I finally met some guests who recognized me here on the Carnival Conquest. They are Platinum guests who sailed with me on the Carnival Splendor in the Baltic. They also returned to that ship some months ago and were on the cruise when the governments of the world sounded the alarm about pigs with flu and their three-stop Mexican Riviera cruise was totally buggered.
And it got me thinking. It wasn’t too long ago that the world was in a total panic about bird flu, mad cow disease, climate change, SARS and sneezing porkers. Yet…….the panic was for the most massively overstated and with all these highly qualified beardies crying wolf every time some animal has a snotty nose, when something really scary turns up, we’re going to ignore it, and then we shall all be doomed. My sympathies to those who did contract swine flu, but I don’t think it was hardly any more than those who caught the usual winter flu, and nothing like the wholesale decimation of the population that was predicted. In anticipation of the plague various government agencies told us that to go to a Mexican port was as dangerous as taking a three-week camping trip to Chernobyl. It wasn’t!
Anyway, I digress. Speaking with these nice people today they told me that this was their favourite ship, they told me they were proud Texans and they had no problem telling me how angry they are at President Obama passing his health care thingy. I wasn’t sure why they were telling me this. We had spoken for 5 minutes about the Carnival Splendor and Carnival Conquest and suddenly we were talking politics.
Now before I continue and so not upset those over on the cruise boards who already think I am the sperm of the devil, let me promise that what follows is not a political statement. This is a blog and not an avenue for me to express my political views……well……OK, maybe a little ……. but I was asked a question by these guests this morning and so I thought I would let you know how it went. The question was “Does the health care system work in the UK?”……… mmmmmm ………..now that’s not easy to answer.
My only experience of American hospitals was pre-blog. I should explain that while crew members are onboard the ships they have full and fantastic health care. However, when on vacation and off the ship they are responsible for all their own coverage. This is an industry wide standard and understandable with 20,000 plus crew from every corner of the globe. So, before I became senior cruise director and brand ambassador and thus afforded full and comprehensive medical insurance (excluding hemorrhoid treatment) I had no health coverage while outside of the UK.
I didn’t think that was a big problem until 2001 when Heidi and I rented a villa in Orlando and she trapped her finger in the sliding doors that led out to the pool. After I had called her a clumsy sod I noticed that her finger looked like Tom’s after Jerry had given him the good news by dropping an iron on it. And so we went off to see if George Clooney was working at the Orlando ER. Well to cut a long story short Heidi was denied treatment at the hospital because the receptionist’s computer refused to acknowledge that the United Kingdom existed. Even though I had a wad of cash, and a wallet full of credit cards, she was prepared to let Heidi’s finger explode all over her desk because her stupid software only recognized addresses in the United States. I was very angry as you can imagine and had to use all my charm and the promise of a free cruise and a fruit basket to get her to let me see a doctor. I did. He told Heidi she had broken her finger, gave her some pain killers and put a peg thingy on her finger, smiled and gave me a bill for $475 ……..I kid you not…….$475. After telling Heidi she could forget seeing Disney World that week and writing my address as 25 Bollocks Street on the hospital payment form I called a company called BUPA in the UK and paid for worldwide health coverage.
So I had better try and answer the original question. Should America be dancing in the streets that they have affordable healthcare for all? Well, that’s a great thing and I doubt there is a single person reading this blog who doesn’t wish that. But saying something and meaning it are two different things all together………….a bit like Tiger Woods’ wedding vows.
The British National Health system is brilliant and it is also bloody awful. When Heidi had Kye I could not fault them in anyway and our Mrs. Doubtfire Midwife was a true angel from heaven. She held her hand, cleaned up things that had dripped from Heidi and agreed while Heidi was “pushing” that I was a complete bastard with no more right to live on God’s green earth than a dung beetle.
And of course there are negative sides to it as well. The government has found it hard to pay for this health for all care and thus standards have slipped and continue to do. There are long wait lists and ask any Brit and they will tell you their own stories…
A friend’s 13-year-old daughter fell of her horse and badly damaged her knee. Things started well. The ambulance arrived promptly, the knee was strapped and off she went in a big, exciting van with flashing lights. Now, we are all used to a bit of a wait at the hospital in a room full of people with swords in their eyes and their feet on back to front. But nothing can prepare you for the yawning chasm of time that passes in a British ER room (or A and E – accident and emergency as we call it) before the healthcare system actually does any healthcare.
Of course my Canadian friends also have a similar National Health system as we Brits and now my American friends. I have never experienced the Canadian version for myself but I will tell you that I asked our Canadian Back Stage Manager how it was this morning and he had his own story to tell. He had burnt himself quite badly on his hand while making pasta and went to a Canadian ER in his home town of Calgary. After two hours of nothing despite the fact that bits of skin were falling of his hand he finally stood up and said “Is anyone coming to look at my hand?” “Quoi?” said the doctor, who had suddenly forgotten how to speak English. “Je ne comprends pas.” And with that, he was gone.
I guess I still haven’t answered the question of is Mr. Obama’s healthcare plan good for the country? Obviously I am a cruise director and not a political commentator or a mind capable of understanding the complexities of a health care plan on the massive scale of the one about to unfold in America. But I can say this. Britain’s National Health Service is a monster that we can barely afford…….I hope President Obama can.
Time for today’s questions………….away we go.
Mr Derek Asked:
Dear John, **Please Respond**I am in total agreement with you regarding the hypNOtist show. What a load of “bollocks” (I think that is the correct term!) We sat in the theatre for about 40 minutes waiting for the performer to do something entertaining. Aside from some people looking drowsey (me included) nothing happened. I was not the only one with this opinion as the theatre was emptying fast. They even scheduled him a second “late night adult show” that I only got about 20 minutes into before I gave up. For my two cents worth, invest in a Broadway singer and use the ships orchestra as back up and have some entertainment not just a good snooze.
Since we are on the subject of entertainment, and since the Carnival Glory just came out of dry dock and since I will be sailing on her June 19, do you know what production shows will be performed during the cruise? Also, is the Behind the Fun tour given on a 5 day cruise? I am taking my sister on this cruise for her 50th Birthday and I know she would love that tour. (I took my 50th Birthday cruise in the QM2 Transatlantic)This will be only her second cruise, (her first was Princess Alaska) but I have been telling her about all the wonders of the Carnival ships. She is really looking forward to the water slides. This is my second cruise with Carnival, but I am an Elite Captains Circle member on Princess and a Diamond Member on Cunard, so I do like the Carnival Brands and I’m looking forward to many more cruises on the Fun Ships of Carnival.
I have taken this Canadian itinerary many times, so I am always looking for something new to do in either Halifax or St. Johns. Any ideas?? Also what would be the best night for reservations in the Steakhouse?
Thanks for all you do and please keep up the good work. I know that sometimes you must wonder why did you ever start this thing, but the joy and information it brings to everyone (even the cranky ones) I hope is worth it. I look forward to the day I can finally sail with you (the next bloggers cruise??) instead of running from an angry mob in Philly!
Hello to Heidi and Kye
Cheers!
Derek (sorry for being so long winded!)John Says:
Hello DerekCongratulations on the correct use of the word “bollocks” and you are half way to becoming a true Essex boy like me. Let me see if I can answer your questions. Carnival Glory has excellent shows and includes a new and exciting illusion show which has just been redesigned and features a spectacular and very grand finale which will for sure leave your jaw touching the floor. This along with a show called Living in America and Just Rock give the ship a terrific mix of lavish entertainment. But please don’t forget the Comedy Club which takes place in the aft lounge and features 20 shows spread out across 4 nights featuring 4 different top line comedians. The Behind the Fun tour is now offered fleet wide. However on a 3/4/5 day cruises, we offer a shortened version of the tour will be approximately 2 hours and cost $55 per person.
The obvious choice for you in Halifax is to see Peggy’s Cove. This stunning and beautiful spot is a must see and Heidi and I have many happy memories of our visits there. If you have done this and being associated as you are with Cunard you may want to visit the resting place of many of the poor souls who lost their lives on the Titanic.
The town of Halifax has a very close association with the ship and we offer an informative and historical look at what happened to the ship, her survivors and those who perished. It has been a few years since I have been to Saint John, New Brunswick and I always loved the Cabot Trail. But I am sure since I have been there we have added some new and exciting excursions since then. So, please allow me to ask our Shore Excursion Department to pick their favourites and I will post this for you as soon as I get it.
As for the Steakhouse, well any night is a great night to enjoy this superb $30 menu. However, the night after leaving Saint John seems perfect to me but I would book online as this will probably be the most popular night.
I am sure you have many memories of your Cunard transAtlantic and your fabulous Princess cruise and I hope that your time on the Carnival Glory is also one that you will never forget. I will be back with information on St. John soon.
Best wishes to all
JohnSuzanne Asked:
John, I fell in love with cruising after only one cruise on the Miracle, now I am heading for my second…I am a single gal in my very early 60’s and will be travelling with my daughter this time, and I was wondering is romance still alive and well on cruise ships..Is it really possible to meet other singles, and hopefully have a shipboard romance? You know what I mean…lol.. Or dare I say fall in love…the whole idea of cruising to me is romantic…Or will I have to be content with a Harlequin romance novel…
Question what is the best way to meet other singles on cruise…
John Says:
Hello SuzanneWhat a great question and the simple answer is yes. Each and every week I hear of couples who do fall in love and whose love turns to marriage. I read out many such letters on my morning show and often post them here on the blog thingy. This time of year the spring breakers fall in love and then when they wake up and the Grey Goose fog lifts, they vomit……..and move on to the next baggy pant wearing twenty-something.
But Cupid and his bow are often found on our ships and don’t be ashamed of looking for love on a cruise ship because many people have that secret desire and many find that their dreams come true. I hope yours does and if you can think of any way I can help you before you cruise again please let me know. I hope you have fun and……….I hope you find love.
Best wishes
JohnERNIE Asked:
John, (please reply if necessary)The lady who demanded A/C on the dock in Cozumel gets my nomination for “My PITA Award”. That is” Pain in the Arse” award.
What did she expect? I would have sent her a fan, you know the ones that you hold in your hand and wave in front of your face. All corporations are getting so afraid of a suit; they are starting to get jumpy at their shadows. Bollocks!!!
Love to the queen of the Carnival Dream Kye, Heidi and their funny and lovable Dad.
ERNIE
John Says:
Hello ErnieJust wanted to say thanks for making me smile and for the kind words for Heidi and Kye which I return to you and your family……..air conditioning my arse.
John
Sheryl Asked:
John Please Reply…Hi John, I recently sent an email to Carnival’s customer service to inquire into why I haven’t been receiving my Currents magazine, even though I have cruised recently. I received a disturbing response today that Carnival is no longer sending them. Say it isn’t so, John! I used to enjoy reading the magazine from cover to cover. Does Carnival have any plans to start up another magazine? I’m sure I’m not the only Carnival cruiser who misses Currents.
John Says:
Hello SherylThanks for reminding me to mention this in a blog because up until now I don’t think I have. Yep, it’s true. Carnival Currents has been replaced with the Funville Times, an electronic newsletter that is sent out every three months. I am not sure how this works but thinking about it I should post this here on the blog. Let me ask this question and I will get back you with more specific details.
Thanks Sheryl for mentioning this and I hope you enjoy the new Funville Times.
Best wishes
JohnDianne Asked:
John: please replyI am a huge fan of your blog!! My nephew was lucky enough to sail on the Carnival Dream last week with you. He sent me a picture of the two of you together just to make me green with envy. He said he told you his crazy aunt was your biggest fan. Can you believe he had the NERVE to not know he was sailing with the greatest cruise director on the planet before I enlightened him the week before he left???
My family will be sailing on the Carnival Valor on March 28th to celebrate my son’s high school graduation. This will be our 8th Carnival cruise, and while I know you won’t be our cruise director, I will try not to hold it against Big Tex.
We are celebrating not only my son’s graduation but also the fact that he has received an Army ROTC scholarship that will provide him with a college education and then he will serve his country as an officer after graduation. We are so very proud of him and plan to enjoy every moment of our last family vacation before he goes off to conquer the world. I know he would love it if you could find the time to send a little note congratulating him on his accomplishments.
Many thanks for all you do here. I am a blog “stalker” and never miss a day of checking in with you. Enjoy your time with your family…the time flies by faster than you can ever imagine.
John Says:
Hello DianneThanks so much for having the courage and strength to admit publicly that you are a fan of the blog. This is the first step to realizing that you may need a cruise and quickly. I remember your nephew telling me about you and it was a joy to meet him. You will love Big Tex and I know he will be a highlight of your cruise. Please look out for a note from me and a little something for your son. I wish I could be there with you.
Have a brilliant time.
Best wishes to all
JohnJeff Asked:
Please ReplyHi John, love your blog. I have only been on one cruise (Carnival of course) and was lucky enough to have you or I should say Hulio as our CD. My question is my wife and I are looking at cruising in November of 2011 to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. I see the web site has 7-9 day cruises up but not the 4-5 day cruises. When will those be posted? Can we guess that they will be the same as the 2010 cruises?
Thanks for your help.
ThanksJohn Says:
Hello JeffThe final 2011 schedule is being looked at while I write and I am told by people with beards that we have already opened up some of the shorter sailings and they advised me to tell you to please check again as they were released recently. More will be added soon and I will let you know the details of this very soon. There may be one or two surprises coming so please keep reading the blog thingy and checking www.carnival.com
Best wishes
JohnColin Brown Asked:
Dear John. (Please reply if you have time)Just wanted to say a big thank you to you and all the staff on the carnival dream. This was our very first cruise and to be honest before we had even stepped on board we were unsure of what to expect, the reason for this was some bad reviews on a certain website so with an open mind and fingers crossed we stepped aboard, the whole experience from start to finish was fantastic, the embarkation process was very smooth and then entering this 5 star hotel complex was a dream itself, I could not believe how beautiful this ship was yes I had seen pictures and read reviews but nothing can compare with being onboard, we actually got on within a half hour of arriving at port Canaveral so we had a couple of hours to walk around enjoy some lunch on board we even went to see our stateroom and even though it was not quite ready our stateroom steward let us put our day bags inside (stateroom 2453) apologies if I have not spelt his name right (wayvel) always had a smile and would be always available for our needs. when the ship did sail we then went to your introductory talk in the encore room and this set the tone for the whole cruise I cannot remember laughing so much that my sides hurt and this was every time we went to the encore room when you did any type of audience participation from dick little, Indian head to bob without his aide and of course Mary and many others, who would have thought that you would end up with someone riding you John and giving us the guests the best time ever. all the staff have to be congratulated John for their excellence to service from the cabin stewards to the dining room, all the food area’s and bars, also the entertainment staff on board were excellent in fact everyone I came across who wore a carnival badge. Our 13 year old son had the best holiday he has ever had and made some great friends my wife who unfortunately was not feeling too good the first 3 days once better she had a fantastic time too. As for myself well I had a great time and any worries I had from reading reviews all vanished within moments I had stepped on board. I want to say a personal thank you to Mouna who was brilliant and also for letting me be a part of the carnival legends show as frank Sinatra it was a night I will not forget and I am sure all the other guests on the show will not either. my only disappointment was not actually meeting you in person but hopefully we will do another sailing when you are on board again, one more thing John my 13 year old son was also in the room when you did your afternoon show from one of the kids club rooms and told us that everyone was in fits of laughter when you were on TV that just goes to show what a true entertainer your are John to get kids to like you as well as adults well what more can I say, a truly fantastic holiday we had and thank you for making it so special.
Colin Brown.
John Says:
Hello ColinI am so happy that despite reading some negative comments on the cruise boards your Carnival Dream was everything you wanted and more. You and many more of our guests have said the same and that’s why I will never stop saying how important it is to remember that opinions are not always facts especially it seems in the world of cruising. There were problems at the start of the ship’s life for sure but they were resolved and while some of the negative comments were justified many were not. In fact I think many were written by the same person, in an attic wearing only a pair of flip flops and whose screen saver is a large blue anchor. Anyway, none of that is important right now, but what is important is your review and I will make sure the ship gets to read it. Making the kids of today laugh is not easy and I am happy to hear your son had a great time as well. Thanks for taking the time to write.
My best wishes to you and the family
JohnCJ Asked:
Dear John – haha it’s like that move. (Please reply if you get a chance.)Anyway, my name is CJ & I’m 15 on March 2nd. I’ve been 5 Carnival Cruises, and have loved every single one.
My most recent cruise was on the Carnival Freedom in July of last year on the week of the 26th. I had a great time, but my sister, who is turning 18 this August did not. Particularly because she missed her boyfriend so much that she had to go to a perfect spot in the hallway where she had full service on her cell phone & call him. She even missed him so much that she went to the top deck near the communications antenna and called.
Anyway, now she is stuck paying off a 3,000 dollar (I’m not exaggerating) phone bill. Although it really is all her fault.
So my question is: Why does Carnival charge so much for Cell Service & Internet Access onboard?
Thanks John,
Sincerely,
CJPS: The best night on the cruise was when you were humped by that large woman in the “Mary had a little lamb” skit.
John Says:
Hello CJOh that is such a sad story. And while your sister’s cell phone provider is rubbing their hands with glee your sister must be so upset. Unfortunately it is not Carnival who sets the rates or provides the service. It’s your home network who will determine the international roaming rates you pay for usage. I wish there was something I could do for your sister who is obviously head over heels in love. I hope her boyfriend is paying for some of the bill. Maybe you can contact the service provider and explain the situation?
As for the internet service well that is under Carnival’s domain (it’s actually provided by a third-party concessionaire that manages most of the internet cafes in the cruise industry). It’s more expensive than on land simply because we have to use a satellite to beam the e-mails to and that is expensive. We are working on making a really long extension cord that we can plug into broadband on land while the ship is at sea. I am though happy that you had fun and enjoyed the infamous bedtime story.
Please send my best wishes to your sister and thanks for writing to me.
Best wishes
JohnStacey Asked:
John (PLEASE reply),Enlightening thread going on Cruise Critic right now. Regarding this article: http://www.cruiselawnews.com/articles/sexual-assault-of-minors/ that discusses children’s safety onboard a cruiseship and the supposed lack of a proper background check of the staff members employed in the kids’ camps (like Camp Carnival and such).
I’m normally not an alarmist, but being a parent, you can see where I’m coming from on this one.
Can you please explain to me the screening process for Camp Carnival staff and assure me that they’re screened for any crimes against children?
Thanks,
StaceyJohn Says:
Hello Stacey K WelshIt’s an interesting topic an again I have to ask how the people who posted on the boards know the hiring policies of each cruise line and I would suggest that for the most part it is pure speculation. I can’t answer for any other cruise line but the one I work for but answer I will. All of our youth counselors have to meet important educational and professional requirements, as well as undergo an extensive background check. Every youth counselor is either college educated in education, child psychology or youth recreation – OR – has professional experience with children, such as teaching or daycare.The youth staff is international and all are professionally trained in CPR and are able to provide basic first aid for cuts and bruises. Additionally, should there be a medical emergency; all counselors are instructed to contact the parents immediately as well as the shipboard infirmary.
There will be many parents reading this who will wish to comment on the wonderful staff who work at Camp Carnival and as a Dad who just left the most precious thing in his life with them on Kye’s Carnival Dream…..I can honestly say that there is no better, safer of more fun environment for children on vacation. I would be grateful if you would add this to the thread thingy.
Best wishes to you and your family.
JohnBradley Walsher Asked:
John Heald – Please reply to thisI am a loyal NCL cruiser and have been told by others that you often make cruel and sarcastic remarks about NCL on your blog. This cruise line is so much better than the one you work for and I won’t waste my time trying to get you to believe that. So please stop this at once and concentrate on your job and the company you work for.
Bradley Walsher
John Says:
Hello BradleyYour friends are somewhat correct as I have made the odd comment about the graffiti on the bow and down the hull of the ship. Oh yes…….and there may have been one or two comments about the design of the Epic. I have though never criticized the product and that’s because I have never been on an NCL ship. I am sure what they do is fantastic and it is hardly fair for me to ask people who have a poor opinion of Carnival even though they have never been on our ships not to slate us if I do the same about my Norwegian friends.
The comments I have made about the Epic are done with lots of my tongue in my cheek and I apologize if these comments have upset you. And maybe you are right; it is time to stop them.
Best wishes
John
That’s all for today. The comments have made for great reading these past few days and no doubt smoking continues to be one that tops the charts, please therefore keep this lively and sensitive dialogue going. Remember, everyone who is important at CCL HQ reads this and your opinions are therefore very useful and very prominent.
There was one comment on Monday’s blog about me causing a virus. I panicked when I read that as I thought it was Julie Edwards who I gave a vir……….never mind. Anyway, I truly had no idea what the lady was talking about and what this thread on Cruise Critic was referring to. And so I asked my mate Host Mach to let me know what was going on. He did.
Hello, John!
You might want to add this to your Blog thingy tomorrow:
I just saw the comment on your blog from the person that claimed that she read that you were giving away gifts to people whose computers were infected with a virus that was transported by an ad on Carnival forum at Cruise Critic. There actually was such a post but as soon as I read it I stated in no uncertain terms that you were NOT giving away gifts for such an insipid reason. Shortly later I deleted the thread.
The author of the post meant it as a joke but I KNEW that someone would read it and misunderstand. I guess I deleted it just a bit too late.
Please accept my apology for any inconvenience.
Mach
No need to apologize mate. I realize that while 95% of what is said on Cruise Critic is both valuable, fair and a vastly important to the cruise industry there is the 5% who daily enter the realms of fantasy……..they live in cloud bollock land. I am glad I didn’t cause the virus but if anyone thinks I did and expects a free gift I am happy to send the…………….some penicillin.
Well, on an entirely different subject, there’s some great news about the Carnival Victory on Sunday because while in St Thomas the ship was visited by United States Public Health and scored ……………100 %.
How fabulous is that? I wonder how many Carnival ships have scored the perfect 100 on their last inspections. I know Vance will be writing a press release on this and will no doubt share here with us on the blog thingy………Vance, maybe we could investigate if we are on course for a record with the most 100 scores. It would be interesting to find out. Anyway, congratulations to Captain Leotta nd the team on the Carnival Victory for obtaining 100 ………a score that United States Public Health do not hand out unless everything…..and I mean everything……….is perfect.
So back here on the Carnival Conquest it was a beautiful yet still fresh day at sea. The sun was out but temperatures will still only in the high 60′s but that didn’t stop many of the younger guests enjoying life on lido. I went to see many of the activities and anytime one of the entertainment staff asked where some was from………it seemed that everyone was from the south. Apart from Texas there were lots of Alabamians, Arkansasians and a big group from Oklahoma. Now you may read that list and think that maybe the guests would not therefore dress up on elegant night……….but oh my they did and that was very nice to see. And I would not be a real man if I didn’t mention that there are some fine looking ladies on this ship…….the southern belles were indeed well represented.
The cruise director of this ship is usually of course my friend Chris Jefferson who is home now with his beautiful but slightly sight impaired (she must be, have you met Chris?) Natalie. Chris is on vacation and enjoys some rest and since last week the ship has been in the hands of Mark ……. or Marky Mark as is his stage name. He is a young good looking kid from Hollywood, California and is doing a great job. His first week was quite a challenge though with bad weather in Grand Cayman effecting the tender service……..BUILD A BLOODY PIER……….sorry ………….a technical problem with the magic and illusion show and he had to fire a staff member. Not bad for your first week as a CD. But I am told he handled it all well and certainly seems very confident this cruise and his Mum who is sailing with him this week must be very proud.
Time for some random photos of the main lounge which is called the Toulouse Lautrec Lounge. For those of you who don’t know who Toulouse Lautrec was, he was the Frenchman who toppled the aristocracy and banned three things from the country. Royal titles, the English……..and soap.
The last but one photo is of my old friends Staff Captain Giuseppe Gazano and at the head of the table Captain Antoninio Sammartano. It is wonderful to be with them again and we share a wonderful dinner last night as a family. The last photo is of Walter Ambrogini who is the Chief Engineer and …..Carnival Cruise Lines longest serving crew member who this October will celebrate 38 years with this great company. He hasn’t changed a bit and it was great to see him again.
As you know I was very excited about the Chef’s Table experience where you get to dine in the galley which is at the time in full operation. The menu is exquisite and just 12 people will get to enjoy this unforgettable experience. Well, due to its popularity on the Carnival Ecstasy and your Carnival Dream I have been asked to let you all know that we will start adding the Chef’s Table to other ships as well. Here then are the lucky ships that will get to host this great event.
Carnival Liberty Cruise of 3/20/2010
Carnival Sensation Cruise of 04/04/2010
Carnival Imagination Cruise of 04/19/2010
Carnival Inspiration Cruise of 04/24/2010
Carnival Pride Cruise of 05/05/2010
Carnival Fascination Cruise of 05/13/2010
Remember you can only book this onboard and as I mentioned in a past blog thingy the guests who have enjoyed this experience have all said that it was a massive highlight of their cruise.
I am already desperate to start as CD here and continue to be blown away by how friendly every guest is. I mean last night there was a large gaggle of 15 year old spring breakers “hanging” around the Promenade Deck yet even they were really, really nice and said hello to me as I walked past………….and they have no idea who I am.
Well, it’s time to go. I have a meeting via conference call with the bearded one in Miami. The meeting revolution has taken a firm grip on my mates in Miami and they are constantly in one. To me, meetings are things where ideas get watered down and bad ideas are forced along because no one ever has the courage to stand up and say: “What the bloody hell are we doing here?” …….I suspect that’s what happened when they were designing the Norwegian Epic.
That’s me off Bradley’s Christmas card list then.
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.
John – Please reply
I am sorry to bother you about something so trivial. I have purchased clothes aboard many Carnival ships and one shirt I really love. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit anymore because I have lost weight. This was a shirt on the Carnival Dream, December 3rd 2009 cruise. Is there anyway to find out who distributes the brand “Cruise Wear & Co” on the ships? I called Carnival today and they were unable to help me. Thank you! Mrs. Canolli (that’s what you called me because we brought you a Canolli from Taormina!)
John the thing with everyone speaking to each other is called Southern Hospitality. It is very common across the south, particularly the southeast. You will likely find this when you board the Carnival Fantasy in May. I know you will find this when she docks for the first time in Charleston.
Thanks for adding my comment about the silly virus thingy, John. I appreciate it.
I’m not going to comment on the entire health care thing but life in Progreso is sounding pretty good right now…
I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the Carnival Conquest and the wonderful folks from the southern portion of the US. Yep… polite and fun. That’s us!
I was wondering how you would manage being surrounded but all of the Impressionist art. Le Foo. Now, there really is a high point… Alfred’s, the cigar lounge. It was named for Alfred Sisley, a French Impressionist, who died in 1899 of throat cancer. I wonder if that was just coincidence or a bit of Joe Farcus humour (spelled correctly…). It’s a proper cigar bar and deliciously dark and comfortable. You must enjoy a cigar there soon.
Please pass along my best to your lovely girls!
Ciao!
Host Mach
PS… Stitch says hi!
John you probavly do not rember us, with your extremely busy schedule, but we were the couple on Dream, the last week of January, in the Oceans Plaza, that you purchased a round of Bloody Mary’s for.. The cruise that week was excellent, and we can not wait to get back on board. We will be cruiseing on Sensation in September, and again on Miracle in January. The good new after that, as we will be PLATINUM. Carnival keeps doing it right for us. We enjoy your blog every chance we get. Keep up the good work, and who knows maybe some day in the next couple of years, we can enjoy a cup of teas together. Bud & Lynne Straight, Leesburg Florida.
Hi John (reply if you have time),
No surprise that the Texans are having fun, are friendly, polite and clean up real nice (especially the Texas women).
Couple of quick questions; would the men with beards in Miami consider giving the Carnival Conquest a similar western itinerarry as the Carnival Triumph has out of New Orleans and sail to Belize & Isla Roatan (Mahogany Beach)? Not to replace the current western sailing (with Grand Cayman & Jamaica), but as an augmentation. I am sure this would be wildly popular with those of us that sail out of Galveston!
Also, talking about cigar smoking…as a cigar smoker (legal kind only), I was disappointed when the men with beards in Miami changed their minds and did not have the public space “Rendevous” on the Carnival Dream, as the designated cigar bar. Needless to say, I did not rendevous with Rendevous, although I did dip my head in there (would’ve been an outstanding cigar bar). My question is, what are they using Rendevous for since it’s not a cigar bar? It would be a terrible waste of big beautiful leather chairs and western art, if the only thing going on in there were vigorous games of “Shoots & Ladders” !!
Marty Paul
John:
Trying to understand how some of us feel about this political issue, would be like you trying to explain to us (in a few sentences) what is wrong with the British government or why you don’t care for the French.
You have to live here to understand.
Btw, the receptionist that treated Heidi that way BROKE THE LAW. To bad you did not know this, you could have sued their pants off. You can not be turned away at a major medical hospital emergency room.
Now if you went to some small independent “urgent care unit”…that may not be the case. But it certainly is at any major medical hospital.
http://www.tennhelp.com/Library/Documents/1150904389.52/ERcardweb_705.pdf
There just isn’t enough space here to explain the biggest problem … generational welfare …where individuals have 6 children before they are 25; which they can not afford to to bring into this world….so we taxpayers have to foot the bill. And basically, we are tired of it.
So now, we are not only going to pay for them to be born….but pay for their healthcare the rest of their lives….while they sit on the porch…smoke and drink and fight….basically do everything, but WORK.
And of course, the money I have to pay in taxes for them to sit on their arse….the less money I will have to cruise with.
While I am all for helping those who are trying to help themselves …. you can not help those who will not help themselves…but our government has decided to go broke trying.
So if you see that couple again….just understand that they are madder than you were on that cruise, when all those people removed the tips from their Sail and Sign cards and cheated the crew out of their hard earned pay.
No one wants to be taken advantage of by the irresponsible people in this world.
WOW….congrats to Walter for his 38 years of service.
David has 30 years in with UPS….5 more until retirement at the ripe old age of 55! woo hoo !!!
Linda (Mom of your friend DJ)
This bill won’t be giving free health care to *anyone*. This will actually save tax money in the long run because those people that you are talking about will have to have healthcare, so if they sick or injured they will be able to get real care instead of waiting till it becomes an emergency and going to an ER and leaving tax payers to foot the bill.
Hi John,
Glad you made it to the ship safe and sound even though you had a difficult time getting from the airport.
Even though our address is Texas we have never lived there and are really from Indiana but I have to say that the people in Texas are without a doubt the most friendly and polite people we have in the US. Even the very young ones are very polite. We must commend the parents in Texas since they are able to do something most of the rest of the states cannot. They raise polite and friendly kids who become polite and friendly adults. It’s a pleasure to be around the Texans.
Enjoy the Carnival Conquest.
George and Linda
John, We agree that the sars thing and swine thing are way over blown. A lot of it to is the media they treat itl ike its the end of the world all trying to make it more dramatic all over ratings and money.
Big Fans as Allways,
Frank and Bridie
Thank you for making me laugh out loud…I believe that you are right about Bradley’s Christmas card list.
The smoking argument will go on until the law ends it as it has in cities throughout this country. I smoked and have only quit two years ago. Until I quit I really couldn’t understand why people would complain about the smell and now I do understand. The smell is difficult to remove especially from fabrics, bedding & carpet. I don’t know the answer and from experience I know that you can’t make all of the people happy all of the time. I do think that smoking in the cabins should not be allowed or at the least limited. I am excited about cruising the Carnival Dream in 10 more days and knowing that the major public spaces will be smoke free for my grandchildren. I will however miss you not being on our cruise to make us laugh.
The healthcare topic in this country is as heated as the smoking discussion. I believe that everyone agrees that something needs to change from the way it is currently but it’s sad that we can’t make the brightest minds in the world find a solution that we can all live with and afford.
Hello John, (Please Reply)
We just finished a great cruise on the Carnival Liberty. I had posted asking about you helping us get a table for four, but I had posted it too late… No need to worry, we got our table anyway, and things went well.
This was my 2nd on the Carnival Liberty, and 5th with Carnival, thats right 1/2 way to Platinum.
I wanted to offer some feedback on this cruise, and thought you may be able to point some things in the direction of the beards in Miami that like feedback. I do want to point out, I would prefer to call some things “constructive criticism” as I honestly could not complain for the value and service you get with Carnival.
First, the hours of lunch seemed to be shortened… When I cruised the exact same ship and itinerary one year ago, we never had a hard time finding food, but for some reason, this time seemed like everything was always closed except for the usual pizza, deli, and burger grill (and the burgers were not that good, a Carnival first). Have the hours changed? If not perhaps we just had a later start to the day, I’m not sure. Would it be possible to extend hours? it just seems so short to get everyone through the lines in 2.5 hours. We loved the new burrito bar, but again, very limited hours. So it left long lines at the open places all day.
My next issue was now the crew serves you food, as opposed to previous self service… We didn’t like this very much at all. Maybe it is due to the pig thingy or a CCL bean counter thinking it saves food… If it is related to safer food handling, you have to consider people touch the same things all the time everywhere, I hope it doesn’t lead to someone pushing the elevator buttons for us. I didn’t like this approach because, you cant see the crew member serving the food (due to the height of the heat lamps), so you slide your tray in and hope for the best. Sometimes you wanted more, and sometimes less, and this way it was hard to get what you wanted. I just didn’t like it, and wanted my voice to be heard..LOL
One thing regarding deck chairs… I know its an industry problem, but do the execs ever revisit the issue? Could more deck chairs be added? I could easily see the Liberty had plenty of room to add a few more stacks. What about the idea of using a “hold card” What you do is check out a time stamped hold card at the towel hut, which gets you your 40 mins of leaving your chair, then deck crew could pull expired chairs. There has got to be an idea, I’m guessing this cruise had a whopping 40% consistently empty chairs, but ones people left their stuff on. I was next to a row that remained saved for over 2 and a half hours. What are your thoughts on this?
Next thing, a few from our family attended the future cruise seminar, and really enjoyed it, heck my mom even won a raffle, and got a spa certificate for $30 off.. My issue is with that certificate, she was so excited, and couldn’t wait to visit the spa for the first time ever… well the disappointment was when she found out the certificate could only be used on the inflated regular prices, not any specials, which everyday there are always specials….its understandable, but heck if you are going to give something away, and make someone very happy winning, they shouldn’t have made it an illusion of a free thing….in my honest opinion. I felt bad for her as she returned disappointed from the spa, So I told her to go back that I would buy her the massage.
We did the Behind the Fun tour and loved it !! We had a gal named Charisma a CCL trainer, and she was awesome! (please pass my compliments if possible) My suggestions for this tour though, since no cameras are allowed, have one of the freebies they give you be a small album with stock photos of some of the areas we visited. That would be nice when sharing the experience with others. We did get photos on the bridge and bow of the ship, but would be cool to get some of the others, even if they are stock file photos. I would also think it would be great if Carnival let you keep or gave you a similar pass.. as thats the fun part not the lanyard that they give you. I’m sure there are ways to do this and not compromise security. Maybe they could be dated with the tour date, that way its no biggie if guests keep theirs. I bet most people in our group would go with out the hat and wristband in favor of keeping the pass and or a photo album.
A comment on the CD, Butch did an excellent job, but my favorite is still Stuart Dunn, he has been the best I have ever had.. I cant wait to sail with Stu again.
Loved the country comedian this trip, John Westly Austin, oh man, of all my past Carnival cruises, this guy the the funniest I have ever seen. I was rolling laughing so hard, and my 70 year old grandparents about died they were laughing so hard..Keep this fly on around.
Anyways, thanks for hearing me out, and again I am not complaining…I couldn’t do that, I love Carnival, and again the value of what you get for what you pay is always excellent. I cant wait to be Platinum. Thank you for your time with this blog and what you do for everyone. I get such a kick out of reading everyday, you are a funny guy. Cant wait to go on a bloggers cruise next year and meet ya.. My thanks to your sweet wife and daughter for letting you keep your job that requires you to be away so much.
Oh yeah one last thing, you keep talking surprises…. Could that be a new ship or new ports for the West Coast, tell CCL not to forget about us West coasters and send more iron our way…LOL We are already missing the Elation, and she hasn’t even left yet.
Thanks John!!
Nick
John, be nice now, Chris is very handsome, but he is a little on the short side. I am sure his wife doesn’t mind that, she must have fallen for his good looks, and that jolly good English accent!!!!! I wonder where they spend the off time, in the UK or in the US cuz his wife is American…..
Conquest–yes, when I went in Feb 08 the ship was well over 90% Texans and Southerners. You will have to sign up to be the CD for the Conquest when it is Mardi Gras week–it is amazing!!!!! And not just the ship, the activities in Galveston during that week!!!!!
So, have you spent much time admiring the murals in the lobby and opposite the glass elevators…I think I was able to get pictures of all the scenes..I love the ballet dancer one….
John (please reply when you have time)
I have so procrastinated, my apologies! We cruised with you on the Carnival Dream on the 2/27 sailing. You were in a word simply amazing. I don’t expect you to remember me, as we only met once on the first elegant night. I am sure my husband, James must have got a huge thrill from me running to you like a teenager after the Beatles. I am a huge Doobie Brothers fan and while I have met them, you were on par with meeting them. I must admit to waiting many more years to meet those idols though. You were everything and more that you are on here, warm, accomodating and just so doggone down to earth. You let me give you all the hugs I wanted. Thanks John for being the best.
The Carnival Dream was so much more beautiful than pictures can describe. My husband joked that I would know her inside and out before I ever sailed, but she was oh, so much more. The pasta bar and the Tandoor grill were two new things we tried and they were superb. I suppose we must have ate at odd hours, because we never waited long.
You entertainment staff on board were also incrediably wonderful. Everyone was very approachable. I must give extra props though to Katie. I called out to her one day and asked if she was “Annie” from the Carnival Conquest and she answered YES!. Every time after that, when she saw us, she would run over and give us both a huge hug. She so made us feel like we were home. I hope I get to sail with you both again someday.
Last and most importantly, thanks to you and Katie for the wonderful surprises. They will be treasured for many years to come. One of my surprise from Katie, was not so much a surprise, but a prize for leading the theater in a round of Row Row Row Your Boat with a fellow guest. What you do on Carnival, stays on Carnival right?
Thanks to making us feel special and at home, we have booked our next cruise on the Carnival Conquest (for the third time) on 10/10/10. What a date. Can’t wait.
Oh I almost forgot..Dancing in the Streets (did I get that right) is the most amazing show on the seas!!
Thanks again ever so much!!
Bobbi
Regarding the health care thing….
It’s a bit different here than in the UK or Canada, even with the passage of this health care bill the US will not have universal health care for all of its citizens. Also, there is no “public option”. The bill does expand coverage for seniors, but for the vast majority of people will still be covered by private health care companies.
The biggest part of the reform is regulations for those health care companies to try to keep them from screwing over individuals by preventing them from doing things like dropping their coverage when they get sick.
The US has the worst health care system of any developed nation in the world. This bill is just a step in the right direction.
To me the anger (which is very intense, even though most Americans did want health care reform) comes from people being missinformed (often intentionally by people who didn’t want the bill to pass), things such as the ‘death panals’ and other “bollocks” like that, or just not knowing anything of the fact about it.
Yesterday I overheard two woman who were looking at a newspaper headline about the health care bill, and one said to the other “Obama should be shot”. Seriously?? Because he’s trying to provide people with health care? Isn’t that just a little ridiculous? And isn’t it also a little silly to suggest that moving to Mexico might be a better option? I mean, really…
Besides, In the long run this bill will save people money. When people don’t have insurance they just end up going to the ER and either paying an outrageous bill themselves (as you experienced) or the tax payers end up paying it.
I’m 26 years old, and my employer doesn’t offer me insurance coverage, so I have had to pay for my own coverage for the past 8 years. Either that or just hope I never get sick or hurt. If this bill had passed 10 years ago I would have been able to be covered under my parents work policy all this time.
Anyway, sorry if this is a bit long but the reactions to this whole thing can be really frustrating…
Steve
A bit disappointed that the Chef’s Table will not be available when I cruise the Carnival Freedom March 29th but also a bit happy.
You see I am already worried about boarding the ship early enough to sign up for the Behind the Scene Tour and then I would have to worry about signing up for the Chef’s Table too….
Just a suggestion…but maybe you can offer the above two to Platinum Members and then open it to everyone else… I can honestly see lots of passengers rushing to board their ships only to run to the Guest Relations and/or Tour Desk to sign up for these tours…
Dear John
I hope you love your time on the Conquest. I have sailed on her twice and enjoyed both cruises. Both were out of NOLA, and there was nothing like sailing out of New Orleans. I hope your stay is as wonderful as ours was. I am sure there are ghosts of the birds from our Cruise Director on the 2003 trip we were on. I can’t remember his name – but he did a wonderful bird act and his family had something to do with jewelry (or so he said).
Sharon
john, i forgot to mention something on the beautiful carnival glory that they did last week. they had a “who done it”. it started early in the cruise and there were clues all cruise long throughout the ship and capers, i mean fun times. it was really fun! you had to guess who committed the murder and with what weapon.
also i LOVE the layout of the fun times. so easy to read! the only complaint i heard was from a casino employee complaining about only having two small spots now. don’t know about that. anyway i loved the cruise, the ship, the staff, the food, and the fun!
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
Hi John,
Congratulations to the crew on the Carnival Victory!
Clair
Well John you shouldn’t believe everything everyone tells you. The healthcare bill that just passed will not give us the type of healthcare you have in the UK. Much as some people would like everyone to believe that, it just isn’t true. The bill provides for government subsidies to help people buy health insurance from insurance companies. It does require everyone to buy health insurance, so they can get care and not have to clog the ER’s. It will cover 43 million Americans who do not now have health insurance, it is not universal care.
Maybe you should try doing a little research before you discuss a subject. You might want to add global warming to that research list too.
The quality of healthcare in Canada depends on what province you live in. I live in Ontario and although I have not needed an ER visit for quite a while, there are some horror stories out there for sure. Visits to my family doctor seem to take forever waiting to see him. Thank goodness I only go 3-4 times a year as the time to see him varies from half an hour to 1 1/2 hours AFTER my appt. time. Very frustrating to say the least.
My first Carnival cruise was in March 2005 on the Carnival Triumph and Chris Jefferson was the cruise director and I thought he was fantastic. I saw him again on the Carnival Glory or Valor (I forget which one) in March 2007. He had just gotten married the summer before and I met his wife. He’s a very funny man.
I hope to sail with you one day soon John. Hopefully on the next bloggers cruise.
Cindy
The forgotten part of the Health care. My husband and I are both nurses and we are well up in age. At nearly 70 years old, my husband continues to work fulltime plus over time as a nurse. I am nearly 60 and also continue to have 40+ hours /week to work. The average age of a Nurse in the US is now a little over 50 years old with the smallest percentage of nurses being in their 20′s & 30′s. The shortage is so bad now, they have closed hospital beds due to not enough nurses. When health care is available much cheaper and the amount of patients increases, where will they get the nurses to take care of them? My daughter just became a Nurse and she is the ONLY person in her entire HS graduation class in 2006 that went into Nursing. One US high school graduating class and 1 Nurse. Doesn’t anyone see a problem? Have you even heard ANYONE mention the Nursing shortage in relation to this health care for all……
Dear John (please reply if you get the chance),
After reading your answer regarding the Camp Carnival counselor screening and hiring process, I can’t help but chime in with my own praise for the program.
Last year, my husband and I took our then 3-year-old daughter, Alyssa, on her very first cruise aboard the Carnival Glory. I was very nervous about placing my little girl in the Camp Carnival program, because Alyssa has a motor planning delay known as Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).
In a nutshell, Alyssa’s brain has difficulty getting her mouth and tongue to form the words she wants to say. So what she WANTS to say and what she THINKS she’s saying can actually sound unintelligible to the person she’s talking to. (It’s like trying to watch a cable channel on TV with a broken descrambler – there’s nothing wrong with the TV and nothing wrong with the channel itself, but all you’re going to see is static.) I’m sure you can imagine how frustrating it is for my little one to have to repeat herself over and over again and STILL not get her point across!
Anyway, my initial concern with the Camp Carnival program was that Alyssa would be unable to clearly communicate her wants and needs to the counselors, causing frustration for both parties, and possibly setting us back on the slow but steady progress we were making with speech therapy. Clearly, though, I had nothing to worry about.
Alyssa absolutely LOVED her Camp Carnival experience! She made a lot of friends and had a great time. Most rewarding, however, was that by the end of the week, both my husband and I noticed a marked improvement in her speech! It was amazing, and I can’t thank the good people in Camp Carnival enough for their patience, understanding, and kindness.
Alyssa turned 4 this past weekend and is looking forward to our April 5th cruise aboard the Carnival Inspiration and then her third Carnival cruise in May, which will be aboard the Carnival Dream. She already tells me all the things she wants to do on the ship and in Camp Carnival, so I’m taking full advantage of her enthusiasm by getting her to practice her speech using “fun ship” topics and words like “Carnival,” “slide,” and “Funship Freddy.”
Thanks for letting me ramble on and add my personal commentary on this subject, and good luck with your conference call. I’ve never been a fan of meetings, myself, and see them as an absolute waste of time.
Laura (LadyJag)
PS – I don’t actually own a Jaguar. I just happen to be a fan of the American football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Hey John!
Small misconception about the health care bill. We aren’t switching over to a universal health care system with a public option so it’ll sadly be nothing like the one in the UK or Canada. It just makes sure that every American has insurance and regulates the insurance companies so that they can’t drop you when you get sick or deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition.
Good bill
Bad rep
Dear John, ( Please reply)
We cruised on the Dream in January 2010. We also read articles that it was crowded, and the lines and the smell and the the smoke and the everything. We loved our cruise. We were quite worried before we left but it was nothing like they said. It was the most amazing vacation with no probems. My advice to anyone taking a cruise. It will be what you make it. It will be what you want it to be and if you get caught up in everyones opinion yours will not matter as it will not be true.
We are now booked on Carnival Valor January 2011. Can’t wait!
By the way John you really are the best!
Thanks!
Please ask Bradley Walsher to go back to the rock he climbed out from under. What part of “this is your personal blog” don’t these type of people understand????
I live in a large metropolitan area. Recently my fully insured sister had to go to the ER. We were there for 27 hours because of the large amount of uninsured people who use the ER as their only way to seek medical attention for things a family dr. could take care of. Maybe now it will be better.
Oh come on John, what is a little humour (spelt correctly) at the expense of others between friends? If you cant talk about people (or insanely ugly and ginormous ships) with your friends, then what fun is it? A cigar, a glass of wine and trash talk is why friends get together, isnt it? Geez, lighten up people.
OHN PLEASE REPLY
Just returned from 8 day EXOTIC WESTERN cruise on CARNIVAL FREEDOM. (3/13/10 – 3/21/10) Let me start with my PVP, Amanda Herro, she is fabulous. We have used her several times since our previous PVP decides the grass was greener else where. She is very detailed and ALWAYS returns our calls promptly even if it is not a very urgent matter. I highly recommend her to everyone I know. The embarkation was unbelievable. It was the fastest ever in getting to the LIDO deck. From the time we dropped off our luggage, parked the car, checked in, we were on board eating in less than 45 minutes. Our feet were on board in less than 30 minutes. Kudos to the changes that have sped up this process.
The 1st thing I saw on Lido deck was the ORG of the Seas. Not impressed at all.
The only lines we had the entire cruise was during embarkation when everyone is on the same agenda and no restaurant in the world could handle a rush like this without a small minute wait that we had. Kudos here too for the fine job by the entire staff during th embarkation process. Our cabin stewarts Ildefonso & Hendra greeted us within minutes after we were allowed in our cabin. They were superb in every aspect of their job and greeted both my wife and myself by name each & every time we saw them. Please tell their supervisors what a fine job they did. It has been a while since we have experienced care and attentiveness like they provided. One of our last 2 cruises on Carnival , we never met our cabin stewart the entire cruise. They did their job, but no wow factor like Ildefonso & Hendra. We were forced to compensate them extra for their efforts. ( I couldn’t have lived with myself otherwise) Is double tip against the rules ???? Our headwaiter Jose Rivera and his assistant Jesium did a good job in the dining room. I may not have the assistants name correct but her will make a fine headwaiter real soon. He was on top of his game, ever attentive to our needs. I am according to you ( July 09 on Carnival Freedom ) big as a house; however, I am picky eater. Most of the past cruises I have requested just plain lettuce for my salad every night and it was not an issue. For some reason this request went unfulfilled except the 1st night when a “lettuce wedge” was on the menu. I don’t think this was an unreasonable request. Our cruise was great and mostly uneventful which is good with the exception of our shore excursion being cancelled in Costa Rica and a liquor purchase. We didn’t find out the cancellation until after our dinner that night which really didn’t give us much time to search out and obtain a replacement. Excursion desk was closed by that time but we found out we could have booked a replacement at Guest services.
4 of the 6 in our group went to the liquor tasting at the shops. 3 of these purchased the same product for $40. The next day upon checking our accounts on the tv we were charged 3 different prices. 1 was correct, I was charged $52 which my wife went back to the shop and they corrected. Then Rick who was only charged $29 went back and the guy that sold them told him that it was too late to correct, it had been boxed up and sent out. He would have to wait and return the wrong item and repurchase the correct item yada yada yada. This was correct by Carnival not by Rick, as the shop salesman said Rick would have to do. It was the salesman error and in our opinion his to fix. I wasn’t there so I can say but was told the salesman was not very pleasant to deal with during the attempt to correct the mistake. I know Rick was never rude as this is never his nature. I wish I had his patience at times.
Our CD Felipe was very good but I am a little disappointed with this CARNIVAL FREEDOM CD this time because my last CARRNIVAL FREEDOM was far superior as it was YOU !!!!!!!! Felipe and his staff did an outstanding job. Felipe had a tough act to follow but he is a good CD. I had a chance to talk on the phone with Mr Jamie Frazier whom I had the pleasure of meeting July 09. What a wonderful entertainer and very talented and nice person. I enjoyed his show very much. He said he remembered me from that cruise as did a fellow passenger. A lady approached me on Lido deck the 2nd day and asked if I was on the CARNIVAL FREEDOM last July. I said yes and she said “ I know you are from Virginia too “. Would you please say HELLO to Jaime F as well as Jaime D for me ?
The disembarkation experience was OUTSTANDING. WE were off the ship and on the road home in 30 minutes or less. WOW unbelievable. This is the FASTER ever. GREAT job by the CARNIVAL FREEDOM TEAM. The last Carnival Capers……….. FUN TIMES has a scheduled self assist list advising you of your approximate disembarkment time according to your deck. KUDOS to CARNIVAL for this. We hit the elevator and never stopped until CUSTOMS and that was even FAST.
Another GREAT CARNIVAL CRUISE and 2 to PALTINUM …..as for the ORG of the seas they can bugger off ! ! ! ! !
i am so glad you have been able to experience just a little “southern hospitality” something we Texans also like to call being Texas Friendly. you may also find that not many Texans ever meet a Stranger. WE like it that way. And I am so glad that you even got to see our kiddos being the same. I’m sure you will get to see how we Texans like to get rowdy when we have a few drinks, but for the most part, it is all in good fun.
And, yes, we Southern belles LOVE to get all “Gussied up” (dressed up) when we go somewhere, especially for the Elegant nights.
Enjoy the Conquest. I’ll see you in a few weeks
Christy
Morning John!
After reading this blog yesterday, I could only begin to imagine the comments that would be left by those who let the Fox News Channel do their thinking. I’m glad to see that it has remained civil.
However, my advice would be to follow the forbidden topic list sent down by the corporate office to Jazzercise instructors everywhere – no sex, religion or politics.
)
Mom and I just booked the new Carnival Miracle itinerary for February and I can’t wait to hit the new ports!! We did have to cancel our Dream cruise but given that this is what will replace it, I am not too sad.
Now, if we could just get some Blogger’s cruise news, we’ll know where our fall cruise will be going….lol.
Colleen
Hi John!
I think its probably best to avoid the health care debate here on the blog. Just my opinion.
I look forward to seeing some pictures from your time onboard the Carnival Conquest.
I hope that the weather warms up for you soon. Things are getting a little warmer up here in North Texas.
Have a good day and take care!
David
Well John, I for one could not be happier that the Health Care Bill went through and President Obama signed it into law. I will never understand the public. Health care was always one of the things that the President Obama wanted to push forward. Now that it is a done deal they are balking. They vote for someone that wanted change and change we have and now they are screaming foul.
I have not posted on CC for a very long time. It is that 10% that I can not deal with. They lie and hate you John and with that hate and lies they make CC a horrible place to be. There are even very devoted Carnival cruises that are very hard to deal with. They know everything and only because they have sailed a zillion times. I have no time for any of them.
I hope you are enjoying your time on the Conquest. I know you must miss your girls but are having a wonderful time as a CD where you do shine. I am so looking forward to our Carnival Magic cruise in September 2022 in Europe. Whatever you had to do with the Magic going there I can only say thank.
Keep smiling John; you truly are one of the good guys.
My best to Heidi and Kye.
Hi John,
Just wanted to thank you for brightening my day with your wonderful blog. I hope to be able to cruise with you someday (perhaps on your next Bloggers Cruise, once the beards make a decision!) Please join us out here on the West Coast soon. The Mexican Riviera is really nice!
Wendell
Dear John,
Yep, Texans are for the most part a very friendly bunch. Yes, as with any populace, we have exceptions but you should enjoy your weeks on the Conquest. There are two things you will probably notice over time. 1) Because of that friendliness you will notice that, should something go wrong, the same customers will have no problem feeling that they can approach at any time to complain no matter how ridiculous it may be. 2) You will notice that most younger folks will refer to you as “Mr. John” instead of John, Mr. Heald, or Sir. This is common in Texas as children are taught that is the respectful yet casual way to refer to their elders.
Looking forward to meeting you on Sunday!!!
BELC
Maribeth
John,
I just posted a quick video of Butch Begovich that I thought you’d like to see. He sure can pack a lot into 2 minutes!
http://www.cruisedork.com/ask-the-cruise-dork/cruise-director/
Maybe when we sail the Carnival Magic next summer you would have time to sit down and do an interview for our site? I promise to bring bribes…
Just a note about my experiences with publicly funded health care. Although I think our care in Ontario is great, I was really impressed with the New Zealand system. During a vacation there last November I was in a boating accident and suffered a fractured vetebrae. After one ambulance ride, two days in a private hospital room, several x rays, two sessions of physio and much tlc the bill came to exactly nothing, even though we had taken extra insurance for just such a problem. As it was an accident, my expenses were covered under a special compensation fund. I was very impressed.I cannot undertsand those who are against universal health care. It only seems fair that we should take care o everyone whether they are rich or poor.
Hi John,
You wondered how many Carnival Ships scored 100 pts, there were 4, the Carnival Dream, The Carnival Freedom Carnival Splendor and the Carnival Victory. Only one ship was lower then 90, but the rest of Carnival ships were in the 97 – 99 pt range. RCL had only one that reached 100% and that was not even their brand new ship, it was the Jewel of the Seas. NCL had the same as Carnival 4 ships with 100%. Princess Cruise lines had 5 with 100%, Holland America had 2 with 100%