This tribute blog absolutely touched my heart, as a long time reader of your blog, I have seen and read many things on your blog and I always find comfort in knowing that you share the good, the bad, and the ugly with us everyday!

I usually do not post comments as I know how many you get John, and I know how busy you are and I would rather you spend your time using your Raspberry to talk to Heidi and Kye then to read my rantings and ravings but today I have a favor to ask.

On January 2nd, 2010, my family and I will be boarding the Carnival Freedom for our 5th cruise together, all totaled, between the 6 of us we have taken over 30 Carnival Cruises and our loyalty to Carnival runs through and through

This will be our second time on the Carnival Freedom and the last time we sailed on the Freedom, we had the best cruise director ever and that was you John, of all our cruises you were by far the best, we loved all your shows and especially loved how you kept the entire ship informed of what was going on at all times! It was the most amazing cruise ever and you were a HUGE part of that!

The favor that I have to ask is this. Of all the cruises we have been on, we always seem to get stuck in the back of our dining room, surrounded by LOTS of families with young children and honestly servers who are less than enthusiastic about entertaining and serving and simply go through the motions – this is the only thing that has ever disappointed us about our cruises (the food is always wonderful and we certainly could not complain about that). We can never see what is going on in the main area of the dining room and therefore feel like we miss a crucial part of our dining experience and that is the entertainment, I do not think we have ever been at a table where we could see the “Maitre D” so we always deem him “the mystery man of the dining room!”

I was wondering if you could help us get a table in the center of all the dining room action that way we can experience what it is like to be truly entertained during our delicious dinners on the ship. The one thing that we have always been happy with is that we are always seated at a table of 6 with nobody who does not belong to our party and for that I am thankful and hope that this year we can have it all – a table for 6 at the center of all the action!

We sail on January 2, 2010 on the Carnival Freedom from Ft. Lauderdale, that is if we can find our ship somewhere behind the blinding view of the “Mall of the Seas!!!

John, I appreciate anything and everything you do, not just for us and in order to further enhance our dining experience, but for everyone you help out through this blog – you are truly someone I look up to, admire, and respect for a job well done – even if it is done mostly in your underwear!

Thank you for everything John and take care of yourself and that beautiful family of yours!

Sincerely, (and NOT in my underwear – not a pretty sight

Kathy Roxo

Please reply. My mom and I have a situation I hope you can help us with, as we have no idea how to make this happen.

My brother is getting married on the Carnival Ecstasy on Dec 12. His twin was to be the best man, but he joined the Army 6 months ago, and we found out about a month ago he wouldn’t be able to make the wedding.

Fast forward to this weekend, where I get a call from my brother telling me there’s a possibility he will be able to make the wedding after all. He would REALLY like to surprise our brother and his bride with his appearance. The problem is that he won’t be able to go on the cruise, and they’ve maxed out their non-sailing guest count. We wouldn’t even know who to contact anyway, and if they’d talk to us, as the bride has been handling all of the planning.

Is there ANY way to make this happen without letting my brother and his fiancee know? It would really mean a lot to all of us if we could find a way to make this happen.

Many thanks in advance,
Meredith

Please, Please Reply,

I am wondering if you know when you will be doing your bloggers cruise for 2010. I am waiting to book my cruise for the fall of 2010 until I hear when your bloggers cruise is going to be so I can maybe book that cruise. Do you also know when the CD’s schedule for 2010 is going to be out. I would like to know who is going to be the CD for the Carnival Splendor in Jan and who will be the CD on the Carnival Paradise in May, 2010.

Can I give you some advice about your hemorrhoids and that is, when you know that you hare going to have to sit for long periods of time, take a small travel (they even have ones that you can inflate) pillow with you or ask one of the stewards to put a small pillow in the conference room for you, it will take the pressure off of your toosh. Another way to help them and that is if you can sit in a bathtub of warm water for 20 minutes a day, you will be amazed at how much this will help you as well. As a retired Registered Nurse, this is the advice we used to give our patients.

Give my love to Heidi and Little Angel Kye.
From your #1 Bloggy Thinggy Fan,
Kathy M.