Peter Shanks, Carnival UK’s Chief Commercial thingy, is a brilliant public speaker. He has command of the English language and has the stage presence of a naked George Clooney. ………… His forum on the future of cruising yesterday was superb which really pissed me off because……….I want his job.
The day I spent at the UK Cruise Convention had some excellent speakers and one or two who had no more right to be on stage than Madonna ever did singing “Like a Virgin.”
It’s not easy ………I know this from personal experience. Take an invitation to speak I remember the first time I was a cruise director and had to give my inaugural travel talk about Nassau. I worried for days before about whether I should prepare notes and risk sounding robotic or ad lib it and risk drying up, and as the day approached I experienced all sorts of psychosomatic thingy symptoms……..a tickly cough, night sweats, chronic shits…….. at the thought of standing up and speaking into a silent, expectant room all.
Luckily I seemed to do OK and now it doesn’t faze me………I know that sounds flippant …….. but it is the truth. However, if I had been crap and the resulting boos from the passengers showed that I should have stayed as a bar waiter I would never have gone on stage again. I am sure one or two of the people who spoke yesterday must know they were about as interesting as watching a documentary about the mating cycle of the Mongolian Bog Pig ……..but maybe they didn’t.
As I introduced each guest speaker I did so with enthusiasm and with a dribble of humor and the audience of 500 plus agents and cruise professionals certainly seemed to laugh but two hours into the five-hour marathon I could have resurrected Frank Sinatra from the grave and had him do a pole dance while singing The Lady Is A Tramp…………but nobody would have cared.
This was because in the middle we had two speakers whose content on…….well….I can’t really say was so boring and spoken in such monotone voices that the people who hadn’t already buggered off were fast asleep. I admit, it is difficult to make internet marketing sexy but bloody hell…….try having some fun………smile……..look up at the audience…….and for the love of God don’t drink out of a water bottle after every paragraph.
Then just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse……..I had to introduce a motivational speaker. I have to admit that I have never bought into all this stuff but I know there is a mini-boom in demand for motivational speakers. Now the workforce turns up its nose at anybody who has not climbed Everest, won Olympic medals or at least written a book called Favorite Recipes of the Truly Successful.
I knew we were in trouble when she asked all of us to stand up. Now considering we had just spent the last 40 minutes listening about River Cruising………….”You will glide down the river in a boat…….looking at the beautiful scenery as the water gently laps against the ship, etc. etc. ” and most of us were in a coma………standing up was not easy. However, that was easy compared with the next task Miss Motivator had in store for us. We were told all to stand up and put our hands in the air and “shake out all the bad stuff “…………now the main problem with this was that 500 people had been in a large tent with no air-conditioning for three hours and when we all put our hands in the air……..the tent instantly became Paris……………not pleasant.
I know she meant well but all that mumbo jumbo “smile and you will win”………..”life is good” bollocks just wasn’t appropriate and the only thing she motivated me to do was slap a large piece of gaffer tape over her mouth.
However, there were as I said some excellent speakers and ones who had done their homework and knew that the travel agents wanted to know how they could sell more cruises and thus make more money. They wanted to know what the future looked like and they wanted to know what ships were offering what and where………………..not rocket science really.
All the cruise lines were represented — Carnival, Holland America, whose Executive Vice President Rick Meadows also spoke and spoke really well ……………..which pissed me off because I want his job. Also represented were PRINCESS, CUNARD, P&O, AIDA, msc, rci, ncl, and brand x (and as I said the river boat cruise. The funny thing was watching all pretending to like each other, shaking hands, congratulating each other on their product, exchanging business cards and smiles and walking away …….each thinking………….you suck, we are the best.
However, we did all unite at one point. I introduced a pleasant chap from Disney Cruise Line who spoke quite well and we were all listening to what he had to say. However, this all stopped when he introduced the captain of the Disney Ship……..yep…….Captain Micky and down the aisle to the tune of It’s a Small World danced a full-size Mickey Mouse complete with a captain’s uniform………there is never an AK47 around when you need one.
The convention was a huge success and continues today. It shows that cruising really is despite the worries of the world continuing to provide the most affordable vacations there are and it was an honor to host the day…………..I hope I didn’t say anything I wasn’t supposed to …….. who am |I kidding ………of course I did………especially the bit where I said “Did you enjoy your lunch on board the Prisendam?”………….”Yes,” roared the agents…………….”I enjoyed it” I said …… “Especially since we didn’t have to pay extra for the steak.”…………oops!
I loved the Prinsendam. She holds 700 passengers and feels like a small five-star hotel and oozes charm and friendliness. Rick Meadows and his staff have introduced some wonderful new positions on board which I absolutely love.
The Party Planner – This is a lady who among other things holds functions on board where she will show you how to hold a successful dinner party or event at home. This I am told has proven to be very, very popular.
When I met the Party Planner on the Prinsendam she was working alongside the head chef who was in the specially designed theatre holding their Culinary Arts class. These are available fleetwide on Holland America vessels and as passengers sit in cinema-style seating they are treated to cooking demos not only given by the ship’s head chef but by special guest chefs, as well. They also hold wine-tasting classes there as well and I think this is a wonderful activity which considering they have designated a specific lounge for this shows just how popular it has been received by the passengers.
Rick has also included a book club planner, a dance director and my favorite of the new positions ………a “texpert” who teaches daily classes on all things computer…………what a brilliant idea. They also have a Digital Seas staff member who teaches the art of digital photography and that these days is invaluable…………and leads me on to something quite appropriate.
I just bought a new digital camera because Heidi wants to keep our one here so she can take 3 million photos of Kye every day.
I should have charged Carnival for it as apart from taking photos of my own penis (even though I am on a diet it’s the only way I can still see if it’s OK) all the photos I take are from Carnival. However, I paid for my new Sony myself and decided to use it for the first time at the Cruise Convention.
In days gone by, our SLR cameras were the size of a 700-page novel, but we’d carry them around with an assortment of spare lenses and flash guns and we’d move people out of the sun and make everyone smile and we’d take the film to the developers and we’d pay a bit extra for a fast turnaround because we were desperate to see how everything had turned out. And then we’d leaf through the finished shots in 10 seconds, put them in a drawer and never ever look at them again. …………but we were happy.
This morning I decided to transfer all the pictures of the convention and my penis onto my computer. This is easy enough if you have about four spare weeks, the temper of someone who’s actually dead and a master’s degree in engineering.
So when the computer detects that it’s been presented with some pictures it stores them in the electronic equivalent of a dusty box, in the cellar, behind the moonshine. Finding them again is a nightmare.
But find them you do and then what? Do you delete the ones that have no meaning or which are out of focus? No. You either leave them all where they are, in which case they will be lost for all of time when your hard drive crashes. Which, one day, I assure you it will. That, of course, is not as disastrous as losing a photograph album because you will also have put them on Cruise Critic in the mistaken belief that the rest of the world will somehow be interested in what you did on vacation. Most people would rather look at someone’s hemorrhoids than their vacation pics.
Anyway I was doing just that this morning and was having little play around with the computer’s Paint Shop thingy program. I was trying to put everything the right way up and maybe get rid of Peter Shank’s red eye. But pretty soon I was giving him a massive nose and Obama sized ears. …..and when I tried to delete the changes by pressing the ……….ummmm………delete button ……….most of my photos buggered off and although I have looked in every file and the trash can thingy……..I haven’t a bloody clue where they are. So, I think I need to take a Holland America cruise and get some digital lessons,
So, here are a few photos that remained and a brief description of what you are looking at.
Dancing with the stars professionals with Princess Sr. Cruise Director James Lay
The Party Planner and Chef teach the guests to make crab cakes
Culinary Masterpiece Theatre
Internet Cafe and Library
Great idea. Crosswords on the table top, changed every day
Prinsendam cocktail bar
The Pinnacle restaurant on the beautiful Prinsendam
John and Holland America champion blogger, Captain Albert
The travel agents dance
Dancing with the Stars professionals with John
Princess Cruises Dancing with the Stars was a huge success even though as a judge I was terrible. I just made silly jokes and gave everyone a ten……..even though one lady jerked around the dance floor as though she had stuck her finger in the light socket and then shoved a cattle prod up her bottom……..I gave her a ten for effort though…………bless her. I got to share the stage with Princess Cruises’ Senior CD James Lay whose professionalism shone through ………..shame that because I wanted his job……….he’s on the Ruby Princess sailing in the Med.
Congratulations to Seabourn who this morning at 10:30 am Italian time took delivery of the most luxurious cruise vessel……in the world………..the Seabourn Odyssey from Italian shipbuilder T. Mariotti.
She will begin her inaugural season soon sailing from Venice and I am hoping that someone at Seabourn will be sending me some photos for all of us to enjoy.
The Seabourn Odyssey is another success for Micky Arison who as he did with Cunard has rejuvenated the Seabourn fleet with this ship and another one to come soon………shame that Mr. Arison is so good at what he does…………I wanted his job.
Well, as you can see I have rattled this blog of in record time today and you will note that there is no Q&A session. Time does not allow as I have to pack and do a whole host of things before American Airlines flight 57 takes me to Miami tomorrow morning. Then on Saturday I have to journey from my Motel 6 to the Carnival Freedom where I will post my first blog on Sunday once I am settled.
I will write a raspberry blog or two tomorrow and also at 5 pm on Friday (EST) please join me here on the blog for another Carnival Dream special.
I hope you enjoyed the interview with Boris and if you didn’t get chance to read it please do so because I know you will find it to be excellent. Well tomorrow Stephanie Leavitt will be posting an interview I did with your Carnival Dream’s hotel director and you must read what he has to say about his job and what’s happening right now over there in Monfalcone where the ship is nearly complete…………..don’t miss it.
I want to finish today by saying thank you to all of you. I arrived back home on March 31 and have been here nearly three months. Many of my blogs have been as much about life as about the cruise industry yet the readership figures have remained very strong with between 150,000 – 180,000 hits each month. I know the blog is at is strongest when I am on board or am visiting other ships, so the fact that you have all kept reading despite me at times writing utter nonsense is extraordinary.
It’s been a wonderful three months though and of course the highlight was the arrival of our beautiful princess…….Kye. It would be easy for me to gloss over how hard it will be to leave her and Heidi tomorrow and even now as I type these words I find my eyes filling with tears.
This will be the only time I will mention this. I won’t say this again on subsequent blogs because …….well…….just because. But I will miss them more than words can ever describe. Many people said she would change my life….and the many were right…….because she has and everything I do from now on……..every dollar I earn is for Kye and her future………..and a little bit for my Aston Martin fund.
So, I will see you in Miami and then onboard the Carnival Freedom as we cruise the Caribbean together …….I wonder what will happen? I hope you will join me to find out.
Goodnight……….and thank you.
John
Filed under: Caribbean, Destinations, Tales from the Ship, Travel | Tagged: Carnival Dream, cruise director, Dancing with the Stars, James Lay, Princess
Hey there!
Your capacity to write so thoroughly on a daily basis astounds me! Perused your blog for today, because you reeled me in with the whole naked George Clooney thing. Ha! Although the times I’ve had extra money laying around I’ve run off to another part of the planet, the desire to cruise has eluded me thus far. You are a brilliant representative of your company; a landlubber and great admirer of small sea-worth vessels has been intrigued a tiny bit.
Have a Blast writing, Being, and Sailing Away!
Hi John!
I am so excited that you are coming back across the pond just in time for the early summer season. I look forward to following along as you get ready to cruise out of Florida again.
What a great story about your time at the convention yesterday. I probably would have gone crazy if that had brought out Mickey Mouse as well, but I guess that is out of your control.
It is safe to say that the sector is still in high demand.
Good luck and safe travels!
Hi to Heidi/Kye!
Take care…
David
JOHN
Have a good flight|||
I am jealous you got to meet Captain Mickey. He has the happiest ship afloat.
Have a safe trip, John!
John,
Great blog as usual! You are so funny, wanting other’s jobs, but what would we all do without you here at Carnival for all of us? We live for your written word, and for the occaisional video blogs, where we can hear your voice and go back in our minds to the wonderful times many of us have had with you on different cruises. You belong with Carnival, and only Carnival. Hopefully next year they will return to Europe so that you can be closer to your two girls.
Your thoughts about leaving Heidi and Kye are justified. . .but remember, they will miss you as much as you miss them! It is NEVER easy to say goodbye to those you love and rely on! And, if and when you do cry when leaving, remember, it is a sign of a true man when you can openly express whether with words or gestures (and crying is a gesture), how you feel.
Safe travels to you, but I really hope you are not going to be on Easy Jet! Looking forward to raspberry blogs from the flight though, as you always seem to encounter the oddest folks while flying!
Sheryl
Hi John,
Classic blog yet again, you’re great. Love the bit about the photo’s especially. I am still waiting for the photofairy to come print them all out, organize them, and leave me with a tangible album.
Little suggestion to make your flight more entertaining…use the video feature on your new camera to record some notable experiences…makes for a good laugh later on.
Safe Travels,
Sarah
Oh John, every word I read that you have written today says what your heart is feeling–that you will be so sad without Kye and Heidi. It makes me sad too for you….maybe you & the powers that be at Carnival can work it out to get you back in the Med and close to your girls very soon. Have a wonderful weekend together. BTW, her picture from yesterday was soooooo cute.
John, my friend, never apologize for treating us like family. I can’t speak for everyone but I know that I enjoy the daily dose of humor and the occasional bit of wisdom…
The Prinsendam is amazing! Should I ever win the lotto I’ll be booking passage!! Thanks for the glimpses.
Get your case packed, charge up the battery on your raspberry and laptop dancer thingy and buckle up, buttercup! It’s gonna be a great ride!!
Ciao!!!
Host Mach
john please don’t post the photos of your penis. okay? thanks.
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
I am sure you will miss your girls more than you can possibly know, they are in your heart and there they will ever remain. I also know that the odds of you having an uneventful trip over the pond are slim to none
. But I do know that once you get on board the Freedom; you are going to be some what happy. I do hope you can enjoy this time on the ship, it truly is where you shine. I look forward to your tales of the sea. As you always say, “you can not make this stuff up”.
Have a safe trip John. Keep smiling, you truly are one of the good guys.
My best to Heidi and Kye.
Re: the DRESS Code
You, the cruise line, list what our responsibilities are on board. You tell us what you expect us to wear. Most do. We adhear. Others don’t, yet are allowed. Try explaining that to a child.
A local beach recently went clothing optional. Most still wear suits, but some are NEKED. Those that do wear suits will eventually emmigrate elsewhere. In time, the clothing optional beach becomes a nude beach.
I vote/plead the return of monitoring to keep the slobs out.
OR, get rid of the code, and let anything happen. I will then make my alternative sailing arrangements.
Even on land, dining and dress are important.
John, you look terrific! It’s obvious that you have lost a lot of weight….keep up the good work. I’ve lost 32 lbs. since Jan 2008 with another 10-15 to go……I’m rooting for ya!
Cindy
John:
I am making sure that DJ does not read this Blog.
He and Mickey Mouse do not get along.
(Reader’s Digest Condensed Version)…. Mickey Mouse is where DJ’s panic attack around Mascots comes from.
When DJ was just 16 months old, (complete with the braces on his little legs) … we were teaching him to walk at physical therapy sessions. Each session was one hour of pure torture (complete with screaming at the top of his lungs) … twice a week. It was so heart wrenching that David could not even attend a full session.
Mind you, Kim (DJ’s therapist) was not hurting him. The minute he saw her….DJ started howling.
During one of these sessions, who should arrive, but the real Mickey Mouse (with his escort). They were touring the Children’s Hospitals in the region and decided to “pop” in and surprise a couple of the kids during their sessions. Mickey Mouse popped in mid-scream….and the scream escalated to a level it did not know was humanly possible.
Kim said…don’t worry, DJ will never remember it.
WRONG….
Needless to say…we never have to worry about sailing on the Disney ships!!
Glad the day went mostly well at the convention.
Safe travels…and hugs to Kye and Heidi!!!
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
Dear John,
Be safe and have a barely bearable flight. (Being Realistic!) I know you will be missing the family and we your blogging family appreciate you being back on the stage where you belong.
James & Nancy
The Cruzin2some
My Grandmother is aboard right now!!
I will be sailing on the Freedom on July 26,09
Will you still be onboard?
John,
I’m new to your blog. I’ve been reading all about you and your new family in addition to your running around for Carnival for god knows how many years. Friends of mine will be on the Freedom this Saturday. I’m so jealous. Now that I’ve gotten to know you, I’d really like to meet you in person. I’ve told my friends to expect the best CD ever and instructed them to go to your blog so they can get a heads up. I don’t want them to frightened on the first meeting. Have a great trip over the pond. Crying is good. It shows the ones you love just how much you love them. We hope to be on the Dream in February 2010.
Hi John!
I really hope that your flight is un-eventful! You deserve a nice calm flight for once!
I love what you said about the steaks! I even told hubby about it and he was laughing…. that was the best!
I know you’re going to be sad…. just remember…. we’re all here for you!!
Safe travels!
Stef
Hi John!
Have a safe flight. I know it won’t help but remember we love you. Give Heidi a big hug and muchos besitos to the beautiful Kye.
John,
I’m new to your blogs. I found out about you on cruise critic while searching for our next cruise. I must say your blogs are quite colorful as is your verbiage. I’ve warned my friends about you as they will be on the Freedom this Saturday 6/20.
I look forward to your daily entries and reading about your beautiful family.
We’re hoping to be on the Dream next February!
Best wishes for a safe trip
John,
Your ‘utter nonsense” is better than most peoples eloquent verse. We enjoy your trials, tribulations, happy days & sad days. We take the good with the bad, all with your wonderful sense of humor and outlook on life.
Don’t change and keep on blogging!
All the best to John’s girls (sounds like a vaudeville act) and to you as you climb back into the saddle.
Cheers!
Derek
Hi John,
Hope your flight is a safe and uneventful one. I’ve enjoyed hearing your stories from home, but can’t wait to hear about the day to day happenings on the Carnival Freedom. Whether you are on a ship or at home with Heidi & Kye, your humor is the best.
On the subject of dress code, there really is none and there shouldn’t be.
It’s the Funship, not the military. Carnival is not my mother and neither are other passengers (except for one, occasionally). Obviously your SOs dress code supersedes Carnival’s suggested one, just as it does at any land based activity.
On hair, armpit or otherwise. That is not a dress issue. They could simply be French in a designer gown. The same goes for tattoos, piercings (aren’t standard earrings one of those?), and more.
Smell is another non-issue. Yes, BO is bad (see above), but so is stinky perfume and for that matter, the stench of cigarette smoke that seems to permeate from every pore of the smoker next to you, even when they aren’t smoking.
Sidebar(e): Perfume/Cologne should come with a warning similar to: “Just because you can’t smell our product doesn’t mean the noseless guy/gal 3 zipcodes away can’t. You don’t have to keep re-applying”
People stuffed into “appropriate” clothes way too small for them, looking every bit like an overstuffed sausage or a penguin with serious gas issues.
No, clothing has no effect on the dining experience, assuming, of course, they are wearing some and the person next to you doesn’t explode.
The suggested (not really required, and not really a code) dress is appropriate, given the cruising mass market audience. It does need to evolve (critics would say devolve) to reflect whatever current mass market trends are.
I know there are some who want the complete illusion (see Uncle Bob’s book) , but that number is decreasing and going the way of the dinosaur. Perhaps an alternative dining option for them is what is needed. Obviously, there may need to be an upcharge so the aristocrass feel they are getting their money’s worth.
Have a Nice Day!
Have a good flight John.
Hugs,
Sallie
Hi John!
At this point I’m sure you are somewhere over the Atlantic, winging your way back to the US. I know how hard it was to leave your girls, but I wanted to remind you of a terrific website where your girls can see the Freedom when she’s in Ft. Lauderdale. Check out http://www.inletcam.com and it will give a great view of the port and they can see the Freedom as she sails by. You don’t have to register to watch the cam, but we would love to see any of your family on the chat feature. We’re a fun bunch on there and all love cruising! You can bet we will all be waving at you as you sail by tomorrow..and honking horns! Enjoy your time on board, and as always, our very best to the three of you.
John–As always, your blog is just classic John. Just wanted to say–if you did NOT miss Heidi and Kye while you were away, there would be something wrong with you. Be glad she is growing up in the age of digital cameras and the internet where you can speak with them every day and have pictures and videos sent to you instantaneously. Of course, no one has come up with a way to hug and kiss them from far–give it another 10 years or so! I’m sure you’ll be with them as much as you can.
John, my friend, never apologize as you have told me in the past especially about you beautiful wife and child. They are your life as I’ve experienced in the past with my family and still do. A child does change you for the good and it will be difficult living the two of them but whatever you do from now on, remember it will be for them. Each day that you will be in the Caribbean only gets you back closer to the both of them. The life that you’ve had will only get better now that Kye is in your life. Have a great flight and remember to bring with you lots of photos of Kye and Heidi. Ciao my friend.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Thank you for coming back! I can imagine how difficult it is for you to leave your family.
I wish you were coming to the Galveston area.
elizabeth
Obviously the dress code has evolved since traveling by passenger ships started more than one century ago.
When I was a child we had clothing that was designated for church, other clothing for school, and then we had play clothes. Once they started allowing girls to wear pants, and later jeans to school, everything started changing in a big hurry.
When I began working I bought suits (with skirts). Once I even worked at a CPA firm that did not allow women to wear anything but dresses or skirts. Then businesses started allowing “dress down Fridays” and you began seeing the dress code relax even more. What started as “business casual” has evolved into wearing jeans, and then wearing the same thing that you would if you were home cleaning out your garage.
I personally felt more of a sense of pride or respect for going to work, my co-workers, clients and the workplace itself when I dressed up a little more (designated work attire) rather than wear jeans and clothing that is no different than something I would wear on the weekends, when all the good stuff is in the washing machine and I’m on my way outside to work in the garden or clean out my garage.
I remember the ships as being a high class, upscale experience, and dressing for dinner was part of that experience. Having that experience evolve into “business casual” (or resort casual), was one thing, but when you find people dressing no differently in the formal dining room than they would if they were in their home walking into their own kitchen at any hour of the day or night, that downgrades the experience and shows a lack of respect for their surroundings, their shipmates and themselves.
I believe it also disrespects the crew who have to wear certain uniforms depending on which area of the ship they are in and what kind of tone they are trying to set for that particular day or night. Yes, the passengers pay a lot of money for their vacation experience, but there are other dining alternatives (in-cabin room service, 24-hour buffet, etc.) where people who choose not to follow the dress code can still eat a wonderful meal. There are dress codes in restaurants on land. Even fast food places have dress codes (“no shirt, no shoes, no service”), so shipboard dress code guidelines should be respected by the people who have chosen to take a cruise for their vacation. When they don’t, we can choose to ignore them and still have a good time, because after all, it’s our vacation too!
Laurie F.
Hi John,
I hope you’re ready! There will be 111 of us on the August 1st sailing and 113 on the August 9th sailing of the Freedom. I hear you are the best of the best so I thought I’d warn ya!
WOW, I just had to tell you John, you look great! You have lost a lot of weight! Job well done! Linda
Being a people watcher, I appreciate all the colorful outfits on display in the dining room. I try to dress appropriately. But if others care so little for their appearance, they should be aware that I am enjoying a laugh at their expense! No one is going to spoil my enjoyment of the great Carnival food and service.
I’m waiting with anticipation for the first Kye Friday!
Joyce
John:
Just read a review on Cruisemates about a Freedom cruise last month.
A couple showed up on the second Elegant night in their cabin bathrobes.
Yes, they were seated and did dine in this attire.
Again…it is not about clothing…. it is about respect (or the obvious lack there of that some people have). Nothing like a bathrobe to shout to the world…. “I don’t know any better.”
But they pulled this stunt (and you can’t call it anything else) simply because they knew they could get away with it.
Again, some people want to make Carnival cheap.
And others are perfectly willing to allow it to happen. Perhaps they are more comfortable in a “cheap” situation….while others of us prefer an inexpensive one. If someone wants cheap…let them go sleep in a 100 sq ft box.
Perhaps they are secret agents for pleasechargemeformysteakofthe seas, so that the Royal Pains can flaunt the “lack of class” these kinds of stunts shout. Shame on the Maitre D that allowed it.
Linda (Mom of DJ)
Hi John,
Who are you kidding? Of course you’re going to mention that you miss Heidi and Kye, again, and again, and again….. But of course you will miss them and you should not hide that fact. We all love you and whatever you write. There is no other blog thingy out there but yours.
Almost time to leave here. Have a safe trip, enjoy the weekend, and welcome back to the Freedom.
Hugs,
Carol
TO LINDA (MOM OF SUPER-SPECIAL PLATINUM D.J.)
Linda, I’ve been meaning to say this for some time – you are one special lady. You and your whole family for raising such a special person.
I probably could fill up a whole page, but can’t right now, so take care of yourself and all your loved ones,
Carol
Hope you have a murphy free flight!
James
John,
I know it will be difficult to leave your girls, all your friends are looking forward to your return.
We have traveled numerous times with you on various ships, most recently the Freedom and Splendor. My brother will be cruising on the Freedom next week (6/27) with five of his teenaged grandchildren (Patty & I skipped this trip for obvious reasons) and we told him what a great CD you were. Hopefully he will track you down, especially to get your advise where to hide on the ship!
Safe travels. Hopefully Patty & I will see you on the Dream. We are set to sail on December 3rd! Can’t wait.
John
Hi John,
I really enjoyed the cruise conference, was my first time, you really got the crowd going! You made it for me.. just got into the cruise business 1 weeks ago as a online agent with socruise.com Your right the bird from yahoo who was meant to be a online expert would have been out of touch if she had presented 5yrs ago, and we wonder why they have 0.002% market share… Did not really learn much from the event, but had a really good time (enjoyed the free food and drink…, just highlighted my views that the cruise market needs to change, you have 5 star cruise brands will +£500m ships, trusting there brilliant brands with micky mouse travel agents, ran by 18yr teenagers on £4 per hr, doesn’t work, they just discount, and no body wins, not even the customer as there’s no follow up service. Travel agents need to start adding some value.
Looking forward to next year.
Cheers T
I have uploaded loads of pictures from the event on the photo section on socruise.
Hey Phoenix check your spelling NEKED ha! ha! ha! ha! haa! he! he!
There’s nothing uglier than tan lines. (Unwanted hair can be efficiently dealt with. Overweight can be efficiently dealt with. Manners a for free.) Why would you ruin your looks? Why not look your best – your very best?!
Cool article you got here. I’d like to read a bit more about this theme.