So here we are in Los Angeles a place full of crazy people. OK, I had better rewrite that and say “crazy person.”………her name is Angela. She is 33 years old and according the news here she won $22 million in the state lottery………….and she is nuts.
She has returned to her job as a $10-an-hour diner waitress serving greasy food to factory workers, and her congratulatory bottle of champagne remains unopened in her refrigerator. “I’m not going to go out and spend it just for the sake of it,” she said. “I never had money before and don’t want to waste it.”
Oh, for God’s sake. This kind of talk isn’t going to put any lead in the economy’s floppy pencil, is it? If new millionaires can’t be persuaded to crack open their wallets then who the hell can? It’s pathetic: we expect better from our lottery winners. We want to see them living the dream – buying quad bikes, mansions, white leather sofas and having neck-to-buttock tattoos of a tiger caressing a naked Latvian woman. We don’t want them schlepping around on a bus to the everything’s a dollar store. But they continually let us down.
There is a crazy British version of Angela called David Ashcroft. He vowed that money wouldn’t change him when he won £12.5million in 1997. Well, he got that right. He still lives in the same terraced house with his elderly parents and the only thing he has purchased is a new bathroom for his parents and a subscription to “I’m 45 years old and still live with my parents” magazine. Why is it these kinds of people who always seem to win? Money’s for spending! If I won the lottery Gerry Cahill wouldn’t see me for dust. I’d buy a French château………….and then blow it up just because I could. There would be a flock of Aston Martin’s in the garage and I would have Fruit of the Loom design me personalized diamante underpants.
But then again would I? Because maybe Angela isn’t crazy after all. “I can’t change in five minutes,” she said. “I have had to count every penny for so many years.”
Angela is right, of course: people can’t change. The way you were brought up remains with you throughout your life. In the UK there is a famous soccer player called Wayne Rooney. While David Beckham is reasonably good looking in a girly George Michael kind of way Wayne Rooney looks like a potato that looks like a thingy. He grew up in a very poor area of Liverpool and shared a bedroom with his two brothers and had very little in his life. Mr. Rooney has been blessed with massive soccer talents and now £90,000 ($120,000) a week at Manchester United a team sponsored by those hateful bastards at AIG and made up of players from Portugal, France, Holland and, in the case of Wayne Rooney, Walt Disney…………..he looks like Shrek.
Oh………..for my American friends who do not understand football, or soccer as y’all call it, it’s game in which 22 overpaid boys with idiotic hair run around a field attempting to kick an inflated sheep’s pancreas into some netting while an audience of several thousand beat one another over the head with bottles and chairs…………..that’s soccer……………..and I love it.
Anyway, last week Mr. Rooney went to a very posh restaurant and paid the £30 bill with some half-price vouchers. I’m sure he didn’t expect it to make global headlines, but it did because there is something boundlessly fascinating about mega-rich people fussing over piddling amounts of money.. It feels comical, unnatural – a bit like a French person in The Body Shop…
People like Rooney could wipe their bottoms on $50 notes and barely notice. But he comes from a tough neighborhood, where money is scarce and the joke goes that even the pit bulls walk round in pairs. I dare say it would seem idiotic to him and his family, not to use half-price vouchers if you’ve got them. Just as it would never have occurred to the thrifty Rod Stewart, a small shop owners son, not to make a reported 20-mile round trip back to an LA restaurant because they’d charged him $7 for a bottle of water that he didn’t order……but then again……..he is Scottish…………….put two Scottish people next to each other and you have a pair of tights.
I am sure basketball coaches have the same problem……….how do you coach these guys who come from a rough and tough neighborhood and haven’t had two pennies to rub together suddenly have millions of dollars in the bank………………………..it must be so hard for them to adapt and for the coaches to be a life coach to them.
The news reporter this morning said that the vast majority of winners return to work. Which raises the question: if you love your job so much, why did you go in for the lottery in the first place? There should be a new law passed that if winners don’t spend at least half their windfall within five years, they have to give it all back. Or to charity. Or to me. Because few things are more irritating than a multimillionaire claiming that money ultimately makes you miserable. Yes, I’m sure that’s probably true ……………………… all I’m asking for is the chance to prove it.
Yes indeed, here we are in Los Angeles and it’s a beautiful day. We will have 2,400 travel agents joining us today for a cruise to nowhere. I will tell you more about that and what else is happening shortly but first I have to answer some more questions marked for my reply. So, while I do that why don’t you listen to a very ummmm…..interesting interview I did yesterday for an internet show.
Here is the link thingy
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=204880&cmd=apop
Diane Wojda Asked:
Hi John,
I am writing to give you our room #### on the Valor sailing of 3/22/09. The reservation is under Diane, Gordon and Alec Wojda. It would be greatly appreciated if you would be able to request a private table at the early seating for our cruise. I know our son will love the production shows on the Valor. I think he is a little future cruise director! He loves to pretend at home and has learned all of Big Tex’s dance moves. Each trip he comes home with some new material. We love reading your blog and hope to sail with you soon.
Best wishes on the new baby.
John Says:
Hello Diane
Thanks for the information Diane and I have e mail Pablo the senior maitre d on the ship to assist you with this. All should be well and hopefully you are already there enjoying everything. Hope you have a great cruise
Best wishes
John
Rick H. Asked:
John:
I add my voice to the chorus calling for these guys to be placed on Carnival’s “banned forever” list.
Thank you for sharing this. It is just one more demonstration of the professionalism and competence of CCL’s employees and crew.
While on the topic: Kudos to CCL’s shore excursion office! We’re going on the Miracle next Sunday (3/29) and were considering shore excursions in St. Lucia, when, to our chagrin, the excursion we wanted to book disappeared from the list of those available. I emailed the shore excursion staff using the link provided, and received a timely response indicating that the excursion we wanted was sold out but that additional spaces had been requested from the tour operator and to keep checking back. Less than 2 hours later, the excursion was available again! Needless to say, we’ve already booked it! B-) It’s great to see excellent performance on three points: a timely response to a customer inquiry, affirmative action by the shore excursion office to try to increase capacity to meet demand, and the tour operator’s timely increase in capacity allowing my family and others to enjoy this excursion. Well done!
Can I ask two small favors, please?
First: There are 16 of us (8 adults and 8 children) sailing 3/29 on the Miracle. Can we request 2 tables for 8 each with the same wait staff at both tables? (perhaps with a view?) We’ve enjoyed this arrangement in the past; it allows us to have an “adults” table and a “kids” table without causing chaos for either the wait staff or fellow passengers. We’re all linked in the system to my reservation (cabin ####, booking number #####, early seating).
Second, could you please provide an address (either postal or email) where I can bring up an issue regarding bookings and upgrades? I discussed this a couple of weeks ago in response to your answer to reader Catrin; subsequent events have raised my blood pressure a bit more since then. I’d rather not post it here (or anywhere else in public) because I don’t want it to become fodder for the NoFreeSteakButYouCanClimbAWall of the Seas crowd.
Hope your flight(s) went well, and your California adventure goes well…
Give our regards to Heidi and Thingy. You’ll get to see them both soon!
Regards,
Rick H.John Says:
Hello Rick
Let me start by saying thanks to you for taking the time to say thanks to our shore excursion department. we have it is fair to say had some technical issues with our online bookling system which for the most part seem to have been repaired. It was therefore great to read that you experienced some first class service from them. I will send your dining request to the ship and I am sure they will be able to accommodate you. Please also send via the blog your comments on the booking concerns you have as I really want to read them. I will not post them if you just mark “not for posting” at the top and I will forward your comments to the correct person who I will make sure contacts you …………I will also follow up.
Thanks for the kind words and have a brilliant cruise on the Carnival Miracle
Cheers
John
Mark Brass Asked:
**John please reply**
RE: Alien vs. Predator
John, you are indeed a gentleman! The way you took care of your colleague and managed the allegation shows true professionalism.
I am so impressed and feeling all the more safer knowing how well trained and responsive Carnival’s Security staff are – not to mention, that indeed that all complaints even about their Senior CD are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated before any action is taken – I don’t think anyone would expect anything less.
John, the comment he made about him being an U.S. Citizen and you, an alien…implying some type of immunity, is not true as an assault did take place and U.S. laws apply when the ship is in U.S. waters or in an American Port (St. Thomas, San Juan, and Miami for example)? And generally when underway in international waters, Maritime law applies or is it the country of the ship’s registry?
Despite the answer, the lesson for anyone traveling anywhere in the world is to respect others and the laws of the country you are visiting…period whether we are French, British, Canadian or American. I think for the most part, the vast majority do, unfortunately there are some of our compatriots from our respective countries can make us blush, mad and pissed off.
Thanks John!
John Says:
Hello Mark
That was a brilliant post and I thank you so much for sharing your passionate thoughts with all of us. It was a unique situation and one I hope I never have to go through again. That’s not because of what happened to me but for what happened to the young bar waitress. I am big enough and ugly enough to bounce back but I am sure this incident will have a long lasting effect on her. The international waters excuse is one we hear now and then but as you so correctly said………..the laws of the land and the laws of being a human being still apply. I have no thoughts for this man……………..except the occasional one where he and I meet in a dark alley and his groin has a close encounter with my foot.
Thanks mate and I hope to hear from you again soon
John
Mike L Asked:
Hi John (please reply when you get a chance),
I hope you were able to enjoy your dinner… even if you were alone. I also hope you have a safe and hopefully unadventurous flight and trip to San Francisco.
Anyway, I have a quick question that I have been wondering for awhile, and I think some others have or have had similar thoughts.
Why doesn’t Carnival have its own private island? I know that Carnival owns Princess and Holland America and that some Carnival ships sometimes dock at Half Moon Cay (which I have read fantastic things about and hope to sail there soon), but why doesn’t Carnival have its own island. Many cruise lines (whether owned by Carnival or not) have their own island, and they always are among the most popular visits the ships make. It always makes for a very nice quiet, relaxing day… a perfect vacation day with a nice private beach, music and entertainment, and good food. Are there any plans for Carnival to get a private island?
Also, I noticed that Princess will only have one ship sailing in the Caribbean this summer. Is there a reason why Carnival does not take advantage of this and have some ships visit this island? Even during the winter, is there a reason why Carnival ships do not visit Princess Cay?
My last question is a little off topic… it involves live music, which has come up from time to time on the blog, and I know that you agree that it partially makes a cruise a cruise. I am considering a cruise on the Triumph, but I recently read that some of the live pool music has been replaced by the big screen piped in recorded music (not 100%, but someone on a message board wrote that they noticed this and that they noticed hours have been cut). I hope this isn’t so, as it is really is a factor when booking a cruise… after all, what is a cruise to the Caribbean/Bahamas without a reggae/Caribbean band? I can listen to pre-recorded music anytime at home. The good thing about some of the Princess ships is the TV and band are at two different pools, so the TV cannot necessarily be used to replace the band… they have both.
Do you have any info on this… the bands, the TVs by the pools, the reggae band on the Triumph and on the ships in general…. and lastly, I am hoping that the brand new Dream will have a good reggae band by the pool…?
Sorry that this ended up being so long. I and I feel some others am/might be interested in this, and when you get a chance, I definitely appreciate any info you have.
Thanks for everything John, and I hope you have safe and enjoyable travels. Speak soon, and I look forward to the next blog!
-Mike
John Says:
Hello Mike
Another great post and let’s dive straight into the answers to your questions. Let’s start with the private island. You must visit Half MoonCay…………it is quite simply……paradise.Holland America under the watchful eye of Vice President of Caribbean Relations Matt Sams have really made this island stand out from many of the others and when I visited last year on the carnival imagination I was stunned by just how gorgeous a place it was. I have no idea though how much it cost to buy and to maintain but I imagine it to be a pretty expensive operation which is why it is easier for us to share the cost as a corporation rather than just Carnival Cruise Lines foot the bill.
I have never been to Princess Cay…………….however I have heard that it is also stunning. And therefore you make a great point…………with the majority of the Princess fleet in Europe and beyond this summer maybe we could visit Princess Quay………..I will mention this to others higher up and see what they have to say. It sounds like a great idea. Private islands are popular with many guests although I must admit a few prefer the ports which offer a larger variety of things to do such as shopping and sightseeing. However…….I loved Half Moon Cay and I am sure Princess Cay is just as beautiful. Let’s see what the powers that be say and I will let you know.
Now let’s talk about music and I thank you so much for allowing me to address this very important subject. I have just read this “thread” on the boards and once again I am sorry to say that the facts are not correct. Live music is as you said so very important and I can assure you that rather than cut back the hours that we have our musicians perform we are increasing them fleet wide. This involves adding variety on the Lido decks as well and moving the various bands around the different lounges.
For example………….on the Carnival Valor I had the three different bands playing on lido deck during the seven day cruise and the same will apply here on the Carnival Splendor. I took the time to show you the current Lido live music schedule……….here it is.
Sunday Embrakation – 12:00pm – 3:00pm – Calypso live
After Boat drill – 6:30pm
Sea day – 11:00pm – 1:00pm and 1:45pm – 4;45pm – Live Calypso Music
Tuesday – 3:00pm – 6:30pm – Calypso Music
Wednesday Grand Cayman – karaoke Under the stars and movies
Thursday – 11:00pm – 1:00pm and 1:45pm – 4;45pm – Live Calypso Music
Friday – 4:00pm – 6:00pm and 10:00pm – 1:00am – 4 piece rock n roll band
Saturday – 11:00pm – 1:00pm and 1:45pm – 4;45pm – Live Calypso Music
In between these performances you have the various pool and deck games and later in the evening the big screen concerts and movies.
Carnival is committed to live music……………I promise. Please post this on the boards if you wish and maybe Host Mach can do the same.
Thanks mate and my best wishes to you and all the family
Cheers
John
Semper Fi Asked:
JOHN PLEASE REPLY.
BOOKING —– CABIN —-
GOOD MORNING JOHN FROM DECK 10 AFT ON THE CARNIVAL FREEDOM. CINDY AND I HAVE BEEN ENJOYING OUR CARNIVAL FREEDOM CRUISE FOR THE PAST 6 DAYS AND AS PROMISED I WANTED TO DROP YOU A NOTE THRU THE BLOG ON THE EXPERIENCES OF THE WEEK.
IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL WEEK SO FAR, AS WE ARE NOW SAILING TOWARDS FT.LAUDERDALE. ITS 6 AM AND THE SUN IS JUST RISING AND THE SIGHT FROM DECK 10 IS NOTHING LESS THAN AWESOME. CINDY AS USUAL IS GETTING HER EXTRA BEAUTY REST THIS MORNING AS WE WERE BOTH UP VERY LATE LAST NITE ENJOYNING THE FESTIVITIES ON THE SHIP.
AS I STATED ABOVE IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL WEEK SO FAR WITH ONE EXCEPTION, THAT BEING THAT I HAD SET UP WITH MY CARVIVAL PVP FOR SOME ROSES AND CANDY TO BE IN OUR STATEROOM UPON OUR ARRIVIAL LAST SATURDAY, TO SET THE MOOD WITH CINDY AS WE STARTED OUR 35 TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY, AND FOR THE SECOND CRUISE IN A ROW I WAS AGAIN DISAPPOINTED IN THAT WHEN WE ARRIVED THERE WERE NONE. I HAVE LEARNED A VALUABLE LESSON TO USE THE CARNIVAL WEB SITE AND PRE PURCHASE THESE THINGS ON MY OWN RATHER THAN TO DEPEND ON OUR PVP TO DO IT FOR US.
NOW THAT WE HAVE DONE AWAY WITH THE ONE LOW LIGHT OF THE WEEK LETS TALK ABOUT THE CRUISE ITSELF. WE ARE ON THE EXOTIC WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE; WE HAVE VISITED COZEMEL MEXICO, LIMON COSTA RICA, AND COLON PANAMA.
TWO OF THE THREE PORTS WERE NEW FOR CINDY AND I, THIS WAS OUR THIRD VISIT TO COZEMEL AND WE FOUND THAT WE STILL HAVE NOT DISCOVERED ALL THE BEAUTY THAT THIS PORT OFFERS. WE WENT ON THE ISLE OF PASSION AND TWISTER BOAT RIDE TOUR .. WOW CRAZY HIGH SPEED BOAT DRIVERS FOLLOWED BY MANY RELAXING HOURS ON ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES WE HAVE EVER SEEN. IT WAS TRULY A REMARKABLE DAY.
THE NEXT PORT WAS LIMON COSTA RICA,UPON LEAVING THE GOOD SHIP CARNIVAL FREEDOM WE WERE SURPRISED AT WHAT WE SAW . WE LEFT THE SHIP EARLY SO WE WOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO WALK AND SEE THE PORT BEFORE OUR ARIEL TRAM EXCURSION.WOW MY RECOMMENDATION TO ALL FUTURE VISITORS IS TO STAY WITH AN ORGANIZED EXCURSION AND STAY ON THE PIER, WE FOUND THE TOWN TO BE VERY DIRTY AND LOADED WITH “SNAKE OIL SALESMEN” NOT EXACTLY THE PLACE TO BE AT 8 AM.. LOL WE THEN WENT ON OUR EXCURSION WHICH WAS THE ARIEL TRAM RIDE ABOVE THE FORREST. ALL WE CAN SAY IS WOW……….WHAT A DIFFERENCE WE GOT TO SEE BOYH THE DARK AND THE BEAUTIFUL SIDE OF COSTA RICA THE TRAM RIDE WAS SENSATIONAL AND I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ALL TO SEE THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THIS COUNTRY IS A SIGHT NOT TO BE MISSED.
AND YESTERDAY WE SAILED INTO COLON PANAMA, WOW TALK ABOUT A BUSY PORT. THE GOOD SHIP CARNIVAL FREEDOM AND THE BRIDGE CREW HAD TO DO SOME FANCY MANUVERING TO GET US TO THE DOCK AS THERE WERE NO LESS THAT 50 SHIPD WAITING TO USE THE CANAL, BUT UNDER THE MASTERFUL HAND OF CAPTAIN CARLO AND HIS TEAM WE MADE OUR ARRIVIAL ON TIME (THE BOW AND STEARN THRUSTERS ARE A VERY EFFECTIVE ALARM CLOCK.) LOL DUE TO THE SMALL SIZE OF THE PIER WE USED A DIFFERENT BUT HIGHLY ORGANIZED METHOD FOR GETTING FOLKS OFF AND ON THEIR TOURS FOR THE DAY. ALL TOURS STARTED IN THE “VICTORINA THEATER” STARTING AT 730 AM. EACH PASSENGER WAS GIVEN A COLORED NUMBER DEPENDINGON WHAT TOUR THEY WERE ON AND THEN ASKED TO HAVE A SEAT IN THE LOUNGE. ASST CD JAMES AND THE ENTERTAINMENT STAFF DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF KEEPING THIS ORGANIZED AND MOVING FOLKS FROM THE SHIP WITH NO CONFUSION AT ALL. SUPER JOB
CINDY AND I WENT ON THE GRAND CANAL TOUR…. AGAIN WOW….. THIS IS ONE TOUR ALL MUST DO WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE SHEAR SIZE AND SCOPE OF WHAT THIS CANAL PROVIDES AND THE HISTORY OF ITS BUILDING YOU WILL BE LEFT IN “AWE” TO WATCH THESE MASSIVE SHIPS MOVE SO EFFORTLESSLY THROUGH THE LOCKS IS A SIGHT THAT MUST BE SEEN
OVER ALL THREE PORTS AND THREE DIFFERENT EXCURSUIONS AND ALL THREE WERE WONDERFUL.
NOW LETS TALK ABOUT THE GOOD SHIP CARNIVAL FREEDOM, AS YOU KNOW SHE IS OUR FAVORITE CONQUEST CLASS SHIP (NO OFFENCE TO ANY OF THE OTHER SHIPS BUT THE CARNIVAL FREEDOM WILL ALWAYS BE SPECIAL TO US FOR REASONS THAT I DON’T NEED TO EXPLAIN HERE.
IN ANY CASE, WE ARRIVED EARLY SATURDAY MORNING FROM THE FROZEN STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA INTO THE WARM ARMS OF THE FT.LAUDERDALE AIRPORT. THE PRE PURCHASED TRANSFERS WERE SEEMLESS AND BEFORE WE KNEW IT WE WERE GOING THRU EMBARKATION AND ON OUR WAY TO THE SHIP. WE ACTUALLY ARRIVED AT OUR STATE ROOM 90 MINS BEFORE IT WAS READY AS THE STEWARDS WERE STILL PREPARING THEM FOR US. THAT WAS NO ISSUES AS CINDY AND I STARTED OUR TOUR OF THE GOOD SHIP FREEDOM. WHAT WE FOUND WAS A VERY DISTURBING SURPRISE AT FIRST, THE SHIP WAS “DIRTY” AND I MEAN REALLY DIRTY TRASH ALL OVER STAIR WAYS WITH SPILT DRINKS AND STAINS, WINDOWS AND LEDGES WERE DIRTY ECT. SHE JUST NOT ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT FROM A CARNIVAL SHIP. SO BEING ME, YOU KNOW THE “BULL IN THE CHINA SHOP TYPE” THAT I AM I STARTED ASKING SOME QUESTIONS OF THE STAFF AND CREW. HERE IS WHAT I DISCOVERED THE CARNIVAL FREEDOM AND JUST FINISHED A CRUISE WHERE THEY HAD 3400 GUESTS OF WHICH 2500 WERE “SPRING BREAKERS” AND THEY HAD LITTERALLY TOTALED THE SHIP. THE CREW AS GOOD AS THEY ARE WERE SIMPLY OVERWHELMED WITH THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE MESS. HOWEVER WITHIN 24 HOURS OF SAILING THE CREW HAD THE GOOD SHIP FREEDOM BACK IN PRISTINE CONDITIONAND IMMACULTLY CLEAN WELL DONE TO ALL THE CREW.
NOW JOHN CINDY AND I GOT TO SPEND A FEW MINS CHATING WITH CAPTAIN CARLO AND HE TOLD US THAT THIS WAS HIS LAST CRUISE AS THE MATSER OF THE CARNIVAL FREEDOM AND THAT HE HAS BEEN NAMED THE CAPTAIN OF THE CARNIVAL DREAM AND HOW EXCITED HE WAS TO BE ACCEPTING THAT NEW SHIP. NOTE FOR JOHN (HE ALSO SHARED A STORY ABOUT YOU AND HIM IN ST. THOMAS THAT I WILL NOT SHARE IN THIS FORUM.. LOL SUFFICE TO SAY WE WILL USE THAT TID BIT OF INFO AT THE APPORIATE TIME…LOL….
AS FAR AS THE SHIP AND THE CREW IS CONCERNED, OUR CD TODD HAS DONE A GOOD JOB BUT HE IS NOT YOU. WE DID FIND A REAL DIAMOND IN THE CREW AND THAT IS THE ACD JAMES, HE REMINDED BOTH CINDY AND I OF YOU. HE HAS A TON OF ENEGRY AND IS ALWAYS UP TO SOMETHING.CINDY AND I WOULD ABSOLUTLY CRUISE ON ANY SHIP WITH HIM AS THE CD. IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH HIM ASK HIM ABOUT HIS “RACOON EYES” EXPERIENCE IN COZEMEL.WE HAVE TO SEND OUT A FEW “WELL DONES” TO OUR ROOM STEWARD,SARJANA AND OF COURSE OUR WAITER CARLO BOTH HAVE BEEN EXCELENT AND HAVE EXCEEDED ANY POSSIBLE EXPCETATION.
OVER ALL AS I SAID JOHN IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL CRUISE THAT IN MOST CASES HAS MET OR EXCEEDED BOTH CINDY AND MY EXPECTATIONS, YES THERE WERE A FEW GLITCHES AND BUMPS IN THE ROAD HOWEVER AS I SIT HERE WATCHING THIS BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE I THINK TO MYSELF THAT NO MATTER WHAT LITTLE ISSUES MAY HAVE ARRISED THERE IS NO PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE AT THIS MOMENT THAT SITTING HERE ON DECK 10 WATCHING THE BEAUTIFUL SUN RISE SOMEWHERE IN THE CARIBBEAN SEA ON THE CARNIVAL FREEDOM
CINDY AND BILL
SORRY FOR THE ALL CAPS TEXT BUT THE EARLY MORNING SUN AND MY OLD EYES ARE JUST NOT WORKING TOGETHER THIS MORNING
JOHN SAYS:
HELLO BILL
I HAVE KEPT MY CAPS LOCK BUTTON SO JUST IN CASE YOUR EYES ARE NOT WORKING I WILL MAKE THE LETTERS NICE AND LARGE FOR YOU. WHAT A WONDERUL REVIEW AND SO WONDERFULLY DESCRIPTIVE. I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE HAVING A BRILLIANT TIME AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR MENTIONING CAPTAIN CARLO QUIEROLO. HE IS I KNOW SO PROUD TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO BE MASTER OF THE CARNIVAL DREAM AND I AM SO VERY PROUD OF HIM AS WE ARE GREAT FRIENDS. AS FOR JAMES DUNN……….WELL…………HE IS INCOMPARABLE AND LIKE THE ENERGIGER BUNNY HE KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND HE TOO WILL BE ON THE CARNIVAL DREAM AS TODD’S ASSISTANT CRUISE DIRECTOR.
I WAS VERY UPSET TO READ THAT THE IN CABIN GIFTS YOU ORDERED WERE NOT THERE AND I HAVE FORWARDED THIS INFORMATION TO THE BOSS OF THE PVP’S AND YOU WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF.
PLEASE KEEP US UP TO DATE AND ENJOY THE REST OF THE CRUISE. WRITE WHEN YOU GET HOME AND MY BEST WISHES TO YOU BOTH
SEMPER FI
JOHN
Lorena Asked:
Thank you so much for your blog. I have just found this blog and have enjoyed reading it daily. I have been on several Carnival cruises and have loved everyone and believe this is the only way to take a vacation. We I booked a cruise in May 2008 for our kids’ spring break on 3/29/09 aboard the Carnival Triumph. My husband just lost his job a month ago and we are trying to be very careful with our spending. Could you give us some advice/pointers on ways to reduce our costs while we are on board? Thanks for your help!!!
John Says:
Hello Lorena
I am so sorry that your husband has lost his job and I am sure he will find another even better form of employment very soon. Thanks for finding the blog and as for saving money onboard well that’s a good question. Remember to buy the unlimited Fountain Fun soda card for the kids. This will feature a one low price for unlimited sodas and is by far the best way to buy them. Then you have juice and lemonade available free of charge from the lido deck. The shows are free as are all the activities however going ashore ……..well this is where you need to plan your day. Speak personally to the cruise director Brent or one of the shore excursion personal. Explain the situation and tell them what it is that you are looking to do in each port. They may suggest an excursion that is not too expensive or they may suggest you going to the beach on your own and tell you the best way to do this.
Most importantly just enjoy yourself. Try and relax and allow the brilliant crew to serve and entertain you.
I hope you have fun and I hope your husband finds a job very soon
Thinking of you allJohn
Noelle Asked:
John, my husband and I think we first sailed with you on our honeymoon I think it was on the Spirit in Jan 2004 or possibly on the Glory Oct 2004.. We can’t remember. But for sure then again on the Liberty for Europe in 2006. Where will you be next? Can you confirm which sailing it was you were the CD on? I would have to lug out the Capers and that’s too daunting of a task. Congrats on your upcoming Thingy!!
John Says:
Hello Noelle
I have never been the Cruise Director on the Carnival Spirit but I was indeed with you in 04 on the Carnival Glory. I have great memories of our time there and I hope we will be able to sail again together soon. I will be on the Carnival Freedom in July and August and then have two bloggers cruises on the carnival Dream. As for 2010 …….well…..my schedule is a bit up in the air at the moment and as soon as I know I will let everyone here on the blog thingy know as well.
My best to you and your husband
Cheers
John
Spencer Asked:
John Please Reply,
There is a thread on cruise critic about a women that is mad because her daughter and I am guessing her 3 friends had the do not disturb sign on their door for the whole 7 days of their cruise and the cabin steward knocked on their door a few times.
Does Carnival have a rule that the stewards have to check a persons room every so often to make sure they are not sick, dead, jumped overboard, or have destroyed the room?
Here is the thread if you want to see it.http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=952068
Thank You for your help,
Spencer
John Says:
hello Spencer
Before I answer this……..why would someone have the do not disturb sign on their door for the whole seven days? Anyway………..regardless of this I am sure the stateroom steward will have been concerned that this sign was in place so much and for so long. This is very unusual and I am sure that the stateroom steward wanted to make sure all was well and to see if at least once during the seven days the guests may need new towels and have the cabin cleaned a little. If a do not disturb sign is placed on the door the state room stewards will not knock………….however if it is there for an extra long period of time………..as in this case I am sure they were just doing the right thing. I would suggest that anyone doing this should talk to their stateroom steward at the start of the cruise and explain that they will not require any service. I will have a read of the thread you sent the link for when I have time but maybe you could my comment to it
Thanks mate
John
Jeanette Asked:
John, whassup with this “early dining waitlisted” on my edocs for April 19th Freedom sailing. I also see it on my Sept 13th sailing for the Splendor!
Are they giving anytime dining a go on the Freedom and Splendor?
Also, how come my luggage tags for Splendor don’t have VIP on it. I did spend an astronomical amount to book a Spa suite (and pay double as I am cruising solo) to get that VIP privilege. I’m turning 40 on the Splendor, so I was wondering why my edoc luggage tags don’t say VIP…..
Interesting…
John Says:
Hello Jeanette
Thanks so much for taking the time to write. We do not have anytime dining on the Carnival Freedom yet and as far as I know it will not be in place by April. What dining preferences do you have, let me know and I will see if I can help. You will love the spa suite on the Carnival Splendor………….it’s amazing. The VIP tags are reserved for guests that have Platinum status of 10 cruises or more. But don’t worry. Once onboard our staff will make you feel like you are a VIPs and as you sit there in your suite on your balcony dressed in our extra thick and soft spa robe you will no doubt feel like a Queen.
Let me know about the dining and anything else you may need
Best wishes
John
Frank Rist Asked:
Hi John,
Please reply,
I am sailing on the Miracle in two weeks and I know she just came out of dry dock to fix a AZIPOD issue that was preventing her from visiting Panama and Costa Rica on her west route. Do you know if they fixed this and she has returned going to panama and Costa Rica?
As always a big fan,
Frank
John Says:
Hello Frank
That’s a great question and I don’t have the answer ………….but I will. Give me 48 hours and you will see the answer here on the blog thingy
Best wishes
John
wil-da-beast Asked:
Hi John….please reply……sorry I haven’t written in quite a while, but I have been reading all the blogs. I really enjoyed Jaime’s letters and got to know her when we sailed back to back on the Splendor last fall. My question is what happened to Kevin who was on the Splendor as part of the entertainment staff? He must have been with you on the Splendor. We really enjoyed the staff on the Splendor. What a great bunch. Also look forward to all the updates on Heidi and the thingy…Regards…W
John Says:
Hello wil-da-beast
Great screen name.
I am glad you enjoyed Jaime’s Dear John letters and I am here onboard with her now and will be filming an interview with her tomorrow for the blog thingy. Kevin is a great guy and he is currently at home on vacation and due to go to the Carnival Victory next. They are a great a bunch as you said and getting to spend time with them here is brilliant
Thanks for taking the time to read the blog and posting again……we missed you
Cheers
John
Bill Heck Asked:
Hi John:
Please reply.
The newest cards are ok. Don’t know the terminology, but the old cards had some reflective areas and some different tones and were cool. But this is better than the last new cards. The graffiti around the funnel reminds me of that other cruise line’s stuff on the hull.
Since it will let me on and off of a fun ship and into a cabin, and buy a toddy on board, the design is stupendous, where is mine?
Did you know in a pinch these cards make good ice scrapers?
Do you know why the dining room seating requests on the reservation portion of the Carnival website are showing “waitlisted”? Maybe Tom or Tony can weigh in.
Your Friend
Bill Heck
John Says:
Hello Bill
Great questions. Let me say that the new cards with the platinum and gold upgrades will be much better ………….I promise you will like them. I imagine they will make great ice scrapers and next winter…………let’s find out.
Now, as for the question regarding about reservations I will defer to Stephanie who may wish to sub contract to Tom and Tony.
Hi Bill, we will have the details about this later this week. Thanks.
Thanks Bill and as always my best regards to you and the family.
John
Debbie Asked:
John please reply
What are the upgrades the Miracle will receive when it goes into dry dock? I am sailing on it with my daughters and best friend on May 8th and cannot wait.
Debbie
John Says:
Hello Debbie
It seems you are very excited about your cruise and next week I promise to feature everything you need to know about the Carnival Miracle. It will be here soon and I wish I could be with you
Cheers and watch this space
John
That’s all for now…………….I will answer more comments marked for my reply soon. I read each and every one of your postings regardless of whether you need a reply or not. As I have said many times before, they are so important so please keep them coming.
Let’s take a break and have a look at some photos of the Carnival Splendor taken by the one and only Radu.
Brilliant as always Radu and than you so much for sharing these amazing photos
As I mentioned just now Stephanie and the video crew will be joining me on Thursday and we will be conducting interviews with various members of the Carnival Splendor’s crew and posting the videos on the blog thingy.
I have to admit I feel a bit of a spare part at the moment. Goose is the cruise director and although I am here to host the Onboard with Carnival event I am spending most of the time just sitting with agents and people who recognize me while fighting the urge to grab the microphone and entertain. It is amazing though how many of the agents read our blog and to all of them I say a huge thank you for your continuing support.
God I miss Heidi though and really need to see her now. She said I looked tired in the recent photos of me on the blog but I know seeing she will rejuvenate me so very much. Thanks to all of you for your continuing kind words of love and support.
Following this two day cruise we have the big VH1 John mayer concert here complete with red carpet entry and a list of VIP’s ………….most of which I have never heard of. However, my friend Kevin from Gray ER thingy is coming and of course I will be there to photograph and write about this special night.
In a recent poll to find out which European country were the most unhappy during these tough economic times held by the newspaper The International Herald and Tribune ……………the surprise winners were…………..the Italians. Ah yes………..I can see whiling away those long, warm summer evenings in the Tuscan hills with some cheese and a bottle or two of Chianti. La dolce vita? It’s Italian for “the ungrateful bastards”.
Even if we poke about in Italy’s dark and secret places, we don’t find much to complain about. The mafia has pretty much buggered off, and how can anyone complain about Silvio Berlusconi’s alleged corruption when they themselves need a backhander to get out of bed in a morning.
Italy’s youngsters complain, apparently, about having to live at home until they are 72 but that’s because they spend all their money on suits and coffee and Alfa Romeos rather than mortgages.
Of course, I can see that there are drawbacks to life in Italy. It must be annoying to have to post your letters in Switzerland if you want them to stand any chance of arriving, and I would quickly become bored with being killed on the autostrada every day.
Then there’s the problem of your wife. One day, you know with absolute certainty, you will come home from work to find that the ravishing beauty you married and said goodbye to that morning is waddling up the street in a black sack with breasts like six sacks of potatoes.
However………I love Italians and as I know I have mentioned many times before, being born an Italian man is like winning the lottery of life. Last night we had a dinner to say goodbye to the Italian captain of the Carnival Splendor and star of one of our commercials – Captain Giorgio Pagano. He is leaving after a long 49-day voyage around the cape that involved many difficult days of maneuvering and managing bad weather.
Captain Pagano is one of the most wonderfully sincere men I have ever met and nobody………….I mean nobody………….cares more about his fellow humankind than he does. And that is why he was so upset when he showed me a letter he had received during the Carnival Splendor’s South American voyage.
As you may have read here on the blog thingy, a male guest went missing and left a note to his wife and upon finding it she of course told the ship’s officers. There are then strict regulations on the search and rescue plan that has to follow… These rules are set by the US Coast Guard and are part of maritime law. So, the ship returned to the area and began hours of searching in the hope of finding the man still alive……………but not only is the law………..but with a hysterical wife and family still onboard it is the absolute right action to take……………imagine if it was a member of your family.
Well, he was never found and the unfortunate implication of this search was that the ship would be late into the next port and guests would not be able to go on their tour to the various Peruvian sights.
During the search Jaime reported in her Dear John letter that many of the ship’s guests were on deck with binoculars helping to look for the guest and the next day the guests were in a quite reflective mood as they mourned the loss of someone who had been sharing this amazing voyage with them. ………….one guest was not…………she was in her cabin writing the most abusive and hateful letter to the Captain. I wish I could post it here but I can’t. it was written by a lady of 67 years of age who upon hearing that she would miss her tour called the captain amongst other things “a vicious dictator worse than Mussolini”……………what a spiteful horrible thing to say to a man who has nothing but compassion and love for the sea, his job and the guests he has kept safe for 30 years.
He has kept this infernal letter and it has upset him so very much. I told him to throw it away and treat it with the contempt he deserves but he won’t. So, I hope the lady who wrote that letter gets to read this blog. Madam……….the fact that you put your tour above the life of a human being is in my humble opinion………astonishing and I hope that you now realize who much your letter hurt Captain Pagano and I truly hope you never have anything so terrible happen to you or a member of your family…………………oh one more thing Madam………………..during the night the Captain was searching for the guest he received word his mother had passed away back home in Italy…………….a few hours later…………..he received your letter.
Thank you Captain for your wonderful service and your true compassion……………we will be thinking of you when on Friday you lay your mother to rest.
Goodnight
Your friends
John, Heidi and The Thingy
Filed under: Destinations, Tales from the Ship, Travel | Tagged: Carnival Splendor, John Mayer, John's Replies, VH1
John Please read:
My compliments to Captain Pagano and his years of service. We were on several cruises with him. I am also truly upset also someone was more concerend over themselves then a life of a human being. To the point to write a hateful letter like that. I think the captain is a wonderful man and I truly think he has a knack for comedy as I continue to watch his comercial over and over. His face is priceless and had me crying I was laughing so hard the first time I watched it. even now I can’t help myself from getting into a laughing fit when I think about the Capt’s face. I now show it to everyone I know as to how funny the captain is in this. It now has new meaning to me after reading your blog. So captain good luck to you and our personal thoughts are very much with you right now with the passing of your mother. John is there anyway you can send a card from all of us bloggers to him and his family?
Thanks
Frank & Bridie Rist
John, I was watching the Carnival Splendor’s web cam hoping to see it leave port and the sail away party on the Lido. The camera was updating every 5 minutes right up to when the ship started to move. About the same time my TV got preempted by the big “O” to give a speech. It didn’t update for 30 minutes and the ship was already out to sea. BUGGER
BIG ED
“O” = ZERO
Hi John, PLEASE Reply. we are sailing on the Valor on May 31st and for dining it says 6:00 Waitlisted what does that mean?? my father has to eat early for stomach issues if he eats late.
thank you
Bobby
Dear Captain Giorgio Pagano è con profonda tristezza che scrivo questa nota. Hai fatto nulla, ma dare del proprio meglio per ogni persona che le crociere sul tuo navi e anche se non può mai incontrarvi personalmente, voglio ringraziarvi per tutto quello che avete fatto per noi. Al momento del tuo dolore mi danno le mie condoglianze a te e alla tua famiglia e provare a dimenticare che vile lettera in data a voi più tempo cercando nella vostra vita. Mama Pagano maggio si riposa in pace, sapendo che avete portato un brillante e cura l’uomo che ha speso tutta la sua vita per gli altri hanno godersi la vita. Capitano Giorgio Pagano, molti ti amo per quello che hai fatto nella tua vita. Grazie.
**************************************************
Hello John,
All I can say is that vile woman that sent the note has no respect for people, herself and life. I feel very sorry for that woman and I hope that you can help Captain Pagano get rid of the letter and forget her. She’s not worth it. I sent a short note in Italian in hopes that you might be able to get it to Captain Pagano if you could. Ciao my friend.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Hi John,
I hope you gave Captain Pagano a big hug. The only problem about being in charge means you cannot drop things and leave. Then being torn on the inside and yet still having to be cheery for the guests.
Our prayers go out to him and his family.
Dave
MAY A BIG BLACK CROW TAKE A BIG DUMP
IN THAT 67 YEAR OLD BASTARDS OATMEAL !!!
I f I win the lottery my boss will have the mandatory 15 days to find a replacement ( just in case) and then I’ll be gone to Italy (at least a month) just to think what I’m going to do with the money.
My condolences to Capt Pagano.
Hi John!
Once again you leave me speechless. Shame on that lady. Period. What a horrible thing to say.
Wayne Rooney is simply one of the best footballers in the world.
I will be happy to spend some of those lottery winnings.
Get some sleep and take care!
David
God Bless you, Captain Pagano
John, you answered, how sweet!
I guess it seems a lot of people have their dining as waitlisted. One person on the boards said it was a computer glitch..I dunno…
Splendor spa suite, uhm, do I still get VIP boarding then for booking the spa suite…I should hope so, I am paying an arm and a leg for it…but I only turn 40 once *BG*….
Lottery winners–I would take that day off to collect my winnings and to celebrate. I would them go to work the next day to pack my desk up and then go into the bosses office and play Dead Kennedy’s version of “Take this job and shove it” and then leave….OK, so that is how I’d like to, but I would compose a very nice and resignation letter and then one that will say what I really want to say. I’d give NO notice!!!!!! I’d be at the travel agency so fast booking a cruise for the following week and then every three weeks after that!!!! I need to try every ship in Carnival’s fleet, except the Holiday, I was on it in 1991…
John I’m just speechless. and it takes a lot to get me that way. I can not believe that a “woman” of 67 years would be so thoughtless., so B*****. Nuff said before I let my temper get away from me.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Captain Pagano and his family in the loss of his beloved Mother.
Countess Carolyn
Hello John,
I hope you are well. I also would like to personallly say I hope Captain Pangano is doing well aswell, and hope that this lady understands that people have emotions, and Its generally selfish to put yourself’s luxry in front of anothers life. If a 12 year old can figure it out, I don’t understand why a 67 year old can’t figure it out.
“Pagano” I truely aspire your job, and hope I can follow as a kind person in your foot steps” My prayrs are with you.
Jake S.
My husband and I were two of the ones searching the sea for any signs of life that day.
We mourned the loss with most of our fellow guests. My heart went out to his family
The Captain and crew handled the situation with the most respect I can imagine. They were professional and caring.
Thank you Captain Pagano for your compassion and for returning The Carnival Splendor safely to port.
I was not aware of the Captain’s loss. I too will have him in my thoughts on Friday.
John, first of all I would like to send my Deepest Sympathy and prayers to Captain Pagano and his family.
John you are so right Captain Pagano should burn that letter. That B—- of the seas does not belong in any part of his fine memory of his time at sea.
Beautiful pictures Radu.
BIG ED
Hey John….
I don’t write much but this lady has really upset me! Unfortunately we live in a “me” not “we” society where an individuals wants and desires must come before what is good for the group!
Bravo Captain….we’ll be thinking of you on Friday!
John & Susan from Frisco, Tx.
Hi John,
My condolences to Captain Pangano.
I am speechless that a 67 year old would write such a letter.
Clair
john please reply..
Thank you so much for replying in caps …lol the sun light was not helping my laptops monitor.
in any case..
We have arrived back home safe and sound, I do want to make a comment about the debarktation process at the Ft.Lauderdale pier.. ABSOULTLEY BRILLIANT………..what a job completed by the crew and the customs folks.
Cindy and I were in group 3 as we had scheduled an excursion to the airboat tour.
The captain and staff did a brilliant job of docking the ship in extremley windy conditions and without much room for error.
Cindy and i had time to enjoy our breakfast and to stroll up to Victorina Lounge to get ready. James and the staff were totally organized and had things running very smoothly. When our number was called and we left the ship we were surprised to find that our luggage was there waiting for us and in less than 10 mins after leaving the lounge we had our bags and were through customs and on our way to our tour.
Please forward this on to Todd and James and the entire entertainment staff of the Carnival Freedom and to the folks working at the pier.
what a WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
Just another example of why Carnival is the leader, as they pay attention to the ENTIRE cruise experience from arrival through departure.
While we are settling back into our normal lives we again are blessed to have had an 8 day life altering experience on the Carnival Freedom and have already booked our next 2 cruises, and yes 1 of them will be on our favorite Carnival ship and the other will be on her sister ship.
As we reflect on the experience again we want to share our thanks to each and every crew member on the Carnival Freedom who again EXCEEDED EVERY EXPECTATION IN EVERY WAY.
Thank you all for all your hard work and dedication
Cindy and Bill
Just checking to see when the CD list will be updated through the end of August, especially the Esctasy sailing on August 27th. We have a little group doing our own stimulus package!
Please Read!
Hey John!
I can’t belive you are in LA! I just left there last night, so I just missed you. Hope the party is alot of fun though.
I have some photos of the Carnival Pride in port in Long Beach taken as she left for the last time from the port. My friends and I were touring the magnificent Queen Mary and the Pride was in port. I couldn’t help but take tons of photos.
If you’d like, I can pass them along so you can post them for all to see. There are some nice shots of her sailing past the dome into the sunset of Long Beach. There really wasn’t much fanfare for her departure.
Though I have to tell you I was really hoping it was the Splendor when I first arrived. You see, when we took the Splendor in November/December, I was lucky enough to get a photo of the Splendor next to the Queen Mary 2! I was hoping to get the Splendor next to the original Queen.
Thanks for another entertaining blog John!
Sarah
John
Jeanne and I send our deepest simpathy to Captain Pagano.
We sailed on Splendor for her last Baltic Cruise in August.
We always felt safe and informed by Captain Pagano through out our cruise.
I am sure he did every thing he could for the missing passenger and the family, that is what counts.
I hope in time he can dismiss this angery passengers note.
Our prays also go out to the missing passenger and his family that they find peace.
I hope we can sail with Captain Pagano again and let him know with a hand shake how lucky Carnival Cruise Lines is to have him.
He made our Cruise wonderful.
We also know Carnival thinks alway about its passenger.
A few years back I remember some fisherman blockcaed Barcelona’s Harbor while we where on Carnival Liberty for a Transatlantic Cruise.
The ship by passed the port then returned the next day.
We alway felt safe and sound. Safty and life comes first always.
With simpathy.
Ray and Jeanne
deepest sympathy to capt. pagano on the loss of his mother. we met him once and he is a wonderful man. i hope the woman that wrote him the hateful letter comes to understand the hurt she caused but i doubt that will happen. people are either givers or takers, she is a taker it seems. too bad for her.
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
John,
I really loved the radio interview! Some strange questions about your frequently used words, but you sure gave a great explanation.
My prayers will be with Captain Pagano. Hopefully he had had a chance to see his Mother recently.
The old bag doesn’t deserve any more space.
The very best to Heidi and the growing thingy. I wouldn’t be surprised if you just didn’t take off and go home for a while.
Hello Heidi, can’t wait to see you again with that precious gift you are carrying.
Sharon
hello john
after reading about the death captain Pagano’s
mother, and the horrible, miserable comments
made by the 67 year old passenger, I am in shock.
there is nothing like losing your parents, and to have this on top must be devastating.
captain Pagano, please don’t let this strega, get to you, go spend time with your family, heal emotionally
I know it doesn’t feel this way now, but time does heal all wounds.
mike white
We were on the 49 day cruise of the Splendor. It was absolutely marvelous. Not everything went perfectly – there will be glitches from time to time, but it was definitely the trip of a lifetime. Most of the passengers were wonderful as well.
HOWEVER, it seemed to me that there was an unusually large number of old grumps that griped about everything from the very first day. They developed a gang mentality and aggravated each other into exaggerating every petty complaint into a major catastrophe. That creature who wrote to Capt. Pagano had to be one of them.
The grumps also ganged up on the CD, who was doing his best to adjust to some demographics, tastes and styles that were very different from the predominant mode on Carnival. The folks you find on a 49 day cruise are NOT AT ALL like those on a 5 day cruise. The ad hoc additions that the entertainment staff made – writing group, MickeyLive, extra talks by Dirk, extra concerts, special dance shows, etc, etc. were great. I am sure Goose got lambasted in the comments, but not all that much of it was justified and the many praiseworthy things he did were ignored.
I may be a bit of an old grump myself, but those people were just inexcusable. If someone didn’t enjoy this cruise, they have no one but themselves to blame.
Hey John,
It sounds like you are having a great time on the Splendor during these “junkets”. If you ever need someone to take one, I volunteer!
I know that if I ever win the lottery, I am taking my family and friends on a wonderful cruise. Then, after the week, they will leave and I will stay for several weeks more, while I figure out just how I will spend all that money! That way, all those people who think they are related to me, used to know me, or who I taught can’t find me!
Please send my condolences to Captain Pagano.
June
Please reply
Hi John,
My husband & I are booked on the Dream in mid Jan 2010, (only 297 days to go, lol) and I have a few questions I hope you can answer
(As a few others have mentioned) our reservation is now showing ‘waitlisted’ with our dining time……do you happen to know why?
Also, I’ve noticed that you mentioned some of the ships now have anytime dining (along with traditional dining) and I wondered if the Dream will have this option? My husband and I prefer to eat at a table for two, and this option would make that possible.
And my last question…..is there any chance you’ll be the cruise director for our trip? If so, that would be wonderful
Thanks again for all you do. I always enjoy reading the blog, and I best wishes to you, Heidi and the baby
Lisa
Dear Captain Pagano,
Please accept my deepest sympathy on your loss, and remember, us bloggers LOVE YOU!
Julie Gantt
Dear John,
Here is another question for you that I hope you can answer for not only me but many on the CC boards. Is it ok to save a seat for our spouses at the theaters? Not for a row(s) of seats, but just for 1 (some wonder for small families of 2-4)? I understand that Carnival has to draw the line somewhere and that might be hard to do to make everyone happy. But for my husband to save one seat while I change clothes after our wonderful meal (into something more comfortable than a dress and high heels!). Or what about if one of us after sitting down needs a bathroom break? You may not think this is a big thing but believe me when I say it is a very ’sensitive’ issue on the CC boards! (along with chair-hogging!) So I promised in my last post to go to the top… YOU… a man, whom many including me, respect very much! Thank you for settling this question for all of us!
Captain Pagano, Please think of the Many not the few, The way you have cared for the Many will multiply, The few will dimish and fade away.
My sincere condolences on the passing of your mother……….
John,
Please pass my condolences to the Captain, and his family, my thoughts are with him in these trying times, may he have fair seas in his travels.
Please keep up the good work, and I love the new comericials.
Your friend,
Capt Bill
John,
Thanks for another wonderful blog and for sharing those gorgeous Splendor photos.
My heart broke and I became very angry when I read about the passenger sending that horrible letter to Captain Pagano. I had the privilege of briefly meeting him on the Splendor last year.
My thoughts and prayers are with him on the loss of his mother.
Melissa
Hi John…
I really can’t get over people these days. I can’t believe how selfish they are. I can’t put into words how angry I am with her. It really upsets me! Please, tell Captain Pagano our thoughts are with him and his family. Please tell him to get rid of that nasty letter. I just can’t get over it!
I too would LOVE to win the lotto. I would NOT be afraid to spend that money. As a matter of fact one of the first things I would be doing is booking a BUNCH of cruises!! How does a back to back to back to back to back sound? I would SO be with the bloggers on the Dream as well! *sigh* At least we all have our dreams!!!
Again thanks for the awesome blog… You will be home before you know it!! And I am sure that Heidi will be so happy to see you before she kicks you in the butt to take care of her “honey – do’s” like the garden and the rats that love your garbage!!
Take care of yourself… that goes to Heidi and the Thing also!!
Stef
The woman who won the lottery may not be so crazy after all. There have been many stories over the years where lottery winners say the money had ruined their lives. I expect over time the money will get spent. That is if she does not have an AIG investment, then in that case it will be gone any way.
I know what I would do with that kind of money. I would be one of those non stop cruisers. Just live on the cruise ship full time. I would have to switch off to different ships to see all the different ports.
John, any word on what your role will be on the Carnival Fun Sunday will be. We received our party package yesterday which included some nice gifts for the guests. We have decided to add to the prizes with some of the surplus Platinum thermos with the grand prize for bingo being a limited addition John Heald bobble head. We would never part with one on Ebay (unless the price would buy us a cruise) but will give to one of our friends on Sunday.
Hey John – PLEASE REPLY
Its me again – Erin W. (24 days til the Glory – 25 til the big 3-0!!) I need help with my Carnival FunDay Sunday..I have not received my fun kit yet and as directed by houseparty.com – I called to report this to them. I was told that 13 of us had been accidentally moved to some other mystery list and our packages never sent (this was after 10 min of them trying to find me – On the main list I was not even listed as a host). They also said that at this point they could not guarantee that the box would make it in time. I have been calling this morning trying to get an answer but having no luck so far. I have already spent a ton on food and drinks so I will be hosting the gathering anyway but its kind of hard to promote Carnival without a FunKit. Anything you can do to help? As it is Wednesday and the package has not even been shipped – Im not sure what to do.
Also I am also waitlisted for early dining on the Glory (4/18 sailing) – any news of why this is happening?
Thanks – Erin
John,
Please send all our thoughts and prayers to Captain Pagano on the loss of his mother. It’s never a good time to lose a loved one and to have to deal with such a miserable passenger at the same time makes it even worse… What is wrong with that 67 year old woman??? I bet she is a horrible, mean person who was cruising solo because she has no friends.. People like that don’t deserve friends.
I have missed many an Island for far less reasons than someone being ill or even worse missing, and have never complained. Yes, sometimes its an inconvenience, but you just grin and bear it, and book another cruise!!!
I have witnessed many unhappy, nasty, miserable passengers who are truly ugly when we have missed an Island because the Captain was concerned for our safety or an unfortunate emergency came up. What was the Captain thinking??? Shame on him for worrying about us!!! NOT!! I have actually had to “help” Carnival Staff more than once to calm down unruly passengers screaming, yelling, threatening etc because the Captain gave a damn about us… After which I just sit back, relax and laugh at those idiots. I have a feeling John that you would be right there next to me!!!
If I ever have the pleasure of cruising with Captain Pagano again, I will absolutely make it my business to personally tell him what a great job he is doing…
To everyone else, even that nasty 67 year old passenger, have a nice day…
John,
First, please pass our condolences on to Captain Pagano. We have sailed with him in the past and found him to be a pleasure!
Great pictures fron Radu!!
Quick answers to a couple of questions presented in your Q and A section: As to the Miracle’s Azipod issue, I believe this was resolved in dry dock. I have already seen a review of a post-dry-dock sailing to St. Maarten, St. Lucia & St. Kitts. The ship was able to make St. Lucia, which it had not done pre-dry-dock, so it appears to me that this was fixed. (I’ll be able to let you know first hand in a week, as we’re boarding her this Sunday for the same “Three Saints” itinerary.)
Second, as to the “waitlisted” dining reservations, I saw the same thing Sunday on our reservation. A call to Carnival’s reservation line got me the answer that this notation is the result of an update of the computer system that maintains the information presented on the ‘net for reservations. Apparently, they spent most of the night last Saturday implementing the latest update; one of the changes is to include the status of dining reservation requests. Currently, all dining requests are apparently listed as “waitlisted”; this will change as the new update is more fully implemented. I was also told that they had already received numerous calls about this by the time of my call Sunday afternoon…
Enjoy the west coast!
Regards,
Rick H.
John,
I was on that cruise around SA and want to say that everyone I came in contact with behaved in a respectful manner during the unfortunate incident. It was handled with compassion and professionalism by all the Splendor staff and crew. Captain Pagano is one of my favorite captains, as I have cruised on his ships many times. He handled things in his usual expert manner. That woman does not represent the majority of persons in our age group. He did everything possible to keep our cruise on track dispite difficult circumstances. My condolences to him on the loss of his mother. I will say a rosary for him and his family>
Captain Pagano:
Thank you for your service at this time of personal loss. Our prayers will be with you and your family.
To hear John speak so highly of you, I have no doubt that your Mother was very proud of the gentleman you have become. I hope the wonderful memories that you share with your Mother will bring you great comfort in the years ahead. While death will separate the body, nothing can remove the heart.
Linda (Mom of DJ)
Hello John:
Captain Pagano, I am indeed sorry for your loss, the good Lord calls his children. How wonderful to be born, live, and die Italian. Such a warm and joyful people.
John, as to the unfortunate letter from the guest to the captain, we have to forgive this person, in an angry moment they lashed out and would perhaps after reflection get their priorities straight. I can’t believe a person would be so completely selfish in this situation.
A person much wiser than I told me never to write anything with anger. To reserve writing for praise and positive thoughts. Face to face, perhaps permissable to be frank in certain situations, but anger is something we should leave behind with other childhood habits.
Heidi, your man cometh soon, make ready woman.
Safe travels John.
Your Friend
Bill Heck
ps. Hello to you Stephanie, your font is feminine, good.
Condolences to Captain Pagano. He should immediately shred that woman’s letter and never, ever allow the thought of a schedule to overtake the decision to search for a passenger overboard. John, if you post her contact information and email I am sure a few bloggers will be happy to share that sentiment with her.
Final thanks to Jaime for making us feel like we were there on the South American cruise. That’s the beauty of a wonderful writer.
I cannot believe that monster of a woman you called a madam. How awfull of her! Don’t worry, the karma will get her back.
)
I feel so bad for Capt. Pagano and I offer my deepest sympathies for his loss. Captain, please throw away the letter and think about the good times & millions of satisfied customers.
Hello to you John, Heidi & Thingy from chilli Ohio
How completely and unacceptably heartless and cruel of that vile contemptuous woman to blame the captain that she missed an excursion! To have that much disdain for others and to be so full of and hung up on oneself is simply appalling.
The Flying Dutchman
John:
WOW….this blog was excellent today.
I have to ask a question….were you dancing to the “Love Boat” music during the commercial?
For some reason, I pictured you dancing. Inquiring minds want to know…. LOL
There is old saying that money does not build character….it reveals it.
Our State Lottery pays Josh $5,000 a year to go to college (tax free)…so I would say that in a small way…we have already won the Lottery!!
But should we ever “hit the big one”….I can not say that our lives would change all that much.
Depending on the amount, David may move his retirement date up a bit….and we would spend even more time on a Carnival ship…but that is about it! We are already so blessed.
GREAT pictures….
As for the 67 year old prune’s letter, I am glad that the Captain kept it. He should promptly take it home and line the birdcage with it …. so that it gets the proper attention that it deserves.
All I can say to that 67 year old bag is “shame on you, you sad and pathetic excuse for a human being.”
Linda (Mom of your friend~ trying to talk us into one more cruise before he becomes to old for Club O2~ DJ)
God bless Captain Pagano. As for the vitriolic woman… not so much. There’s a special place in hell reserved for people like her and she’ll be welcomed with open arms, I’m sure.
Radu’s pictures of the Splendor are… well… splendid! She is a GORGEOUS vessel!!
The podcast was wonderful! Great job, John!! Talk about PASSION! That Barry guy is REALLY pumped about cruising! I’d like to get to know him!!!
Please tell Heidi and the Thingy that I said howdy! Tell Stephanie and Tony thank you for me.
Ciao!!!
Host Mach
My condolences to Captain Pagano. I hope he doesn’t take to heart what that heartless woman wrote. Unfortunately some people do think the world revolves around them. I am partial to Captain Pagano as he was the captain for my first two Carnival cruises.
Please send my sincere condolences to Captain Pagano on the loss of his mother.
I had the pleasure of working with Captain Pagano thirty years ago. He is a true gentleman. You will not find a more kindhearted and caring person. My prayers are with him and his family.
John,
Please pass along my condolances to Captain Pagano. Losing one’s mother is about the worst thing that anyone can have happen but ynder the circumstances that this poor man had to endure, it must have torn his heart out. While at 65 I know this lady was only thinking that she will never get the chance to go on this excursion again but really did she just expect to have the Captain and crew to just say Oh Well and continue on? To Quote Bugs Bunny, “What a Marroon!” I really have no use for people that think only of themselves. Life is short and precious and should be saviored with friends and family and the members of this man’s family that was lost had just had their world torn apart. The only thing this miserable woman could think about is that she would miss her shore excursion. Shame on her!
Captain Pagano may God Bless you and the Good Crew of the Carnival Splendor for your actions.
James & Nancy
The Cruzin2some
Hi John,
Please do reply
Great blog again.
My condolences to Captain Pagano.
Hope he is doing well. The woman`s letter hurt him very much. Your comment “imagine if it was a member of your family” does say everything. Selfish people(only one) again.
Reading you flying out of Belize mentioning Jimmy Brick, I would have had trouble watching his R-Rated show too. I met him three times as English is not my first language I am already running into trouble understanding the regluar show because of his accent.
Only 31 days until Freedom. Sailing from Port Everglades on April 25th. My No 16 on Carnival,
No 5 on Freedom. TA in 2007, 28 days April 2008
(7WC,7EC,14TA). I booked Freedom after Carnival cancelled TA on Liberty MIAMI-DOVER on April 25th. Two new Ports Antigua and Tortola.
ACD James: Is he the guy nicknamed sexy James?
Do you know Noortje still beeing onboard?
Finalizing my paperwork ESTA,APIS (for travelling to US from abroad), Fun Pass and My documents today, I found out my dining has been “waitlisted”. What happened? Are they implementing open seating dining? I wanted Late Dining and a large table. John please can you assist? Ralf Trahe, Booking 1V43F3, Cabin No 1211.
yours
Ralf
Usually I am smiling after reading this blog. Today, I have huge tears in my eyes for Captain Pangano.
To the Captain I send my deepest sympathy. Thank you for your professionalism and respect for mankind.
God Speed to you and your family
Cathy
Hello John,
(Please Reply)
Hope your day is well and everything is fine with Heidi and the little one.
I have been checking in on your blogs and enjoying your posts for a while now, they often make me smile or laugh. Thank you for taking the time to enlighten and give insight to the industry to everyone that reads your blog.
Our next cruise is the Conquest on April 19th, 2009, we are in room 9205. If my PVP calls me with the right number we will be back in a category twelve. On our September cruise we did not receive our in room treats I had ordered for sail away until we were underway. Is there a way to make certain the Bon Voyage department has them there when we are allowed in our suite?
I noticed that you have posted a link for who the cruise directors should be on upcoming CCL cruises. It’s nice for those of us that have cruised before to know who will be running things. Do you think there might be a chance of posting a link to either current or upcoming Capers for the different ships?
I want to book two nights in The Point, one is for a special occasion for my wife. If I knew the current formal nights I could book around that, ensure our reservations and not have to worry they might be booked when we board.
Something we would deeply enjoy would be having private table for two in the main dining room. We have never had any luck with the Maître’ D, even after a decent tip. Is there a way to arrange this prior to boarding or is it possible to pay a premium for this? I know I would be willing to pay for the privilege of a table for two and would also think others might be willing to do the same.
On another note, Jeanne and I have been on quite a few cruises with Carnival and some others in your ever growing stable of brands and we have always had a grand time. Even when special requests or schedules cannot be made or kept, we have always made the best of it and the employees have always gone above and beyond to help make it that way.
Have a great day and keep up the great blogging,
Rick
John {{{{Please respond}}}}
I’m still awaiting the June 2010 schedule for New Orleans. My group is growing and they are waving money! We still want the Bahamas itinerary. If you could be so kind and research this, let me know……OH! Do you have Mr. Cahill’s email address? If so, can I have it?
We are heading to your homeland in August. Send tips and places not to be missed to my email.
Thanks,
Melody
Hi John,
Please give Captain Pagano my sincere sympathy, not only for the loss of his mother, but also for having to deal with that perfectly horrid lady who sent him the hateful letter.
Florence
John, great blog, as always you tell us the good, the bad and the ugly.
Speaking of ugly, the female (she’s no lady!!) of 67 years complaining about missing her tour and with such venom. There is no excuse for that type behavior, except may be she is French?? Wouldn’t it be ironic if she “fell overboard” sometime in the future – not wishing that on anyone, just saying it would be very ironic.
My prayers and thoughts go out to Captain Pangano and his family on the loss of his Mother.
Many hugs to you, Heidi and Thingy,
Diane from Texas
We wish to extend heartfelt prayers to Capt Pagano and not let that poor excuse of a human ruin any part of his life. He is in our prayers. Thanks for allowing us to tell it like it is. If I won a lottery I would book a whole year of cruises. Love the blog
John,
How terrible of this woman to be so selfish.
I would hope that Carnival would take note of her name and information and prohibit her from sailing any Carnival Corporations ships.
My deepest sympathy to Captain Pagano is the loss of your mother.
Dear John:
Mr Pietrangelo wrote a kind and touching note to Captain Pagano in Italian, and though this translation does not do it justice I hope it is ok with Mr Pietrangelo that I share his thoughts in the note.
“Dear Captain Giorgio Pagano it is with deep sadness that I write this note. You have done nothing but give your best for each person on your cruise ship and even though I may never meet you personally, I want to thank you for everything you have done for us. At the time of your pain I give my condolences to you and your family and try to forget that vile letter to you seeking more time in your life. Mama Pagano May rest in peace, knowing that you have led a brilliant and caring life a man who has spent his entire life for other people to enjoy life. Captain Giorgio Pagano, many I love you for what you’ve done in your life. Thank you. ”
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Your friend, lets live la dolce vita.
Bill Heck
Oh John, I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Captain Pagano’s mother. Please give him a hug for me. What a sad time for him while he was desparately trying to find this man. There are times when pirate law should supercede maritime law and that woman who was so self absorbed should have been made to walk the plank! It never ceases to amaze me how low people can stoop. I know even one person feeling that way about him is awful to him but please let him know that the other 2,999 people on the cruise were grateful for his caring and expertise! My thoughts will be with him at this sad time.
Radu–I’m in awe of those photos of the Splendor going under the Golden Gate–what a sight! When you have spent this much time on one ship she becomes very special and so does her crew!
I’m not sure about your principles when you win lots of money…I have seen a lot of sports figures and the young rappers and singers spending it like water here in Atlanta…
I’m looking forward to the video interviews. Say hi to Jaime for me!
Hi John
As far as the lottery goes I would be off with my daughters on a world cruise , or at least as close to one as I could manage bouncing from Carnival ship to ship. When I finally decided it was time to settle on dry land I would hire a housekeeper/cook and become a foster parent (my kids are adults now). The world needs more of those.
Debbie
I believe that you can’t expect when to win lottery, I just think it is a fun game. But anyways, I like your blog, it’s really interesting.
John,
Please give Captain Pagano my deepest symapthy on the loss of his mother. I have sailed with Captain Pagano and could not have asked for a more dedicated Captain. The woman (beast) who wrote him that letter is full of venom and should not be allowed to sail again.
John I did want to say when I was in a suite ( Cat 11) on the Carnival Freedom, ( this was Nov 30, 2008) I WAS given VIP tags due to the fact I had a suite. I am 2 cruises away from Platinum, so the suite was the only reason I had priority embarkation and debarkation.
Radu,
Thanks so much for your lovely pictures! I am so happy when John attaches them to a blog! You are truely talented.
Our deepest sympathy to Captain Pagano on the loss of his mother.
Oh, and you can rest assured that if I win the lottery, someone else will be cleaning out my desk as I will be on extended “holiday”.
Hugs,
Lori
aka Catmama
John and Jaime,
Wow I am just floored that this happened and you two said nothing to me even when we were talking about that horrible incident in the showroom.
Plain and simple, Carnival did the RIGHT thing. Jaime’s compassionate post was so touching and helped us all who were NOT there, understand not only what the crew goes through, but what the other passengers go through.
I hope you tell Captain Pagano that there are just some people ( I can barely describe them human) on the planet who ONLY care about themselves and cannot be bothered when someone’s life gets in their way.
Love the pictures….. GOOOO RADU!
Nancy
[...] The Lotetry of Life So here we are in Los Angeles a place full of crazy people. OK, I had better rewrite that and say “crazy [...] [...]
HI JOHN,
THIS IS TOM(missouri) AND JOYCE COVINGTON. HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU. INTERESTED IN CRUISING WITH YOU AROUND AUG.23 2009 FOR OUR 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. ARE THERE ANY GOOD SPECIALS AROUND THEN AND WHEN YOU WILL BE CRUISING. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON