Good Morning everyone from Lisbon, Portugal, where we have had our fourth day in a row of uninterrupted sunshine. However, it’s not with Portugal’s capital that we start but with Russia’s capital, Moscow.

From: SPLENDOR PURSERS
Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2008 4:21 PM
To: SPLENDOR CRUISE DIRECTOR; SPLENDOR ASSISTANT CRUISE DIRECTOR
Cc: SPLENDOR PURSERS; SPLENDOR CHIEF PURSER; SPLENDOR HOTEL DIRECTOR
Subject: FELT DISCRIMINATED BY SINGER

Good afternoon John,

Please see the following comments and verify with ____ what kind of song he’s singing, because I receive this comment second time already. I thought it’s just a misunderstanding and one-time joke, but looks like we should sort it out.

FELT DISCRIMINATED BY SINGER

Mr and Mrs. ________ came to the purser’s office and advised that last night when they entered one of the bars the performer sang a song because they were Russian guests and started to sing some unfamiliar for them song that all other guests started to laugh and point fingers at them. ______ did not find it funny and, on the contrary rude, and unacceptable and he did not expect such humiliating behavior from either crew or guests. Purser apologized and advised that she would document it and pass to cruise director for review, because there should be some explanation for this song. Mr ________ thanked purser and left. E-mail sent to cruise director advising.

Your kind cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Regards, Evengiya

Well, this was a strange one. What song had one of our bands sang that had upset this guest and his Russian friends so much? So, I asked ………….and when I found out………I was as mad as I have been for a long time………….the song that had been performed …….. was Michael Bolton’s “Georgia.”
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Hello everyone. This press release is due out later today but PA 007 has sent me a sneak peak (more…)

I remember my one and only visit to Texas very well. It was back in 2000 when Heidi and I went to visit some friends in Houston. John and his wife Carly were Houston born and bred, although they spent much of the year in Cozumel, which is how we met them.

They were owners of the Habana Cigar Bar and my love of cigars had made us firm friends and so when we were invited to visit them ……..we jumped at the chance. It would be our first visit to the land of the brave and the home of the free.

As the plane began its descent into Houston airport, I remember seeing flat, unrelenting land as far as the eye could see — and this was from 10,000 feet. Then, spectacularly and without warning, the skyline built with huge dollops of oil money sprung up, and I could not help myself………..and as the plane landed and even though we weren’t in Dallas …….. there I was singing “da da…da da……dadadadadardar.”
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The burgundy red-roofed buildings here in Vigo cascade down the side of the mountain. The sun sends her beams of welcome warmth onto the azure blue of the Mediterranean Sea and onto the passengers from the spectacular cruise ship that sits proudly and majestically in the harbor below.

Hang on a minute. I wanted to write this morning about the mad Russians and the fact that the bloody gangway didn’t fit this morning… But, sadly, each time I look out of the window, I’m consumed by the view.

Anyway. Last night a group of Russian. . . oh, look at that amazing yacht, it’s called Lady M …..Does it belong to Madonna or maybe it was something Paul McCartney bought for Heather Mills before she hopped off with all his money?

I must go on the Internet to find out.
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Good Morning.

Guest: Mrs. _______ Ref: 002804156A
Cabin: _____Booking#: _________ Added-Changed: 09/12/08 – 09/12/08

ALLERGIC TO FEATHERS

Mrs. __________ called the information desk and informed purser that she was allergic to feathers, she told purser that she would not be able to sleep using the linen provided in her stateroom. Purser informed that housekeeping would be notified to further assist by providing blankets but guest said she was also allergic to wool and polyester. Guest said that on other cruise lines they had provided her with silk sheets and blankets. Purser checked with housekeeping but we do not have this onboard. Purser explained this to the guest who started to cry. Purser took guest away from the desk. Mrs._______ said that she would have to go and buy silk sheets in port but she expected Carnival to pay for them. Purser said she would speak to the chief purser and would contact the guest.

We shall see what we can do for her, however, I doubt we will be paying for silk sheets and blankets. I have no idea how much they cost but, I doubt they are cheap. Still, we are checking with our ship’s agent in Spain to see what can be done.
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Before we start today, I would like to wish a safe few days ahead all those people from Texas who may be affected by Hurricane Ike. We are thinking of you all. Please keep checking in at www.carnival.com for all the latest news on how this may affect the cruises from Galveston.

Good Morning everyone.

One of the many aspects of this blog I hope you enjoy is the fact that we not only tell you how good we are………we are good, by the way ……….. but we also share the odd time when things don’t go well.

Yesterday was a difficult day. It seems that after a long absence, Mr. Murphy decided to drop by the Carnival Splendor yesterday, bringing with him a huge dollop of bad luck.

The problems started when, without warning, the computers we use to check in guests ashore in Dover decided to bugger off. The great minds of our I/S managers, Kat and Jon, used all their powers but to no avail — if they couldn’t find the fault then nobody could have.

Computers, as we were told by James Cameron in The Terminator, would one day kill all mankind. Prince Charles recently said he agrees. He sees a time when nano-robots will learn to push buttons and end the world in a nuclear holocaust. I have no fear about a robot the size of a flea’s nostril hair climbing up onto a desk — how, exactly? — and pushing the “erase” key because we can be guaranteed that either the robot or the computer will have broken long before the bomb ever goes “boom.”

So, it was a computer which started our string of concerns yesterday. When computers go down, it means everyone has to be checked-in manually and this involves the embarkation staff using something called a “pen.” We would have started earlier with the check-in process but we had to explain to those staff under 25 years of age how to use a pen…….I would have showed them myself, but I lost my pen which is now probably being used to write shopping lists………I wish someone had been honest and handed it in.

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Good Morning everyone and just before I start, I refer you to yesterday’s blog where I tried a sublime joke which as Heidi said would happen……no bugger got it. I was referring to the time machine and stopping George going to the theater…………obviously I was referring to President Lincoln but in a week where I upset Captain Rude by naming Eisenhower instead of Truman ……………I though I would continue……………but nobody laughed…………..double bugger.

Just before I carry on can I say a huge thank you to all the people at Dover for making us feel so welcome? Homeports are very important to the guests and the crew and Dover has made us feel very at home………..thanks to them all.

So, here we go, it’s good by to the brilliant Baltic and hello to the Med. Let’s see who is sailing with us this week.

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Today marks the seventh-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
We extend our thoughts and prayers to all who lost their lives, as well as their families,
friends and loved ones.

When you walk through the storm
Hold your head up high,
And don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark.

Walk on through the wind,
Walk on through the rain,
Though your dreams be tossed and blown.
Walk on walk on, with hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone

So, it’s the last day of the cruise …..we are in Amsterdam ………….maybe I can relax a bit…………………or maybe not. (more…)

Doc Manuela Asked:
MORGEN!!!!
hmmmmmmmmmmmm……….. I guess doctors are never remembered unless they give biiiiggg injections into hemorrhoids ))
I could not believe the left without visting our comforting hospital on the AIDAbella before you left …..next time there will be a bill for the missed appointment…….
isch liiieeebe deine blog….
by the way: the Kapitän is Przemyslaw Kurc and
the Entertainment Managerin is Ulrike Homuth….
Greetings to John and Heidi from the AidaBella Doctora ex Carnival
Manuela

John Says:
Hello Doc
I am so sorry we didnt get to say goodbye especially as I wanted you to have a look at my hemorrhoids……again. It was great to see you and heidi and I miss you very, very much. The AIDABella is beautiful and the guests and crew are so lucky to have you looking after them.
Danke schoen Doc. Ich habe ein reichende arschloch
Dein Freund
Johann

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