John:

You asked for our opinions on Carnival activities.

One of the perfect things about Carnival is that there is something for everyone. Personally, I have not been to a hairy man’s contest in 5 years….BUT I have dear friends who literally would never miss it.

If there is a particular activity that isn’t my thing, I just don’t go. I certainly would never want to deprive someone else of something they love….just because it isn’t my thing.

As you know, I cruise to karaoke. There are a ton of people who would never go to karaoke….because it just isn’t their idea of fun. How heartbroken would I be if karaoke was cancelled just because someone else did not like it?

As for your bedtime story, PLEASE never stop doing it. While the story line may be the same, you never know what you will see, because each performance is as individual as the CAST you select from the audience. This keeps it fresh!!

As for your timing question about dining:
You may be shocked to learn that our family are one of those who do not “dine”. Dining to us is not an experience. The only reason we eat is because we have to do so to remain alive.

We always arrive on time and are usually out of the dining room in an hour or less (we usually do not stay for dessert). We enjoy the food very much, but just like dinner at home would not last over an hour….our dinners on the ship do not as well. Probably the reason for this is DJ. We are doing good to get DJ in the Main Dining Room in the first place…. having him stay for 1 1/2 hours is just not going to happen with his Autism.

We have always been blessed with wait staff that take our needs into consideration and do their very best to see that we are served in a timely manner.

We always eat at 6pm and of course, if karaoke is starting at 7pm….then I am usually done in 45 minutes!! Again, one of the wonderful things about Carnival is that everyone can have it “their way”.

Yes, the cruiser that assaulted the doctor (and that is exactly what it is) should have been removed at the next port and put on the Do No Cruise List.

As for the RCCL / Carnival banter…..

I think it is important to note one very large difference. You have always limited your satire (and that is all that it is…the overly sensitive RCCL folks should get over it) to the COMPANY.

You have never attacked, demeaned or belittled a RCCL cruiser.

However, on the reverse side, RCCL can not make the same statement. RCCL has personally attacked Carnival cruisers and this is what I find disgusting.

And it is the only reason I will never sail on a RCCL ship. Why would I want to give money to a company that demeans and belittles me?

I just spent about 30 minutes looking at the pictures of dear friends who went on the Mall of the Seas…and that is exactly the impression I got.

When I first started looking at her pictures, I literally could not tell where the embarkation building ended and the cruise ship began. It was clear through out all her pictures that the emphasis was on the gimmicks the ship offered.
She had a wonderful time. She obviously liked all the gimmicks.

Lots of people will cruise for the gimmicks…I am just not one of them.

I am repeated stated that I hope RCCL does very well financially on all their ventures, but a ship that size for the Caribbean is just not for me.

Now if I am doing a Trans Atlantic…. perhaps a larger ship would be fine.

I know I am late posting this and that Heidi and Kye are probably already on board…but remember that a lot of parents use a small inflatible baby pool to bathe the little one in.

I know you are thrilled to have them there.

Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)

You had a question about Camp Carnival for the 3rd group of kids you have sailing with you.

One was already 6, one was going to be 6 on the second day of the cruise and one was going to be 6 a week later.

Might I suggest that you take all 3 “6 year olds” to the orientation and speak with the Camp Carnival Director. These kinds of requests are very normal, so please do not hesitate to ask.

Every case is handled on an individual basis, since every situation is a little different. If all the “6″ years olds are on the same maturity level, that is a plus. Also, I would also suggest that you bring something from their school IF all three “6″ year olds are in the same grade.

Please understand that IF the answer is no, that there is a very valid reason that may have nothing to do with your 3 children. Sometimes a particular age group has reached its limit, making a move not possible.

But always know that the Camp Carnival staff want you and your family to have the very best experience possible and will do everything they can to assist you.

Have a wonderful cruise…

Linda

Hi John!
So looking forward to having your girls join you on board! I hope you will be able to share pictures but given what happened last time, I think we would all understand if you chose not to.

In regards to dinner, I am usually fine with the length of time that it takes. I’m not looking to be rushed through it. Unfortunately, sometimes I feel like we have to rush through it in order to get a decent seat for the show. Inevitably, as late seating diners, there is always a Bingo session right before our show and the players tend not to leave which makes it hard to get a decent seat sometimes.

I guess for me, the real issue is why so many bingo games right before that late show?

Thank you much!
Colleen

I am coordinator for our group of 48 sailing on our Carnival Dream 2/27/10 and can’t wait! I’m so looking forward to having you as the Cruise Director! When do you tell ‘the bedtime story’? With so many activities going on, I don’t want to miss it!

I do have one favor to ask of you. When we booked this cruise in March 2009, I didn’t know that know that Your Time dining was an option and did not request it for one particular couple. When our final dining arrrangements were made, we were told Your Time dining was completely booked(only on a waitlist). This couple really enjoys Your Time dining and would like the opportunity to dine with new people each night. Would it be possible for you to request a confirmed seating for them? C. Torbeck/E. Haught – Cabin 11221.

Thank you for all you do!

Jessica Anderson

Paul & MaryLou Pietrangelo

of all the old Carnival Ships ,,,,our favorite
was the “Festivale ” what a lovly lady.
me and jane and the kids sailed on her
7 or 8 times,,,,for three years in a row we
had the same cabin U-66 and the same
waiter,,,,Jude Stewart,,,,super guy from
Grenada,, once on his leave he came up to
tampa to visit us,,,,on the bus,,,,wow

we heard from some waiters that new him
that he retired in 2008..we wish we could have sailed one more time with Jude.

we will never forget him,,he was Carnival
to us,, he worked over 40 years with
Carnival,,,,we hope all is well with our
buddy Jude.

we love Carnival

tom & jane

This past September when I was sailing on the Elation with my mom, she had slipped on the deck and we went wandering down to the infirmary to see the doctor. Posted on the door in really BIG BLACK LETTERS was a notice about the cost for seeing the doctor. We decided that it wasn’t that important for her to see the dr. I wonder if the infirmary on the Dream has this same notice (or if the passenger just didn’t pay attention?)

In regards to the list Heidi sent you, at least those items are available at your local Wal-Mart so they can be available on board once Heidi and Kye come stay with you. Hope you have a good time with them!

John, here’s a suggestion for something Heidi should shop for BEFORE she leaves home. I took my girls on multiple overseas trips when they were quite young, and a good way to occupy them on the plane (or during a long layover in an airport) was to introduce 1 or 2 new toys or books that they had never seen before.

I don’t recommend noisy toys for the airplane (you don’t want to disturb the other pax), but maybe something like the classic Fisher-Price stacking rings, or something else with multiple uses like teething, when Kye gets tired of playing with it.

A new book with colorful characters, like Curious George or Winnie the Pooh or the Sesame Street characters would be good for quiet-down, cuddle time on the airplane.

If they have a long wait time in the airport, Heidi should find a big corner area with lots of carpet if possible, then set that up as a play area and/or let Kye crawl around during the layover time, so she’ll be a little bit tired and settle down better on the plane.

Save naptime for during the flight, if possible, because a nap should kill an hour or more of flight time. Make sure she is breastfeeding or drinking from a bottle during take-off and landing, so her ears adjust to the changes in cabin pressure by swallowing.

Hopefully the flight attendants will be helpful too and serve Heidi’s meal before the other pax get theirs. We usually found that type of service, although I wouldn’t know what to expect these days with all the cutbacks.

New toys, new “friends” (stuffed animals, dolls, etc.) are important during travel. The new factor keeps young children occupied more than if you have a lot of familiar things from home, although if she has some type of favorite security blanket or stuffed animal, make sure you bring that along.

I wish them a smooth flight and I hope they have a relatively calm travel day ahead. (I hope that Murphy only travels with you!)

Laurie F.

I started my 4 weeks of radiation treatment this past monday, so looking forward to the end of my problems.

Thanks again for making another cruise a true pleasure.