Just before we get into the meat and potatoes of today’s blog I need a favour. Does anyone know a good cure for snoring? It’s not me you understand because despite my fatness I don’t snore according to Heidi and Nora Titov my Latvian…….oh bugger……I mean according to Heidi.
No, it’s not me but my new next door neighbor. It’s 7 am and here I sit in my underpants having been woken not by the alarm clock which was set for 7:15am but by the new guest services manager who sounds like a whale with a foghorn shoved up its arse. Anyway, I will have to tell him because I can’t go on like this. The last GSM had more rumpy pumpy than a field full of rabbits but this is worse….much worse. I would rather listen to someone banging like a screen door in a hurricane than his sodding snoring.
Anyway, sorry I am a bit of a grumpy pants this morning and let’s change pace shall we ……….. actually we can’t because here’s something else to do with hearing.
Guest: Mrs ———-Ref: 842022731A
Cabin: ——————Added-Changed: 10/26/10 – 10/26/10Guest called from their cabin and said that her husband had accidently dropped his hearing aid into the toilet and the toilet was blocked and making a continuous noise. Guest said that she needed help urgently. GSA called Chief Plumber and also chief security for incident report.
Now there are times when you must read some of the things I write in my thingy that surely somebody must believe I have made up…………I would. Nope………..this is true and when I read this I am sure I did what many of you did and had a good laugh. Although this incident has nothing to do with me it was one I had to investigate and henceforth I called the guest who by the time we spoke had the hearing aid returned. It seems her husband decided to take his hearing aid off while he was ummm…..well you know. I can understand this in a way because some of us like to read and obviously he likes to poo in silence. Anyway, when he stood up to flush his hearing aid dropped in the bowl at the same time as he flushed and both the aid and the battery thingy got flushed away.
Amazingly the guest told me the unit had managed to survive the journey from the basin to the pipe where it stuck fast without breaking and apart from having to change the water logged batteries and the unit being a bit yuckier than it was before it works perfectly. My fear was also that supposing the hearing aid had been sucked up into the guest toilet in the cabin next door. Can you imagine the horror you would feel if you deposited your dinner, stood up and found you had crapped out some wires, two batteries and something that looks like a small ear?
Time for today’s questions………here we go.
Janet Asked:
John: Please reply.I would like to suggest, unless you have a reason unbeknownst to us why you post the insulting comments, that you just don’t bother putting them in your blog. (I don’t mean the complaints on service etc; I mean the personal attacks you receive.) It is obvious to see that your real, true followers love you and love your humor and especially your family spirit. People like to hear about men that love their wives and families and involve themselves with their children. You have a lot of great qualities that we all enjoy.
It is just downright rude and insulting some of things people write and since it is your personal blog, you don’t have to subject yourself and Heidi to it. We all have flaws of one kind or another, why these people feel they are above others, I don’t know.
You don’t owe these creeps anything…just because your blog is open to the public doesn’t mean it is open to any of the ridicules that are thrown at you. I think as long as you keep posting the rude comments, people will keep sending them to you. Just like rude/loud people that like to be heard, I guess those on the internet like to be seen!
Keep up the good work and we’ll be seeing you on the Splendor on the 17th of October! We can’t wait.
John Says:
Hello JanetI have thought long and hard about this and I am going to be a little more selective in what I post. While I will always post the comments that contain a negative experience from a cruise or a suggestion based on something a guest may not be happy with, I may not post the ones that are a direct hit out at me. I always wanted this to be a blog that was unedited and where free speech was encouraged and I won’t let that change, but if the sole reason of a post is to tell me I am fat and an idiot then I see no reason to post that because I know I am already.
I want to thank you for taking the time to write and for your support. I hope you had fun here on the Carnival Splendor and that you continue to enjoy the blog thingy
Best wishes
JohnAnn Mccleskey Asked:
Dear John (reply if possible)Since this is not a real computer; I cannot open a virtual tour. Do you suppose we could have some still photos of the magic? Very excited about our TA trip next year. love to Heidi and baby Kye
TTFNAnn from Schulenburg
John Says:
Hello Ann MccleskeyYes of course Ann. Right now the ship is coming together nicely and in January I will be heading to the shipyard in Italy and by then there should be some great photo opportunities which I will share with you all. Thanks for the kind words for my family and I send my best wishes to you and yours
John
Jeremy T Asked:
John,I just read the article on Cruise Critic about smoking and the comments that mentioned your blog and having never cruised on a Carnival party boat I am now sure I won’t. Why do you pander to smokers who plague the world killing innocent people and they are murderers. Royal Caribbean has 100% no smoking inside policy and that one of the reasons they get my business. Get me a non smoking Carnival boat and maybe you will see me
Jere
John Says:
Hello Jeremy TI had no idea that RCI ships were 100% non smoking inside, that was a big surprise to me. Are you sure about that? Anyway, as you will see in a moment the timing of your post is excellent because smoking policies were discussed at a meeting I was in yesterday and I will write more about that soon. Until then I hope you will consider sailing with us and enjoying the amazing value for money, brilliant food and service and most of all…….fun.
Best wishes
John
Victoria Barker Langford Asked:
Dear John,My mom gave me your blog website and told me to check it out!! I had a couple of questions for ya!!
1) Me my husband and my parents were wondering where a couple of our past waiter staff were because they were truly wonderful and we would love to see them again!! It was when we were on the Carnival Conquest the week of 8-24-2008…their names were Romando (head waiter) Tatiana (assistant waiter) and Alex (bartender) I would travel to see these guys again they were truely wonderful!!
2) Me and my Husband and my parents leave going on the Carnival Triumph Oct 16, 2010 to celebrate mine and my husband’s 1 year wedding anniversary and I was wondering if there was a place to buy the 24k plastic piece of ship on a stick..I don’t know what’s so special about them but I think it would be awesome to have one!! And do you perhaps know who or CD will be.
Thank you so much hope to hear from ya soon!!
Tori Langford!!
John Says:
Hello Victoria Barker LangordCan’t help after typing your very posh name to say, “Do you have any Grey Poupon?” I am very glad that your Mum put you in touch with the blog which I hope you enjoy. I tracked down Romando who is currently working on the Carnival Liberty but so far I have not been able to trace Alex or Tatiana because without last names it is very difficult indeed. I am so glad they made a difference. I want to apologise that I got this post after your sailing on the Carnival Triumph. I am 3 – 4 weeks behind and that means that I am really struggling to keep up and asking everyone to post any requests at least one month before they sail. I hope you had fun and I promise next time I will make sure you get your trophy.
Best wishes to you both
John
Michelle Fournier Asked:
Hello John! Please ReplyMy dear husband and I are cruising on the Spirit November 4th out of San Diego (Stateroom 4105). This will be our third cruise, and I just realized I have never attended the safety drill. The first cruise we missed it due to flight delays and the second we were hanging out in my Mother-in-laws cabin (she of the 20+ cruises) and she told us we didn’t need to go (just follow everyone else if something happens, she said). So, I am looking forward to my first safety drill.
This cruise is celebrating many things for us including our five year wedding anniversary and both of our birthdays. It is also our much-delayed honeymoon, since we didn’t get one when we married (we bought a house instead).
You can skip the table for two, because really what’s the fun in that? However, a little gift would be appreciated. This will also be the first cruise we have ever been on just the two of us, we have always cruised with a large group of family so I really don’t know what we are going to do on our own. (Okay, I have some ideas but this is a family blog, right?)
Much love to you and the girls, and keep up the good work on the bloggy thing and otherwise!
John Says:
Hello Michelle FournierIt is, of course, very important that everyone attends the safety briefing. If everyone followed everyone else then everyone would be at the wrong muster station and then…..well you get the picture. These days we have the stateroom stewards checking every cabin, under the beds, behind the shower curtain, in the safe and the drawers to make sure everyone is attending. So, look forward to your first safety briefing and of course a wonderful cruise. If you need help on how to keep your husband occupied at night please let me know but until then I will indeed send you a little something.
Have a great time and my best wishes to all
JohnAndy Kiriacades Asked:
John – reply neededWhen will you be announcing the 2012 cruises? I am trying to plan a 5oth wedding anniversary and want to book 20 cabins for September 2012. I need to know what ship you will be on as well.
Thanks for all you do
AndyJohn Says:
Hello AndyWhat a wonderful way for you and your family to celebrate that brilliant milestone. I will ask someone now about 2012′s itineraries etc and see if they can give me an idea as to when we will release the news on what ship is going where. As for my schedule….well I really have no idea and I guess I will also have to see what ship is doing what. I am honoured that you would think of both Carnival and I for this wonderful family gathering. I will get back to you as soon as I can with information on this
Best wishes to you all
JohnKevin and Heidi-Beth Asked:
Hey John,Please reply, when it is convenient
Well, we finally did it. I just booked the Carnival Sensation for Dec 9, a week after our 20 anniversary. It has been three years, and we could not wait for Half Moon Cay, though we will try to go there next year.
My wife was looking over the CD schedule, and she was wondering what a Skippy is. She is worried about an over sized jar of peanut butter at the welcome aboard show.
Either way, it has been way too long, and we are so much looking forward to sailing again
Til next time
KevinJohn Says:
Hello Kevin Haeidi and BethCongratulations on booking your Carnival Sensation cruise. I haven’t seen that ship since I delivered her from new back in 1993. I have such great memories of that vessel and I know since her upgrades she has become even more popular. Skippy the peanut butter jar has actually been replaced and your CD will now be Peter the Pop Tart and he and his assistants Mary the Muffin and Billy the Bagel will make sure you have a brilliant time. OK…….enough of this bollocks.
Skippy was a famous Kangaroo from a TV series. Here’s a link to some classic Skippy stuff
Yes. That was one clever Kangaroo who would bound up to its owner and say “tut tuit tut tut tuttttttt tut tuit tut tut tuttttttt” and his owner would say “What…little Ricky has fallen off a cliff at Bastard Canyon and his hanging by his shorts and unless I get there in the next 32 minutes he will fall to his death?” The real Skippy named himself after the Kangaroo because ummm……..he is Australian I guess although he does have as much energy as a Kangaroo. His real name is Mark Lyons and here he is.
OK, kidding
Here he is.
I hope all three of you have fun and please leave a note at the guest services desk with your cabin on as Skippy is expecting you and will have a little something for you. He is a great guy and a brilliant CD that I know you will enjoy.
Best wishes to the three of you
John
Wendy R Asked:
John – please replyI had asked you to get me a table for two and send me something special for my 40th birthday but nothing was done because my request didn’t get to you in time. There must be a better way for you to do this because you left me broken hearted and it ruined my cruise. We ended up on a table with old people and I got no mention of my birthday. You do not offer good customer service.
I am very upset.
Wendy
John Says:
Hello WendyI am so sorry I didn’t get to your comment in time to send you a birthday gift and arrange your table. I have been mentioning that I am 3 – 4 weeks behind and so I must have received yours after your sailing date. Anyway, please accept my apologies and know that I am one chap doing the best he can to manage a blog, a Facebook page and be a CD to 3,500 guests all at the same time. Occasionally things fall through the cracks as in this case. I hope you still had fun.
Best wishes
JohnCruise lover Asked:
Hi John, (please respond)Thank you for taking your personal time to write this blog thingy. I enjoy reading your thoughts. I was also a big fan of Benny Hill. He cracked me up.
One thing I would like to know. I have no problem with children in the steakhouse as long as they are behaved. I have heard though that the parents are bringing them in and bringing food from other areas to eat. Is this correct? It seems to me that all should be charged if they are occupying a chair. It could possibly keep paying customers out if they are just taking up space.
I will be sailing with you soon but after you read this so here is hoping our time on the splendor will have been awesome.
Best wishes.John Says:
Hello Cruise LoverIt’s interesting that Benny Hill was more popular in the States and Canada as he was in the UK. Yes he was famous but in the States he achieved somewhat a cult following. I agree with you that if a child has good parents who understand and enforce family values than children have every right to be in the steakhouse. They are indeed charged the same price and it is important to note that there is no children’s menu. I have only ever seen one comment about a badly behaved child there and in that case the child was an infant who was crying a lot. Apart from that it has not to my knowledge ever been a concern.
Have you sailed yet, are you sailing soon?
Regardless I hope you had/have a brilliant time and thanks for the kind words
Best wishes
John
Carin Asked:
Please Reply – Time Sensitive-ish – Saildate 10/30/10
Hello again John, you odd duck, you! It’s been ages! Ok, that’s stretching the truth a bit…It’s been WEEKS since I last wrote you to expound upon the greatness of the Dream TA and her Dream Team, to tell you how much you are appreciated (bunches!), and to see if you can whisper in the ear of a certain Maître d’ on the Dream to send an early request for a table for 4 with a view for my gang. My husband and I will be sailing on the 10/30 Halloween Cruise with two good friends who I just know would be thrilled to dine overlooking the water – we’re in 1365 and they’re in 2469. I’m hoping to surprise them with this small luxury. I don’t expect miracles; just hope we’ll have a better shot at an even lovelier dining experience than on previous trips. (And yes, for those of you who are peeking, I will be standing in line to request this personally at embarkation — I just hope John can help grease the wheels a little…)
We four are really looking forward to this vacation! My husband Aaron is giving it to me for 10 years together and 7 years of wedded bliss-i-ness (so sweet!!) and the other couple (Trevor and Reka) will be celebrating a 3rd Date-a-versary – so it’s going to be a nice festive week for our gang! Despite practically all of the Dream Team having moved on to other ships, for my husband and me it will still be like going home. We can’t wait to meet the new Dreamy Crew! And for our friends, the Dream will be a big happy surprise – they don’t have any idea how fabulous the ship truly is! Shhh – don’t tell. I want it to be a secret until they board!
=)Anyway, that’s it. Thanks so much for all you do, John! You make us giggle and remind us every day how much we LOVE cruising with Carnival. Hope to sail with you again sometime soon. (I’d be happy to run interference for you with the complainers) Hugs to Heidi and Kye… I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying time with your ladies. Your happiness at having them near is showing these days. Hopefully the next Heald family gathering will be very lengthy and very SOON!
Wish I was there!!
Carin
(a proud odd duck!)PS – I think the ‘Odd Duck’ costume idea is absobloodylutely brilliant! You should do it!
John Says:
Hello CarinMe dressed as a duck…….I am not sure what shop sells XXXXXXXL duck costumes but if you find one please get it for me and send me the bill………get it?…….send me the bill…..as in bill. Never mind. I am so happy to hear that you are a Carnival Dream fan and what a wonderful thing that you are bringing your friends with you as well. I have asked the maitre d to do his best to help with your table request and I want to wish you a wonderful cruise.
Best wishes to you a
JohnSusan Gilleland Asked:
Dear John, Please Reply,First off, thanks, as always, for your blog, and your Facebook posts – you have no idea how many smiles and laughs you give us all on otherwise dreadful, non-cruise days!
I noticed a small change in the safety drill on the Triumph last week – Cruise Director Noonan reminded parents that their children are indeed still THEIR responsibility while on the ship. Kudos to Noonan, and to the entire fleet if this announcement is being made on all ships. That being said, some of the parents and grandparents were probably drunk, asleep, or chattering away during that brief segment of the drill.We were on board with our 9 and 11 year old kids, and there was a larger number of kids in that age group than I might have expected, given that school has just started pretty much everywhere. Well, this was a great thing for the most part, as Camp Carnival had a nice group of kids. And then there were the kids that never went to Camp Carnival…
On the day we were docked in Cozumel, my kids were on their way to get ice cream on the Lido Deck (we had lido deck staterooms, and we will always try to book those in the future, it was so convenient!) when an 11 year old girl accosted my son. She pulled his hair, hit him, and told him he had no right to be alive (much less on the ship, I suppose) because he was a boy. My son is quite the pacifist, so he just let her abuse him, then went on his way. My 9 year old daughter was horrified, though, and confronted the girl to tell her not to be mean to her big brother. At that point, the other girl proceeded to beat my daughter up – punching, kicking, hair pulling, etc – until three other little girls pulled her off my child and held her back. She returned to our room in complete panic and hysteria, and while I calmed her down, my husband went in search of the grandparents – who, of course, had just returned from shopping and drinking in port while leaving their grandkids to roam the ship alone for hours. We did not get the ship’s staff involved, but my daughter felt very unsafe from that point on, which put a damper on the remainder of her cruise (and ours).
I know that kids will be kids (and morons will be morons) and obviously none of this is the fault of Carnival. I just encourage you to have the cruise directors and other staff really impress upon parents that they must supervise their children, and must ensure that their children are not misbehaving around the ship. Some kids are mature enough to walk around the ship without supervision, and clearly, some are not. The most we used to worry over was other people’s kids pushing all the elevator buttons, or stealing all the room service door hangers in the hallways at night – I never worried about my 9 year old daughter ending up bruised and with hair falling out, after being brutalized by a child who obviously should not have been left unsupervised. Lesson learned. Our kids have been on 16 Carnival cruises, and this surely won’t be our last – I just hope we are on board with better parents/grandparents next time around. My kids shouldn’t have to fear for their safety when walking to get ice cream, and we as parents should not feel we can’t give our well-behaved children that small measure of independence because of other young miscreants roaming the ship.
John Says:
Hello Susan Gillieland
I am glad you are enjoying the Facebook updates and I am just getting used to this new fan page thingy. Noonan was correct to add this to his announcement and I have been encouraging all the CD’s to do this. While our Camp Carnival, Club Circle C and Club O2 staff will make sure the kids have a great time it is indeed the responsibility of parents, guardians etc to make sure they behave properly. I think for the most part they do and we often forget that when we have an “incident” with a naughty kid or teen that all the other children have been well behaved.
I was so sorry to read about the incident with your daughter and I hope that she is OK. Please may I encourage you and all guests that anytime anything like this happens that you be sure to let the shipboard team know. We will not tolerate behavior like this and when we hear about incidents such as this we can take immediate action.
It is again the parent’s responsibility and we would definitely hold them responsible for the behavior of their children. Thanks for letting me know and please don’t worry as this is a very, very isolated incident and certainly I am positive that your daughter will enjoy her next cruise so much and once again please accept my apologies for what happened.
Best wishes to all
JohnNancy Mullins Asked:
John,I wrote to you about five weeks ago to ask a favor of you but so far haven’t received a reply. Maybe too early or maybe I didn’t send it correctly so here goes again.
My husband, sister and brother-in-law and of course me will be on the Dream December 4, (this is our fourth cruise, two on the Glory and the nine day cruise on the Dream last year.) We loved the Dream and of course loved getting to meet you. I wonder if you could help us out again We would like to have a table for four on the upper level – Mullins – room OS7234 and Howington – room OS7230. Last year we had a wonderful table in the Scarlet Restaurant #685 for the six o’clock dinning time (with your help) and was hoping you could help us again. I loved the recent picture of your beautiful daughter. Love your blog. Thanks for your help. Please reply on your blog.
Nancy Mullins
John Says:
Hello Nancy Mullins
Sorry I haven’t replied until now. I am way behind with my answers to questions and of course I would be glad to ask the maitre d to assist with your table request and I am sure he will do his best to assist you. Have a brilliant time and let me know how it all went when you get home.
Best wishes to all
JohnCindy Lecomte Asked:
Thank you for writing your blog & giving of your time for our enjoyment. I had the pleasure of sailing on Carnival Dream with my family in January, but it was the week before you took over, so we did not get to see you in action. I am sailing again on Carnival Destiny Nov. 15 with 7 other friends (all ladies) to celebrate my 50th birthday. I’m hoping you can assist with a table request. On the Dream for the MDR we were on the second floor in the corner, so we didn’t get to see all the main floor entertainment of the staff. (I do have to mention that our waiter Elbert & his assistant Normand were absolutely fantastic and my adult children went to dinner every night just to see them)>
My request – I’m hoping you can organize a round table for 8 in the middle of the dining room. My friends are all newbie cruisers and I would like for them to have the best time (and hopefully cruise again). I realize with just over 3 weeks away this request might not get to you in time, but I appreciate any thing you can do.
Thank you John.
CindyJohn Says:
Hello Cindy LecomteThanks for the kind words and I would be happy to ask the maitre d on the Carnival Destiny to do his best to arrange a table for you. I hope you all have a brilliant cruise and that you have a very happy birthday.
Best wishes
JohnAnnette Love Asked:
Dear John,I have been a huge fan ever since you started the blog and love your wit. Thank you so much for entertaining us every day. I wanted to let you know how wonderful many of the cruise chat sites are including my two favorites of CC and CLF. Yes, there are trolls, braggers, and just downright nasty people but that is true of all the world isn’t it? It is also a wonderful place for people to get together and share wonderful experiences and build lifetime friendships.
We will be cruising on the Freedom on 11/06/10 with friends we met on the chat sites that have now become lifelong friends and Cruisemates. Having been raised in the era before the internet exploded we all laugh with each other when people ask us how we all met and we tell them we met our BFF’s online It does seem kind of creepy. The three of us ladies are the biggest chatters of course but I am amazed at how close our husbands have become as well. They too have developed lifelong friendships so that just goes to prove that wonderful things happen in the chat sites as well.
It would be wonderful if you could treat our awesome husbands with some little token as they have been such wonderful supporters of the three of us for so many years and are taking us all on this cruise to celebrate our anniversaries. My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th on the Freedom and it feels like just yesterday we were married.
The Loves are in cabin 6223, the Broyles are in cabin 6225, and the Moss’s are in cabin 6453 and it would be such a hoot to be able to give back to them something special on this trip as much as they have been so special to us trying out one Carnival ship after another.
Keep up the all your wonderful stories John and know that some of us on the boards are nice people with sunny attitudes toward life like you. I certainly hope that we get to sail together sometime.
Till then, God Bless!
Annette Love
aka auctiontxJohn Says:
Hello Annette LoveWhat’s CLF? Anyway, you are of course correct when you say that most of the people on the cruise sites are wonderful people who every now and then are invaded by what I have learned recently are people called Trolls. Anyway, it’s so great when people meet online and then decide to cement that relationship further by taking a cruise together with Carnival. I hope you all have a brilliant time and I will ask the CD on the Carnival Freedom to send you husbands a little something. Have a brilliant time
Best wishes to you all
John
That’s all for today except that I have the sad task of having to ban the second person from this blog thingy. I am not even to grace this page with his name. His personal attacks on me are like a broken pencil…….pointless…….and honestly they didn’t bother me. However, now he has started attacking other bloggers and that won’t be tolerated. He has never cruised with us and never has a question about the ships or anything positive to say and so while I wish him safe journeys as he drives his truck……..his comments will not be posted ever again here on the blog thingy.
Well, in the last few weeks the blog has gotten bigger and bigger with more and more readers and henceforth more and more questions and comments that require answers and as you can see I am somewhat behind in answering them. This batch was submitted on October 6.
Anyway, I have decided to do something different tomorrow and rather than write a normal blog with ship stories etc I am going to do a Q and A blog only. I will answer 30 questions and this will at least help in getting me caught up. So please tune in tomorrow for that as well as updates on what’s happening onboard on my new Facebook page thingy. Here once again is the link to the new “fan page“……as one of my Facebook friends reminded me yesterday “are fans allowed onboard?”
So here we are in Mazatlan and it’s a beautiful day. Yesterday the beards from Miami left and heading back to HQ taking with them lots of ideas and suggestions. I showed them all your comments about smoking and made sure that both sides were represented. What I can tell you is that as I have mentioned here before is certainly true and that is smoking is a massively contentious subject. This is why so far no cruise line has gone to a 100% non-smoking policy and it will take a very bold cruise line to do so. They asked me my opinion on smoking on the balconies and I repeated my view that while smoking in the cabins should be something we should at least consider not allowing anymore that smoking on a balcony should be something that continues to be part of what is permitted. I added that most guests (not all) would be understanding of this policy.
I also mentioned that cigar lovers are very respectful to smoking around non-smokers and we’re looking at some alternatives for cigar smokers as well. I put some ideas on the table for them to run up the flagpole. I think it’s a good piece of blue sky thinking and hopefully it will swankifie the ship……….oh bugger………I appear to have caught a serious case of marketingitus. Anyway, we tossed around a variety of ideas and some suggestions that other senior officers here seemed to agree with. Let’s see what happens next.
We also spoke about the piano bars. As you know for the most part our piano bars are smoking bars but here on the Carnival Splendor it is smoke free. Opinion is certainly divided here and I honestly have no idea where the senior beards will take us on this one. Indeed, I have no idea what will happen in the future because there is only one definite when it comes to smoking and that is when you carry thousands of guests every week on your cruise line you have to try and make sure that you are offering something to both non smokers and smokers alike. For now though I raised the points of the many who have written here and did my very best to represent both sides.
Well the beards have gone now and here I sit once again in my underpants writing to you. Back in PV we had a guest who had a domestic dispute with his partner and when security arrived the guest punched one of the guards. The guest and his partner were disembarked and received a letter telling them that they would be banned for life from cruising with Carnival and that any attempt to book a cruise with us could result in loss of deposit or monies paid. Good ………the bastard deserves nothing less and I only wish I could publish his name here.
Apart from him, the guests this week have been loads of fun and the atmosphere around the ship is excellent. My mood may have been excellent as well if I had agreed to go to a gentlemen’s club in PV. …………but I didn’t……..honestly Heidi………I didn’t.
I was invited by another senior officer who was celebrating a landmark birthday by taking a group of guys to a Mexican club called Las Bado Bingo…..OK it wasn’t called that…..but whatever it was called there was no way I was going…….why……well because I don’t drink and I am sorry…………but a strip club…….in Mexico…….. sober?
Having a few drinks takes the blame of lusting over some stranger’s breasts and bottom…..but doing it sober……well to me……that’s extra pervy. To me, five bottles of beer and a dollop of Jack Daniels is the only thing that makes it possible for me to sit there glimpsing one’s own ugly bent toothed face in the mirrored wall without shrieking “What the sodding hell am I doing here? Why am I watching young Mexican females gyrating their waxed lady gardens near tables – tables where they serve food?”
It’s not that I don’t approve of these clubs although I am sure there are some who do. I would object, for sure, if anyone suggested building a French Restaurant in my backyard, but a gentlemen’s club…….well that wouldn’t bother me. However, I don’t go to them not just because I don’t drink but because I don’t like the music or the volume it’s played at And if Heidi did find out I had had a Mexican senjorita gyrating on my lap I could hardly say “It was the Diet Cokes that made me do it darling.” The dancers probably prefer you drunk as well because you’re more likely to stuff $20 bills in various orfices.
Anyway, I am sure they had fun and meanwhile I hosted the Mexican Folkloric show and then went to my cabin alone and watched repeats of The West Wing again. As I did I thought of my friends at Las Starbutts with two bagfuls of silicone in their face ………the lucky sods.
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:
Getting tired of reading the comments lately, since they mostly contain only folks asking for something, or those ingrates complaining when they didn’t get what they asked (or demanded) of you. So, based on that I think I’ll skip tomorrow’s blog, and reading the comments in the future. Honestly, that section of your blog has deteriorated significantly since you started accepting requests. It’s BOOOOOOORING!
I agree – that part is really boring for the rest of us to read. I think it is impolite to ask someone to give you a gift, I don’t care how many years you’ve been married.
That’s why it’s in a different color… so you can skip it! It’s easy… just scroll down……
Cheers!
Thank You Captain Obvious….
I cannot agree more. I just returned from my first cruise and I cannot imagine how asking someone to do you a favor for free can ruin the trip. I like to read comments about people’s questions and their experiences. Then some will even have the audacity to complain about what they get for free! I think it is an amazing thing that John does go out of his way when possible to help with requests and it is what keeps him at the top of his profession but it is wrong when we start to demand it.
John, only one thing to say today… Jeremy T is full of hot air and probably some bad curry as well.
Smoking is, indeed, permitted on RCCL ships. All anyone need do is visit the web site and search ‘smoking.’ There are approximately as many smoking venues on RCCL ships as there are on Carnival vessels.
Ciao!!!
Host Mach
Exactly! I bet Jeremy gets free soda on RCCL too!
He is absolutely wrong!
If someone wants to cruise on a line with the most restrictions on smoking, try Celebrity.
John, you’re just the best. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face today. I hope something can be done to remedy your neighbor’s snoring situation. Also, another great toilet story. Too funny! I’m glad they got the hearing aid back. I’d have thought it would be lost forever, and yes, it would be something to find that in your toilet after making your deposit. lol
Shannan
Well Well Well……………………..the eighteen wheeled critic is finally banished! Good riddance.
Wonder where he will surface next? Under his truck if we’re lucky…………….LOL
Now the rest of us can enjoy the blog and talk about pleasant matters. Don’t think you’ll ever win the smoking debate John but keeping it out of the cabins would be a good idea.
BTW……………keep up the good work with the healthy eating . It’s showing………your face looks thinner. Well done.
CLF- Cruise Line Fans ( I am a proud member and it is full of non judgemental cruisers)
All the best to Heidi and Kye.
B&D from Stratford
Canuck Cruiser,
I think the safest place on the ship to smoke is my cabin for many reasons.
Sprinklers right over your head.
Smoke detectors right over your head
ashtrays no flipping smokes overboard
No wind blowing hot ashes off it
Safer then smoking on balcony
I don’t have to see people fanning their faces and giving me dirty looks while I smoke in a SMOKING ALLOWED area
BIG Ed
PS; But you will also see my smoking in non-smoking areas because I also have electronic cigarettes to use in those ares.
Even if YOU are careful about smoking in your cabin, how many times have you seen fires burn down an entire house because someone fell asleep with a cigarette, or a cigarette fell into the sofa, etc. If all smokers could smoke in their cabins, we drastically increase the odds of a fire on board simply because not all smokers are as careful as you.
Debra G.
There are not many homes that have full sprinkler systems in every room. So that comparison does NOT hold water.
Smokers are allowed to smoke in there cabins now and I don’t read about cabin fires.
BIG Ed
Big Ed,
An excellent point, sir. Given the enhanced safety features present within a cruise ship’s interior (and the magic formula they use to eliminate the odors) smoking inside the cabin would seem to represent less of a threat to others than to smoke outside.
On this issue, I speak as a former smoker. It’s been almost two years… I still miss it every day. If I ever have the pleasure of sailing with you I shall have to stand next to you and “enjoy” one with you!
CLF….a wanna be, BORING, Cruise Critic like cruise message board, that talks about everything EXCEPT cruising.
John have you considered earplugs? I thought oh bugger at first but I am amazed at how much of a difference they make. Just basic earplugs that are avaliable at el-walmarto. They sell them in bundles of 50. I do sleep better with them in.
Big Fans as Allways,
Frank and Bridie
Dear Juan,
I for one would hope that Carnival would press charges against anyone who would strike a Carnival Employee. They don’t get paid enough to put up with passengers like that. It would also show the employees that Carnival is willing to stick up for them by filing assault charges against the low-life.
Looking forward to February as we are planning a cruise that started out with nine of our family getting together but now is down to four. Oh well we will fit better at a table for four in the center of the dining room, with a waitress from Latvia. See what you have done to me.
How is the finger from yesterday’s video blog. I know many of us enjoyed the video blog. The ladies especially!
Yes finding a baterry operated turd with wires coming out of it would be a little disconcerting. The CC member might think it was a camera for spying on you in the toilet.
Have a great day tomorrow answering thirty questions.
The Cruzin2some
James & Nancy Enslow
Breathe Right strips seem to work very well to keep the snore level down. Trip into the next El Walmarto you find and pick up a box for your neighbor.
My hubbie and I have been stuck on balcony cabins for two reasons – We absolutely love them and I can go outside and have a smoke. There leaves no odor in the room and he doesn’t start sneezing due to the smoke. At home I smoke on my porch. In other words, like so many people these days, I try to be considerate. The thing is the non-smokers are so beyond rude even when they’re in a smoking area.
PLEASE do not take away what few areas we have.
I don’t think you understand that cigarette smoke makes some people quite ill. I’m not talking a little uncomfortable. I have just been told that I have developed a late onset case of asthma – very mild – but I got so sick from sitting next to a woman who smoked and continuously blew it in my face that I had to go to the ship’s doctor on my last cruise.
Hmmmm? Was is a designated smoking area? Maybe don’t sit next to a smoker who blows smoke your way?
You should get out of the smoking area. Hmmmm more fun to beotch about it than move?
I completely agree!! We only smoke on the balcony when we are in the cabin. Although the stewards have a magic potion they use to take the odor out of the room, we try not to cause them extra work. I wish I knew what that cleaning agent is. I would love to buy it!
OK John I have to ask about the toilets. Does the crap in the toilets go from one crapper to the next crapper? Thanks for a good laugh. Jo
John, Of course you know that i really enjoy reading your blogs/and fan page. I do have a comment concerning the safety drills, especially since I have traveled several times with disabled relatives (husband and mom). Both of them had motorized scooters and they tried their best to make it to the drills, but elevators are always full. Just a suggestion–could some elevators be marked for w/c/scooter/stroller use only during the drills? Something to pass on to the beards?? Take care John and I’m glad that you can decide what to post here.
no one except H/C people are suppose to use the elevators during the drill. I wonder how they are getting away with it. I know when I cruise, there is always someone standing next to the elevator stopping people from using them.
When I was on the Carnival Paradise in May, I had to wait 15 minutes for an elevator because they were full of able body people who did not want to use the stairs, but finally a gentleman got off of one elevator and let me on. I did arrive late for the drill, so I missed the first 10 minutes. When a crew member came around to talk to the disabled people, I told her why I was late and she said that they are working on changing the way the elevators are being used before the drills., I also told her that one elevator stopped and it was all crew members on it. and another one had just kids playing on it, they were going up and down on the elevator and laughing every time it would open and see the same people waiting.
John,
PLEASE READ, NO RESPONSE REQUIRED!
Just a smoking comment:
While I understand that smoking on balconies is preferable to in the stateroom, I would ask that the beards make one side of the ship’s cabins for smokers and one side for non-smokers. (I don’t know if it’s possible, but it would be ideal!)
Or at least, smokers toward the back of the ship so I don’t have to avoid my balcony all cruise long. It is a waste to pay so much for the balcony, only to be trapped inside because some insenstive sod has to be outside all day on his balcony smoking. I seem to be “lucky” and get the neighbors that don’t ask if I mind smoke blowing in my face instead of the sea breeze.
Thanks for all you do, you make me laugh everyday with your wonderful Facebook posts!,
Lisa
(One more month ’til I cruise, and we are trying an aft balcony to see if it will be more smoke free than one on the starboard side!)
It could be a more smoke free balcony. But enjoy the soot from the funnel coming down onto the chairs and balcony.
Also, maybe, just maybe if the smokers had more places they were allowed to smoke they wouldn’t be hanging out on their balconies “all day” . Ya think?
Lisa,
I think it is very possible and the easiest way to do it. Mixing smoking and non-smoking cabins just wont work. With one side smoking and the other side non-smoking even the balcony people will be happy. People would book earlier to make sure they got the side they wanted. On the Carnival rate where Carnival assigns cabins they could have 3 options SMOKING, NON-SMOKING and NO PREFERANCE. Most polls never have a choice in there questions for the non-smoker that doesn’t mind being around people that smoke. A lot of non-smokers live with smokers, have friends that are smokers and can deal with it. It’s the diehard non-smoker that sees a person 50 feet away smoking and starts making an appointment with their Dr. that makes all the waves.
BIG Ed
Big Ed – I know you are a diehard smoker and that’s fine and you are certainly entitled to your opinions…BUT….. I consider myself a “diehard non-smoker” and not once on a cruise ship have I ever said anything negative to a smoker. Have I resented having a balcony that I couldn’t enjoy because my neighbor was constantly smoking out there? Yes. Have I wanted to spend time in the piano bar or casino but considered it too smokey? Yes. My solution was to not frequent those areas because they were designated smoking. This doesn’t mean that us ‘diehard non-smokers” are all nose crinkling, hand wavers. Yes, there are some who are very vocal and demonstrative, but that could be said for either side of this coin. It’s not just the non-smokers who are passionate about their rights.
Why dont you just say Smokers are low class and be caged in the bottom of the ship with no windows and have bags over their heads and o course they would be last to have access to life boats if there was a hazard at sea…..just sayin…reeeeally now….What a mind set…
Lisa,
Many years ago some people had to “sit in the back of the bus” . Now that Obama said the Republicians should “sit in the back” you now think it’s OK to tell smokers to go to the “back of the ship”. I think that’s discrimination against smokers. Maybe the ACLU should come to the fight for the rights of smokers.
BIG Ed
Hey Big Ed! I’m okay with going to the back of the ship! That’s where all the really nice balconies are at!
Seriously, I smoke. I don’t blow the smoke in other peoples faces. I rarely, if ever smoke inside when I’m on the ship. I smoke on the Lido deck in open air, I smoke on my balcony in open air. I don’t think these two places should ever be taken away from us. If the Carnival beards need to change the smoking rules now, that’s all I ask. Leave us the open air.
PS, Big Ed….. can I friend you on Facebook? You’re almost as cool as John
john, pardon me please…
dear wendy, i hope you see this you selfish thing you. wah wah wah, you had a birthday and had to sit with old people. did you ask the maitre’d to change your table? bet you didn’t. but now you say it ruined your whole cruise. you know, once you get past about eleven or so it’s time to stop whining about birthdays. grow up lady. and have a bit of class.
gosh now at least i feel better! thanks john for letting me vent.
smiles, bonnie and prince charlie
HEY JERE!!!!! Stay on RCL PLEASE…… We LOVE Carnival just the way it is !!!!!!!
Wendy R give me a break! Because you didn’t get what you wanted, your cruise was ruined-Grow up!
She could have talked to the dining staff and got her table changed and for not getting a gift-Boo Hoo!
Stop being so selfish, the other thousands on the cruise didn’t get anything special so why should you? John does things for people to be nice and it awful that you have the nerve to complain because you didn’t get what you wanted
I think some people just use John for the perks, she should just enjoy what she paid for and not complain what she did not get-who does she think she is-President of the USA
I am absolutely appalled by the woman who said you left her broken hearted on her birthday and that you give poor customer service. HOW RUDE AND SELF CENTERED! If it was THAT important, she should have contacted Carnival directly. What you do for passengers is out of the goodness of your heart, not because you have to. Personally, I think all the people that are constantly asking you for favours (spelt correctly) need to get a grip. You are busy enough as CD and blogger. This is why cruise lines have customer service departments!
Good Day John
Just wanted to say a couple things.
1. ear plugs work for me, I can no longer hear myself snore!
2. About 10 years ago, Ed and I took a Tahiti cruise on Renaissance cruise line. It was a total non-smoking cruise line (all 4 ships). Shortly after our cruise,, they went out of business. Don’t know if smoking had anything to do with that or not.
3. My family would never cruise with Carnival again if they ever went to total non smoking. Hope (for that reason) it never happens.
4. LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog and facebook posts.
Ingrid Joyal
I TOTALLY agree with you Ingrid! No smoking No me or any of my many friends I brought over to FUN ship cruising,
I loved your description of the hearing aid being sucked into the toilet in the next cabin. I had a good laugh..thank you John. Anyone who hits a crew member should be banned from cruising.
Jeremy..take a hike. It is so obvious you haven’t cruised on either RCL or Carnival or any line for that matter. We tend to call them ships not boats and thanks Host Mach for stating as well that the smoking policy is clearly printed on RCL’s website. No cruise line that I know of has a total smoking ban.
Wendy…if John not giving you what you asked for ruined your cruise, you should find another way to vacation.
Snoring Solution: I had a similar problem when I was in the Navy. The solution involved creating a brief disturbance just loud enough to stir the person snoring, but not fully wake him up. I used jar the railing of snorer’s bed. This caused a shift in his sleep pattern which usually caused at least a pause in his snoring. I figured if the disruption actually fully woke him up, I would just state that I did it to stop his snoring. As for you, a loud, one or two raps on the wall or his door should work. Again, the disruption should be brief and not persistent within the same attempt, IMHO.
Hello John et al,
Re: Wendy R…….FFS !! You’re an adult. Get over it. Its likely a few other pax had a birthday that wasn’t announced.
Agree with you on the smoking on the balcony thing.
I wish there were a way to reconfigure the spaces so that the cigar bars and any other space leading to the net cafe could remain smoking permitted. How hard would it be to relocate just the net cafes?
See you on BC4 .
Re: Smoking on the balcony:
My worst cruise experience involved smoking on the balcony… the 2006 fire on the Star Princess, which got us all running to muster stations at 3am…and subsequent aftermath of trying to get 3000+ passengers back home from Montego Bay during spring break…
160 cabins burned up…a number of my friends lost everything they had on board (including irreplaceable photos, journals, etc). (Just Google “Star Princess Fire” and you’ll see some nice photos)
I noticed on subsequent cruises that the embarkation safety announcements changed a bit after that fire, with more emphasis on being careful about smoking even outside….and I believe that some ships had balcony dividers replaced with a less flammable material…
So…for those of you who do enjoy lighting up on your balcony PLEASE don’t even think about tossing that butt overboard…it won’t necessarily make it down to the water.
db
Dave,
I think the safest place on the ship to smoke is my cabin for many reasons.
Sprinklers right over your head.
Smoke detectors right over your head
ashtrays no flipping smokes overboard
No wind blowing hot ashes off it
Safer then smoking on balcony
I don’t have to see people fanning their faces and giving me dirty looks while I smoke in a SMOKING ALLOWED area
BIG Ed
PS; But you will also see my smoking in non-smoking areas because I also have electronic cigarettes to use in those ares.
I was married to a snorer for 10 years. My ex-husband could shake the dust off a ceiling fan. Tell your neighbour he should be checked for sleep apnea. Anyone who snores that loudly is not only keeping you awake, but he is not getting proper rest either. Besides being annoying, sleep apnea can kill you. In the meantime, nasal spray and BreatheRight strips to help keep his nasal passages open may help, but my guess is that he needs a CPAP machine.
We also had a good laugh at the billboards advertising the Mexican strip clubs. If the clubs are as cliche’ as the advertisements, you didn’t miss out on anything.
Shelly
Regarding snoring, my wife is a snorer and the only relief I have found is those foam rubber ear plugs. You roll them between thumb and first finger to make them small, insert in each ear and hold in place until they expand to make a snug fit. They work GREAT!. Good job John and keep up the good work.
Bryan
Same ones I use for the same reason, LOL.
Why is it that if you make a reservation online for the Steakhouse, you cannot get any kind of confirmation back from Carnival? Disney does it. Other cruise lines do it. We prefer Carnival, so why can’t Carnival do it?
That’s strange…I got confirmation the same day for my steakhouse reservation on the Miracle next month. Maybe each ship is different? Definitely frustrating for you, I’m sure.
I received an email confirmation when I booked the steakhouse for the miracle back in September. Perhaps check your junk/spam mailbox?
I too received confirmation from the Steakhouse on the 10/2 sailing of the Carnival Dream a few days before we sailed. I made the reservation about a month or so before so perhaps they wait until closer to your sailing date.
I receieved a confirmation for my cruise in February, the day after I asked for the reservation.
I received mine within a couple of days for our cruise in June!
Got confirmation of steak house and Chef’s table via email….
John, received my confirmation from the Elation this evening for the Chef’s Table. Thank you (and Host Mach) for your assistance. As this will be my 10th cruise on Carnival this will make it even more special. How you find time to do your paid job with all the good works that you do for all of us is beyond me.
Wendy…what bloody cheek you have. That’s all I can say….it takes a lot for me to be speechless. The nerve of some people…no wonder I only have one left!!!
Poor Wendy…I agree with the other Lynda…kinda leaves me speechless…but, then again why should it?
If you let that ruin your cruise…I suggest you stay home from now on! For Goodness sakes…Is John responisble for everything? Get a life!
I kept expecting to see “Just Kidding” after Wendy’s post…what she was saying read like a parody of other stupid complaints. All I can think is “she can’t be serious?” Cuz if she’s serious….what an idiot!
In January I had asked John for a couple of favors and for some reason the CD did not fulfill it. Did I come back on the blog and say that I was unhappy with John because the people he asked to help me did not do it, NO, because it was not John’s fault. I know he felt bad, but I appreciated that he even tried for me.
Wendy, you need to grow-up and realize that when you ask someone to help you and that person is depending on others, that sometimes your request may not get fulfilled, but you DO NOT TAKE IT OUT ON THE PERSON YOU ASKED, you should be grateful he even asked the other crew members to fulfill your request.
Kathy M..
Would someone PLEASE explain to Wendy that this blog IS NOT the Carnival’s Guest Services Department.
John does what he can to honor some requests out of the kindness of his heart.
NOTHING is guaranteed…and certainly John is not at anyone’s beck and call.
If this ruined Wendy’s cruise, then she is a troglodyke that needs to stay home.
Linda
John …. if the snoring is that bad, he might have a serious medical condition known as “Sleep Apnea”. There are treatments for it, but he would need a polysomnogram (sleep study) to determine for sure what is causing the snoring. But if it is Sleep Apnea, and it’s left untreated, it could take years off of his life by putting extra strain on his heart at night, so very important to get it checked out.
“waxed lady gardens” is the funniest thing I have EVER heard in my life……
John,
This is to the rude woman who thinks that you should take care of her birthday. When talking to the travel agent they always ask if it is a special occasion & on what day. It’s up to you to order a cake and then the wait staff will bring it out in which they will sing “Happy Birthday”. And as far as a gift what about the person you were with? Weren’t they the one that was supposed to give you something? Didn’t the other person know that it was your birthday? Gee, your getting older like those other people you were talking about.
Why does John always have to provide gifts? We celebrated my husband’s birthday just last month on the cruise ship and had a wonderful time. The wait staff sang to him and made him feel like a king because myself and my daughter supplied them with the things needed to surprise him with. Gee, we didn’t get John to send a gift because we relied upon ourselves to show my husband how much we cared and not depend on other people.
Oh, I think that Carnival offers great customer service because we had a great time with each and every person that worked on that ship. It’s just that they will not make a sour person happy no matter what they do. And next time, send in your request earlier.
John, thanks for everything that you do.
Seconding the “please-please?” for a non-smoking side or portion of the ship for balcony cabins. We’ve also been unlucky before, and it’s depressing to not get to use your balcony because of the reek from the adjacent cabin.
(We’ve never had anyone ask if we minded, nor would I expect someone to. I’m surprised every time John mentions this like it’s a known protocol of etiquette. At a restaurant back in the day, sure, but on one’s balcony at sea? I wonder how many smokers actually do this?)
I don’t really care about the health issues, only the stinkyness. Unfortunately, smokers don’t seem to realize how incredibly bad their habit smells until they’ve quit smoking *and* avoided the company of smokers for awhile. So many of my ex-smoking friends can’t believe what they inflicted on other people… kind of like people with ten indoor cats who think their litter box is undetectable.
So, yes, another vote here for a non-smoking section of balconies and hopefully a nudge closer to peace between these two tribles.
yep put’em in the basement lie low class peaple…like the Titanic…that will fix’em…really now…
We were in an aft cabin of the Fascination in May and enjoyed it. But every night, (the bubble of of sewage started, plumbing said there was nothing they could do about it) If I had seen an “ear” with or without ears, I’m not sure what I would have thought but I’m fairly sure they would have heard me, 3 doors down! And James suggesting it might be a camera, too funny. I can’t remembering laughing so hard before and you have written some funny stuff!!!!
We were in an aft cabin of the Fascination in May and enjoyed it. But every night, (the bubble of of sewage started, plumbing said there was nothing they could do about it) If I had seen an “ear” with or without ears, I’m not sure what I would have thought but I’m fairly sure they would have heard me, 3 doors down! And James suggesting it might be a camera, too funny. I can’t remembering laughing so hard before and you have written some funny stuff!!!!
Where was Susan G when her kids where getting beat up? And she has the never to complain other people shoudl watch Their kids?
Hello John, I want to thank you for getting me my reservations for the Chef’s Table on my July 2011 sailing on the Splendor. We’ve done the Table on Princess and are looking forward to the Carnival experience. It’s been 20 years since we last sailed on a Carnival ship, long story short it was not a good time. This time we will be with a group of 25 family members. Expecting to have a great time.
Eileen
Thanks John for clearing that up… not peanut butter…. good because we have Peter Pan…. so a kangaroo as a CD… well that will be different than the Weee leprechaun and a difficult act to follow, just remember John we do not drink anything stronger than coffee
but we really love Blue Mountain
wish we were there
the one
and only1
Heidi-Beth
Dear John,
I truly sympathize with the snoring thing. My hubby sounds like a freight train derailing as it goes through a tunnel in a canyon during an avalanche! Seriously, I can hear his snores from the other side of the house some nights!
We tried everything – ear plugs for me, Breathe Right nasal strips (it just opens things up to amplify the sound, by the way!) and anti-snore spray. Nothing works. So I have to try to fall asleep first, since I sleep like the dead and nothing bothers me once I’m in Dreamland.
So sorry, but besides stuffing a pair of your underpants in his mouth, I can’t think of any way to silence your neighbor.
You do have my deepest sympathies, though!
Laura
hi john great blogs/ fan page first time doing this-messagethingy sorry if waffle ensues! Hubby to be and me are so looking fwd to our cruise on triumph out of new orleans in feb. It will now be a honeymoon cruise as we will have tied the knot on the 14th feb. I met peter on carnival celebration (98) when he was the dj in the galaxz disco (I know consorting with the staff oops ) we were hoping to get wed on celebration but it took too long to get our backsides in gear – always something else needed doing ! Then of course celebration went to a spanish cruise line so that was that. But at least we can celebrate with carnival for our honeymoon woo hoo . I am hooked on your blog etc as I work nights catch up with you all then keep up the good work. Love to heidi and kye ttfn
I try to be a polite smoker however I pay just as much for my balcony as does a non-smoker and why should my vacation be “ruined” by being :TRAPPED” inside my stateroom or have to go somewhere else to smoke?
John,
I’ve taken the time to write up a full review of my Carnival Sensation trip on Cruise Critic. You can read the whole thing here if you have an extra few days…it’s rather long winded.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1298625
I was a little sad that I hadn’t heard from you before my trip, but I know your extremely busy, so it’s ok. Besides it’s not like it was going to make or break the trip to begin with!
Anyway I just wanted to send a quick note to tell you that the Sensation was a wonderful ship, and “little” Skippy was a better CD than other reviews had let on.
Also can you pass on my compliments to the bigwigs (beards?) about Ohran the Maitre D and Giannina from Peru our head waitress?
Giannina was the highlight of our trip, and Ohran was always very personable and friendly. If everyone on the ship had their attitudes and enjoyment for their jobs that these two had you would never hear many complaints. I hope they both go far in their careers with Carnival, and you should make Giannina a manager or trainer soon! Don’t let her get away!
And also tell Giannina that I’ve honored her promise that I won’t post the “Apple Bottom Jeans” video on Youtube for her mother to see.
Thanks,
Justin
As far as the noise from your neighbor, if you don’t want to try the earplugs like many here have suggested, you might try a sound machine. I always travel with a little device called a “sleep mate”. It plugs in and makes “white noise”. This really helps drowned out background noise you would otherwise hear in a quiet place. I know alot of people use a regular fan for this same purpose, but the sleep mate machine doesn’t stir up the air in the room like a fan would. Just a suggestion…..
As far as the smoking issue, I agree with the suggestion that one side of the ship be designated smoking cabins, and the other non-smoking cabins. Once your choice of cabin is sold out, then you have the option to take the other but at least you know what you’re getting into. Hotels do this so I’m not sure why this would be so difficult on a cruise ship???
Smokers – as a non-smoker, I understand your right to smoke but don’t label all non-smokers as rude. Do I think there should be no smoking in cabins? Yes, because some smokers are chain smokers and/or use a different tobacco than others. Some cigarettes leave more smoke than others. This isn’t pleasant for the next passenger to occupy your cabin after your cruise is over. I also don’t go through a designated smoking area then give smokers who are there for that purpose a stare or rude comment. You have that right to smoke in those designated areas. I do think it is great to hear that some of you are reporting great results from the e-cigarettes. To me, this is not only a “win-win” situation for everyone, but it is healthier for those smokers who might otherwise end up with emphasema or lung cancer. I would love to see the cruise lines start selling these in the gift stores for smokers to try using.
I was going to suggest a catch up “reply please” only day…
To Wendy who stated that her cruise was ruined because she didn’t get her wishes granted by John I fell sorry for you!!
Hi John,
Larry and I started cruising in 1994, have been on 6 since. You were on the first 2 cruises we went on and have missed you ever since. Just found out about your blog and wonder if you can tell me what ships you’ll be on next year and when as we’re trying to get a cruise scheduled early 2011. We have cruise partners now and would love to share you with them.
Thanks a bunch
Larry and Marcia Pike
John,
My husband was a snorer. Sometimes in the middle of the night, it got so bad our kids would shout out “Dad, Shut Up”.
Now that he’s gone, I really miss that reassuring snore, that lulled me to sleep. One person’s racket is another person’s lullaby!
Joyce
God Bless Joyce.
Let me relate our smoking story, but first set the scene relative to our problem with smoking – my wife is allergic to cigarette smoke, which causes asthma attacks.
My wife and I booked the Transatlantic cruise on the Carnival Freedom – we booked a balcony cabin that turned out to between two chimney smokers. The smoking was so bad that the smell was wafting out of the rooms into the hallway and we could not enjoy our balcony because the adjoining balcony was almost always occupied by a smoker.
We were lucky in that we were able to switch cabins to the other side of the ship and get away from the chimneys, thus allowing us to enjoy our balcony for the remainder of the cruise.
I am all for the one side smoking, one side non-smoking idea, but I would bet that the ship would list from the disproportionate number of non-smokers wishing that side of the ship.
I should also point out that we always frequented the Piano bar on the Smokefree Paradise, but no longer get to enjoy this attribute of today’s ships because they are all smoking. Perhaps a non-smoking night would be appropriate??
STILL MTSFP
MTSFP:
I can completely understand.
This isn’t any kind of rant about smokers. Smokers are not evil people….it is the reality of what nonsmokers sacrifice because of some one else’s addiction.
I am not allergic to cigarette smoke….and yet I can only spend minutes on any given night singing in the piano bar (which I LOVE)…dancing in the disco (which I LOVE) ..singing and dancing with the cover band (which I LOVE) ….
3 things that I love to do….I am not allowed to, because of someone else’s addiction. That means that 3 music venues that I paid for on any given cruise, I can not use. Again, because of someone else’s addiction.
On our Fantasy cruise with John in May, I spent TWO DAYS (and $30.00) trying to get our cabin clean enough to stay in because the previous occupants were smokers.
Why should I have to give upmy time and efforts for two days of my cruise and $30.00 to be able to occupy my cabin?
These are serious questions that “the beards” need to consider.
Now I know E cigarettes may not be “as good as the real thing”…but considering the sacrifices that nonsmokers currently make; I think using an E Cig is a sacrifice that the smokers could make….and would be much more fair since they are the ones with the addiction.
Linda
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Here’s an idea for you Wendy. Perhaps sitting with all us “old” people might teach you some manners.
I mean….I bet that they were all very gracious to you on your birthday, never knowing that all the while you were crying on the inside (maybe outside too), cursing the Gods that you……very special YOU, had to endure a meal on your oh so special day, with OLD people. The horror.!!
I really dont have a problem with smokers and they have never even touched my cruise experience. I stay away from smoking areas. BUT, I took my son to a Red Wings game last weekend and we had to walk to the parking structure after the game. The crowds were thick in the tunnels and many were smoking…..yep, son had an asthma attack. No way around the tunnel and no way to get out of the crowd. I used to smoke and I do understand that everyone has the right to hurt themselves if they want to, but I do wish that people would stop wanting to…..JMHO Luv all you guys, smokers and all.
John:
We just returned from a vacation that sadly was NOT a cruise….but it was a week of fun.
It will take me some time to catch up with the blogs that I missed.
We took DJ on a Nascar adventure.
We visited a dozen Nascar garages, Dale Earnhardt Jr’s bar Whiskey River (where the General Manager gave DJ a VIP tour before it opened one afternoon since you have to be 21 to get in and DJ is only 19 AND they gave him a ton of goodies) and ended with spending two days with Carolyn and Don (DJ’s Nascar Granny) at the Talladega Superspeedway.
David and DJ went to the Truck Race on day and the Talladega Sprint race the next day.
Carolyn and Don were kind enough to allow us to use their beautiful motorhome while we were there. It made DJ’s race visit so much easier to have a wonderful 40 foot motorhome to come back to after the races to relax and eat. Carolyn and Don certainly do it up right. This RV costs more than a HOUSE!!! Flat screen TVs inside and outside… talk about luxury. They have certainly spoiled DJ !!
So I will try to get caught up as soon as I can.
As for the smoking issue, I hate to disappoint Ms. “there is no smoking indoors on RCCL” … because while I have never stepped foot on the “monster of the seas” … friends of mine who have attest that smoking is indeed allowed indoors.
It is not allowed in the cabins…..but there are designated smoking areas indoors…just like on Carnival.
As far as smoking in the cabins, changing Carnival cabins to nonsmoking is one change I would like to see….only because of the smoke that gets into the hallways and travels to other cabins. That is to much exposure to children.
Children should be our first concern.
Linda (Mom of your friend ~ totally worn out from Nascar~ DJ)
John,
We have been reading your blog for a while, we just returned from our 12th Carnival cruise and love Carnival. Just had to write and tell you the hearing aid story was so funny I almost fell out of my chair. Thanks for the blog and facebook thingy.
John,
I have sleep apnea and snored horribly for years. I now use a CPAP machine and do not snore at all. My partner slept with ear plugs until I finally gave in and began using the CPAP.
Unless your shipmate admits he has a problem and does something about his snoring, you may have to resort to ear plugs.
Dr. Deany
PS Thank you going through the effort of blogging. I do enjoy reading your posts.
John,
I know first hand that snoring can either ruin a good relationship or heighten a bad one. I am reminded of the time my wife and I went to a Bed & Breakfast in St. Augustine Florida with folks that used to be good friends of ours. Our second mistake (the first mistake was to stay at that Bed & Breakfast to begin with) was to think that we could all stay in the same room to save a few bucks.
Up to that point, I thought that the most difficult thing one could possibly do in life was to understand ones spouse. But alas, I was wrong. It turns out that the most difficult thing is to try and keep awake so that you do not snore and disturb the guests that are trying to sleep in the same room as you.
I am happy to report that I don’t snore anymore. But then again, I don’t eat uncontrollably like I used to either. You see, snoring is one of the side effects of being overweight. Rather than go into some drawn out, scientific explanation of why this is so, I would much rather you type in the phrase “snoring+overweight” into your Google search engine. Trust me when I say that no pill or spray will eliminate snoring. Being the mathematics whiz that I am, I have actually come up with a formula that quantifies the relationship between weight gain and snoring. For every 10 pounds you gain over your target weight, your snoring will increase by 5.3 decibels, until such time that it reaches the equivalent of a jet engine at takeoff. That is what I refer to as the “no-man zone”, because no man will want to sleep anywhere near you.