What a load of old baggage. I say this because yesterday someone sent me a link thingy which has some comments on it from the cruise boards about baggage. This “thread” had started because a guest who recently sailed on the Carnival Destiny had stated that Carnival had ruined her suitcase. It was she said perfect and without a scratch when she handed it in at embarkation and when she received it the bag had a huge rip down the side and had a curious yellow stain on it……you are expecting me to do a joke about one of the Customs and Border patrol dogs pissing on it aren’t you………..well, I won’t.
This is a concern I know because when I am onboard I hear it quite often and unfortunately, the blame is not necessarily with Carnival. You see, all the cruise lines use the port stevedores who are employed not by the cruise line but by the port authority. And while most are caring and cuddly ……some are not and do not always handle the suitcases with the care and attention that we would like. The same of course can be said at the airports.
Many of us…….myself included of course……..hate to fly. They don’t like the idea that a metal pipe with wings that have been glued to it by a madman is somehow supposed to get them from A to B (often via C for refuelling).
They don’t like the recycled air or the cramped seats or the food or the fake grin of the air crew as they demonstrate, as one, how to self-inflate the whistle on a puny yellow vest. (“There is also a light, for attracting sharks” and “before using the escape chute, don’t forget to remove high-heeled shoes, belts and other sharp objects, like red hot pieces of engine casing, that have attached themselves to you.”)
As you know I hate flying. What I’m also scared of is the baggage reclaim hall. This isn’t because I don’t like crowds or trolleys or people who arrive back in Britain in flip-flops and shorts — although I don’t. You’re not on vacation any more, you colossal arse, and it’s raining — put some shoes on.
No, I’m scared my bag won’t turn up.
Okay, so in fear terms it’s hardly up there with being trapped in a room with some RCI executives who have been reading my blog these past two years and now want to insert a $14.95 steak in my bottom.
I don’t like it because I don’t understand how it works. Think about how you see your suitcase bump past a check-in person and then don’t see it again until it is belched out of a conveyor monster at the other end.
Where does it go in between? The system of belts, drives and moving parts backstage at an airport must be more complicated than a sushi restaurant mated with a ski lift. Your bag somehow (usually) gets to the right place despite being dumped where there are a million near-identical other bags being kicked and thrown onto a million near-identical planes. I often put my keys down and can’t find them so thank God I’m not in charge. Really, it’s a wonder that more suitcases don’t go missing and that every time you’re at Heathrow you don’t pass Madonna screaming at some poor bloke because her Louis Vuitton bags and one of her adopted kids haven’t turned up.
Because I can’t fathom the system .I get that the logistics involved must be complex so why is the thing at the end of the whole baggage process just a start-stop, clogged-up, articulated rubber belt that someone has chosen to call a carousel? It’s not a carousel, is it? The word carousel suggests something with up-and-down horses and music, with perhaps Mary Poppins hovering above with her umbrella. The thing at the airport is like the tongue of some great ugly creature that lives below the hall randomly flicking luggage out.
There has to be a better method of collecting luggage. Too many cases and the thing locks up and has to be restarted by a sweaty man. Too few and there is a sea of faces staring forlornly at the pair of escaped underpants going round and round that nobody will ever pick up.
I don’t know about you but every time this hellish machine grinds to a halt I want to vault onto the thing, climb down the hole and see what is going on. I don’t dare, though, for two reasons: a) I’d be taken to airport prison and shot; and b) because I’m scared of what I might find.
I imagine I would find the baggage handlers opening random Samsonites and dressing up in bras or opening my suitcase, finding my underpants and calling in the Hazmat team.
Anyway, if your luggage is damaged and you think it was done from the time you gave it to the local stevedores to the time one of our crew delivers it to your stateroom please remember that although we are not responsible we can and will do our best to repair it onboard. Just let the guest services desk know and they will have one of the upholsterers or joiners onboard see what repairs can be made for you.
I do see that the world of travel is being made easier these days though with some new inventions that are now available. These include:
Sound Asleep Pillow – Pillow with inbuilt speaker and output for Eye Pod, MP3 and CDs
Live Luggage Power-assisted suitcases, with a motor in the wheels
iEar Wrap Sunglass video eyewear – user has sensation of watching virtual 60 inch screen as if viewed from 9 feet
Oh, and men………..this one is just for you.
Apple has just come out with the iBreast. It works like an iPod and is implanted in the breast. This is because women always say we are always looking at their breasts and not listening to them.
OK, lets crack on with today’s questions…………..here we go
mickeyspal Asked:
John, Please Reply:
Just wondering whether Frank and Bridie should remove the “pits” from the peaches before placing the peaches in the blender? I fear the machine would suffer grievously if not. And there would probably be splinters in their soup!
Also, from a website called Ochef.com:
Q. What is castor sugar and when would one use it?
A. Castor or caster sugar is the name of a very fine sugar in Britain, so named because the grains are small enough to fit though a sugar “caster” or sprinkler. It is sold as “superfine” sugar in the United States. Because of its fineness, it dissolves more quickly than regular white sugar, and so is especially useful in meringues and cold liquids. It is not as fine as confectioner’s sugar, which has been crushed mechanically (and generally mixed with a little starch to keep it from clumping). If you don’t have any castor sugar on hand, you can make your own by grinding granulated sugar for a couple of minutes in a food processor (this also produces sugar dust, so let it settle for a few moments before opening the food processor). You can also purchase castor sugar online.
Wow, Brad did a great job quelling the that rebellion. Did you train him or did he learn his skills elsewhere? Your job (CD), like President or Prime Minister, is one I can’t imagine anyone being paid enough to suffer through. You must have infinite patience to put up with all the “stuff” people dump on you. This should bode well for your abilities to groom young Thingy or Thingyette to become an upstanding citizen.
Give Heidi a hug for me, and cheers to the three of you.
Your pal, Myra
John Says:
Hello Myra
You must be a master chef. I am sorry to say that I am very unfamiliar with anything usually found in the kitchen so I am sure those who were trying to make the peach soup thingy for themselves will be very grateful for you in depth knowledge of all things castor sugar.
Thanks for mentioning Brad and yes, the job of a cruise director does involve being an ambassador when you need to calmly resolve an incident. when there are problems or concerns that effect the entire vessel a CD must be visible and he or she must be the one who provide the information both live and in person and over the PA system. It is not an easy part of the job especially if the guest or guests are upset. I have faced these situations many times and as long as you remember that its never personal it usually ends up OK.
Thanks for taking the time to write and for the very kind words
Cheers
John
Bill Russell Asked:
John, Please Reply
In these times of tight money everywhere we were wondering why cruise ships didn’t stay in ports more then 8 hours or so. Some ports we would really like to stay two days. It would save money on fuel and give cruisers a chance to see more than a fleeting glance at some of the beautiful countries you take us to.
Bill & Joan Russell
John Says:
Hello Bill and Joan
That’s a great question. Certainly in the Caribbean many of the islands we visit that have wonderful beaches and offer exciting day time excursions and shopping during the day…………at night……….well the shops close and apart from restaurants and the odd bar or two there is very little to offer our guests at night. The only ports where really any cruise line will stay later (up to midnight) are San Juan and Cozumel. We also overnight in Nassau on some cruises. These ports do keep the shops open later and have some kind of nightlife. However, it is interesting that during the last few hours in port……say from 8 pm onwards the vast majority are already back onboard…….or back home you might say. There is also a financial benefit for the cruise line to bring guests back on board, obviously, and it would be silly of me not to mention that.
Now, regarding your question as to why don’t we stay in port for two days. Well, obviously we have to offer a diverse itinerary as that is one of the aspects that sell the cruise. Plus with so many ships in the Caribbean wanting to go to the same places, space at the piers are always in demand so two days may not always be possible.
Again, there are exceptions to this. For example. Once the press have found something other than swine flu to talk about and the various government agencies say it’s OK to return to Mexico, the Carnival Elation will in fact offer two days in Cabo San Lucas. This will involve tendering the guests into port on day 1……..getting everyone back onboard …….. offering a fun night at sea and then returning to Cabo the following morning. Now, if this is as popular as we think it will be, maybe this will herald the start of us where possible offering similar stays in other ports of call.
Obviously in Europe where you are visiting countries and not island overnight stays are more common as we experienced in Venice and St.Petersburg.
So, there you have my thoughts and if you have a follow up question please let me know
Best wishes
John
Michele Maragni Asked:
Hi John, Please Reply, I also want to thank you for keeping us updated on the Dream, and the great pictures, to my Mom and I, it will also be a Dream for us! We are very excited to be cruising with you on your Dec, 3rd, Bloggers cruise, I can imagine the fun!! John I was wondering if it was true, that a camera crew and News media will also be at the port, I have a beauty Salon 15 minutes from the port, and quite a few of my customers will be cruising with us, this is the word going around, I’ve been hearing so many stories that several famous stars will be attending beside your self, of course! LOL! Michele
John Says:
Hello Michele
Thanks for writing Michele. Do you cut hair? I need a new barber as I refuse to pay $50 as I wrote yesterday in the blog. I will be visiting the Carnival Dream very soon and will take lots of photos for you, Mum and many others to drool over. Then, we will see you in December and I am sure there will be lots of press interest over this spectacular vessel. As for stars………well……………..we shall see and when I know…you will know.
Best wishes to you and the family
John
Agent Dotski Asked:
John please reply:
Very impressive job Brad!! We are actually setting sail with Brad next week on the 10th and our ports have been changed to Victoria and Vancouver. We are a group of Canadian travel agents who will be having our annual conference onboard. While we won’t be leaving the new ports with tans, we all understand that tough decisions have to be made and Carnival is doing what they can to make the best of a “sucky” situation. There is not a doubt in my mind that we will all have the wonderful time that Carnival is famous for!! And with a fellow Canadian leading the way…well let’s just say I am pretty darned excited! Just had a quick question – is Ken still the Maitre D? I escorted a group on the Freedom last march and had the pleasure of sailing with both you and Ken…I think my group of clients have been spoiled for all others! Would love to sail with Ken again and will pass on the great news to the other agents if that is the case on this trip!
Thanks John!
John Says:
Hello Agent Dotski
Great to hear from you. How wonderful that you and your friends will be sailing on the splendid Carnival Splendor on Sunday. I wanted to thank you for your positive attitude toward the changes we have been forced to make. It wasn’t easy and therefore to hear that people in the travel business like yourself understand the challenges we faced is so special. Yes, Ken is indeed the maitre d on board, along with the magnificent Miguel. I will alert him to you and your group being onboard and hopefully you will be eating in his dining room. I hope you have many wonderful memories of your time with Ken and I on the Carnival Freedom and I thank you and your travel agent colleagues for all the continuing support you give us here at Carnival.
Have a brilliant cruise
Cheers
John
Bruce and Debbie Asked:
Please respond if you want:
John,
I would love to provide a copy of our Cruise Critic review but I must wonder if it will ever get published? I say this as I have taken a lot of time to try and get some posts on to your blog but have never seen them published! It seems there is a “Censor Fairy” out there that sprinkles no dust on them!
I do have copies saved in Microsoft Word though. I guess this is not a completely open forum as I tried to address the smoking, Cuba and itinerary questions you asked us about.
I also prepared a long list of possible activities to do in the Tampa Port areas as you had requested along with all link thingies but that too never got published.
Hope you can understand my frustration with the open exchange of info and my reluctance to provide you with initial CC reviews.
Thanks and continued good luck with everything and the upcoming blessed event!
Bruce and Debbie
John Says:
Hello Bruce and Debbie
I promise you that there is no Censor Fairy. Stephanie who manages the blog and I will only not post a comment if it is a personal attack on the opinion of another blogger or something that contains material not suitable for a public blog like this.
I have not seen any of your reviews or comments and wonder if maybe they have been lost somewhere in cyberspace. I would truly appreciate you trying to send them again as you did this comment. I will read them and if you need me to comment on them please mark them for my reply. If you have some areas in your review that you feel we can improve on I will send those suggestions to those at the top and if you write words of praise I will also send those to the crew who made your voyage that more special.
I hope to read more from you soon
Best wishes
John
Justin Flood Asked:
Hello John! (Please Reply)
I just wanted to say thanks so much for offering to do a little something special for my parents on their 30th anniversary cruise. Its little touches like this and the willingness to go above and beyond that make Carnival the great place that it is.
As you requested, I’m writing you 2 weeks out from our sailing (May 17th, 2009 out of Baltimore on the Pride) to remind you, and give you my parent’s info.
Their names are Joseph and Onnalee Flood and they will be in Cabin # on the May 17th 2009 Sailing of the Pride out of Baltimore. If you need anything else feel free to e-mail me.
Thanks again John, you’re the best. Best of luck to you and Heidi and the thingy! Looking forward to sailing with you again in the future!
John Says:
Hello Justin
Thanks for the reminder. I hope they have a wonderful time and please write when they get home and tell us all about it
Best wishes
John
Kenny Randolph Asked:
John please reply,
I am cruising with Carnival again on June 29. This will be my 7th cruise and 3rd on Carnival. Since I booked this cruise I have found your blog site and am following it religiously.
This cruise is special to me because it will only be me and my son going. We have celebrated all of our children’s graduations with cruises and now it is his turn. Since it is just he and I going I have been trying to plan things that he will find interesting. One thing that we have always said we would like to do is have a “behind the scenes” tour of the ship. We would like to see the Bridge, the engine room, the fancy electronics, backstage at the shows, that kind of stuff.
If this is not possible I certainly understand. To be honest with you I am amazed at how you promise so much to others who write you. But anyway keep up the good work, thanks for all of your efforts, and of course good luck with the “Thingy”.
John Says:
Hello Kenny
I wanted to start by saying how happy I am that you have found the blog thingy. I truly hope you find it informative and fun. It sounds like you have some wonderful father and son time planned in June. We are actually working on something along the lines you mentioned and I hope to be able to tell you all about it very soon. For now, though, the bridge and engine room tours are not possible due to security issues. However, if you remind me a week before you sail I will certainly arrange a backstage tour as well as seeing what else I can do for your son. Please write a week before you cruise and remember to include your last name, the ship you are cruising on and if possible your cabin number.
Until then I send best wishes to you and the family
John
Rose Asked:
Hi John Please Respond:
So I’ve been reading your responses to several of the bloggers regarding the cruise director schedule. And am I understanding correctly that Carnival only has one person who can make a schedule? Oh my goodness what if something really serious happens to that person? I don’t know any business that only has one person to do a job? Not that that person isn’t capable; it’s just — well — business. (And I wish Chris the very best) I only ask because those of us who need to make our cruise arrangements and are not made of money and need to capitalize on the specials and who are loyal to our particular cruise director, would like to book sooner than later. Unless we can book and then change once the schedule becomes available?? Which if I understand correctly, the early saver is non -refundable.
John Says:
Hello Rose
I can totally understand your frustration, however, let me explain a little further. The schedule is completed by Chris Prideaux and despite him being very ill recently it is pretty much finished. However, there have been recently some unexpected changes that need to be made. This was caused by Mark Price’s resignation, Malcolm Burn being taken off the vessel for urgent medical treatment which he is still recovering from and to date we do not know when he will return. We also have some acting cruise directors who we must look at carefully to see if they deserve a full-time position or do we instead give others a try. So, while the schedule is 90% complete it is prudent to wait until all the pieces are in place before I publish it. I certainly appreciate that you have the “who is the cruise director?” as one of your priorities for booking the cruise and that in itself is a huge testament to how a great CD can make such a difference to the cruise.
You say you are loyal to one CD. So, please tell me when and with whom you would like to sail with or what ship and when and I will do my best to let you know so you can indeed take advantage of the Early Saver rates as you are correct, they are brilliant and you should certainly take advantage of them.
I will await your advice and follow up.
Best wishes
John
Bobby Asked:
Hi John please reply, I am going on the Valor on May 31st. and I wanted to know if Cozumel would be cancelled?? Has carnival thought about switching from western Caribbean to eastern Caribbean for that particular cruise? I mean it’s a good suggestion. Dont get me wrong I like going to Key West if they go there instead.
Best wishes to you and Heidi
Bobby
John Says:
Hello Bobby
Well, even though swine flu seems to be calming down a bit and Mexican officials have suggested that in the coming days they will start to re-open public service sectors, the travel advisory is still in effect so yes indeed we have cancelled Mexican port calls until mid June. I am sure Terry Thornton and his department gave a lot of thought to changing to an Eastern cruise but of course we have to consider that people also wanted to still call at Belize, Cayman and Roatan which is what they had booked. I am so sorry that we had to make these changes and I know for sure that you will have a fantastic time. If you have any questions about this or the ports of call etc I will remain here at your service
Best wishes for a great cruise vacation
John
Mark Asked:
John,
Thank you for answering my question about Butch on the Liberty May 23, and arranging for info to get to me about my son proposing to his girlfriend on this cruise.
As you requested, my room number is 8450. My name is Mark Hoffer. My son’s name is Erik. It would be great if someone contacts me through my room number and not his. You are right that she may get the phone call by accident if it went to the other two rooms. In case Butch or someone else would like to get a hold of me sooner than the cruise, my cell phone ——
Thank you again John for all you do, and please don’t hesitate to let me know if you need any other info.
My wife and I are sailing the Liberty for the 3rd time and 8th Carnival cruise overall on this cruise. We have many fond memories of our first time on the Liberty. It was in April of 2006 and you were the CD. It is STILL to this day, the funniest, most memorable, and favorite of all our cruises.
Thanks and good luck with the delivery day!
Mark
John Says:
Hello Mark
Thanks for the kind words and I will now pass this information onto Butch who will contact you so as not to spoil the surprise should your daughter in law to be answer the phone. Please write to us here on the blog and let us know how it went.
Have a fantastic time and thanks for the kind words mate
Cheers
John
Jennifer and Danny Asked:
I am glad to see we are not the only ones not receiving the Currents. We are platinum and still don’t get it. I enjoy reading it. How do you go about getting it?
Time is getting closer for the little one.
Jennifer
John Says:
Hello Jennifer and Danny
Please can you send Stephanie your contact details in a posting and we will make sure you start to get Carnival Currents. I am so sorry that as a valued Platinum guest you have not so far but we will rectify that immediately
Best wishes
John
Ralf Asked:
Hi John,
Waiting for another European season. As carnival cancelled Liberty’s TA and European season I had to cancel TA and a Baltic cruise on her, switched from Liberty to Freedom because doing the same EC cruise on Freedom in April 2008. 25 April 09 Freedom going to Antigua and Tortola never been there before. Sailing with Todd and Captain DÀita again. Returning my rental car 10:30 am at Ft Lauderdale Airport on embarkation day the shuttle bus did not want to take us to the port until 11:00 am telling carnival not wanting any passengers before 11:00. Leaving at 10:45 arriving at 11:00 I saw hundreds of people inside waiting for boarding. I never got my luggage earlier than on this cruise. There were many boxes out of the check in area and the luggage workers sorted out before loading it on board. As usual me going to the cabin at 01:30 my luggage was at my cabin door!!!
We did have a great cruise. Going to San Juan we had some bad weathers, getting guests a little sick. Never seen so few attending the Captains reception.
I do not like the new design of the sail and sign Cards at all. Better just to change the colour of the funnel on the old cards. Hoping Carnival runs out of the thermos bottles soon. Got another one. Please do a change.
Hoping Heidi and thingy are doing well
less than a week you are dad of a nice little baby girl
Ralf
John Says:
Hello Ralf
Thanks for the posting and even though you did not mark your comments “John, please reply,” I thought I would respond anyway.
I wanted to start with an apology for you having yet another Thermos as your Platinum reward. I wanted you to know that we are all very aware that we need to look at changing this gift as soon as possible. I also wanted to tell you that Jim Berra, our chief marketing officer, and his team are as I write working on making Carnival’s reward program the most ……well…..rewarding in the industry. Please allow Jim and his team some time and I assure you the wait will be very worthwhile.
I too miss Europe and I still live in the hope that the people at the top of the Carnival tree change their minds and return the Carnival smokestack to Europe……….where in my humble opinion…….it most definitely belongs. Now, I have no reason to say that and I certainly have had no new information that this may happen but……..hope springs eternal. It has proven to be the right choice not to be there in 2009 but 2010 ……….. well ……….. selfishly I hope we will be back in Venice and Naples and beyond.
It does seem that the new Sail & Sign cards are not that popular with our Platinum and Milestone guests. I saw lots of comments about this here on the blog and Carnival listened to those comments and as I wrote a few weeks ago once the current stock has been finished we will change the design of our Gold, Platinum and Milestone cards. I will advise as and when that will be.
I truly hope you had a wonderful cruise and I hope to hear from you soon
Best wishes
John
Dee & Richard Asked:
I’m sending notes to you all over the place, so forgive me if you get more than one. BUT. You were the CD on the Glory a few years ago and we still laugh about you and your antics. We’ve been on many cruises since and though there is many good CD’s….there are none like you. We are going on a polka cruise on the Dream on January 30, 2010. Please, please tell us that you are the CD. I can’t wish for anything more than to be polka–ing through the Caribbean and laughing our asses off.
With you. Dee & Richard
John Says:
Hello Dee and Richard
What a wonderful way to end today’s questions. I have many happy memories of my time on the Carnival Glory and I know you and your fellow polka dancers will have such a fantastic time on the Carnival Dream. I have not yet discussed my 2010 schedule but there is a chance that when Todd leaves on vacation that I will cover the ship for him and you can teach me to polka dance.
Thanks again for the kind words and I hope we do get to sail together very soon
Best wishes
John
That’s all for today. Please remember to mark your comments for a reply so I know who needs my assistance. Thanks as always to those who took the time to post a comment.
Well, as mentioned by Linda, Mum of DJ, the good news is that cruise director Malcolm Burn is out of hospital. He now has some weeks of recuperation and then we all hope he will be back home very soon.
Let’s see the latest billboard photo sent in by Lydia Sherman of a board in Dallas.
I hope more of you will send in your billboard photos to Stephanie so I can post them here for all to enjoy.
Now for those of you who have been asking for information on the Carnival Conquest post April 2010 I have some news. I spoke yesterday to the Senior Vice President of Marketing Planning Terry Thornton who is the brains behind our brilliant itineraries. Terry told me that he needs another couple of weeks until we can open the bookings for the Carnival Conquest beyond April 2010. They have been working through some port scheduling issues but should have these sorted out soon. I appreciate him taking the time to keep us all in the loop and as soon as he lets me know I will of course let you know here on the blog thingy.
Heidi is four days away from her due date. She’s now 90% insane. She spent the morning weeping, ordering furniture and throwing out my toiletries.
Tomorrow we will journey to the hospital for a last scan and growth check.
I hate the waiting……….and I hate the ridiculous advice the midwives and health care professionals give you. Our midwife is called Nadia
“When birthing,” says Nadia, “the most important thing is to breathe.” This is timely advice. I had worried that, throughout labor, Heidi might have tried holding her breath.
Last night Heidi says: “Can’t you just have rumpy pumpy with me? It will stimulate labor.” I’ve heard better chat-up lines and told her to bugger off.
I suggest Heidi sleeps. She says: “If I go to sleep, the baby might just pop out, and you’ll have to deal with it.”
Today. Still no contractions. We’re eating curry. For the 10th time this week as again someone told her that spicy food will push the Thingy out quickly in search of a Zantac. Lat night though I thought it had started. Heidi groaned. “Either that was a contraction,” she says, “or my womb’s got a cramp.” “But your waters haven’t flooded out yet,” I declared. Heidi then tells me that it’s different for everyone and sometimes people’s floors don’t get covered in water.
Different for everyone?………that was news to me but I didn’t have time to think.
Fearful of being labelled one of those people who call the emergency services because they have broken a nail, I didn’t call for an ambulance and so last night at 9:40 pm I drove her to the hospital and 20 minutes later we came skidding to halt outside our local hospital.
Leaving Heidi in the car outside the entrance I stormed into the ER.
A receptionist is there but she looks like she is 15 years old. I see a nurse but she ignores me so I chase her around the ER like a demented Benny Hill
“My wife is having contractions, can we get her a wheelchair, and she’s in the car” I say breathlessly. …..“Either that or her womb’s got cramp thingies.”
“Is she dilating?”
“What? How soon from contractions to dilating?”
“Everyone is different,” she says.
And I want to shout: “Can someone find me a man who can give me a straight answer? If I ask a plumber to price the job, he gives an estimate. It may be a lie, but it’s something. Everyone is not different. You’re all saying the same stupid thing, and I want to take that thermometer in your top pocket and use it as a vet would on you”
But I’ve read that, around women, you must never show your feelings.
Women can’t cope with men’s feelings. They’ve got far too many of their own. I read this in one of Heidi’s magazines where it said that 76 percent of men said what they look for most in a woman is a sense of humor and a good personality… the magazine is called “What a Load of Bollocks Weekly”…………or something like that
Anyway…………I go out to the Range Rover and ask Heidi if she is dilating.
She tells me no…….. and that while I have been inside the cramps/contractions have gone.
I wanted to say “What?…………..Why?………When?…………..How?” and then I was just about to tell her that the journey here and back in our range Rover had probably melted an iceberg and forced a polar bear to move to move to Canada and that I missed the last 20 minutes of “The Wire”………..but I didn’t………..Instead……..I put my arm round my wife’s waist. I say: “Darling, you’ll be fine.”
We went home. We wait. We breathe
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,
It’s been quite a while since I’ve written you a note, but after reading about Heidi eating curry to bring labor on I thought I would offer a suggestion from a restaurant called Scalini’s here in Atlanta. They suggest Eggplant Parmesan. They actually have a wall of babies photos from women who have gone into labor within 24 hours of eating their Eggplant Parmesan. It might be worth a shot! I think they even refund your money if you go into labor that quickly.
I know you and Heidi are excited. We have a 10 month old granddaughter named Reese and she is the light of our lives! We would have had grandkids first if we knew she would bring such joy!
Hope to be on Carnival for bloggers cruise on Dec 3, my birthday, or February 2010 for our 30th anniversary! Good luck with the Thingy!
John,
I want to let you know that I am an avid reader of your blog. When you first started it, I heard about it, and have read it everyday since. I have only sent one question, and that was regarding the incident with you and a guest named “Mary” back in 2004 on the Glory when your pants fell down on stage at one of the shows.
This September we will be on the Carnival Freedom, and that will be our 8th Carnival cruise. Not yet platinum, but getting closer every year, since we take two cruises a year.
We have tried a lot of the lines in including NCL, Princess, Thislineisboring Of The Seas, and last but not least Carnival. Words can’t tell you how much we look forward to “going home” twice a year. We look forward to them year round.
This year we leave on the Freedom on the September 12th sailing, and I have heard it might be either you or Todd as our cruise director. Either or is fine with us. We had Todd as our cd back on the Liberty a couple years ago, and he was brilliant. I have asked Todd on his Facebook page if he was going to be on that voyage, and he said he wasn’t for sure yet. I am also on your Facebook page, but you never update it.
Anyway hopefully either you or Todd will be the cd on the 9/12/09 voyage of the Freedom. Also I have heard that you send a autographed picture to your fans if requested, and they are delivered to the cabins. Is this wonderful perk only for Platinum members, or can us not quite platinum members get one of those pictures?
Thanks,
James Sullivan
John, I can’t believe you turned down rumpy bumpy with your beautiful wife………….. after the little one is born it will be quite sometime before you can rumpy bumpy again. She is right it very well might start labor you should listen to her. Women are always…… well 99.99% of the time they are right.
Countess Carolyn………….. sitting here trying to recoup from foot surgery and can’t walk yet
i’d say try to relax but i know that is not possible so i will keep my yap shut for once.
oh, and about those thermoses, we now have sixteen, having given away several. any suggestions? stop cruising? change lines? continue to pile them up? drink more? (just kidding you john! i love the pile of thermoses in my closet!) (or is the plurel thermi?)
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
Heidi: Scrub the kitchen floor – On your hand and knees . . . . and make sure the refrigerator is sparkling clean! Worked both times for us!
Hi John,
Once again I will leave work with a big smile on my face because of your blog thingy. I think you’re the one that’s going to pass out in the delivery room. Just try to relax. You’ll need all your strength after the thingy is born. Just be supportive and comforting – and, this is very important, agree with everything Heidi says.
Thanks for the update on Malcolm. That billboard is the same one I see every day with the exception that mine says “Now leaving from 12th Avenue” – NY not Galveston. I’ll still try to get a photo tomorrow.
Have a great nite. Maybe tonite is the nite?
Hugs,
Carol
Well at least now you know how long it will take you to get to the hospital when the contractions finally start. The baby will be here before you know it and then the next 18 years will fly by and if you are like me and my wife you will have another just to make things interesting.
With the luggage issue I look at it this way not everything goes as planned. We had our luggage damaged when we were disembarking off the Liberty the leg on the bottom was broken off. and we just limped home with it with the attitude that it was just one of those things.
John – Please reply-
Hi John! Keep waiting…it will be worth it! I noticed in one of your replies that apparantly Butch is going to be on the Liberty. So, will he be back on the Glory for our October 31th cruise, or will be have to “settle”?! We love Butch!
Well John, The official waiting for thingy to arrive has begun! Get used to it! Could happen again before thingy arrives! And Heidi is right, all women are different and all pregnancies are different, and her water might not break once the contractions start, and they may have to break it at the hospital. But it is getting closer. I still predict you will become a daddy tomorrow (5/7/09) which is my grandson Jacob’s 7th birthday. I can’t wait till you blog with all the latest about the birth, etc. So, prepare! And all our best wishes my friend, Linda & Mike (Mr. HandyDandy Handy Man)
Hey Bonnie and Prince Charlie….I will see your 16 thermos thingys and raise you 18 more!! ( 22 if you will wait until we get off the Glory ) LOL
I can not count the number of them we have given away. 11 cruises in 13 months (3 or 4 thermos at a time…depending on if Josh was with us) ……
and the collection continues to increase!!!
John:
Heidi was probably just having some Braxton Hicks contractions. They are called “practice” contractions. Don’t ask me why?
It is not uncommon to make a run or two to the hospital.
Where luggage is concerned, I do like the way the Port of New Orleans handles it. The stevedore who takes your luggage actually writes his ID number on your documentation….so that you know WHO took your luggage. (Hey Dominic # 41)
For the person who was wondering about “censoring”…. there is none….but there is the “post gremlin” who sometimes steals your post and takes it to a land far far away ….
they have stolen several of mine.
That is the Internet for you….
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
Hi John!
So the wait continues but things are getting close. Very exciting!! Do you have the box of cubans cigars ready to hand out?
I hate being caught up in baggage hell. Drives me crazy. Thankfully I have never had a problem in the ports so I consider myself lucky with the port handlers.
Good luck my friend!
Congrats to Heidi as well…she deserves the accolades.
Take care!
David
Ah John, you and Heidi will get through this. This is probably the worst month, the last month. It is almost over, the time for the baby to be born and the baby does not want to come. It is nice in there, why on earth would he/she want to get out. Out means a lot of problems. But your baby will be born John, it just takes some time. Your baby is going to be the happiest baby because he/she has you for a Dad and Heidi for a Mom. I can only imagine the sense of humor he/she will have.
You are doing everything right John, just keep doing it and everything will be fine.
Keep smiling John, you are one of the good guys.
My best to Heidi and the baby.
Heidi:
I had Braxton Hicks contractions (False labor) more times then I care to remember with my first child and I was four days late (due Aug 20th delivered Aug 24th). Between feeling like a whale and the heat of North Carolina, I was ready to KILL! My doctor sent me home on the 23rd (after another trip to the ER with false labor) and said have some rumpy pumpy, it will put you into labor. We had rumpy pumpy around 8:00pm and my water broke around 12:00am.
John,
Put Heidi out of her misery, give her rumpy pumpy so she can go into labor!
Roxi
OK john, sounds like you have another 36 hours from the time you wrote this thingy, May 6th, 2009…2:35 pm, intil the arrival of the real thingy. I base that on ‘good science’ and experience. Heidi is already throwing out things of a personal nature that she associates with you. Not all woman have super painful contractions but a good indication that she is ‘in transition’, more than half of full dilation, is when she begins to burn your dirty underwear…with you still wearing it. I’m surprised the mid-wife didn’t mention how walking stairs and cleaning the bathrooms usually hastens contractions. Maybe thingy is embarrased about his/her name. You could try whuspereing the names you and Heidi have chosen to see if that helps as long as they aren’t Sherlock or Camilla. In any case, everybody is different and it sure won’t be the last time you’ll be waiting on the thingy. Desides, when he/she says from the backseat, “are we there yet?”, just smile and think about the payback. Regards and best wishes to the all of the Healds.
Hello Dad:
Greetings Mom:
Can’t wait to meet your thingy. It has to be a little frustrating for you two organizers, planners, fun leaders, etc. to have to wait for the thingy to decide when to meet the outside world.
Give him/her a pep talk John. Try a warm “Welcome Home” addressed to the belly region. You have a way about you and by now the thingy knows who you are and will grin when you speak because your voice is so familiar, so comforting.
This is a beautiful time in your life, send plenty of updates. Best wishes to you both for an easy delivery and a wonderful child!!!!!!!!!!!
Simply stupendous.
Your Friend
Bill Heck
Years ago I worked as an OB nurse. One night a lovely young lady came in to be checked for labor. The doctor told her to go back home as she was not having contractions. Instead she went to the motel across from the hospital as she was sure she was in labor. Two hours later she delivered her baby at the motel. It was a baby girl and she named it Holly Dae since she was born at the Holiday Inn. The doctor never lived it down.
From the sounds of things I’m betting we will be hearing about the arrival of Thingy in very short order. I went on a crying, cleaning spree 2 days before the birth of my 1st. As I recall, it’s called nesting.
By the way, the billboard is actually in San Antonio and is a favorite sight for me and Mach. I’m sure Dallas probably has one as well.
Best to you, Heidi and Thingy!!
So it begins!!
How I remember that false labor – no wait that was with the second one. I never had them with the first.
The day before she was born I was playing poker (cards) at a friend’s house and everyone just kept looking at me. I told them nothing was going to happen that night that I still had 2 weeks to go. Well we went home around 1 a.m. and at 7 a.m. I awoke with my water broken in full labor. Being that it was my first I thought it would take a long time so I got up showered had something to eat (not a good idea to eat) and then I woke my husband. My daughter was born 6 hours later.
I hope that Heidi has an easy delivery also.
Love
Grandma CarolAnn
Hi John
Just a quick note since I haven’t written in awhile. I am glad to hear that Heidi is doing well as the big day grows near. I know how excited and nervous you both must be. I work in a neo-natal ICU and attend many deliveries. Nothing gets to me more than seeing a proud Daddy with tears streaming when he sees the baby present itself into this world and then hears the first cry. Even after attending 1000′s of deliveries over the past 17yrs, it still makes me weepy to see that first special moment between baby and parents. I know you will feel that instant bond. I know Heidi will be fine during the labor and delivery. Hopefully she will have a short, easy labor.
I am going to comment on the thermos thing also. We also have quite a collection. We also have 15-20 tote bags and now are up to 16 thermos (thermi) after giving a few away. I agree that the logo item should be changed. I also did not like the new design on the sail and sign card. I am glad they are changing it again, although I liked the solid colored ones best. They were easy to identify just at a glance. Only the rewards membership stamp was difficult to see. Just my thoughts on the gifts and ship cards.
Give my best to Heidi and know that blog world is anxiously awaiting the arrival of “Thingy” Heald.
Give my best to Malcolm, Chris and Laura (Divetrash) My thoughts are with each of them and their families.
Gloria aka Sue
Yes, I live in Atlanta and Scalini’s is the place! I hope you can indure the curry but maybe you could suggest something different like Italian. Here’s hoping it will be soon…
I hadn’t read the thread about the bag that was damaged. I am going to assume this person has never cruised before and doesn’t know the people on the pier are not Carnival employees. If you stand there any length of time and watch what they do with those bags and a fork lift, it’s a miracle any of them get to us undamaged. But I didn’t know that Carnival would help which is nice to know if you do have an emergency zipper broken or tear when you get them.
Oops I forgot–I love the billboard pictures!
Hello John,
Hope Heidi has Thingy soon so you can move on to the next phase of your lives and get used to the new routine.
We also have not received a copy of Currents for over a year so I don’t know where they’re going.
We don’t like the new S&S cards either. Can’t wait to see the new new cards with better identification.
The thermoses are building up and I don’t know anyone who even uses one anymore. It’s time for a change. I put some suggestions in the letter I sent to Carnival after our Valor cruise in March. Maybe it will help.
I hope Carnival considers changing some itineraries from Florida. We need longer cruises from Port Canaveral and Tampa and to some new destinations. There was a rumor that the Carnival Sensation would do week long cruises once a month. Any truth to that? We like to cruise, especially on Carnival, but we’re getting tired of the same itineraries and need a change but don’t want to change lines. I know other Florida cruises agree with this.
Thank you,
George and Linda
John please reply to this
Has any one started a baby pool on you yet if not i like to state saying may 8, 2:05 your time
Hola John!!
just waiting………………..
Still here even if I don’t write as I used to
A big huggo
Nanni
Eek! I am so excited for you and Heidi! The waiting must be so hard to deal with!
Hi John,
I think I have been ‘standing on my head’ too much down here because I was a little slow on the uptake with that one. I imagine if I was working in your department I would always be one joke behind – wandering around the ship trying to work out the punchline!
However, I got the one about the Ibreast straight away and loved it – so pretty proud of myself.
I have to say I loved your Trekky story and although I don’t know Captain Gavino, I have a pretty clear image of him at the Cocktail party. I think the Italian Captains I know would have the same look on thier face. I can only imagine what Italian superlatives were expressed back on the bridge.
I also don’t know Chris, Malcolm or Laura but I still wish them well in thier recovery. Once your health is affected by illness or accident all other priorities become insignificant and all you want back is good health.
Well thanks for the information about new crew – it was great and re-affirms my content is relevant. I agree, each role in entertainment has different tasks and requires different skills, but everyone is exposed to the elements that you mentioned – of how working at sea is vastly different and can take time to adapt.
As you said though, there is no job like it. I always rant on to candidates about sailaway. Sailing out of a harbour in a sailaway party you always say ‘This is the best office in the world’.
My hope is that they are ready and have thier eyes open for the challenge. I particularly liked your advice you give new crew and the buddy system – it is good to know for new crew who might work for Carnival.
Well, it seems the thingy arrival is not far off now, so no more questions for now. Maybe after the birth when you have more time!!
Take care
Sean
Dear John- Please Respond no hurry!!
John, as a member of the Emergency Medical Service’s “Paramedic.” When your beautiful wife is only four days away from giving birth you of all people have every right to call for an ambulance. Remember God forbid you wreck because your driving like a maniac to the hospital, the Thingy is still going to come. Do you want to be telling us you delivered the baby on the side of the road? I do not have personal experience with this but I have been told most labors start during a bad storm. I have also heard that right before labor she will go into whats called a nesting pattern where no matter what you tell her she will be cleaning everything. It won’t be long. I do have a couple of question’s for you. I am on the second sailing of the beautiful Carnival Dream and I tried to make reservations to the supper club one evening but on Carnival’s website the Dream is not available yet. Do you know when I will be able to book the Supper club? Do you want old trip reports/reviews? If you do where do I need to send them? May God Bless You and Your’s.
Hi John, PLEASE REPLY
I read this morning on a cruise critic site about a Carnival ship out of Tampa being chartered by “Swingers”. Please tell me this is a joke or alternatively name the ship so I can avoid it forever more. A Carnival spokesperson is reported to have said “no general passengers will be aboard” but what about the poor crew having to look at naked people,(not all of whom are a pretty sight) around the pool and in the hot-tubs. It also mentions cabin doors can be left unlocked but not wide open, where does this leave the room-stewards? Quite apart from future passengers who do not want to occupy a cabin, sunbed or hot tub that has been used in unsavoury ways. I would be interested in other Bloggers opinions.
Dear John
We have just arrived back in Australia, having travelled in the US after disembarking the Splendor at the end of the wonderful South American tour … and it WAS wonderful, except for two aspects.
The first of these was Carnival’s lack of planning for a 7-week cruise comprised mainly of older travellers – especially the failure to stock the library adequately, and the provision of only one paid lecturer (Dirk was excellent, but overworked).
The second, and most important, was the total incompetence of “The Boy Goose” as Cruise Director – the one thing which united the passengers as a group was discussing how dreadfully useless he was.
How wonderfully lucky Carnival is, in that Brad was Cruise Director when theMexican cruise was abandoned last week. He, and the other entertainment staff, carried our three cruises, and deflected the ill-feeling caused by “The Goose” – we can imagine no-one better in this situation. Congratulations, Brad!
We don’t expect you to publish this message, but WOULD like some acknowledgement from you – it would make up for some of the sheer frustration, anger, discontent with Carnival, and dislike caused by Goose, not just to us, but to many, many, many other people. (We even wrote a poem, which began “To be a Goose, in Aussie slang, is to an idiot be ….!”). We can only hope that Carnival will, in other cases, consider the make-up of its complement of passengers, especially on longer cruises, and not impose such an incompetent Cruise Director on paying customers. Possibly “The Goose” might be effective on a 5-day chug-a-lug cruise, where people might be drunk enough often enough to not perceive his limited ability, but on a cruise like this he was the best advertisement anyone could have had to travel with another cruise line – ANY other cruise line.
Sorry to burden you with this, but this is the first chance we have had to share our feelings. Is there another way in which we could pass these opinions on to the Carnival hierarchy? We hope, too, that Brad gets the kudos he deserves (and the wonderful Jaimie too!)
On a better note – we hope that you and Heidi are soon cuddling a healthy infant – we send blessings – you deserve everything wonderful!
We look forward to hearing back from you.
Frances & John
Sounds like Heidi is getting close, and yes John every woman is different when it comes to this. Speaking of luggage when we went on the Carnival Fascination 2 weeks ago it was so otganized when it came to the luggage handling I was so amazed. Great job!!!
Regarding the thermoses
I like the “thermi idea) I’m an only child with only two children but many friends. But after twenty three cruises I’ve run out of people who will enjoy (accept?) a thermos. We will cruise again on June 15th and will expect another two thermoses to add to our collection. Maybe by the twenty fifth cruise something new will be added.
Tom and Jane mentioned adding some kind of change to the cruises out of Tampa -like the thermos it does get rather boring. We’ll continue to cruise, of course, but new or different ports would be great. Adding a day to do so would work for us. After all there are several eight day cruises out of other ports.
As usual, I’m rather rattling on but I also want to mention the new cards. Yuck! I like for the platium to stand out and get noticed. We left for an early embarkment on our last cruise and got stopped when showing the card until I said,”It is platium.” The response was, “Oh yes, I see it now.”
No real problem just some confusion.
Hope the baby gets here very soon. Our best to you and Heidi. Jeri
John (please reply),
Angela A. (I have her last name if you need it) from Romania, she was aboard the Valor (head bartender in the Sports Bar) 5/05 and then I heard she was aboard the Victory in 2007. So many people love to cruise with their favorite crew members…has anyone thought of having an optional database to track crew so people can sail with their favorites again?
Left a comment a few days ago, asking for your help in locating one of my favorite Carnival crew members and haven’t seen a reply yet?
My other question is when the CD database (the one you link to on your log) will be updated, as it’s only through 4/09.
Thanks!
If someone would like to get rid of a thermos I’d love to have one. They will be changed by the time I get there!
elizabeth
John:
I must admit that I am surprised to read that review of Goose. We have sailed with him three times.
The first time, we sailed with him under the worst of circumstances (when Gustav cut our 5 day cruise ~ with 2 ports~ to a 3 day cruise to no where).
Since ports have recently been closed (and we see what a challenge that has been for the ship’s staff) we understand how difficult this is to handle.
Goose was (in a word) brilliant. His dealings with some mighty unhappy folks was excellent.
Of course, my first exposure to any Cruise Director is weeks before we get on the ship to handle DJ’s special needs. So we do get the opportunity to get to know them on a little more personal level.
Goose exceeded our expectations in the handling of DJ’s Autism on each cruise.
On the Gustav cruise, Goose did little things like making sure there was a Repeater’s Party, because there was suppose to be one on our 5 day. (Whatever was suppose to be on our 5 day, he tried to make sure it happened on the 3 day.)
On one of our Splendor sailings, he not only arranged a Cruise Critic Meet and Greet….he attended and held a trivia session with some really nice gifts that he provided.
He then opened the Meet and Greet up to “questions” that he sent to Carnival about what they could do better. Each suggestion was written down and sent to the Corporate office.
Of course, you always have one who wants to turn it into a B@tch session….but Goose handled it like a Pro and kept the Meet and Greet on track.
Also on the Splendor (during his Morning Show) several times I witnessed him acknowledge guests, by name (and paid them a compliment) who happen to be sitting by the pool …. as the camera scanned the pool area.
Since it is the Cruise Director’s job to make guests feel special…that certainly did.
Since Brad was not on either one of our two Splendor sailings, it was indeed Goose doing all this.
This opinion of Goose probably has more to do with the type of sailing this was ….. 49 days in unchartered waters (brand new ports) for Carnival, than any personal performance issue.
The only “short coming” ( if you want to call it that) was that Goose was not as “visible” off stage, as some other CDs we have sailed with. But then there have several CDs that have not been as visible on our cruises and have still been excellent CDs.
We look forward to sailing with Goose again one day soon!!
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
I’m just waiting for my chance to earn a thermos…7 more cruises to go. Only discovered cruising a year ago, so three in nine months ain’t too bad.
Dear John, (Please Reply)
We are anxiously awaiting the good news about your bundle of JOY ! This last few days seem to drag on forever.
I have a question about our Spirit Alaskan cruise ( this is our make-up cruise since our Liberty was canceled for Sept.) We are booked for the May 20th sailing and my husband has made a reservation for the Supper Club to celebrate our 31st Anniversary. I just wanted to check when Formal night was, so there will not be a conflict with the dates. Thanks, hope to cruise with you again soon.
Our prayers & thoughts to you and Heidi !
Terry
John,
This is so exciting! I feel like I did while waiting for the arrival of my grandchildren. Thanks for sharing this with us. I predict a Mother’s Day delivery! Please post as soon as it happens. I check every morning.
Though I agree with Frances that Goose wasn’t the best choice for CD, he did his best. Many unfortunate things happened, which he had no control over. The trip itself was awesome & I did not have to rely on a CD to make it so! By the way, Dirk was great!
Joyce
Hi John, (Please Reply)
I ran across your blog this past month and have made it my first read of the day! We are sailing on the Splendor June 7th after rescheduling due to the problems with the flu. I have cruised several times, the first being the Jubilee back in 1989 (our first cruise for our honeymoon). I will be celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary on the ship! My mother and our children will be accompanying us and we are so excited. I have only one problem that is shedding a dark cloud on our trip… Our cruise credit from the previous cruise was not transferred properly and we have been shorted credits totaling 326.00. Yesterday I had been patiently waiting on your phone lines for over 4 hours three different times (I have the cell phone bill to prove it) and no one could find the correct person to fix this problem. I am again on hold as we speak (49 minutes now) only to be told that I have to hold they have to find the correct department. I am loosing hope… help. I really want this trip to be as stress free as possible and want to go into it with a positive attitude but this is really starting to bring me down. I also wanted to try to book a room for myself and daughter for the next week after everyone leaves so we can extend our vacation. Again, I can get no response. If there is anything you can do to help me I would really appreciate it.
As if I haven’t asked enough from you could you please let me know if my daughter who is 10 could get a “behind the scenes” look at anything that is offered. (especially things associated with entertainment) This will be her second cruise (and third if I can actually get this all taken care of) She is very much into singing, dancing, ect. She plays Cello, guitar, is in choir and was so amazed by all of the shows on our last cruise that I couldn’t get her out of the theaters!
Thanks for listening, I hope you can help.
I look forward to tomorrows read!
John – please reply if you have anything to say. If not, it’s okay, as this will probably be a rather random group of comments.
First off, you responded today to Kenny Randolph, who happens to be my father-in-law. I second his request for more in the way of “backstage” tours. As a mechanical engineer and an amateur entertainer, I’d love to see the bridge, engine rooms, and/or stage areas better than what you get in the onboard videos. Since we’ll be on the Dream October 3rd, I can only imagine the tours would be that much more exciting on a brand new ship. I know there are security concerns and I know you said the staff is “working” on something – if it can be worked out by October, that would be better.
Secondly, you keep talking about how much you miss Europe and to keep up hope that Carnival will return in 2010. You told me earlier in the year that you’d be spending some blog space on Europe and I want to make sure you hold to that. I know you’ve got more important things on your mind, but every time you say the word ‘Europe’, my eyes dilate and my ears grow larger. Just don’t leave me hanging.
Third, in relation to the earlier question about overnights, my wife and I cruised Hawaii on one of the painted ships. We overnighted in Maui and Kuai, and both were great. As if you couldn’t guess, we’re really pumped about the overnight stop in Venice on the Dream.
Finally, I had to laugh at the imagery of unclaimed underwear on the luggage carousel. A few years back, my Dad came to visit. When he left home, he had a perfectly good bag with a roll of underwear in the front pocket. When he arrived, he no longer had a front pocket and his underwear was strewn along the taxiway. He took it well enough, but it was hilarious to the rest of us.
Thanks for making my lunch hour entertaining and good luck with the thingy!
Hi John,
(This time please do answer).
Please I do need Help:
I am sailing on TA on DREAM. Meeting a Lady again US Citizen living in Italy , sorry to guess her age
(above 75 ++? my guess), not knowing her cabin do know us sailing on TA DREAM for No 4 TA cruise on Carnival together again. We (she) would please like late seating inside Mr Ken Burns dining room. Table of 8-10. Please do try to get Lady`s wishes be done.
Her Name : Ms Blandine Allin, “BEA”
Me: Ralf Trahe, cabin No: 2211,
already set up for late dining.
Both of us Platinum Guests.
Thanks for your very unexpected very pleased answer. I did indeed have a wounderful cruise again. Guess why me comming back and back..and.??
I do like skipping all the lines boarding
beeing a Platinum Guest. Earned it even Living 5000 miles away I got Platinum.
Due to my many TA cruises my avarage cruise length on Carnival still above 8 days per cruise.
Booked on DREAM on TA still hoping to meat you on Board.
Sorry telling again, but I booked TA crossing on two cruiselines. TA DREAM and Something indepedenceofnofreesteaksattheSeas. Tried all I could to get TA on OASISsomethingnottobookTAontheSeasatall, no booking available. Why?????
From 27 Oct until 09 dec me doing two Crossings. Only one week in between.
Do let you know about the difference.
I do hate to fly too, but only on inbound flights, back home, vacation beeing over. Always try to get outbound flights without having stopovers that is why I only “lost” my luggage (4 times on many many flights) on my way back home only. Always my luggage arriving back home trough airline services. Not to have to carry it by myself. I do think this is a good service. Nothing ever got lost. But my old Samsonite got it
one time leaving TA Liberty sailing with you. TSA decided to break my lock even providing them with the correct code. I did visit a Wall Mart to buy a new suitcase. Finding one to fit my old samsonite for $25, I checked in with Lufthansa. I did have the chance to check in my new luggage because LH miles and more member. Got a new lock for samsonite Euro 5 back at home. My very old suitcase Samsonite still surviving almost 15 years. Doing all my travels.
John,
Still try doing my very best English
improving using my dictionary
John,
soon be Dad, Hello to Heidi
hoping Heidi and DaD to be doing good
and again I do think a baby girl.
Thanks
Ralf
Well, they say NO news is GOOD news, so since there was no blog when I got home from work I am hoping you are “having a baby” today/tonight. I know it is 5 hrs. later there, so it is about 9:30pm, I still predict a 5/7/09 baby. Today is my grandson’s birthday, and we are going over there to give him his presents, and have a cupcake with him. His official birthday party is on Saturday at a local park, and he has over 30 kids coming as well as us adults! I don’t know how my daughter does it, hosting these parties! Oh, to be young again! Your friends, Linda & Mike
John,
Funny you keep hearing Heidi should eat Curry–all I remember hearing was to have Chinese food to bring on labor. These days, too, I hear a glass of red wine might be good, too.
Thanks to Linda, Mom of DJ, I am the proud recipient of the gift of a Carnival Thermos–and I do love it!
Keep breathing, Heidi……
John…
You do, indeed, bring a smile (and sometimes loud laughter) to me everyday. I love reading your comments… Thank you ever so much for writing them!!
And… thank you again for helping to set up our private party on the Carnival Triumph. Our ship leaves on Sunday at 4:00 pm… less than 2 days away!! I gave Carnival our payment a couple weeks ago and the “attendees” have almost doubled since then! We call ourselves the JAA Triumph Trippers (JAA= just add alcohol) and we’re looking forward to a great cruise.
We’re celebrating our anniversary on Tuesday, May 12… my daughter, Terri (her first cruise!) will be 30 something on Sunday, May 10 (the day we leave!) and my daughter-in-law Sarah has a birthday on Friday, May 15!! People generally don’t need anything to celebrate and have a good time when they’re on a cruise but this is going to be a pretty special week for us!
Thanks again for your help and suggestions!
When I was expecting… they told me to take hot baths and the baby would arrive sooner… yeah, right… I was 2 weeks overdue!!! Best of luck to all of you!!!
Later….
Bette
My husband and I are booked on the Splendor in June. Needless to say we are a little disappointed about the port changes but totally agree it was necessary. But Carnival has done Loyal customers a disservice. This will be our tenth cruise with Carnival. We have sailed other lines but come back to Carnival for the fun. We wanted take advantage of putting this cruise off until the ports opened back up in 2010 and rebook this cruise at a considerable lesser price. Since it is going to ports with little or nothing to do, we felt we should take advantage of lower price more than 1/2 of what we paid. To our surprise, Carnival will not take another $1000.00 dollars from us for this cruise. It seems to us to be a win- win situation. Carnival gets my 2400 dollars for a year and another 1000 now for another cruise. Why will they not allow this? I am not asking for any money back just to be allowed to book at a lower price since it is not the cruise I wanted. Can you help me out. Reply please
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