Good Morning and let’s start today with the weather forecast.
Guest: Mr _________ Ref: 002809577A
Cabin: _______ Booking#: __________ Added-Changed: 09/04/08 – 09/04/08NOT HAPPY WITH THE WEATHER
Mr. and Mrs. ————- came to the purser desk saying how disappointed they were with the weather. Mr———- said that they had been on the Carnival Freedom last year and it had been very warm. Guests mentioned that it was too cold to sit outside and that they could not get a suntan. Purser explained that this was the normal temperature in the Baltic but guest became annoyed and raised his voice saying a Carnival person in Miami had said that it would be very hot. Guest also said that he was bored on sea days as he didn’t like the activities as all he wanted to do was get sun. Guest said that on other cruise lines they had sun beds and solariums. Purser checked with the spa but was told we do not have them onboard. Guest got very upset and started to use bad language at which point he left the desk. Mrs._____ apologized to purser for his behavior and said that Carnival should warn passengers before coming onboard that the weather is cold. Purser said she would pass their comments to the cruise director and guest left. Apology letter sent and e-mail to cruise director and hotel director.
You know, every morning I go through a routine. I wake up, stretch, scratch, leave my G- string on the bathroom floor, shower and then worry about what I am going to write in today’s blog. I stress about sitting in front of Mr. Dell with nothing to say except:
Good Morning
Nothing Happened
Good Night
But, the wonderful world of cruising never lets me down and, like a small child on Christmas day, I open the daily Incident Report and my “Dear John” letters which never let me down and allow me to fill the screen.
The first thing I want to mention about this comment is why the heck has the purser tasked this to me?……….Am I Al Roker or the Lovely Lisa? And, then, of course, why is it a surprise that the weather here in the Baltic is cold? I mean, don’t they know the famous phrase which are used all over the world? ……………..“Don’t go outside, it’s Baltic out there.” How can they expect that the weather will be the same in Russia as it is in Spain?………..Do they live in cave? Nope, they actually live in Canada and I think I understand why they are so upset.
We all want a vacation once in a while – which is normal — and all we want from our holiday is a bit of sunshine. It’s not much to ask — a bit of skin cancer to go with your pina colada. I’m long past the age when I care two buggers about a tan. In the past I’d stake myself out on a sun bed and lie there blinking the sweat out of my eyes and rubbing baby oil into my secret gentleman’s areas.
This would make me look rich and prove to my friends back home that I actually worked on a cruise ship in the Caribbean and that my job was important enough that I could give myself ample time to worship the sun. But by age 35, all this had changed and I realized that when people who were sunbathing near me talked about “sun block” that they were actually talking about umm…..me ..blocking the sun. I also stopped because most of my hard-earned brownness would be left in a series of unpleasant flakes on the homeward-bound airplane seat.
So I’d arrive back at Heathrow with one completely see-through layer of skin straining to stop my internal organs splashing all over the immigration officers. And I’d be in screaming agony because I always, always, always forgot to put sun cream on the top of my feet. So they looked like giant salamis.
That’s why I gave up sunbathing. Now, when Heidi and I go to a beach I hide under a hat, a tree and a roof.
And this is why Mr and Mrs. Coppertone were so angry – they don’t want to go vacation and return whiter than Vanilla Ice and have no proof that they had been on a cruise. Also…………sunshine lifts your world and your spirits and makes you feel good.
Awhile back some scientist with a beard, who wanted some money, came up with the concept of seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. Some say it’s idiotic, suggesting that people get depressed if they don’t see the sun for long periods ….. mmmm …….well, in the winter Finland has three hours of sunshine a day and has the highest rate of suicide in Europe.
Today, we are in St. Petersburg shipyard……….one of the ugliest places on earth. And yet today………in the sunshine, it can be one of the most beautiful.
My office window here overlooks the Baltic Sea, which, for most of the year, like me, is a big wobbly grey thing. On a sunny day, however, like today, it’s a shimmering, glinting, dazzling, inviting navy blue mass of possibilities. It makes me want to run about in the fields naked with a chain of flowers round my neck singing Carpenters’ songs.
So, as I mentioned it’s a beautiful day ………..but not one to sunbathe in as its only 60 degrees. I should also mention at this point that Mr. and Mrs. Coppertone are very lucky on two counts. Firstly, as you will know the previous days here have been colder, wetter and somewhat miserable.
Secondly, the last place on God’s earth you want to be in hot temperatures is the Hermitage museum. It is one of the wonders of the world but with no air conditioning and 10,000 visitors a day ………it’s as hot as a Peter the Polar Bear in a sauna wearing his sister Polly as a coat.
It should also be mentioned that regardless of what Baltic weather we endure, the chances of us having to miss a port because of a hurricane are pretty slim. That, of course, is not the case in the Caribbean. I have been in contact with many of the CD’s around the fleet and they all have stories to tell. And most of them are in unison. Missed ports and changed itineraries have been met with some disappointment but with huge dollops of understanding. However, it appears that each ship has that one or two people who are …… quite frankly…………..barking mad.
I am sure that you will hear reports on these situations on the various internet sites. You will read about a man on the Miracle who stood on a chair in the lobby trying to get other guests to join him in protest that one of the ports had been canceled. You may read about how, on another ship, security had to be called to stop one guest using threatening behavior toward a 24-year-old purser when she said that she could not take the guest to the bridge so he could confront the captain.
These stories are common place not only on Carnival but on RCI, NCL, Princess, Holland America…………right now…….on every ship that is affected by Mother Nature’s anger there are people who do not and will not understand that the cruise lines make these changes to avoid DEATH!………….Right now on every cruise line, 99% of the people are understanding and, although disappointed, prefer LIFE over sailing through 150 mph winds and 30-foot seas just so they can go snorkeling.
And, if you are angry, if you are upset, why oh why do these people take their frustration out on a 24-year-old purser? Do they honestly think that she can change anything? The decisions to change or cancel ports are taken by very smart people on land and by the captain who will never put the ship in danger.
And, as for the tiny group of passengers who get abusive and use verbal or physical violence……….well………we as staff should have the right to tell them to bugger off and if that doesn’t work……..we should be able to give them the good news with a can of mace.
But of course, they don’t. Our wonderful staff apologize, take the verbal tongue lashings and apologize again……….that’s why cruise ships once again are so much better than hotels and resorts…………and that’s why the industry should be proud of the young men and women who right now………..as I write………..are doing their very best under very difficult conditions to give the guests the best cruise vacation they have ever had …………. I salute them all.
Oh, by the way, if you want to see which website the ship uses to pass on information to guests about the Hurricanes path, etc…..here it is www.stormpulse.com/fullscreen/current
Sorry to vent by the way, and thanks for listening.
OK, let’s talk politics ……….or……………lets not. I read your comments and I appreciate them all very much. I have decided not to hold a vote thingy during the crossing. I will show the election results that night but that’s it…..that’s all…..and again…..thanks so much for your advice.
Well, we are as I said in sunny St. Petersburg. Tomorrow, I will write a little on the port and what the highlights have been. Today, Heidi took her Mum to the Hermitage. Here are her beautiful photos.
Heidi’s mum (left) and Auntie Aartje in awe
A Russian Aston Martin
Let me just show you a comment card which was sent to me by the hotel director on the Carnival Spirit. It shows yet a gain the huge heart that beats inside Chris “Bubba” Roberts …..cruise director of the Carnival Spirit.
The guests this week are wonderful and the results from last weeks comment cards are the best yet with our highest hospitality rating yet and with 99% of the 3,200 guests saying they had enjoyed their cruise…..once again, congratulations to the ship’s company.
And now…………………it’s time for an………………..oops………….and a bugger.
Guest: Mr ________Ref: 002803875A
Cabin: _____Booking#: ______Added-Changed: 09/04/08 – 09/04/08WRONG INFORMATION GIVEN BY CRUISE DIRECTOR
Mr _________ came to the desk wanting to speak to the cruise director. Purser asked if she could help. Guest said that he was a history professor and that the cruise director had said in his information meeting a wrong fact about Germany. Purser asked the guest what the information was and Mr______ replied that he would only speak to John. Mr________ seemed very upset and purser assured guest that his comments would be passed along and that the cruise director would contact him. Guest said he would wait in the lobby until the cruise director came down. Purser said that it was very late (10:45 pm) and that the cruise director would call him tomorrow. Guest said he insisted that he see the cruise director now. Purser called cruise director who was backstage for the show. Cruise director said he could not leave but if the guest wanted to wait that he would see him afterwards. Mr. _______ said he would wait. NOTE: This is the seventh entry in the incident report from this guest. Cruise director tasked.
Any guesses who this is?………..yep…………my old mate, Captain Rude.
Well, let’s start with what I said wrong…………and indeed …………after checking the video of the talk …………I did indeed make a mistake. I was talking about one of our excursions to Potsdamer which is the beautiful mansion house where Churchill, Stalin and Truman met after WWII to discuss the division of Germany…………but unfortunately, I said it was where Churchill, Stalin and Eisenhower met ………..and that has really upset the captain.
When I get a letter from a blogger or a note from a guest saying I’ve made a factual error my first reaction is rage. Then righteous indignation. And then, when my blood has cooled down a bit, I’m overwhelmed with a new emotion. Guilt: deep, tail-between-the- legs, nose-crinkling, hide-under-the-furniture embarrassment.
Every week I come here with my tail feathers sticking up and proud. And it’s a bit of a bubble burster when someone points out that I haven’t checked my facts. That’s like strutting around with a tell-tale wet patch on the front of your trousers.
Mistakes are a strange phenomenon. If a news presenter makes a mistake while on camera he’ll get a $200 check from one of those blooper shows. However, if a doctor inadvertently makes a mistake while in the operating theatre, trust me on this, Dick Clark won’t barge through the door with a clipboard and invite us to watch the “hilarious” clip again in slow motion.
Cruise directors make mistakes. We all do — we say things that we wish we hadn’t, and we say something funny that 2,000 people will think is hilarious and one person will think is the most disgusting, perverted, outrageous group of words ever muttered by mankind. This person will write to the company’s president demanding you be fired before being tied to a smokestack and flogged with a wet towel.
This is the case with the captain. I apologized to the guest and asked him if he had enjoyed visiting the place where this historic meeting took place…………..and you know what?…….He didn’t even go on that tour. So, I made the mistake ……..3,021 people heard it…..189 people went on the tour….and the one person who complained didn’t even go.
So, there I stood……….in the lobby at 11:50 pm which with the clocks going forward meant it was nearly 1 am, looking down on a man who was so upset by my mistake. I knew, of course, that his anger had nothing to do with the fact that I had named the wrong American president. It was because I had not invited he and his wife to the captain’s table as they had been on……..well, you know.
I stood there and took the beating, fair one…….after all, I had made a mistake. He then though changed direction and started questioning my education and then he said ………….
“To be a cruise director on other lines you need to be educated, I guess. Carnival is the only line you can work for. I guess your parents didn’t send you to a good school.”
It was as my blood began to boil that I remembered the conversations I recently had with other cruise directors around the fleet who were facing similar situations — and much worse I might add — from guests who were unhappy because of hurricane-forced changes. So, instead of coming back with a retort of any kind, I took a breath, remembered that the guest is always right, apologized again and wished him a very good night.
So, rather than post a cruise director’s individual bio today, I want to salute all my colleagues whose passion, fun and ability to turn a negative into a Hummer-sized positive makes them…………………. the best in the industry.
One last thing………….obviously I cannot tell you Captain Rude’s last name. I can tell you though and because it’s my blog that his first name is a good Scottish one ……………… Angus……………the “G,” though…………is silent.
Goodnight
Your friends
John, Heidi and all the Carnival Cruise Director
Filed under: Destinations, Europe, Tales from the Ship, Travel | Tagged: Carnival Splendor, Hermitage
John,
May I just say that I applaud all the cruise directors for what they are going through these last week or so. I can’t be easy dealing with the weather and angry guests. I would be thankful that the ship’s captain is doing everything possible to keep everybody safe. What a responsibility to have on one’s shoulder!
Ok, I’m off the soap box.
Bravo to Bubba for being so kind!
Thanks Hedi for the wonderful pictures!
Princess Susan
Hi Stephanie!
ps…..Can I PLEASE give a big thank you to my Carnival Personal Planner, John Hunter!! I book all my cruises through him and he has gone above and beyond his job to help me! He is so good I asked for a lot of buiness cards and I am handing them out to my friends.
Tell Mr. Coppertone that since global greenhouse gases have dropped (to prevent global warming), the temperature in the Baltic has dropped this year. Be ecstatic at delivering this news to him and stress how much better the environment is because of it – global warming is being averted!
Another story of the climatically challenged-
My father had several boats while we were growing up, and my sister brought her new boyfriend from the east coast along with us on a trip to Canada north of Vancouver. Even though it was an 80 degree summer day, the water there is only 40 degrees. After we anchored in a small cove, he thought it would be neat to dive off the bridge into the water. The words “I don’t think you should do that – the water is really cold!” were still hanging on my father’s lips as the boyfriend swam as fast as he could to the swim step at the back of the boat. Apparently he thought the water is the same temperature as it is in the Caribbean.
John,
Ask Captain Rude to spend a day in your shoes and when he fails miserably then question his educational credentials.
The customer ISN’T always right, they just think they are.
I salute CD’s everywhere.
Don
John,
I have had the pleasure of reading your blog from the beginning. This is the first time I have felt compelled to leave a reply however. I checked to be sure, but did not Captain Rude claim to have been a pilot for Delta. How then did he become a history professor? I wonder what his next profession will have been?
So what if you mentioned the wrong president. It’s not a serious error and can be corrected with a simple statement. It’s not the kind of mistake that warrents the level of action “Rude” took. He has serious problems and I feel sorry for him but don’t let him get to you.
By the way, I spent two weeks on a tour in Russia last summer which included three days in St. Petersburg. It was an unforgettable experience and I can relate to everything you have said. If Captain Rude decides to get into it with the Russian authorities the way he has with you, he’s going to get a real lesson as to what rude is all about.
John Please Reply,
My family and I will be cruising on the Liberty November 1st sailing and I was wondering who the Cruise Director would be on that sailing. I assumed it would be Carl with a K until I read your interview with him and he said he would be leaving for another ship in September I believe it was. Could you find out who will be taking his place when he leaves the Liberty.
I also would like to find out if the basketball court on the Liberty is accessible by wheelchair. I could not see an elevator accessing that particular sports deck. My son will be cruising with us and he loves playing wheelchair basketball and was excited to see in a brochure for the Liberty that there was a basketball court on board. Hopefully I am overlooking an elevator or there is one that is not shown on the deckplan that he will be able to use to access the basketball area.
I loved reading your interview with CD Risa Barnes. She was our CD on our cruise on the Inspiration and she was absolutely wonderful as a CD and quickly became one of our favorite CD’s that we have had. She was very personable and funny and was always taking time around the ship to talk to passengers and really seemed like she enjoyed her job. Hopefully we can sail with her again in the future.
Also, any idea on when another CD list will be available. I know a lot of cruisers like to plan their cruises based on who will be the CD and really value that information provided by the schedule.
Thanks,
Stingray
John, into each life a little rain must fall… and sometimes this happens on a cruise. Perhaps you should introduce Mr. Meteorology to something called ‘the internet’. There’s much there to learn about weather… in the Baltic… and Russia.
Why am I not surprised by the return of Capt. Rude? I thought he was an airline captain… turns out he’s a school teacher… oops… HISTORY PROFESSOR. He must be quite the fellow… two distinguished careers tucked into such a tiny body…
I’d like to send along my kudos, as well, to all the crew and staff who are working so hard to make all the storm modified voyages as pleasant as possible. I’m sure it’s not an easy thing to accomplish.
The pictures of the Hermitage are STUNNING!! So is the picture of the Russian Aston Martin… I take it they use salt on the icy streets…
All my best to Heidi, Heidi’s mum and auntie and, of course, the thoroughly amazing Stephanie!!
Thanks for the laughs…
Host Mach
Angus with no G! Too funny! Very creative. I also like my name for him – Captain Kames T. Jerk.
Also, it appears that cruise ships now need a jail cell for all the loons that board.
Jeff
Dear Vice president of the Pen… united club ( Im the president and you are definitely in)
Enough John!! How can this man tell you all this things and get away with it?? He insulted you. Why do you have to pay for their mistakes?? Mr. perfect always right uhu.
This people complaining it’s cold in the Baltic. Pleaseee Were do you get this people? If you want sun go to the Caribbean and anyway nobody can tell you it’s not going to rain the whole week and not see the sun at all. How can people think you can control the weather? The same for the people that took the chance of sailing in hurricane season and complain of changes. o sea… HEEElloooo
On another note this comment:
“It makes me want to run about in the fields naked with a chain of flowers round my neck singing Carpenters’ songs” made me remember the first time we went to Livorno and we were on our way to Florence with a private guide. When Eugenio saw the fields of sunflowers he made a similar comment about running naked through the fields he made the comment in spanish and he used fruits to refer to his parts. I still laugh when I remember it even if it was a little embarrasing because the guide understood.
Take care and say Hi to Heidi
Nanni
John,
I have been reading the blog for a while now, and it’s wonderful hearing all of your adventures with guests… all of them… the good, the bad, and the rather interesting. I’ve been shocked lately at just how rude Capt. Rude has been to you, and personally I think you should have left him in Russia, but I have just one question…
Is he an airline captain or a history professor!?
Sounds a little fishy to me. And great job to all of the cruise directors out there dealing with their own Captain Rudes!! I love reading the interviews with them!
Dear John,
We congratulate you for not going through with your idea of having a straw vote of passengers on the presidency. Politics is just a game and a dirty one at that as opposed to a cruise vacation that is fun, fun & fun. We are speaking from experience; so let’s just keep it that way.
Thank you Heidi for the pictures. They are all fantastic and we love them. Your mom (correct American spelling) looks very young and looks just like you. She could be mistaken as your older sister. Keep the pictures coming.
Amor
John,
I too salute the CD’s dealing with the weather out here..I would be the first to say as you put it life is sooo much better than snorkeling in my oppinion I remember the triumph with Hurricane Ivan (and you as our CD) we were rerouted and it went so smoothly that we never even noticed the difference of going west instead of east you and your staff did a wonderful job. as well as the following year when we rerouted away from St. Maarten for tropical storm Jean again we were well taken care of. (funny everytime I try and get to St. Maarten we get re-routed think someone is trying to tell me something?) The CD’s of carnival make a bad situation bearable in all aspects you truely are the Gem’s of the sea and those of us who appriciate what it is you do we thank you…I however don’t think that if you were to send Captain Rude an engraved gold invitation to take the ship home with him and have dinner with the captain every night for the rest of his natural life you could make him happy I would have been fired for telling him exactly what I thought of his comments and where he could take them..Hehe…I suggest that any bloggers out there that are on the ship with john and any other “captain Rude, Ms. S. Nob” or the like do what John can’t and tell them the what for and how to do if you get my meaning. I would be happy to do it for you were I there…Keep up all the good work and best wishes to all who are out in troubled waters now and in the future
John, I’m glad your not going to be the cruise director on the Bloggers Cruise. If you can’t controll the weather any better then that in the Baltic how would you do it in the gulf. Maybe we will have a CD that has a better connection with the BOSS.
BIG ED
155 days till we sail in the sun soaked gulf or stand in line at the pursers desk getting our refunds.
Hi John,
Since he’s so perfect, I suggest you give Captain Rude/Mr. History Teacher the chance to walk on water.
John…
The Hermitage is BEAUTIFUL!!! WOW!!! I think I’d just stand there and take it all in… Looking and imagining and finding all I could!!! WOW!!! It’s definitely not my style to live in… but I could tour and visit a lot!!!
The weather… I find it utterly amazing at the power and control you are attributed to have. I’m sure you God have conversations each morning, over tea, deciding what to do to make life miserable for so few!!! Thank you for your attitude!!! You are a SAINT!!!
And the HISTORY BUMBLE… shame on you!!! SHAME!!! How could you???
John, you are amazing!! TRULY AMAZING!!!
Thank yous to everyone..
Lambie
Dear John,
On this cruise you’re having “Captain Rude” on board. On the next cruise (London to Rome) there will be “Captain Nice” on board — I guarantee it. We’ll make it up to you… or like your beloved French cousins would say, “Je veux te compenser.” Can’t wait!
Hi Mate!! Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane here. Sounds like my deputies and I are needed on the Carnival fleet!!!! Remember my motto, “I’ll take care of it!”
Get the brigs ready, we’re on our way to take care of those very special guests!! And no…….we don’t have Coppertone in the brig!!!!
Handcuffs To All!
Rosco P. Coltrane
Sheriff Of Hazzard County, Georgia
Good evening John. I had heard about the problem on the Mircle after reading Empress Bee’s blog. Passengers who get abusive and use verbal or physical violence should be sent a quiet room until they realize how immature they have been. I’ve always thought that people who act that way should not be treated respectfully especially when a young lady is just doing her job and being attacked, and that is what they are doing, attacking her. There has to be another way to treat people like that just because they pay for their cruise. John, you need not to be sorry because you vented. I still don’t know how the fantastic people of Carnival can control themselves. My blood boils just reading about the many stories of these rude people.
Chris Roberts sound like a gem. You must have taught him the finer points of being a cruise director. Those people will never forget the caring he showed them. As for as Captain Rude, he has already shown he’s very immature. I hope that his cruise is coming to an end. That way it will allow those on the ship can now relax and take a deep breath. Ciao my friend.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Ah John, I had no idea you were such an all powerful being that you were now responsible for the weather – well you and Captains and CDs the world over.
Hugs and kisses to ALL of you for all you do – for the smiles you manage to put on when you want to hide in a corner and the care you all show for each of the souls at sea under your care – the tougher things get the better care of us you take
Jennie
Yeah I agree with Mach here John, Mr An)g(us was an airline cap and a history professor? Makes you sort of go…. Hmmm doesn’t it? A regular renaisssance man it’s he?
Maybe he has SAD, which btw IS a real thing. I work sleep doctors and luckily living in San Diego we have little of that… too much sun.
We caught just the tail end of Hurricane Dolly in July… gave us about 12 hours of some really fun waves and rainy weather. Even with just that people complained…. I just do not get that. If you go in the season of hurricanes, you are getting a great deal but just DEAL with the weather!
To all those wonderful CD’s dealing with the good, the bad and the blow hards… I salute you all. You make thousands of peoples days and nights, giving people experiences that we cherish always…. Dealing with unhappy people is so hard… I know from my own experience thankfully I am only dealing with 20 or so in one day!
What I love about you John is your incredible kindness… it comes across in everything you say and do. No education in the world would have taught you to be such a wonderful soul. So pay that man no mind he is just an unhappy little man.
Special shot outs to Shawn and Hayden on the Legend! You two ROCK!! Hang on!
Nancy
Princess Susan, I feel the same way about my Vacation Planner Mike Lerner as you do about yours. They are spectacular aren’t they. I just told John about mine and he in turn passed it on to Mike’s supervisor. I give them high praise for dealing with all of us.
John,
Some of your passengers need to learn some geography. Trying to compare the Med cruise to the Baltic how funny. Get real.
Can’t wait to hear more.
CarolAnn (Grandma)
John, honestly, I think you need Special Blogger Stealth Teams with you on every cruise….you just quietly point out the putzes and Mr Rudes and we’ll take it stealth from there…the customer….well….is not our customer after all….
Ongoing prayers for all the CDs and for all the Carnival team dealing with the storms we have had, and are about to have, unfortunately. Continuing prayers for all in the path of these storms.
Heidi, thank you for WONDERFUL pics and hi to Mum and Auntie!!
Stephanie, I am heading to MIA on 10/29, if you can join a bunch of CC’ers for Happy Hours that night let me know girl! Thanks for all you do!
Love to you all,
Floatie
John: Only a person without a life would wait around the ship’s lobby to tell you that you made a mistake. You were so nice to meet up with the jerk at all and then he insults you. Well, I don’t think his parents taught him anything about manners. He does need a shrink.
As for the complainers on the cruise ships at risk during a hurricane, they seem to forget that the reason they took a cruise in hurricane season is because they got a wonderful deal. They should be happy that the staff is taking their well being seriously and, they should be enjoying the great food and entertainment. Even a grey day at sea is better than no sea day at all.
Bless you and all the other CD’s and cruise personnel who work their angus off for all the lucky cruisers.
Marie
John,
We sulute you for your patience. Where do you get these great passengers? We know as travel agents that you do not make up these stories. When Captain Rude departs the ship and returns home the first person he will call will be his travel agent and his bad cruise will be that persons fault.
You can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time.
Keep up the good work.
Tim and Diane D.
Hi John,
I have been a reader of the blog for a few months now (and love it by the way), but have never commented before. However, Captain Angus Rude’s behavior really got me to thinking, “Can someone really be that rude? Maybe he has a mental disorder.” I went to grad school for counseling, so I thought that perhaps I was making something out of a just plain rude person. Until I looked up the official criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder in the US. See if this rings a bell:
“A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is “special” and unique
4. requires excessive admiration
5. has a sense of entitlement
6. is interpersonally exploitative
7. lacks empathy
8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes”
Just a thought
Tiffanye
John, don’t be so hard on yourself, haven’t you ever heard the saying, ” to err is human”. Wouldn’t it be a boring world if we were ALL SO PERFECT as AnGus. HA! HA! You are a great human being, and the best CD ever! So, instead of letting all these people get you down, just IGNORE them, all they are looking for is the attention, if you ignore their remarks you will be a better person for it! AND, they won’t get the recognition they had hoped for! Too bad, right! They are the ones who have a PROBLEM! Imagine living your life that way, what an S.O.B. that man is! I feel sorry for anyone he comes in contact with! Treat yourself better, you deserve it. Your friends, Linda & Mike P.S. 77 days till our cruise, sure am gonna miss seeing you! I so wanted to get a picture of you on the cruise, or one of you and Heidi together would be even better. Any chance we can get one? PLEASE Pretty Please?
John -
Captain the Professor Rude is simply incompatible with common folk. He should be institutionalized with Mrs. Ma Jong, the Coppertone Twins and all those wonderful characters that have graced this blog over the year plus that you have posted.
The institute should be located in Krasnoyarsk during the winter and in Dallol in the summertime. In Krasnoyarsk, only air conditioning should be available to the populace, while in Dallol, the heat should be turned on.
Jon
It is hard for me ( and all of us who know and love you ) to see how certain guests abuse you.
I’m surprised your tongue doesn’t have a hole in it from biting down each time you encounter a rude guest. And, ” the guest is always right ” policy certainly must try the patience of all CDs.
Hang in there… !
John you should work these folks into your shows somehow and get them to loosen up a bit…. Hmmm Trigger,D.Wood,Dastardly,Spoon pullers,etc…would be a hit if you could video them into your blog so we could see the donkey kongs.
Mark from Alabama…Roll Tide this week…
Ah, Capt. Rude. I can’t wait until he makes it home and posts a review on Cruise Critic, you just know he’s miserable enough to be a regular there. Sorry, CC is to me what the French are to you… just can’t resist a jab now and then.
Anyway, you do an excellent job of killing people like El Capitan with kindness, and I bet that’s what infuriates him the most. Sounds like he’s trying to bait people into a reaction and he’s more angry because he’s not getting one. I hope you’ll be able to bid him a hearty and cheerful farewell as he’s stomping off the ship on the last day!
Hi John,
I went over your blog in pig German from the other day… you know… the one that went like, “Nicht das gefinger-poken of das gepushin button. Just gesittin back, relaxin, tighten das geseatin belten und watchin das geblinkin lighten.”
Well, I typed that famous translation test into Google language: “Time flies like an arrow.” And to my surprise it came back and said, “Zeit fliegt wie ein Pfeil.” Perfect! Now, my beloved friend, you aint got no bleeding excuse to butcher the Fatherland’s tongue. Although, I’ve got to admit, it’s fun reading you do it.
thanks for the hurricane path link John and great blog entry as always
Bobbyfk
Dear John you will never run out of characters for your blog thingy.There are just to many Childish Rudes and Snobs they don’t even deserve the title Mr. or Mrs.to there names.The Carnival crews as well as you exude the word class and dignity under the toughest circumstances.Having to deal with the public during these days and times.Job well done to all of you.Best wishes and loved the pictures.Gary and Bug
Dear John,
My hubby and I were on the August 18th sailing of the Splendor. I wanted to thank you before we left the cruise, but we were having so much fun, I didn’t have the opportunity.
I am the “forgetful, clumsy, wife” who forgot her husband’s birthday. I wanted to thank you for telling him happy birthday on your morning show. He was very surprised and thrilled by that! Thank you, too, for the champagne, picture, and the 18 carat plastic ship on a stick! We certainly did not expect all of that. THANKS!
Thank you, too, for the wonderful time we had. You are such a big part of the fun we have on Carnival. We first sailed with you on the Liberty on her inaugural season.
We loved the ship, the itinerary, the entertainment, everything. But YOU made the trip! Thank you very much!
Claudia DeGraaf
Hi John, Heidi and all of the Evil Krewe
We are in Freeport, changed from Nassau due to Hanna. The weather is beautiful and the seas are calm. Our first night out was a lot different, very rough to say the least.
John, Paul S. is a delightful cruise director. Very entertaining, he even managed to get Don to laugh. I got my ship on the stick in the Welcome aboard talk, but haven’t been able to get a Sensation pin.
We head back to Port Canaveral this afternoon. I don’t know what Hanna managed to do their as far as a storm coming on land, I just hope my car is okay.
Hi to all of the Evil Krewe. Talk to you when we get back.
Countess Carolyn…… 7 cruises on record now….
Hello John and Heidi!
It is the weekend and I get to play blog catchup. Loved the pictures from Russia. Absolutely gorgeous!
The guy who was complaining about the weather needs to take a hike right over the side of the ship.
The Freedom was in the Mediterrean. You should expect sunshine there. There really is more to taking a cruise than returning with a suntan. The Splendor visits some incredible ports…there are magnificent things to see. Give me a break about being bored!
Days at sea…..ah….you gotta love them. Sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast. Go to the spa and enjoy the mineral pool. Visit the library and find a good book to read. My favorite thing to do is sit on the deck under the dome…..snooze…wake up and eat ice cream……and then snooze some more! Sure sounds like a plan to me.
Hang in there, John! Most of the passengers on that ship are having a marvelous cruise!
Ruth
Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane
Glad to hear from you. You been missed in here. Thought maybe you found youself inside looking out from your own jail.
BIG ED
PS. still waiting for my get out of jail free card.
John,
Your stories never stop, some are amazing and makes me wonder what people think and do sometimes. I would have dropped “Mr. Rude” in St Petersburg and left a note saying “To Russia with Love, Carnival Cruise Lines. Or better yet send him on a one-way to ticket to Bin Ladens cave to never return as well. We have been on planes, trains, automobiles and yes Mother Nature will always win. So we improvise and move on and yes it is no secret, us humans are not perfect. So as far as I’m concerned Mr. Rude is the one lacking education in particular to charisma. So hang in there we are with you and keep smiling.
Luis
John, I nearly became irate when I read the CC thread about the Miracle. The ignorance of people still amazes me although I am not sure why anymore.
When someone makes an investment in a vacation, there should be some thought, i.e. research, even if only a little put into it! I cannot fathom why adults think someone else must always be to blame for everything even nature!!
I am sailing in 2 days on the Inspiration and have been watching the weather for 4 days. I don’t care if ports are cancelled, I don’t care if it is a 5 day cruise to no where. I want to get on the ship and I want to make it back home sometime (even late is ok) to see my friends and family to boast on what a great vacation I had. Thanks for the weather site you provided it is excellent.
Kudos to all of Carnivals Officers and Staff for everything they do. They do it with a smile even though some receiving those smiles deserve far worse.
Maria
“Dan
September 5th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Ah, Capt. Rude. I can’t wait until he makes it home and posts a review on Cruise Critic, you just know he’s miserable enough to be a regular there. Sorry, CC is to me what the French are to you… just can’t resist a jab now and then.”
Jeez, Dan, I always love to come back here and read all the comments….this was a bummer….:>(
I AM a regular on CC since I found it in January 2008, which is how I found this blog…and I can assure you that I WAS miserable before, and am NOT miserable anymore, because of my CC family, and this family here…
Actually the putzes on CC are mostly one-post wonders….hmmmm…
Floatie
Good Morning
Nothing Happened
Good Night
Well John, even though I hate that you have to deal with “those people”, and you do on every cruise; I am happy that they give you something to talk about. I can’t imagine you not running into “them”, it just would not make any sense. I still think someone hires “them” to come on your ship just to dare you to smack them/yell at them/throw them overboard or all of the above.
Loved the pictures, Hedi has an amazing camera and she is an amazing photographer. I just hope my pictures come out that well. I would love to have sunny days in London and Paris, as it does not look like it for now, but just being there will make me happy.
Keep smiling John, you truly are an amazing man, can not wait to meet you next week.
Seriously, what the heck is with these people? Someone always so indignant that they feel they need a wrong righted or must protest something? You should have “chill pills” at the purser’s desk along with the seasickness pills. I think Tiffayne a few posts up got it right.
Photos of the Hermitage are magnificent. LOVE the awed faces of Heidi’s mum and aunt–priceless!
Awaiting the remnants of Hurricane Hanna here in NY–went to the beach this am to check out the waves–amazing, harsh and out of control looking. How anyone could protest a ship moving out of those boundaries is beyond me. Can’t fool with Mother Nature!
Ah yes, Captain Rude – Chairman Emeritus of the I Need A Life Society. No doubt he has a detailed list of everything wrong with the cruise, and a blank page of what was nice – something to match his personality.
I could never put up with insufferable jerks. I’d have to ask them “if I spilled water on you would you melt like the Wicked Witch Of The West?” Or perhaps worse…either way I’d soon be a former CD.
Keep up the great work!
OK, mate – first the Morning Show with you scratching your bits and leaving your G-string on the bathroom floor; then you naked cavorting in a field wearing a flower chain. Please!, for the love of Pete PUT SOME CLOTHES ON, MAN!
We’re all taking the brunt of Mother Nature’s anger, even here in the call center. Eventually we get through the guests’ irritation about a very necessary change to the itineraries… especially when we mention “for your safety and that of the other passengers.” Suddenly a lightbulb goes off over their head *ding!*
Captain Shortstack is a vindictive little cuss. It seems, from reading the previous blog where you served the cake AND wine to him and his obviously appreciative and EMBARRASSED wife, that he probably got a talking-to for being such an An(g)us so far on the trip. And lucky you, a mistake was made and he got to take you to task because he’s obviously a spineless little (emphasis on ‘little’) git needing to boost himself up by knocking someone else down. My sympathies to his wife and family for having such a curmudgeon to deal with.
Keep up the great work, John! And keep your chin up, you are a great guy to the other 99% of us and we appreciate you.
OH!, I forgot to say thanks to Heidi and Mum and Auntie for the pictures! They’ve solidified my decision to somehow, someway, to take my wife over to Europe soon. The farthest out of the U.S. she’s is Cozumel (on the Celebration when she was out of Galveston) and she’s always pined for the Mediterranean cruises since we’ve started running them. Matter of fact, the first one we ran from Civitavecchia was going out on her 30th birthday.
That aside, I’m going to have to figure a way to get us over there. The Hermitage is absolutely gorgeous, as are all the other sites you’ve been posting pics of. And the little yellow Trabi brought back some great laughs! Thanks, John!
John:
Much KUDOS to the wonderful Cruise Directors in the Carnival Fleet. It is the “family” that makes Carnival as great as they are.
They are the reason we are able to cruise. Because they do their jobs so well, DJ feels comfortable enough to get on a ship with a mascot.
With his Autism, there is no other place in the world he will go, if a mascot is within a 100 miles of the place.
But because the fine men and women of Carnival assure him that “Freddie” will not be an issue….he enjoys his cruises.
And I can not stress this enough…a cruise is the only place DJ gets to be a “normal” young man for a week. All because of the heroic efforts put forth by the Carnival staff, Entertainment staff and Youth Directors!!! You can not put a price on that!!!
This week on the Ecstasy, DJ had a blast. Goose made sure we had Freddie’s schedule and we simply avoided the areas Freddie would be on the few times during the cruise that he was out.
A simple solution devised by Ms. Freed back in 2003, when Freddie started making his appearance.
When Freddie was introduced, we thought we would have to stop cruising and instead…..DJ will be a Milestone Rewards Member by November!!
Our Ecstasy cruise (as I posted earlier) had some special surprises. Maitre D’ Gabriel (who we had just sailed with on the Imagination) was there and did an excellent job handling DJ’s seating assignment. Captain Donato (who we had just sailed with on the Legend in May ) was our Captain. It is always great to visit with him. Dakota (the cover band in Chinatown) are friends of ours and it was great getting to sail with them again. I made wonderful new friends in Karaoke. Aretha was excellent, as was Joey (Paul Santley’s nephew). We had a ball!!!
I want to give a shout out to “Taco Bill” in the Embarkation staff at Galveston.
This was a difficult Embarkation with the ship getting in late and it took a long time to get the ship cleared at Customs.
People were already on edge about the changes and lots of people booked it last minute. So there was a lot of confusion that is just “the nature of the beast”.
Unfortunately, this was not a situation that children with Autism handle well. DJ has traveled enough with us to understand that these things happen. And DJ was trying to handle it. Taco Bill was so kind to DJ. He recognized DJ having a stress attack. At the earliest possible convenience, he escorted us to the holding room before they opened the doors, so that DJ would be more comfortable. We never asked. We were simply standing in line when Taco Bill quietly walked up and asked us to follow him. He is one Carnival Rep that we will never forget.
This was our first “cruise to nowhere” and the best part is no Customs at the end of the cruise. You just walk off the ship. woo hoo!!!!
Thanks again Carnival…. for all you do.
And Mr. Captain “Short Man Syndrome” can go back to his little playground where he belongs!!!
Linda (Mom of your friend ~tired but happy~ DJ)
John, Captain Rude is not only rude but insulting as well. You know what, some people have to belittle others in order to make themselves seem so impressive, important and “larger than life”! After pointing out something like that, his first name should definitely be Angus (without the g)! The problem is people like Captain Rude probably never realize they are acting like a ___. Wonder where he was when good, old common sense was passed out!
As far as Captain ANgUS Rude…..you can apologize for the error and you can learn from your slight mistake….unfortunately for him (and the rest of the world) it’s much more difficult to change an asinine, condescending, aloof personality. I feel sorry for all who know him….. To belittle total strangers …. One would wonder what he does with people with whom he is familiar. JA!!!!
So you eluded to something…..it had to happen….
Talkin’ to myself and feelin’ old
Sometimes I’d like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin’ around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
What I’ve got they used to call the blues
Nothin’ is really wrong
Feelin’ like I don’t belong
Walkin’ around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.
Funny but it seems I always wind up here
with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it’s the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me.
What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out
We know what it’s all about
Hangin’ around
Nothing to do but frown
The Flying Dutchman
Hi John/Heidi:
Wow, some people really have the nerve. I can’t believe Mr. Rude would make such a comment to you. I’m just shocked.
Granted nobody is perfect, but here he is calling you out on something that he didn’t even attend? My gosh…I think i’ve heard it all.
Great pics taken from the Hermitage. Absolutely gorgeous.
Thanks for another great blog today and cheer up. You’ll be past these folks in no time.
Take care!
David