Here are two more videos from the blogger’s cruise. Normal blogging service will resume tomorrow.
Our very own Piano Man, Adam at the Blogger’s talent show
John interviews the Carnival Fantasy head chef
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.
Thanks again John for another two videos.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
we just made it home flight was delayed about 7 hours due to weather in nj
Just before I leave for work, just had to check in on the blog, what a great start to the day.
Hope all is well, love reading all the fun on the fantasy, what a fantasitc ship have some great memories.
Wishing you all a very happy valentine day tomorrow, take care
michellex
John, I wanted to thank you for all the hard work on the Bloggers cruise. Your staff was also amazing. The 2 Stephanies were always busy making things go smoothly. Your PC guys keeping the blog going for folks at home.
We had a blast. I know you made a convert of Donna. She had only had a casual interest in the blog and Cruise Critic. I think she will be a die hard fan.
Al and Lewis were fantastic. Just being able to hang out with them before and after the shows was great. They are just as much of a riot off the stage as on.
Keep up the good work. I know you took lots of notes on all the feedback from the bloggers.
They best of wishes to you, Hedi and the Thingy.
Adam is quite talented! Thank you for sharing.
Hi John:
Thank you for your hospitality during the Carnival Fantasy cruise. Stephanie, Stephanie, Tom and Tony are great, you have good support in them.
Marjorie and I surely enjoyed all of the extra functions provided by the Blogger Cruise. A wonderful experience. Captain Scala (sp?)is a jewel, very charismatic. The “Inferno” is a great comedian. The crew of the Carnival Fantasy held up the Carnival tradition of good service with a smile and willingness to go out of their way to insure a pleasant time.
The lady that started the Beacon of Hope was speechless when you presented the $5000 check from Carnival. It was amazing how the work we did in the park improved the area in a short period of time. Bloggers know how to get things done.
The cabins on the Carnival Dream for the December 3 blogger cruise are selling out, so anyone that wants to go needs to make a booking now. I hear the cruise is 75% sold already. I can tell you it is a wonderful experience, lots of good people to enjoy, special guests and experiences that will enhance the cruise. John is an exceptional host.
Heidi, we missed you and look forward to when John and you and the new Heald can get on the ships. All the best.
way to go adam!!! hope they grab you up at carnival! you rocked ‘em honey!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
what a cruise john great job the best, 2 Stephanies were outstanding what a job they were you life support, your staff the best by far, al ernest and lewis nixon added so much thanks guys for staying the full 5 days. Host mach kuki and big ed’s group storming norman and lot more thanks thanks thanks doesnt get any better this is what crusing is all about fun laugher and friendship
John, It was certainly an enjoyable cruise. We wish all of our fellow cruisers that we met on board the very best.
Jim and Mary
Hi John,
Just wanted to say it was nice to finally meet you and the lovely Stephanies. I swear it was just a scratch but thanks for showing a concern.
It seems strange seeing Jorg on the Fantasy as I have seen him so many times on the Holiday.
I believe everyone that I have talked to enjoyed the cruise except the part where we sailed away during muster drill. For first time cruisers, it is taking away something special when that occurs.
Hope you get to feeling better. I now know where I got my cough and sore throat from.
Revenge for giving you a bit of leg during the nightgown contest.
I see where the PVP’s are being asked to submit 10 names each for the Carnival house party. Hopefully we will be allowed to submit our names at some point.
Dave
Hi John!
Great videos. Thanks for adding.
Seems like everyone had an amazing time.
Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
Take care!
David
John,
We as well were delayed and arrived at midnight last night after one of the most frightening flights my wife and I have ever had the displeasure of experiencing! Having said that, the Blogger’s cruise aboard the Carnival Fantasy was spectacular! The weather, the people, the seas, the ship (which we fell in love with), reminded us of our first cruise aboard the Celebration. Carnival did an amazing job on the make-over and it really shows. We tried the big water slide on the last day and all we can say is WOW! We had no idea that it shot you through the tubes like a cannon! We had an absolute blast with you and the groups. It was a pleasure talking with you and the Stephanies, as well as the rest of your very talented crew. It was extra special for me when we found out that Al Ernst was aboard, as he is one of our favorites… (Cozumelt/Cozumeltians), gotta love him! The captain was charming and FUNNY! We felt honored to be on his final cruise as captain of the Fantasy. We would like to cruise with him again.
Truly the highlight of this trip was the private tea with Big Ed’s Evil Krewe. We had so much fun with all of the gifts, both gag and heartfelt. If this keeps up, your dad’s going to have to expand his shrine room back home!
John, this group of people is very special. We were not an established online blog community like Cruise Critics, or Cruise Mates (loved meeting some of you as well!!) We discovered you during your first week of blogging. We were already Carnival cruisers, so right off the bat we all had that in common. The other common thread was our affection for you. Most had sailed with you as CD in the past and it was a great way to get our “John Heald Fix” on a regular basis. As you opened up your heart and home onboard, we quickly became addicted. It was a short time after that the idea went out about a Blogger’s cruise. Big Ed, your first post, I believe, then proceeded to round us up, one by one and we started to gel into what we are today. You see, we didn’t know each other at all. When we began to scheme and plan (that’s where the EVIL comes from) all of the surprises for your birthday party, as well as some surprises for Heidi and Roberto, it was then we began to interact as more than just an online community. We were becoming a family. So you see John, if it weren’t for your Blog Thingy, we would all have never met. We are a direct product of you and your blog. I would like to take this time to thank you for introducing us to each other, for bringing us together and for keeping us entertained and enlightened. This cruise was without a doubt, one of the most special moments of our lives. I’m sure once all of the photos and videos are posted, it will really begin to sink in as to the magnitude of this Blogger’s Cruise. The charity event with Beacon of Hope will stay with us forever. Thank you for all that you do. We hope to be a part of a future Blogger’s Cruise very soon.
Your friends,
Lance & Ilda Gunberg
We had a great time! I’m waiting for the carnival in a box link…..remember I’m number one on the list we started on the Blogger’s Cruise #2.
Melody
John;
Arrived home late last night, we really enjoyed the cruise. Many thanks to Capt Scala, To you of course, the two stephanie’s, Cris, Tom, Tony, Al, Lewis and the whole crew for makeing this a really fun trip.
Thanks
Bob and Dianne
Hi John and Heidi!
We just wanted to let you know our little Chloe was born on January 21! She came 11 days early…actually, she came the week we were supposed to be on the Splendor! It was such an amazing experience…she is so beautiful! She was 7 pounds 6 ounces, 19 inches long. She was actually a lot smaller than they estimated…she was supposed to be well over 8 pounds. Tell Heidi if she has any questions for a new mom I’d be happy to answer them! We hope you are all doing well.
Amy, Jeff, and Chloe
Yep that is right no longer Rodney from Cruising crazees Now I am from the newest group of bloggers that formed out of necessity onboard the Fantasy this week. We even had a chance to convert (I think anyway) some from the Cruisemates group.
All and all we had a good time, but at times, felt as though we were misfits and not in the true blogger community. Thus the self entitlement “Blogging Misfits”. The dining room readjustment was just the tip of the iceberg in that some of our misfit crew, not the chosen few, were moved from our dining tables where we already had a relationship with the wait staff and people around we liked being with to a corner of the room where they felt once again as misfits. To find that the next night the table they were moved to was taken by someone from the chosen groups. And once again were forced to move to a different table. I feel that just because someone that did not have proper service on the first night should not be able to throw his “WEIGHT” around just because he was a leader of one of the groups and felt it needed to change so he could receive the service he felt he deserved more than us misfits. On the one night I wish, maybe, my table was moved due to the classless act of someone at another table flashing everyone in the room her chest and not in the least taking into account that Carnival caters to Family and there were many children in the dining room. Maybe she might want to get in touch with Bare Necessities which has nude cruises yearly….and did I mention she was with one of the elite groups.
This is just one of the things that made us feel like we were not worthy of being on the cruise with the Cruise mates, cruise critic and Evil crew members. As far as I am concerned we all were there as a family of people that have one thing in common and that was this Blog. Some of the people in my group are VIP members as they have cruised with Carnival many times. I think some as many as 30 times. I did not realize that being in a group other than Bloggers was required to feel like we were meant to be ther
Hi John!
This was our 1st cruise and we had a blast! We enjoyed the ship, the food, and the ports. It was so nice to meet you, in person. I just want to thank you and your team for including our kids (3) in everything. It meant a lot to them to be included!
Thanks,
Stacey, Brad,
Will, Lindsey, and Josef
John – another great job by you and your staff. Only wished the cruise was longer.
Amy & Sgt. Jeff – Congratulations and hope all is well with you and your new family.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Carol
I finally got home early this morning. Because planeswere delayed in the East….that caused a “ripple effect” for those in the West depending on those planes. Am waiting for “Carnival in a Box.”
Also waiting to rejoin Al/Lewis/everybody else for “60s TV Themes Singalong” at the Lobby Bar. Maybe we should “take it on the road” next time. Or expand it to the “70s Aaron Spelling TV Theme Hour”
John,
As much as this will amaze everybody, I must agree with what Sir Lancelot said about Big Ed’s Evil Krewe. “We Are Family” is so true. We have cried together, laughed together, and had a lot of fun together, and that is all thanks to you John. Thank you for giving me another family.
Princess Susan
Hi Heidi we REALLY missed you!!!
Hi Stephanie, I still have your sharpie….want me to mail it back to you?????
Well Helloooo~
Thanks so much for a “wonderful” experience, John. It was a pleasure and an honor to finally meet you. Now you can put our names to our faces,,,,,,I think you were surprised. For the “good” we hope.
Our swim with the dolphins was an experience we shall never forget. What brilliant creatures to say the least. We thank you for the tip and the opportunity to make another addition to our “bucket list”.
The activities planned were fun, fun and more fun. The food (as always) was delicious and the wait staff superb. However, I must bring to your attention about a certain someone seated a table away from us. SHE was nothing short of obnoxious, crude, rude, and to say the least, a PIG! While we were dining, we overheard her foul mouth, watched her rude behavior toward the wait staff and her crude antics by exposing herself by lifting up her shirt showing everyone her breasts (not once but twice) then standing up out of her seat to drop her pants for all to get a good look. Luckily, the Maitre’d (sp) intervened before that too got out of hand. I hope that person is reading this entry because she will definitely know who SHE is! NO CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I might add, seated at a table next to us was a family with 3 young girls. Charming,,,,,,, I was so close to going over to the table to tell her what I thought of her but quickly realized, this was NOT the first time SHE did something like this and it wasn’t going to be the last. I was NOT going to make a difference,,,,only lower myself to her level. Other than that,,,,,,,,,the cruise was a blast and fun was had by all. Again,,,,,thank you for a well-planned cruise and the pleasure was all ours.
Jeanette
Adam, I must say that your performance was one of the big things missed by not getting on this cruise! Sounds like a lot of people enjoyed the Fantasy and Lance and Ilda reported on the slide. Rest up, John and the Stephanies. Your preparations for more groups of cruisers will be on you and the many obligations of your craft………Thanks for painging the picture with laughs and video.
Love,
Kap
We had a great time. Too short. We are now in search of freinds that we made on the cruise. It is Brenda R and husband, Paul. The couple from Frisco, Tx who has tried to talk us into going Platnium. Please reply so we can keep in touch. We enjoyed Al Ernst. By the way, if you go to UTUBE, you can watch a skit of Al and John. Thank you again for a great time
Above all, we need our friends to reply, we miss our talks with Ruth and Delsie.
Stay safe.
I was just wondering when the male nightgown contest video is going to be posted? Thanks Sheri
I just wanted to tell everyone that the video of Kuki doing his comedy routine is online now. The “reviews’ are also in – written by Kuki himself.
For those readers here who may not know – Kuki was the leader of the CruiseMates group on the just passed Blogger’s Cruise 2 on Carnival Fantasy.
During the cruise, the ship’s comedians persuaded him to go onstage as a standup comic for the very first time.
Now, Kuki had never done a comedy routine anywhere before, and the ship’s theater was nearly packed to the roof despite the fact it was the 11:00 pm show on the night before debarkation.
Read Kuki’s article and see the video of his Carnival Fantasy comedy routine:
http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/kukiside/Kuki-Comedy-021609.cfm
Made it home after long delay at airport. I want to personally thank John for a great time and Robert for a pair of his socks. It was cold at the airpot terminal and after 7 hour delay it got worse. I hope Robert got his suitcases because a bobble was on ebay for sale lol. First treatment went ok. Hope to see everyone again in Nov.