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

I’m glad Carnival chose to refurb 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?

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?

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

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?

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

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

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