Comments on: A Ratings Hit! http://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:40:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: cjhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43444 cj Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:45:22 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43444 I am behind in reading the blogs, but wanted to chime in about the smoking thing. I know at least one your sister companies does smoking rooms on one side of the ship, and non-smoking on the other. I think this would work as those who were adamant about being in non-smoking could book their rooms specifically. CJ I am behind in reading the blogs, but wanted to chime in about the smoking thing. I know at least one your sister companies does smoking rooms on one side of the ship, and non-smoking on the other. I think this would work as those who were adamant about being in non-smoking could book their rooms specifically.
CJ

]]> By: Luc Marchildon aka Tangocheriehttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43443 Luc Marchildon aka Tangocherie Sat, 26 Dec 2009 19:08:27 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43443 Hello John, (please reply)Having sailed on the Carnival Dream out of New York on 11/23 and having endured the chaos at the Lido buffet at mealtime due to overcrowding, I'm happy to learn that Carnival has indeed taken notice of the problem and has increased the amount of food venues to "liberate" the Lido. Unfortunately, I had to be a guinea pig in Carnival Dream's "breaking in" process.On another note, I must mention how pleased I am of the new smoking policy in the casino. It indeed was a pleasure to be able to enjoy the slot machines without having someone's smoke whiff up into my eyes and nose. I trust that this new policy has been applied fleet wide?Hopefully Carnival can add to the enjoyment of my cruise experience by allowing me the full use of my balcony without interference from other guests smoking habits. I thought Big Ed had a good suggestion, make one side of the ship smoke free.I really enjoy your blog. Thanks very much! Hello John, (please reply)

Having sailed on the Carnival Dream out of New York on 11/23 and having endured the chaos at the Lido buffet at mealtime due to overcrowding, I’m happy to learn that Carnival has indeed taken notice of the problem and has increased the amount of food venues to “liberate” the Lido. Unfortunately, I had to be a guinea pig in Carnival Dream’s “breaking in” process.

On another note, I must mention how pleased I am of the new smoking policy in the casino. It indeed was a pleasure to be able to enjoy the slot machines without having someone’s smoke whiff up into my eyes and nose. I trust that this new policy has been applied fleet wide?

Hopefully Carnival can add to the enjoyment of my cruise experience by allowing me the full use of my balcony without interference from other guests smoking habits. I thought Big Ed had a good suggestion, make one side of the ship smoke free.

I really enjoy your blog. Thanks very much!

]]> By: Roger Tollerudhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43442 Roger Tollerud Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:00:24 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43442 John My wife (who is a smoker) and I are Milestone Level cruisers. We are recently back from cruises on the C. Splendor and the C. Spirit. In both cases my wife thought the smoking rules were fair and fairly enforced. She smokes on our balcony but not in the cabin and is respectful of those who do not smoke. I only write because I think smokers should have a voice in this issue as well as nonsmokers. Regards and Merry Christmas Roger T. John
My wife (who is a smoker) and I are Milestone Level cruisers. We are recently back from cruises on the C. Splendor and the C. Spirit. In both cases my wife thought the smoking rules were fair and fairly enforced. She smokes on our balcony but not in the cabin and is respectful of those who do not smoke. I only write because I think smokers should have a voice in this issue as well as nonsmokers.
Regards and Merry Christmas
Roger T.

]]> By: Marquetahttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43441 Marqueta Thu, 24 Dec 2009 01:53:20 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43441 John or one of the 343 Stephanie's Please Reply (911 concerning Sea Miles Program)I wish you a Merry christmas and a very prosperous New Year.I received an email today from the Sea Miles people telling me that Carnival is no longer with them and that you are going to be promoting fun points and according to my email from Sea Miles they are going to be worth about a 1/3 of what the Sea Miles points were. the question I have of course is wanting to know is this true???? We have enjoyed the substantial savings by using the sea miles on the last two cruises that we have gone on with Carnival of course. If you would like to see the email that also has a little movie explaining the differences to us in the two programs, please tell me where to email it to. I wanted to make sure you had a chance to respond to this before the whole world does on Cruise Critic.Merry Christmas again,Marqueta from Oklahoma (where the snow is going to be blowing through the wheat tomorrow) John or one of the 343 Stephanie’s
Please Reply (911 concerning Sea Miles Program)

I wish you a Merry christmas and a very prosperous New Year.

I received an email today from the Sea Miles people telling me that Carnival is no longer with them and that you are going to be promoting fun points and according to my email from Sea Miles they are going to be worth about a 1/3 of what the Sea Miles points were. the question I have of course is wanting to know is this true???? We have enjoyed the substantial savings by using the sea miles on the last two cruises that we have gone on with Carnival of course. If you would like to see the email that also has a little movie explaining the differences to us in the two programs, please tell me where to email it to. I wanted to make sure you had a chance to respond to this before the whole world does on Cruise Critic.

Merry Christmas again,

Marqueta from Oklahoma (where the snow is going to be blowing through the wheat tomorrow)

]]> By: Maribeth Kringhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43440 Maribeth Kring Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:26:58 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43440 Dear John,So sorry to hear that a CD is having a hard time. They all work so hard normally and even harder when unusual circumstances arise and some folks just don't get how difficult the job can be. I think I may know who it is just by the personality of one I've met and how much that person cares about everyone they meet whether it be employee or cruiser. Tell him/her not to worry about it!The comment cards are not really suitable anymore with all the past cruisers. How can someone possibly rate "exceeded my expectations" when Carnival has already set our expectations so high? On my last cruise I was filling out my card and actually had to check "met my expectations" on most items and included a note that since it was my 9th cruise with Carnival and my expectations are quite high that it's almost impossible for anyone to "exceed" them. Perhaps they should go with a 10-1 scale of satisfied to dissatified instead and ask for an explanation of any low scores?Re: the smoking issue.....yep, it would be difficult to determine how many rooms to designate for smoking but perhaps booking can ask if people smoke and try to place them "downwind" of others while still accomodating their other requests? Of course, if they said they didn't the agent would have to make it clear that that there aren't any non-smoking rooms but that they are attempting to group the smokers away from the non-smokers, no guarantees. Without making that clear, it just sets the stage for a whole slew of complaints.Hugs to Heidi and Kye!BELC Maribeth Dear John,

So sorry to hear that a CD is having a hard time. They all work so hard normally and even harder when unusual circumstances arise and some folks just don’t get how difficult the job can be. I think I may know who it is just by the personality of one I’ve met and how much that person cares about everyone they meet whether it be employee or cruiser. Tell him/her not to worry about it!

The comment cards are not really suitable anymore with all the past cruisers. How can someone possibly rate “exceeded my expectations” when Carnival has already set our expectations so high? On my last cruise I was filling out my card and actually had to check “met my expectations” on most items and included a note that since it was my 9th cruise with Carnival and my expectations are quite high that it’s almost impossible for anyone to “exceed” them. Perhaps they should go with a 10-1 scale of satisfied to dissatified instead and ask for an explanation of any low scores?

Re: the smoking issue…..yep, it would be difficult to determine how many rooms to designate for smoking but perhaps booking can ask if people smoke and try to place them “downwind” of others while still accomodating their other requests? Of course, if they said they didn’t the agent would have to make it clear that that there aren’t any non-smoking rooms but that they are attempting to group the smokers away from the non-smokers, no guarantees. Without making that clear, it just sets the stage for a whole slew of complaints.

Hugs to Heidi and Kye!

BELC
Maribeth

]]> By: Kathy M.http://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43439 Kathy M. Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:20:56 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43439 Dear John,Please reply,I need some advice from you John, since I am a solo cruiser, I have been thinking about making a reservation in the SteakHouse on the Carnival Splendor, but I am concerned that since the SteakHouse is always full and is really set up for couples and families, I just don't want to reserve a table only to find out later that a couple was denied a seating because I took a table for two. Do they have anything set up for solo cruisers to maybe share tables?Give my love to Heidi and Little Kye, From your #1 Bloggy Thinggy Friend Kathy M. Dear John,

Please reply,

I need some advice from you John, since I am a solo cruiser, I have been thinking about making a reservation in the SteakHouse on the Carnival Splendor, but I am concerned that since the SteakHouse is always full and is really set up for couples and families, I just don’t want to reserve a table only to find out later that a couple was denied a seating because I took a table for two. Do they have anything set up for solo cruisers to maybe share tables?

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

]]> By: Larryhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43438 Larry Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:40:00 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43438 Hey John, please reply. sorry to say that due to certian things the wife and I will not be joining you for the Jan 31st cruise, we had that cruise booked for a year and were looking forward to the following, #1 meeting you, #2 being on the brand new Dream, #3 our first PLATINUM cruise and lastly but most importantlycelebrating our 20th anniv. We have rebooked on the Triumph for a 5 day cruise for Feb 1st we were so disappointed that we had to cancel the Dream but i guess thats life anyway I was hoping that you may beable to do something a little specian for her, she is a very special woman ( has to be to put up with me for the past 20 or so years, lol) and I do love her dearly. I had some plans of my own for the Dream and am trying to change them and make them work for the Triump ( can the captian make a short stop at St martian or would that be a bit much to ask) she is a romantic and sees only the good in life but recent events hae left us very stressed out and she needs relaxing thanks for reading this. thanks for any help see you soon Hey John, please reply.
sorry to say that due to certian things the wife and I will not be joining you for the Jan 31st cruise, we had that cruise booked for a year and were looking forward to the following, #1 meeting you, #2 being on the brand new Dream, #3 our first PLATINUM cruise and lastly but most importantlycelebrating our 20th anniv. We have rebooked on the Triumph for a 5 day cruise for Feb 1st we were so disappointed that we had to cancel the Dream but i guess thats life anyway I was hoping that you may beable to do something a little specian for her, she is a very special woman ( has to be to put up with me for the past 20 or so years, lol) and I do love her dearly. I had some plans of my own for the Dream and am trying to change them and make them work for the Triump ( can the captian make a short stop at St martian or would that be a bit much to ask) she is a romantic and sees only the good in life but recent events hae left us very stressed out and she needs relaxing thanks for reading this. thanks for any help see you soon

]]> By: Big Edhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43437 Big Ed Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:36:55 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43437 EVIL CREW DOES JOHNSee the pictures of the breakfast party the Evil Crew gave John on Bloggers Cruise 3. See the "Toilet Cake". Just click on this link http://ekonefe.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/bloggers-cruise-3-photos/ The captions are on the right/top. If you go "Full Screen" the captions will be on the top.BIG ED EVIL CREW DOES JOHN

See the pictures of the breakfast party the Evil Crew gave John on Bloggers Cruise 3. See the “Toilet Cake”. Just click on this link http://ekonefe.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/bloggers-cruise-3-photos/
The captions are on the right/top. If you go “Full Screen” the captions will be on the top.

BIG ED

]]> By: Jenniferhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43436 Jennifer Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:01:39 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43436 Hello John, I have been checking out the Carnival Dream webcam site, and it hasn't been refreshed since Dec 12. I would really like to see what is going on on the Dream as I will be cruising on it Jan 9. Is there any way you could get someone to fix it??? Hello John, I have been checking out the Carnival Dream webcam site, and it hasn’t been refreshed since Dec 12. I would really like to see what is going on on the Dream as I will be cruising on it Jan 9. Is there any way you could get someone to fix it???

]]> By: Amyhttp://johnhealdsblog.com/2009/12/21/a-ratings-hit/#comment-43435 Amy Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:20:09 +0000 http://johnhealdsblog.com/?p=12605#comment-43435 Just wanted to say that I think the Brunch idea is FANTASTIC and would love to see it offered fleet wide - especially on sea days when one is inclind to sleep in! Just wanted to say that I think the Brunch idea is FANTASTIC and would love to see it offered fleet wide – especially on sea days when one is inclind to sleep in!

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