So, what did I get Heidi for Christmas?………Well, hopefully she won’t read this because that will give the game away. However…………..I will tell you that I bought her a plasma TV for the bedroom. This means she can relax in bed on cold winter mornings and watch her favorite soap operas and that gardener chap on Desperate Housewives have rumpy pumpy with anything with a pulse.
However, buying said TV was not easy. I went inside the TV shop with my credit card greased and ready for action. The salesman opened proceedings with a lot of technical bollocks I didn’t care about or understand, but I was expecting that. What I was not expecting was the sheer complication of giving him my money.
As a general rule the only thing I ever buy is petrol and cigars. So I’m aware of how credit cards function. You dash into the shop, the man pushes it through a swipy thing, you sign your name and dash back out to the car again. The job’s done in seconds. I’ve heard that it’s the same story in supermarkets. A woman drives your Campbell’s tomato soup through a beam of light several times and then summons a colleague called “a supervisor” who goes to the back of the store to see how much it costs. It all sounds very efficient.
But apart from gas stations and supermarkets, the whole buying process is now littered with an immense amount of needless baggage. I mean, have you ever tried to get something from the Internet? I watched my wife downloading songs from iTunes onto her Eye Pod the other day and reckoned it looked simple. And it is. But only after you’ve told Mr. Apple who you are, where you live, what password you would like, whether you want some Viagra, how much you earn, and all sorts of other stuff that is in no way relevant to the fact I wanted to buy Bat Out Of Hell by Meatloaf.
What happens in the TV shop is that the man with enough product in his hair to fry a fish, takes your credit card, goes to his computer terminal, logs on and begins to write War and Peace.
Anyway, when the 12-year-old with the solid hair had finished updating the company’s database, he started to ask me a series of impertinent questions. Like where I lived, my home phone number and my e-mail address, presumably so that his bosses could sell my details to a spammer who, knowing I’d just bought a plasma television, would clock me immediately as someone who is in need of a larger penis.
By this stage, he had already taken up the time I usually set aside in a whole year for shopping. And he hadn’t even started on the credit card transaction, or the delivery address, which was different from my home address. Which meant he had to re-program the company’s entire software package. I began to be overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness, a sense that I might be in the shop forever. So I started giving serious consideration to the idea of popping next door and buying a knife. I’m not by nature a violent person but I began to visualize the blade in question and how it might look sticking out of the salesman’s head.
All that saved him was the sure-fire knowledge that I’d get the same treatment in the knife shop, the same endless pitter-patter of a computer keyboard and the same requests for personal information.
The only difference being that if you buy a knife, you end up with an inbox full of messages from people who live in a shack in the woods wondering if you’d like to buy some camouflage trousers and maybe join their gang. Christmas comes but once a year………..and thank goodness for that because I honestly would rather run through a church service naked than have to endure the crowds, the parking and the shop assistant who no matter where they work seem to move with the speed of an asthmatic ant.
OK, now that’s out of the way lets find out how Butch and the guests on the Carnival Glory are getting on.
The Grinch who stole my welcome Aboard Show…….Scrooge is cruising!
My second most favorite event of the cruise, next to My Disco Dance class, is the Welcome Aboard Show; the very first opportunity that I get to connect with the guests on stage…….I have worked very hard to make my portion of the Welcome Aboard show as entertaining as possible, but last night I am sad to say that it went south…..deep south.
The show starts with the singers and dancers doing a medley of songs about having fun to get the crowd pumped up, then I come on stage to introduce myself and do some improve audience participation and we close the show with a comedian or variety act.
I have three major goals in my welcome show. One, introduce myself and establish a relationship with the audience…….two, encourage people to step out of their comfort zones and do things they never thought possible and lastly and, most importantly, to do a big set up for my Disco Dance Class. I get three guys up on stage to help me achieve these goal, and to be honest I am looking for certain types of people to get involved …….I always find a newlywed, someone who has been married for over 40 years, and the third is usually someone in the front row who is not clapping or paying attention when I walk out on stage……When I walk out for the show I ask if the guests are excited to be on vacation and I always search for a man in the front row, who doesn’t clap along and use his non-participation as a bit to encourage everyone to get involved (9 times out of 10, this will be the third guy I get on stage).
So here we go….dancers finish their bit, the male singer introduces me, I walk out on stage and ask my question and BAM! Right in the front row there is a guy not clapping (it never fails), so I ask him, “Are you not excited to be on vacation sir?” “He answers “Sure!” So I tell him “Let me put this in perspective for everyone and you all let me know when you start to get excited………blah, blah, blah”…….(This all ends in a silly joke, that if you want to know the punch line you will have to come take a cruise on the Glory!) So……he claps and gets excited along with everyone else……I get my newlywed on stage, I get my guy, who this night, has been married 48 years on stage and then I invite, who I will now refer to in the rest of the story as Mr. Grinch, on stage. I then proceed to interview each of the guys…….
Before I continue I must admit that I have a standard set of questions for the interviews that I ask each of the men, but depending on their answers I improv and play off their dialogue, but, because this is all unrehearsed sometimes the interviews are very entertaining and sometimes not as much. It all depends on how open they are to my questions and how quick I might be that night. Back to the Grinch…I ask him his name where he is from and who he is traveling with; all standard….. I ask him the rest of my questions, but I am not getting really anything I can bite on, so I finish up by asking him if there is anything that he wants to tell his wife……he answers “NO!” very abruptly (Mind you, the newlywed just expressed his love to his new bride in a very romantic speech). I ask him if he just wants to tell her how much he loves her…..he looks at me with a grimace on his face and says in to the microphone “She knows — I don’t have to say it!”
This made the audience gasp and you could feel the room start turn on him…….so I wittingly let him step back into the line of three guys on stage and moved on to my last guy, who was very charming about his 48-year courtship with his wife……….all of this is really unimportant because the highlight of the show is after the interviews when I tell the audience that the reason I brought these guys up on stage is because I love to dance and that I will be teaching my World Famous Disco Line Dance Class on the next sea day and that I am going to start the fun a little early by teaching our three new friends some dance moves…..this is when the audience goes crazy……so the music starts the newlywed and the other guys get really into it and Mr. Grinch, just stands there…..
I try to encourage him, but nothing……so we finish with the group dances and then I tell the guys we are going to do a dance contest and the audience will decide the winner……this is when Mr. Grinch threw his hands up in the air in a grand dramatic gesture and yelled “This is ridiculous,” stormed off the stage and angrily sat down in the front row, arms folded with a frown on his face. The audience, who is usually always on the side of the guests booed him, so I just played it off and repeated my same intro line before Mr. Grinch stormed off in a huff, not wanting the audience to turn even more …….“We’re going to have a dance contest with our TWO new best friends.”
I am not so naive to think that everyone on a cruise vacation is going to get involved in crazy, off-the-wall events, and I never force people into doing anything they don’t want to do…..however, I gave this man the option to come on stage and to participate; he agreed and then quit. This is the first time that this has happened to me and I guess it is one of those entertainment business learning moments……but still……..did he have to interrupt my shtick?
I have not seen Mr. Grinch since the events of last night, but my hope is that his Christmas story has a happy ending. Scrooge realized the error of his ways in the Dickens classic and even the Dr. Who’s Grinch caught the holiday spirit in the end…….so here is hoping the Mr. Grinch will be in the front row of my Disco Dance Class tomorrow……I will keep you updated!
Before I go today, I have included a picture of the Carnival Glory Entertainment Dept. Holiday Card. It is a Carnival tradition that all of the on board departments take a group photo around the holidays and share it with the fleet. Enjoy!
Reading this makes you want to book a cruise for the holidays next yet doesn’t it? Thanks Butch and I know thanks to you and the crew the guests will have a wonderful Christmas cruise. We will have another offering from Butchy tomorrow.
Remember Jaime?………She provided us with so many great Dear John letters during the trans-Atlantic crossing of the Carnival Splendor. I think I mentioned that she was more than ready to become an assistant cruise director. Well, she was and she is……….on the Carnival Pride. However, just before we congratulate her promotion I should tell you that as it sometimes happens on ships……….her promotion didn’t last long.
That’s because that Dan, the cruise director on the Carnival Pride, had to leave suddenly for a family emergency. We wish he and his family well and they are in our thoughts. This meant that after just one week as an assistant cruise director, Jaime suddenly found herself promoted to acting cruise director and this week, she will be sitting in the big chair. I know she will do a wonderful job and thought maybe one or two of you may like to post a few words of congratulations.
We should also congratulate my friend Shawn Bussey who is also with child. She is currently serving as cruise director on the Carnival Legend and for the many of you who have sailed with her and enjoyed her charm and fun will want to say congratulations, as well. She will be leaving soon and before she does we will have a chat with her. Congratulations Shawn.
Here is a video I recorded while I was in Miami last month. I think you will be interested to see how your cruise tickets are printed.
There are many signs that you need to lose weight. These include the sucking in exercises needed in order to get the Easy Jet seat belt around me and the fact that even though Heidi is three months pregnant my tummy is bigger than hers. However, yesterday a new reason reared its ugly head when my six-year-old nephew asked if I was Santa “because I had a big stomach.”
Bugger!
So, I decided to lose weight (and I mean it this time) and before that starts I decided that yes……….I am Santa…………..well…………at least for the benefit of today’s blog.
And so:
Hello,
boys, girls and bloggers. As you might imagine, this is a very hectic time of year for Santa. I have, quite literally, a million and one things to do before Christmas Eve, and I haven’t even started my shopping yet. Yes, Santa must shop too. Do you think Mrs. Claus would be happy with something I put together in the workshop? She would not. And Christmas shopping here in the Lapland/North Pole area is not exactly straightforward. We’ve got an Ikea, and a Starbucks, and that’s about it.A lot of people ask me, “What the worst thing about being Santa?” Have a guess. No, it’s not the hours. No, it’s not having to eat four billion cookies in the course of an evening’s work (the secret is to take just a small bite from each one)……… It’s the paperwork.
There’s my licensing agreement with Playstation and Nintendo, for a start. It runs to 88 pages, and if I don’t sign it, then the 40,400 elves churning out Wii games downstairs right now may as well go home, but Santa’s lawyers (yes, Santa has lawyers – many, many lawyers) want changes to the wording regarding North American distribution rights.
There’s my annual coal order – Santa is one of the biggest buyers of coal, after China – which this year I thought I would do in the summer, to get a jump on things, but I bought at the top of the market and now, of course, the price is plummeting. If you get coal in your stocking this year, it’s not necessarily because you were naughty; it’s because Santa can’t give the stuff away.
On top of the present list and the Naughty/Nice List, I have to finish the Naughty/Nice Addendum for 2009, because if you don’t give people a clear idea of which activities constitute naughtiness, they can get litigious later on (another reason why Santa has many, many lawyers).
Every year I have to do an update. So, for example: piracy – naughty; pyramid schemes – naughty; looking for my house on Google Earth – very naughty……….cruising on RCI……well that constitutes you getting what we call here in Lapland “bugger all.”
Finally there are the inevitable customs declarations, immigration cards, visa waivers, and more. It’s hard enough delivering toys to children all over the world in one night without all this red tape. Two years ago, I was held up at the Miami airport for two hours because the Customs Officer decided the picture in my passport didn’t look like me. It’s true that I was a lot heavier when the photo was taken, but I mean, come on. I’m Santa.
I also get asked lot of questions about my name. Last year when I was on my rounds some kid came up to me and said, “So what should I call you? Santa Claus or Father Christmas?” I said, “It’s four in the morning. What are you even doing up?” But I do understand the confusion the name thing causes for some people, so it might be helpful if I give you the official explanation. Father Christmas is the office I hold. Santa Claus is my name.
On checks I write “J Santa Claus.” I tell people that the J stands for Jolly, but actually it’s Jason. I know – that’s why I don’t use it.
Santa, however, is not the politically correct sort, and I don’t stand on ceremony. You can call me Santa, Santa Claus or Father Christmas, or for that matter St Nicholas, Père Noël, Papa Noel or Babbo Natale. In Germany they say Weihnachtsmann, which means “Christmas Man,” and that’s fine too. I don’t mind Kris Kringle, even though I have no idea where it comes from. Santa Baby is the only one I really don’t like; I find it presumptive and patronizing. It’s the kind of thing waiters say when they recognize me: “Hey, Santa Baby!” I’m like, “Ho, ho, ho.” Then I pay the bill with coal.
With everyone so worried about the credit crunch, it’s worth pointing out that for some people the downturn has proven to be a blessing, and that includes Santa. For me it means smaller lists, a lighter sack and fewer Rolexes and Prada purses the Elves have to make. The elves really hate making that stuff. But what do elves know? If you left it to the elves everyone would get some hemmeroid cream this year.
No, my friends, the biggest threat to Christmas is not the recession – its global warming.
Every year we see the changes here at Christmas HQ. Normally we’ve got deep drifts of pristine white snow right up to the window sills year round, but this summer the ice and snow retreated further than ever, leaving bare earth visible for the first time in many centuries. This means we have no snow which means I can’t use the sleigh. Instead I will be using a Toyota Prius which, will no doubt, keep the environmental people with beards very happy.
This means that Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer are unemployed.
However, there is some good news as we have found some use for Rudolph who is currently cooking nicely on the spit………should make a nice change from turkey.
Ho, Ho, Ho.
I will be back with a Christmas and Holiday card for you all tomorrow
Goodnight
Your friends
Santa, Mrs Claus and the Thingy.
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.
John, I too need to lose weight. I’ve had some success with a low carb diet. I managed to drop 25 pounds, but that was 5 years ago and I’ve gained 10 lbs back. I’m going to get back into the low carb diet right away in 2009. I don’t think starting in the middle of the holidays is a good idea, but I will try to exercise a little self control!
Best,
Tom
First I would like to say Happy Holidays to everyone. To me this is a time to reflect on the past year. And what a year it has been. It all seems to fly by so quickly….this is the time I like to think back on everything that has happened.
Thanks and best wishes to all my blogging friends for a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
Congratulations John and Heidi…you will make magnificent parents. (BTW…I think it’s a girl.)
Congratulations to Jaime, our now acting cruise director on the Carnival Pride! Way to go!
And finally, congratulations to Shawn Bussey. May you have a healthy baby!
Don’t drink too much egg nog!
Lori
Catmama044
hello john
first MERRY CHRISTMAS,,and guess what?
santa was here in florida,,,,and he left you a gift.
i will bring it to you on the bloggers cruise.
do you want me to open it?
your florida buddies
tom & jane
PLEASE REPLY
Congratulations Jamie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!
A plasma ? really?? ??????????
Merry Christmas to all!!
With love
Nanni
John,
I’m thrilled to hear the news about Jaime and Shawn.
Jaime,
Congratulations on a well deserved promotion. I’m sure you will do an exceptional job as acting CD. Will you still be on the Pride when she gets to Baltimore? You’ll have to keep us in the loop…would love to point you to the best places to enjoy steamed crabs…you can’t spend time in Baltimore without having those!
Congrats again!
Shawn,
A huge congratulations to you as well. What lovely news. I know you’ll make a wonderful Mom and will keep that little one entertained. How much longer will Shawn be onboard? Will she be leaving Carnival for good? Does she know if she’s having a boy or a girl? Oh, so many questions, so little time.
I have such fond memories of Shawn. We’ve cruised with her 3 times–once as a Social Host in 1996 and twice as the CD–in fact, she was the CD on our all time favorite cruise which was to Hawaii in 2006. She made a most memorable cruise all the better. As happy as I am for her, I’m sad that she’s leaving Carnival.
Congrats again, and good luck for a happy and healthy pregnancy! Take care,
Lisa Kilmartin
OMG I am so proud of Jaime! She will be a bright star on the Pride I know! Please send mybest wishes to her and I hope that she will send you some Dear John letters about her new job. I always enjoyed them and enjoyed meeting her on the Splendor over Thanksgiving. I hate it that she won’t be with us for South America but I’m happy for her!
I loved the Santa story! I hope that Santa doesn’t have any trouble finding your house and that he leaves wonderful gifts for you, Heidi and baby!
Thank you for making our days brighter and making us laugh each day with your blog. That is a gift you share with all of us and I am grateful for those smiles and in many cases belly laughs.
Merry Christmas to you and your family from me!
Cheryl
John, Would you please tell Santa to talk Don into booking us a cruise on the Valor for March 29th? And if he can’t talk Don into doing, would he be so kind as to leave me/us tickets under the tree? I’ve been a really good girl this year. That’s all I want for Christmas.
Countess Carolyn (well maybe I’ve been just a little mischievious……. lol)
Merry Christmas Stephanie.
John, Hedi and Thingy, Have a Wonderfull Christmas together……
Hi John & Heidi: I trust you got our Christmas card? The picture was taken on the Splendor 3 weeks ago. Sounds like Santa J is very busy with his Christmas shopping! Have a holly jolly time! Ciao, Your friends, Mike & Linda
Hi John,
It’s me, PennyB from New Orleans.
I wanted to share with you my experiences with my husbands ashes. You brought it up so I guess I can share with everyone. He died almost two years ago and following his wishes we have distributed his ashes in various places worldwide. We had a good life and a good marriage of almost 40 years but after a lingering health problem he passed away. We were able to do some traveling, took several cruises, and were just beginning the “retired life”. Where has he gone? With a small amount of ashes in zip lock bags he has been left at his favorite spots and some future places he wanted to go. My children (adults) have helped as have good friends. His fishing friends had a service at the fish camp, my son took some to the hunting camp, to the cemetary where his mom & dad are buried, the church where we were married, the university where we met and attended, Donali, Alaska (our last cruise and taken by friends on their trip), Disney, the Vatican, and the Med. His most requested spot (in a beer can in the back yard) I also took care of. I wish he could have made some of those trips in person and I think he would have also enjoyed meeting you. He loved a good joke and a cold beer. He has joined me in spirit on my travels.
Happy Holidays,
PennyB
John,
Doesn’t it feel good to know that you aren’t the only cruise director who had butt headed guests on board? Poor Butch and even more so, poor Mr. Grinch.
How can someone be on board a beautiful Carnival ship and not have a smile on his/her face? Mr. Grinch may as well give in and start having fun because I’m betting that Butch will figure out some why to make sure he does. Go get ‘em, Butch!!!
WOOOOOHOOOOOHOOOOO for Jaime!!! She was wonderful on the Splendor and I’m sure she’ll be brilliant sitting in for Dan until he can return. Go, Jaime, go!!!
Uhhh… Santa… if it wouldn’t be too much trouble could you bring me an extra week of vacation so that I might be able to sail with John on one of the Dream Blogger’s cruises?? I’ll be expecting the voucher for nine days of vacation in my stocking. Thank you.
Ciao!!!
Host Mach
HAPPY HOLIDAYS JOHN AND HEIDI AND THINGY!!!
OUR 2007 FREEDOM EUROPE TRIP WAS INCREDIBLE SO THAT MEANS… WILL SEE YOU SOON!!! CAN’T WAIT!!!
LOVE TO YOU BOTH, PAULA AND NELSON BAKER IN NORTH CAROLINA
Hi John/Heidi:
Nice purchase that you made. Now you get to look forward to setting up the HD and all the other stuff that comes with it. Yay
Great letter from Butch. There is always a grinch.
Congrats to Jaime.
Happy Holidays and stay warm.
Take care!
David
JAIME:
WOO HOO!!!! WAY TO GO!!!
Sure do wish I was sailing on the Pride right now.
We would love to sail with you a Cruise Director.
(acting or otherwise)
We are all very proud of you!!
Linda (Mom of one of your biggest fans DJ)
Respond
Hi John
Oh,how I remember the days at Xerox corporation working on machines like that.
I miss the day since I’m unemployed can I work for Carnival.
Hollidays to all
Ray and Jeanne
Hi John,
I agree there are way too many questions involved in making a simple purchase these days.
I must say having first read your bit on shopping and then the bit with Butch and “scrooge”, I see similarities.
Neither you nor “scrooge” wished to be bothered by what you perceived to be silliness.
What would be the reaction from Butch or the audience if “scrooge” had refused to come on stage? Butch said “I gave this man the option to come on stage ” , but is it really an option?
Would there have been addition “prodding” from Butch if the man continued to refuse?
Just another perspective to consider.
See you on BLOG2NOLA soon.
Phil & Liz
dude, funny you should talk about losing weight today. prince charlie was sent to fat school by his doctor and he dragged me along. it sucked…
and jaime? wayyyyy to go girl!!! woo hoo!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
Just want to send congratulations to Shawn Bussey. She is my second most favorite CD. My wife and I were on an Alaskan cruise with her and I remember her saying she was getting married.
Dear Santa,
I have been a good girl this year. I have obeyed my elders and have done my chores… I have been cheerful and happy and tried to spread joy… I promise next year to be even better.
Here’s my shopping list: I’ve made it very easy, since you’ve already given me my greatest present… a SON!!
For the rest just call Tim, my PVP, and order Carnival Cruises. He has all my info. (And as a past guest, you even save money!!!) Order Bloggers Cruises and everything Carnival there is!!!
Thank you,
Love,
Your best behaved Lambie!!
John,
Please pass on to Jamie my Congrats I think sahe will do just fine, and I am sure she has you phone number jsust in case. also please pass on congrats to Shawn, I have sailed with her a few times and have always enjoyed her shows…..
Have a safe and happy Christmas
Your Friend
Capt Bill
John,
What a great blog today!
The video of the ticket making machine was extrememly interesting! I am the type of person who is fascinated with all the behind the scene things, and the thought that 5000 of those books are made daily is so interesting! I hope those Gentlemen realize that their jobs provide such joy for many! It is amazing how many people do the “Document Dance” on Cruise Critic!
Congrats to Jaimie for her new assignment. We will be on the Pride in April, and I hope to see her then!
Oh.. and by the way… reading this message will NOT require your phone number or personal information, nor will it enlarge your private parts!
Catrin
John, Heidi and Thingy,
My very best wishes to all of you for a very happy holiday! I know that 2009 will be the best year ever for you since you will have Thing 1 appear. Hopefully, Thing 2, and maybe even Thing 3, will not be too far behind.
Best wishes also to all the blogger family. John has brought us all together–this must be the largest “family” on record. Do you suppose we could make it into the book of world records?!
See what you can do, dear Santa?
By the way John, are you doing the radio thing again this year?
Enjoy your time with all your family and friends!!!
Sheryl
“CONGRATULATIONS JAIME ”
” CONGRATULATIONS SHAWN ”
Good evening John, Heidi and Thingy. Hope that everyone is doing well. This year my wife and I decided not to give Christmas gifts and have our cruise in January as our gift. I was very impressed with your video. I never thought how difficult it was to put the booklet together. Now when I get my booklet I will think of those two men who worked so well for me and all those who have planned on a Carnival cruise.
” Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all those in the Carnival Cruise Line. ”
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Congrats to Jaime, she deserves the promotion, she is great. I commented to Mike onboard the Splendor that she was CD material, knew she could do it! Good Luck Jaime, and to Shawn, congrats on the new baby-to-be! If all the employees on Carnival keep getting PG, there won’t be anyone left! (Women I mean)! HA! HA! But we all know women run the ship anyway, right? Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night! Linda & Mike
Dear John,
Love the Santa story. If you ever retire from “cruising” you can definitely make your second career writing. You do have a gift.
Congratulations to Jaime on her new position…nothing like being tossed in feet first, but I’m sure she’ll be great!
Also, congratulations to Shawn, the mommy to be. Must be something in the water on those Carnival ships. Watch out ladies!
Once more, a very merry Christmas to you, John, and Heidi, Thingy Desk, Mum and Dad, Suze and family, Stephanie and all the bloggers.
Your pal, Myra
Dear John,
Just got back off of the Valor and was curious about something I noticed, not only on this cruise, but our last one (the Miracle) too… Why do the head CD’s have little interaction with the passenger’s then in the years past? It seems like during our last two, the assistant CD’s were more active and much more seen around the ship. The only time we saw the head CD’s were during the evening shows and on occasion, going from one place to another. Don’t get me wrong… I know they are extremely busy, however on our previous cruises, the CD’s were everywhere and kept in touch with the passengers all the time (maybe we were spoiled with you being our first!).
So it doesn’t make sense why we hardly ever see them. Some of our fellow passengers were asking the same question too so atleast we know we aren’t the only ones who have witnessed this. Anyway, Merry X-Mas to you, Heidi, and the little one!
Please Reply
Hi John
Happy Holidays to You, and the family.
There is a rumor that Carnival is closing the Supper Clubs early next year. Can you shed any light on this?
Thanks as always!
David
Merry Christmas John, Heidi, Thingy and Stephanie! Thank you all so much for everything you do to make so many people smile. I look forward to the day that I get to meet all of you!
Congratulations Jaime! How about a little guest blog about your very first CD experience?? Go Girl!
John, my sister-in-law saw the following poem on Vacations to Go and sent it to me as she knew we’re leaving for the Carnival Splendor in a few days. (Thanks for taking care of things for dinner!!!) Thought the readers might enjoy enjoy the poem…although I had to change a few lines mentioning rock walls and ice rinks! lol
————-
‘Twas the Night
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and far out at sea
Our vessel was sailing, as smooth as could be
The stockings were hung from the balcony chairs
With hope that St. Nicholas would find them out there
The children were nestled all snug in their uppers
Having just settled down from a Christmas Eve supper
And ma and myself, we were covered in aloe
A bit too much sun, in a pool, warm and shallow
When up in the sky, there arose such a clatter
I leapt from my bed to see what was the matter
To the sliding glass door, I flew like a flash
Well, more like a saunter, and less like a dash
And what to my skeptical eyes should appear
But a great shiny sleigh, and eight flying reindeer
They circled our ship, from starboard to port
As the moon lit the driver, a jolly old sort
Who called to his team, in a happy retort
“Now Dasher, now Dancer,” so on and so forth
We raced through our cabin and into the hall
To the very top deck, in time for us all
To be awed by the sight of Old Santa’s sleigh
As he lightly touched down, by the midnight buffet
With a bundle of goodies thrown over his back
He rose in the air and dropped down the smokestack
Santa went straight to work, and later we learned
He found every child’s cabin, from the bow to the stern
Insides and oceanviews, balconies and suites
Santa filled every stocking, with toys and with treats
Until all his deliveries had been handled with care
Then he noted he still had a minute to spare
So he danced at the disco and busted some moves
While Dasher and Dancer chilled at the pool
And Prancer, who had never cared for the cold
Tried out the sauna, a sight to behold
And then with a whistle, Santa summoned his team
And he bade us farewell, silent nights and sweet dreams
And I heard him exclaim, as he flew out of view
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good cruise.
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Merry Christmas Everyone!!!
Dear John send our prayers to Dan and family that everything is alright at home.I’m sure Jaime will do a great job she can’t fail she works for Carnival.Sorry Butch had such a Grinch there everywhere.
Santa you have given me and Bug our Christmas already.Being able to go on the Bloggers Cruise in February,We can’t wait.Best wishes to all Gary and Bug
Hello,
I am new here and going to take my first cruise solo on Feb 8, on the Freedom. I know the ship is only a year or so old. Can you tell me if it by chance has a pool lift? I am in a wheelchair and would like to know if I need to hunt for a swimsuit in the middle of winter here. I am so excited to finally go on my first cruise and look forward to meeting people and learning the fun things to do getting my sea legs (or wheels).
Brenda
Merry Christmas John, Heidi & Baby Thingy
May this be a Christmas of much happiness and joy for you followed by a wonderful new year.
Sharon & Don
Nevada
Merry Christmas, John and Heidi. By the way, there is no need for unemployed reindeer. A zoo in Bloomington, Illinois has been collecting reindeer poop and making Christmas ornaments from them. They’ve been selling like hotcakes (poopcakes?) and all the proceeds benefit the zoo. As Dave Barry would say “I am not making this up.” Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful Christmas and holiday.
This speshial [sic] comment since I cannot stand snow anymore! I’ve shoveled and snow-blowed multiple times per day, got my car wedged in a snow drift, and slipped on my @ss whilst shoveling that white crud… and I have Frank Sinatra in my head for some reason….not to mention I am just ITCHING to be in some tropical climate on a cruise ship…
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and Mars
…
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing for ever more
.
.
.
Come fly with me, lets fly lets fly away
If you can use, some exotic booze
There’s a bar in far Bombay
Come fly with me, we’ll fly we’ll fly away
Come fly with me, lets float down to Peru
In lama land, there’s a one man band
And hell toot his flute for you
Come fly with me, well float down in the blue
Once I get you up there, where the air is rarefied
Well just glide, starry eyed
Once I get you up there, I’ll be holding you so near
You may here, angels cheer – because we’re together
Weather wise it’s such a lovely day
You just say the words, and well beat the birds
Down to Acapulco bay
Its perfect, for a flying honeymoon – they say
Come fly with me, well fly well fly away
The Flying (singin’ in the snow) Dutchman
PLEASE REPLY
hi john & family
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
santa left to a gift at our house,,
will bring it to the Blogger #2
guess you been a good boy.
hint :::::TAMPA FLORIDA also known as
CIGAR CITY
see you soon
hugs
tom % jane
Mr Grinch unfortunately will find himself labeled for the rest of the cruise.
I hope everything goes smoothly for Jaimie, that’s quite a promotion!
Feliz Navidad from New Mexico!
KathyG
Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a great and prosperous New Year for all. Thank you John for giving us a laugh everyday.
Mary Lou
Hi John & Heidi,
Great Christmas present John.
Dear Santa – ask John to get me one too.
It’s taken me all morning to catch up with the blog thingys from Thursday. It’s no fun having a cold and a birthday at the same time. Cold medicine & Bailey’s do not mix. Besides calling me Christmas Carol, they’re now calling me Rudolph. Bah Humbug!
But thank you again for showing my cabin on the Dream. Everything sounds absolutely wonderful. I can’t wait until November.
We’re leaving in about an hour, so I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Festivus, or just plain old Thursday. A healthy & happy New Year to all.
Love,
Carol
Hi John Heidi and all you bloggers
Happy Christmas
Its now 6pm christmas eve and going to get myself ready for a evening out in the broadway at mr pings, looking forward to a lovely dinner with my husband and boys. Wanted to wish you all a great christmas and hope all is well.
Enjoy and me Merry
Michellexx
Merry Christmas John, Heidi, Baby Thingy, Stephanie, and all Bloggers.
Congratualtions to Jaime and Shawn
We send all our Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.
The Tuckers
Arnold & Elizabeth
Dear John
You’re not the only one that is making the effort to lose weight this coming year, I need to do the same as I’ve gained too much weight and do not look healthy at all. As you well know it is not an easy task but support is what one needs for sure. We’ll be here for you if you need us.
Thank you for all the daily smiles you give us. Blogging is a full-time job and keeping up with our requests must take its toll on you. We appreciate everything you do for us and really enjoy reading what you are up to.
Wanted to wish you and Heidi and thingy a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Enjoy your Plasma TV and the “toilet” you donated to Oxfam.
Merry Christmas
Eva
Congratulations, Jaime!!!
Remember us from the Splendor’s maiden Atlantic crossing? I knew then that becoming a CD is much sooner than you thought. Again, best wishes and good luck. We miss that “Dear John” letters.
Congrats to Shawn also for the baby thingy! Hope to sail with you again before you leave Carnival.
Congratulations to Jamie, I know her only through her wonderful contributions to the blog, but can tell she will do well. Was hoping to meet her when we board The Splendor 1/10/09. Maybe catch her on the Pride some other time.
Happy Holidays to all the great people at Carnival that make our vacations always something to remember.
Marlene & Steve
CONGRATULATIONS JAMIE!!!
John,
Please give Jamie our heartfelt congrats on being a acting cruise director! that is wonderful news.
Also Shawn Bussey was my CD on my very first cruise ( Carnival Spirit, 2006 to Alaska). Shawn was part of the reason that Randall and I got hooked on Carnival! Congrats to Shawn and Hubby as well!.