Look, friends — there are a few things you should remember before you comment. The space below is for you to post your comments about the post I've just written above. If it is something that's unrelated, please use the Ask John tab above. Now, while I may not be able to reply to your comment below, I do sit in my underpants almost every morning and read everything that is here. So feel free to comment on the comments and then if someone wants to comment on the comment to the comment then go ahead as well. Please be courteous unless the poster is French...........then you can say whatever you want.
Kye is beautiful!! I want to see more pictures on Wednesday.
Love the pictures. I sure wish I could be there.
Thank you for Kye’s picture.
KathyG
Ahhhhhhhhh Kye…….and bloggers too.
I wish I was there…..
I LOVE the pictures!!
Thanks so much!!
HELLO, STEPHANIE!!!
Ciao!
Host Mach
Nice shots!!!
54 days until we meet. Great shot of Kye…………she’s a keeper! All the best for Heidi.
Hi Stephanie.
B&D from Canada
PS……our PVP Joanna Piazza sent us some recent photos of the CARNIVAL DREAM from a friend of hers that had just sailed. They were stunning. Counting the days…………tick tock tick tock!
Yeah!!!! That’s one way for all of us to see precious Kye!!
And there she is, what a beautiful baby.
Thanks for the pictures, looks like everyone is having a great time.
Great picture of Kye. Thanks for sharing it with all of your bloggers.
Next cruise: Linda and I are heading out on the Carnival Victory in February to cruise the Southern Caribbean. We are counting the days!
Hi John,
We all know PA007 isn’t Cahill. PA007 has been around longer – at least longer in the world of Carnival.
bill
Hi John,
What a darling picture of your little Angel. Now you have to announce when the next blogger’s cruise is so I can book, because I am going to be there with you next year.
Give my love to Heidi and Little Kye.
From your #1 Bloggy Thinggy Fan
Kathy M.
John (PLEASE reply as soon as you get a chance),
Hi John,
My family and I will be cruising for the holidays aboard the Dream at the end of December. We planned this trip a year ago, spent a lot of money that we have been saving for a really long time, and have been looking forward to it so much ever since. It will be our first family trip in awhile, and we figured what better way to spend the holidays than aboard a brand new Carnival ship…
We are all really concerned… out of all my friends who have been on the Dream and out of all of the reviews on message boards on facebook and cruisecritic… I have not seen one completely positive review about the ship. From constant reviews of the ship being understaffed, to there being a Caribbean duo rather than an actual lido deck calypso band on the deck, to there being lines everywhere, to the power going out for over an hour and people being stuck in the elevators, to a lack of the quality of food, to some reviews on many unfriendly staff members… what is going on here?
I don’t get it… we have had so many great Carnival cruises in the past, and although it has been a few years. We thought by going on a brand new ship, we would not only have a great cruise and holiday week, but we would have an extra good cruise with it being a brand new ship. The kinks of a new ship should have been worked out already – it’s been three months. I’m not trying to cause commotion, but I’m trying to address my concerns and prevent everything before I cruise so I and everyone who will be on the Dream for the holidays and New Year will have a great time. I don’t get why there isn’t a regular Calypso band, why there are really long lines, why the staff (that I assume are many experienced staff) are not acclimated by now, and I don’t get why there are so many unhappy Dream cruisers.
Thank you for your commitment to us and the blog and for being there and looking out for all of us. I hope that in 4 weeks, I’ll be able to write back a very positive review about my family’s holiday and New Year’s cruise aboard the new Carnvial Dream.
-John and family
Hi John,
Great picture of Kye. Wish we were there. Say Hi to Nanette for us.
George and Linda
Leah and myself are leaving on Carnival Legend tomorrow Dec 6th ready to go. My reason for writing is man you have lost some weight, if you keep up you are going to fall right thru your underwear and choke yourself to death. Way to go looking good.
John,
Thanks for the pictures, now we want to know when the next bloggers cruise will be. I need to plan everything around it, since I already got 2 cruises booked for 2010, got to know when to book the 3rd one so we can meet you and hopefully your lovely girls also. Please post more pictures, makes me feel like I’m there with everyone. Tell Big ED hello for me.
Though I couldn’t be there in person, I’m there via your pictures – thanks. Kye is such a beautiful doll.
Hi John,
Please Reply.
Looks like the bloogers cruise is great fun, I hope to join you for one sometime soon.
My question is in regards to tipping. I hear so many things so I figured I would ask you for the “correct version”. I understand a portion of the daily tip allowance goes to the dining room staff. On our upcoming cruise we will be doing Anytime Dining (which I LOVE – utilzed this option on the Liberty in August) . On this cruise I will be taking my 7 year old son for his first cruise. We most likely will not end up dining in the dining room each night. I can only assume that your tip goes to the server you have each night, which I know can vary when doing Anytime Dining. If we do not end up in the dining room every night where does the tip go ?
Kye looks beautiful, so glad you will be home soon spending quality time with her ! I look forward to this blog every day and enjoy sharing the “kid appropriate” portions with my son! He looks forward to the videos. He is bummed out that you will not be joining us on the pride in February.
Happy Holidays !
John,
Well, the next best thing to being on the cruise with all the bloggers is that wonderful picture of Kye! And it was well worth the wait!!! What a beautiful baby she is! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! And it isn’t even Friday!
Have fun bloggers, I wish I was with all of you!
Sheryl
John
Looks like you have lost weight !!! Congratulations !!!
Or do you want me to send some more Fruit & Nut ?
Gaz
Those are great pictures. What a treat to see a picture of Kye, she is beautiful.
Kye!!!!! Thank, God John she looks like heidi! And the Blogger’s! Miss you guys!
Kap
Hi John,
Thanks for the photos! Hi to Captain Carlo, Todd & the rest of the crew on board the beautiful Carnival Dream.
Love the last photo of Kye…what a beautiful baby! You’re a lucky man.
Marty & Jeanne
I hate you. I hate all of you. For years I fought off my wife and her wish that I go on a cruise. Never I said. I have no time for such nonsense. I’ll cruise when I retire which will be never – ever. She’s been on 4 so far.
I’m on the road on business 4-6 weeks at a time. The last thing I want is to get home and go on some slow moving barge eating my face off looking at water and listening to boring strangers.
But my wife of almost 35 years is a very persuasive woman. So a few months ago I found myself on a Carnival cruise to Nassau from Port Canaveral. We live in Clearwater, FL. I wasn’t happy about having to drive across the State to get on the stupid ship.
Cruise over. Damn you all. Now I can’t stop thinking about anything else but my next cruise on Carnival. Why would anybody want to do anything else? I’ve never felt more relaxed. I lost 5 lbs! And I ate EVERYTHING! You’ve made me sound like a freak’n commercial.
And the showgirls – oh my! The two shows on board were awesome. I’ve never had such a good time. To heck with Vegas. The female lead singer/dancer was terrific. And the drinks in the Carnival smoke stack thingy were delicious.
The “room” was spotless, comfortable – the bathroom impressive. I NEVER thought this was what a ship would be like. Playing miniature golf watching the sea while the sun sets after dinner was very enjoyable. I could go on and on.
Thanks for destroying what was my uncomfortable joyless life.
Hey, John & Heidi!!
Just wanted to wish you both a wonderful anniversary and many more years of happiness.
John, thanks again for the opportunity to meet you on 11/15 on our Carnival Dream. It was a pleasure talking with you and with the small circle of bloggers on the cruise. Meeting you was a wonderful beginning to our first (of many, we hope) Carnival cruise. Thank you for your kind hospitality.
Again, best wishes to you and Heidi…and, of course, kisses to Kye!!
Your PA Friends,
Dianne, Tom, and Nick-Nick
P.S. John, maybe Radu could share some pictures of our Dream during the holidays!!
John, Please reply
We were booked on the 12/3 Dream cruise but had to cancel. Had hoped to follow you on the on board web cam. It doesn’t seem to be working. What’s up. Right now 12/6 at 5:35PM EST it shows you docked and nobody on the Lido Deck.
Have a blast on the bloggers cruise ,miss you. Hi to Todd too.
Bill Russell
Hi John–I’ve been so busy lately, no time to write but hope you are all having fun on the Bloggers’ Cruise. I looked for pics of my friend Linda mom of DJ but don’t see her, I think she was going with you this week and I forgot to tell her to have a great time, so say hi to her for me and all of you enjoy!
WOW, what fabulous photos, John. And, our little KYE is absolutely precious. Thank you for taking the time to post and share these pics with us. Wishing all of you a wonderful time onboard the beautiful Carnival Dream. She is a beauty, for sure.
Btw, thank you for signing my JH Bobble Head while doing the CD C2N out of NYC, John. Although I paid a whopping $47.00 + shipping&handlingoftheseas for it on eBay last March, it was well worth every penny. It was truly a pleasure meeting and chatting with you, John. You are such a kind, loving, sweet, comical, friendly, and overall genuine individual. OH….and handsome, too.
Happy anniversary to Heidi and you. It won’t be long and you’ll be holding both of your girls in your arms again. Best wishes, much happiness, and lots of love to the Heald family.
Happy Holidays,
Rich & Sally Head
Great photos, John! Especially the one of Kye. Wish I was on board with you all….
Melissa
Thanks John for the photos. It seems that everyone is enjoying themselves. The captain looks like he’s really having a good time. I like seeing that. I hope that I will have an opportunity of meeting this fantastic gentleman. Kye is so beautiful. You can tell she takes after her mother. Ha,ha,ha. See you soon in January.
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Hi John,
Wish I could have been there! Looks like a lot of fun as usual. Miss you guys!
Best,
Anita
Exactly HOW DOES FEED A CHILD SO LARGE???? Goodness Gracious!!! You and Heidi certainly have a champ there!!!
Kye is a doll!!! Absolutely PRECIOUS!!!!
And the BLOGGERS are having FUN FUN FUN… the times of their lives!!! You are a gracious host!!!
We love seeing the photos!!! It’s GREAT to know how wonderful your cruise is!!!
Love you,
Lambie
wow…what a great gathering!
Ohhhhh! What a beautiful picture of Kye! Thanks John. Thanks for all the pictures. Wish we were with you but keep the pics coming. Looks like you guys are having a blast!
Mike & Lori
OH…..BC looks like a blast.
Wish I was there!!!
Lori
Dear Mr Gruskin,
Welcome to the wonderful world of cruising. I know just how you feel. I now wonder why anyone would want to vacation any other way.
Dear John,
Looks like you have the BC3 going full throttle. Have a great time and lots of photos please.
To whom it may concern,
If you try to put this picture of Kye on any stupid website we will hunt you down and give you a full body waxing. Don’t mess with our Kye!!!
The Cruzin2some
James & Nancy Enslow
We defentley need to do a Bloggers Cruise,
Frank and Bridie
Thank you for the pictures, especially the last one! Wish we were there.
Mr. Gruskin welcome to the world of waiting for the next cruise!
Wonderful pictures of the blogger’s cruise. Wish we could have been there. The Captain is fantastic and we thank the entire crew for helping us live the Dream in November. Todd and the entertainment staff and the Fun Force ROCK too! The shows were fantastic and we are still laughing at the CD’s of the comedians.
OHHHHHHHH I wish I was there!!! And the picture of Kye….priceless! I can’t believe I’m missing a BC…this WILL be the LAST one I will miss!