Is there such a word as unpatting?………..The reason I ask is that yesterday I mentioned that I had patted myself on the back for working hard to get the passenger formerly known as Mrs. S.Nob to say the word thank you and to start enjoying her cruise. Well, it seems that I now need to unpat my back because of this…….bugger.
Guest: Mrs Ref: 002802941A
Cabin: Booking#: 3XF958 Added-Changed: 08/13/08 – 08/13/08CABIN ——— GUEST REFUSES TO PAY FOR WINE
Mrs came to the desk demanding to speak to John the cruise Director or the Captain. Purser asked if she could know what was making the guest so upset. Mrs.______ said that she had ordered a bottle of wine for the table. Guest said that it took 10 minutes before it was served and which is too long and it was not done by the Maitre D . Guest said that the wine was bad and did not taste good and she refuses to pay the $29 charge. Purser said she would call the Maitre D and that her comments would be documented for review.
NOTE: Maitre D Ken advised that the guest sent the bottle back after it was 3/4 empty and she had drunk everything in her glass. Ken had asked the other guests at the table all of which said the wine was fine.
So, there you have it. I checked with Ken just now and told him I would pay for the wine.
Unfortunately though he also told me that the other ladies at the table had told ken that she had spent the evening telling everyone how dreadful the guests were, the food was and how she is used to better………..well, everything. So, not only have I failed with Mrs. you know who but also lumbered the other ladies with someone whose company they really don’t enjoy……….I guess when I visited the table they were putting on a brave face. From what Ken tells me Mrs. S.Nob took it upon herself to “host” the table and therefore she became Queen for the night. Well, this evening we are in Warnemunde until late and we have open sitting………..I will have to see what we can do about tomorrow. I wonder if the wine really was bad?
Well, as you know I started my career with Carnival in the bar department. I had blagged my way through the first interview as a bar waiter with consummate ease. The only difficult moment was when Wayne Kozack the Carnival director who was interviewing me asked if I knew what a sex on the beach was…………I was about to say that since I had spent the last 10 years with Alan as my by best mate that I hadn’t a clue about sex on a beach, a hill, on the back seat of a Mini…….in fact anywhere….when I realized that it was some sort of drink……..so I said ” of course, smiled and got the job.
If that interview was easy then the one that the Bar Manager Colin Campus gave me to become a wine steward on the M/S Holiday was even easier.
BAR MANAGER DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT WINE
JOHN YES
BAR MANAGER GOOD – THAT’S YOU PROMOTED TO WINE STEWARD THEN
I of course knew nothing. Back then I did actually drink the odd glass but most of the wine I did drink came with a screw top and had a picture of a Blue Nun on it or if I was really living the life style of the rich and tanned I would treat myself to something with a cork.
My life as a wine steward was short lived probably because I didn’t know anything……….I mean anything about wine. The only thing that got me through it was a bit of banter and a few jokes plus the fact that as little as I knew most Carnival guests of the late eighties knew even less than I did.
Thank goodness the majority of them tasted the wine and not me and I cannot remember too many occasions if any at all when the guest having tried the wine vomited into the wine bucket and said it was no good……………….and that always had me thinking.
When you’re out for dinner, why does the Sommelier invite you to taste the wine? Why doesn’t he do it himself? He’s the expert and as a general rule most customers would struggle to tell the difference between a Robert Mondavi 1989 Opus One and a glass of Mad Dog 20 20.
I certainly fall into this category. I still nothing about viniculture and even if I did drink you could pee in a glass and if it were chilled enough I’d be happy. When I’m buying wine for home consumption I have two very simple rules. I never spend more than £5 ( $10) on a bottle, and I don’t buy anything with the words La or Chateau on it meaning of course it’s French…….I am sure they make great wine but Monsieur Le De Pape is not getting any of my money and the only person who ever comes over for dinner is Alan and after a glass or two he also would not know if he was drinking Pinot Grigio or Pinot PeePee. Sorry to bang on about the French again………….they pride themselves on their culture, though it is not easy to see why. All their music sounds the same and they have never made a movie that you would want to watch for anything but the nude scenes and let’s face it, no matter how much garlic you put on it, a snail is just a slug with a shell on its back……….anyway, I digress.
When I was a wine steward we had wines from France, some from California and a few from Italy the most popular of which was Lambrusco. I still remember this for two reasons……….it was $9 a bottle and we called it Italian Coca Cola……………it was our best seller. Nowadays, our restaurant and Steak house wine menus are diverse and offer something very special to suit all budgets. Thank goodness though that I am not a wine steward today though as our guests are much more knowledgeable and because it seems every country in the world now produces wine.
I’m told Romania makes a decent drop these days, but I imagine that they also make a lot of stuff that will leave you with a huge headache. And how are you supposed to know which is which? Which will have you spending the night driving the porcelain bus and which will feel like silk worms are having rumpy pumpy on your tongue? Wine bottles should come with honest opinions of the experts like Oz Clarke from the Food Channel. He should be allowed to put honest opinions on each label………” this is a brilliant wine…..drink lots of it”……….or “I would rather liquefied Baboon poo then this”
Sadly, though, this doesn’t happen, probably because wine reviewers talk in a language that nobody understands using words like “Earthy, Plummy and Deluxe.”……ok, but does it taste good?
My favorite part of being a wine steward though was the hours and the fun we had. We worked maybe 5 hours a day……….we cooked in the wine cellar using little stoves and………..please don’t tell anyone bout this………….we would accidentally drop a bottle of good red wine every night. The wine would be reported on the “Breakage Sheet” and that was sent to the F & B Manager…………….we never lied or misled the boss………..we really did drop it……….but only after it was empty……….ssshhhhh.
So, Good evening from Warnemunde in Germany. The day has again been a sunny one but temperatures didn’t get up much past 65 and a light jacket was required by most. This morning our private trains carried 1000 plus people to Berlin while the rest enjoyed a tour of the charming fishing village and lunch by the water. I had the last of my safety training meetings today so instead of eating a huge bruckwurst I sat and listened about storing chemicals and avoiding gaseous explosions………I couldn’t help but say out loud that me being here had stopped me eating a German sausage and that had in fact avoided a gaseous explosion………..some of the senior officers laughed………the instructor didn’t.
Oh, just before I forget, I see you all enjoyed the little cameo video of Ketut yesterday. He is so kind and happy all the time. Well, he is not the only one……..have a look at this wonderful comment………..oh, and usually we remove the guests name but as she is a blogger she said I could keep it in.
Guest: Ms Ref: 002802910A Owner: ___________
Cabin: # Booking#: ____ Added-Changed: 08/13/08 – 08/14/089276 – CREW FRIENDLY
Ms F stopped by the Purser’s desk and mentioned that she was on several cruises before but she met the most polite and friendly crew on this ship. Ms F asked to pass message to everybody that we were doing a great job.
Purser thanked Ms F and advised that we were happy to hear that and she left.
E-mail sent to all department heads.
Now, I don’t know if you have seen the cameo videos that Stephanie and Tom filmed when they were onboard during the three day cruise last month. If not, have a look at these.
The Carnival Channel Video Blog
Well, I have to say that despite the fact that word ” Line Up ” does not exist in Japanese our group of 137 people from the land of the rising sun have been having a great time and this morning as I stood in the terminal building making sure the tours to Berlin went off on time I was ” papperazied ” by the entire group as flashes and camera phones went off all around me…………….why is it by the way that Japanese women always hold two fingers in the air like they are Winston Churchill.
I was in Japan a few years ago …………..Heidi loved it………………..me………….well I wasn’t so sure. The bath in my hotel room was vertical and made from wood, the food was mostly still alive, there weren’t any chairs, the walls were made from rice, I was fed by a woman with a completely white face and a shoe size of minus three, all the bars were full of men in slippers, singing, the traffic hadn’t moved since 1972 and all you could buy from vending machines on the streets were cans of drink called Sweat.
We rented a car one day but it was impossible because none of the road signs made any sense. Elsewhere in the world “centre” is zentrum, or centro or some such derivation, but in Japan it’s just a meaningless squiggle made up of bent paperclips.
Anyway, the reason I mention this group was that only the guide speaks English however the other 136 Japanese have something to help them with this problem. Each couple has one of those gadgets that only exists in Star Trek, the mind of Stephen Hawking, and obviously most Japanese high street electrical stores. You type a message in Japanese and it speaks the words in a sort of robot…….. Engrish. And unbelievably it worked……….every time. I have been stopped a few times this voyage by someone wanting to know ” where is dining room ” or ” where is photo gallery .”………….each time I expect to be told that I have the face of a bulldog chewing a wasp or that my bottom smells of sushi……………..but, annoyingly, the machine thingy has been correct each and every time.
This is such a diverse cruise with so many guests from all over the world…………………….and that’s fantastic. It seems that whether you are from Japan, UK, Canada, USA or any of the other 28 represented countries we have guests sailing from this week………….everyone has one thing in common. Yes, fuel is expensive, yes there may be a credit crunch being felt everywhere but people are seeing that cruises are astonishingly brilliant value even in today’s……… tough economy.
Let’s have a look at today’s photos.
The Berlin Wall
Brandenburg gate
Warnemunde Train Tour
Schwerin castle
John and Susan Brock whose mother was so tragically killed in January………..John actually danced with her……..he has never even done that with me (Heidi)
John and Blogger Ray Mcteague
John hosts the German Brass Ban playing on deck
Guests enjoying the music – note the roof is closed as it was a chilly night
The bedtime story on the big screen
OK, let’s chat about your comments following Heidi’s blog yesterday. It seems that some of you read between the lines and were worried that I would not be part of CCL next year…………..I promise you that is not the case. I can tell you a few definite though.
Heidi needs to be home, living a normal life. She loves being onboard but she deserves to be a homemaker and hopefully a mother………no…….nothing yet:)
I always forget that Heidi has been onboard for 11 years and delivered seven new ships………..nobody deserves a rest more than her.
What about me? Well, I have no idea what ship I will be on next year yet. I do know that I will not be delivering the Carnival Dream as a Cruise Director. This is for two main reasons. Firstly and most importantly…………someone else deserves the experience………….and the guests deserve to see someone else apart from me. There are some brilliant young, funny and talented ladies and gents out there all of whom will I know do a wonderful job. The second reason…….well, I have delivered nine new ships now including the last three in a row…………and honestly …………..it’s quite tiring.
Now………I will say that I intend to invite myself on the inaugural cruise so I can blog about the experience………..plus…………..I will be hoping to help someone write a Eurodam style blog during the construction.
Well, where does that leave me. ………….mmmmmm……..obviously I think it will be the Carnival Liberty in Europe. I love the Caribbean but my heart belongs here and I have to be close to home.
Before the European season starts………..well, I have the Bloggers cruise and before and after that………..who knows. Maybe I will go on a grand tour and sail on some of the Carnival ships and some of the sister lines vessels writing and sharing my experiences with you all. Then, its Carnival Liberty and Europe………without Heidi. How will I manage…………..well, time will tell and one things for sure,……………she is going to be taking a lot of cruises next year.
Maybe the top guns at Carnival have a plan for me………..who knows………..but for now let me say, I love what I do and still consider myself the luckiest bugger……………… in the world.
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.
another excellent blog, thanks for sharing.
I took your advice and booked the transatlantic cruise on the dream next year. We’re really looking forward to sailing into New York. Maybe you should take your own advice and come along with us?
I knew it Carnival Liberty
I just hope for a something good to happen and we can go on that ship next year to Northern Europe. I will keep it on my prayers. I can’t resign to the fact that I’m not going to be on a ship with you as a cruise director ever again. I’m not losing hope.
About Mrs Snob it was too good to be true. oh well. You did everything you could the rest leave it to God.
AHHH the pictures! Tell Susan she is beautiful. She looks happy Good job!!. Keep Mrs Snob away from her.
RAYYYY!! Give him a big hug from me. He delivered a message to Tina from my family and he made me and Tina( he told me) very happy. I don’t know how you are going to survive without Heidi. Anyway I want you both to be happy it doesn’t matter were you are.
A big huggo
Ah, well, John. You tried your best, my friend. I guess that the old saying ‘a leopard can’t change its spots’ is spot on. You’ll be shed of Mrs. S.Nob presently and she’ll go on to inflict herself on some other poor unsuspecting soul.
The pictures are wonderful again today, in particular, the one of the Berlin Wall. No one need say more.
I’m glad you fleshed things out a bit regarding your future. There’s been quite a bit of speculation about and this will help calm the rumor mill.
Please thank Heidi for the picture of you and Susan. God bless you for taking her under your wing. She looks like she’s truly enjoying herself. My prayers remain with her.
Pass along my thanks to Stephanie for all the work she’s doing behind the scenes for the Blogger’s Cruise!!! We love you, Steph!!!
Ciao, my friend!!!
Host Mach
Hi, John
I’m so glad to read that you will be hanging around for a few more years. I can understand that Heidi needs to be home, but I’m glad you will stay with us, and mostly, continue with the blogs.
Regarding, Mrs. Youknowwho, I’m guessing that she came on the ship, expecting to be disappointed. How sad. You can rest assured that you did everything possible to assure that she had a wonderful cruise. I hope the other ladies can dump her!
And the next time that I drink a bottle of wine, I’ll be sure to complain that it ‘wasn’t quite right’, and let the CD pay for it. *you can picture me rolling my eyes, here* Oh, Brother!
Oh yes! Guess what I did! I just booked the Spirit out of Anchorage on Sept 3rd. Yeeeeaaaaa! Is there anything you want me to tell Bubba for you? Or should I take him anything? Maybe you should let him know that I’m coming his way! I have never cruised Alaska before and I’m so excited. I’m guessing that I’m going to be very busy for the next 2 weeks!
‘ello John, thanks for the cool pictures of Germany, yet another place I need to see before I’m too old or broke–whichever happens first.
And do tell us, when you’re allowed to, who gets to deliver the Dream as cruise director… I’m glad I got to sail on the Liberty before it returns to Europe… And finally, sail on the Dream when it calls Canaveral its home! (If only because I’m nearby and I could actually say “hi” in person.
)
John, what is a cork? You got to add Boones Farm and Two Buck Chuck to that list of fine wines.
Put Mrs. S. Nob on the whinners list to be sent out to all ships. I think the whinners list should be check everytime someone makes a dumb demand. Stores have list for people that return things more then normal.
John, the Carnival Liberty and Europe just wont work. I don’t fly so my only chance to cruise with you will be if we keep having bloggers cruises stateside.
BIG ED
John, great blog as always. Don’t feel too bad about how the Mrs. S. Nob experience turned out – you tried to help her and that is all anyone can do [and most would not even have tried after that first encounter]. She seems set in her ways – I just hope that she never is on a cruise that I’m on.
(hi ray!!!)
dude! so sorry about the nob lady. her loss. don’t give it another thought. avoid her at all costs. tell the pursers to keep her in line and make her wait. bring her down a notch. it will do her a world of good. seriously. obviously her parents never taught her manners or how to survive in this world and it is not your job or your problem unless you let it be. run john run!!!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
John:
I always like to remind the French that had it not been for American “root stock”….there would be no French wines.
————————-
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition; 1/10/2004
PHYLLOXERA, small, sap-eating, greenish insect of the genus Phylloxera, closely related to the aphid . Phylloxeras feed on leaves and roots, and many species produce galls on deciduous trees. Most notorious of the group is the grape phylloxera, Phylloxera vitifoliae, native to E North America. The species has winged and wingless generations, the former causing galls on grape leaves and the latter feeding on the roots, causing nodules and eventually killing the vine. The grape phylloxera came close to destroying the wine industry of France after its accidental introduction in about 1860; grafting of susceptible European vines onto resistant North American root stock saved the European vineyards.
————————-
Know what I know about wine would make a small tissue for an ant…..
But it seems our American “root stock” was not bothered by the little buggers and saved the day!
So sorry to hear Mrs. S. Nob is back in true form, but several folks on here tried to warn you.
She is not “lonely”. She is a spoiled child that needs a good dose of reality.
Sounds like Mrs. S. Nob needs to be placed on the “no cruise list”!!!
You need to promptly remove Susan and the other ladies from the situation.
Perhaps have the other ladies dine with the Captain…for the rest of the cruise!!!
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
REPLY PLEASE, MR. HEALD
Good evening Mr. Heald. I’m so happy for Heidi. I can see the reasoning now why you would like her to rest at home and settle down for a change. As far you staying in Europe, I can also understand your reasoning here since your wife will be at home and you would love to be near her as much as you could. Maybe if I had started cruising earlier, I might have had the chance of meeting you. Now I know that we will probably never meet. I guess you can’t always get what you want. If you ever come to Canada and want to see a little town called Amherstburg, Ontario, give me call and we’ll meet at my home and I’ll give you a spot of tea, Canadian style. As long as you continue with the blog, I’ll continue to read it and it will be my method of knowing you. Ciao my friend.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
I loved the carnival liberty, and will hope to sail whith you on the 2010 bloggers cruise.
from, JAKE S. ( :
John,
I am VERY SAD to hear that you will not be the Cruise Director for the Carnival Dream. We have a group honoring “The California Heros” scheduled to sail on the Dream on 10/27/2009 on the Transatlantic sailing. The cruise is to honor all FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, EMT’S, NURSES, DOCTORS AND FRIENDS. Any and all are welcome to join our group–you need not be from California. We have been hoping that you would be there as many of us have cruised with you before. You make a cruise so special and something that one could never forget!! Well, we would love to have others join our group–the group pricing is great. If any of you fellow bloggers would like to come, please contact Tami or April at Flying Dutchmen Travel at (707)-546-1212. They will be happy to give you all the information.
Sheryl
Well John, I have to commend you for all you have done to placate Ms. S. Nob, but Leopards do not change their spots!!! She is just a nasty, self centered SNOB. She says she is a VIP, well I assume that means she is in a Suite and she was afforded priority embarkation (I know she is not a Platinum Member, because word would have spread fleet wide on this Dilly). To finally treat her as a VIP I recommend that you afford her Priority Debarkation (for which she is not entitled) to get her A$$ off the ship as soon as possible.
By the way, I am a Platinum Member (and therefore VIP) and will be expecting free wine (with the Maitre ‘D pouring), dinner served on my balcony, and the Captain at my table at dinner on my upcoming cruises. That’s a mighty precedent you have set. (Wink, wink).
John,
I’m sorry your social experiment with Mrs. S. Nob didn’t work out, but I’m not surprised. After she drove away her first set of tablemates I didn’t hold out much hope for Round 2. She sounds to me an awful lot like Mrs. Bucket from Keeping Up Appearances.
I wonder what happened to Mr. Nob. Did he hop a freight train one day and become a Gentleman of the Road? Or did he throw himself under a bus? Or maybe he robbed a bank just to get a nice long prison sentence.
john and we love what you do you are the best, if it is the liberty and when she goes back to venice we will see you there for sure suzann wants to go back so bad..
we wish heidi well sorry didnt mention that earlier
Hi John
As usual, a great blog!! I have been following the saga of Mrs. S-Nob. It is so unfortunate that some people just cannot be satisfied. You did your best. Just remember the cruise will end soon and she will be gone. Just pity the next people she comes in contact with.
I am happy to hear that Heidi will be able to be home. I know you will miss her, but I am sure she wants the life of house wife and hopefully Mother soon.
I am excited to hear that Northern Europe and the Liberty will hopefully be yours next year. I have a group sailing on the Liberty on August 25th next year. Hopefully you will be there and that will be one that Heidi sails on.
Give my best to Heidi and hugs to both of you.
Gloria aka Sue
A bad bottle of wine, my foot. She just wanted a free bottle of wine. I can’t wait to hear about her comment card at the end of the cruise.
John or Stephanie Please Reply
I am sailing on the Imagination on September 4th. There is a group of 24 of us going on that one. Can you tell me who the CD will be on that sailing? Thanks in advance for the info.
Take care
Gloria aka Sue
Great to see Ray McTeague’s smiling face on the blog. We loves us some Ray. Seems Nanni and I both put him to work this trip, he was kind enough to deliver a long distance drink and toast to Ron Pass in the Grand Piano Bar for me! Thanks Ray, my very own Casey Kasem!
I don’t know much about wine but I know what I like. And these days, it’s a nice robust red, you know, full-bodied, got a nice rack on her… LOL! On the Freedom, I got a chance to eat in the supper club and asked my dining companion to choose the wine. I think he was a little surprised when he asked what I preferred and I said a nice red, like a cabernet or pinot noir or shiraz, I suspect he was expecting me to say a chardonnay or merlot. He happily ordered a very nice cabernet sauvingnon from a winery in California called Grgich Hills.
Not a $10 bottle to be sure, but I enjoyed it so much that when I came home, I started looking around for it. I stopped in all the big liquor stores and wine outlets and wine shoppes. And nothing. I looked on the internet and found that a wine shop a little north of here carried it from time to time. But you know where I ended up finding it? A corner market here in Hoboken called Delite Market. It’s your standard deli/corner store with a liquor section, but they have the most interesting wine selection I’ve come across. Just goes to show, don’t judge a book by its cover!
I think you have now done everything in your power to make Mrs. S. Nob happy. Don’t kill yourself trying anymore. Some people are happiest when they are miserable and complaining. Everybody needs a hobby I guess.
I’m interested to hear who will be CD on the Dream then… Has it been decided yet? Care to give us any hints?
Best to Heidi and of course Stephanie, who puts up with far more than anyone should have to with such grace!
Cheerios!
Laura (aka divetrash, aka Princess Laura, the sweet and compromised of Big Ed’s Evil Krewe)
Looks like Ray is having a great time! Sure hope he and Deb will be joining us on the bloggers cruise!
John, sometimes you just have to know when to say when. You’ve done all you can for Mrs. S. Nob. Don’t lose anymore sleep over her.
Wherever you may end up, I know those sailing with you will have the time of their lives!
Love to you and Heidi,
Princess Elaine, the quiet and single
So great to see Ray…send him a big hello from Lisa and George.
Ah John, your big huge heart was mangled. I honestly believed that you had done the wrong thing putting your dear friend with this women but then you reported that Mrs. S.Nob had said thank you and now this latest report. You can only do so much then you have to say “You are truly a piece of work, you …..”. Well, of course you would never say that dear John, but we can say it. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and not your heart. I think it is time to throw in the towel on Mrs. S.Nob and say “I tried but she just is not worth it any more, and way to much work”. Monday the 18th, which just happens to be my birthday, is coming and I am sure you can not wait for Mrs. S.Nob to finally get off the ship. I can only hope for your sake she is not doing a B2B .
I am glad that you will still be with Carnivale. I hope to cruise another European cruise, after Alaska. And if you are going to be the CD, then I will make sure and book.
I loved your bar stories. For some strange reason I can see you doing/saying all those things.
I can’t wait to meet you and your lovely wife Hedi, time is going so fast and I am so looking forward to going to Europe and being on the Splendor on September 11.
Keep smiling John….
Sorry to see that MrS. nob is up to her old ways…..
I presumed it was a little premature to call it Mission accomplished…..ooops that was another person….. Unfortunately people don’t change quickly….it takes time… (it took me many many years to become the sarcastic, smug, and clever chap you see today)……. Kindness is great and it was a valiant but likely futile attempt to sway Cruella de Vil.
Alas….she has joined and has become a permanent a fixture of the dark side of the force….
Mark
The Flying (The Force is strong with him) Dutchman
John, did you really not see what would happen by placing Mrs. S. Nob with those ladies? The outcome was obvious. My immediate fear was that adding her to the mix would ruin the vacations of all the other ladies, and that they would no longer want to go to the dining room. I hope it doesn’t come to that. Sometimes you’re too nice for your own good. You should have TOLD her where to go, not helped her get somewhere. Let her wallow in her misery!
John,
Thanks for the great pics that you have been posting. I have to agree with a previous poster.
I do not go overseas to cruise, I cruise the Caribbean. I am really sad to hear that you won’t be bringing out the Dream as the cruise director. I have a cruise booked on her in Feb.2010. I was hoping to be on a cruise with you as the director again. Darn it . But, I will be on the Bloggers cruise in Feb.
Are you sure you won’t change your mind on this and do some Dreamin’ with us here in the states???
PULLLLLeeeaasseeee???!!!
Please answer…..
I forgot to ask, will there be a robe in my cabin on the Spirit? We will be in cabin 7161.
Thanks!
So glad to hear we will see you again, John. We have not seen you since Triumph in 2003, a great Caribbean cruise — and I told you a few days ago that you were still our best CD yet. I have already saved a copy of the notes you sent us on dress, cash and elegant nights and now we will be looking forward to seeing you at the White Cliffs. Best until then!
John and Heidi,
I am sorry to hear that Heidi will be leaving the ship, but I do understand. It is important for her to do what is best for your family. We will miss seeing her around the ship.
I am also sorry to hear you will not be on the Dream next year. It looks like we will need to book a cruise on the Liberty instead!
We cruised with you on the Freedom last year, and we just returned from the inaugural cruise of the Splendor. It was great to see you again. Reading the blog after returning from the cruise causes us to reminisce about the time we were on board.
Thank you for entertaining us with your words.
My Dear John..please do not do any more favors for the SNOT lady. She does not seem to appreciate anything that is done for her and only demands more. There are maybe 3000 other people on board who would appreciate your kind gestures. I must give you credit for trying, but please try to stay away from her. Onto other thoughts, you haven’t mentioned your diet lately or shouldn’t I bring that up? As always my best to you and Heidi.
Hi John,
You have done your best with Mrs. S Nob. You shouldn’t worry about what more you can do. Some people are only happy when they are either miserable or making everyone else miserable.
Hi John,
It has been awhile since i have posted but I read the blogs everyday.
I was ecstatic to hear you may be on the Liberty next summer because we are looking at that cruise.
(Oldest daughters wedding In Nov ) We are still trying to see if it will work.
About Mrs. Snob…………You cant please everyone all of the time. It is a fact of life. I work in customer service and get very upset when I have done everything to make a guest happy and they still complain.
Hope to see you again next summer..Kim Parker
I have trouble imagining being that lonely, that overbearing or that rude .. and I like to think I can imagine my self being as kind as John .. but I am not sure how I would handle Mrs. S. Nob … perhaps I would point out forcefully that Carnival operates Cunard too ..
Lovely to hear that I still will have a chance to cruise with you John.. and perhaps Heidi if I catch her on vacation
Hi John,
I think Mrs. S. Nob is just as cheap as she is snobby… sure makes you wonder what happened to Mr. S. Nob. But, tried and she just enjoys being unhappy and making everyone around her feel smaller and more miserable than she is. So, don’t take it personally. You deserve a solid gold plastic ship on a stick for trying!
So, any ideas of who might be CD on the Dream. Carl and I are thinking of booking the TA. I would love to see New York and what a wonderful way to see it…. from the Carnival Dream! Can I nominate Wee Jimmy for CD. He’s great! And I am looking forward to sailing with him someday soon again!
Loved all the pictures today. Especially the one with you and Ray! Thank you Heidi for all the great pictures!
Hugs!
Princess Barb
Hi John & Heidi,
Lovely blog thingy today, as usual.
I take back all the nice things I was thinking about Mrs. S.Nob. A few inappropriate words for her are in order. I also know absolutely nothing about wine, but obviously someone thought it wasn’t bad if most of the bottle was gone. I think she’s just cheap and didn’t want to pay for it. What a shame Susan and the other ladies were subjected to her “royalness”. Great photo of you and Susan by the way.
And John you look absolutely great in the Bedtime Story photo.
I am sorry to hear you won’t be on the Dream, but I haven’t given up hope that you’ll cruise on the first one out of NY. It’s been too long since I’ve heard those melodious British tones in person.
Ed, you’re absolutely right – there should be a whiners’ list. Like Homeland Security has at the airports – if you’re on the list, you can’t cruise with Carnival.
I’ll watch the video you attached later – without prying eyes.
Have a good day,
Hugs,
Carol
Hi John,
I realize your funds aren’t unlimited but it seems a shame you are paying for Mrs. S. Nob’s wine and not Mrs. F’s.
Ahh, such is life in the Customer Service business I guess.
John, You have gone above and beyond to make Mrs. S. Nob happy. Hopefully you now realize it is impossibe! (I won’t say “I told you so.”) Please rescue Susan and the other nice ladies. Someone mentioned seating them with the captain. That would help knock Mrs. S. Nob off her high horse!
Sniffle, sniffle, we are not going to be able to make the bloggers cruise. The airlines simply can’t come up with a reasonable schedule or price. Even using our frequent flyer points won’t work. After trying to work this out for several day, I give up. If you are the CD on the Splendor when it sails from Ft. Lauderdale on Nov. 17th we’ll see you then. Hope that works out. Jeri
I read the blog everyday, comment occasionally, we actually met on your last day on the Carnival Freedom. My dad also had Bell’s Palsy. The last two days your blogs have been one of the only things to make me smile which has been very hard to do. My brother died in his sleep Wednesday, he was 48 years old. He leaves behind a 14 year old son. I, like countless others feel a closeness to you and Heidi. Thank you for letting me share this with you.
Pam
Well John, I am feeling really sad right now, to know you won’t be the CD on the Dream, I so wanted my entire family to meet you. Mike and I will be on the Dream between Christmas and New Years 2009 and we hope to go on her again in 2010 with my kids and their spouses and kids. More reason for us to see you one last time on the Splendor’s 11/21 cruise, PLEASE make it happen-and if Heidi were on the ship too that would be fantastic, as we have not had the pleasure of meeting her. My heart aches with the knowledge that you will only be CD on European cruises, but I can see why, with Heidi going back home. I HOPE and PRAY for a Miracle for you two to have the baby you so want! As for Mrs. S.nob I would NOT have paid for the wine! If she is so miserable let her be that way, by discouraging her acts she might just decide NOT to cruise with CCL again, and who needs her anyway? Your friends forever, Mike & Linda P.S. MIKE REALLY REALLY WANTS TO MEET HEIDI!
John…
Don’t assume you haven’t succeeded… It’s just you haven’t seen it yet! You have planted some seeds that may grow sometime in the future. And possibly, for one moment you gave her a true smile that she will treasure in the privacy of her introspection… Yes, I’m a Pollyanna.. but I do believe it can happen!!! The realist in me says no… but I can DRAEM!!!
I love the thought of going from a ship to a train… There’s something so nostolgic, romantic, and wonderful about that!! Then to see a Germany united and an open Brandenberg Gate and a wall that’s a memory and symbol, not a fence and armed line of warning!!! I want to do this excursion someday!! I think it would bring so much enrichment to a life!!!!
John… You are amazing… You keep track of all of us like a Mother Duck! (Or Father Goose…) You keep us protected and under your wing. Thank you for all you do for everyone… The staff and crew of your ships and all the ships at sea… the guests… your family and extended families… and the Bloggers…
What a pleasure and joy it will be to help in New Orleans with the painting and building project… to give back… to be a part of a solution and not a procreator of complaints and problems.
Thank you!!
Lambie
Sad that all our thoughts about Mrs. Nob were true but just a few more days and she will just be a bad memory. You did your best and that’s all you can do and from the onset she wan’t to be pleased.
The pictures were beautiful as usual and the Baltic will definately have to be on my future cruise list. Happy to hear you will be on the Liberty. I think we all know you need to be close to home…and Heidi. The Liberty will always be special since that was my first trip to Europe and will rank as the best trip of my life! It was two years ago and I still think about the things we did and how you made us laugh…and still do. Thanks John.
Pam M.
I am so sorry to hear about your loss. So sudden, and so young too. My prayers are with you and your entire family.
Carol
Ugh… sorry to hear about Mrs. Nob. We know you want everyone to be happy, John, but she just doesn’t seem to want to be. I still can’t fathom how you can’t enjoy yourself sailing on the gorgeous Carnival Splendor (spelt correctly
) to various wonderful Baltic ports, being pampered by the best cruise staff worldwide? Some people…
As to wines, I have to disagree with most: I prefer anything but Californian. Call it unwarranted, but my feelings towards things from the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of the California closely mirror yours towards France. I guess it’s because I’m in Colorado and we have too many of them moving here and screwing up our highways and byways, and local government. And I’m kind of annoyed at the recent surge of advertisements that “only the best wine/milk/cheese/food/culture comes from California”… rubbish! I prefer Australian, Chilean and even French wines. Uncle Bob had a smashing variety of wines for the ships, I only wish the Presidential Wine Club had lasted
Great blog, lovely pictures, makes me want to go back to Germany again! Still jealous of those enjoying the Beer Fest (are you still doing it for the Northern Europe sailings?; if you end up CD for the Liberty, will you do it for those cruises as well?… might need to earn a wave cruise next year if you do…).
Take care, mate. And keep rocking the 80s on your Eye Pod thingy!
I will be on the Splendor the week of January 24th for the Eastern Caribbean cruise and it will break my heart if you aren’t the CD for that trip! I am kind of new to the blog site, but can’t stop reading every day now. I’m hooked! Anyways…..I understand needing to be in Europe…..it just won’t be the same without you! Thanks for the daily laughs!!
Pam M.
So sorry for your loss. Here’s a hug for you <>
John
It was nice to think that Mrs S Nob would have appreciated something. But in real life it seldom happens.
Sorry to hear you will be CD on European cruises as the chances of meeting you have gone way down.
But I understand your need to be close to Heidi.
Dear John,
We consider ourselves the luckiest people in the world to be a part of your blog thingy everyday!
Thank you!
Cathy & Tom
Hi John
Harold and I just arrived back in Toronto after a splendid Baltic cruise. We had a lovely time and thought of it as a second honeymoon!!! The ship was great (close your eyes to the decor), crew are just fantastic and it was so nice to meet some from the Freedom that it made us feel right at home.
So sorry to hear about Heidi but I can understand her needing some land feet right now. She has the best of both worlds because she can always join you on a cruise whenever she misses you!! Once she has her little puppy to look after she will miss you less LOL. I have two little “weiner dogs” and when I’m away I miss them terribly (more than Harold, but don’t tell him that). A dog is, and always will be, men’s best friend.
So sorry to hear that you will not be the CD on the Dream. We’re still trying to decide whether the itenerary is what we want right now. However today I just booked the Liberty for Nov. 15 for my daughter and I (she needs some time away from her kids…) Harold volunteered to look after them while she and I enjoy the relaxing time we’re planning to have. I’ve never been on the Liberty but hear wonderful things about it. This way i’m getting closer to my platinum card ha ha!!
John whatever you decide to do in life whether it’s with Carnival or do something else just remember you are one in a million and we all love you. You have brought alot of joy and laughter to us. unfortunately as mentioned we’re not on the bloggers cruise as we had booked the 1st leg of the South American it would have been nice to see you again.
Once again thank you for the wonderful time on the Splendor and hopefully our paths will cross again. Meanwhile I will content myself and read your blogs instead.
Eva B
Pam M.
Our hearts go out to you on this time of loss.
John / Heidi
Great blog and really sad about our fine friend Mrs Snob. I still take my hat off to you for trying. Maybe,…just maybe you may have touched her in a way that may not be seen now, but as another Blogger said it may come out down the road as she thinks about it,..maybe?!?!
I do hope the both of you are on the Splendor this comming Dec 13th Sailing. If not I guess I can put up with just you John. ha ha ;-P just kidding.
Heidi I hope you have had a wonderful 11 years and I’m sure you are looking forward to your Landlubbers days to come.
A shout out to Cindy56 and all the other Canadians on this blog thingy, seems like we might be small in numbers, correct me if I’m wrong as I am new to the Blog thingy. Nice to hear from you Cindy56.
Well, till we Blog again.
Thanks for the Great Photos and keep the Videos coming John and Heidi and of course Steph.
James from Georgetown ON Canada eh!
hi john
send mrs slob some re-cycled beer,,
on the house.
what a sorry lady,,,
or should I say
sorry old bat
keep up the good work
we all love you
see you in NOLA
tom&jane
Pam,
our thoughts and prayers are with you with the recent loss of your brother.
I know how your heart must ache. I feel so much for the 14 y/o son who will go thru the rest of his life without a father. He is old enough to have memories, and at least he will have those, but they can’t substitute for the father when he needs him. Stay close to him, he will need you so much in the future as he grows into manhood.
Don just lost a brother and a sister 1 week apart, this past month. One Wed. we were burying the brother and she was suffering so much over the loss, only to die in her sleep and be buried the next Wed. I guess he was just preparing the way for her to join him and their parents.
I wish there were words to help ease the pain
Carolyn and Don
John, Just looking at the photo of the bedtime story I can just see MARY waiting to jump your body.
Hi Ray, hope your enjoying your cruise. See you on the BC.
BIG ED
John, two more comments regarding Mrs. S.Nob… 1. Why give the jerks so much attention, when there are nice people much more deserving, and 2. Maybe this is the one time you should promote the Shopping Mall of the Seas, and suggest she try them next time…
Hi John/Heidi:
Great blog today and its hard to believe that we are already discussing your schedule for next year and where you will be based.
Only a couple of more days with Mrs. S.nob and then you’ll be able to move forward. It seems like every season you have one of these memorable characters whom you’ll never forget.
Hope things warmed up for you.
Nice hearing from you and keep in touch.
Take care,
David
Dear John, Quite understandable that you’d want to stay in Europe next year, especially with Heidi deciding to spend time on land and your family in England. I have to admit that I am THRILLED with your plans as we have booked the Liberty in late May 2009 for a northern European cruise and we’d LOVE to have you as our CD again. The blogs have been wonderful lately…we’ve enjoyed all the pictures of the places you’re stopping and hearing about Mrs. S Nob. Hopefully she will be leaving soon! Thanks again for the great blogs…each is eagerly awaited and carefully read! Gloria
I am so sorry you can’t make Lady Snob happy. I don’t think the Queen of England would make her happy either. I have a way of picking out wines for my husband. We have a store in Houston called, Spec’s that has rows and rows and more rows of wine from every country. He likes chardonnay so I pick them out by the label. If I like the label I grab the bottle. Not the expensive stuff either. So far I have only missed a couple of times and have found some really good stuff he likes. I hope Heidi enjoys her new puppy when she gets him.
So who will be CD on the South American trip for the Splendor?
Linda from Texas
Oh Pam M–so very sorry. Will say a prayer for you and your family.
John,
Now please don’t feel bad about Mrs. Snob! At the risk of sounding rather snobbish myself I would never order a $29.00 bottle of wine on a cruise ship! Fitsrt of all, if it costs 29 bucks on the ship it probably costs around 8-10 bucks off the ship. Now I’m not saying that there is not the occasional surprise that happens for 8-10 bucks because it does! But for the most part you pay a premium for wine onboard a ship due to the many factors involved in shipboard storage of wine. There are valid reasons, but we don’t need to go into sediments and motion, etc. If the woman had as much money OR class as she pretneds she would have either ordered a bottle of “good wine” or broken into her private stash to impress her new girlfriends. On our last trip we brought our own (no, not smuggled, brought above board!) because the ship simply does not carry such a selection, at any price. We invited the sommolier to partake and discussed wine with him for a good 10 minutes afterwards. It was truly a memorable night…as far as I can remember! This was on the Spirit in March and the crew was AWESOME! Sorry, cheap plug! If the woman had a smigeon of class she would have ordered a better wine and certainly would have sent it back at the initial sampling! It’s not about wine though John, that is just my hobby and it does not mean I am well bred or anything else! If she had any class at all she would have sucked it up even if the wine was bad! You should not have paid for that! I appreciate your desire to minimize the fallout from this ….person…. but she has passed the point of being deserving of your time and attentions. She obviously wishes she had someone to make her special, but the key to respect is respect. It is truly a shame that at her age she has not learned this. You are a good man John and it is a shame this woman can make you feel you have to spend what to her should be pennies. What a nasty old bag! And I am a very tolerant person! Okay, well maybe not, but still….
John,
I am still smiling! I was telling Jim about the lady’s complaint with the wine. Some people are just never satisfied with anything. Our family did some exploring with wines while we were in Europe. We found an Italian wine, Labrusco, that we really enjoyed. It was on the sweeter side and Nikki enjoys a sweeter wine.
The pictures from Germany were great. We did not make the journey into Berlin that day because of the grandchildren. I enjoyed seeing some of the neat pictures. Nikki and Shane did the biking tour and thought it was wonderful. Jim, Tyler, and I got off the ship and walked around some. Amanda hung out at the pool and at the Lido! The German band was wonderful. It was a really marvelous evening. The spectacular fireworks as we were leaving from the inagural visit were magnificent.
I am slowly catching up on the blog. Thank you so much for all the time you spend helping us stay connected!
Cheers!
Ruth
John, do not feel bad about Mis S nob, I was impressed that you tried so hard to help her. I guess that is the difference between very good and outstanding. Coming from northern California I live a sea of political correctness. I enjoy reading your unvarnished comments. I am looking forward to meeting you in NOLA. Your fan, Mike