As you know, on Saturday, I went on a shopping expedition to Wal-Mart for essential supplies and nipple pads which was I must say a horrendous experience. I didn’t know where anything was but help was at hand because I saw the Wal-Mart greater chap who had an Ask Me shirt on. I did ask him and he knew where the nipple pads were. This was much different to the time I was shopping in a Wal-Mart near the Miami office. I asked the Wal-Mart greeter where something was just like his T Shirt suggested…….”Where is the hemorrhoid cream?” I asked. And he said………….“Que?”
So laden down with bags of diapers (which are very heavy by the way) I went across the street to a place called the Merritt Mall which is a small cute kind of mall in a Drew Barrymore kind of way. I needed a toy for Kye and couldn’t find what Heidi had told me to get at Wal-Mart and so looking like a pack mule with all my bags I headed for the toy store which I was told was located there.
And it was…And I bought Kye a couple of cute toys which she will enjoy eating a lot.
I then went to pay for them.
And that’s when I got a bit annoyed and I had to bite my tongue so that I didn’t have fly off into some consumer rage at being asked to pay 15 cents for the plastic bag to put the toys in. The assistant, in a Disneyesque, sing-songy “we’re all just trying to help the environment here” voice, announced that there was now a 15 cents charge for bags then suggested I upgrade by spending $2 on something she called “a bag for life.” Lest I had failed to grasp the essence of “re-usable” she added: “I use mine all the time because we are proud to be a green store!” She was very nearly an orange sales assistant because it was all I could do not to vomit on her.
Now I know we must all do our bit and I know how wasteful the world is when it comes to plastic bags but bloody hell……….I am not going to be lectured on this by a 20 year old sodding toy shop assistant. I already knew how hypocritical she was because of my Christmas toy experience.
Have you seen how much toy manufacturers use to fasten one small, lightweight toy into its box? Twisty ties, unbreakable plastic, molded trays all apparently designed by Chinese torture experts who believe it is essential to strap one teething plastic toy into a waxed cardboard coffin. Mystifyingly, the whole thing is often then caged within a clear plastic dome as if it is a carrier of some world destroying virus. Obviously, it is impossible to open. This is why so many parents can be found on Christmas Day weeping openly and making obscene gestures at new toys with bleeding hands.
Honestly, getting a bollocking from a toy shop assistant about “being green” is like getting a bollocking from the designer of the Norwegian Epic about wearing clothes that don’t match and that look ugly.
Oh by the way…………I am ashamed to admit this………….but I did in fact buy the “bag for life”…….not because I have gone all Al Gore……but because the shop assistant had a nice bottom.
Time for today’s questions……….off we go.
CALLY D Asked:
My sailing date is 8/14/10 family of 5.
We plan on visiting Atlantis Water Park, but the price is little high to visit $120 for adults and $100 kids. PRICE TAG $540 A LOT OF MONEY FOR A 4HR VIST. IS IT GOOD THING TO DO?
John Says:
Hello Cally DI am sure you are very much looking forward to your cruise and I admit straight away that the price of the Atlantis Water Park is not exactly cheap. But is it worth it? Yes …. absolutely. The hotel certainly dominates the skyline of Nassau and cruise ship guests are immediately drawn to it. It’s a massive 2,300-room hotel resort on Paradise Island. I remember Heidi saying her first impression of the hotel was of a huge pink and green wedding cake that had crash landed in the middle of paradise…………..not bad for a Dutch girl. But it certainly is jaw droppingly impressive…..especially the aquariums. Our Shore Excursion fact sheet tells me that he biggest holds 2.5 million gallons of salt water and 13,000 sea creatures, ranging from shoals of fabulous multicolored Nemos and his mates to hammerhead sharks and a mesmerizingly graceful manta ray. But it is the Mayan water park that is the scene stealer and if you and your family love this kind of thing then this is an absolutely must see. Centre stage is a mock Mayan temple, which contains five water slides, including a stomach in mouth, water-up-nose; 60-foot drop known as the Leap of Faith.
It is important to remember that the only part of the hotel with free admission…..is the casino…………what a shocker!
So yes, it certainly is in my opinion the thing to do in Nassau…..unless shopping for something made out of straw seems just as exciting.
Best wishes
JohnCharles Fox Asked:
John (reply if you can),I wrote to you previously about my previous cruises and mentioned that Jacquie Vasquez (Carnival PVP) and the Group Department at Carnival had provided exceptional service on my previous cruises and the one we were going on January 6, 2010.
Unfortunately, the cruise is over, but we all had a wonderful time. There were 34 of us cruising together (we had 16 cabins booked) and I didn’t hear a single bad comment from anyone.
We were aboard the Carnival Spirit, and the first day was my beautiful wife and my 2nd anniversary. I wanted to let you know that the flowers and other items I had ordered were delivered and in our room upon boarding. Thank you for taking your time to pass that request on to the ship.
Our cruise was fantastic. We had not previously sailed to the ports we visited, so everything was new. The excursions we had booked were great. The food (as always) was superb. My wife and I were fortunate enough to have dinner with the Captain (Giovanne Donato) and some of the senior officers. It made my wife’s day. It was a very good experience. The Maitre d’, was Mister Vivek and he made it a point to stop by our table every night. Super dining experiences.
Our Cruise Director was STU Dunn. STU did an outstanding job and was very visible during the entire cruise. My wife loved his Dolly Parton impression at the “Legends” show the last night of the cruise.
Now that our cruise is over, we will start working toward and planning our next cruise. We can’t wait.
Thanks,
Charles FoxJohn Says:
Hello CharlesThank you so much for your review and that this time the bon voyage gifts were delivered on time. I will make sure that your words of praise are forwarded on to those onboard the Carnival Spirit who made this cruise so special.
Please let me know if you need any help planning your next fun for all cruise.
Best wishes to all
JohnHelena Asked:
Hi John (PLEASE REPLY),We are taking our girls on their first cruise April 3rd on the Carnival Dream. This will be our second cruise. Last year my husband and I took our first cruise on the Carnival Glory and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves after I got past the jitters and being sick the first few days. LOL We are very excited to take our girls on this cruise. My daughter will be graduating this year so this is part of her graduation gift. Is there anyway you can arrange for us to be seated in the center of the dining room where they can see the entertainment? Where we were seated on the last cruise, we were unable to see.
Also, I would just like to say I am very pleased with how the crew members handle allergies. I have a food allergy and the maitre d was very accommodating. I am trying to make this cruise as special as I can for both my girls and my husband since this will be our 21st anniversary. Anything you can do to help make this cruise special, would be greatly appreciated!!!
Please say hello to Heidi and Kye.Looking forward to hearing from you!
)
Thank you,
Helena FedakJohn Says:
Hello HelenaI am sure your Carnival Dream will give you smooth sailing and you won’t have any sea sickness. Just remember should the unlikely event occur be sure to order peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which are the only thing that tastes the same coming up…………as it does going down.
I will certainly do all I can to help you with your dining assignment and in our Maitre D’s Ante and Klaudio I know you will find some wonderful hospitality here. Please speak to them if you have any allergy questions.
I hope your daughter has a terrific graduation cruise and you all have a fun time.
best wishes
Johnrickey coffey Asked:
Dear John,I am interested in whether or not the Dream is sailing in the year-2011. My wife and I would like to go to Rome-Italy. So, I would like a response back. I am interested in Carnival Cruise lines. I am always on the website, I am that committed to knowing a lot about Carnival. Please, reply.
John Says:
Hello Nicky CoffeyYour Carnival Dream will be sailing in the Caribbean in 2011 however her sister ship the Carnival Magic will be joining the fleet in 2011 and will spend a full season in the Mediterranean sailing on 7, 9 and 12 day cruises. Why not pop on over to www.carnival.com/magic and have a look at the amazing itinerary which included ports such as Venice, Dubrovnik, Rome and Monte Carlo.
If you have any questions about this or anything at all I remain at your service.
Best wishes
JohnGary Woollam Asked:
Hi John – Please ReplyWe are the two scousers from Liverpool. I spoke to you on your show on The Legend, in October. Well, we enjoyed it so much, WE HAVE BOOKED AGAIN. !! This time The Miracle, on 5th Dec 2010.
What can we expect..?
What is the ship like?
Who is the CD..?
Gary Woollam
Come On You Blues
Ps Hope you liked the shirt!!John Says:
Hello GaryI remember my two Everton fans really well and the shirt is here with me. Congratulations on booking the Carnival Miracle which is the same class (Spirit) as the Carnival Legend. The layout though is the same although the interior is a different design to the Carnival Legend.
The Cruise Director schedule for 2010 is only complete up to June but as soon as it’s done for the rest of the year I will let everyone know. I have never had the pleasure of being the Cruise Director of the Carnival Miracle but I can tell you that for many people reading this blog thingy that the Carnival Miracle is their favourite vessel. Anyone who has sailed recently like to comment on that and help two Liverpudlians out?
I know you will have a great time and if there is anything I can do for you please let me know
Sorry about the loss to the reds
best wishes
JohnLong Tall Sally Asked:
John – please replyI just returned from a cruise on the Sensation and was not happy with the cabin steward. We were sleeping one morning when he knocked on the door and woke us up. It was only 10:30am and we were on vacation and he did the same on the morning we had to get off the boat when he knocked on the door at 8:45am. This was not the way to treat people.
Sally HJohn Says:
Hello Long Tall SallyObviously I am very sorry that you were disturbed by the stateroom steward while you were sleeping. By the way, I have to ask, did you have the “do not disturb sign” on the door? As for the morning of debarkation I am afraid to say that we do need to have guests leave their cabins as they have to be prepared for the next cruise. I hope this did not spoil your enjoyment of your cruise and that overall you had a great time.
Best wishes
JohnDave Carson Asked:
STEPHANIE:I want to book the Pride this fall. Can you tell me John’s dates as CD on Carnival Pride?
Thank you!!!
~Dave CarsonJohn Says:
Hello DaveThere will be a Dear John letter very soon from Jaime the current CD on the Carnival Pride and she will give you a great insight as to what is happening on that great ship. I will be there in the fall ……..wow that was very American ……….I mean the autumn. It is sometime in September and I will be there until November. Please give me a little time to confirm the dates to you and I am honoured that you are considering sailing with me.
Best wishes
JohnSusan O. Asked:
John, please reply if possible.We’re on the Freedom on 2/13 (our 6th Carnival cruise…going for platinum….loyal to the end!).
I’ve read a couple of ships are offering a “Chef’s Dinner” and am wondering if it’s available on the Freedom. We’ll be sailing during our 27th anniversary and my husband is a real foodie and would LOVE this if available. I believe it’s available on the Ecstasy and Dream.
Thanks in advance….your sense of humor makes me smile every day!John Says:
Hello Susan OThanks so much for your loyalty to Carnival and it won’t be long until that Platinum card is yours. The Chef’s Table is currently only available on the Carnival Ecstasy and your Carnival Dream but there are plans to do this on other ships soon. Please make sure that as a foodie your husband tries the Steakhouse………..it is truly superb.
Thanks for the kind words and best wishes to you both.
JohnBill (Zydecocruiser) from ZydecoCruiser.com Asked:
John, Please replyAhhh. One of my favorite subjects – FOOD!
I read that on some Carnival ships – even some without a Steakhouse restaurant, that a special Chef’s dinner with wine pairings is available for $75.
The two that I saw mentioned were Carnival Ecstasy and Carnival Dream. Is this available on all Carnival ships? If not, how about Carnival Sensation?
How does one book this special dinner?
Thanks,
BillJohn Says:
Hello BillAs you can see from my reply to Susan O above there is indeed the new Chef’s Table available on both the Carnival Ecstasy and the Carnival Dream. I hope you saw my review of this on a blog last week as well. I would love to say I got to try the experience of this specially created menu that is enjoyed in the galley while it is in full operation …… but I haven’t because it has been sold out on all three of the evenings that we do it. We have separate comment cards that we give the guests to complete.
Here is what the guests are saying:
I know you love your food and hope that you get a chance to sample this wonderful culinary experience.
My best wishes to you and Elizabeth
John
That’s all for today. Those replies were to questions that were asked on January 15 and 16 so as you can see I am still some weeks behind. I may have to sacrifice a blog this week to just answer a triple load of questions.
Anyway, please keep the comments coming as I truly enjoy reading them all.
And so another cruise starts and before I talk about this one I should finish off with a few words about the last cruise. Friday was a very busy day as I mentioned in my brief blog thingy. The response at the debarkation talk was excellent with the audience standing and applauding the hard work of the crew. Then unfortunately later that night we had a sudden outbreak of vomiting on the ship…….nope……..no one was ill…… the vomiting was caused by me…….appearing…..in my Dolly Parton dress in Carnival Legends.
There was though a serious note to the day as many guests scrambled to try and arrange flights and transportation to areas that were expecting heavy snow. And of course they awoke this morning to find that the promised “snowmargedon” had arrived leaving many with canceled or delayed flights and leaving Al Gore looking pretty silly.
The snow had an effect on this cruise as well because we had close to 80 no shows from the East coast. Some will join us today in Cozumel and some will not, reminding us all of the massive importance of travel insurance. I know many of you who read the blog thingy are from the snow affected areas so stay warm and remember……when building a snowman the carrot doesn’t only have to be used for the nose.
Well, let’s see who is joining me this cruise on their Carnival Dream.
Guest Count – 3,889
Non US or Canadian – 351 including 86 from the UK and 39 from Israel
Under 2 Years 7
2-5 Years 46
6-8 Years 39
9-11 Years 66
12-14 Years 62
15-17 Years 40
18-20 Years 23
Past Guests – 2,417
So here we are heading to Cozumel. It’s 7:40 am and here I am in my underpants having remembered to close the curtains in case someone sees my thingy. Then again………I haven’t seen my thingy for the last few years since I built an awning over it.
Yesterday we were at sea and while the weather was mostly nice with the clouds doing battle with the sun it was again very windy as it was most of last cruise. Unfortunately we had to close the two bigger water slides which is never good but……..safety must prevail.
Also sailing this week is the Super bowl group of 1,232. This is a group of football (not soccer, the one where they don’t use their feet) fanatics who had a private performance of the World Series Bowl Final thingy in the main theatre which on your Carnival Dream is called the Encore.
This gave me a bit of a dilemma. You see, the game was shown last night which is usually our main elegant night featuring the Captain’s Celebration, shows and of course lobster and prime rib on the menu for dinner. I therefore decided to change the elegant night to another evening. This wasn’t as easy as you would think because on this itinerary we have four back to back ports of call…..Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya. And all of those ports with the exception of Costa Maya ate ones where the ship sails at 6 pm.
But I didn’t want everyone to miss the elegant night and of course all the trimmings I just mentioned and so I had to change the elegant night to Cozumel. That’s not ideal but at least the ship could enjoy the game, dressed in football watching attire and not have to decide between the World Series Bowl Final thingy or elegant night.
Of course this means swapping menus, schedules and all the departments have to change accordingly which is a big job but as usual they all did a superb job.
And so on to the game. Well, the Super Bowel…….sorry……..Bowl group had the main theatre from 4 pm to 11 pm and not only watched the game on the big screen in the lounge but also had raffles, entertainment and that gave the proceedings a brilliant atmosphere. The only problem for me was that as Carnival Groups department had given the Super Bowel……sorry……Bowl group the lounge, this meant that we could not provide a show that night in the theatre. Therefore I scheduled as much as I could in the Ocean Plaza and around the ship and we had 5 performances in the Carnival Comedy Club.
However, the place to be if you were not watching the game with the Super thingy group was the Seaside Theatre Big Screen on Lido Deck 10. We provided beer and bar specials and a menu which I am told is usual Super Bowl fare…………here it is.
Grilled Steak Sandwich
Cheeseburgers and Fries
Spicy Breaded Chicken Fingers
Tempura Shrimps
South Western Spring Roll
Chitterlings
Hot Dogs with Cheese, Chili and Fried Onions
And here are some great photos of the event.
It seems everyone enjoyed the coverage and all the extras we provided…….. well ……… nearly everyone.
Guest: Mrs. ————-Ref: 846002191A
Cabin: ____Booking#: ____ Added-Changed: 02/05/10 – 02/05/10C – ——- UPSET THA THERE WAS NO SHOW AND NO ELEGANT NIGHT
Mrs. _____ came to the GSD very angry and refused to wait in line. She said that she should have been told that there was no elegant night as she would have disembarked the ship before left Port Canaveral. GSA explained that we had changed to Cozumel for elegant night. Mrs. ___ wanted to speak to Hotel Director and said that she should get a refund as there was no show and because she had come on the ship because she does not care to watch football.Tasked to HD and CD
I hate comments like this because in a way she is right. Group business is massively important to every cruise line and every cruise line is actively trying to get more. But there are times when it does cause some concerns for us onboard. Anyway, I called the lady and we met and after I explained that she would not miss out on any show because I have re scheduled the one that we would have shown last night ….she was fine. Good, I thought….right up to the point where she demanded she be compensated to the tune of $150. She did say though that she would be happy with dinner for her and her husband at the steakhouse and an upgrade to a balcony cabin. I hope she likes the fruit basket.
She was the only guest who made a comment although again…….she had a fair point I guess. As I told her, she won’t be missing out on the Extreme Country show as I have added that to the last night’s entertainment lineup.
During the game I wandered around talking to guests and watching the game as much as I could. While I don’t understand the game itself too well, there are certain things that I truly enjoy.
The national anthem is a special moment in the pre-match thingy. I thought country singer Carrie Underwood did well but couldn’t understand why the commentator kept mentioning Tony Roma’s………was she sponsored by the……or does she just like ribs?
I understand that some people even tune in just to watch the adverts. A blog dedicated to those will be forthcoming. But, I have to ask…..$3 million……for 30 seconds……is it worth it? I mean……..aren’t most people in the toilet during the commercials getting rid of the first quarter’s Taco Bell?
Anyway, I saw a few and although noting really stood out, I did see one with a group of men walking over a hill in their underpants……which obviously I loved.
The Halftime Show. Well, the most famous of these was of course Nipple Gate when Justin Trousersnake got rid of Janet Jackson’s support and all hell and one nipple broke loose. I was hoping that this year Megan Fox would have a wardrobe malfunction and her jeans and underwear would fall off. But she wasn’t in it ….so who was.
Yes ………the Who…….no…….not the Prime Minister of China…………you are thinking of the wong………get it?………wong………thing. I am talking about THE Who. These aging rockers haven’t had a hit since 1975 but personally I thought they did a great job ………. and Pete Townsend didn’t even have to show his nipples.
The Super Bowl is a multiple orgasm of showbiz and commerce, and the MVP ……….the Most Valuable Player thingy ………traditionally goes to Disneyland……when he should, of course………………… go on a Carnival Cruise.
Unlike proper football or “soccccccer” as it’s pronounced by my American blogger friends there is little or no chance of having your head kicked in by a supporter of the other team. You’ll never meet a nicer bunch of supporters than American Football fans. Light-hearted, passionate and knowledgeable, most games don’t have home or away stands like we do in the UK at our football stadiums…. instead the fans mingle, inevitably arguing like school children before reconciling over a chest bump and a cold Bud.
The uniforms are brilliant. OK the shoulder pads are a bit eighties and the players may look like they are wearing one of Joan Collins dresses from that program Dysentery …. but the ladies seem to like them as do the men who are not watching the cheerleaders bottoms. Yes, I know I may have mentioned here on the blog thingy that they’re big girl’s blouses and how in England we play Rugby and…. we do it without padding. Of course in England we prefer to have a cauliflower ears and broken noses in rugby…… A problem unheard of among American sportsmen…..unless you are an ugly sod anyway like Tom Brady!
I am glad I got to see the game here in America though unlike my mate Danny who is a huge NFL fan. He is watching on the BBC who has their own commentators …………….. British commentators…………who know bugger all about NFL………….and is the same as asking Al Michaels and John Madden to commentate on a game of cricket.
Danny and my British friends didn’t get to hear Jim Nantz say “Peyton Manning steps out of the shotgun. It’s a pump fake, the defense come at him with a full on blitz….. Manning looks up and sees Reggie Wayne is open the throw…what a catch ….a shimmy move and Fitzgerald is free……he might go all the way….he does… TOUCHDOWN COLTS!”
Nope……….the BBC commentators will no doubt will be more ………. ummmmm ……… British.
“It’s a beautiful day here in Miami, Florida…….. unlike the snow we have had here in the UK this winter as ……..ummmm….the quarterback seems to be doing a funny dance with his left leg and now he has the ball and oh I say it’s a jolly good throw to the tall one who is running very fast toward the goal sticks. Two rather large men are chasing him but one seems to have eaten far too many pies and has fallen over…….oh now the tall one is doing a funny dance so I think he has just scored a goal………….spiffing play old chap.”
Well at the end of the night it was the passengers who were cheering for the New Orleans Saints who were dancing on deck while the players can look forward to diamond encrusted white gold bling that should keep their retirement home payments going when they auction it on eBay.
And so it was a very successful night for both the private Super Bowl group and the rest of the guests. And even though we didn’t have the main show because of the group function, even those who did not want to watch the game had a great night. The live music was very popular especially at the Ocean Plaza where we have our new rock n roll/country band Blackjack and as you will see now……..the comedy club was also a huge success.
1,777 saw the comedy shows which will be repeated tonight of course for those who were watching the game. Oh…….and I mustn’t forget that the stars of the ship last night were the bar staff for keeping the demand for beer etc coming and those who once the trophy was presented and the guests went to bed………cleaned up the decks and lounges so that when they woke up this morning…….you would never have known that there was one hell of a party there the night before.
I know bugger all about American Football……give me basketball any day. But ………. even I have to say that I am ecstatic that the trophy is on its way to the Big Easy so soon after its devastation by Hurricane Katrina. Last year the bloggers and I did our little bit to help rebuild New Orleans and we all hope that this win will be a rallying point for those still suffering from the aftermath of the hurricane.
Goodnight
Your friend
John
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.
Had a group of 61 people on the Dream Jan 30..I have not stopped laughing about the Night Time Story. One of my clients bought the DVD and we are having him bring it in so my staff could witness this adventure! Loved the cruise..ships are getting too big..15,000 people in St MAatens is obscene! Funny thing..my comment card disappeared frm my room..I know my cabin stewart wad good, but I am certain he didn’t run it down to the comment box! Wonder if he thinks I said something bad about him..very strange. Thanks for a great time and we’ll be back next year. Allison’s Travel
Hi John
I am thinking you didn’t get my questions I submitted several weeks ago. I prob did something wrong sending it as it was a first for me. My husband and I will be first time cruisers on Feb 27 on the Dream, We are booked on level 2 – 7C, and now we are wondering if we should try to upgrade to a better balcony room higher up?? Since booking I have read some comments regarding this deck level as being too close to the water..Will we have any views with this level? Should we upgrade?? By the way friends we are going with, the
Avery’s are celebrating their 50 wedding anniversary and will have their vows renewed by your Captain so we are looking forward to that. Also we are booked for late dining, is it possible to have a table where we will be able to see the entertainment. any help would be greatly appreciated. We really nothing about being on a cruise so really any help and advise you can give we will take gladly..Thanks
John,
See you in 18 days!! Can’t wait. It is looking even better with our second round of snow in Arkansas. I just hope we don’t have any weather delays when we fly to Orlando, like some you have mentioned this past week. Take care and see you, Heidi and Kye soon.
James and Bobbi
P.S Geaux Saints!
I recall very fondly the day we spent at West End Park in New Orleans. It was dirty, it was messy but it was well worth it. I hope we can do something equally nice for the folks from Galveston, Tx.
I watched the game, as well, and though I was rooting for the Colts the better team won and that’s what it’s all about.
I’ve got to tell you that the Comedy Club on our Carnival Dream is brilliant. What a stroke of genius and what a gorgeous venue!!
It certainly looks like the folks on the Lido Deck had the best seats for the game! I wish I could have been there.
All the best to Heidi, Kye and the 12,753 Stephanies!!
Ciao!!
Host Mach
Hello John,
I wanted to reply to the blogger’s questions about our Carnival Miracle. My family’s two Carnival cruises have been on the Miracle and we love this ship for its size and ease of getting around. The decor is great, even the dining room, and the staff made our vacations a relaxing time. They will enjoy their cruise on this great ship.
I Love you John!!! You never fail to make me laugh. And I usually need one.
“A day without a John Heald blog post is like a day without sunshine.”
Keep it up sir.
Your friend,
Mike.
Dear John,
Great blog! You had me laughing at the comparison of American vs. Brittish commentators. Sometimes, though, even the American commentators get on my nerves by announcing some weird statistic that has nothing at all or very little to do with football: “The Saints have never won in the post-season when the temperatures are greater than 80 degrees with winds blowing out of the North.” I mean, seriously?!?
Anyway, as much as I enjoy the Super Bowl, seeing those pictures made me disappointed that I had to watch it from my own big screen and not the Seaside Theater on the Carnival Dream. Sigh!
By the way, what are “Chitterlings”?
Take care,
Laura
Dear John,
I am shocked and agast that you watched the “SUPER BOWL” and even mentioned the commercials without mentioning the commercial with Megan Fox naked in a bubble bath with a camera phone. By the way John, you can watch all of the commercials again on the internet. Try not to hurt yourself getting to the nearest terminal.
I am a San Diego Chargers fan and I own and wore my Drew Brees Chargers jersey while watching him go on to win the Super Bowl. The players and their coaching staff did everything possible to bring home to New Orleans the trophy and I have never been so proud of another team winning the big game while my team sits at home eating Doritos. Drew Brees is the best quarterback in the league and the upper management of the Chargers traded him away. No wonder that I hate upper management! Congrats to all of the great fans in NOLA and the answer to the old question of “WHO DAT Gonna Beat dem Saints?” is nobody!
The Cruzin2some
James & Nancy Enslow
Please reply
Hi John,
Just wanted to take a minute and say thank you for the blog and thank you for making a Carnival cruise wonderful.
My daughter and son-in-law sailed on the Carnival Triumph February 1 for their honeymoon. They had a wonderful time. They are experienced Carnival cruisers. They were even surprised one afternoon with a knock on the door and a gift from you. They said to tell you thank you. The chocolate covered strawberries were delicious.
They did the Dolphin Swim and Ride with Lunch and had a wonderful time. They thought the excursion was well done and wonderful. They also did the Behind the Fun Tour and loved it.
When they became engaged on the Carnival Imagination in July, 2008, Jorge Solano was the cruise director then and again on their honeymoon cruise on the Carnival Triumph. They did get to talk to him and share this information with him. They said all the staff was wonderful.
Thank you again for all you do to help people have a wonderful cruise. Thanks also for the blog, as it keeps us going until our next cruise. Can’t wait unitl I get to cruise on the Carnival Triumph on June 5.
Cindy
John,
hello…I havent gotten any reply to the message i sent a while ago…do think you may have seen it since several of your blogs had “humour”…spelled correctly” as i did in my blog since i have several Brit friends and am aware of the spelling difference…just a small touch of humour..it was on the auto supermarket checkout day….please check the pride 2.21 …there are a ton of first time cruisers, including 4 in my gang which includes an autistic young adult (read your very touching item on that) as well as a few anniversaries…know you would like to do all you could to make it a great experience for them!! Thank You…So sad to hear you are going to be on the Pride later this year..AND NOT WITH US….but we know you from THE BLOG!!! Thanks Again..decruiser….JoAnn
John we too watched the game. We hope you did see Mrs. fox there in the bath tub. Are First thought was of you..
Big Fans as Allways,
Frank and Bridie
John,
Thanks for your reply to my last set of questions. Please indulge me in one last round in anticipation of my family’s upcoming March 27, 2010 cruise on the Carnival Dream. The cruise will be myself, my wife, my 12 year old daughter, and my 9 year old son.
I have signed us up for a wedding vow renewal, as this cruise is partially in celebration of 15 years of my wife putting up with me (she won’t know about it until we get on board). Just curious if you know where it will be held. When I initially booked it, the ship was no where near complete, and so the wedding department people had no idea…
Question on the “chair hogs”: I know that the recent reviews have been indicating no chair hog problems, but I’m concerned about our cruise with it being spring break – what is the current “reality” of enforcing those that get up at some ungodly hour (I’m on vacation), just to put stuff on a dozen chairs, or those that swim for a bit, then go to the spa or whatever and keep their books and towels on chairs, which are then unoccupied for long periods of time, etc. I don’t mind waiting my fair share for a chair, but I don’t want to be played for a fool either.
We’d like to have some just good “beach time” somewhere – where would you recommend? Also possibly a snorkel excursion – keeping in mind I swim about a good as a boulder?
Any shot of the short stay in Nassau getting replaced with, oh, lets say Roatan?
Finally, what is your recommendation on the end of cruise survey. I know you said some work was being done on this, but was wondering if there was an update… for example, my first cruise on the Inspiration, everything clearly exceeded expectations – didn’t know what a great thing I was getting into. Second cruise on the Imagination, I had a harder time saying EE as I my “excpectations” were now higher because of past experience – nothing was “wrong” except an issue with a shore excursion thus my recommendation request from you. As I approach my this cruise, here is what I’m expecting based on my past excellent experiences: great dining room staff, great food, great Camp Carnival, great room steward, wonderful entertainment, and the best vacation deal I could find. And yes, I did comparison shop to an all inclusive and gasp – even other cruise lines – for something different, and could find no value to come close to what I’m getting on the Dream. On the survey, I don’t want to “ding” the ship’s rating for them doing what I expect, which is what I would feel like I am doing if I only give them “meets expectations”. Meets should be considered just fine.
Thank you,
Kevin
John (Please Respond),
You never have said how to book the Chef’s Table. Just curious.
Rob Herrin
Hi John,
Please reply if you have the time.
Respectfully, I must disagree with your recommendation for the water park in Nassau for Cally D. This park, per person based on the 5 person total Cally mentioned is $33 MORE per person than a single day at a Disney park in FL AND you still have to purchase food and souvenirs. Honestly, I’d save the money on the water park and just do the aquarium tour because you also get a mini tour of the gounds at the hotel. The aquarium is amayzing! You don’t get to swim or go on the slides, but if that isn’t important to you, then you’ll save money. If swimming there is important and worth the extra couple of hundred dollars more, then go for it. They charge extra to make use of their beach if you don’t have a wrist band that proves you paid for a day there. Shopping (in my opinion) in Nassau isn’t what its cracked up to be either, all of it has to be shipped in from somewhere else so its not really ‘native’ to the island…….so, save your money for other things like the alternative dining options on board your Carnival ship, souvenir photos on the ship etc…..and no, those won’t come close to the same amount of money you’d spend in Nassau, but at least you’d have more money to spend on spa treatments on the ship!
Sorry John, don’t mean to go against what you recommend because usually, you are spot on, but I just had to comment on this one. Hope you understand.
Love your blog and can’t wait to hear about Heidi and Kye’s experience on the plane coming over and how you adapt to having your own little one on a ship! I’m sure your blogs after that will be blogs not to miss!
mrsrocster
Oh my goodness. Well, not my goodness, your goodness, as in you and your thingy. Blog, to be clear.
Just returned to reading it today after being a prodigal reader for too long. Because a prodigal past guest for too long which is rectified on Splendor in March. Besides being entertaining and insightful and interesting, your blog (which is by way of meaning you seeing as I doubt it writes itself) is so informative too. Was surprised to see the comedy stats. Didn’t realize you folks used metrics like that! Thanks for blogging!!! John
Hi John
Did you realise you missed Megan Fox IN THE BATH advertising a cellphone during the SuperBowl commercials?
As a special treat for you, I’m sending you a link to the commercial on YouTube
Enjoy !
Hello John thanks for all the wonderful information that you put out on your blog answering all of our questions. With that in mind here is a question for you. My wife and I, both Platinum cruisers, are currently booked on the Carnival Spirit cruise departing Honolulu on September 26, 2010 and arriving in Ensenada on October 8, 2010. We are strongly considering doing the 4 day cruise that follows it from San Diego to Cabo. The problem is we can’t seem to get the same answer twice from Carnival in regards to deparkation. In the past when we have done a B2B cruise we are mustered in private room, old sign and sail cards collected and new ones issued, we were then escorted off the ship to clear customs and then escorted back on to the ship. However, in this case after deparkation of the passengers from the Hawaii cruise the ship repositions from Ensenada to San Diego before new passengers embark. My question is this if we book the B2B cruise will we be allowed to remain on the ship after clearing customs for the reposition to San Diego or will we have to disembark in Ensenada and be transported to San Diego? Between our phone calls and our PVP’s calls we have received 3 different answers and don’t know which one is correct. We have been told that after clearing customs that we can stay on the ship for the reposition (ideal situation), also have been told that we must disembark and be transported with all other guests to either San Diego airport or Los Angeles Airport thus having to get back to the ship via either an airport transfer or other means, and also have been told that a special type of transportation would take us from Ensenada to the ship in San Diego for embarkation, which is correct? Any of the above scenerios would be fine so long as we know in advance which one, just don’t want to be expecting one thing and be surprised with another,Thank you for your help John it is greatly appreciated.
Hi John
I hear starting next week and for the next three weeks there is a new activity for any bloggers on any of the dream cruises . Find Heidi and Kye and spend time with them and the winner gets a ship on a stick eeach day and babysitter for the night .
Oh and diaper changer for the week !!!!
Have fun the next three week John
Kevin
BLOGGERS,
Have you seen this post by Gene Sloan of USA TODAY. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=77918.blog#Close
Gene in the post refers to Micky Arison calling RCLs new ship as the “Monster of the Seas” and a “floating Mall of America.”. Gene then ask readers to comment on “do you agree with Arison’s take on super-size ships?”. Some of the comments then go on to attack Mr. Arison.
I ask all Bloggers to go and read the post and leave your comments about the size of newer ships.
BIG Ed Konefe
Dear John (the favour of a reply is requested)
I love reading your blog and am now a new blog addict as well as a cruise addict. This is my children’s and my third cruise and we are sailing the Dream March 13. I have a request! More of a question, I guess. I am wondering where on the ship would be a good place for my daughter to be able to practice her dance (ie jazz routine including several leaps and turns) I am asking because she is recovering from a nasty sprain of her ankle which occurred mid December. She is dancing again but still not able to jump full out and probably won’t be able to for another few weeks. This is a problem because as soon as we get home from the cruise, competition season begins for her and she is already missing dance time by being on the cruise (which wouldn’t have been a problem if not for the sprain). She is almost 13 and lives to dance and compete and is a bit of power house, so needs adequate space.
Can you help us pretty please?
Thank you and looking forward to meeting you!
Wendy Bonnell
Hi John,
I saw a few of the Superbowl commercials. I loved the one with the young Clydesdale and the cow.
“Anyway, I saw a few and although noting really stood out, I did see one with a group of men walking over a hill in their underpants……which obviously I loved.”
I saw that commercial and you were the first person I thought of that would love that one. There were few of them that had men in their underpants. I wonder if they have been reading your blog. LOL
I hope Heidi and Kye have a safe trip. It sounds like you are ready for their arrival.
My best to you, Heidi, Kye and everyone behind the scenes of the blog.
See you in a few days.
Cindy
Hi John, we just returned home from our January 30th cruise on Carnival Dream, and of course had a wonderfull time. Thankyou so much for the photo, bottle and ship prize. We did enjoy everything about the ship, including the ‘behind the scenes tour’ the shows we did attend and your talks were suberb. You certainly have a gift with getting the best out of people. Rupert was our cabin stewart and did a great job, nice to talk to people who work very hard to support their families back home, in Rupert’s case his wife and children in Jamica. We had any time dining which worked very well for the four of us and were fortunate enough to get ‘Maglina’ as our head server, not exactly sure on the spelling, she was fantastic, very warm and friendly, with a wonderfull accent and a smile that made you feel so good. Our PVP was Tifarah Young who extremely helpful with our arrangements and answering my sometimes silly questions, we will certainly be contacting her again in the future. We always have a great time on our cruises, maybe because we come from so far away and from a cold climate to really appreciate the warm ans the Carribbean so much, a much greater change for us than someone who lives down south. Thought about tossing something at the Oasis, but don’t think I could have reached her with my egg. There does need to be more options for ports, the amount of people from six ships, five very large ones, made getting around the pier and in town very slow and tiring, we went the the French side to Margot which wasn’t nearly as crowded. We really enjoy the days at sea and serenity. So happy sailing, cheers.
We just returned from our Carnival Miracle on January 23rd from the Caribbean. What a fantastic ship. It was very easy to get around. The dining room and staff were excellent. And although we didn’t have John as our CD, Malcom WOO HOO Burn was amazing. We loved everything about the ship, all of the staff and of course the itinerary.
John, I know you are now counting the hours until you are reunited with your girls. Enjoy every minute of your time together!
Take care,
Lori
John,
We LOVE the Carnival Miracle. We took it to Bermuda last April and are scheduled to sail to the Bahamas on her this May for our anniversary. The steakhouse, Nick and Nora’s is fabulous and we will dine in it 2 times this cruise. There are 2 pools on the lido deck and one has a retractable cover. The ship is easy to get around on, and decor is very interesting. The service is fantastic and the cleanliness of the ship is better than most. The cabins are spacious and well maintained. Hope this helps.
Hi John,
It’s me, PennyB from New Orleans, now Lafayette.
As we say around here “How bout dem Saints?” (spelled correctly). It was not only a win for the Saints but also a win for the city and for everyone who gave up so much after Katrina. You have a small Fleur di Lis on your Royal Writing Underwear and that symbolizes Louisiana and of course our beloved Saints!
CU Soon on the big sea.
PennyB
Hi John!
I was curious as to how you handled the big game this past weekend. It seems like it was a huge success even though the one passenger wanted an upgrade and some $ back (or dinner). How typical!
I remember watching the NFL when I was in London several months ago and the commentary was much different than what i’m used to.
I hope you have a better today.
Good luck!
David
Even though I am in mourning that our beloved Colts didn’t win the Super Bowl, I would like to congratulate all the Saints and their fans for their victory and first Super Bowl win. Sorry James & Nancy Enslow, but I gotta disagree with you that Drew Brees is the “best quarterback in the league”! He has a very promising and great future and I think he did New Orleans proud. I envy everyone who was able to watch the game on the Seaside Theater…… oh well, maybe next year.
John,
I’m very surprised you haven’t mentioned anything about the Megan Fox commercial. You were the first person to come to my mind when I saw it. Did you see it online yet? I wish I was on the Carnival Dream watching that game. Instead, I saw a live shot from the Webcam after the game was over. I’m so happy that the Saints won! They deserve it!
As far as snow goes, here in New Jersey, we got over a foot of snow over the weekend and another huge storm is moving into the area starting tonight into tomorrow all day. I remember you mentioning the complicated packaging that toys come in before and you aren’t kidding. You need to get like heavy duty scissors for these things to break free!!
Anyway, great blog as always. Have a great day!
Cheers,
Alex G.
Hi John,
Just read Gene Sloans comments in the article (http://www.usatoday.com/travel/cruises/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=77918.blog#Close) that referred to Micky Arison and a comment about the “Monster of the Seas”. My personal view on this are that I think it is wonderful that Mr. Arison is compassionate about his view towards Carnival and his customers getting the most for thier money. Which is Carnival….. Where every vacationing experience is personal, right down to the towel animals and chocolate on your pillow. If I wanted to vacation with 6,000 people, I would go to the Mall of America and get a hotel room, stand in line in the food court for an hour to get some fast food that I have to either eat standing up or on a dirty table that someone just left and spend the night in a half cleaned room. I’m not saying that this is what you get if you book on the “Monster of the Seas” ( cute name by the way), I’m sure you get a wonderful room and food. But, do you get the personal touches? Wait Staff that remember your name and what kind of bread you like with your dinner? The barteneder at the Wine bar who remembers your favorite bottle of wine without asking for it? I doubt it! I like those little personal touches. I like being able to visit with the staff and they actually remember who I am the following day and say Hello. I like my vacation to be relaxing…. not fighting crowds. Thank You Micky Arison for letting Carnival be just that personal experience for a reasonable price!!!
Thanks John, for letting me vent a little…. And give a big hug and Hello to Heidi and Kye for me. I do hope Carl and I will be able to see them soon! We miss you!
JOHN, Please Reply
You are always asking for reviews and feedback about our cruising experiences, so I wanted to make a few comments and suggestions about our most recent sailing – Carnival Spirit, 12/21/09 sailing of the Mexican Riviera from San Diego, CA.
Behind the Fun Tour
Absolutely worth the additional fee. No matter how silly, intrusive, or ignorant our groups questions, they were answered in detail and with a smile. When our guide did not immediately know an answer, she got on her walky-talky and got the answer in a matter of minutes.
Our one suggestion – since we are unable to take our cameras on the tour for security reasons – could a photographer be assigned to the tour to take general pictures of the tour areas (being sure to leave out anything of a sensitive nature).
Wine Tasting
The presentation, knowledge, and thoughtfulness of the sommelier was outstanding. We enjoyed the tasting so much, that we did attend the second presentation. Because of the sommelier’s presentation and help during our tastings and Steakhouse visits, we each now know exactly which wines we enjoy and how to order them properly.
Steakhouse
The food was mouthwatering and beautifully presented and the staff – fantastic. Because of the sommelier and the hostess of the Steakhouse, we went back again and again. We were pampered from our first reservation phone call to our last evening departure. I would recommend the Steakhouse as a “MUST” on any cruise.
Lobby Bar Staff
Amazing! We are in the habit of frequenting the lobby bar before dinner. After our visit on the first day, we would sit down and our regular order would be delivered to us without our even having to order. My husband and I had a conversation about the “Goldfish” snack that is served at the bar (my husband loves them). A staff member must have overheard the conversation. The next night, and every night for the remainder of our cruise, when we sat down, a bowl of “Goldfish” magically appeared was in front of my husband.
Photo Suggestions
For those of us who create scrapbook/memory books or prefer professional photos, please have available for purchase:
• Photos of the different entertainment acts; piano players, bands, comedians, jugglers
• A general photo of the cast, in costume, from each of the main stage shows
• Photos of the captain, cruise director, entertainment staff, room stewards, dining room staff
• Have a photographer take pictures in the Steakhouse like they do in the main dining room
• A one time flat fee with all of your photos on a CD.
Cake
Several blogs ago a suggestion was made to have a cake available in the shape of Funship Freddy. It was not available on this cruise – do you know when it will be available for purchase?
Your Choice Dining
This was our first experience with “choice dining” on a Carnival ship. It worked out perfectly for us and our cruising style. We will probably never go back to an assigned time.
Christmas Events/Decorations
The Christmas programs were wonderful and set just the right “holiday” tone. We especially enjoyed the Christmas sing-along. Our only complaint – it was way too short. When the staff saw how well the response was from those attending, they should have continued the sing-along.
The decorations were okay, but not what we expected. The “Funship” did not show in the very subdued holiday décor.
We are looking forward to our next cruise – a Back-to-Back on the Carnival Dream starting 5/1/2010.
Dear Marsha Breen,
I know you think that Payton Manning is the best and as a Colt fan I would expect nothing less from you but look at the numbers Drew put up against your boys and you gotta give him the credit that he deserves. PM came up second best. I will say that I think the two best 25¢backs in the league represented their team in the super bowl, and did so very well. Congrats to you and the other Colt fans as your team got to the big game and like I said my team was home eating Doritos.
The Cruzin2some
James & Nancy Enslow
Dear John,
I found what you said about the british version of soccer or football as you call it, to be very funny!! my family and i were in London over christmas and New years break and my brother and i went to see a watford game with a friend of his!! your football isntvery civilized but i do wish that here in america we had the same spirit as the british do about their teams!!!
Thank you for everything you do,
Nina
Dear John Heald..
you crack me up !.. Its been a long time since we shared some great laughs on board with all my group business that I do with Carnival. and I have been on 35 Carnival cruises..
I have to hook up with you one day… My brother was just on the Dream and loved it.. Todd is such a great CD also.
I had the pleasure of Sailing on the Splendor in Oct for the Halloween cruise and and it was awesome, and then a group on the Sensation a week after.
I am definately interested in Med Cruise in 2011. Glad Carnival got back in the loop.
I am so ready to book a full ship charter soon.!
Bon Voyage.
Ciao..
Gloria Saponaro
group travel/event planning
Great Super Bowl!! Wish we could have watched it on the Carnival Dream.
Regarding the Carnival Miracle: We have sailed on her three times and do love that ship! Great food, service and overall convience.
Thanks, for responding to my question. My wife and I among friends will be attending the ” Carnival Magic” And by the way, “John” my name is Rickey, not “Nickey”. We try to go on Cruises every year. We will finally, get to sail on the “Magic” What a experience it will be as well as the other curises has been.
John:
Thanks so much for the wonderful memory of our day at the West End Park in New Orleans around this time last year.
DJ still talks about scrapping those metal benches.
I had to find a task that was “away from the crowds” and those benches were perfect.
Don’t forget there is a really good KMART in St Thomas that is an easy walk from the ship. We visited it when we were on the Dream with you December 3rd!!
Linda (Mom of your friend~ and now expert bench craper~ DJ)
John, we must say you really made our cruise a fun one. We love your sense of humor and hope we get to cruise with you again. We loved the Super Bowl party on Lido, our dining waiter Osmon, the bartender on Lido who we called big D and all the staff on the beautiful Dream who helped make our vacation pleasurable. Our group of eight had one of the best vacations ever!