During the past 24 months the credit crunch has made us behave very strangely. Sales in luxury goods like Aston Martin, Rolex, and Lalique crystal sculptures of Megan Fox’s bottom fell to an all time low. This meant that slightly snobby people, people who until now have paid $40 for some Italian mozzarella from the local deli, while trying to ignore the fact that the owner of the deli is driving a Ferrari, were forced to buy their cheese from Publix, Winn Dixie or whatever their local supermarket was called.
I remember a conversation Heidi and I had last year pre-Kye and just after those nice chaps at AIG had pulled down my trousers and given me the good news.
It was all over a bottle of ketchup. We have always had Heinz, ever since I can remember but because my AIG investments were worth about as much as a book called How To Win Wars by French General Jean Pierre La’Surrenda………….Heidi had been budget shopping.
The conversation went like this:
Me: “I haven’t eaten no-frills ketchup since I went round to my Aunty Mad Maggie’s house………… and I don’t intend to start now.”
Her: “Don’t be childish. There’s no difference. You’re a snob.”
Me: “I’m not. I just think there are limits.”
Her: “The only difference between no-frills and normal food is the packaging. You’re just a hopeless victim of marketing.”
Me: “Am not.”
Her: “Are.”
Me: “Am not.”
Her: “No rumpy pumpy for you tonight.”
Me: “You win.”
But she was right, Heidi always is and the next time we went shopping I thought about the fact that I had lost 75% of my life’s savings and that I should cut back and who cared if the ketchup wasn’t Heinz or the chicken hadn’t been corn fed or the prosciutto was from Taiwan rather than Tuscany.
I did draw the line at value toilet paper though. It was amazing value if you’re okay with chocolate fingers and a machine-sanded scrotum.
My point is this. It has been a difficult time for you and for me and for those with beards who have to make executive decisions at Carnival.
But really, if you think about it……….that’s it and despite the rumours on the cruise boards about us charging for ice tea on Lido deck and in the dining room or doing away with the complimentary drinks at the past guest party or taking away the Platinum laundry service and taking away the bidets in the suites forcing guests to do hand stands in the shower instead…………. and other bollocks………but despite the scaremongering……..none of it happened.
What Gerry Cahill and the gang did do, though, was keep prices affordable and when you really think about it…….I mean when you take away the comments about lines or the time it takes to check in or that you didn’t like the comedian……………..when you really think about it ……….the price you pay and what you get is absolutely jaw droppingly astonishing…………….it really is.
And if you want proof of this and proof that the economy is on an upturn then have a look at these facts.
Carnival is telling me that they are reporting record wave season bookings and that the reservations are looking as strong as Popeye after eating a whole barrel of spinach.
In fact bookings from January to this morning are at unprecedented levels……….by the way………..someone from marketing wearing sandals gave me that word to use “unprecedented”………..which means that bookings for all of our 22 ships are as high as they have been in quite a while.. This means that you and your friends have realized that Carnival’s affordable fun is unmissable and are booking passage on a Fun For All Carnival ship in record numbers. And that is just brilliant!
Now, our pricing has yet to return to those of 2008 before the bankers of this world took our money and spent it on Latvian lap dancers but Carnival does need to try and recover the cost of the cruise a little bit and that’s why they are raising their prices up to 5% for June, July and August sailings. The 5% increase stars on March 22.
Now I am not supposed to tell you this but thanks again to our Super Spy PA 007 I am able to tell you this morning. My advice then is book now, tell your friends to book now and e-mail, Twitter and Facespace this news as quick as you can. Save money and book now and the money you save by doing so you can spend onboard when you order a steak in the dining room…………..oh bugger ……….wrong cruise line…………..or order room service………..nope, that’s not us either. What are you going to do with all those savings then…….mmmm…………..well there is the Buy John an Aston Martin Fund which so far has raised ummmm………bugger all ……or just use it as a deposit for another fun for all cruise vacation.
So, the good times seem to be back and on behalf of Gerry Cahill and the many thousands of shoreside and shipboard employees at the world’s most popular cruise line, thank you for your loyalty. Now, stop reading this and pick up the phone or click on the mouse thingy and tell the world………….book before March 22. There is a free photo of me in a thong for everyone who does.
I will be back tomorrow with a regular blog including news on Ken Byrne and how hand washing got me in serious trouble
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.
You are so right John
I laughed when you mentioned about the ketchup. We had a similar discussion except Chris, he drew the line at butter. I wanted to go and get margarine, as it was cheaper. But said he hadn’t been working all his life for that so I let him win on that budget item and went to screw capped wine.
I am so enjoying the automatic delivery of your posts, now I don’t miss any of them. Way to go Stephanie!
I await with abaded breath and knowing I will have to incur the extra 5% the news of where the Magic will go in Nov 2011. Hopefully we will join you on a TransAtlantic.
John:
Thanks for the heads up..
I have 5 cruises for 2010 that I have not booked yet.
Looks like I need to get busy!!!!
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
I am glad I already have three cruises booked!!
Thanks so much for giving me fuel for the “Hellmann’s mayo” debate that follows the “Heinz ketchup” debate.
Can’t take advantage of the sale because we already have 3 booked over the next year and are waiting for the transatlantic news for the Magic. We purposely booked the Magic in May so we would be ready in the fall to bring her home to ____________. (Fill in the blank please, John)
Nice to know our Carnival cruise line stock will not take a dive and maybe will go up?? Do wish Carnival would bring back the London to St Petersburg route that we were booked on and they canceled when they pulled out of Europe. The Magic around Italy will have to suffice..
Thanks for the heads-up, John. I’m close to booking our next cruise, and this notice of the 5% increase will prompt me to get it done sooner rather than later.
It was nice speaking with you during your afternoon show a couple weeks ago (Feb 12). At that time you asked me to post a review of the Dream when I return home, which I will do on another day, but for now just a ‘thanks’.
Thanks, John. If I’m reading correctly the increase is just for cruises during ‘vacation season’, June, July and August.
Just got off the Freedom….NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY, can beat the value per dollar than Carnival.
Booked #7 on the Miracle next February. Love the new Aruba itinerary!
I say stick with Heinz….it really is better.
Susan O.
URGENT – PLEASE REPLY!!!!!! Hi, John — we were lucky enuf to meet you on the Carnival Dream a couple of weeks ago and it was suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch fun. Anyhow, asking for help right now. We are sailing on Carnival Freedom in October 2010, going to Panama Canal. I remember a few months ago, you wrote a blog telling about an excusion Carnival has for the Panama Canal. I do not know how to search for this blog and am now quite interested in your recommendation. I’m thinking Carnival offered one during which you could actually board a craft and go through the canal. Am I correct or am I hallucinating??? Could you or one of your million Stephanies please help me out? We want to make a reservation for an excusion ASAP so as not to be disappointed and have it sold out. Thanks in advance!!! Love to Kye and Heidi!
I enjoyed how you diplomatically presented this information, in true John Heald style, LOL…brand ambassador and all.
I’m sure people will be complaining and whining, but all of what you did mention isn’t debatable and as much as we enjoyed the savings, understandable.
Inspite of the economy, and inspite of the fact I do buy store brand on the majority of what’s on my shopping list every week…I must have a few name brand items. Ketchup and mayo are some…laundry detergent and hair care products are others.
Sorry Heidi…voting with John and Heinz on this one. LOL
Stacey
John,
My husband and I have 4 children and I have returned to school myself in order to obtain a more lucrative position to once again establish a college fund for them. We budget carefully and we watch how we spend our money. Our major vacations (not including the obligatory trip to grandma’s house each year type of “vacation”) are now taking place every other year instead of once a year. But is because current times has me trying to get the most for our family dollar that we have continued to make a Carnival Cruise our every other year vacation. We just returned from a sailing on the Conquest last month and you are right…there is no where else where I can get a hundred dollar value for each dollar I spent. I give Carnival a dollar and they give me $100 in dinning, entertainment, fun, rest, relaxation, pampering and service in return…now that is my kind of math.
The only thing that upset me on this cruise was knowing that this was the math, and seeing the wonderful service that my family and I received from Rick who cared for our cabin and Sanjep and Fransiscus who treated us like we were royalty in the dinning room and each time we saw them up on deck…. and I do not feel that as passengers we show the proper gratitued.
We pay a dollar and get $100 back and I saw so many passengers fail to even say “Thank-you.” So many seemed to take forgranted all we get for our dollar on Carnival as they feel that they are entitled to it.
My wish is that more stop to recognize all Carnival and its employees extend to us and not only begin to say “Thank you” but say it loud enough for the person next to them to hear. Who knows it just may be contagious and more may begin to extend their appreciation.
As for our family, well we are just waiting for Carnival to open its November 2011 bookings. Not only are we intending to spend our Thanksgiving Holidays on the Conquest once again, we already have the entire extended family in agreement to do the same. We can’t wait.
Hey – you got an Aston Martin for your birthday!!! Okay….maybe it’s not big enough, but you got one….sort of…….
Oh john heinz ketchup is so much better. It is just not packaging. You are right on that one not heidi! I’m not worried about the drinks at the past guest party. Bring up sore subject here…. but please please bring back the fruit punch!!!!!
See ya Saturday,
Big Fans as Allways,
Frank and Bridie
John, the stock holders must like this news. Carnival Corp (CCL) hit a 52 week high today.
BIG ED
Carnival Corp (CCL) closed at
35.80 +2.13 +6.33%
Hello John: (please reply)
I have been enjoying your blog for the last year but this is the first time I’ve written. I love your stories about the guest’s you encounter and their “issues”. Having worked myself in the hospitality industry for twenty years, nothing surprises me anymore, but I do get a chuckle out of it. I also love hearing about Heidi & Kye. I wish I was sailing with you this year, but alas, it is not so.
I do have some questions that I hope you can help me with. My husband, son (10) and I will be aboard the Carnival Glory’s April 4, 2010 sailing and it will also be my husband’s birthday on April 10th. I would like to book the steakhouse for dinner one night, but would prefer not to do that on the elegant nights. Do you have a suggestion as to which night would be best? Also, are (well-behaved) children allowed in the steakhouse?
I would also like to order a cake to be delivered to dinner on his birthday. We are scheduled for Your Time dining. Before I do, I would just like to make sure that is possible because we will not be seated at the same table each day?
I am trying to make this a special vacation for both my husband and son because it has been a rough couple of weeks with my husband’s mother passing away two weeks ago. Any other suggestions that you have to make this an even more wonderful, very-needed vacation would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your response and I hope to be able to cruise with you one day soon. Thanks also for keeping me laughing!
Sue Myers
Way ahead of you, John!
I’ve got 2 Carnival cruises already booked, and they’re coming really soon – April on board the Carnival Inspiration, and May on board the beautiful Carnival Dream.
And I proudly confess – the price I booked both cruises at last year were rock bottom! I have yet to ask for a price adjustment or on board credit. So yeah – Carnival does provide an incredible value!
Finally, I have to tell you that Heinz is the only *real* ketchup we will buy. The other stuff is just “catsup.” Bleh!
Laura
Dang Right
Dear John,
Thank you so much for the head’s up! My family and I already have our May cruise on the Carnival Dream booked, My husband and I are also sailing on the Carnival Fascination in July. Just today we talked about booking our 3rd for the year. We will look quickly now!!!
Congratulations to Carnival for providing the best value for the buck when it comes to vacations!!!
A Loyal Blog Reader,
Charlotte
Sorry John, but I have to go with Hunts Ketchup and French’s Mustard (my last name is French and my grandmother’s maiden name was Hunt). Now if only I could prove i’m related I could get my share of the profits. LOL Then I could cruise more often and then perhaps get you that Aston Martin for your birthday (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).
I am booked and ready to go. My 4th cruise 5/16/10 on Freedom (40-something birthday cruise for me) and my boyfriend is celebrating his military retirement. His first cruise. I am soooo happy I booked early and at a good price, and cant wait to show him the joys of cruising vacations.
thanks, only 128 days until my cruise on the dream..(oops, insert bollicking by John) i mean my CARNIVAL dream.
jason
We would love to book a cruise by March 22…if only you would announce the next Bloggers cruise info !!!
We are saving our cash for the cruise that has you and all the great blogger folks on it.
Until then we will have to settle for a suite at the NIagara Falls tower for Easter.
Phil & Liz
John,
There are lots of things I’m willing to compromise on, but ketchup isn’t one of them! My husband used to bring home all sorts of weird brands of food items, but even he knew not to mess with our Heinz ketchup!
Regarding the price increase for summer cruises, Carnival is still a bargain. Since I mainly cruise spring & fall, this won’t affect me. Besides that, I already have three Carnival cruises booked for 2011.
As a Carnival stock holder, I say to everybody, “Keep booking those cruises.”
Joyce
I agree on the exceptional pricing. I am booked on the Carnival Freedom for May 8 (was also on the Carnival Freedom last May). I booked this cruise last Oct and have been able to get 2 price adjustments from the original price. I saved enough to pay for my Panama Canal tour. GREAT VALUE -GREAT FUN.
please respond.
I have a real problem with what is happening. Can you spell corporate GREED. I can.
Whether the suits at the home office realize it or not, we are still in some pretty rugged economic times. Are they losing money as a corporation? I don’t think so. They simply want to increase the corporate coffers. No real problem with this other than their inability to say that is what they are doing.
I daresay the majority of Carnival’s demographic base are hard scrabble blue collar workers. If they are employed they can afford to cruise on occasion. They choose Carnival form many positive reasons, amongst which is the money saving aspect of the product. Yet Carnival pokes them in the eye and says “bugger off”, give us more.
Can you legitimately defend this corporate greed. I don’t think so. Look, John, I truly appreciate your blog and all the good you do for the corporation and understand that you must “toe” the company line. I seriously do. It just would be good to know why you legitimately think this is a good thing.
Thank you.
Gee, I thought this was a blog, not a promo
John:
A few minutes before I read your blog I read an email from Carnival telling me that the prices were going up. Will get in touch with our TA tomorrowl
Marie
Well, looks like I booked my summer cruise at the right time. I guess I won’t be getting OBC cuz the rate went down, but damn, I did book it at a good price! Almost the same as the January cruise I just went on…
Generic vs brand names–go for brand names, they taste better…
Investmens–my mom sold her house and gave my brother and I a wee some of money. My brother used it to buy their new home and me, well, I’ve been on nine cruises….I was told to invest some of it, but well, it seems I did the right thing by NOT investing it because what it would have gone into would have gotten me Nothing and left me with nothing…..Thus, investing the money in me and some damn good vacation time, was well worth it…I have had fun and Carnival has given me a lot of memories and some damn hot looking men to drool over!
You are so right John….we do not compromise on toilet paper or ketchup…..long live soft, plushie TP and Heinz!!!! Cheers to all, Angela Guptill (aka, the Happy Carnival Cruiser!)
PS We are already in the works for booking our next cruise but ummmmmm………..don’t worry about the autographed piccy of you……we’ll umm……pass on that for now
Well, the price increase is “old” news to me; because I was checking prices and itineraries today! So, I saw the news on Carnival.com.
Found several wonderful values, and will likely book tomorrow!! YIPEEEEE
Hugs to you, Heidi and Miss Kye,
Di
Hi John,
Please reply,
I was sitting reading your blog and it got me thinking about something. When you go onboard as a new CD and make changes to things, do those changes only last while you are onboard or do they continue when the regular CD (like Todd) comes back. It would seem awfully hard on the crew to make changes only to reverse them when a new CD joins the ship. So would you mind telling me how that works.
Give my love to Heidi and Kye, (please post a few more pictures of them, I have only see the 3 that you have posted)
From your #1 Bloggy Thinggy Fan
Kathy M.
MIAMI (February 24, 2010) – Carnival Cruise Lines is reporting record wave season bookings, with strong reservations activity for 2010 departures.
As a result of the strong booking volumes, a general price increase will be implemented effective March 22 for all June, July, and August sailings.
For the period of Jan. 1 through Feb. 21, 2010, bookings were at unprecedented levels for the line’s 22 ships which operate three- to 15-day voyages from a variety of convenient North American home ports.
Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill said, “We’re seeing significantly increased volume as consumers are taking advantage of the incredible value that a Carnival cruise provides. And while pricing hasn’t fully recovered to 2008 levels, we are increasing prices and will implement an across-the-board increase effective March 22.”
He said that the price increases will vary by departure date but will be up to 5 percent. Cahill attributed the record booking activity to a wide range of factors, including strong travel agent partner support, targeted marketing initiatives, itinerary enhancements and the wide variety of close-to-home departure points.
Wave season typically runs from about mid-January through early spring and is traditionally the busiest, most important booking period in the cruise industry.
Carnival Cruise Lines is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 22 “Fun Ships” operating voyages ranging from three to 15 days in length to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England and Europe.
Carnival also has two new ships on order — the 130,000-ton Carnival Magic, which is scheduled for delivery in 2011, and a sister ship set to debut in 2012.
..
It may be just me , but .
“As a result of the strong booking volumes “?
IMO ,it’s a weak booking volume that would raise the cost of a cruise .
It’s all about supply & demand. Strong demand leads to increased prices and the potential of even greater profits. If nobody wanted to go on a cruise, the costs would go down and profits would take a beating. While it does seem that with higher occupancies the cruise companies should be able to hold their pricing or even reduce it, to do so would not be the capitalist way. The cruise companies ultimately exist to make money and as public companies with shareholders they are obligated to work towards being as profitable as they can be. For them it is a balancing act — raise prices when they can get away with even though it may lessen the demand, yet still keep the ships full. Full ships make John’s head office guys with beards very happy. Regards & happy cruising!
JOHN – PLEASE REPLY
I Don’t Want To Work
I Just Want To Bang On The Drum All Day
I Don’t Want To Play
I Just Want To Bang On The Drum All Day
I seem to be suffering from a malignant condition – this tune just keeps running through my mind.
Any suggestions as to how I can get this tune out of my head?
ALL FOR FUN AND FUN FOR ALL
JustJon
Hi John and Heidi;
Can you tell me who is or will be the CD on the Carnival Miracle on 20 February 2010? We wish it were you with Heidi and the baby but know that isn’t possible. Well maybe next time.
Best to everyone and watch that diet.
Bob
According to Johns chart, it should be Josh Waitzman… Sorry I can’t be of more help, I personally have never heard of him…
http://johnheald.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/2010-cd-schedule-january-june.pdf
John,
Buy John an Aston Martin Fund! What a great charity event you could have, your own charity drive! Proceeds of which could go to St. Judes, Diabetes Research or another charity of your choosing. Seriously give this some thought.
When I saw this line, I just had this idea pop in my head.
Gary
Hmmm….I don’t see an actual reason for the increase. If ships are brimming with peeps, seems like the $$$ is rolling in, right? To increase prices sounds like gouging. (unless its just the normal seasonal increase) Makes one wonder in these days of Wall Streets dudes getting Billions in Bonus lately.
PS, John we’ve had you as CD twice I believe, you are the best and we hope to do the Magic inaugural sailing. Wife and I love the Blog, thanks for sharing!
John please reply.
Congrats on the good news for Carnival, glad that it is doing well in these trying economic times. I am a stock holder too, so even though I hope prices stay reasonable I am glad business is good.
I am hoping Carnival might be made aware (if it is not already) of the challenges people are having with the Carnival funpoints mastercard. I opened the account to try to build up some onboard credit. I have enough points, but due to “glitches in the system” cannot redeem for anything, and have been told by a supervisor with Barclays that they are trying to resolve this problem but have no idea when it will be fixed. They are unable to help me redeem my funpoints either. From what the supervisor told me, this situation is affecting many other cardholders. I have tried to get a message to upper management Carnival, but don’t know if it got through since I have received no response. Will you please look into this situation? I know Carnival itself does not run the credit card, but it is associated with it, and I think it does not reflect well on Carnival that the Barclays is not honoring their end of the contract.
I have to agree with you about the sandpaper toilet paper John, but I will disagree with you to the fullest about the ketchup. Before I was in HR, I was a Chef at a rather high end Michigan banquet hall. While I was in culinary school, we lined up 25 different ketchups as an experiement to see how many of us in the class (12) could pick out the Heinz. 9 of us got it on the first try.
To my fellow bloggers, my fiancee and I are strongly considering a cruise for our honeymoon in late September, early October 2011. Is there anything that any of you, Big Ed, Frank and Bridie that you are aware of that might be pointing to a substantial price increase for that time? Also, do you suggest any particular destinations? We just got back from the Eastern Caribbean.
Cheers!
Paul D.
Dear Paul DeJonckheere (Belgian, not Dutch),
If you haven’t been on a Western Caribbean cruise I reccomend that one highly. Cozumel has so many different things to offer, Tulum (Mayan ruins) is the only ruins that are located on the beach. Truly fabulous. Grand Cayman Island is where you can go swimming and feed the Stingrays and go snorkeling at the Coral Gardens. Then there is Ocho Rios, Jamaica where you have Dunns River Falls (VERY ROMANTIC) and it is full of other things all of which are wonderful to do. Swim with the Dolphins, Ride Horseback in the Caribbean, Zipline through the trees. The list goes on and on. The Carnival Dream does this iteneriary as does a couple of other ships so you have your choice.
Congratulations and I wish you all the best.
The Cruzin2some
James & Nancy Enslow
Paul – so how many graduated from that school ( with only 9 of 25 naming the correct ketchup)?
——
I agree John – some things you can cut corners on, some you can’t! Ketchup – any will do in a fix, but Heinz is my preferred brand. TP – the same applies here (though Heinz is NOT my preferred brand in this case)!
I am glad it will be Heinz that I will see on Lido deck this Saturday when I board our beautiful Dream… though I can’t say that I am looking forward to all inclusive TP which I will find there! !
Tom
Thanks for all the info James & Nancy! And Tom, no need to worry, there was only 12 of us in the class, not 25.
, and it wasn’t a graded “project”. We were trying to prove one of our instructors wrong. She claimed that many brands of ketchup, particularly Heinz, also produce the other brands in the same factory with the same products. I am aware of many items in the food world for which this is true. (Just to let you know, Pioneer Sugar also bags Meijer Sugar), as well as Del Monte canned vegetables are canned by the same company that cans American Value vegetables. Oh an Tom, I just got off the beautiful Dream…and I must say….the TP ain’t bad.
John, Pease reply:
About a month ago I posed a question regarding the Cruise Director for the Carnival Miracle for our April 5, 2010 sailing. I have not been able to find out much about Josh Waitzman. Any info? In addition, I always like to schedule my cruises almost a year in advance. With the price increases coming, I would like to schedule a cruise for Alaska in June of 2011. However, these are not listed on the Carnival website. Why? I just can’t bring myself to schedule a cruise on another cruise line (even one owned by Carnival).
In a previous reply to a question, you told me to let you know about a month in advance so that you could have “something” for my son Patrick’s 7th Carnival Cruise on the April 5, 2010 sailing. You made his 10th birthday a true hit back in August on the Spirit. He’s the one that I had posted asking a friend of our “Are you going on a Carnival cruise, or just a regular one.)
Our cabin number is 8156. If you have time, I would also appreciate it if you could forward a request for a window seat at formal dining. Since there are 3 of us, we don’t mind sitting with other people (actually, it’s a great opportunity to meet others…)
Thanks again for all you do and please know that you (and Carnival) have many fans out here. I hope you are having time to enjoy Heidi’s and Kye’s company. I know it will pass far too soon.
Calms seas and following winds……
Dear Carnival,
I have been unable to take advantage of these great prices that you have been enticing the cruising public with. Now that I have almost gotten my income tax return back and can afford to book the family cruise that we have been planning for two years the prices are going to go up before I can book. (See picture of John at top of page with BOO BOO Lip) I knew it couldn’t last forever and if it wasn’t for Bad Luck I wouldn’t have no luck at all!!!
BUGGERS!
The Cruzin2some
James & Nancy Enslow
Hi John & Steph!
Could either one of you reply if possible?
I don’t know if it’s been asked recently but how far away are we from seeing the CD schedule for the rest of the year?
We are booked on the Carnival Legend in November but I think we are going to change our cruise due to this stupid credit crunch. I was so looking forward to our first 7 day & first balcony cruise! I won’t bore you with the details but I will be happy to be on one of Carnival’s awesome ships out in the middle of no where surrounded by the deep beautiful blue water!
Thanks for letting me know!
Steph
John please reply (or one of the Stephanie’s ) we want to book our next cruise for Alaska but the Carnival site doesn’t take us to the August 2011 date. I know that’s quite a distance away but we want to book before the prices go up after the March date. Thanks for the wonderful time we had on The Dream last week (Feb.13th-20th). Best cruise ever!!
Angela
Hello John, Thank you, relay if you wish
Feb 6th- 13th
Well your family has arrived and my family is back home in Canada with the Snow and cold.
Thank you for our “super bowl” cruise, even though we could not really care about the game itself.
We enjoyed the Carnival Dream, its Staff, the Behind the Fun tour, and your entertainment. I brought along some first time cruiser, and they love the concept of cruising the the value they got for their dollar. The quality of the food was superb, the service fantastic, and the ship – Wow! My bother-in-law was blown away with the Gym, and the food! Try getting that quality for the same price at a land base resort.
The table side magic at dinner time as a nice treat, as Arron entertained us all, right down to the youngest in our group (5 yrs) to the oldest (80 yrs.). Arron the magic man, on the Carnival Magic in 2011? I wonder?
The past guest party was fun as always, and the drinks flowed like usual. My Father “the Bug Man” even won the Chef Art Dinner for two. Even thought both my mom and dad are vegetarians, boy did they enjoy themselves, and the food I was told was outstanding. They said they would for sure do it next time, and they don’t even eat the porterhouse or Lobster tails!
My Great, Grandmother-in-Law enjoy relaxing and watching the Great, Grandchildren on the twister slides. My youngest little girl, had a slip and fall ( Friday seas day Feb. 12Th, 4pm) on the mini slide if you can believe it, and cut her eye, enough that some blood was running down her face. The Slide staff member was really concerned, and then out of nowhere, the pool supervisor (officer in White) was right there and personal took my daughter and myself straight down to the medical centre. We were there in no less than 3 minutes after the cut. Well the Scottish Nurse, and Doctor Caroline, cleaned her cut, and tended to her eye. Well 20 minutes later was left the operating room, and my daughter eye was going to be fine thanks to the staff. Upon exiting the operating room, the pool supervisor was there waiting for us, and again escorted us straight up to the the Spot where he first found us. Try getting that kind of service on land basic resort down in the Islands! Fun though, NO BILL for the medical service!!
Thank you again for the table arrangements you made for us, the tables were great and Kulido in the Dining room and his staff were Great.
I never made it down to see your mate Allen at Southend on that Wednesday January 13th, due to the Snow that can that day. I have been before and have bought the lifeboat salt and pepper shakers, and a Model of the SS. Great Britain ship.
Take Care
T. Croker
Totally agree with not using cheap tp! Also agree with what a value Carnival Cruises are…we are already booked on our 10th in October on Valor. Have been many times to Cozumel and Grand Cayman, but it feels like going to our own vacation spot, as we know our way around. Carnival is our way to really relax..not having to drive, cook, clean, and we get to spend time in the casino and looking at the beautiful ocean!
See you in October
Hello John,
Even though we have cruised with Carnival one other time, I have just recently found your web site while looking at our upcoming cruise.
We will be on the Liberty Mar 6-13 E.Carib. From looking at the calendar, I see you won’t be with us. After all the rave reviews about you, that is disapointing. Maybe next time:)
There are 20 of us in our group. The cruise is a gift to the 3 of the boys going with us for their High School graduation this spring. We have parents, grandparents, friends ranging from 12-88 yrs old. We are expecting to have a great time.
I do have a few questions……Is there anyway for all 20 of us to be at a large table for dining (6 PM). Or will we have to divide up? If we divide can we minimize the number of tables and can we at least be close in the dining room?
What suggestions do you have for a “surprise” or special something that we can do for these 3 boys? Teenage boys can be difficult for gifts, etc. sometimes.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Bretina
Wondering if this post ever made it to you John?
Thanks,
Bretina
John, (Please Respond) My wife and I will be celebrating our 25 year anniversary on our Carnival Dream, July 19th 2010! This will also be our Platinum cruise with CCL.
We have always enjoyed each sailing with Carnival and have celebrated many happy occassions at sea. Any ideas for how I could make this occassion a memorable one? We have enjoyed the supper clubs/steak house before. I am just trying to think outside the box.
I wish you were still going to be on board in July. I read the blog thingy each day and really enjoy it!
Thanks for any ideas you may be able to help us with.
Jeff
Paul – rereading your post, I see it was 25 different Ketchup brands, and TWELVE in the class! (My bad!)
Tom
Tom,
Haha, I just read your rereading. So it was a re-re-readings. No worries!
John, I too laughed at your ketchup joke. I have a not-so PG rated one regarding generic TP, an “Indian” (sorry about the not so correct term) and John Wayne. The punchline being “From here on in I’m buying Charmin’ because we no likem’ generic. It’s like John Wayne, it’s rough, it’s tough and it don’t take no ——–off of this Indian!” I hope that wasn’t too offensive. If so I do apologize. We’ve just booked our October cruise. Like everyone here we too are loyal to Carnival however our reason is a bit different. My husband is a retired U.S, Air Force, Colonel and the discounts Carnival has always offered our military are beyond comparison. When one has five children, and at one time three were in university at the same time, family vacations are costly…no matter what one’s demographic is! Prior to our taking them on their first cruise it was vacations at timeshares or camping only (with an occassional bank account devastating visit to the big MOUSE and their $9.00 DRY burgers). Cruising had always been our “time alone” three or four day getaways….AND THEN WE SHARED! Needless to say they have all become addicted and can’t wait for the next family vacation. The good news is only our “baby” (who is in Law School) is still on our dime, all the other have graduated, some gone on to graduate school, some married, some married and divorced but all employed and paying for their own time away. YES! It really does happen people. Of course when they saw how economic Carnival is we were not quite as wonderful as they thought they were but what the heck, we introduced them to the best vacation on land or sea. Sorry Mick!