Two nights ago I went to Publix. I needed to buy some bottled water (I refuse to pay $5 a bottle at the hotel) some toothpaste, a bag of Doritos (I know I shouldn’t) and some extra strength hemorrhoid cream. I paid $21 with my credit card and off I went.
Next door was a Blockbuster, so I wandered in and ended up buying Season 4 of the HBO series Entourage and a classic movie called Clear and Present Danger………….total cost $58.77………….that’s when the problem began.
This is complicated, so you may need to pay attention. A few weeks ago I ordered a new washing machine and then a few days ago it was delivered……..but it didn’t fit in the built-in cupboard thingies. So Heidi sent it back and the money was reimbursed to my credit card company.
I then telephoned the credit card company and asked it to put the money back in my bank account. I even had the sort code to hand and everything. “Yes,” said the man from the call center in Bombay, “I can do that, no problem at all.” But there obviously was a problem because when I tried to buy my DVD’s, alarm bells rang and the 14-year-old shop assistant took great pleasure in tell me my card had been rejected and I had to try another one.
I asked him to try again.
This time my card wasn’t rejected but I was made to talk to someone at the credit card company who wanted to know my mother’s maiden name and all sorts of other bollocks …………..it seemed everything was OK.
Then tonight I tried to pay for dinner and the same thing happened, so I telephoned the credit card company to ask why, all of a sudden, I’d become Osama Bin Laden.
“Aha,” said a lady, “it’s because you are in credit with us.” This was baffling for two reasons. First, why was I in credit with them when I’d asked them to put the money in my bank, and why should being in credit cause them to think I needed a telephone deep cavity search every time I bought a cheeseburger? I therefore asked the man if he’d be so good as to move the money. I even made it plain that if he failed I’d come round to his place of work and use the crack of his bottom to swipe my credit card……….and a cactus.
This obviously meant nothing to the man from Bombay because this morning while using the card to buy some petrol……sorry………….gas, I had to contact my credit card company.
So I called the credit card company and demanded to speak to someone in the UK and not Bombay. And you will not believe what I was told……………….I was in credit, a highly unusual situation, and one that makes them think I may be laundering drug money.
I told them I was not Pablo Escobar so for the love of God could they put the money in my bank account? “Yes,” said the man, who I knew would not do any such thing. And could they stop asking silly questions every time I bought anything? “No,” said the man. “Your name’s been flagged on the computer and I’m afraid I can’t turn that off.” How can I change this I asked…………you need to sign a form…………..”I am in America”… …………”Well, we suggest you don’t use the card until this is sorted.”
This was Skynet…………………………. and I was John Connor.
Good morning everyone and I thought I would drop you a quick blog thingy before I host the live Q&A thingy this afternoon. Things were a little hectic yesterday with the cancellation of the Baseball Universe championships because if the Philly Cheese team beat the Tampon Rays then we were concerned that the resulting victory parade may coincide with our big event. ………………….it will not.
We were informed by the local people with beards that if they win the parade will be on a weekday. So, it’s all systems go for Sunday. Today we had more meetings and my friend Stephanie, who is the big cheese at the Arnold Agency, taught me another great marketing word. She asked if we could provide some staff to help with Gorilla Marketing.
Now, I have done some strange things for my love of Carnival. I have dressed as Dolly Parton, been thrown to the floor by a 400-pound lady and sat on by that lady and ridden like a bucking bronco. I have been shouted at, slapped and called sperm of the devil ……………but there was no way I was going to don a monkey suit and swing around the streets of Philly with a banana hanging from my bottom.
Stephanie giggled and told me that Gorilla Marketing meant that a team would arrive without warning and entertain a street full of people and invite them to come to our party …………………ahhhh……….now I understood…………guerilla tactics……………..of course, I would help and I made a mental note to “reach out” to myself and buy a book called “What The Hell Are They Talking About – An Introduction to The World Of Marketing, Advertising” by top-selling author Willy Buggeroff.
Seriously……………this Philly event is going to be brilliant and once again Stephanie, John, Stephanie, Cassy, Stephanie, Big Dawg, Stephanie and the rest of the Arnold crew along with the best marketing team in the cruise industry Christine, Christine, Erica, Jennifer, Jennifer, Yvette, Christine and Ruben…………..all working together to help make our company’s future and your cruising future a very bright one………………….it seems though to succeed in the business you need to be called Stephanie, Jennifer or Christine.
I answered lots of comments yesterday and many of them were concerning the Carnival Liberty. I have helped many already and some have switched to Carnival Dream and some are considering enjoying the Emerald Princess and or the Eurodam. I know all of you are disappointed and I totally understand why. I am working with air/sea and reservations departments to assist with specifics.
Remember I have a live write in thingy this afternoon at 2 pm – 4 pm EST……………..it’s not just about the Carnival Liberty, indeed you can write in to say hello or to ask me anything ……….I am hear to help. However, I must also say this………………I hate to do so ………….. but I must.
There were one or two very nasty comments including one using very bad language which, of course, I will not reply to or publish. May I also ask that you be patient with me as I received a comment complaining that a comment had been not posted or replied to in 24 hours? May I kindly state that I am only one chap and with all my traveling it may take a few days to reply……………..but reply I will if asked to do so. I am not being asked by Carnival to offer this help …………I am purely volunteering to try and help any way I can. This is a new concept in guest relationships and I hope it is successful. So, hope to hear from you this afternoon. If this is successful……………..we will do it again.
I am flying to Philadelphia on Thursday night. I have radio interviews on Friday and on Saturday Roger Blum and the entertainment team will be joining me for a dress rehearsal.
After the Philly event I will be back in Miami for a few days before the following schedule.
NOVEMBER 6-8 – EMERALD PRINCESS
NOVEMBER 8-13 – CARNIVAL DESTINY
NOVEMBER 14 – CARNIVAL SPLENDOR
NOVEMBER 15 – BOSTON
NOVEMBER 18 – HOME FOR VACATION AND FISH AND CHIPS AND SUGAR FREE SPOTTED DICK
Carnival Splendor and Carnival Freedom are coming home. Both start their trans-Atlantic crossings and we wish them calm seas and lots of fun. Here is Jaime’s next report.
Dear John,
In an effort to be more like you, I decided to practice delegation for today’s blog entry. I attempted to find a rich, talented, and good-looking performer to describe what a day in the life of a Carnival singing star was like. We didn’t have anyone who fit those characteristics on board, but Lawrence was close enough so here is his letter for today =)
More from me tomorrow!
=) Jaime
Dear Jaime, John, Heidi, & Thingy,
So for some misguided reason, someone thought it might be a good idea to share with your readers what a day was like in the life of a production singer. Now, I warn you ahead of time that I’m not nearly as witty as John or funny (looking) as Jaime. But we all share an immense passion for the work and fun that we get to have in the fabulous world that are the Carnival “Fun Ships.”
Last night was “Vrooom” night (so exciting, it’s with three “o”s), the last and best of our productions shows on the Carnival Splendor. The final performance that the audience saw was actually the third for the cast during the day. There’s a great line from the musical The Producers about being in entertainment so that you can sleep “until half-past two” in the afternoon. That’s why my day started at 8:30 am!
Not that I wanted to get up that early (early for me that is), but unlike the work that I’ve been blessed to do at home in New York, shows on the ship come with safety meetings at ungodly hours of the day. Sure it’s early but we all realize how important that they are to the safety and well being of our guest and ourselves aboard, which has been continually reinforced after six years on cruise ships preceded by five years in the US Navy. So after making sure that in an emergency I will know exactly how to properly guide our guests to the lifeboats, I had to get ready for a full tech rehearsal of the show.
Normally on a performance day, the cast will rehearse only numbers that need to be cleaned or tightened up or any trouble spots, but, as we have a new dancer coming into the cast this cruise, we have to do a “full tilt boogie” rehearsal of the show at noon so she can feel comfortable when she does it for an audience for the first time. Here’s where the beginning of my day planning begins.
Vrooom is an incredibly taxing show, both physically and vocally. So I need to make sure that I don’t kill myself in the excitement of the rehearsal to the point where I can’t ace the shows. It doesn’t help that I’ve been nursing a sore throat for the last two days. We are also a dancer down because of an injury. Now one of things that I’m always impressed by is the dancer’s ability to learn someone else’s part in the show and perform it flawlessly after only one rehearsal. Lord knows if you gave me someone else’s part to sing the same night that I had to sing it that I’d be lost. That’s what our cast has to do today. So we blasted out the show for an empty room at noon and then after an hour to make last-minute corrections, we all move on to our duties for the day like bingo, library, deck games and trivias. In my case, I don’t have any additional duties (one of the perks of being a singer) but contrary to popular belief, the singers don’t go back to sleep until show time. At least I don’t.
Being on the far side of the BIG 3-OH I’ve got to work to keep up with all the twenty-somethings on stage with me. So after some lunch up on Lido (another perk), I head up to the track to do a few laps. I usually go the gym as I can work harder and longer but the other people working out tend to get upset at the strange guy in the Battlestar Galactica T-shirt singing show tunes at the top of his lungs on the elliptical. This is followed by some time steaming to make sure that all the crap is out of my chest and lungs for tonight. I have a raging sweet tooth, as well, but on a show day, no dairy, no salt, no alcohol (until the post show festivities) no nothing that might make affect the quality of my voice. That means on a show day I usually will keep to myself so as not to even talk any more than is absolutely necessary. Needless to say, this means I don’t see much of Jaime before the show.
Come six o’clock I start my routine. Dinner from 6 to 6:30, no later so it’s not weighing on my stomach during the show. Then I run the hot water in the shower until there’s enough steam to power a locomotive (don’t tell the environmental officer) and start my warm up. People always say that they do there best singing in the shower. Guess what, they are totally right! That’s where I warm up. This is where I pause to thank my next door neighbors for putting up with me blasting Les Miserables, Man of La Mancha, The Producers, and Rent as loud as humanly possible for an hour while I get myself vocally warmed up and psyched for the show tonight.
Oh wait, I almost forgot. Thanks to my 14-year-old sister, I’ve added Legally Blonde: The Musical to that warm-up list. My vocal coach at home thought that regular vocal drills were boring so she helped me pick songs that would mimic all the exercises I needed in order to wake up. The great part about singing these songs so often as a warm up is I know instantaneously when I’ve got a trouble spot. Even nursing the sore throat I’m doing well so far. I show up at 8, a half hour before curtain to set up my costumes, stretch and get dressed.
Tonight, we’ve got a new dancer in the show, several people in different roles to cover our injured castmate, and the last time I was on stage my voice started cracking. But you can never let the audience know that. We can never let the audience know that every time we get up there, no matter now many times we’ve done it before; it’s still the first time. You’re still nervous and excited. Hoping that we won’t mess up a line or a step and that the audience will reward us putting our egos on the line with uproarious applause at the end of the show.
We all got together before hand in a big “Kum-ba-ya” circle to wish the new dancer “sh*t, sh*t.” (Yes, we entertainers are a superstitious bunch, we don’t wish the “L” word anywhere near the stage, we don’t mention the Scottish play, and if you whistle anywhere near our theater you are taking your life into your own hands.) I grew up in a very religious household so personally, I never go into a performance without saying a prayer of thanks for the blessing it is for me to be able to do what I love and love what I do and, maybe along the way, touch a few people’s lives positively.
The lights come down, the band starts up (in this case, a motorcycle sound effect that sounds more like and F-14 from Top Gun on the flight line) and we are off. An hour later it’s all done….except, let’s do it again! The second show of the night. Usually a bit harder after all the energy you put into the first. But last night, all of my worries were put to rest, we rocked it out! And as the curtain came down at the end of the last number of the last show of the night, “We Are the Champions” by Queen, the cast burst into cheers of our own.
Last night I asked Jeremy, one of our dancers, how he would describe the feeling at the end of the show for us, knowing I was going to write this, and after a long time thinking about it he just said, “Don’t bother, they’d have to be there.” Just imagine on the other side of the curtain the kinds of cheers you’d expect to see at New Year’s Eve in Times Square, multiplied by 10, and you kind of get close.
This isn’t just a job for us; it’s a passion, a lifestyle, and a destiny. At least it’s that way for me. I’ve been performing almost continuously since I was 7 years old. The only break I’ve had was when I served in the military. And I knew when I came back to this career that being an entertainer was more than just a way to pay the rent. It’s the reason I was put here. And whether it’s a relatively easy day with a tech run and two shows or the three and half months of 10 hours rehearsal days, six days a week, to get these shows off the ground I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. As I say in the last line of Vrooom: “Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Night.” Let the after show festivities begin!!!!!
Lawrence Neals
Production Singer
Carnival Splendor
I have fond memories of my trans-Atlantic crossings. Some have been smooth, some have been rough, but all have been memorable. Todd and Goose will be providing five brilliant back-to-back sea days and I know the guests will have a wonderful cruise vacation.
OK, time to go to my morning meeting for the final details for Philly to be arranged.
Until a few weeks ago, I knew bugger all about the world of marketing and advertising. You had to learn Latin, grow a side parting, wear a suit, play squash, speak a language only understood by others in the industry and Klingons and get up extremely early in the morning.
Friends had to be stabbed in the back and children ignored. However, I have learned that this world is occupied by brilliant people all of which laugh……….they have fun …… and in a strange way…………there job is the same as mine as a cruise director …………..and that’s to make sure everyone knows that Carnival’s affordable fun is something everyone should experience
Hope to talk to you this afternoon………….live
Cheers
John
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.
Isn’t being at the mercy of a computer an amazing thing? Someone in Rangoon makes a mistake in an entry and your life becomes instant misery… What a pain in the posterior. I hope they clean it up for you soon.
Thanks to Lawrence for the view of the life of a singer on board a Carnival ship! What a different perspective!
I can understand people being upset about their cruise being canceled but to take it out on you and then to use bad language in the process is beyond the pale. I suspect that these are people I’d rather not cruise with anyway.
I’ll be about for the chat this afternoon. I made a sticky post about it on the Cruise Critic Carnival forum. Hopefully folks who use the chat system will be better mannered than those who left you messages via this blog thingy.
See you then!!
Ciao!!!
Host Mach
Just wondering which time zone you’ll be in for your live write-in thingy. I’m in Calgary, Alberta so that makes me in the Mountain time zone, so I have to calculate when I should be online.
Just wanted to say too that I had my first cruise this past summer to the Med with my grandson and daughter. It was beyond wonderful. I am taking my grandson again in March on another cruise to the Caribbean, but I wondered if there’s any activities or entertainment put on especially for a “youngish” widow, like myself.
Hey, John!
I feel your pain, in dealing with the credit card company. I hope it gets straightened out, soon.
Jaime, thanks again for your reports. A special thanks to Lawrence for sharing his day. The singers and dancers make it look so effortless, it is easy to forget just how much goes into each performance to make it look that way.
I also want to give a shout out to Chris “Bubba.” I know he is reading and I hope he is doing well. I sure enjoyed sailing with him this summer.
John, Carnival is so smart to include you in their marketing plans. You don’t have to speak marketingnese to sell Carnival. You’re like the Pied Piper! I’d follow you anywhere!
Hi John,
Surprise, surprise – a morning blog thingy! Lots of info, thanks. And I’m glad you answered those people who were complaining about Carnival and posting to your blog thingy. You’re only human!
I’ll try & join you live this afternoon.
Jaime, thank Lawrence for his great blog entry. It was good to hear about a performer’s routine.
Enjoy the next few hours before it’s “From Miami, it’s Live with John Heald”.
C.
Me Again – I forgot – how frustrating it must be to have those credit card foul-ups. Try & get a straight answer out of someone halfway around the world. Now you know why I gave up all my credit cards except my checking account card.
Later,
C.
John:
I agree that some times dealing with credit card companies takes on a life of its own.
I will never forget when we were in Alaska and had eaten an $18.00 meal. $18.00…. and yep, the credit card was rejected. I have never seen David so mad. It was not…please contact the credit card company before your next purchase. Nothing…just rejected.
Now normally folks would say…it is because you are somewhere that you don’t normally travel to.
And in most cases this is true. But David literally travels all over the world…so that could not be it.
And since we pay off the balance in full every month and have a $35,000 credit limit…we assumed this wasn’t the problem either.
Anyway, we paid the $18.00 in cash and went back to the hotel in Denali for David to extract an explanation from the credit card company (preferally using razor wire).
So not only does David get some guy from India…this guy is about 12 years old. And he says in a snotty tone (and I quote)…”oopsie, we made a mistake. Your card is fine.”
And David said “well, oopsie this….cancel the card!”
All of a sudden there were more English speaking individuals on that phone call than the conference call handling the invasion of Normandy.
I have heard of 3 way calling and conference calling…I think they had the entire “network”.
Needless to say, we never had a problem with that particular credit card company again.
Thank you Lawrence, for that insight to the world of entertainment. We old “hasbeens that never were” live vicariously through you!! And please convey a HUGE THANK YOU to the cast for all the joy they provide when they do the Legends Show.
I have been privileged to participate in 5 Legends Shows and had an absolute BLAST every time. We cruisers truly appreciate all the effort the cast puts forth to make us a “star” for a night. Hubby goes to every show every night no matter how many times he has seen them, because each show is as unique as the individuals performing. We look forward to seeing you on November 15th.
John, we send best wishes out to Heidi and the Wee One. Take care of YOURSELF…don’t over do…you have a little person on the way that depends on YOU to be there for them; the way your Dad was for you.
Stephanie…a very special THANK YOU for all you do for us.
Linda (Mom of your friend ~ still cheering for the Phillies~ DJ)
please reply
Where is the Philadelphia thingy taking place. I would love to be there. but I do not know where there is…..or there where here is or something like that.
Hi, John,
Enjoyed this post…even your gripes are good-natured! From my perspective, it’s sad but true that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. The progression is usually: we have a problem; we contact the source and ask nicely for correction and are promised it will indeed be taken care of immediately; problem still there; second contact…we’re still pleasant, ‘though we may be gritting our teeth, and are again promised immediate relief; we may even try to be nice a third time, but as in baseball, it’s three strikes and you’re out, so the next time we just kind of loose it and yell for managers and presidents and CEOs and kings, etc., etc., and then, amazingly, the problem gets “fixed”…immediately. Why not just DO IT THE FIRST TIME?????
I’m beginning to think closing checking, savings and credit accounts and keeping the cash in a buried can may be the best way to go these days. Not many people seem to realize that banks all over the world are owned by someone (or some country) completely different than they believe. It’s kind of scary, really, when “conspiracy theories” start to actually make sense. Just a little “food for thought.” Please pray for us, John, that whatever happens we’ll survive. (Sorry…I’m kind of nervous what with November 4 impending.)
So, anyway, I enjoyed reading about a day in the life of an entertainer. I’m sure they must be exhausted at the end of the day.
I hope the Philly event is a big success. Will there be live “steaming” again?
Hi to Heidi and Thingy.
Your Pal, Myra
Hi John:
Why would you do with diet spotted dick?
I think I have seen it in a can at Harrods.
Oh, my…unable to use your plastic??? How can you live without it???
I am so glad I discovered your Blog through Mach (or is that Mac?? or even MachiPoo??) You are so entertaining!! I so hope to be on a cruise with you soon! If not as a CD as a guest would be just as fun!!
John,
Great Bolg Again. I won’t comment about Credit cards….. I will however comment on Jamie and Lawrence however, Please Keep it up. I really enjoy reading about what life is like on a cruise ship form the point of view of the crew, exspecially ones who we don’t get to interact with too often. I have worked on the water for many years, been on many Carnival cruises and meet loads of wonderful crew who have told me about there life on and off the ship, some of them I am still friends with. but those are the people who are out in the publics eye. I like hearing about the ones who are on stage or behind the scenes, and how they live. It is great to hear whats going on onboard the other ships as well as what John is doing. I would love to hear from some of the other CD’s also just like Chris(?)(from the sprit, Sorry senior momment.) I am not saying that I am tired of hearing from you John, But uts nice to read about the others.
I ment to comment on yesterdays blog about the temps in Miami, it is very true, I have been in Fort Lauderdale when the temps where in the 50′s and people where dressed like we do up here in the North East when the temps are like they are today in the Low 30′s F. which remindes me John When you come to Boston you may want to bring your long underware as it is getting cold this time of the yr.
Sorry I won’t be at the live blog today, Work getting in the way of fun again…. look forward to Watching on Sunday,
your friend Capt Bill
Drug money laundering? How dreadfully devious…a very nice ruse …play the part of a beloved cruise director all the while being a key player in a drug cartel…..whodda thunk?
I will try to join the online thingy this afternoon…..
Cause I live and breathe that Philadelphia freedom
The Carnival Freedom?!? Anchored by Philly in the Delaware River?
That would be nice touch to the Piñata thingy.
The Flying (non-Pennsylvanian) Dutchman
John…
Oh how I’ll miss the chat session!!! I’m away at a convention and only have breaks to get online!!! BOO HOO!!! After last Sunday… You were MAGNIFICENT!!!!! How can I stay away??? I’ll do my darnedest!!!
I, today, had credit card problems!! But these got solved with calls to someone else… Thank heavens I have a “someone else” who can take them and run… WOO HOO!!! When the card is issued by the company I work for… hummmmm… I can go right to the person who speaks english and even knows my face!!! Wish I could help you!!!!
Have a great chat… I’ll be thinking of you!!!
LAMBIE LOVES YOU!!!
Lambie
John,
I see your upcoming schedule, and I wonder if you have any future plans to cruise on the smaller Princess ships (Royal Princess, Tahitian Princess, Pacific Princess). These ships carry fewer than 700 passengers and provide a very different experience than the larger ships.
John, Since your credit card thingy doesn’t seem to want to work , do we need to bring a pot (extra large one) to collect money for you to live on whilst you are in the USA, Just say the word and we will bring a pot and go around collecting money while we are watching the world’s largest pinata…….
Countess Carolyn……
Hi Stephanie……cya soon
Hi John/Heidi/Thingy:
I am so sorry that you are caught in credit card hell. What is worse is that i don’t know if this will be completely resolved if/when you make it back to the UK. Sadly, this might be something you’re fighting for a while. Hopefully, one of your blog buddies here knows someone or something and can help you clear this up. All i know is that this is the last thing you need to be dealing with in this busy time of yours.
Seems like you have a full schedule over the next 3 weeks or so, but I hope you’re able to put your feet up for a bit on the Emerald/Destiny/Splendour over the next several weeks.
Great hearing from you and looking forward to watching this weekend.
I will be online for your chat shortly as well.
Take care and hope all is well!
David
Here’s wishing you the best of luck in Philly. I’d love to join Stephanie [and some other guy in a gorilla suit...I forget his name] on Sunday. But that’s the day I fly to Rome and get ready to for my ‘Freedom’ TA. Here’s wishing you the best both this afternoon–and this weekend.
Hi John and Stephanie, I am so excited about getting to meet you in person on Sunday in Philly. What are the plans for the bloggers to come early. Can you send me the details? Thanks so much. Counting the days until Sunday. Almost as much fun as counting days until next cruise but without the packing.
Still anxiously awaiting the Philly details. You have to understand, the Philly peeps have waited 2 whole days for the last 3 innings of what we hope is the final World Series game….all of this waiting is killing us
Please Reply
John,
I am sailing on the Conquest over New Years, more specifically New Years Eve. Will there be special festivities for the evening outside the activities normally offered? Also I went to book some excursions on line. However I realized only a small perecentage were actually available to book in advance. Are the rest already sold out or not available to book in advance or am I doing something wrong? ( a distinct possibility)
Last, but not least I am new to reading your blogs and all I can say is I wish I had discovered them sooner. They are obviously written from the heart as the writings are funny, honest and entertaining. Thank you for bringing them to all your loyal readers.
Stephen Smith
Please reply ( If you can)
John:
My husband and I are very curious. In all this Europe thing you have mention as alternatives only HAL and Princess. What about Costa? I know that people are a little afraid of languages and even other cultures (BTW they shouldn’t be, knowing a second language gave me the chance of getting to know wonderful people like you and the other bloggers) but they are so similar in many ways. As you know I been in most cruise lines and had the change to compare and I can tell you that my favorites are Carnival and Costa. Why?? They both give me what I really want. Fun and the personal touch. The caring, the heart. Think about it. Why not?? I don’t understand. Why not give Costa a chance? Go in one of the ships John. Report about the entertainment and the people. After the Freedom my foundest memories are on Costa.
Hi John,
Thank you for another entertaining blog. I’m sorry to hear about the troubles you are having with your credit card. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be. I’m also sorry to hear that there are some people who post nasty comments on the blog thingy or expect you to reply in an instant. Like you said…you are only one chap. I’m sure your loyal readers like me appreicate that you blog even on days when you are traveling or have such a hectic schedule like you’ve had since you left the ship.
Jaime – Thank you for the reports you have been posting. They have been great. Lawrence – Thank you for your post today. It was grand as well.
AHHHHH and I almost forgot… another thing Costa and Carnival have in common other that the fun and the heart is the great value. The only cruise line that I have been able to take a balcony because of the incredible price. I just received an email from Costa with some Med cruises and what a price they have!! I wish I could take advantage. Why not??
Hi John–I missed you and I’m trying to catch up. Great job in Dallas. Sorry about the rude people and you know people are disappointed but there is no reason to be nasty.
I’m so happy to be back home and wish I could be in Philly–but I’m counting on the Dream Transatlantic for the Bloggers and that would be so fun so I will get to meet you sooner or later. My last Transatlantic was spooky–so foggy you couldn’t see the water from your balcony! I love to hear the horn however and it was great for that because the captain must have to have it on automatic as it seemed it went off every minute or two for a day and a half!
Sorry about being a criminal with your credit card company. It is so frustrating when you know you are caught up in this hopeless loop of people that will never help you. I think its time to have Carnival get you a Corporate card…:-)
John. Please reply
Didn’t you mean the Ruby Princess on November 6 – 8? I hope so I have a slightly used replacement cigar cutter packed to replace the one that TSA removed from your baggage.
Urgent please reply: Danny thought you were going to be building a room for a school instead of picking up things and planting trees. What happened? I know you are going to have a lot of peaple but couldn,t both be done?
Thanks, Jennifer
John,
Hope the Phily event is as great as the Dallas event. My DW and I enjoyed the entire day and enjoyed meeting you and Steph. FYI, I’m the one that gave Steph the hat with the airplane thingy on it. We didn’t get around to hearing the drawing because we were still playing with the beachball. Next time I’ll leave such things for the younger generation. Hope to cruise with you in the future.
Thanks,
Dave