Hello Everyone,
Just a quick blog thingy to say that preparation for the Bloggers 2009 cruise onboard the Carnival Fantasy moved up a few gears today and will continue to do so over the next few days. I just had a conference call to discuss the free giveaways and I think we have some items that will have everyone smiling and one that will have everyone laughing out loud!
In early August I will be finalizing with Stephanie and her team the hotel and charity function details for the night before the cruise starts. This of course will be our chance to do something positive for the people of the Big Easy and have some fun together in the evening. So, look out for more details on this in the coming days.
As per your request I will not be the Cruise Director. This will leave me time to host private Blogger functions as we did last year plus I want to include.
BREAKFAST FUN
TEA TIME
‘BLOGGERS ONLY’ GAME SHOWS AND FUN
DINNER TOGETHER
BLOGGERS ‘ON THE DECK FOR THE CURE’
SPECIAL IN-PORT PRIVATE TOURS
AND……….THE FIRST EVER………..BLOGGERS ONLY TALENT SHOW
To name but a few
So, I know many of you have booked this 5 day voyage of fun………..and I hope many more of you will join us
Cheers
John
Filed under: Tales from the Ship, Travel | Tagged: Bloggers Cruise
Hate that I will miss this as it sound like so much fun but I’m already booked on the Splendor and will be in Brazil while you are there–but I will be thinking of all of you have such fun! Maybe nextime…:-(
I am booked and ready to sail. Everytime I read something about the bloggers cruise, my hands get sweaty, my heart races and I get soooo excited. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for all of us,,,,,laughter, fun, excitement, more laughter, fun and excitement. It is a thrill to keep adding to our “bucket list”. Take care and remember,,,,,,I’ll put my friend, Kathleen, up against anyone on Guitar Hero,,,,she ROCKS!!!!!
“j”
Sounds good, very good….
WOOOOOHOOOOHOOOO, John!!!
Sounds wonderful, my friend!!
Great news!!
Host Mach
PLEASE Respond
Getting ready to book the DREAM Transatlantic Sailing on Oct 27, 2009.
1. Will you be the CD?
2. Will Ron be at the Piano Bar?
These are the only two questions I need answered before we book.
HEllo John & Heidi
I too,like Jeanette,when I see the words Bloggers Cruise I get palms get sweaty, heart starts racing, anxiety leaps, start feeling like a kid on their birthday. Been watching everything I can on NO, did you know Samantha Brown had a show from there on one of her weekend getaways? She did a habitat 4 humanity with the musicians. The gift that will have us laughing out loud??? and It won’t be you dressed as Dolly? Hmmmm I can’t wait!I can hardly wait! Whew! Sounds EXciting!
Take Care
The Tuckers
I hope you and Stephanie put the raw oysters on the list (bucket??)of things to do and see. If we can eat your kidney pie, I think as respect to the city of NO, you will down a few.
PennyB
John, it sounds like every thing is coming together for the 2009 Bloggers Cruise on the Carnival Fantasy. This BC is going to be more Evil then the first. My Evil Krewe is deep into planning out activities for both New Orleans and the cruise. You saw what my Evil Krewe can do at your birthday party on BC 1. For BC 2 we have even more time to plan our Evil deeds.
Bloggers if you don’t want to miss out on all the FUN we will be having on the FUNSHIP FANTASY during the 2009 BC you better call your Carnival Personal Vacation Planner (PVP) or a travel agent to get booked on the Bloggers Cruise. Be sure to use the fare code CPBL when booking.
Hope to see you all there.
BIG ED
King of the Evil Krewe
Talent, now I know I have a talent! Wonder what it is? hmmmmmmm
Can’t wait for the cruise, should be wonderful!
John,
Sounds great can’t wait for all the details.
Kevin
Well, I guess now that you’re really getting into the planning stages, I should start the gentle nudging.
Remember back a few months ago, when you were promising to have Ron Pass in the piano bar for us on BC v.2.0? I hope this is still in the realm of possibility. There are many people looking forward to this and I know of at least one person who got her husband to book the cruise, on the hope that Ron would indeed be there.
I know you are set on giving us a special cruise with the best of everything and Ron is indeed the best!
Please, please, pretty please, with Splenda on top?
Thanks John! You are certainly the smartest, funniest, most handsome cruise director around!
Cheerios,
Laura (aka divetrash, aka Princess Laura, the sweet and compromised of Big Ed’s Evil Krewe)
OH BOY, my heart started racing when I saw the blog title today! Couldn’t read fast enough! Had to read it a second time to make sure I didn’t miss anything.
Free giveaways, and one that will have us laughing? We will be buzzing on Cruise Critic for weeks speculating on what this could be. We absolutely have a GREAT KREWE for Bloggers 2, and gathering new people all the time; hint, hint, come join us and be part of the Bayou Bloggin Krewe.
Thank You, Thank You, it was a great decision for you not to be the CD for the ship, we get to have you and Heidi all to ourselves! YIPEEEEEE
Can hardly wait to hear more details,
Diane
Sounds great. Looking forward to the five-days AND the four-days follow up cruise to recover.
Talent Show? That should be interesting ….. I can see it now…. Someone getting up and croaking out a tune……perhaps something like:
Hello! ma baby, Hello! Ma honey, Hello! ma ragtime gal.
The Flying Dutchman
Good Morning John,
Yahoooooooooo We’re in! BC2 is going to be soooo much fun.
GO PISTONS!!! (heh heh)
Joan
Snoozeman
Thank you I forgot all about the Back to Back part of the Bloggers Cruise. We will need that extra 4 days to rest from the 5 days of the bloggers cruise. The BTB will make a nice 9 day cruise.
BIG ED
Hi John I just read update on the bloggers.cruise.looking foward to sailing with you again and meeting all the people we see on the site. I do not right much but – do read and enjoy your blog. daily.THis cruise helped me convince my wife to go on another cruise even though she gets sea sick.I got so excited seeing the events planned I am standing in a lobby writing this on my blacberry thingy.
Larry
John,
It all sounds so very exciting! I hope I will be able to join everyone. If I do get to go, sure would be nice to have Ron Pass in the piano bar…he is such a great player and sure knows how to please a crowd!
Love to you and Heidi,
Princess Elaine, the quiet and hoping
We’re ready to go and it’s still a loooooong way off! Jeri and Larry
WOoooooHOooooo!!!! John sure sounds great. Looking forward to the fun and frivolity.I love the Fantasy and this makes it so much more special.Best Wishes Gary and Bug
John:
How exciting!!!!!
But will the ship have the proper Pole for Princess Laura to demonstrate her talent?? ; )
(See even Lady’s In Waiting can be “evil”!!! LOL)
Another PLEASE here for Ron in the piano bar!!!!!!!!
Linda ( Mom of your friend DJ ….until Laura clobbers me for the “pole” comment!!!)
Good afternoon Mr. Heald. What you planned for the Bloggers Cruise is going to be smashing success unfortunately I will unable to attend. Don’t cry for me. I’ll do crying for myself. My wife and I had already arranged for a cruise on the Valor before the Bloggers Cruise and we are able to only have one cruise a year. We want to always check on a 7 or 8 day or more cruise if possible. Have a great cruise and I glad that you won’t be the cruise director because it will give you more time to spend with your friendly bloggers. Ciao for now.
Paul F. Pietramgelo
retirementman
Paul, You can always cancell the Valor cruise and book the bloggers cruise doing a BTB making it a nice 9 day cruise.
BIG ED
Hi John!
Although I am sad that I will not be able to make the cruise this year, I know your Blogs about the cruise will make me feel like I am there.
Oh Linda, Linda, Linda…
You may have to join Big Ed in watching your back on the Bloggers Cruise! LOL!
Jeez… people! One little pole dance on top of a bar in a dueling piano bar (on land I might add) and you’re branded for life!
People on cruisecritic have big mouths! LOL!
John don’t listen to her! I’m still Princess Laura, the sweet and somewhat innocent!
And it will be nice to have forum for our talented bloggers like Linda (grrrr…) and Adam to show their stuff!
Cheerios,
Laura (aka divetrash, aka Princess Laura, the sweet and somewhat innocent of Big Ed’s Evil Krewe)
Talent show!!!! Talent show!!!! Hoo Boy!!! I’ll be warming up my pipes ready for another Elton John song!……i can’t wait!!….
HOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAYHOORAY
JOHN…
I love little things to unwrap and that’s what you gave us today!! A gift about our cruise!!!
ANTICIPATION!!!! You’ve given us more to think about and DREAM about!!! And post about over on Cruise Critic!!! Host Mach’s group will be buzzing and spinning and planning and plotting!! Many of us already have planned to come in a day early… Maybe we need to come in TWO DAYS early!!
I’ve mentioned it before… I’m reminding you again… Tell me what you need and we’ll get it done!! I’m volunteering to do whatever is needed!!! I love being involved and being part of a solution!!!
Hellos to Stephanie and overwhelming THANKS to her for all she does!!! And to Heidi, we’re looking forward to meeting you!!!
Best regards!!!
Lambie
John,
It all sounds great and I am ready to go!!! In fact… the suitcases are out already!!!
And I agree with Princess Laura….. and will top her Splenda with SF Jelly Beans…. get Ron!
Princess Barb ….the one who is really ready to cruise!!!
John,
Sounds so very exciting. Can’t wait to hear all the details. Let’s hope for no canceled flights this time around…we booked our flights to arrive 2 days early in NO…no missing the boat this time!
Take care,
Lisa and George Kilmartin
John sounds fantastic, can’t wait……now I need to find a talent for the talent show, is drinking to excess a talent???? any way we’re ready to sail awaiting your orders admiral…..
daytonadan
John,
Sounds great…we cant wait to set sail.
Paul is a big fan of Ron Pass in the piano bar as well. Maybe not as big a fan as Princess Laura…but still a fan. Aparently I missed much on BC1 while I was in my cabin fast asleep in the wee hours of the night…not this time around. Watch out Laura I dont forget a thing. LOL
Stephanie E.
Hi John!!!
I am really excited about the Bloggers cruise! I have only cruised with you twice out of my 18 cruises but those were the best! You make cruising so much fun! Cannot wait for the bloggers cruise…I missed the first one…dang it!
This will be my 19th CCL cruise. It will be my boyfriends first. He is retired after over 20 years in the Navy, so yes, he has been on ships, but not cruise ships! The deck is a little different, hot tubs and margaritas instead of fighter jets! I want his first cruise to be special and I am sure this one will be. That is why I chose it to be his first!
See you on the ship! Well, we are coming in on Thursday night so we will be able to join in on Fridays activities. My boyfriend says it is good to pay back and he looks forward to doing something for NO.
Sea Ya!!
Cruzn Buckeye John, please reply.
Great events for the Bloggers Cruise. Donna will be glad to hear about the “on deck for the cure”.
I am still holding out hope for the 1st annual Bloggers Blackjack tournament. If you have any German Bier left over you can bring it for the Bloggers cruise.
John – all you have planned so far sounds wonderful!!!! Now, I just have to get through my Dawn Princess cruise this September and then I can really concentrate on the BC.
I still would love to hear your bedtime story…….I’ve been on one cruise with you (Liberty 2/06) but I missed it.
I cannt wait for February!!!!! Here’s another request for Ron Passalaqua…and I will sweeten the pot, with Cannolis from Palermos(the pastry place, not the city), where we bloggers had a really nice dinner last night. Ferrara’s which is also in little Italy, is great too… If I scrounge around, I can probably even find some Sugar free onesfor you,me,and Laura.What do ya say John, a cannoli in exchange for Ron on the cruise!?! And some Swedish fish for Heidi!?! Think about it.
Well I can hardly wait. the details so far sound great!
Sue Muller
Hi John and Heidi
So glad to read about the blogger’s cruise V2. I booked my flight already. Although I have 3 cruises before the BC V.2, I can hardly wait till Feb. I think all of Big Ed’s Evil Krewe are very anxious to get together on the ship. Hopefully, we won’t create too much havoc there….he he.
Give my best to Heidi and a big thanks to Stephanie who helps to make this blog possible.
Gloria aka Sue
This sounds like so much fun! I’m hoping I can afford to go, but we have 5 kids…are children allowed??
Anyway, I think the cruise is a great idea. I’m writing a blog entry about this cruise, and I’m adding a link back to this entry. This is so exciting!!!
Gonna miss ya’ll. and we all know, Laura only needs the piano.she doesn’t need a pole! Princess Elaine, of course you will get to go!
Kevin, what have you got cookin?
Kap
You definitely need to try to get Clyde to do something before, during, and/or after the cruise.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x67r2c_clyde-sings_travel