Before we start today’s blog would you please spare a thought for our Director of Entertainment Chris Prideaux. He was rushed to the hospital on Thursday night and remains in ICU. I can’t comment on his medical condition but today (Monday) he is stable and hopefully will be moved out of intensive care soon. Many of you will have seen his name mentioned here regularly on the blog and many of you met him during the recent Bloggers Cruise…………….I ask you to please keep Chris and his family in your thoughts.
Last night I went out to meet a “friend.” Heidi has some ladies over that she had met at her ante natal classes and as I would rather wipe my bottom with sandpaper than stay at home I decided to bugger off and do something I have been putting off for a long time. ………………….see a chap who used to be my friend and in fact he still was because I had never had the courage to break it off with him. Breaking up with a mate is actually harder to do than with a girlfriend although because my mate Alan was so ugly I never had much experience in this field. You see, with a mate, you can’t have that usual conversation about it “not being you” or “we can still be friends” …………..that simply cannot happen when it comes to men.
Women however dump friends all the time. Male bloggers………..how many times in your life have you come home to find your wife having coffee in the kitchen with a woman she had told she hated just last week.
If men don’t want to be friends with a man any more they just ignore them. I do this on the blog very occasionally and if I get a constant anti-Carnival commentator after a few replies……..I simply ignore them. Maybe we should have done that with Saddam Hussein………it may have been cheaper if we had just ignored him and imagine how pissed off he would have been if he found out that the Brits and Yanks had gone out to a lap dancing club with Syria, Jordan and Iran and not invited him.
I guess I should explain about this guy. He used to work on the ships and he lives fairly local to me. I have only been out a few times with him over the years and it will tell you what sort of person my “friend” is when I say that Heidi refuses to be in the same room as him. There are many reasons for this. One is that he is so tight his arse squeaks when he walks. He never has offered to pay for anything……dinner………drinks……..anything …………even though he has a well paying job in London. He is also what I call “a topper”………….anytime someone is telling a story his has to be bigger and better. He always starts his sentence off with “that’s nothing”…………or “I can do better than that.”
He is also ………….and I have to be careful here …………….a big drinker. I am 99% certain he has no idea about me writing this blog as that would involve him being interested in anyone apart from himself. We all like a drink………….well I used to……………but there is always one who takes it too far and when this bloke has a few drinks ………….which I have paid for of course…………he becomes sullen and very aggressive which is one of the reasons he no longer works for Carnival. I have in the past tried to speak to him about his drinking and even did so last night but he just told me to “F^%k Off” and mind my own business…………..so I did. I’m not saying it’s ok to leave a friend out in the cold with his problems but that was enough for me. I sat there thinking about the Godfather and how Michael had to deal with Fredo and as I sat and listened to his language get louder and louder and his language more and more disgusting…………..I told him I was going to the toilet …………………….and after doing so………….I went out of the back entrance and never went back. I know this was wrong………………I know it’s not how a friend treats a friend but if I had told him I was leaving he would have gotten aggressive and caused a scene. I sat in my car, sent him a text that said “get help with your drinking and we can be friends…..don’t and we won’t…………..look after yourself…………..John”…………………and I drove off.
I did so with mixed emotions – feeling guilty about leaving the way I did but also glad to be out of that situation. I was sure by now he was being thrown out of the pub for being aggressive and very drunk. Luckily he can’t drive so I wasn’t worried about that. I probably would have thought about what I had done a lot more……….but then my car started to make an awful sound……………bugger………………………………I had a flat tyre. It was 10.45pm, I was in a dark, desolate street in Essex and I was handicapped by the fact that I can no more fly a space shuttle than I can change a tyre on a car.
You see, when you become a Cruise Director you get assistants and people who look after all the aspects of your life for you and basically run your life. Meanwhile Heidi pays my bills and answers the mail and so on. Katut or one of his mates cleans the cabin as does Heidi when I am home, as did my Mum when I lived with my wonderful parents. I panicked. I became aware of how mollycoddled I was. I certainly don’t know how to change a tyre.
When I finally managed to contact a breakdown service, I realised that there were lots of other things I didn’t know. The lady on the other end of the phone asked me what make and size tyres I had. I had no idea. I had to get out of the car to find out and despite her patient instructions, I couldn’t find the spare tyre in the boot…………..sorry……………trunk..
I didn’t fancy waiting for the rescue truck for ages and I started to wonder if I should say: “By the way, I’m John Heald. I have a blog read by thousands of people and I will be writing about this incident” in order to get some special treatment. I couldn’t bring myself to do it, partly because it seemed pathetic and partly because she probably wouldn’t have given two shiny shites.
However, I did tell her that my wife was pregnant and I was rushing home to be with her. I don’t know if that made a difference but a man in a truck soon arrived. Upon arriving he saw me standing by the side of the road finishing a naughty Cuban cigar such was the stress this had caused I told him that it was my only one. “You bastard,” he said. I was a little affronted but his facial expression suggested that he intended it as a term of affection.
I felt a bit better about myself when he couldn’t find the spare tyre either. “Maybe it’s in a cage underneath,” I said, scratching around for any manly knowledge I might have. He had a quick look but then said there was no spare – there had never been one. “This model of Range Rover just comes with tyre-mould so you can patch up your flat tyre and get to a safe location.”
When he said “tyre-mould” I felt like a stranger in a strange land. “You’re going to need a recovery vehicle,” he said. For some reason the word “vehicle” made me feel more secure. It had an official ring to it. It wouldn’t be long before I would be home with Heidi drinking a nice mug of monkey tea. Soon an even bigger truck arrived and my car was loaded on to the back. This was done by a man with a beard, wearing a high visibility jacket and all the time he stood there winching the car on to the back of his truck he spoke to me using the word fella “nice car fella………….are you a local fella…………..where you been fella, down the pub…………..you’re a big fella arnt ya.”
So as I sat in the recovery truck, going down the freeway we call the M25 at 60mph, I had time to consider the positives of this situation. I didn’t have to drive home, I was saving on gas money and best of all, it suddenly struck me that all this could go in to this morning’s blog thingy. …………………however, the thought that I had left that chap in the pub was still bugging me.
I finally got home at 3am and after being told by Heidi that she had been worried sick about me and that she was so happy I was ok………….she gave me a massive bollocking for not being a real man for not knowing how to change a tyre.
This morning, I called my friend ready to apologize for my actions…………..there was no answer so I sent him a text apologizing and asking him to call me…………..he hasn’t.
So, good morning everyone and I hope you all had a great weekend. Tomorrow I will crack on with answering the next group of questions marked for my reply but before I do so I wanted to talk a little about our new and exciting Your Choice Dining program we announced last week.
Many of you seem excited about this extra dining choice we have given you which along with the regular assigned dining and the lido alternative give our guests some brilliant dining choices…………….not forgetting the supper clubs on our Spirit, Conquest and Splendor class ships. I have read one or two people’s concerns that the Your Choice Dining program will in someway affect those who prefer the regular assigned dining, meaning those who prefer to have the same waiter for the entire cruise. Well, it won’t………………….really, it won’t. I spoke to someone about this today and I am putting together a Q and A for them on this subject so that we can answer any concerns and mostly importantly tell you how it works. I hope to have those answers ready by mid week. I assure you it’s a great addition and there is nothing to be concerned about.
As I am not going to be on the ships as a Cruise Director until June and knowing how you all love to read what our guests manage to complain about I asked my colleagues across the fleet to send me in any blog worthy stories……………..so now and then I will be adding them to the blog thingy.
Today’s comes from The Carnival Glory and my mate Butch………….here is what he sent.
Hello John
As you asked for any funny comments from guests I wanted to show you this one from the incident report .A guest complained to the Maitre D on lido deck that the soup on the Grand Buffet service line was too thick and strong. After checking the Maitre D discovered that he had been eating the Au Jus that went with the Roast Beef. There was a sign saying ” Au Jus ” but guest said the sign was confusing.
There you go John and I will let you have anymore that I think your bloggers will enjoy
Thanks Butchy and look out for more of the same in the days ahead.
It’s not just cruise ship passengers that get a little confused. There is the famous entry that was written in the visitors book at Windsor Castle by a tourist that said “Why on earth did they build Windsor Castle on the flight path of Heathrow Airport.”
And here is the video I promised highlighting my trip to the Carnival Sunday Fun day cruise winner, Sharon Foster’s, home.
Now lets talk German.
Occasionally, and when I need to take a break from making fun of the cheese eating surrender buggers that are the French, I do at times have a little bit of fun about das Germans. When they are on das Carnival boot there are no sun beds left by 9 am as they have all been reserved by the German guests who put towels, suntan oil, goats and BMWs on them. As Monty Python pointed out years ago, they took das sun beds and barged into the queues. And if you weren’t at the buffet spot on seven, Fritz had eaten all das sausages……………….however, that was in the past because now the North Americans and the British are just as bad………………as for the Russian’s…………well they hire Speznatz commandos to guard the chairs..
I have also made fun of the fact that Germans cannot say words like “squirrel, squid and squiggly.”
I also suggested that German people have no sense of humor but Hans does at least find some things funny — people falling over on banana skins and Benny Hill, for instance. Germans know the problem with German humour. They make fun of it in their TV adverts. When Heidi and I were last in Germany during our Warnenmunde trip we both laughed very hard at one. A young blond man walks on stage at a dimly lit comedy club. He walks up to the microphone and says in a dull German accent: “Good evening, ladies and gents, I just flew in from Berlin. And, boy, are my arms tired.” Silence. He flaps his arms like a bird. More silence. As he prepares to continue, the voice-over intervenes, sparing the audience any more routine. “Germans don’t do comedy,” says the voice-over. “They do beer.” It was an advert for Beck’s.
I also made fun of the fact that David (Das Hoffmeister) Hasselhoff is worshiped as Das Rock God. In fact, I had a good time at their expense. You zee, unlike the French and the British who would rather eat the boogers out of Gérard Depardieu’s nose than be nice to each other, Das Germans and das British have fun at each others expense………but we like each other.
So, its time for me to admit that I have been a dumbkopf (stupid head) and therefore please allow me to sing the praises of my German freundins.
For example. When was das last time you heard ein politicians talking so very obviously from the heart? Fueled by passion rather than a need to keep on the right side of his party’s PR machine? I will never forget how Joschka Fischer laid into Tony Blair and George W. Bush, slicing through their nonsense with a very simple and very effective “I don’t believe you” when his Blairness said that Saddam had a billion weapons of das massen destruction.
Let’s talk about the best movie ever made, Das Boot, and Haydn, Handel, Brahms, Beethoven and Bach, contact lenses, das globe, das printing press, X-rays, das telescope and Levi Strauss; das chemistry lessons would have been a lot less fun were it not for the Bunsen burner. Let’s face it: if a German train grazed a wall, lightly injuring a handful of people on board, they’d tow it away, replace the damaged track and have the network up and running by morning. Also, when their roads are coated with a thin veneer of snow, they send out a fleet of snowplows. The notion that you might be stuck on an autobahn for 10 hours because of inclement weather is…………. das bollocks.
My Range Rover – that’s German and so is the new Mini, the Bentley Continental GT, the new Rolls-Royce, the new Bugatti, the new Lamborghini and all new Chryslers. The entire Spanish car industry is German and by this time next year I bet they’ll have Ferrari, Hummer, and Cadillac and ….well every das bugger car in das industry.
And I will tell you what………..das Germans know a thing or two about building cruise ships, as well.
I love the AIDA ships, I love their uber-modern designs and the way everything just flows……….I imagine Bill Gates’ house looks just like this inside. There are no doors to enter lounges and guest areas; one just leads naturally to the other.
The color schemes are fresh, rustic and earthy and as you would expect being German, everything had been thought out down to the smallest detail.
For example, every public bathroom is different……every one……each with a new way to make peeing more enjoyable, some even have TV screens over the urinal.
The Theatrium which, as you may know, replaces the normal theatre seen on most cruise vessels, is just brilliant. It sits right in the middle of the vessel and guests can walk through, sit and watch one of the nightly shows and …….if it’s not their cup of tea……….or beer ………… leave ………. without disturbing anyone………there are no doors.
Having no doors means that all the show’s rehearsals are open to the public, as is the broadcast studio and many other areas usually marked “crew only.”…………and I think that’s just a terrific.
At the top of the Theatrium are huge rotund seats that you can stretch out on like a bed on a private plane. You can start the night off by watching the amazing hire wire trapeze act and when that’s finished swivel the chair around, face the ocean, plug in your headphones and watch a movie.
Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that are the best and nobody does simplicity better than AIDA.
The first example are there two smoking bars………..they are both………..inside/outside bars………This means that you can smoke indoors without having anyone come up to you and beat you over the head with a cucumber because you are smoking …………there are no doors……….the smoke just goes outside hurting nobody except the odd seagull who instead of looking for a piece of bread is now on 20 Marlboro Lights a day.
Seriously though, the Anytime Bar is so simple. Most of the room is indoors with a disco and nightly entertainment while the rest of the room has…yep you guessed it………..no doors so passengers have the choice…………all the other bars and lounges are non-smoking…………and everyone is happy…………….it’s so simple………..yet……….as far as I know ………AIDA are the only ones doing this. However, you can also expect something similar with our Piazza on the Carnival Dream. I have no idea as yet as to the smoking regulations we will implement but to me it would make sense to utilize the outside areas for night time cocktails and smoking thus allowing more of the inside of the ship to remain smoke free.
They have dartboards and pool tables and oh yes………..the absolutely brilliant 4D theatre. For a small fee, you are given a pair of 1950’s glasses and sit in big leather chairs and watch a series of 4D movies and cartoons. The chairs move up and down, side to side and when one of the characters gets eaten by a giant rat………..so do you and when that rat belches our hero out of his mouth jets of steam and water sprinkle lightly down on you from above………..honestly it is amazing ………..and so simple.
German’s love their food and, as you may remember, they love this “club ship”- buffet style dining at the pizza, Italian, and Asian, Swedish or multi-choice buffet areas. Beer and wine is included as are soft drinks and the food is top quality. Sometimes the word “buffet” can disguise the fact that the food may not be as high a quality as in a regular dining room but not here……….not on AIDA.
I wish the blog thingy came with “smell-a-thingy” so you could have enjoyed the sights and smells of the Market Buffet. It really does smell like a market…the fruits blending with the hanging meats and the smoked fish that blend with the two dozen types of fresh tea that guests shovel into a bag and dunk into tea pots. This…and I mean this with the greatest respect…has to be the best buffet at sea.
AIDA also has a premium contemporary restaurant and steakhouse, both with sumptuous menus and inviting chairs. Oh, talking of chairs…………yes, here I go again about chairs………..at the stern of the ship there is a room with huge, deep sofas that say come and rest your buttocks on me………..well……….I mean the chairs don’t say that and there’s no sign that says in German “kommen und reston das buttocks on mich”………but that is what you will want to do.
Guess, as well, what music and entertainment they have put there while you are relaxing and reading your Mercedes manual?………………Bugger all…………….less is more and there is no music, no distraction………just you, a big sofa bed, your book and the sea………….just as it should be.
Germans love to be outside and the AIDA ships have many areas to eat, drink and be merry in the open air. Their Lido deck has a huge stage where the cruise industry’s most famous parties are held. These include stage shows from the performers, costume parties and a massive laser light show. I really have to see this one day as everyone I know who has seen it says it is quite remarkable.
There are many other areas of the ship I could write about, the bar by the tender station, the huge florist shop, the AIDA bar shaped like a star, the gymnasium, the fact that you can rent bicycles on board to take ashore. This now has been complemented with a bunch of Segway thingies so you can….ummm….Segway around the ports of call.
You see the problem is I cannot tell you how good this ship is……….just like I couldn’t when I explored the Queen Mary 2. I just don’t have the vocabulary. I just end up stammering and dribbling and talking wide-eyed nonsense as though I have just seen Claudia Schiffer naked………on a Segway.
The other problem is this. None of you will ever sail AIDA…….and why would you? It’s a German ship designed for German people with everything written and spoken in German and you see that’s a real shame. It means that you won’t get to see what is quite possibly one of the best designed, most simplistically brilliant cruise vessels I have ever seen.
Let me try though and explain this “Club Ship” style of cruising. So, AIDA caters for hard working Germans of all ages and let me try and explain the Club system to you.
The Club style vacation is very popular in Germany where everything is included in the final cost and where they can do what they want when they want.. The concept that this land vacation dominated club style vacation could be transferred to a cruise liner was a little difficult at first. This was because of one of the most popular German TV programs ever……………Das Traumschiff…………..the German version of the Love Boat. This program was a huge hit in the 80’s and featured characters like Der Kreuzfahrt Direktor (Cruise Director) Helga Macoy and unfortunately portrayed old Germans playing cards and going to bed at 8:00pm with a good book and a glass of warme Milch (warm milk)………….then along came AIDA and suddenly the German’s had their club style vacation at sea ……………..and oh……….how they love it.
And now the reason we are speaking German …………………..and that’s because yesterday AIDA launched a new ship called the AIDAluna and as you will see from their website she looks fantastic. I know it’s in German but as you all speak the language of cruising I know you will think ishe looks wunderbar……………here is the link thingy………….http://www.aida.de/kreuzfahrt/reisen-mit-aida/schiffe/aidaluna.18759.html.
Oh yes………….a message to my royal champion friend Kevin……………. you are correct mate…………all Carnival Corporation ships do look a like. In fact if you drink a bottle of Vodka and smoke a palm tree then stand on your head and cover your left eye …………………….the AIDAluna looks exactly like the Queen Mary 2………………….and while you’re there have a good look at me because I will look just like Shaquille O’Neal……………………all our ships look a like………… my arse..
Goodnight
Your friends
John, Heidi and the Thingy.
Look, friends — there are a few things you should remember before you comment. The space below is for you to post your comments about the post I've just written above. If it is something that's unrelated, please use the Ask John tab above. Now, while I may not be able to reply to your comment below, I do sit in my underpants almost every morning and read everything that is here. So feel free to comment on the comments and then if someone wants to comment on the comment to the comment then go ahead as well. Please be courteous unless the poster is French...........then you can say whatever you want.
Hi John!
My thoughts with Chris and his family. I hope everything will be ok.
What a terrible story of your night last night. Between your friend and the car, ugh..what a nightmare.
I can only imagine what that tire fiasco/tow trucks escapades cost you.
I’m ready to go on Aida after your review. What a beauty.
Thanks for posting Shaq! He was in Dallas yesterday for the game (The Mavericks beat his Suns bad) and then he went to the JFK Memorial today.
Take care!
David
John:
First of all, we hope that Chris P. is doing better. I hope he knows that he and his family are in our thoughts and prayers.
A bit of advice to you about your “ex-friend”. Now that you have made the break, it is time to leave him alone. I know you are concerned about his drinking, but someone with an addiction can not be helped by anyone else UNTIL they decide to help themselves. In many cases, it takes them hitting bottom before you they will reach up for assistance. The best thing a true friend can do is avoid giving this person any more excuses. As long as you hung out with him, he could justify it in his mind that he must be ok. He now knows the truth…the ball is in his court.
DJ got a big laugh about you not being able to change a tire. But you are correct in your statement about all the wonderful assistance and support that you receive, both personally and professionally.
In fact, I wrote Mr. Arison for the very first time in all our years of cruising with Carnival after the Blogger’s Cruise.
Seeing first hand all the detail and effort that goes into assisting you with this Blog truly made me appreciate Stephanie L., Stephanie M., Tony, Tom and Vance all the more. And little things like Stephanie M. making sure that DJ knew that Funship Freddie was going to be making an appearance that last night. With all she had going on with 400+ Bloggers, she took the time to make sure we were notified ahead of time. We truly appreciated that and all the hard work we witnessed from the Blogger’s Staff. So that is what I told Mr. Arison.
And today, I got the nicest reply from him. It is nice to know that he listens.
Funny guest comment from Butch, btw. We will be seeing him on the 16th of May and look forward to a great cruise. I have emailed him for Funship Freddie’s schedule.
We anxiously await the Dream as well. (Spa Cabin woo hoo!!!!)
Linda (Mom of your friend ~ headed to the Talladega race with Countess Carolyn and Don this month~ DJ)
Hey John, Heidi, and Thingy….
Both Susan and I are so upset to hear about Chris. We met him on the bloggers cruise he was great company! Our prayers are with him in this trying time!
Take care of yourself and Heidi and of course Thingy. (I’ll be glad when a name comes along)!
I must comment on the marketing campaign that you guys have going now! The billboards are wonderful and Susan just got an ad in the mail that says, “Susan is boring’s worst enemy”! How great is that!
II need to tell you how disappointed I am with Carnival’s customer service department. I sent them an email asking to be reimbursed for the $30 or so dollars for a cab. They were supposed to pick us up and take us to the bloggers hotel. They even called and confirmed our flight information a couple of days before we left. I received a very official looking letter back from Amanda Lopez (Special Adivsor, Office of the President) asking for a receipt from the cab. When I left my home I was officially on vacation not a business trip. After waiting at the airport and trying to find someone from Carnival for about an hour…..I must have forgotten to ask the cab driver for a receipt. Carnival makes the mistake and I have to continue coming up with documentation. A person with less Brand loyalty would not be back. $30….in the grand scheme of things is nothing…..but to lose a loyal customer over something so trivial…..not good!
John….as a stock holder and great friend of Carnival I would hope that others do not get treated that way! Both Susan and I are loyal to a fault and will write it off to someone being not smart. We love you guys and will continue our loyalty.
By the way we started a diet right after the cruise and Susan has lost 20lbs and I have lost 35lbs.
Looking forward to our family cruise in October on the Conquest!
John & Susan from Frisco, Tx
John;
We are very sorry to hear that Chris is having problems. We will keep him in our thoughts and prayers and hopefully everything will be OK for him soon. We enjoyed meeting him on the bloggers cruise.
Sounds like we should take a cruise with AIDI next time.
Bob and Dianne
Praying for Chris. Please keep us posted. The woman on the video is not too excited. She seems like she was asking who are these people?
Please reply if you feel a need to…
We had a great time on the Valor March 29th with a couple of “little trivial things” that I just wanted to mention…
Our Cruise Critic Meet n Greet was not listed in the Capers as you said it would be but I did go to the Pursers Desk, asked them to please tell Charlie and invite him. Thank goodness we had planned this prior to leaving so we all knew when/where to meet and did not wait to find it in the Capers. Charlie did indeed show up, spent about an hour with us answering all our questions and was very nice. I asked him a question to which he had to get back to me with either a Yes or No and I’m still waiting for the answer… (We wanted to know if we could perhaps get a tour of the bridge).
If you did send something to the room as I believe you mentioned in an earlier reply and it came out of your pocket, please get the money back… Nothing showed up, not in our room or in my parents room (Naomi & Marty). Although one of the other members from our Roll Call did have a bouquet of roses in his room and thinks (not sure) it was from you. If you didn’t send anything, that’s ok too I just don’t want you to have to pay out of pocket and not receive anything for it.
Rocky Horror Picture Show never did make it to the big screen but again, I don’t know if it made it onto the ship or not.
Every single staff member we came across was very friendly, always with a smile and a hello but not one of them “welcomed us back”. I really believe it has everything to do with the new card. Now that we have it, we hate it even more.
From her picture on your blog, I was able to spot/find Countess Carolyn and Don and went up and said hello and had great conversations with them during the week. Hi Carolyn and Don and it was a pleasure meeting you guys.
As stated here and elsewhere, yes, the food staff was only giving out 2 slices of bacon and I personally never saw/heard anyone complain about it. Once or twice we asked for more and we were given more without hesitation. Great job there to the staff and the Food Manager.
We had a full ship of 3551 passengers with 56 of us being Platinum. The past guest party was out-of-control with 1600 past guests on board!!! A Platinum Only Party would have been really nice.
And as usual, I do have a couple of questions for you…
We will again be cruising on the Liberty June 13th as a surprise for my Dads 80th birthday, which will happen Thursday June 18th. Do you think by that time the new/new obvious all Platinum colored cards will be ready? Do you think they will still be giving out the thermos? Do you think Carnival will ever have a Platinum and higher welcome back party?
I also want to give a HUGE SHOUTOUT to one particular Staff Member. Please please please convey to whoever it is that you need to that Branka from Serbia is one of the nicest, friendliest and by far, most helpful staff members we have ever dealt with at the Carnival Pursers/Concierge Desk. First day she helped us “rearrange” some family members from one cabin to another. Then the 3 days when we needed to get off the ship she was the one who personally escorted us either to the gangway or to the tenders. She was absolutely wonderful and if I could have, I would have taken her home with me!!!
So, all in all, overall, we had another wonderful Carnival FunShip Cruise. Valor is now one of our favorites.
And in closing, I am so very glad that you are back home with Heidi and “enjoying” your last couple of weeks together as a couple before you become a family… I mentioned to Doug (my husband) that I caught one of your posts about going to the class with Heidi and he just started laughing just thinking about what you could have and did write about that experience!!!
Now I’m going to catch up on all your posts/questions/answers/replies that I truly did miss while cruising…
Oh, and I predict a happy, healthy, easy labor and delivery on May 15th!!!
John,
Please pass along to Chris and his family that I’m thinking about him and praying for a speedy recovery. He’s a great guy with a wonderful sense of humor. We need him back soon.
Host Mach
Please know that Chris is in our thoughts and prayers. Know you will keep us informed as to his recovery. And also, of your friend, who may recover and well may not. Your energy is better spent on the thingy and Heidi, family and friends who you reach to and extend a hand back. Substance abuse is a dark and ugly place. You did the right thing, John. Don’t feel the need to apologize. ( I know you want too, you have, and my heart knows that spot too…) Your reality is the one that he needs to respond to and be willing to live for. There really isn’t room for him in your life right now. sorry you had the tire problem. It was good fodder for the blog though!
Yours,
Kap
Dear John,
I just read your blog and I have company coming this week from Germany, who have cruised with AIDA 4 times. We are going on the Fascination on 4/18/09 (our 15th on CCL) and I’m looking forward to finding out how Carnival compares to AIDA.
Auf Wiedersehn
Maria
John,
I don’t think that the small two to four dinner groups in the anytime dinning will be a problem. It would only be a problem when you would have to move tables around to seat a party of say eight or more. Personally I like having options.
James & Nancy
The Cruzin2some
Good evening John. My prayers and thoughts will be for Chris and hopes that he will get out of the hospital as soon as possible.
Regarding your tire problem, I feel embarrassed also that I can’t change a tire also. I know where the materials are unfortuately I need assistance in doing so.
I hope things are going well with Heidi and Thingy. One thing I really appreciate about Carnival is the pin that they give to people who go on a Carnival ship constantly. I love those pins. Thank you. See you later my friend.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Definitely thoughts and prayers for Chris. Not only did Elizabeth and I talk to him frequently on the Blogger’s cruise, but also on the Carnival Splendor 3 day cruise from Dover, when we were all at the same dining table.
I have some photos to send him, but perhaps had better wait until he is doing a little better.
Sorry about Chris and I will keep him in my prayers. I sure hope he is getting better.
Ok, you did the right thing with your “friend” John. They must be willing to help themselves before you can be of help. He obviously has had this problem for a long time and its sad when they are unable or unwilling to see the problem and do anything about it. Sorry about the tire but you should call home and let Heidi know you were ok.
Loved the video of the cruise winners–I think Sharon didn’t believe you!
John, Please reply.
Hi John,
I realize that perhaps you didn’t catch every photo that I posted on my recent Carnival Splendor South America cruise:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/splendor_09/index.htm
You might not have even noticed that you made the trip with me.
So here are some pictures that may help jog your memory:
http://www.zydecocruiser.com/splendor_09/johnh.htm
Enjoy!
bill
Hi John,
Pass on to Chris a get well soon. It was nice meeting him on the Blogger’s cruise.
Too funny on the tire. Lucky for me, I am mechanically inclined. (plus I hate paying someone for something I can do myself). Not that it will make you feel any better.
Sort of like the guy that came in the shop today complaining that his jetski was not running properly. Four spark plugs and a $57 bill later, the ski was running again. He said that he could not figure out where the spark plugs were at and figured it was easier to pay someone to do it.
Dave
Sorry to hear about Chris’ health scare. Please pass on our thoughts and prayers.
Lisa and George
so sorry to hear about chris and hope this finds him better now.
as to the winner of the cruise, what’s up with that “no excitement” business? man, i would have thought they would have been jumping up and down. don’t they know who you are? or don’t they care? (just kidding!)
all the best to heidi!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
My prayers are with Chris and his family for a quick recovery. From the way you have talked, he is definitely someone I hope to meet someday!
And that was no “friend” you had drinks with last night. That was just a user.
John. please let Chris and his family know that they are in our thoughts and prayers.
We set a record……. The debarkation getting off the Valor went like clock work yesterday . It could not have been any better.
We got to the port later than we normal because we stopped in Ft Lauderdale and picked up Gloria aka Sue and Larry at the airport. So we had to park in garage G which was about a block away from the Valor.
I was so worried that we would have trouble getting the shuttle bus down to get the truck and then have to fight the traffic to get back to get our luggage.
We were off the ship in record time, the porter hailed a shuttle bus for us, he loaded our luggage in the back of the bus, and the driver took us straight on to the parking garage. We didn’t have to wait for other passengers to get on the bus.
We loaded the luggage in the truck. We were well ahead of the traffic. Believe it or not we dropped Sue and Larry off at the airport in Ft Lauderdale at 8:30am. Now could it have gone any smoother? But bless their hearts, Sue and Larry are still sitting at the airport in NY waiting to get a flight back to Mrytle Beach. All of the flights have been cancelled and they couldn’t get their flight out last night.
We enjoyed our cruise. &% (Charlie) is a super person as is Gary the Assist. CD. The shows were fantastic.
The weather was great and the water as smooth as glass………. The only thing missing ……… it was John-less………… and I don’t mean a porta John
I hope we can cruise with you again soon, and not have to wait until the BC4 on the Dream.
Countess Carolyn ….. DJ’s Nascar racing buddy
Heidi the days are flying by, only 39 days to go until the wee little one makes it’s appearance.
Hi John,
Sorry about your experience with the tire. Hopefully you’ll never have to deal with that again.
Sorry to hear about Chris Prideaux. Hope he is doing better and will be OK. I guess I won’t call him tomorrow to ask about your package. Did you ever find out where it is?
There is a thread on cruise critic that I think you should be aware of. It is fromRaceMedic and is titled Never Cruising Carnival Again. It was 15 pages when I came to your blog. You’re always giving gifts to people who probably should be pushed off the ship instead but we think Carnival is wrong in this instance. We know they are not responsible for a flight but they did book it knowing the time was too tight. Anyway, please read it and let us have your thoughts on this here. Or else just send me an e-mail because I want to know how you would have handled this.
Say Hi to Heidi for us.
George and Linda
Hi John,
I hope for a speedy recovery for Chris P.
John, please pass along to Chris that he is in our prayers for a full and speedy recovery.
John, In every car or truck I’ve owned there is this thing on the dashboard they call a glove box. I don’t know why I’ve never put gloves in there. But inside there is a book that tell you all you need to know about your car even how to change a TIRE. Where to put the jack to raise the car so you can change the TIRE. You know what it even tells you where the spare TIRE is found. If I was Heidi I would be asking to see the paperwork on this so called flat TIRE.
John, I don’t know what blog your reading when you say “Many of you seem excited about this extra dining choice “. When I read the comments it seemed just the oppisite. You got to be the self appointed Carnival Champion for anytime dinning. I agree with one of the comments that used the old saying “If it ain’t broken don’t fix it”. I know one group of people that will love this set-up. It’s the Matra Ds. I can see guests walking up to him with a $20 bill in hand saying “I’d like a nice table by a window please. You friend Ken will have an Austin Martin before you.
BIG ED
Hi John Please give my families prayers to Chris and his family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris and his family. I hope to hear good news about this soon!
Just an example of how we should be thankful every day for our blessings! And who we need to spend time with and who we don’t!
Best to you, Heidi, and Thingy!
Stitch
Hey Chris:
GET WELL SOON!
High Regards
Bill Heck
My thoughts and prayers to Chris and his family. He is such an asset to Carnival, and speaking of people who look after you, John, he is up there at the top. Have you heard from Stephanie as to how she is enjoying her vacation?
Sheryl
Hi John,
Chris will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers as well as Carnival’s Italian Captains and crew members. I hope none of them have been seriously affected by the terrible earth quake that has taken place in Italy. Have your heard from Captain Pagano? Wondering how he is doing.
My best to you, Heidi and Thingy,
Julie Gantt
John,
Just got back from our 8 day Mexican Riviera cruise on the Spirit fresh out of drydock. This was our first time cruising and I must say we are already hooked. Thanks to all my new friends at cruise critic who all stated the most important thing to bring was a good attitude… we did and we had a fantastic time.
There were a few things that could have “upset” us if we weren’t in the right frame of mind (aft hot tub broken, new carpet fuzz on all my clothes, not having the new CC matresses we had hoped would be installed and other lil issues that I saw some dwell on), but we didn’t allow anything to put us off and ended up having the most wonderful vacaion ever!
The staff was a big part of that as Arthur in the Empire Room was great and fun, our Steward Semin (sp?) was fantastic..maybe the $20 tip upfront and also at the end helped, but he was truly a ninja and cleaned our room if we were gone for 3 min without ever disturbing us (really helped cut down the new carpet fuzz issue)….yet always greated us by name the times we saw him in the hallways. The Cruise Director “Marky Marc” did a great job and we were surprised to find out this was his first trip “in the big chair”.
We really enjoyed our vacation and are already deep in discussion as to where our next cruise on Carnival will be? Hawaii, Alaska or maybe try the Splendor’s Mexican itinerary?
Hey John please reply my son and daughter just came back from a fun trip on the inspiration and just wondered if you knew how many kids were on this cruise they came back yesterday April 6, as always keep doing what you do and enjoy your time off. hugs Judy
Sending lots of good vibes & hugs to Chris – get better soon
)
I think the anytime dining “choice” is great. I guess Big Ed seems to miss some of the other comments that have stated the same. It is nice to have a CHOICE, which means everyone can choose which they like better. So don’t let Big Ed’s opinion speak for the rest of us.
I also don’t think that Carnival put this choice in place for the maitre d’s to make more money. I think they really were thinking of giving the guests more choices to make us all happy.
My thoughts are with Chris P. and family, sending lots of wishes for a speedy recovery. I enjoyed the couple of chats that I had with him during the Bloggers cruise.
Now John,
You’re 44 years old and you’ve never changed a tire? Sorry, but I’m going to have to tsk,tsk you on that one. That’s just basic road safety.
It’s honestly not that hard. I learned how pretty early on in my car owning experience. It’s especially essential since most times you end up waiting an hour for the AAA truck to show up. If, I can take off the tire, slap on the spare and be on my way in 20 minutes, that always seemed to be the better option. Sure I might get a little dirty, but a little soap and water fixes that!
I will admit that the first time I had to do it on a highway was a bit of problem. After a blowout on I70 in Ohio, I only had the mini crap lug nut wrench that came with the car’s jack, and these days, when they put our tires on with airguns, it was hard to get them loosened. I got 2 off and was having a hard time with the 3rd when a trucker saw me standing on the wrench bouncing up and down trying to loosen it. He pulled over and helped me out. After a long lecture from the trucker, I bought a real cross style lug nut wrench and always keep that and a can of fix a flat in the trunk.
I can’t remember how many tires I’ve changed in the past 23 years, in all sorts of circumstances, weather, locations, and for all sorts of people. Nothing like watching a woman change his tire to motivate a man to learn how! LOL!
Of course, knowing how to change a tire has become a moot point, since my car died a slow and painful death. Since a car has always been a convenience more than a necessity for me, I’ve decided to live a car-less life for a while, and reduce my carbon footprint.
So that means that I will be taking the train down to Baltimore the weekend of the 25th for the festivities and to catch up with some Blogger friends! I hope I’ll see you there!
Later gator,
Laura (aka divetrash)
Our thoughts and prayers are for Chris and his family. Daughter and I got a couple of chances to speak to him during the Bloggers Cruise, and I was quite impressed with his openness, honesty and willingness to listen. He, like you, is a tremendous asset to Carnival; hoping he is well and back to work very quickly.
Diane from Texas
John,
Please let Chris know my thoughts are with him and his family. Wishing him a speedy recovery.
Love to you, Heidi and the baby.
Princess Elaine, the quiet and single of Big Ed’s Evil Crew
John,
Sorry to hear about your struggles with your friend…things like that are tough, no matter if you’re 5 or 50, and it’s most important to do what you can so that you can sleep at night, knowing you did the right thing. And by refusing to enable your friend any longer, I think you did the right thing. Nobody’s perfect, and I don’t think there WAS a “right” way out of that situation, I can easily see myself doing what you did and just taking the least-confrontational way out.
I have a question about the Glory, and her first sailing out of Miami 11/29/09. I’m wondering if you could give me a guess as to what nights may be the formal nights on the sailing, as we’d like to make Supper Club reservations prior to leaving (and finding out onboard with everyone else). Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Stacey
Please let Chris and his family know they are in our thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated.
As for your “friend”, there is nothing you can do. Hopefully, he will seek help for himself. Until then, all you can do is pray.
Heading to Baltimore in TWO weeks. Anyone else going?
Hugs,
Princess Lori
aka Catmama
hey john
same as “Elaine ”
if you paid to send something to our room,,,
please get your money back.
we had a very good cruise !!!!
the CREW was outstanding,,,,
as for the Cruise Director,,,,
lets just say he sure the HELL wasnt named
JOHN,,
not long til your a Daddy !!!!!
long ashes
tom & jane
Hi John,
Oh wow, I hope Chris is okay. I adore him and hope he makes a speedy recovery. I will never forget the night on the Bloggers’ Cruise when we (Chris, Vance, Stephanie, Al Ernst, Lewis Nixon, Cele and Lynn Seldon, Gene Sloan) sang TV show theme songs at the Atrium Bar — drinking woo woos. I apologize to the Bloggers on that cruise because I suck at singing!
On another note, about ‘Kevin’ and his criticism of the Carnival product. Take it from someone who has been on EVERY cruise line — Carnival Corp. is an amazing company that has let each of its cruise lines keep their own unique identities. For that the consumer has benefited because they have a lot of choices. Carnival Cruise Lines is the best value in cruising by far and I don’t need to preach to the choir on that one. Keep doing what you’re doing because it’s working.
Best,
Anita
John, Please reply
We just returned from the Sensation on Sunday from a short three day. This was our seventh cruise with Carnival but the first one shorter than 7 days. We were pleasantly surprised to see the same attention to detail and the same great show productions that we have enjoyed on the 7 & 8 day cruises. The food was outstanding as usual, and the new upgrades around the ship really make it comparable, even better in some cases than the bigger ships.
I can remember sitting next to the Fascination when we were on the Miracle in Costa Maya a few years ago and seeing the cheap plastic lido chairs on the Fascination deck and thinking I would NEVER go on the smaller ships and trade what the Miracle had. Well, that sure has changed. We will be more than willing to take any of the older, smaller ships after the newest dry dock improvements. Kudos to Carnival for hooking us now on short cruises as well.
I did have a question though about how Carnival decides who gets upgraded, and who doesn’t. Is it random, is it based on past cruiser history, or what?
My reason for asking is this. On two different occasions, once on the Destiny out of San Juan, and now on the Sensation, we have been aware of last minute bookings by other passengers at considerable discounting, and in comparable or better rooms than us.
For this last cruise, we had one of the new balconies on a balcony guarantee rate. We met a couple who had booked 9 days out and had gotten a higher graded balcony at about $100 cheaper than us.
When we first cruised on Carnival it use to be that if the ship was not sold out a month out, the upgrades were given to the farthest out bookings as a way of rewarding them for booking so far ahead. Is there any consideration given to that anymore? Also, does it matter to Carnival that we are frequent cruisers as opposed to new cruisers when awarding the guarantee rooms???
We are cruising on May 23 on the new Liberty eastern itinerary which we got bumped from the Pride when the changes were made. We are taking two of our adult sons and their girlfriends. Though we have an aft, they are booked on an inside guarantee. We booked back in September. We are a little concerned they may get the closet because of what we have been seeing in last minute bookings.
Thanks for all you do to answer these blog questions, and good luck to you, Heidi, and your soon new arrival, thingy!
Hi John, Heidi and little Thingy
We have returned from our cruise on the Valor and had a great time as always. We spent a lot of time with Don and Carolyn and had dinner with them every night. They even took us to and from the airport. What good friends they have become. We are hoping to cruise with them again soon.
I have to make a comment though. Something that has NEVER happened before and it confused me. When we got to our cabin, my husband has his personalized stationary and welcome letter. I had none. Later, we went to claim our complimentary tournament tickets in the casino. Again, his name was there, mine was missing. When he got his thermos for being platinum, I didn’t get one, I decided to check it out at the GS desk. Lo and Behold, my name was no where to be found. The rep. at GS was astounded and immediately took care of it and I got my “goodies” right away. I am not complaining. I just thought it was strange that it happened.
The staff and crew of the Valor was fabulous. The ship was very clean and well maintained. We lost water once (while I was in the shower), but the problem was fixed in less than 30 minutes.
Our friend and favorite bartender, Jurgita, was there also. We met her on the Freedom in Europe, Oct. 2007. She is by far the friendliest bartender we have ever met. Was so excited to see her again.
Give my best to Heidi and Little Thingy. I hope to be able to do one of the BCs in 2009. If not, for sure for 2010. Take care and keep up the great blogging!!
Gloria aka Sue
I have changed a few tires in my day. It really isn’t that difficult. However having correct and uhhh reliable equipment certainly helps. On one occasion I was jacking up the car getting ready to change the flat and the flimsy jack that comes along with the spare tire/ limited use “donut”…. The “jack” sorta folded in on itself bringing the car back down to the ground. On that occasion I had to call a service to assist since I really don’t process Superman/Herculean strength to lift the car by myself…
Even heroes have the right to dream
It’s not easy to be me
I can’t stand to fly
I’m not that naive
Men weren’t meant to ride
With clouds between their knees
I’m only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me
Inside of me
Please convey to Chris that he and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. I hope that he makes a speedy recovery.
The Flying Dutchman ….gallant knave of Big Ed’s Evil Crew
Sorry to hear that our Carnival friend Chris is ill–he and his family are in our prayers. Sounds like you’d have done better staying home with Heidi and her friends rather than going out with your old mate…an “interesting” night for you! Thank goodness for cell phones, eh?? The Aida experience sounds wonderful….maybe I’ll learn German and go on one some day! Or maybe just go on one anyway and hope a few speak English!! I’m so glad that you are home now with Heidi, John. I know you don’t want to miss out on any of the excitement over the coming of the thingy!! Love to all, Gloria
Hi John:
Is there any chance that Carnival can print somewhere who the Cruise Directors of the various ships would be and when? After being on 46 cruises and doing all the ports, the one thing that makes MY cruise is the CD. Any help that you can give to give this a push would be helpful to us who have our FAVORITE CD(s).
Looking forward to your & (Heidi’s) first Mother’s Day.
Love to Heidi & Thingy . . .
We haven’t met Chris, but we do hope he is feeling better and out of intensive care.
We have to disagree with Big John regarding anytime dining. I wish it were available on Glory for our October cruise as we are going to early dining because we were outvoted 3-2.
In January though, on Dream, our 25th anniversary cruise, we have signed up for anytime. I can hardly wait for that. At home we usually have dinner about 7 or so, so going to early sitting on Glory wouldn’t have been our choice. Should the schedule change for implementation of anytime on Glory, all are in agreement to change to that.
Anyway, I hope there are no more flat tires in your future. I had to change one once at night, and it was a terrible disaster. Fortunately, a nice man came along to do it for me. That was long ago when a nice man would notice me, lol.
Enjoy your last few days with Heidi alone. Things will be mighty different when the thingy comes along, but it will all be a wonderful, blessed experience.
Gerri & Frank
Hi John,
Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris Prideaux and his family. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Congratulations to Sharon on winning a cruise and being the lucky one to have you at her party!
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Just heard about Chris P from a friend in Carnival Headquarters!!
Hope that he makes a full recovery and is back at CCL very soon.
Enjoyed his company most recently on the Blogger’s Cruise!
Am currently back in Aussie for a few weeks for my son’s graduation as well as to visit family and friends….
Then heading on Transatlantic Emerald Princess 17 day cruise to Europe on 29th April followed by Royal Princess 12 nighter to Greek islands, Israel and Egypt!! Taking these cruises “for the team”!!! Someone has to keep the industry afloat and so I volunteered!!!
Regards,
S/N
Dear John,
I got behind in reading your blog due to back problems so am now trying to catch up… having said that I just wanted to tell you how disappointed I was in the video where you surprised Sharon Foster and her family. Their lack of excitement of having you there in her home and winning a ‘free 7-day cruise’ was unbelievable! I would have been jumping up and down, screaming and crying, and you would have had to ‘peel’ me off of you!! I would have called all my friends, neighbors, relatives, and their pets, just because you had come by to SEE ME! What we’re they thinking?? Shock! are you kidding me?? Anyway… I just felt this incredible need to tell you this! Next time you want to visit someone and see some ‘real’ excitement, stop in my hometown and you won’t be disappointed!
PS.. sorry about your bud Chris!
Hi John
Can you tell who the cd will be on the splendor Octoer 11 2009 sailing. I hope he or she will be good. I have been on 18 cruises and you are the greatest cd I have ever met. Thanks for being you.