It has been very interesting reading your comments about if and how a cruise director can affect the overall cruise experience. If you have not had chance to comment yet please do as this is a very important subject and I would really appreciate your feedback. Ask most of our cruise directors and they will tell you that they “have the best job…….in the world.”….myself included. But apparently……..we do not………..nope that title goes to a man called Ben Southall from a little village in Hampshire here in the UK because he has, according to all the papers, just landed the “best job in the world.”
So if he isn’t a cruise director for Carnival what do you suppose his job is? Has Ben Southall become president of Carnival Cruise Lines replacing the brilliant Gerry Cahill who has decided to become a Chippendale? Has Ben been traded to the Miami Heat as a starting point guard thingy? Has he become an underwear model? Is he (please God) starting today as the UK’s new prime minister? Will he be the test driver for Aston Martin? No? What, then………….surely he has not been put in charge of the thong laundry at the Playboy Mansion?
No, again. The job that Ben has landed, ahead of thousands of applicants from all over the world to a very public recruitment drive from Tourism Queensland………is a job as a caretaker.
Yes, sure, it’s a caretaker job on an island off the Great Barrier Reef, so the weather will be nice and there will be lots of fish to eat. And the salary, at US $100,000, is brilliant. But it’s pretty mind-blowing to find the world’s media heralding it as the best job in the world. No disrespect to caretakers, but their work is not usually considered especially rewarding. Ben impressed the judges, apparently, with a range of hobbies that included “running, climbing, scuba diving, bungee jumping, mountain biking and eating fruit.” So, clearly, the man is a vegetarian. Or possibly a monkey. “Ooh look,” one can imagine the chimpanzee personnel manager saying, “This one is into running, jumping and climbing.”
On top of all that leaping about, Ben had to do a lot of blogging ……another activity that many people have told me requires no more skill than you’d find in a baboon.
The sort of people who will covet Mr. Southall’s job are those people one occasionally meets who dream of emigrating to Australia. “Lifestyle” basically means that you can get drunk outdoors wearing only your underpants all year round. And eat nothing but charbroiled food from the BBQ for the rest of your life. People who dream of living there don’t care what job they do, only that after it finishes each day they can go straight to the beach – where their only hope of avoiding skin cancer is to be eaten by a shark or poisoned to death by a spider the size of Judge Judy’s head.
But it’s “the best job in the world “according to the world’s press………funny……..I thought I had that……..however there is apparently another contender for this title. Yep……..it’s a chap called Reggie Love, President Obama’s closest aide, who was seen carrying the presidential basketball on his way into the American Embassy in London.
This is the man President Obama refers to as “the kid brother I never had”…..for lovers of the West Wing I guess he is like President Bartlett’s Charlie…….and then some. He holds the President’s Raspberry, supplies chewing gum when he needs it and does all of the stuff the President doesn’t have the time or patience for. Since his duties are more matey than political, I guess he should be known as…………. The First Mate.
Some people might consider this to be the best job in the world. I’m not so sure. Loads of things can go wrong. When you’re First Mate, it’s not like you can say to the President, “You bastard …… you said we could watch the game together tonight but now you have dumped me to go to a party with Prime Minister Berlusconi.” Also, being pissed off is out of the question. If you’re feeling tired and you don’t feel like playing basketball you have to play anyway. You can’t complain. Or ask, “Why do we always have what you want to do?”
I was thinking that I could be his best mate………I would love that job…….and I would be brilliant at it…oh……..actually….no I wouldn’t. I’d always say exactly the wrong thing and get him into trouble. I’d forget there’s no tone in e-mail and make a bad joke on his if you’re the voice of the President you can’t end e-mails with: “President Sarkozy…….my arse.”
Time for today’s questions………here we go.
Michele Maragni Asked:
Hi John (Heidi & Kye too!) PLEASE RESPONDThank You for the fabulous blogs, (I’m still laughing!) and the pictures of the Dream, I do miss pictures of Kye though! Seeing the pictures of the making of the Dream, are priceless, it makes my Mom and I that much more excited for our Dec, 3rd cruise with you! One question, will there be any chance that the fabulous singer Marcus Anthony, might be entertaining on the Dream? I had the opportunity to meet him, and shall I say, dance a very memorable slow dance with him
on stage, believe me when I say memorable, I was stopped by half the ship commenting on my dancing with Mr. Anthony, as if I was a celebrity, My Mom was so proud I was her daughter, ha! Ha! I will go further into detail when we speak on the Dream! Ha! Ha! this was on our last cruise in Nov, on the Glory, it would be so wonderful to hear him sing again, if not, maybe in the future I will be able to enjoy his fabulous voice on another Carnival Cruise, thank you so much!,
Love & Hugs, to you, and to Heidi & Kye! Michele & Eleanor (Mom)John Says:
Hello Michele
I hope you enjoyed the photo of Heidi and Kye on Friday and I promise every Friday will be Kye day and I will post the latest photos of her.
Marcus Anthony is without doubt one of the finest entertainers I have ever worked with and if I have my way he will or sure be joining us on the bloggers cruise in December. His Marvin Gaye and Motown tribute is a show that as you said has everyone dancing in the isles.
I will certainly do my best to have him with us.
My best regards to you and all your family and thank you for the lovely words of kindness
Best wishes
JohnLisa P Asked:
PLEASE PLEASE REPLY! OH MY GOD IS IT TRUE? Will you be our cruise director on the Freedom June 28th? I will be so happy if I read that right!Lisa Perkins
John Says:
Hello Lisa
Then be happy because I will see you on the Carnival Freedom where I will indeed be your cruise director.
Get ready for a great cruise………..I have no idea where we are going by the way!
See you soon and best wishes
JohnKathy M. Asked:
Hi John
Please Respond
After seeing the pictures of the rooms and since they are already done, could some of us just go and stay on her while they are finishing her. I could write a daily blog and keep everyone posted on how she is doing.I once watched a video of how they put the cabins together, it was so interesting. They are all pre-made and finished before they even arrive on the ship.
John Says:
Hello Kathy M
Having read your comment and sensed the excitement in your writing about your Carnival Dream. I have arranged for you to spend the next few weeks working onboard doing some welding and living in a hammock in the engine room.
Let me know if this is OK………oh and seriously……..you should be excited………..I am ……….. your Carnival Dream is going to be stunning
Best wishes
JohnBobbi Asked:
John please reply:
Glad things are working for you and that you are feeling better. Where are the pictures of Heidi and Kye? They are both so beautiful and we miss them. I know you agree with the beautiful part.My husband, daughter and son in law are cruising on the Conquest in September; we will be celebrating my daughter’s 23rd birthday. Kyle Post is our cruise director (thanks for the update) what can you tell us about him? Also, when we previously cruised, Blood Power was one of
the onboard bands. Are they still with Carnival? Any chance they will be on the Conquest then? They were incredible. They were in fact the reason my husband and I were trying to recuperate from late nights in the bar when we returned home. We tried to act like teenagers, but it is hard to do in a 40 plus year old body.Due to you and your blog and pictures, my husband is thinking of planning a Dream cruise. Carnival cruises are the most relaxing vacations for him, so we are thinking of trying two per year, one short and one long. That should help us get to Platinum status quicker. We live in Arkansas, so love cruising out of Galveston, so maybe the Magic will make us really happy and we could cruise on her first cruise.
John, I can’t tell you enough how much you make me smile and long to cruise more often. Keep up the good work. Please give Heidi and Kye a hug for us; you are blessed as are we to enjoy all Carnival has to offer. Many thanks for all you do. I promise, one day I will cruise with you!
Thanks for all you do!!
Bobbi and James
P.S. I am jealous, I want a John bobblehead
John Says:
Hello Bobbi and James
Most people would prefer haemorrhoids to a John Heald Bobblehead…..there was one or two on eBay selling for about 50 cents.
Thanks so very much for the kind words for Kye and Heidi………..we all appreciate them so very much. Let me start by telling you about your cruise director Kyle…….actually why don’t we let Kyle tell you instead?
Here he is
Thanks Kyle. I know that you will have a great time with this young man as your CD and I would appreciate you telling me all about your cruise when you get back.
Blood Power……….well I know only of their reputation and it seems they gave you a great time and a few late nights. The band is currently on vacation and returning in August but I know their replacements will be equally as fun and they to will have you up to the wee small hours of the morning.
Well the home port of the Carnival Magic will be………oops……I nearly let that news out then ……..actually I was just teasing as I have no idea yet as that decision is very much still under discussion. I do promise though to tell you as soon as I know. However, before the Carnival Magic there is your Carnival Dream and I see you are considering booking a cruise on her ……. well all I can say is that I promise that it will be a decision that you will not regret…….maybe I will even see you there.
I am so glad that you appreciate Carnival’s commitment to the port of Galveston. The people there are superb and it has become a very important home port of call for us.
Thanks again for writing and if you need anything at all I will be here.
Best wishes to you all
JohnCruisin’ Librarian Asked:
Dear John (please reply),
Sorry if you’ve been asked this a thousand times already. Maybe someone on the boards can answer this and if so, you don’t need to.My husband and I sailed with you on Freedom two years ago in the Med. We are considering booking the blogger’s cruise out of New York in November. What will the weather be like in the Bahamas then? We’ve never sailed at that time of year. Are the seas a little rougher then?
We just got back from Bermuda, and the seas were gloriously calm. Considering my only experiences before that was in the ultra calm Mediterranean and the ultra rough North Sea during a gale force 9 storm, I’m hoping for calmer seas since I tend to get a little sea-sick.Congratulations on the birth of Kye! She’s beautiful.
John Says:
Hello Cruisin Librarian
Well actually and rather surprisingly I don’t actually get asked much about sea sickness here on the blog thingy. Not sure why……maybe many of the readers are seasoned cruisers who have become immune to any motion from the ocean. I was glad to read that you had such a great cruise in the Med and I miss European cruising very much. Well, why I can’t promise the same calm seas as we had in the Med I can say that your Carnival Dream is a big powerful lady and it will take quite a chop to have you reaching for the Dramamine. The weather at that time of the year is usually very good and I am sure the sun will be shining down on a mirror like sea. I hope you will indeed join us and until then I remain here at your service.
Thanks so very much for the beautiful words for Kye
My best wishes to you and the family
JohnStacey Asked:
John (Please reply),
Can you clarify for me, the process of obtaining “tendering tickets?” Our first cruise was Eastern Caribbean, so no need for them. Our second cruise was Western Caribbean and I fretted about being in the right place, at the right time, etc. to get them…but when I asked at the Purser’s Desk about the process, the nice woman told me just to go down to the deck which the tenders were leaving from and hop on one.Now this cruise, also Western Caribbean, we have a larger group going, have booked mostly private excursions (which, as much as I adore Carnival, is a whole other conversation for another time, LOL), and I’m again wondering what the deal is with tender tickets.
Thanks,
StaceyJohn Says:
Hello Stacey
Thanks for taking the time to write and let me try and explain the tender ticket system you will encounter onboard. Yes, we do operate a tender ticket system and this is simply the most tried and tested way to avoid unsafe crowding on the stairwells and for us to put the right amounts of guests on each tender according to the capacity of that boat. I personally have tried this with and without a tender ticket system and I promise you there is only one stress free way of doing it and that’s to issue tender tickets.
Now, I am guessing that you will be using tenders in Grand Cayman which will involve the guests booked on a Carnival tour meeting in one lounge and those guests on a non-Carnival tour in another. However, saying that I do no that certain ships operate another kind of ticket system and so to give you the right information I need to know what ship you are sailing on. Then I can check with the CD onboard and find out what system he or she is operating. I am sure you are concerned about making your private excursions on time but please don’t worry all will be well. So please write back to me and let me know when and where you are sailing and on what ship and if you want you can include that “conversation for another time.”
Best wishes
JohnLauri Asked:
John,
Please reply
More pictures of Kye please!! She is angelic!
One quick question.
I am cruising on the Legend on 9/27 and saw on the CD schedule that you are listed as being on but it is in red. Can you tell me what the red means and whether you will actually be the CD for this cruise. If so I am so excited to finally meet you and hope you will have a baby
brag book aboard. Thanks for the great blog; I look forward to your humor everyday.
Take care and love to the family!
Lauri
John Says:
Hello Lauri
Thanks for all the nice words about Kye and I promise that every Friday you will get to see the latest photos of my little poo monster. I actually join the Carnival Legend on the 27th and won’t be the CD until the next cruise. Jen Baxter will be your CD and I am going to pop over and see how she is doing before spending a few weeks there myself as Cruise Director. I have not been on the ship since 2002 and I am looking forward to seeing her again and meeting you.
My best wishes to you and the family
John
Anne Asked:
John
I have a nephew who is on Dialysis, he would love to cruise and we would love to do a family Cruise, are there any Dialysis machines onboard any of the Carnival line ships?? Thanks for your helpJohn Says:
Hello Anne
Thank you for taking the time to write. I checked with our Senior Fleet Medical Director Dr. John Bradbury who advised me that we do not unfortunately have dialysis machines on-board our ships. However, the Doc suggested that if you plan your cruise ahead of time we can alert the various ports of call that your nephew would need to come in for treatment. Now there are obvious insurance and logistical concerns here and I don’t know of the frequency he would need treatment but if you decide to pursue this and book a cruise please let me know and I can in turn put you in touch with someone at our special service center and we can help you arrange all you need.
My best wishes to you all and I am here should you need me.
Johncruisingrandma Asked:
John “Please Reply”
I was reading the blog and saw that Carnival will be having Halloween on all the ship during all of October, which is great with my family because it is one of our favorite holidays. My daughter is getting married on October 18th and taking her new husband on his first cruise (it’s her third) on the Carnival Destiny out of Miami on October 19th (my anniversary). What I need to know is can costumes be rented on board ship or does she need to bring her own? And the second part of
that question is what night is the costume party. I saw (in very tiny writing) that Jan will be the CD for that cruise. I have sailed with her before and I know the kids will have a blast.Please post more pictures of Kye and Heidi.
Hope to see you again soon.
Grandma
CarolAnnJohn Says:
Hello Carol Ann
Yes indeed, on Carnival we celebrate Halloween not only on the 31st but in the weeks leading up to the event as well. Unfortunately we don’t rent costumes on board so if your family want to dress up they will need to bring costumes. However, you don’t need to be dressed as a witch, a clown, Dracula or a hemmerhoid to take part. While some do bring costumes many do not yet they all still enjoy the haunted house and the other surprises we have in store. I don’t have the schedule for each ship yet but a few weeks before we start the celebrations I will let you know when the scary stuff starts and when the costume party will be.
I know they will have a booooootiful time.
Best wishes
JohnLinda (Mom of DJ) Asked:
John (Please reply):
I was just saving some pictures to CDs when I ran across this old one of DJ when he was on the Fantasy March 2003.This was the ship where CD Mark Price gave DJ his first “ship on a stick.”
I know the (then called Social Hosts) were Amy and Stephanie…and of course I know Mark…but I can not remember who the other two gentlemen are????
Could you give a look at the picture and let me know? Thanks. I have it saved on Webshots…
this link should take you right to it.http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2147500530096776823EstRxj
There is also a current picture of DJ in some kind of race car……we just visited the Corvette Museum and he had a blast.
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
John Says:
Hello Linda
I rarely get the chance to thank you for all the comments you post each and every day and your continuing passion for everyone who writes in with any kind of concern is so very appreciated. I saw that you are currently helping a blogger who has a family member with special needs and once again your kindness shines through.
OK, well with regard to the photo you are correct in naming the girls and Mark Price. The handsome chap on the right with the white hair is Stuart Dunn who is currently the CD on the Carnival Elation. As to the other chap……well I have no clue but I have launched an investigation and will let you know tomorrow who this is. DJ looks fantastic and I would love to be able to take him on a Costa ship so he could try the amazing F1 simulator.
Thanks again Linda and I send my best wishes to you, DJ and all the family
JohnKaren Sheperd Asked:
Hi John – please reply. I’m sorry I missed you on the Splendor – I was there in Europe in October on the week that you and Heidi left (Jen was CD then). My family had a great time and we also enjoyed Jaime very much – she referenced us in one of her blog updates and we
were very amused.
Next week my son and his friends are celebrating their graduation from college on the Miracle – leaving June 17th from NYC. His name is Matt Shepherd in room —. I’m writing so you can warn the staff of his arrival with his friends (not sure of the other room numbers). They are all very smart young men – all graduated with top honors – and I fear they may have used up most of that brain power (or common sense) pre-cruise for their studies. So I’m apologizing for any silly, embarrassing antics they may do ahead of time. Seriously, they are great kids – and as a mom I will worry until they all return home. (Wait til Kye goes on her first vacation with her friends!!!) If you could ask anyone you know on that ship to ‘keep an eye out for them’.
I’d greatly appreciate it.
KarenJohn Says:
Hello.
I was sorry to read we just missed each other in Europe but I am sure you had a brilliant time with Jen as the CD. I have alerted the ship security about Matt sailing and will make sure he behaves himself………plus gets a little gift from Mum. I am sure he will have a great time and congratulations on his graduation
Hope to sail with you soon
Best wishes
JohnVicki Asked:
John, please reply -
My husband and I are thinking about booking the Triumph out of NYC to St. John/Halifax in August. We are doing this primarily because of the cost savings incurred by sailing out of NYC (our homeport), but the problem is that this would be our 5th cruise to Halifax and our 4th to
St. John. They are lovely cities, but there’s a limit to what you can do in both. My question to you is – can you give me 1 very good or 3 adequate reasons for taking this specific cruise independent of the itinerary? (You don’t need to give me any reasons for cruising generally!) Thanks and best wishes to you, Heidi and Kye,
VickiJohn Says:
Hello Vicki
That’s a great question and I think you have mentioned one of the reasons you should take this cruise already. The current affordable prices we have at Carnival are astonishing and that coupled with the fact that you don’t have to fly is another great reason to walk up the gangway. Carnival Triumph has recently been through some wonderful dry dock upgrades including the addition of a Seaside Theatre Big Screen. However, I understand that the ports are familiar to you and I hope you have taken the time to go to Peggy’s Cove in Halifax. If you would like other tour recommendations I would be happy to help you. But for me the most important reasons to book the cruise is that the ship and her crew. You deserve to relax and deserve to take advantage of the great prices and I promise you that the crew of the Carnival Triumph will do their very best to make sure that you have a wonderful, relaxing and most of all fun cruise vacation.
Let me know what you decide to do
Best wishes to all
JohnJeri Green Asked:
Hi, Loved the pictures from Half Moon Cay! We are leaving Mon. June 15th on the Carnival Destiny and intend to do the horse back ride. A couple of years ago on our cruise for our 50th anniversary you said to email you when we were taking a cruise. Maybe you didn’t realize how
often we cruise! (Since we too use Yahoo and you are having trouble with it we will use the blog instead.) June 15th will be our 24th cruise as we take our daughter to celebrate her birthday a bit early.
Booking # Cabin —-Miss the pictures of Kye and hope to see more very soon. Jeri and Larry Green
John Says:
Hello Jeri and Larry
I have fond memories of our meeting and how wonderful that you are celebrating 50 incomparable years together on the Carnival Destiny. Stephanie Meads will be your CD and she is doing a brilliant job and I am sure she will send you a little something from me. Have a great time and I wish I could be there personally to say Happy Anniversary
Best wishes
JohnJackie Asked:
JohnHeald’SBlog
Hi John, Heidi and of course beautiful Kye; Please reply First and foremost Robert is in the best place for his cancer treatments. If you recall I was on Feb bloggers cruise and I started chemo the very next day. I too had my treatments at Sloan. They are the best. I have finished my 6 treatments and Stu and I booked a celebration cruise with you November 15th. Each day is a gift and we love cruising with you since our Freedom cruise with Mount Holly……….Thanks for the Dream updates and Kye pics as well. Since I have not been at work for the past 6 months I read your blog daily and you have made me smile each and every day. I will be returning to work June 15th and will have to make sure I fit in computer time for my daily laughs.Just a question about Ocean Plaza. I thought it was going to be Italian theme. Can you tell us a little more about it? We love Gelato and Espresso coffee. Not to mention Tea too. Lol Thanks look forward to seeing you soon as time goes by so quick……. Jackie and Stu
John Says:
Hello Jackie and Stu
You are so kind to mention our friend Robert Schneider who is struggling through the side effects of his treatment and I know your words of support and those of others will be most welcome. I have fond memories of our “Mount Holly” cruise together and I hope it is not too long before we get to sail together soon.
Ocean Plaza doesn’t necessarily have a theme but it is certainly going to recreate the piazza-style atmosphere you will find in St. Marks Square and other famous Italian piazzas. There will be constant entertainment, music and food and of course the gelato experience that I know is going to be a huge hit. I will be able to share this experience with you in November so until then I send my very best wishes to you both
JohnGeri & Jack Asked:
Hi John PLEASE REPLY
Does the Dream have a retractable roof over the aft Lido Pool?
Thank you,
JackJohn Says:
Hello Geri and jack
Thanks for taking the time to write. Your Carnival Dream does not have a retractable roof over the aft Lido. In fact the stern of the ship is different to any other we have and in my opinion with the way she is built and with the walk around Lanai on deck 5. I personally feel her aft is the most beautiful in the industry………except mine of course.
Let me know if you have a follow up question
Best wishes
John
That’s all for today and there will be more of course later this week including a special interview with someone at the forefront of everything that is happening right now on your Carnival Dream.
In past months there was something in the air in the homes of the rich and tanned across the land, and it went something like this: “A vacation? A VACATION?? We’re all bankrupt, for heaven’s sake. We are going to stay home instead, eating the family cat and making clothes out of palm leaves.”
To which Seabourn replied “Bollocks”………….well, I am sure Pamela Conover Seabourn’s president didn’t actually say “bollocks” …………for one she’s not British and second she has more class than a fleet of Rolls Royce Phantoms.
Instead the thinking at Seabourn was that if 2009 and perhaps 2010 is as sticky as some expect, the rich and tanned are going to need a vacation more than ever. ………….and so begat the Seabourn Odyssey.
A Seabourn cruise ………ummmm…….that doesn’t sound right……..ummmm………a Seabourn experience is designed for those who want total luxury that oozes in abundance from bow to stern. Seabourn is for people who are looking for exclusivity – they want something that their next-door neighbor doesn’t get …………..they want the best…………..it’s that simple. And in the Seabourn Odyssey that is certainly what they are going to get. She is Concord, The Plaza in Manhattan and the Al Bahj in Dubai……….in the shape of a mega luxury yacht owned by Prince Musthaf Debest or Russian multi billionaire oil magnate………. Roman Ivegotajockitch.
Now I haven’t checked the prices of a Seabourn Odyssey experience but I imagine that in today’s market they are more affordable than ever. I would like to tell you what a Seabourn experience is all about but I have yet to be invited on one………..but hope springs eternal. Anyway, I know everyone who reads this blog is like me a funnel head ……that’s someone who loves ships so I know that you will all enjoy these photos of the Seabourn Odyssey conducting her sea trials off the coast of Southern Italy.
I should point out that these were not official photos but were in fact taken by a friend of mine and ex Carnival shipboard employee. So thanks to Michele Villaverdi who was a bridge officer for Carnival and now is the captain of a ferry that goes between Capri and Naples. He sent me those photos yesterday and I have a feeling they may be the first published anywhere of the Seabourn Odyssey on sea trials……….so grazie Michele and maybe writing this article will get me one step nearer a taste of Seabourn luxury as I sit in my suite drinking Diet Coke served by my Latvian supermodel butler before walking to my balcony where dinner of fresh peacock will be served.
The Seabourn Odyssey has a blog and for the latest information on the worlds most luxurious …………. ummmm…………anything……………..pop on over to http://blog.seabourn.com/ Oh, by the way Seabourn President & CEO Pamela Conover will begin tweeting from Italy before, during and after the delivery of Seabourn Odyssey from the T. Mariotti shipyard in Genoa. Her twit thing is http://twitter.com/SeabournCruise and I am sure she would love to hear from all of you.
There are still those who have never cruised who are unsure if or not the thrill of a cruise and more specifically the fun of a Carnival cruise is for them…but sometimes all it takes is to get that person up one of our gangways and once that happens….there is no looking back as you will see if you click on this CNN link thingy
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/getaways/06/11/cruising.commitment.phobe/index.html
And sometimes…………words from me are not necessary……as you will see from this article sent to me by Host Mach from Cruise Critic.
Just off Valor from the Land of “Why Not”
A veteran Diamond member at Royal Caribbean, I must say I had some real trepidation about cruising with Carnival. The itinerary looked good and it sailed just one hour from my home so I figured, why not? As it turned out it was wonderful. The food was much better than any of my 11 sailings with Royal Caribbean, the service better than almost all but one cruise, and a great time was had by my whole family of four, all at a lower price. So impressed am I that I am going to be changing some of my scheduled sailings with Royal over to Carnival. I never thought I would do such a thing. Carnival is worth another look. At least the Valor. Simply a great experience.
Read the entire post by clicking here
Brilliant………high five everyone!
I sort of thanked you earlier in the blog for all those comments on whether or not you think that the cruise director can make a difference to the overall enjoyment of your cruise. Well, although many of you said that you would not book a cruise based on who the CD is, many of you did write that you do believe that he or she does make a difference to your cruise vacation experience. It seems you want your cruise directors to be fun and visible and to motivate their staff to being the same. These are the basic principles to which we ask our cruise directors to adhere to and that are why it was so interesting reading your thoughts.
It is also another reason for me to ask you to please send in your reviews and to tell myself, Chris and Roger which of our cruise directors were the ones that truly did make a difference…….. and if they didn’t. This will help us continue to have the best CD’s in the cruise industry …. so we look forward to reading your reviews.
Well very soon I will be back on board sharing my adventures with you. I have a big cruise convention to host in Dover UK on Wednesday as cruise industry heavy weights like Peter Shanks of Cunard speak to a gaggle of hundreds of travel agents ……….why they chose me is anyone’s guess…………oh yes……….I know why…………..I’m cheap.
Anyway…..it will be a privilege to be there and hopefully I can underscore to the British agents just why cruising is the best value vacation there is………..I shall be sending raspberry blogs that day and take some video and loads of photos.
Then on Friday I fly (bugger) to Miami and once through the delights of US Immigration head to my Motel 6 before joining the Carnival Freedom the next day. I then have an eight-day handover with Todd before taking over the ship as CD from the 28th. Normally I wouldn’t do a handover but even though I know the Carnival Freedom inside and out I have not been a CD for three months so I will need to see what’s going on……..and yes……..although many won’t believe it………….I will be nervous.
I know one of the things that everyone looks forward to when I am onboard are the comments and complaints that guests share with us and I then share with you. While complaints are few and mostly deserved there are ones that deify belief and those are the ones I will share with you ……… and there is never a shortage of those.
Being British I never complain……we just don’t. When we get British guests on board they rarely say what they mean. You could serve a British guest yak scrotum and fries and if asked how it was by the waiter they would say “ooohh, its smashing, thank you, thank you so very much.”
I myself rarely complain about anything in person………..oh I may rant and rave here on the blog but deep down…………I am big softie that usually does bugger all. I mean………the other day I was at my mate Alan’s house and while we were eating lunch his cat jumped up on the table and wandered around like it owned the bloody place. Cats give me asthma and I find their bottoms offensive and instead of using its arse as a napkin holder before bashing it over the head with a cricket bat……….I just smiled…………..and said nothing.
However, on board there are times when we do something silly and the guests should and must let us know so we can look after them and learn from our mistakes………….and that’s how I felt this morning.
It was a breakfast-based event which I have waited to tell you about from just before Kye was born. Tucking into her bowl of cereal, Heidi found a long, black hair entwined in and passing through a raisin. It was too black to belong to me as I am grey………..everywhere. While she gagged I read one of those “tell us about our product” bits on the side of the box ………. OK ………….I will……….so I went to the computer and fired off a threatening e-mail to the cereal company. As I waited for a reply, I imagined the untold riches I could net for myself. If not cash, then it would be a lifetime’s supply of hopefully hair-free cereal and an Aston Martin at the very least.
I didn’t have to wait long……….which was impressive because two hours later I got mail. The man from customer services was full of concern. “Our aim,” he said from the heart, “is to produce breakfast cereals and bars of the finest quality and it is therefore a matter of genuine concern that on this occasion you may feel we have let you down.”
He then asked me to forward the hair to him in order that he might investigate fully. Woo Hoo ……..and wondering to go with the Aston Martin DBS in black or a Bentley GTC in powder blue I skipped off to retrieve an envelope and the hair-encased raisin.
For weeks I heard nothing, then today a cheque for £2.95 arrived with a letter about high standards and blah blah blah. £2.95…..the exact price of their box of cereal………£2.95 for finding someone’s short and curly in one of the raisins……..what a load of bollocks.
Tomorrow I’m going to find a nipple pad in my cornflakes……….that’s got to be worth a £1,000 at least.
Goodnight
Your friends
John, Heidi and Kye
Filed under: Tales from the Ship | Tagged: Caribbean, Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom, Europe, John's Replies, Seabourn
John Please Reply,
Is any of this true?
In May 2009, Carnival announced that the Holiday may not be bound for service as the Grand Holiday as early stated. The Holiday may remain in Carnival’s fleet and sail from Charleston, SC on 5 – 7 day cruises to the North, with stops in New York, Boston, and Halifax in the Summer, and 5 – 7 day Caribbean cruises with stops in Bahamas and Key West during the fall and winter. Carnival also stated that they may ad up to four, 8 day Bermuda cruises as well. The move comes as Norwegian Cruise Lines ends its current sailing from Charleston, SC early in 2010 and also based on the twice a year sailing that Carnival currently offers from the SC port, have meet with a great deal of success. The ship may also see some service out of Norfolk, Va, and Wilmington, NC.
The Carnival spokesperson also stated that Charleston, SC and Wilmington, NC are both busy tourist destinations in their on right, and both cities are within a short driving distance from Myrtle Beach, SC which is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Eastern United States, so it only makes sense to put a “Fun Ship” close by. The Port of South Carolina cruise terminal is expected to see a face lift, using the stimulus money if the deal comes through as expected.
The Holiday will undergo some much needed improvements and repairs including, plumbing and propulsion repairs, crew area improvements and repairs, some minor cabin upgrades, and the addition of a retractable covering over the aft area of the Lido deck, similar to the bigger ships in the Carnival fleet. Once the Holiday is refurbished the company plans to rename her the Carnival Holiday.
Thanks,
Spencer
Hello, John!!
Thanks go to you and Stephanie for adding the post from the RCL loyal who sailed on the Valor. I thought it was BRILLIANT and, most importantly, honest. Carnival provides as much as ANY other mass market line and at a VASTLY better value. Kudos to all my wonderful friends at Carnival!!!
Something happened to Kyle’s comments but I can tell you that he’s a wonderful guy and I’m THRILLED that he’ll be our cruise director for our ‘Cruisin’ With The Crazies’ cruise in September!! There’s over 300 of us who are ready to enjoy a cruise the way a cruise is meant to be enjoyed!! Kyle… buckle up, buttercup!!!
Please tell Heidi and the gorgeous Kye that Stitch and I send our love. Tell Stephanie that she’s AMAZING!! You, sir, are the best in the world… nothing else need be said.
Ciao!!
Host Mach
John, Heidi and Kye…
I feel TERRIBLE!!! I haven’t written since Kye was born… But you all have been in my prayers and on my mind!!! Heidi, you still are glowing and more beautiful than ever!!! Kye, you are a doll and a wonder, and I can hardly wait to meet you in person!!!!
John… It goes without saying — you are WONDERFUL!!!! I love you and all your energy and all the FUN FUN FUN you create!!!
That said, my “How WONDERFUL and SPECIAL and ‘You Make the Cruise Perfect’ ” comment… Let me respond…
No, I wouldn’t choose a cruise based on the CD. I’ll enjoy a cruise no matter who the CD is!!!
HOWEVER, the CD will enhance, spice up, and create a PERFECT cruise and attitude that is EASY to enjoy and CREATE A DESIRE TO RETURN!!! (Repeat guests!!!)
My first two cruises, I can’t tell you who the CD was. I wasn’t even aware there was one… YIKES!!! But since then, YES… it matters who they are. The whole personality of the cruise and the ship changes based on them. I can think of only one CD I would choose NOT to sail with again, but I’ll never post that name… It didn’t matter… I LOVED the cruise!!! I just created more of the FUN FUN FUN myself.
Thanks for asking about the CD-affect!!!
And… Your FAMILY is OUTSTANDING!!!!
Love to all three of you!!!
Lambie
John:
I beg to differ….
I have the BEST job in the world…being the Mom of DJ!!!
Ria B. from England (Club O2 Director ~ retired~ who became DJ’s best friend on the Victory) is due July 2nd with a little girl. It was so cute….when DJ read the due date….he said “she can just wait and have it on my birthday July 7th, if she wants to”.
Like she has the option… LOL.
Facebook has been wonderful to keep up with dear folks we have met in the past (either staff or guests).
DJ has decided that when he “grows up”…. he is going to be an Assistant Club O2 Director. (I did not have the heart to tell him there is no such position.)
These past 18 Club O2 experiences have been the best in his life. I will never be able to express how much I appreciate the kindness shown to him and how much these experiences helped him develop into the confident young man he is today.
Thanks so much for the info on the photo….I can add it to my spread sheet. (I keep the “whos and whats” of every cruise from room numbers to names of cabin stewards.) OCD…I know….LOL
Gotta run….we have storms again today…and storms and DJ do not get alone. (and as usual, David is out of town.)
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
Hey John,
It’s been awhile since I’ve been on here, so I’m playing catch-up with past entries. To answer your question about the cruise directors affecting the overall experience, I’d have to say that they set the tone for the vacation–and they do a great job at it. They remind us how to relax with their humor and bring an uplifting energy to the vacation.
Hope you, Heidi, and Kye are doing well.
Dear John,
(You can post all or some – edit as you feel necessary – I hate sounding long-winded)
I am just off the Glory (June 6th) and I must say…WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! First of all, I definitely see why she proudly displays the Crystal Eagle in the Lobby! She was a wonderful ship with a wonderful crew!
Secondly, you told me I would be pleased with Ryan, our CD, AND YOU WERE 100% RIGHT! He is the BEST cruise director I have ever had. I know you asked for feedback about them and I want to tell you the cruise director has a LOT to do with making the cruise enjoyable and he did a great job. he even made a really great Dolly Parton! (PLEASE tell me you know what I am talking about!)
In all it was an amazing trip. The itinerary was FANTASTIC and the crew were amazing. I know you also said you liked shoutouts for the crew that were fantastic so i will list a few. (You don’t have to post this section)
Nicol – Casino Host – amazing! She remembered my name every time she saw me! I LOVE THAT!
Olivera – Casino Bar – awesome!
Eddie (from Peru) – Bar Steward – Main Golden Lower sitting – the BEST and most HELPFUL person on this cruise perhaps. he remembered our orders every night, asked how we were doing, and was VERY friendly, yet not TOO intrusive. He saw us and greeted us at the past guest reception as well and made sure we were satisfied and had drinks. PLEASE let his supervisor know how awesome he is – he truly deserves the recognition!!!!
Another little fun fact I am sure you were aware of, but I found it extremely clever that during the Livin’ in America show the dancers had Miami Heat (GASP – GO HORNETS!) outfits on!
The only complaint, and I heard this from multiple guests, is that the room temperature (even with the thermostat turned all the way to cold) was stifling – I was sweating while I slept. I thought this odd so I checked our neighbor’s room (my future in-laws) and theirs was the same. Like I said I also heard this from other passengers talking in the hallways. I didn’t bring it up to the crew, as I was ok with it to an extent. But I just thought I would let you know only one hurdle the entire trip.
In all this was the best vacation I have ever had. I won TWO “ships on a stick”, had a wonderful crew to take care of me, and enjoyed it so much, I have decided with “the boys” that we will have my bachelor party aboard whichever ship is in new Orleans at the time. My fiancee and I have decided on th Conquest for the Honeymoon 2/14/10.
Thanks for all you do!
-Adam
P.S. Once again, GO HORNETS!
We’ve never considered booking a cruise based upon who the cruise director is. As long as everyone on board does their job, the cruise director really doesn’t matter to us. The individual has no bearing on whether or not we have a good vacation.
John, a well deserved honor (spelled correctly) to host the cruise convention in Dover. I know that you will do well and am looking forward to the raspberry messages.
I enjoyed the pictures of the Seabourn Odysssey – someday maybe I will be able to cruise on her.
John Please Reply:
I am wondering if you could comment on this Wikipedia entry about the Holiday:
“In May 2009, Carnival announced that the Holiday may not be bound for service as the Grand Holiday as early stated. The Holiday may remain in Carnival’s fleet and sail from Charleston, SC on 5 – 7 day cruises to the North, with stops in New York, Boston, and Halifax in the Summer, and 5 – 7 day Caribbean cruises with stops in Bahamas and Key West during the fall and winter. Carnival also stated that they may ad up to four, 8 day Bermuda cruises as well. The move comes as Norwegian Cruise Lines ends its current sailing from Charleston, SC early in 2010 and also based on the twice a year sailing that Carnival currently offers from the SC port, have meet with a great deal of success. The ship may also see some service out of Norfolk, Va, and Wilmington, NC.
The Carnival spokesperson also stated that Charleston, SC and Wilmington, NC are both busy tourist destinations in their on right, and both cities are within a short driving distance from Myrtle Beach, SC which is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the Eastern United States, so it only makes sense to put a “Fun Ship” close by. The Port of South Carolina cruise terminal is expected to see a face lift, using the stimulus money if the deal comes through as expected.
The Holiday will undergo some much needed improvements and repairs including, plumbing and propulsion repairs, crew area improvements and repairs, some minor cabin upgrades, and the addition of a retractable covering over the aft area of the Lido deck, similar to the bigger ships in the Carnival fleet. Once the Holiday is refurbished the company plans to rename her the Carnival Holiday.”
I realize that most of what you read on Wikipedia is the equivalent of what is in Kye’s diapers, but I am wondering.
Odessy looks great!
Hi John,
As to the CD questions, I agree with Mary Alice.
John~
I’ve been assured a couple days tops on a Carnival ship and we’ll know where we are.
I found your blog a few weeks ago and like everyone else I am enjoying them. Maybe for a little different reason. This year my husband and i celebrated our 20 yr anniversary (most were rough) so we went on our first (well earned) real adult vacation in February. We were coaxed into going on a cruise with a HUGE amount of people. I have always been leary of cruising because i get very motion sick. I took the normal precautions of patches and wristbands. However the first night at dinner UGHHHH. The minute we pulled out of port apparently the water was very rough and (I wasn’t the only one) sick wasn’t the word. I couldn’t move my head for anything. My point, i have been learning things from your blog. Apparently the Med. which this ship was built for is much calmer. The entire week the boat crashed and creeked and sounded like it was coming apart, from what people said the water was rough but not that bad… Thank you for reasurring us that the Dream is made for these waters.
I was glad to see you ask the question about the CD’s. I had to ask my sister-in-law what a CD’s job was and who’s ours had been. We were on one of MSC’s (publish it or not) ships and all everyone did all week was complain from things like “no free ice cream” to the fact that our first full day on the cruise (at sea) they ran out of the number one beer they were told our group drinks(that went over well). My husband and i had nothing to compare it to except all the stories we have heard over the years about what to expect on a cruise. I was excited to have gone on this past cruise just because it was finally a REAL vacation. We did make our own fun and our group was great but it was lacking in so many areas. The food was only ok (that’s what my husband went for) the entertainment was pretty good actually but only one thing at a time and that was it. The only night they had Kareoke scheduled they cancelled it because a band was playing (?) Since i have been reading your blog and i watched the recent interview with Roger I have truly understood why our entire group of 1300 were complaining. They are a Carnival group. Our travel agent booked us on the Dream this February and everyone is SO EXCITED. The cruise cabin allotment we are given was almost sold out by March (bookings started 2nd week of Feb.). The more i read the more excited i am and sooooo glad my husband and i decided to give this cruise thing another try. Thank you for your blogs and also for helping to reassure me that this will be the Dream cruise we “thought” last year was going to be!!
You said you were going to be on the Dream in January did i read you would still be on for Feb 6th sailing??
Thank you again,
(Did I mention the ships layout was so bad that even seasoned cruisers on the last night were screaming because they were still getting lost
~Peggy~
I have never based my cruise on who the CD is because for years I had to go in March when it was spring break in Canada. Now I’m in a different occupation, I can cruise whenever I want to (and have the money). I have cruised twice with Chris J, once with Mark Price, and last with Paul S. I did a cruise last year alone for a long w/e but I don’t remember who the cruise director was.
Cindy
Hi John,
We are really having Kye withdrawal here on the blog thingy!
You were asking if having different CDs make a difference in our crusing experience. I thought about this for some time and I have to honestly say that before David and I started reading your blog we never thought twice about the CD. We knew that there was an “employee” (for better terms) that gave welcome talks and talks before the ports and such but it seemed that we really never saw him or her. We are more of the type of cruisers that come to relax and see a good show really more about being on the ship. Since reading the blog and reading up on each of the wonderful CDs we find ourselves seeking them out more. Since then we have cruised twice with Todd Whitmer on the t/a and loved him. I recently cruised with Kirk on the Pride and he was very nice too. Then of cource our wonderful Jamie. We will be sailing with Jamie and Todd on our Med cruise and staying aboard for the T/A and can’t wait to see them again. Also YOU are to join us in Bermuda!!! What a great surprise that was! We just can’t wait to see you again. I think that your blog thingy has touched the hearts in many ways that we didn’t expect. We came here maybe looking for answers to questions or thae latest scoop on what Carnival is up to. What we found is a large group of friends with the same interests. We laugh with each other, cry when a friend has difficulties, and are excited to know that one of our friends is going on a cruise.
I really enjoy reading you blog and look forward to doing so every day.
See you soon
Barbara and David Butler and Valentine
John, please reply.
Thanks for the last batch of answers. I’m glad you enjoyed the question about differences in ships across the lines – and hope you will write more about it in upcoming blogs. It’s an interesting topic – maybe a good idea for those mornings you’re stumped heh.
1) Muster Drill – I will always attend dutifully, and extol the virtues of doing as much. But I think Carnival should across the board take into consideration the timing of this, with regard to sail away. It’s increasingly reported that muster has extended into sail-away recently. While I understand the importance of it, dutifully participating should not ‘rob’ a cruiser of this simple pleasure and experience. If muster is running late – seriously, within reason, the ship can leave a little late.
Has Carnival considered re-visiting it’s muster procedures regarding passenger compliance? I could think of a few ideas… A cutoff, so late arrivers don’t hold up the drill for people standing in the heat. Make the late people repeat the next day… If they don’t, cut off their s&s card if you have to. Just curious if Carnival is thinking of this one…
2) Would you consider posting an updated any time dining schedule (for implementation across the fleet)? I’ve recently learned of cruisers confirmed for any time dining on inspiration as of July 9, 2009 – WAY before the official statement of ‘summer 2010’ – what’s up with that?
3) And here’s a heads up I think you may want to comment on… Wikipedia, and we all know how wiki works – sometimes it’s less accurate than info you ‘find on the boards’, is currently displaying a statement that:
‘In May 2009, Carnival announced that the Holiday may not be bound for service as the Grand Holiday as early stated. The Holiday may remain in Carnival’s fleet and sail from Charleston, SC on 5 – 7 day cruises to the North, with stops in New York, Boston, and Halifax in the Summer, and 5 – 7 day Caribbean cruises with stops in Bahamas and Key West during the fall and winter.’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_(ship)
Huh? Mind clearing this up? (and note, wiki can be edited at any point, info may not be there when link is accessed)
4) Finally – it was earlier reported that a man ‘fell’ from carnival inspiration earlier today. I put the ‘fell’ in quotes, because we all know how it takes some work to ‘fall’ from a ship… Anyhow, any statement about that?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31373744/ns/travel-news/
5) In an answer to your question – I’ve never booked a cruise based on the cruise director… And can’t really imagine at this point doing so… Unless it was YOU! What exactly is your schedule, even past dec 2009 (as posted in cd schedule), if you know it? Inquiring minds want to know. Concisely.
Thanks for the info.
–Mark
John (PLEASE reply!)-
I could honestly go on and on about numerous staff members, but these three especially deserve the recognition.
We (mom, grandma, sister, and I) just returned a few weeks ago from the Miracle out of NYC (5/24-6/1) and are suffering from a severe bout of PCD—post cruise depression. It was our third time on this beautiful ship and it feels like a second home to us. What made us feel even more welcome this last cruise was the wonderful staff that still remembered us from our last minute booking on the Miracle in January. So many stopped us to chat and catch up. We were sad to see that the Assistant Maitre’D, Jogi, had moved on from the ship, but Dewey (upper dining room hostess) was still there and just as friendly and bubbly as before. Please put in the kindest words for both her and fellow hostess Karuna. Carnival has two GEMS in these ladies. They honestly felt like a part of our family for the short time we were there and we were sad to leave our new friends (although Karuna jokingly offered to hide us in her stateroom during disembarkation). I do not have enough kind words for these two. I also wanted to express our pleasure with Sam, the young entertainment host. He seemed to be involved in almost every activity on the ship and is one of Carnival’s hardest workers. I might have gotten tired of seeing his face EVERYWHERE if he wasn’t so engaging!
The only thing that put a damper on an otherwise perfect vacation was the fact that we had booked a handicap balcony room that did not have a ramp to get onto the balcony. Grandma is completely wheelchair bound for almost two years now. She has been on every one of our cruises with us (7 on Carnival), and even though she cannot get around on her own anymore we can’t imagine going without her. This was the first time we were able to find her an accessible balcony since she started using a wheelchair (having previously booked HC interiors and oceanviews) and she was so looking forward to being able to enjoy the sea from her own room again. We were assured when the rooms were booked that there would be a ramp to get onto the balcony and saw pictures of the same room on the Pride that had a ramp. While on the ship, we had asked the pursers if a ramp could be placed in the room, but they informed us that not only was this not possible, but there had never been a ramp in that room in the first place. You can imagine our disappointment we felt finding out that while her room was completely accessible, the balcony that we paid a premium for her to enjoy was not accessible at all. Had we known this, we would have saved ourselves the disappointment and money and booked an accessible oceanview room. Who would be the best person to contact to express our dissatisfaction in this incident and make sure that a ramp is placed there in the future for others who need it?
Also, your previous post stated that you would like to see more reviews. My sister started a blog with a review for our cruise in January and is currently in the process of creating one for our most recent. I will warn you, it is VERY long (she is a journalist, go figure), but since it was posted on Cruise Critic it has gained the most positive attention of some of the posters. Some have wondered if she herself works in promotions for Carnival, some have said to direct you to read it, and some have since reading booked cruises on the Miracle. Is there a such thing as a Carnival referral bonus?? (J/K) Both Mom and I are pretty astonished that she has such a detailed memory to write so much about our wonderful cruises. I know you are so busy, what with beautiful Kye and work and such, but if you can find a moment I think you should take a look!
Here are the links to both the CC thread and the actual blog:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=998573
http://www.sunglassesandumbrelladrinks.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for your time in reading this very long comment, and congratulations on your new addition!
Sending love from Chicago,
Stephanie R
Hi John,
Please respond, I read your email from a mother who’s son is on Dialysis and I just thought that maybe I should let you know about a program that the National Kidney Association has. The Kidney Association has portable dialysis machines (they fit in a briefcase) that they loan out for people who would like to travel. They will train the person who is on Dialysis or a family member how to use it. I found out about this through a friend who went on a cross country train ride and she used one for about a month. If you have a way to get in touch with that woman, would you mind passing this information on to her. Thank you so much for this blog, I look forward to it everyday. I do have a question for you about the CD schedule. I want to plan a cruise for 2011 on a ship that you will be the CD, but it will have to be one on the West Coast, so how far in advance are the schedules made up. btw, John have you ever been the CD for a West Coast ship.
Give my love to Kye and Heidi.
Kathy
Hi John
Great to see you the other day and thanks for making me famous, Love it!! You will be pleased to hear your photo is up in the staff room between two other photos David cassidy and a local 20 year old male model.
We dont book a cruise on who the CD is, but if we take a cruise and are not keen on the CD we probably want sail with that cd again, I want mention any names but one was very disappointing. Have loved many of the ACD like Butch (now a CD), and james and another guy think he was called Nanoon. Wishing you a safe journey and hope we all get together on your return.
Michelle & gangX
John,
Looks you are staying at the Motel 6 on A1A very near to the FLL Airport. Since me starting my US vacations travelling to Miami this one still my favourite for a one night stay after having a very long TA flight. Do not miss the english pub down the road.
That’s great that someone was so please with their sailing on the Valor that they will be canceling RCL cruises to sail with Carnival again! Really love it when people come over from the “Dark Side”.
Post some more pictures of Kye soon!
My best to you and your beautiful ladies.
Melissa
Hi John,
I agree most certainly with the other bloggers, that a CD does contribute to the tone of the voyage and overall experience! The participation in the “morning show” call-ins and guests sending notes is just one measure of how the cruisers are connecting with the CD’s personality.
I wouldn’t pick a cruise based on the CD alone, but if I ever did have a bad experience on board that I felt management dealt with poorly, I would probably avoid that CD on future cruise choices. After all, isn’t the CD the guest’s advocate?
Our 24 May cruise to Astoria, Victoria, and Vancouver was divine on board Splendor (encore! encore!). We only booked because of this new itinerary resulting from the flu thingy; so glad we already knew Splendor, with only a few weeks to plan this last minute escape. Butchart Gardens was our land-based highlight.
It was great to see Capt Pagano and officers again (and when we introduced ourselves, he said “ah, yes the ballcap”). The ship was still so very clean, and we enjoyed being instantly familiar with the layout (felt like home). Just wish the gift shop had “Splendor” ballcaps…I forgot to pick up the inaugural one last year, and all that was available were generic Carnival ones. Boo hoo…am watching e-bay to snatch one.
So our travelling companions, the foxes, are searching for our next adventure!
Our best to you, Heidi, and Kye!
Karen and Grant
Hello John,
I have cruised many times and have never picked a sailing based on the cruise director.
However, I will say this….
The Carnival cruise director’s are some of the best. Why? You can control your passengers!
I have been on Carnival sailings where itineraries had to be changed last minute (hurricane) and when ports had to be missed (sea too rough in Cayman) or the passengers were more like frat boys on a long weekend blitz. The Carnival cruise director could handle it all! They knew just how to talk to everyone and made it clear how things are going to go down.
You set the tone for the cruise, you make sure we know that we’re going to have fun in a safe environment, and you inspire your staff. I am sure there is a huge amount of planning that goes into all the events but the Carnival CD also gets the passengers ready to have fun at those events.
Thanks and great blog!
–
Nancy D’Andrea
Topsail Cruises
John-Please reply
Next summer I would like to take my granddaughter on a Medeterranean cruise to celebrate her graduation. I took my other GD on a land European tour for hers, but it was really quite hectic & tiring. Since Carnival no longer does the Med(boo-hoo) which line would you recommend? She will be 18 yrs. old, so we’d like activities geared to her age group. The itinerary on the Liberty was perfect for what we want to see. If you have a recommendation, could you either post it here or e-mail me.
Sorry this is so long, but I like to plan early.
Kiss Miss Kye for her Aunt Joyce!
joycegeraci@comcast.net
John:
Please reply as I can’t find an answer anywhere on the internet.
Inquiring minds want to know:
What defines a “class” of cruise ships?
Is that different for each cruiseline?
Why are there some classes with only 1 or 2 ships in them?
At Carnival, how/who comes up with the names of the classes and names of the individual ships?
thank you,
Janet
Please reply. We’ve just booked another Carnival cruise and can’t wait as we’ve loved every one we’ve been on (you’ve always been the cruise director. Unfortunately, you won’t be this time unless you’re on the Miracle in October). However, booking got me thinking about Platinum status. We’ve always done cruises that were 7 – 12 days long. Do the short cruises (2 -3 days) count toward the 10 cruises needed for Platinum status? It seems, if they do, that there could be two ways to achieve Platinum status–total number of cruises or a total of days sailed. Carnival could find a way (maybe something like a total of 60 or 70 0r some number for days sailed) to reward cruisers who take fewer but longer cruisers. Just a thought from a Carnival lover. Any chance for getting a change to Platinum status? Oh, keep those pictures of Kye coming. She’s so adorable.
Hey John!
Love the Seabourne sea trials picture. The ship is beautiful.
At least the cereal company sent you a check and was willing to do something about it. Most companies would basically tell you to “bugger off”. What a nice surprise that they actually followed through on it.
I would love to have either of these jobs you mention. I think it would be a blast to get paid a fortune for writing about getting a sun tan today.
Take care and Hi to Heidi/Kye.
Thanks!
David
Dear John,(please reply)
We have never booked a cruise based on the cd until we found out you would be the final cd on the Holiday. We booked it that day. We had you as a cd on the Liberty TA in 06 with the Noro virus. We enjoyed your daily updates of the number of sick. You were so happy when the number went down Have been reading you for over a year, love the bolg. Your wife and little girl are beautiful. See you in November. Lynda
Hi John!
I’ve only been on two cruises, so I don’t know enough Cruise Directors for that to be a big deal when I choose a cruise.
On the first cruise, I didn’t actually even realize that the funny guy making all the announcements and hosting the shows was the cruise director. On the second cruise, we had Butch – and he was fabulous!
Still, when we cruise we tend to look first at what’s sailing at the time we want to go, then port of departure (we have to fly in from Canada) and then destination.
A good cruise director can make a vacation a whole lot more fun – but we would still have a good time, regardless. After all, we ARE talking Carnival cruises!!
Hi John,
I posted earlier, but forgot to comment on “The Best Job in the World”. Hands down it is Retirement! All I have to be responsible for is planning my next Carnival cruise & how to pay for it. Now that’s a job!
Joyce
Hello John,Heidi, and Kye
First of all thank you for the beautiful picture of Heidi & Kye with pakages or no packages…..
The pictures ofthe Dream are Awesome and we are counting the days…
In answer to your question regarding picking Cruises & CD’s. We have always picked our cruises based on destinations, length of time of the cruise (allowed time off from work),monetary allowances,. The cruise director has been an important influance of the cruise but so is his ACD, the Hotel Staff, the Wait staff , etc. Our cruises have always been based on that..
HOWEVER
We can name Memorable staff, Blaze the head waiter & Massimo, Ken B.your singing Maitre D, Ralph”Wee Jimmy”,CD, Stitch ACD?,Jaime ACD, Todd Wittmer,CD, Big Tex,CD, and off Course Mr. JOHN HEALD,CD, for these named people we WILL schedule a cruise these people if we know about where they are ahead of time……They have made more than 1 cruise memorable .
Thank You Carnival.
Take Care
The Tuckers of Florida
Elizabeth & Arnold
Hi John,
Sorry I took so long to answer your questions about CD’s. First, let me say that I have never booked a cruise because of the CD, but I did book the Dream cruise because it was leaving from NY and I did hope you would be the CD. Usually I choose my cruises based on itinerary, ship & dates. Lately I don’t want to fly, so my choices are pretty limited from NY (for Carnival anyway – but no complaints).
Now, as for whether the CD makes a difference to the cruise – yes, pretty much. Even though I have been on several cruises where I never saw the CD on the decks or around the ship. One cruise all I remember of the CD was his announcements over the loudspeaker – don’t remember his name, don’t remember what he looked like & his staff did most of the work on deck with the games.
But, regardless of whether or not I saw the CD, I still loved my cruises – there is no better vacation than a Carnival Cruise. (this has been an un-paid solicited commercial).
Have a great day – John, Heidi & Kye,
Love,
Carol
John, please reply, my friend!!
Sometimes, regardless of what’s written, people follow their own path.
There’s yet another discussion going on about the dress code for the dining rooms. Everyone knows what it says at Carnival.com but the real world experience is VASTLY different. Many people are reporting that the dress in the dining room is no better than what we see at the Lido Deck buffet and I don’t doubt what they’re saying.
I recall last year when the dress code was ‘relaxed’. There was a great deal of objection to the more lax standards and there were many forecasts of exactly what people are reporting now. Are the Maitre d’s no longer enforcing the dress code at all?? If that’s the case, it’s a sad state of affairs, indeed.
Can you offer any wisdom??
Thanks a bunch, my friend!!!
Ciao!!
Host Mach
John,
I have enjoyed most of Carnival’s cruise directors however, there have been a few that never make eye contact or speak when they pass passengers in the hallway on the ships. I find this somewhat inappropriate but then again, after sailing once with you, maybe I am expecting too much.
Have you ever considered having a yearly review course taught by you or someone else from the Carnival management team to remind the cruise directors that little things like saying “hello” in the hallway means a lot to passengers? Little things like that really make a difference and too, the cruise directors ARE representatives of the company after all.
Anyway, hope all is well with you and the family.
Judy
Dear John,
I was watching a show on the travel channel about the worlds ten best beaches,and on one of the beaches in Australia there was a man who in my humble opinion has the world’s best job. He naturally works at the beach all day where he has an air pump and spray-gun and young ladies come up to him and pay him about $10.00 US. These young girls then drop their tops and he sprays them all over with sun-tanning oil. Yes he gets paid to perform this service. He said that he makes about two to three hundred dollars a day during the week and about two thousand dollars a day on the weekends. Its a tough job but somebody has to do it. Say John, does Carnival need a Sun-tanning oil sprayer onboard? If so Iam the man for the job.
James and Nancy
The Crizin2some
Hey John – Answers to the CD Questions:
I do choose my cruise based on who the CD is – I have my fave and I usually stick with him. For the most parts the ships from FL where I travel from go to the same ports and as long as I am on the ship it doesnt matter which one it is!
I do think the CD can make your trip a lot more enjoyable – the activities they plan, the morning shows and there on stage shows make my trip fun – It is also nice to see a friend while away on vacation!
As for the people that say they don’t see there CD – i agree with others that you may just not be where they are when they are. I have sailed 4 times with the same CD and the first and third time I didn’t see him much but that was just because I was not on his walk through the promenade or at the lounge shows. However on other sailings where the weather was too hot for me I was inside more and saw him multiple times a day!
Thanks John – Erin W
Ok, I’m back from the Valor and need another day to catch up on things before I write about that but here are my answers to your questions:
1. No the CD has no impact on the ship I cruise–I pick them for the itineraries.
2. I think a good CD can make a cruise a lot more fun (have to say John that Big Tex is almost as funny as you are) but like other things that happen, a bad CD cannot make or break my cruise–only I can do that!
Ok, I’m still catching up at work! Tomorrow night I will write the review on my week on the awesome Carnival Valor!
Hello John
My wife and myself went on our first cruise last Oct. on the Elation. We had a wonderful time and now wondered why we waited all these years to cruise. Stuart Dunn was the CD on our cruise and he was a big part of the fun of the cruise. Between the walk for a cure, is special horse racing, and his talks in the Mikado. His annoucements over the P.A system fueled the fun, including his ship wide wait up call on debarkation morning brought a smile to our faces. We ran into him several times during the cruise and his presence added to our enjoyment.
We sailed the Splendor in May to the Canadian Riveria and enjoyed Brad and he added to the pleasure of the cruise.
We just got off the Elation last week due to the great prices and to see Stu again, and we were not disappointed.
So, to us, a CD can greatly add to the experience of the cruise, and at the worst, not be an issue.
Looking at the CD schedule, I gues we need to book a cruise on the Spirit if we want to get our Stu fix!
Thanks for the blogs
Jeff and Sherrie Norris
Hi John.
I just wanted to take a minute to answer your question about choosing a cruise based on the Cruise Director. As you may recall, back in May, Kirk and Jaime from the Carnival Pride sent you a letter about a little girl that “adopted “them. That little girl is my daughter. After having a negative experience on the Miracle, we decided to give Carnival another try. I am so glad that we did. We now planned a cruise out of Baltimore for May 23 2010 with the hope that Kirk and Jaime will be on it. We also are taking my mom this year because she is very curious to see who stole her granddaughter’s heart. As I told Kirk and Jaime in emails, we are willing change our plans to sail on the ship that they will be sailing on next year. I planned this next cruise because of them. Please keep the CD schedule posted so that if we need to change ships next year we can do that. Kirk and Jaime are the best.
Jenn
John,
Please reply!!!
Congrats on your beautiful new daughter!
I would have replied earlier to your question about if cruise directors make a big difference. But I just got off the Carnival Pride sailing on 6/6 and I’ve been trying to catch up on reading all your blog entries. A great cruise director absolutely can make a huge difference in your cruising experience.
I specifically remember sailing on the Carnival Glory in April of 2003 because you were the cruise director and Wee Jimmy or Ralph or whoever was your ACD. It was your last week as CD and you guys were hysterical. I know that my group of 10 people laughed whenever we saw you guys, whether during the morning show, on stage or just about the ship. That being said, I am sorry to say you two weren’t the funniest I’ve seen together.
That would go to CD Kirk and his wonderful ACD Jaime who were on the Pride last week. They were a total trip, and you never knew when one would be playing tricks on the other. The two of them were awesome together, but i know Jaime said that she was excited to be working with you again soon.
The other thing that was really funny was that the comedian Lewis Nixon was on the Pride last week. For some reason his Top Ten list was oddly similar to yours. I really don’t know why a comedian feels the need to steal a CD’s material. Do you?
By the way, Lewis says “Catch the Pigeon.”
Thanks,
Adam in Baltimore
There are many controversies about best job on earth. Once I found a webpage about a pole about best jobs. Top job wishes were porn photographer, President of United States, playboy etc. I wanted to become Senator or principal girls college. Girls being easy to handle, not for any other purpose.
John,
Just a quick note to lett you know my wife and I will be returning to Carnival after a brief absence. My first cruise was with Simon Pendergast on the Fascination…and we had the privilege of you on the Triumph…that was when your pants fell down on stage because you were laughing so hard…does that still happen?? Anyway, the real reason for this note is to let you know that carnival is what keeps me going we are booked on the Dream for April 24, 2010 a rather significant day for me it will be the 1 year anniversary of my heart transplant (feeling great) looks like we will just miss you but i know your influence will still be on the Dream and I am so looking forward to that walk onto deck 3 and looking up and getting that little kid feeling again and the start of the 7 day smile…thank you and the rest of Carnival for making it my sanctuary and looking for to getting to platinum soon 3 to go..beautiful faqmily John and bet wishes
Gary
John, please respond……
Hello from Boston! This past Jan we enjoyed hitting our platinum membership on the beatuiful Splendor with Goose. He was very nice with lots of energy but seldom saw him except for the shows (which are always incredible!) I feel bad saying that because from what you’ve told us, their responsibilities have grown considerably over the years but it sure would be nice to have them more visable. Not to make everyone else jealous but out of our past 10 cruises, YOU, my friend, have been our CD on all but 3. Talk about lucky odds for us. AND to top it off…….we are booked on the Dream Feb 6th and guess who will be the CD! Yep, YOU!!!! The best part is we are going with our family this time, some of who have not cruised before and are sick of listening to me rave about you…now they will get to see first hand why I go on and on. To be more specific in answering your questions about whether a CD is the deciding factor on booking, I want to say YES but the #1 priority would be the ship itself. We usually try to book the new ships when they first come out. The ship is EVERYTHING to us. I could care less about the islands, it’s all about the ship. The CD would be #2 on our priority list. Obviously pricing plays a role but with the “early saver” opportunities, Carnival has made it that much easier in deciding to take a cruise vacation or go a different route. John, you light up our days with this blog and make our cruises so much more enjoyable with your warped sense of humor…don’t ever lose that. Carnival Big Brothers……..if you are reading…….please don’t ever let this man get away!!! He is a gem that can never be replaced. Thank you John for all the time you put into this even though it takes time away from your girls. (I have Kye’s picture as my screen saver). Our best to Heidi and we’ll see you in Feb. I promise to stop you to introduce myself on the Dream.
Patti
Dear John:
In reference to Cruisin’ Librarian about sailing from New York: my first 15 ventures into cruising was from the Port of New York. I have fond memories then (before 9/11) of all the Bon Voyage parties and the wonderful ‘known’ entertainers that we had.
I can’t fully explain why the seas are roughest going by Cape Hateras and the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ but the waves were quite high – the ropes were strung out in the hallways and ‘barf bags’ were conveniently located. Fortunately they came out with those wonderful wrist bands to prevent seasickness. There was a kind waiter who directed me to salt a piece of lemon with a Lot of salt and then suck it. Now I have to stress that it required a LOT of salt. My stomach closed up so completely that nothing was going to escape. I am pleased to say that I escaped any problems. Of course, after one becomes ill, the wonderful medical staff can render a shot to end your woes. I have to say that nothing – NOTHING – will ever keep me from cruising, especially with John.