The obvious consequence of this was last night. I wanted to “burn a DVD” of last week’s bedtime story. Now I am not so thick that I think this means I have to douse it in petrol and set fire to it but short of that I had no bloody clue what to do. Now, at this point I should have got the instruction book out but being a man this is illegal. If I had been a woman I would of course have done so. Even the most manly women do this………..I am sure even Martina Navratilova has laid on the living room floor with the instruction booklet for a new DVD recorder making sure when she comes home from playing with Jodie Foster (tennis that is) that she has taped Ultimate Cage Fighting and not Ellen.
If it were me, I would have been happy in the knowledge that it may tape the right program but even if it didn’t I would have been content that I didn’t break the man law …………………………and ask for help.
Let’s have a look at some photos from Mr. and Mrs. Bentley who are on their final leg of their tour of the Norwegian Fjords. These simple potato farmers are regular bloggers and I hope they will be coming on the bloggers cruise.
Have a look at these
Mrs. Bentley is an expert fisher person and she would probably not have approved about my fishing blog yesterday. ………….she won the South Carolina Ladies Championship this year catching something called a Big Mouth Bass………..Hopefully we will get a few more photos later. Please join me in thanking them for allowing all of us to share in their adventures.
Thanks also to Bill Zydecocruiser who has spent hours posting photos from his recent Carnival Splendor cruise. It was an honour to meet you Bill and we thank you for your loyal support, mate.
Let’s have a look at today’s bio featuring another unsung hero. Kat is part of the I/S team who without………….well…………lets just say that Kat may as well sleep in my cabin as I call her in a panic so much every time my computer decides to piss me off……….which is every day that ends in a Y. Here is her Bio which I know you will enjoy.
NAME
Katharina Jauch
DEPARTMENT AND POSITION
Information Systems, Senior Information Systems ManagerHOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
For almost five years
WHAT DOES YOUR JOB INVOLVE
In a nutshell: Maintaining the onboard computer systems. For techies: Hard- and software maintenance, upgrades and updates, general user support, bow-to-stern WiFi, ship’s VoIP cell phones, satellite connectivity, network administration, user administration, Point-of-Sales systems in bars / gift shop / restaurants, specialized applications in all shipboard departments, antivirus protection, liaison between users and technicians / developers / programmers at HQ, overseeing technical aspects of embarkation and gangway security, printing the guests’ Sail & Sign cards 2 days prior to embarkation.WHERE ARE YOU FROM
Germany
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB
The variety of issues to deal with; to work with shipboard users; to help others being able to do their jobTELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY BACK HOME
My parents, a younger brother and a younger sister – a fun bunch of people.
WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT BEING IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY APART FROM FAMILY
Fast internet, real chocolateFAVORITE THINGS
Road trips, photography, cookingMOVIE
EurotripMUSIC
Wide variety – from Sting to Nickelback, from Rammstein to Bach
FOOD
All sorts of fresh fruits, especially berries
IF YOU COULD MEET ANY FAMOUS PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO WOULD IT BE
StingIF YOU HAD TO DO ANOTHER JOB ON THE SHIP WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO AND WHY
I’d be a Crew Welfare Officer –great potential for a very rewarding job but that position doesn’t exist (yet) at Carnival.
Thanks Kat and what an interesting thought………… a crew welfare officer ……………. mmmmm………..something to think about there. Anyway, I am sure the computer people enjoyed the interview and if you have any computerist questions please let me know and I will send them on to Kat.
It’s strange hearing English as the dominant language onboard………..I don’t mean English as spoken by most of you…………I mean……….well English………..spoken by people from the UK. There are actually over 1,000 onboard and all the British regions are represented……..we have Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Scouse (Liverpool), Northern, London Cockney, Geordie (Newcastle), the Midlands, the South West and Bombay.
As expected the English breakfast is very popular and not just with the Brits. I spoke to a Mr. Harold Robinson today who is a Brit but has lived in Virginia for the last 30 years. He was beside himself with happiness that he could once again have a full and proper English breakfast.
Another activity that was so popular last cruise was Tea Time. This used to be held in one of the smaller lounges but is so popular we now use the dining room. This includes Tea, pastries and finger sandwiches……..a little bit of Tea Time Trivia questions and some beautiful classical music. It is immensely popular with 200 – 300 guests attending …… the atmosphere is superb and one can only imagine what it must be like held in The Queens Room onboard the Queen Mary 2, The Queen Victoria and the Queen Elizabeth 2.
I went along today and said hello to everyone and next time I must take my camera with me and send you some photos………..remind me please. It seems the British are fascinated by the Americans and the Americans equally so about us Brits………………and what’s hilarious is when we try and talk like each other.
As you know, it is impossible to speak French because everything over there has a sex. Carrots. Motorbikes. Laxatives. Seaweed. Everything is either a boy or a girl and the French snicker when you get it wrong. Because of this nobody can be bothered to try but when it comes to Brits trying to speak American and American’s trying to speak English………well it is pure comedy.
To us Brits Americans either speak like a Texan or one of the characters from The Dukes of Hazard. This means that the North, the Midwest and in fact the entire country …………in the mind of the average British person ……..speaks and probably looks like a cross between Roscoe P Coltrane or JR Ewing. Then, get a box of tissues ready as someone from a small village in Yorkshire tries to speak in an American accent……….. “Hello You All……yee ha” will be about as far as they get before realizing they sound ridiculous and they burry head in a warm pint of beer and a plate of spotted dick.
We all know how bad Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood was …………he started out trying to be a cockney, after thirty minutes he sounded Canadian and just before he arrived back in Sherwood Forrest he said “bugger this” and gave up completely returning Robin Hood to his native Iowa.
For me, though are the Americans I work with onboard and in the office who, having interacted with British crew for a while, they can start talking English. There is one man who will remain nameless who holds a very senior position at Carnival’s shore side offices who every time we speak calls me “mate”………..and when he does I’m filled with a sudden desire to kick him hard and fast in the Albert Halls.
Americans cannot say “mate” any more than Germans can say “squirrel.”
However, we do have a word in the UK which we must stop using and hope our American friends never start to pick up. In hospitals our ER units used to be called casualty ……..now we are getting more American and they are called Accident and Emergency rooms and I am sure it wont be long before we here “Dr. Carter, please report to the ER” at a hospital in Liverpool. You see, Americans do this well……….all the medical terms make sense…………ours do not…..especially the word “comfortable.”
I remember the first time my mate Alan went in for surgery. I was worried sick and called the hospital pretending to be his brother. When I asked for his condition after 8 hours of surgery I was told he was “comfortable.”
Comfortable……………… Someone laying the deck of a cruise ship sipping on a Pina Colada before dining at the Pinnacle Steak house is “comfortable”. Someone lying in a hospital with half his head missing and tubes sticking into and out of every orifice is not comfortable.
Still, despite our language differences there is no doubt that as in the areas around the world where our troops stand shoulder to shoulder so friendships are forged here onboard……………..something that just doesn’t happen in hotels and as I walk around the ship I hear guests meeting for the first time………..”Hey, y’all from England?”. …………” Yes indeed old chap”………….”Well that’s just awesome”…………”yes Sir”…….”Shall we partake in a cocktail?”……..”Well, shoot spit, y’all don’t need to ask twice — lead on mate”
The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day at sea. My morning show went well as did the travel talk with people snapping up tours for all the ports with Berlin as per usual the favorite destination. This afternoon as I sat working I looked out of my window to see a Seabourn ship sailing the other way. It was a bit too far for me to see which one it was but there was no doubting it was one of the beautiful yachts who will have a sister next year in the new Seabourn Odyssey.
Anyway, I saw the Seabourn ship and for a minute I was a little blazai ……… blarzay ……….. blarsay………….I was a little nonchalant………..”Oh, it’s a Seabourn ship.”………..I said to myself and carried on working. Then, I stopped …………..and sat back to think…………..here I am in the middle of the North Sea heading to Denmark and I just saw one of our sister companies sailing the other way. …………..wow…………..think about it. ………look at the Bentley’s photos and you will see a P & O ship sailing the Norwegian Fjords…………now. Go back 20 years to when I first started working and when some of you first started cruising. Even being in a Caribbean port with another ship was a big deal………….now………….it is virtually unheard off to be in port anywhere in the world on your own.
You see, such is the success of this industry and in particular such is the success of Carnival Corp that as I write this blog thingy we have ships in the Baltic, The Caribbean, Asia, Australia, The Med, Alaska, The Middle East, The Americas and beyond. This is something to stop and think about…….is there anywhere in the world that during one year our ships don’t visit?………….not many……………I could only think of Southend on Sea, Somalia and Ohio
Seriously, how far we have come in such a short time ……………it’s amazing and there are still new and exciting ports of call for Carnival Corporation to dock their ships at…………………..there has never been a better time to cruise
Where will your next voyage take you?
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.
Happy weekend! I enjoy very much the English tradition of afternoon tea, and I look forward to enjoying this onboard Splendor in September, even as an American. Glad to hear you have enough interest to expand the service to one of the dining rooms. And I’d love to meet Sting too, along with Kat!!
Karen
John,
Perhaps Carnival Corp. should purchase the Delta Queen and you could then add Ohio to your list of ports visited!
Bob
John, where will our next voyage take us? Out of Mobile, AL on the Holiday to Cozumel and Calica. (9/22/08)
Sallie and her hubby are just sailing away from NY on the Victory. She just emailed us to say the ship is gorgeous…… I wanted to go…………sob!
Now as far as directions go. Don now has a car navigation thingy. The voice on the device , is that of a woman named Jill and she tells you turn by turn the directions to your destination. Does he go the direction that “Jill” advises him to go………. not most of the time. Typical male……..grin
So maybe Carnival needs to furnish navigation devices for people (like me and the lady ) that can’t find their way around the ship. I had to laugh at the lady, although I’m sure she didn’t find it humorous. I leave it up to Don to find the way around the ship and be my guide. Wanna hire him as a guide on the BC? lol
The pictures are so pretty. I enjoy them so much. It’s pictures of places that I will never be able to see in person.
Carolyn………
Hi Stephanie, I’m sorry I didn’t answer your email, but thanks so much for the condolences on the loss of Don’s brother.
John:
It seems that Mrs.Lost in space have not been on a cruise for more than 25 years when big ships were 20,ooo tons and crew members used to escort you to your room (and only to your room) when you arrived at the ship. I can’t believe how people get on a ship they know nothing about. It’s their fault then. I hope they get lost the rest of the cruise and you don’t have to deal with them the rest of the cruise. This is the kind of people that don’t know were they are going either. So prepare when they complain because they are not going to Venice and they can’t use the car they rented. LOL Give a big hug to Heidi from me and my family. We miss you both a LOT!!!
Nanni
Please thank Mrs. Bentley for me. Her pictures have been phenomenal… just lovely.
I feel sorry for the poor woman who was unable to find a restaurant that was no more than a hundred or so feet behind her. Please make sure that someone keeps watch over her as she’s likely to make her way down to deck zero and walk right off the ship… On second thought… don’t have someone watch over her…
Being an IT guy I enjoyed hearing about Kat’s job. In most ways it’s much like my own except that my network doesn’t travel to wonderful locations affording me incredible opportunities to see interesting and exotic ports of call. On second thought… my job is nothing like hers… Does she need an assistant??
Send along my howdies to Heidi and the always-on-the-job Stephanie!!!
Ciao!!!
Host Mach
Mr. and Mrs. Bentley’s pictures are amazing. I have enjoyed looking at all the pictures that one of your guests that had been on the first of your three cruises. I hope everyone had as good a time as he did.
Getting lost on one of your large ships can be a problem, but after a while you get use to where the places you want to go to are. I am looking forward to our cruise on September 11th. And English tea party is just what I am hoping to have. Now if you can include scones/clotted cream/jam at that tea party, I would be ever so gratful.
I hope everyone enjoys this 4th cruise on the Splendor. Keep smiling John, looking forward to meeting you at our Meet and Greet with some Cruise Critic’s that have been posting on our Roll Call. A gift for you and Hedi will be waiting for you.
Nice reading about Kat and how nice to have her there to help on those days that end in “y”.
Well, I’ve never heard of a personal guide on a ship either and wouldn’t that take all the fun out of it anyway? Part of the fun of being on a new ship is exploring to find where all of your favorite spots will be on that ship. Again, I’m amazed at the lengths Carnival employees will go to take care of the guests–I’m proud to be a stockholder!
Its true that it was rare to see other ships and when you did you were in awe and spent endless amounts of time photographing these two ships together then I can remember just a couple years ago being in Cozumel with 8 other ships and that was something to see for the ships, but certainly not fun being in port with 24,000 other passengers so cruising has definately changed. The new destinations are wonderful and I for one never believed that I would have seen the places I have already and the ones planned now into 2010.
My next cruise is Transatlantic in Sept., the Splendor over Thanksgiving for the grandchildren’s first cruise and then back on the Splendor 1-31-09 for the B2B South American/Around the Horn and I can’t wait!
I’ve always enjoyed getting lost on the ships…….you get more exercise that way LOL……plus you get to know your way around the ship.
Cindy
John:
Please don’t talk about directions.
I am directionally challenged. My Mom used to be able to navigate in the dark, in the fog, with a raging snowstorm and never miss the mark. When I was growing up, we had a motorhome and traveled the USA (and Mexico) for weeks on end. Mom never got lost.
I did not inherit this ability.
Today I tried to give David directions using a map and we ended up …well, not where we were suppose to be.
David has learned to see where my hand is pointing and not pay attention to the words I say.
When I say “turn left” … he immediately sees my hand pointing right and turns right.
Speaking of “directions”….keep positive thoughts for your friend Big Tex. As you know, the Fantasy had to take a “different route” to Mobile…due to the Mississippi River being closed for an accident.
Robert (a friend of mine that is a Carnival Rep in New Orleans) said things when smoothly on their end. The last bus from New Orleans to Mobile left at 4PM. (about a 2 1/2 hour drive)
This was the first cruise for one of David’s co-workers. We are keeping our finger’s crossed that everything went smoothly for them.
And to answer your question…where will your next voyage take you? I am pleased to be able to say “which one”?
Sept 1st – Ecstacy
Oct 9th- Fantasy
Nov 17th – SPLENDOR (Spa Balcony) !!!
Nov 22nd – Freedom
I can assure you that I do know my way to the ports….that is one place I never get lost!!!!
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
Good evening Mr. Heald. On our first cruise on the Legend, my wife and I did get lost a few times even with the card that tells about the ship. Being lost was part of the cruise, learning exactly where you were and remembering not to forget. We enjoyed it. When we asked for help, everyone was so very polite and did assist us. Yes, you are correct that being new on the ship can be a little scary, but know Mr. Heald, you really can’t got lost with so many people around. Thank you for helping me with my questions about the ports on the Valor. Whenever I’ve asked you for help, you have always come to my a assistance. We have never met and will probably never do so but just by talking with you through the blog makes me satisfied. BUT just in case we do meet I still want to shake you hand a have a picture taken with you. You can’t have a guy not try. Ciao.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
hi john,
we will be going to belize and honduras on the Glory in the fall. looking so forward to it. we went on the Glory last spring and enjoyed tea time so much! it’s very relaxing and such a treat. really looking forward to it again.
John, in answer to your question, our next cruise is on Caribbean Princess on 8/31 out of New York to New England and Canada.
And I love the idea suggested by another reader that Carnival Corp buy the Delta Queen. That would certainly put and end to the crazy situation that is going on with the Delta Queen.
John -
I have been unable to locate the Black Pearl restaurant ever since the Carnival Splendor set sail. Could you please send me a pretty purser, with prepaid roundtrip passage and a Spa Suite for me (and the Mrs. – I am not that stupid) so that I can find the dining room promptly.
Sincerely
Graffiti’d No smoking sign
It’s a wonder that Ms Lost-n-Space found her way to the Pursers desk. I would be better off if I cound not find the casino. In all my cruises I have always been able to find the food though.
Being from East Texas and living in England in the 70′s was a trip. All the locals were full of questions about how big was our ranch, how many cows and horses did we have. Of course growing up near Houston we had none of those.
Now the Kings English is another thing. If they would just call a truck a truck then we might be able to understand what they were talking about. The only thing that bothered me is they call all Americans Yanks. Being from the South we took exception to that. They never understood the differance.
Hi John and Heidi. Having been in Canada for almost forty years now, we don’t lose our British accent rather we have to watch our words and phrases. They can mean a lot of difference in both countries as I am sure you are aware. In the early years I had a few embrassing moments.
Keep up the good work, look forward to my daily dose of laughter and cruising.
Love to you both.
That is funny about the ship thing. I understand getting lost (as I have been there many times before) but panicking and flying off the handle is not way to “find” where you are going.
_BigMike
B-log security
John–thanks for the interview with Kat. This is specifically the course of study my younger son is majoring in college. Due to listening to him for several years I understood what she had to say. I’, going to have to forward this to him–don’t they need a nice young college graduate in a year?
Oh it takes me days to find my way back to the cabin. Would be no fun at all if I found it easily. Dining room no problem, hubby is always with me.
It’s an inside joke in our family, I get a reward (extra fun drink)when I find my way back and forth with no effort. One time I even got a round of applause from the cabin stewards. It’s all such great fun and the more we cruise the better I get.
Our next trip Splendor Jan 10. Don’t suppose they will still have the English breakfast, as a Brit living in the US it sounds yummy.
Happy trips everyone.
Hi John; My father was British and my mother American but we live in Canada. My mother used to say she was trilingual – Queen’s English, American (New York City) and Canadian!! Sometimes they seem like 3 different languages!
Really enjoying all the photos and videos.
Judy
You certainly have a point when it comes to getting lost and the abhorrence of having to inquire on directions. Recently in Fort Lauderdale I was with a group prior to a cruise out Miami. After arriving at the airport we picked up the rental car…should have opted for the GPS system…but being cock sure of where we were going we declined. Research was done in advance and the location of the hotel and port of Miami were printed out….all was well until the decision to venture out to the maul……a simple jaunt to the shopping center drive turned into well over an hour of aimlessly wondering around a labyrinth of streets going in seemingly endless circles due to someone not being “Lost” and blatant refusal to inquire about directions…..Eventually I intervened and bought a local map at a gas station. The adventure that took almost two hours……the mall was a mere 10 minutes away from the hotel. From now on I travel with a GPS…..
Americans are often enamored with British dialect (errr true English) ….I figured the opposite was true in that the British cringed when they heard Americans butcher the English language …. Perhaps it is just me …. I do find it interesting to learn alternate meanings/expressions. The U.S. and England both utilize English….vastly similar in most respects but with a number of nuances and unique characteristics that sometimes become challenging to comprehend.
The Flying Dutchman
John please read.
Thank you for posting the interview about Kat. I had written a few weeks ago asking if you could interview one of your shipboard I/S officers.
I have had a phone interview with Carnival Corporate about this position a while back, and hope that I will have the chance to get a second interview, and hopefully be able to do the same thing that she is.
I appreciate the listing of what she does since the bios on Carnival’s web site were written up a few years ago, and some of the technology has changed.
Very interesting. indeed.
Also, as an I/S person, thank you for showing your appreciation for another person who works in I/S. I am sure that she loves the work as much as I do, and the recognition is, as you know, what makes it all worth while.
While I don’t leave comments, I do greatly enjoy your postings.
Sincerely,
Mark Pennington
John,
Please thank the Bentley’s for the beautiful pictures!
And the picture of Kat…well I can guess she isn’t talking to you on the phone about a problem with your laptop. LOL
I think half the fun is getting lost on the ship and learning your way around. That is one quick way to meet friends is to get lost with them!
As to the question where my next cruise is taking me…all I can say is NO on the blogger’s cruise. So who really cares where that ship is going…it will be a great cruise! Hedi blog, Hedi blog, Hedi blog!!!
Princess Susan
Hi Stephanie
John, You said ” This is something to stop and think about…….is there anywhere in the world that during one year our ships don’t visit?………….not many……………I could only think of Southend on Sea, Somalia and Ohio” Well I can fix the Ohio part of it. Just put a Carnival Ship in the Great Lakes like I suggested a long time ago. There are many possible ports of call cities around the Great Lakes.
BIG ED
VP Carnival Great Lake Tours
Hi John, Looks like its time for Carnival to rent GPS units that talk so newbes can find their way around the ship.
We really enjoyed the Tea on the Liberty and are looking forward to repeating the fun on the Splendor. Regarding our next cruise:
November 17 – The Splendor December 28 – The Legend
February 7 – The Fantasy
Can hardly wait for each and every one.
Dear John,
We are looking forward to meeting you on the August 18th sailing, our 8th Carnival cruise. As Americans, all eight have sailed from the good ole USA, Florida, Alaska, and New York. I am a New Yorker by birth but a Floridian by choice.
We are looking forward to our first European cruise but are quite anxious, as we come to grips with whether or not we will be able to understand you Brits. You know youze guys talk funny. Let me give you a little lesson in New York talk so that you can communicate a bit better with us Yankees. “Jeet jet, no ju, no not jet, twirly” This translates to ” Did you eat yet? no not yet, did you, no too early” You get it? ah fuggedaboutit. (forget about it). watsamatta (what is the matter?) We promise not to talk like you, if you promise not to talk like us.
Yankees fish with poles and we knit with yarn and needles. Feathers come from birds, and aluminum foil is just that, aluminum foil. Floridians have been known to catch frogs with a little red cloth material attached to the end of the hook. Do y’all (you) eat frog legs??
Anyway, we are so excited about the Splendor, getting lost in all her glory for the first few days, (and unlike Mrs. Lost in Space we will find our way through trial and error.) What better way to learn about this magnificent vessel and our home for 12 days. We are looking forward to having a wonderful time and of course meeting you. We look forward to, and read your blog daily.
We’ll see you in three weeks.
Friends you haven’t met yet,
Mike and Janette
Hi John,
Just to let you know, the Fantasy did sail, just not down the river. I dropped my BIL & Family at the dock and they boarded busses for Mobile. Carnival has been all over our New Orleans news with positive comments from bus traveling cruisers. It wasn’t perfect but Carnival did a great job. I know Big Tex, maybe “Lesser Tex” by now will step up too and give them a Southern welcome.
John…
I will be cruising for the first time on the CONQUEST this September… 9/20 to be exact. I KNOW I will be totally lost and helpless.
Please arrange for a handsome, single crew-man to be my escort, for my safety of course! I’d hate to walk the wrong way or have other direction problems. I’d hate to miss a meal or show or opportunity to gamble. Or find my cabin…
Thank you!!! You are very kind!!
Lambie
PS… The photos are outstanding!!
lol did you tell her to look for the place with the SLOT MACHINES??? geez.. what do people think of?? i loved the pix. germany is a beautiful place. i spent three years in the army there. i will also be trying the tea time when i go on the conquest in sept.
Hi John/Heidi:
Can’t get over how many vessels are in the organization now. Its not a small company.
Nice interview today. Seems like things are progressing nicely for you.
Glad to hear things are going well.
FYI, i’m terrible about asking for directions when i’m lost. Big shocker
Great to hear from you.
Thanks,
David