Thursday, November 5th, 2009...3:49 pm
An Englishman In New York
So, like most of this city I was watching the baseball World Series between the two countries of Philadelphia and New York. Actually, I think I have actually been watching the world spitting championships.
Bloody hell, can these people spit. The rule seems to be that everybody has to be chewing something, at all times — gum, tobacco, fingernails, toenails, boogers and a fan or two. And not in regular style quantities, either but in dinosaur portions. There was a guy out there last night who apparently has the rather unfortunate name of Mr. A. Rod who had a wad of gum in his cheek the size of a puppy. Actually, it might even have been a puppy. And what goes in invariably comes out. Then they cut to the manager just as he unleashed a stream of tobacco juice the width of Hudson. Then just as I was recovering from this charming sight the camera a player called Derek Cheater who was shelling peanuts with his teeth and lips and regurgitating the shrapnel like some kind of demented human beaver.
And of course………there was much rejoicing in the street because New York won and just as Philadelphia had done last year the rejoicing in the streets was done right outside my hotel …….. bugger.
Strange though isn’t it. Last year we were filming the Piñata commercial and the parade meant we had to postpone our event. This year……..same thing ……and while we won’t have to postpone our Carnival event it may be slightly overshadowed by some men who have hit balls with a stick.
Oh one more sporting mention today…………………..because I am flabbergasted ………. it was a wig…………….a wig!
Andre Agassi published an autobiography confessing that he took illegal drugs during his career; he must have imagined that this would provide the most talked about detail in the book. Was it bollocks?
The public …………or is it just me…………is more fascinated by the revelation that the now bald tennis ace wore a wig. The lion like mane that won him loads of tournaments, buckets full of money and unlimited rumpy pumpy was a wig and the fact that he wore it without anyone noticing is surely one of the most amazing sporting miracles the world has ever seen. I wonder if the Williams sisters’ forthcoming book will reveal they wear jockstraps….and it will be revealed that Martina Navratilova is actually a welder from the Bronx…….. Whose real name is Vinny?
Time for today’s questions……………………away we go.
Dee Asked:
Please reply!Would it be possible for you to bring pictures of Kye to the 11/15 bloggers cocktail party for all of us to see?
John Says:
Hello DeeI am a proud new Dad and have photos of Kye with me 24 hours a day. They are the first thing I look at when I wake up and the last thing I look at before I go to bed……………well…………..except my photo of Megan Fox’s bottom.
I will be honored to show them to you.
Best wishes
JohnScotty Asked:
Hi John, (please reply)My wife and I have just booked out first cruise on the Carnival Dream for Jan 30/10, something we are really looking forward to.
We have timed this trip with my wife’s 30th birthday, any specific recommendations for something special?
Thanks…John Says:
Hello ScottyCongratulations on booking your Carnival Dream for your wife’s birthday. There is so much to see and so much to do onboard. The shows are amazing and the new Lanai, Carnival Water Works brilliant four slides, the steakhouse and all the new and exciting facilities blended with all the usual Carnival brand of fun make this ship………..incomparable.
Make sure you don’t miss a thing and as I will be your Cruise Director I am sure if you remind me I can find a little birthday gift for your wife.
Best wishes to you both
JohnJM Asked:
Dear John Heald, (Please respond.)I will be on the 02/14/10 sailing of the Carnival Glory in room #7440. I need a (cold) refrigerator in my room for some disability-required items. I know the room comes equipped with a mini-bar, but those are usually not cold enough (I need regular refrigerator temperature). My required liquid needs to be refrigerator-cold and my service dog’s canned foods (her breakfast) need to be kept from going bad for two to four days each, depending on how I mix them together. (Once opened, they need to be refrigerated because they are meat/fish along with vegetables, vitamins, and other healthy pieces.)
My travel agent has spoken with Carnival a couple times about this, but they have so far refused to put a refrigerator in my room, stating that I can either store items in the mini-bar (which the Carnival Web site even says is not very cold) or walk halfway across the ship (and back) first thing in the morning (twice) each day to store items in the purser’s refrigerator. They do not seem to understand that with my mobility and stamina disabilities, this is burdensome, if not sometimes near impossible, (and the pain issues I have don’t help, either). I have been on a cruise before on a different cruise line, so I know what it is like trying to get around a cruise ship, trying to wake up and get out of bed after a day or two onshore (remembering a particular day I could not get up until at least noontime or early afternoon), and the other challenges I face. On that cruise, the cruise line just had me fill out a form pre-cruise to get a mini-refrigerator put in my room (in addition to the built-in mini-bar that wasn’t cold enough). I have already filled out disability forms for Carnival and requested a refrigerator on the applicable one to no avail.
Could you be so kind as to see about this issue so that I will be able to go on this cruise? I know Carnival has mini-refrigerators for medical use because I have done some Internet searching and found people who have gotten them put in their cabins for their medical items. If you could please have Carnival add to my reservation that I need a mini-refrigerator for medical use in my cabin, that would be so helpful and I would be very grateful.
Please let me know if you need any more information (I don’t want to give too much out on a very public Web site) or if there is anything I can do for you in return. Thank you for your help!
Sincerely,
“JM”John Says:
Hello JMI don’t want you to worry although that is probably easier for me to write than for you to do …… but you really mustn’t. I know exactly what your concerns are and I can tell you that we will take care of this for you. Our mini bars are actually refrigerators and the temperature can be adjusted. I know this because I had a service dog with similar requirements sail on the Carnival Freedom recently and the owner had similar concerns.
So, what I need you to do is kindly remind me 3 weeks before you sail and I will make sure that the refrigerator (mini bar) in your stateroom is as you require it to be. So, as I said please don’t worry. Relax, give your dog a pat and a Scooby snack and I will make sure you both have a wonderful cruise.
Don’t forget to write
Best wishes
JohnSteve Owen Asked:
Dear “1 of 343 Stephanie’s”This is kind of embarrassing. A couple of weeks ago I sent my first “comment” to John about his always delightful blog AND the Blogger’s Cruise on DREAM 12/03/09, HOWEVER, I forgot to put “please reply”.
My Sis and I booked before they had 12/03/09 designated as an official Blogger’s Cruise. Is there still a chance to be included in the group? When I called Carnival they transferred me around a little and it didn’t seem anyone could help me with getting the “PBL” code on our bookings.
If you can still help us that would be great.
John Says:
Hello Steve ONo worries Steve. I just checked with one of the 343 Stephanies and I can confirm that you have been added to the Bloggers list. See you real soon…………..bugger………….that was far too Disney ………see you real soon?…………….what am I saying……………oh bugger …………..now I can’t help myself………….M I C………K E Y……….O U S O B……..bugger ………spelt that wrong as well.
Best wishes
JohnErnie Asked:
Please reply:I like the idea of having the mini bar left empty. I am a diabetic and have to move things around or just remove them to be able to keep my insulin refrigerated. I am sure others have the same problem. On our last cruise our steward had to lock the fridge the night before disembarking and placed my insulin in the ice bucket, a great idea, but as they were “pens” in cardboard, by next morning the containers were soaked. Not his fault, as he did what he could. I thanked him for his thoughtfulness.
Looking forward to the 9 day Bloggers Cruise on our Carnival Dream.
John Says:
Hello ErnieWhile most guests prefer to have the mini bar stocked I know that there are those who like yourself need them for medication. There are three ways to make sure this happens. You can call our special needs desk, you can ask me to assist in advance via the blog thingy or you can simply ask your stateroom Steward to do this for you. The last night’s incident you described should not happen if we do one of these things and I apologize that it was done this way. So, I am here to help and if anyone needs this done please let me know.
Best wishes from a fellow diabetic
JohnPaula Hayes Asked:
Please replyI will be going on the Carnival Sensation with my family and have booked 3 Suites for Thanksgiving, 11/26/2009. We decided to take this cruise then because my mother-in-law has never been on a cruise and her husband passed away May of this year and we wanted to do something different because this will be the first holiday without him. Since we booked this cruise, our financial situation has dramatically changed and we will not be able to do any excursions or really have enough money to spend much extra on this cruise. I was wondering if Carnival had any policies about awarding on board credits for it passengers even when there are no promotions or specials advertised. I would appreciate anything that Carnival can do to help (even it is just $50 per stateroom). Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Paula HayesJohn Says:
Hello PaulaI was so sorry to hear of the passing of your father in law and that your financial situation has changed since booking your Carnival Sensation cruise. I have sent your e mail to my friends in Miami and they will review your request and let you know. Remember, all the food, activities and entertainment are all included so I promise you will have a brilliant time.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write
Best wishes to you all
JohnAngela Guptill Asked:
Please reply:-)Hi John! We’re on the Dream Feb.13/10 and want to know if we too can request that the mini bar be emptied and I can put my bottled water in instead. Also, who will be our CD? Thanks oodles, Angela Guptill from the Great White North, eh?
Hello Angela
While I can authorize the emptying of the mini bars for medical reasons I am sorry to say that once I open the door for guests to have theirs emptied to allow beverages purchased ashore to be put there………..I will be flooded with requests to do so, I am sure you understand. However, the good news…………….I hope………………..is that I will be your CD and I look forward to welcoming my friends from the great white north to the wonderfully warm Caribbean.
See you soon
Best wishes
JohnKen Stevenson Asked:
John – Reply if you likeNext Sunday when you’re in Tampa ready to head out for lunch grab a taxi to the Columbia Restaurant. It’s just a few blocks from the ship, it’s a Tampa landmark and worth a look even if you’re not over the moon about Cuban cuisine. Ask for the Patio room.
Will you be on board the Legend cruise January 10, 2010?
Ken StevensonJohn Says:
Hello KenI am so sorry I saw this late and of course by now you will know I am off the Carnival Legend and back on dry land and won’t be going back to Tampa for some time. It would have been so nice to try out your recommendation as I love Cuban food. Thanks again for thinking of me and by the way, the hospitality and facilities that cruise ship guests will find in Tampa is simply brilliant.
Best Wishes
JohnSean McGrath Asked:
John, Please Please Please reply.Hello John, Sorry to have to bother you again, you very kindly answered my Draft larger query earlier.
I’m on the Carnival Valor on the 8th and 15th of next month. Really looking forward to it now.
This is mega, mega, really important, to me at least.
Ireland, I’m Irish, are playing in the world cup qualifiers on the 14th and 18th of November, when I’m on the ship. Against…. Dum Dum Dum, the hated French, Merde and other Frenchy language word’s.
Please, Please Please tell me I will be able to watch the match in the sports bar, or anywhere on the ship for that matter, I don’t care if I have to crawl under a staircase and share it with a smelly hairy Moldavian Stocker, or something, as long as there is room for a 6pack and my new Moldavian friend doesn’t cheer the French on.
Seeing as the Italians topped the group in front of us I think the Captain should take a personal interest in this too
, only joking.
This is more important than Life and Death.
Come On Ireland!!!!!
Thanks very much John and best wishes to the family.
Sean McGrathJohn Says:
Hello SeanWell, it’s time to order a barrel of Guinness because you are going to need to drown your sorrows. Unfortunately, in the United States coverage of Rugby on TV is ……well………….bugger all. In fact, there is more coverage of ladies topless darts and underwater naked table tennis then there is rugby. So mate, it looks like you will have to rely on the internet for your coverage ……… sorry. Don’t worry though………….you will beat the French. In fact, even though the game is not for a few weeks…………I hear they have already surrendered.
Have a wonderful cruise………….come on England!
Best wishes
JohnLorraine Beggs Asked:
Hi John (please reply)Well the Carnival Dream was a truly great ship, great friendly staff, food etc, in fact everything you said it would be. You may remember you helped us with a booking problem when my father suffered a stroke and had to cancel 2 weeks before the cruise. Guess what?, my mother in law, who sailed with us, suffered a heart attack as we were sailing into Venice and required a triple bypass whilst there. We disembarked the ship on day 5 of our cruise so our Inaugural sailing was short.
I am actually writing to ask you to pass on our heartfelt thanks to Dr Caroline, David and in particular, nurse Sharon Ritchie, who spent the whole day in hospital with us and a very terrified mother in law. Their actions were quick, professional and made the outcome happier than it may otherwise have been. I think some passengers just take the medical facility for granted but having experienced this first-hand, I can only say that we should be very grateful that they are fully equipped for serious illnesses and not just for packs of ice for sprains or laxatives because someone has not eaten properly(This happened when we were there). Can you also pass on our grateful thanks to Eadie and crew in Miami who called us every 2nd day throughout just to check on progress and ensure we were coping. You can’t get better than that. We returned home 24 days after leaving Scotland and I’m pleased to say my mother in law is doing well. I’m disappointed to note that Carnival is not sailing in Europe next year but hope that 2011 might be different.
Wishing you, Heidi and Kye all the very best for the coming year and I look forward to seeing more photos of your family. Many thanks
John Says:
Hello LorraineI was so sad to read these words and let me start by saying that I hope Mum continues to recover from what must have been a terrible experience for her and you of course. I know the husband and wife team of Dr. Caroline and Dr. David very well. They are good friends and loved by the crew for the wonderful care they provide them. And of course, this goes for the guests who have to see them as well and their professional abilities as well as their genuine care for those they meet meant that they were the natural choice to deliver your Carnival Dream. I don’t know Nurse Sharon but it sounds like she was a true angel. I will make sure they and their supervisors get to see your gracious words and I am so sorry that your Carnival Dream turned into a nightmare although with somewhat of a happy ending.
The doctors and nurses on our ships are indeed unsung heroes most of the time and I thank you so much for mentioning them and the brilliant Eddie and the after care team for all they did during this awful time.
Once again, please give Mum a big hug and we all send her and you our best wishes
John
That does all for today and of course there will be more tomorrow.
You know, just going back a bit on today’s questions………and I know this is wrong…….. but ……………I am concerned now that I will get some requests to remove the mini bar stock from people who say they need it for medicine when they actually need it for a case of Budweiser they managed to get onboard. I wouldn’t have thought this if I had read some comments from some of you that people book the special needs cabins when they don’t have special needs outside of wanting a bigger cabin.
I hope this doesn’t happen and my faith in humankind still springs eternal. I must admit that the chap who wrote about his dissatisfaction that I continue to help those who ask me to here on the blog thingy. I really wanted to tell him to go put his thingy in a blender but I didn’t because that would be rude.
Well, your Carnival Dream is nearly here in New York. Her final port of call before arriving in Bermuda was Palma De Majorca in Spain and our senior photographer Radu shared these wonderful photos of his time ashore with me and I want to share his brilliant work with you.
Well, it was quite a day here in New York. I started at 7 am and finished at 5 pm so suffice to say it was quite exhausting.
New York is everything it fabled to be. It is full of extraordinary people and ones who have one volume when they talk ……………loud………..”You talkin to me loud.” There are also things you would see in New York that you would never see anywhere else. While in the city today we witnessed a man in a full panda costume who was trying to get kids to have their photos with him but the parents were never going to do this………because this was a very drunk panda. He staggered all over the place near the Bull on Wall Street, as Mr. Panda broke the golden rule of children’s characters……he shouted “Hey f#%k off, this is my patch.”…………brilliant.
Then there was the lady who came up to me and said “are you that guy from TV ?”. Yes, I said thinking this might be fun.
“I don’t like ya “she said…………….and buggered off…………..leaving everyone in hysterics.
It was, quite a day.
However, the craziest thing I saw today in a city that has its fare share of crazy involves massage. Readers of this blog will now that the last time I had a massage I farted so loudly that the therapist from the Carnival Freedom Spa had to have therapy ………..and I have and never will have had a massage again. I also know that I am in the minority as whatever the problem ……………people always say …………… a massage will help! And lately I’ve noticed, there are an infinite number of places where one can test it out. Massage chairs are available on most of our ships along the Promenade Deck although they are mostly used for our older guests to fall asleep in. Miami airport I noticed has “Express massage” outlets. I’ve always thought the point of getting a massage was to relax. Is there any environment less relaxing than an airport?
The only place worse than getting massaged at the airport is getting a massage on the streets on New York…………which you can do right outside our hotel.
What kind of person would do this? How desperate do you have to be for a neck rub to be willing to get one on the sidewalk in front of pedestrians who are walking their dogs and picking up dog poo three feet from your face? How can you relax when taxi drivers are blowing their horns and workmen are whistling at bottoms and a drunken panda is trying to get you to have a photo with him?
There are rows of leather massage chairs set up on right here around the Rockafella thingy and as we walked around I saw people facing the gutter in these chairs, noses practically touching the ground, while they inhale exhaust fumes from the buses and heavy goods traffic. Are their lives really that much more stressful or is it that these people need to feel special – so special they’ll pay a stranger they’ve never met and who may have no qualifications to put their hands all over them in the street. How qualified are they really? You could end up with a dislocated thingy.
Tomorrow we have meetings and will make final arrangements for the events on Thursday and Friday and within the next day or so I will be able to unveil more details on who has been chosen to be your Carnival Dream’s godmother.
Tomorrow also I will be joined by Peter the Hair and his video cameras and he will be filming some footage for me to post on the blog tomorrow and of course he and the 343 Stephanies will be providing steaming footage of all that happens on November 12.
There were many highlights today and I will be sharing them all with you soon I promise. You know, the last time I was in New York was with the Carnival Triumph in 2001. Heidi and I have a special photo on the wall at home of the ship sailing past the Twin Towers…………today, for the first time since they fell……I got to revisit the place where they once stood. I returned this morning as New Yorkers, Americans and people from all over the world have done and I bowed my head………………. and remembered.
Goodnight
Your friend
John
27 Comments
November 5th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
We also always have the mini bar emptied but all we have to do is ask the Room Steward to empty it… No need to ask John for help in that area. We have never been turned down or ignored.
I am one that also thinks that there are some passengers that are taking advantage of you and asking you for things that they can take care of themselves but are too lazy, i.e.,
1. Get on line in the Dining Room if you want your table, time, location etc changed…DO NOT ASK JOHN
2. Upon meeting your Room Steward, ask him/her to empty out of mini-bar/refridge…DO NOT ASK JOHN
3. Congratualtions on your anniversary, whether newlywed, 25 or 50 yrs. If you want to participate in the Newlywed Game, sit in the 1st row and raise your hand…DO NOT ASK JOHN
4. You’re on a cruise.. you paid alot of money for it…do you really need a free bottle of champagne, more fruit, a ship on a stick etc??? DO NOT ASK JOHN
I know there are more things that I shake my head at upon reading some of the requests…just can’t think of them now but think some of you might get the idea… (or at least I hope you do)
Ok, I feel better now…
From a born/raised New Yorker who does not spit, hates the Yankees and loves Manhattan…now living in Florida
November 5th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
GO YANKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!
November 5th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
John, We still want to see photos of the dreams cabins. Panda suit huh, why am I thinking for you in your dolly parton outfit charging for photos? Hey Hey theres an idea! Has there ever been any movement on bringing back the fruit punch?
Big Fans as Allways,
Frank and Bridie
November 5th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
John,
Your take on NYC is as entertaining as one would imagine it to be.
I too have made the trek to Ground Zero to remember. It was one of the toughest things I have ever felt compelled to do. To take time out of our family beach vacation in New Jersey to make the trip to New York City, to stand on the sidewalk of Ground Zero and let the silent tears just roll of my cheeks. It was there that I explained what had happened on that very spot to my then 7 year old daughter, which made it twice as heart-breaking.
Thanks for taking the time and a little corner of your blog to remind everyone what happened there and thanks for showing the humanity to make the effort to just go.
All my best,
Stacey
November 5th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Hey John!
You were my CD when I was on the Carnival Freedom in July! Ever since then I have been reading your blog and if it wasnt for you I wouldnt have known about the “Behind the Fun” tour. My friend and I were the first people in line as soon as we were on the ship. (This was my 3rd time on the Carnival Valor and my friend’s 10th time). I just wanted to let everyone know that you need closed toe shoes to go on this tour. This is for our safety as we are going in the crew part of the ship. Since we didnt bring any we had to buy the ever so stylish water shoes! The tour is amazing and well worth it! It was almost a 4 hr tour! We learned so much and would HIGHLY recommend this tour to anyone! Emma was our tour guide and was amazing! The Captain has the BEST view of all and flipper even jumped out of the water to say “Hi”.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Hello John,
I just wanted to comment about your blog yesterday regarding the “moaners” in the airport. Whenever I meet one of those people going through security, I smile and say, “Ever since 9/11 I always say, I’m from New York. You can search my luggage.” Our first Carnival cruise was 2 and a half weeks after 9/11, on the Carnival Victory. It was supposed to leave from New York, but it left from Boston instead. We had insurance, and could have cancelled, but we went. We feel that if people are afraid to travel, the terrorists win. The cruise was really nice, of course. I sang “New York, New York” in the talent show on the last night, and got a standing ovation. That one is my “Carnival song” now. I sang it again when I was on the bloggers’ cruise in February.
Your Friend,
Cheryl D.
November 5th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Dear John,
I am surprised that the Drunken Panda wasn’t peeing on the Taxi who was blowing his horn at the Pedestrian who had stopped to help an old lady who in turned kicked him in the groin. NYNY is my least favorite place on earth. Yes I know they have some great restraurants and Broadway Plays and Central Park. Thats a given, but they also have the rudest people in the world. I think Miami hires New Yorkers to work as TSA agents. Now they have won the “Worlds” Series and they will think that they are even better than the rest even more so. I agree with Heidi that they shouldn’t call it the Worlds Series if they don’t invite the world to play. The Little League World Series is more representative of that title. They at least invite all of the other countries to send teams to play.
Great pictures from Radu once again. Man he is talented.
John, if I ran CCL I would not empty the refrigerators in the cabins for just the reason you mentioned. There are far too many that take advantage of the situation. For those with medical needs I think an ice box with dry ice would do the trick. Dry ice lasts a long time and does not get things wet. It evaporates. Just a thought.
Anxious to hear the news as to who the Godmother of the Carnival Dream is going to be and to see the videos since I will not be able to join you on the BC3.
The Cruzin2some
James & Nancy Enslow
November 5th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
John-
Glad someone is looking out for those of us with special needs. Maybe, someday, we’ll be able to take advantage of deals, no-one will take our rooms, instead of having to book a year in advance to make sure we have a room.
- Jennifer
November 5th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
I love New York city. I went there this summer with my friend from Boston. We did so much and we were only there for one day, not long enough though. We also went to Ground Zero and it was very sad. There is a Fire Department across from Ground Zero. We went there and visited with some of the employees. They were there that horrible day. There is a piece of the fire truck that was destroyed that day and it is hanging on the wall. I will always be sorry that I did not go to NYC before 9/11.
I agree with you that you should have told that idiot on CC what to do with his Thingy, put it in a blender. He was rude beyond reason. It is because of people like him that I refuse to post on CC anymore. If I need to know something I will just ask you or one of the zillion Stephenie’s.
After the dedication of the Dream I am hoping that you will be going to one final meeting before you head back home. It can be a short meeting, just long enough for who ever is in charge of the Magic, to tell you and whoever else is at the meeting of plans to go to Europe in 2011. Just so you know John, I will not give up on this LOL. I want to go back to Europe with you and I will never stop asking about it.
Keep smiling John, you truly are one of the good guys.
My best to Heidi and Kye.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
Hey John,
You were good enough to answer my question about television coverage of Ireland V France on the Carnival Valor. Unfortunately I forgot to mention that it was for the soccer World Cup, not the Rugby one. Thanks for the answer and sorry for any confusion.
Have a great one,
Come on Ireland
Sean
November 5th, 2009 at 7:56 pm
Hi John: (Please REPLY)
Just starting reading your blog and I really enjoy it. Honestly I don’t know where you find the time to answer all email, write a blog, and work a full-time CD job — you are amazing.
I was on the oct 3 sailing of the Carnival Dream and WHAT a ship!!! Most people I spoke with agreed the layout is excellent as I never felt like there was 3600 passengers on board the ship. This was my first cruise and I am hooked.
You made the right choice by selecting Todd Whitmore (sp?) as the CD for the DREAM. The entire entertainment staff was just great and James Dunn (asst CD) and Todd (CD) play off each other so natural and are so darn funny. Ken and the dinning staff are just awesome and made us feel so at home each evening at table 445.
I do have one complaint that perhaps you can pass along to management as I am not sure where to send this. We had pre-paid for transfer from and to the ship from the Rome airport. We selected this over other means of transportation as we felt this would be the easiest and would be the least stressful for my father. My father has been ill and getting to and from the ship was where we feared he would meltdown unless we planned ahead.
Well, our worst fears took place as Carnival choose not to employ the baggage porters the day we arrived at the airport to begin our big adventure. Instead, we had to pull our own luggage off and then follow a mass chaos of confused guests to the other end of the airport to the outside taxi lane curb. Taxi cabs trying to get out, employees desperate to find a way to get small groups of guests to cross safely to the other side to deposit all luggage so it could be loaded on to the semi trucks. Then we got scrambled back into the airport trying to follow the right employee out to the waiting buses that were on the other side of the airport. It was very hot outside and as a result my father’s blood pressure dropped so here we were trying to prop him up and get onto the right bus. If we had know this we would have arranged other transportation as Carnival didn’t not deliver on what was sold. What was sold to us is we would identify the luggage and Carnival would take it from there and we would be escorted to our bus without the fuss and worry of luggage.
To some people it might sound like I am lazy but when you are traveling with senior citizens that have medical issues it is quickly compounded into something really serious.
Now, I must say we did make it to the ship and did have to seek medical attention and they were superb and resolved his medical issues and he was able to enjoy the rest of the cruise a few days later — he is still talking about what a great time it was for him and all of our family.
Best,
-Chris
November 5th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
John:
Teams in the World Series from now on are going to be paying Carnival to hold a “special event” in their town….to insure that they win the World Series.
Along with all your other talents….apparently…you are very GOOD LUCK !!! LOL
Don’t forget to eat on schedule and get your rest.
We await future info on OUR CARNIVAL DREAM!
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
November 5th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
John,
Please reply not in a hurry for answer
I’m kind of feeling sorry for myself, but I know in my heart that I’m doing the right thing.
I was told by hubby that Gene and I could take a cruise either the 3rd or 12th of December on the Carnival Dream, but he could not go with us, then he said if we went then we could not adopt a needy family for Christmas like we did last year. I told him immediately that I rather help one or two needy families than to take the cruise. My heart is saying I did the right thing, but my brain is saying I’m a idiot, so far heart is winning. I know that I got my cruise in February, but wanted to do the Carnival Dream for Christmas, but deep down in my heart I want to make some little kid or kids happy knowing that santa did not forget them or that someone cared enough to help them.
In your honest opinion have I done the right thing, would you make the same choice. I know that I should not ask you this, because only I know the correct answer, right.
Enough about me and my decision. I hope you are enjoying New York. I never been there, don’t think I want to either, I love the small towns and less traffic.
Thanks for the lovely pictures, will never be able to go to places like that, but I can Dream.
Thanks for the wonderful advise that you give, and keep it up, never let anyone get you down, you have helped alot more people than you will ever know and we appreciate it very much.
I have found a friend in you even though we have never met, I feel like I have known you for a long time. Good Night Friend will look forward to your blog tomorrow.
November 5th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
John, I truly respect and admire your decency to do things for people. I do honestly think that you do too much.
If you are removing the beverages from my fridge for my Budweiser, thank you. I think it is silly, though. And such a request shouldn’t involve you or the 343 Stephanies. But you can be as generous as you want, and you are very generous.
I do draw the line at demands for an OBC or refund based on changed personal circumstances. I find it somewhat rude that somebody asked you for $50 per cabin because his economic situation has changed.
So has mine. John, can I get the owner’s suite for the price of my inside on deck 1?
Best wishes and thanks for the blog.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:28 am
“Ground Zero” (where the WTC was in New York) is one of those places that . . . . part of me wants to see it . . . . but part of me does not. It’s hard to describe.
I second Elane’s comments that while you are a wonderful and generous man, there exist several things that these requesters (is ‘requester’ a word?) should do the traditional way, as their fellow cruisers do.
For instance, going to the Matre’d and discussing your table arrangements is part of the cruise experience – and one member of our group takes a great deal of pride in being able to “win” us a good table (all in a very friendly, polite, and civil way!)!
In this competitive spirit, writing a comment of “Dear John, purdy purdy purdy please get us a table for four near a window close to the entrance to the dining room on first sitting” is cheating!
. . . . and don’t get me started on Rose & Al G. Inconsiderate ungrateful sonsofguns . . . .
There’s a traditional system to handle all these things, and if you treat the all-too-willing-to-please crew respectfully while stating your desires, you’ll almost surely get the experience you wish!
I consider simply writing the blog a huge favor you are doing for us cruisers; and sincerely thank you for your efforts!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Hey John,
I can’t wait to finally meet you on Saturday. I have been reading your blog daily for about a year now and I really enjoy your sense of humor. You provide a great look behind the scenes at Carnival. Don’t let those individuals who criticize you for helping passengers with their requests get you down. It is not their business and you are doing a great job. Carnival is very lucky to have such a sincere person working for them. I hope you get a chance to watch the parade tomorrow. Go Yankees!
-Big Joe
November 6th, 2009 at 1:41 am
Hello John, (Please Reply)
I am writing you to say Thanks so much. My wife and I just got back from a week in the Mexican Riviera on the Carnival Splendor. A month or so prior to our trip, I sent you a message asking for you to help my make this a very special cruise for my wife as it was during our 2nd anniversary.
On the night before our anniversary, We came back to our room and had a personal letter from the CD Stephanie wishing us a happy anniversary. She knew our history of getting engaged on the Paradise and then spending our honeymoon on the Pride. Stephanie noted all this in her letter and then left us a bottle of Champagne on ice. She also left us VIP tickets to a show only performed on the Splendor.
This made our trip just that more memorable and ensured us why we sail with carnival. Throughout the cruise, Stephanie was a very funny and cheerful cruise director. I believe she was taught by the best, you!!! It definately shows. I know she is now on the legend but can you please pass it on to her that everything she did for us was very much appreciated.
John, because of what you did for us and what you do on a daily basis for many to ensure there Carnival cruises are extra special, I want to say thank you so much. You are truely a pioneer and I hope some day we will have the pleasure of cruising with you. There are no many people I want to take a photo with and get to shake their hand. You are one of them.
Thanks so much again,
Michael Shaw
November 6th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Hi John,
Please, Please Reply.
I have been wondering about something and I think that you will be the only person who can give me the correct answer. When a person cruises solo as I do, why is it when the Early Saver Program only gives us the OBC for one person when we in fact are paying the same price as two people. I feel that is discrimination against solo cruisers. Why can’t we get the same credit as if there were two people in that cabin instead of one. I just don’t feel this is fair to solo cruisers. Maybe you could ask one of the men with the beards what the reasoning is behind this.
Please give my love to Heidi and Kye, I sure miss her pictures.
From your #1 Bloggy Thinggy FAN!!!
Kathy M.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Linda (Mom of DJ)
I can see it now. Detroit, Michigan November 2010 Carnival event to announce that Carnival will make the “Port of Detroit” the home port of a cruise ship on the Great Lakes. Headlines: John Heald misses event due to Detroit Tigers World Series Champ Parade.
BIG ED
November 6th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Hi John..
Hope you are enjoying your time in NY.
I can’t believe that you can get a massage on the street. I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Great pictures from Spain.
Wish I could be with you for breakfast tomorrow.
Hope you have a great time and good luck.
Take care!
David
November 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
How can you tell us to watch the Today show to find out who the Godmother of the Dream is!??? I am RETIRED-don’t get up till 9-9:30am! I don’t “DO” computor till later in day so can’t see your message! WHY don’t you just tell us?????
November 6th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Hi John… (reply if you like)
Ah… come on… everybody gives our fair city a bad rap! Just think of how boring life would be if you didn’t have a guy screaming obscenities outside your window while you’re trying to work.
I used to work Downtown, right across from “the hole” … It’s a sad place, indeed… but they’ve made some real progress in the recent months. I’m sure that by some time in the next Century… they might even have a building there.
I’ve got the distinct honor of touring Carnival Dream in the near future while she’s in berth at the Manhattan Cruise Port. I’m really looking forward to seeing her (and cruising on her in July 2010).
And regarding the Yankees… well… I’m a fan of the “other team” in New York, so while I can’t say I’m all that excited about the Win… I can say that I loved that the Phillies got spanked. The Yankees are one of the most famous sports franchises in the world … whereever you go, people know the NY Yankees … Their fans are fanatics…
Enjoy your time in the City
November 6th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
John – Please reply
We will be sailing the Carnival Dream for a B2B on 2/6 and 2/13. It will be nice to see you again.
I know that there is a Super Bowl group on the first cruise 2/6 and no doubt that game will be broadcast on the megatron on deck.
We were just wondering if, the following week 2/13, the Daytona 500 will be broadcast on the megatron. We are a crazy group from all over the US and Canada that found each other in 2006 on the Carnival Liberty and have been cruising together ever since. Most of us are Nascar fans and hope that this is the case.
Thanks for all you do and see you soon.
Paula
November 6th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Hi John, Please Respond
El Wifo (or is that La wifa?) decided to spend some time with the G-kids and a rodent in central Florida, so… having served my time in Hell on numerous other occasions, I decided to have some REAL fun and booked my 15th cruise with Worlds Leading Cruise Lines – my 7th with Carnival. And rather than sail alone, I’m bringing a friend along on his first cruise. We’ll be on the December 14th sailing of the Fantasy with Risa Barnes…. I’ll be sure to send you her report card afterwards. It will be an entertaining trip; watching my friend park his 2 wheels for a few days and trade in his leather jacket for a dinner one and (horrors!) a tie. (hope he survives)
I have 2 questions for you about our sailing
First, Is there a designated cigar smoking area on the Fantasy – or is it out on the rear deck? It has been a while since I’ve been on the ship and I honestly don’t remember, or it may have changed with the refit. Of course, Risa is welcome to follow her senior cruise director’s lead and join us for a cigar some evening
Second, the stated itinerary has us in Cozumel on day 3 from 8am to 6pm – with day 4 in Calica, arriving at 7am. Now I know that from Cozumel you can see Calica across the strait on the mainland…. at most a little over an hour away. What can we REALLY expect? Leave at 6pm and float around the strait for 13 hours, or can we possibly expect to leave the port later on in the night and see some of the nightlife in Cozumel?
November 6th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
John (please reply),
Kudos on your insight into the American sports personality… The more shocking the revelation, A WIG, the less attention that will be paid to the important details… METH!!!!
On another note, you had asked me to repost a comment I had left in October to jog your memory… I have reposted twice and have apparently been moderated into the nothingness of the blog thingy, so I am trying again and hoping the third time is a charm…
My wife (4th cruise) and I (3rd cruise) will be celebrating two occasions on our cruise leaving October 15th. First, we will be enjoying a belated 15th anniversary. Second, and the reason for the delay, we will be celebrating the adoption of our first child. We are sailing out of Los Angeles on October 15th aboard the Carnival Splendor. I was hoping that my wife could receive a congratulatory note from either you or the Captain, if at all possible… I am sure it would mean a lot…
Thanks for the consideration and smooth sailing,
Jason
November 10th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Hello John,
I’m glad Carnival chose to refurbish the Fantasy class ships, because you sure don’t do retirements very well. I just got home from “celebrating” the last holiday of the Holiday. I was incredibly disappointed in the way you and Carnival chose to send off the ship that has sailed under your flag longer than any other and helped build the Carnival we know today.
First we were told you’d be joining us, but that didn’t work out what with the big plans for Dream. Disappointing, but understandable. Then our cruise director, Tori, cut and run at Calica. I’m sure she had a good reason, but it felt a little like she was abandoning ship. My kids wondered what happened to the “Woo-Hoo” (they had sailed the Holiday with Tori before and always returned the Woo-Hoo). There were no past guest pins available – even for purchase. There wasn’t a single Holiday souvenir left – key chain, shot glass, spoon, snow globe, fridge magnet – nothing.
There were a few “Holiday’s Final Voyage” photos for sale, including a number of pictures and postcards of a FANTASY-class ship that they PHOTO-SHOPPED the “Holiday” moniker on! I know Carnival has to make a buck, but that’s just low! I’m not sure which upsets me more… That Carnival thinks so little of us that they intentionally sold us fakes, or that I actually bought a few of them…
Most disappointing is that there was no fanfare at all. There was no retirement party… No final send off from Cozumel or Calica (which I thought was tradition in the maritime world). The whole cruise was very somber… Lacking the usual exuberance and energy… Bordering on depressing.
I certainly wasn’t the only person who felt this way. I spoke with a lot of frequent cruisers who had similar observations. To the bean counters, maybe this was just another cruise, but to a lot of us, this was a cause for celebration and reflection. It’s a shame Carnival felt differently.
I’ve already got two more Carnival cruises booked. I’m sure they’ll be great, and I’ll give Carnival the benefit of the doubt that this just fell under the radar because of the fanfare over the Dream.
Best Regards,
Ken, Jackie, and kids
P.S. Want to buy a limited edition photo of the Carnival Fantaday? Holisy?
November 13th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Dear John:
Finally, after all this time hearing about Carnival’s Freedom, I will actually be boarding her for the first time on our Thanksgiving cruise. We (CC) readers who will be sailing have our “Traveling Turkeys” shirts printed up and we are ready to board. We all certainly have more than enough to be thankful for and think it very appropriate to have our ship named “Freedom.”
At the beginning of our cruising days we were privileged to sail out of New York and experience the lump in our throats when we passed ‘Lady Liberty.’ Later on, it was very painful to see the ‘hole’ in the city and remember.
In the mode of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the outstanding pictures by Radu and wonder if he has or ever plans to do an artbook of his pictures? They are just so spectacular . . . but then I consider myself to be his #1 fan!
Thank you, also, John and the 343 Stephanies who keep us entertained through this blog. Your treatment of us bloggies is just grand and you care and genuine concern for your friends is outstanding. You are a classy gent . . . Thank you for being you.
Thank you to all the crews from around the world whom we have been privileged to get to know over our past 12 years of cruising.
Lastly, thanks to Heidi and Kye for sharing you with us. You all have made us feel like family . . .
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL . . .
Joko Joan
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