Naples is the Charlie Sheen of Italy. Reasonably good looking but absolutely stark raving bonkers. And that’s where I write to you from this morning and once I have finished today’s blog I shall take my life into my own hands by crossing a road and ruining a very good pair of underpants in the process. That’s because whether you are in a car, on a moped or God help you, a pedestrian, venturing out onto the roads of Naples guarantees you a white knuckle journey of fear.
Forget Rome, Paris and even driving with the Hernandez family on I-95 in Miami, there is nothing like the roads of Naples. Road signs are mere suggestions and then there is the car horn. Where you and I live this is used mostly to attract the attention of friends on the pavement. In Naples it’s used for all sorts of reasons: because it’s there and it works, because Naples football (sacccccccerrr) team has scored a goal and beaten Milan, or because the car in front of you has dared to stop at a red traffic light, or because they have seen a bella arse.
I imagine that in Naples the driving test includes what not to do at a red traffic light, how to blow your horn continuously for two minutes and how to drive while using both hands to tell another driver to go and have sexual relationships with himself.
Driving in Naples is one of the most least relaxing ways to spend a day. It can be frantic, unkempt in some spots and a little unruly but all of that and it still sits in one of the most beautiful areas of Italy. Many of the guests today have gone to Pompeii and others have chosen to do the top three, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri. If Naples is the real deal then Capri is Fantasy Island and today with the Climbing Wall of the Seas docked with us there will be something like 5,000 visitors there. It is simply a must see.
So I encourage our guests to see Capri and enjoy a peaceful day watching the rich and tanned hide behind their Versace sunglasses at the island’s top restaurant, Villa Verdi, or just pretending you can afford to buy something from one of the beautiful designer stores. Yep, a day in Capri is relaxing and massively satisfying while a day crossing or driving on the roads of Naples will have you fainting in a puddle of your own bodily fluids.
Time for today’s Q and A………….here we go.
Andrea Haskins (Duck Duck Girl) asked:
Mr Heald,It has been 1 week since I sent my complaint to you and you have not replied and I haven’t heard from anyone at Carnival so more bad customer service I guess. My complaint was from the Glory. The ship was heading for Nassau when a someone was taken seriously ill and the ship had to turn around, rendezvous with United States Coast Guard who collected the patient. The ship was unable to make port the following day due to this and, passengers were given just $25 shipboard credit. Later that day we were told that the patient was CREWMEMBER a fact that had been hidden by the captain during his announcements. To receive just $25 for a missed port and the one that my boyfriend and I had been excited about the most is not acceptable. Why couldn’t we have taken him off by helicopter? My sister says that usually they take them off by helicopter which if had happened here would have allowed us to go to Nassau. I have written to Carnival but have not heard any reply. We are going to post our complaints online so millions will see that customer service at Carnival sucks. What are you going to do to make your customer happy? I guess the answer to this is nothing so I have put my comment on Cruise Critic and written to the Star-Ledger newspaper as well.
I expect a reply.
Andrea Haskins
John says:
Hello Andrea Haskins,I did indeed reply to you and I have a feeling that because I was behind in my replies that our postings may have crossed over. I answer 40 questions a week here on the blog thingy and 30 a day also or more on Facebook and it’s hard to remember them all. However, I remember yours very well because I remember how angry your comment made me feel. The fact that you highlighted in capital letters that the fact that the life saved was a crewmember and this should entitle you to more compensation, well as I said it angers me and surprises me just how little compassion some people have. While we are truly sorry that you missed a port we can offer you no further compensation, this has been confirmed by the vice president of our guest services team in Miami. Missing a port………is that really more important than saving a life? I don’t think so and hopefully once you sit and think about this…….neither will you.
Best wishes,
John
Danny Paris asked:
Mr. Heald (Please reply),We are loyal Carnival guest (5 cruises in 2 years) and our next cruise is July 3 on the Valor.
My son’s birthday is on the 6 of July… he will be 9. I wonder if it could be possible for Fun ship Freddy too come at dinner for his birthday and give him a little something (ship on a stick?)… We will buy the cake from Bon Voyage.
Thank you very much for the attention to my message.
Dany Paris
John says:
Hello Dany Paris,Of course I can do something for your son. I can’t promise that Fun Ship Freddy will be there to do it as he has problems holding a trophy with those huge hands. However, a trophy and a birthday wish will be sent and I wish you both a wonderful cruise despite your last name.
Best wishes to you all.
John
Beth Russell asked:
Just off the Valor Sun. April 10. What a fun cruise. Josh is a Fantastic cruise director. Out and about and so personable. Also getting off the ship to tender in Grand Cayman and Belize was the best ever. So organized and no one allowed to cut or get in line out of turn. Also debarking was the most organized. We have been on 28 cruises and this was the most organized in tender ports and debarking.
YEA JOSH!!!! Whole cruise was fun.John says:
Hello Beth Russell,This is great to read and I will make sure Josh sees your fantastic words of praise. The fact that you have cruised so many times and that the embarkation and debarkation process was the best yet means that we are moving in the right direction which is great news indeed. Thanks so much for taking the time to write and I thank you so very much for your loyalty.
Best wishes,
John
Dessire asked:
John,I have never read your blog until today when another cruise critic reader told me I should post my opinion on your web site. I am a vegetarian and I want you to see how we were treated by the rudest crew we have ever sailed with. Here is our post.
http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=82295
As I said at the end I would recommend Carnival only to the right crowd – carefree party people who don’t care about service. I look forward to see what you have to say. Many applaud you on Cruise Critic and many think you are full of hot air. Let’s see which group is correct.
John says:
Hello Dessire,I thank you for finding this blog thingy and for taking the time to post your review. It seems that you ordered a custom meal as you said and somewhere there was a breakdown in communication and it didn’t get taken care of. This is not good enough and you deserve an apology which I am sending you most sincerely now. I see that your children enjoyed Camp Carnival and that’s great news. So let me say sorry once again and that we will strive to do better I promise. Meanwhile we will continue to provide the brilliant service that thousands enjoy on our ships each and every week.
Best wishes and hope we see you all again soon.
John
Kathy asked:
I’m sailing on the Dream in a couple of weeks and I’ve heard that there is a sewer type smell on the Main Deck–how true is this? I’d like to know because I’m thinking of switching my cabin to the last Cove Balcony available. Need to know ASAP. Thanks and happy sailing.
John says:
Hello Kathy,It is true that for the first few months of the ship’s life we did have a problem in this area but that is no longer the case and I promise that your cove balcony cabin choice is a great one and if you can, book it. It will provide you with an incomparable close to the water view like never before. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Best wishes.
John
Eric T. asked:
John,You probably don’t remember me but perhaps you may remember my past queries. I haven’t heard anything, so I’m assuming nothing came out of the “American Choppers” idea about Carnival having a theme bike made? Also, I asked if Carnival had any type of “Carnival museum.” You’d said you’d get back to me the very next week but I never saw anything.
Eric
John says:
Hello Eric T,Of course I remember you mate because I thought your idea was a great one but unfortunately the beards didn’t. Now as for the museum, well they liked that idea a lot more and there was some talk of putting some memories on this ship but then others said that we were only 35 years old and were too young to have a museum. So, maybe one day there will be and pride of place will go to a pair of senior cruise director John Heald’s underpants which will sit in a glass case in the lobby of Carnival HQ.
Best wishes mate and thanks again for what I thought were 2 great ideas.
John
A.J.C. asked:
I need an answer to my question. Are you paid to write this blog by Carnival? If so how can there be a disclaimer that it’s your blog and not Carnival’s blog!!!!!!!!!! Me and the wife are going on the sailing on Victory on May 29 and last time we got the worst table in the dining room so this time tell the maitre d that we are coming and that we would want a 2-top table for cabin 6308. Who are the comedians at the comedy club? On the Fascination we had a really bad one he was so bad I could have gone up there and done funnier stuff. Hope the ones on Victory will be better.
John says:
Hello A, J.C.,So, let’s start with your table request which I have sent to the maitre d who will do his best to help you get a table for two. The entertainment schedule for your cruise lots like this:
Sun, May, 29: San Juan – Sail Away Party
Mon, May, 30: St Thomas – Welcome Aboard Show (Chas Elstner / Michael Macy)
Tue, May, 31: at sea - City Lights (Chas Elstner / Michael Macy)
Wed, Jun, 01: Barbados – Deck Party (Manuel Zuniga Jr.)
Thu, Jun, 02: St. Lucia – Vrooom
Fri, Jun, 03: St Kitts – Rand Woodbury (Al Romero / Hank McGauley)
Sat, Jun, 04: St Maarten – Carnival Legends (Al Romero / Hank McGauley)Now while I don’t know Hank McGauley I do know the others and they are all very funny and will give you many laugh out loud moments.
As for your question if Carnival pays me for my blog………well obviously that’s between me and the beards but I will say that it is still my blog and the disclaimer is obviously there for a reason. For example, if I was to say that your post came across as rude and I really would rather have Rosanne Barr give me a lap dance while giant leaches attached themselves to my bollocks than help you get a table for 2……..well they could say sorry AJC, that’s John saying that and his blog is bugger all to do with us. But luckily I never say those things and so we work together in almost perfect harmony.
I wish you both a wonderful cruise.
John
Debbie asked:
John,I notice this year they have started thimbles for collectors, I was wondering how I can get one for the Carnival Dream which we sailed on last year. I would like to collect one for each of ship I have been on. The Dream was our first cruise and we just sailed on the Conquest this past Feb. Already planning our next one. Looks like it may be on the Miracle for an 8 day Southern. Love both of the ships and look forward to many more cruises.
John says:
Hello Debbie,I didn’t know we did these nor did I know they were collectors of them. I think its best you contact the customer service department of our partners who run the onboard gift shops and ask them if you can buy one and it be sent to you. Here is there information:
Starboard Cruise Services, Inc.
Attn: Customer Service Dept.
8034 N. W. 14 Street
Miami, Fl. 33126
Toll Free Phone: 1-800-540-4785 or Outside U.S. Non-Toll Free: 1-305-728-4520
Fax: 786-845-1112Please let me know if you need further assistance.
Best wishes,
John
Linda Fodrey Barnes asked:
Hi John,Myself my husband and 2 friends will be traveling on the Magic in October with you I am so excited this will be the cruise that I become a platinum guest and I can’t wait to meet you I follow your blogs all the time. We are in cabin 6435 right now be we have upgraded twice already so we will see…lol. My question is I am taking my 9th cruise with Carnival in May and I want to be sure that my information will be right for me to go platinum is there anything I need to do to be sure it is all ok? I can’t wait for October 16th to come.
Thank you for your help,
Linda
John says:
Hello Linda Fodrey Barnes,I can feel your excitement and I can tell you that having checked with someone I can confirm that when you sail in October you will be the proud owner of a shiny new Platinum card. So, have a safe journey here and get ready to see some amazing places and to enjoy the most beautiful ship in the fleet.
Best wishes
John
Ian H asked:
Hello John,Just needed to tell you a huge thank you for the gifts you sent my parents for their 55th wedding anniversary on the Destiny. Mum showed me a photo of the strawberries and the gold ship on a stick and said you made them feel like VIPs. Thanks John and me and the wife and kids will see you in Galveston for the Thanksgiving cruise. Thanks again for being so wonderful to my folks.
John says:
Hello Ian H,You are welcome mate and please send them my kind regards and I will see you and your family here soon.
Best wishes.
John
That’s all for today.
So get ready because starting today and over the next few days and weeks there will be some exciting news. I know from my Facebook page that many of you have had many questions about itineraries and other subjects and don’t quite understand why we are releasing this information so late. Well, there are many people involved in making these decisions and the process of actually putting these ideas in place takes some time. Anyway, I just wanted to apologise for the delay but I truly believe that most of you will love what we have done and that there will be much rejoicing.
That being said, here is our mate Vance to tell you the news of the day.
For the first time, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate an extended schedule of voyages from Boston with a series of round-trip four- and five-day eastern Canada cruises aboard the 2,974-passenger Carnival Glory beginning in June 2012. Carnival will be the only cruise line offering short cruises from Boston to the Canadian Maritimes.
On the new program, Carnival Glory will sail from the recently refurbished Black Falcon Cruise Terminal on four-day “long weekend” cruises departing Thursdays to Saint John, New Brunswick, and five-day voyages departing Mondays and Saturdays to Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Saint John. The program will operate June 10 to July 26, 2012. A special seven-day cruise will be offered June 3-10, 2012, with visits to Portland, Maine; and Saint John, Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia.
“We are thrilled to offer these four- and five-day cruises from Boston which is not only a world-class destination but also provides a convenient and affordable drive-to homeport for millions of Northeastern U.S. residents,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “Carnival Glory is a fantastic ‘Fun Ship’ with so much to offer and on these cruises guests can visit charming and historic cities in eastern Canadian Maritimes while enjoying all the fun and excitement that Carnival is known for.”
“Massport’s facilities are economic engines for the New England region and we expected our $11 million in capital improvements to the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal would not only be appreciated by the more than 300,000 passengers who use the facility each year, but it would generate renewed interest from cruise lines in the Port of Boston,” said Thomas J. Kinton Jr., Massport’s CEO & Executive Director. “Bringing Carnival Cruise Lines to Boston for regularly scheduled service is not only good economic news, it will provide New England residents more choices in cruising vacations.”
“We are pleased to welcome Carnival Cruise Lines to Boston, and will work to make their Boston-Canada sailings a success,” said Mike Leone, Massport’s Director of the Port. “Carnival Glory provides a great opportunity for New Englanders and others to enjoy Eastern Canada during the summer months, and the shorter itineraries will be a huge draw for those with limited vacation time or who are looking to getaway for an extended weekend.”
Saint John is a nature lover’s paradise, highlighted by such landmarks as Reversing Falls, where the highest tides in the world intersect with the St. John River and force it to flow backwards twice daily, and the Bay of Fundy, with its gorgeous backdrop of rugged rock formations. Also popular is Saint John’s Historic District, lined with stately Victorian homes, elegant churches and quaint boutiques and eateries.
Founded in 1749 and known as the “Gateway to the Canadian Atlantic,” Halifax is a charming yet cosmopolitan city with outstanding restaurants, shops, and museums and unique cultural experiences. Here, guests can visit Peggy’s Cove, a fishing village famous for its granite coastline, tour the city’s many lighthouses, or observe the changing of the guard at The Citadel, a centuries-old fortress. Other on-shore activities such as kayaking and hiking are also available.
Guests can also experience the many on-board facilities and features of the Carnival Glory – a 270-square-foot Seaside Theatre poolside LED screen displaying movies, concerts and other programming, a 13,300-square foot spa, four swimming pools – one with the line’s signature Twister Waterslide – along with spacious and modern play areas for children, ’tweens and teens, and Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat. A wide range of dining venues – from twin full-service dining rooms and a two-level casual poolside eatery featuring a 24-hour pizzeria to a sushi bar and a classic American steakhouse – are available, as well.
New York Cruises
Following its cruises from Boston, Carnival Glory will reposition to New York for a series of four-day voyages to Saint John and five-day voyages to Saint John and Halifax from August 1 through September 3, 2012. Carnival Glory will also offer five week-long fall foliage cruises round-trip from New York to Halifax, Saint John, Boston and Portland, Maine. Departure dates include September 8, 15, 22, and 29 and October 6, 2012.
Norfolk Cruises
The ship will also operate a series of cruises round-trip from Norfolk, Va., in the spring and fall. Spring six-day Bahamas departures will be available on May 15, 21 and 27. In the fall, there will be a six-day Bahamas cruise on October 14 and 22; a five-day Bahamas cruise on October 28, and a special two-day cruise on October 20, 2012.
Congratulations to Boston and having cruised there with the Carnival Destiny in 1997 I know just how much fun the city is and how thrilled they will be to have a Carnival ship there. We will talk more about this soon.
I posted the menu on the last blog and you seemed to like it so let’s see what’s for dinner tonight:
- Chilled langoustino cocktail served with sauce Louise
- Smoked salmon cheesecake, layers of smoked salmon, blanched leeks and cream cheese served with caviar vinaigrette
- Steamed duck pot stickers accompanied by soy mustard dip
- Bouillabaisse, a French style fish and seafood soup
- Vietnamese pumpkin and chicken broth spiced with scallions and fried garlic chips
- Chilled cream of peaches soup
- Pita crisps and beef kebabs with Greek farmer salad tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, onions, olives, romaine lettuce and feta cheese marinated with black olive vinaigrette
- Penne with artichoke hearts and stewed eggplant in oven charred tomato and basil essence (also available as a starter.
- Grilled sword fish medallion, new potatoes in aromatic spices, sautéed wild mushroom, tamari mustard sauce
- Zuppa di pesce cioppino, sautéed shrimps, calamari, octopus, mussels, scallops, fresh fish and vegetables in a light tomato sauce, served with garlic bread
- Roast rack of New Zealand spring lamb, new potatoes in aromatic spices, apricot and rosemary streusel, grilled zucchini and almonds
- Grilled New York sirloin steak, served with sautéed wild mushroom, grilled zucchini
- Baked phyllo pouches, vegetarian entrée; filled with kernel corn and lentils, roasted garlic and pineapple butter
- Bitter and blanc, warm, dark and white chocolate bread pudding with vanilla sauce
- Tiramisu, a delicious creamy combination of contrasting flavors, mascarpone cheese with coffee and sweet chocolate
- Coconut cake, diet coconut sponge cake with a low calorie cream (Dessert is prepared with a sugar substitute)
- Warm chocolate melting cake served with vanilla ice cream
- Fresh tropical fruit plate
- Vanilla • chocolate • strawberry • butter pecan ice cream (Sugar-free ice cream is available upon request)
- Orange • pineapple • lime sherbet
- Port salut • brie • gouda • imported Swiss • Danish bleu cheese
What would you have?
Before I sat down here in my underpants to write today’s blog live from Naples I had to go to the lobby to meet a guest. Here is why:
From: MAGIC GUEST SERVICES
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 6:28 AM
To: MAGIC CRUISE DIRECTOR
Subject: MEETING WITH CDGood morning,
Mr___ is wanting meeting with you John. He has been waiting in lobby since 6:15am. Please when you see this can you call me?
Thank you and regards,
Guest Services Associate, Carnival Magic
Carnival Cruise Lines
I saw this at 7:20 am and sure enough when I called the guest services purser front desk thingy associate……..Mr. Wideawake was still there…….waiting for me. Now, whenever a guest wants to talk to me, I always ask the guest services purser person to try and find out why the guest wants to meet and in this case why he had been waiting in the lobby for over an hour and at the ungodly hour of sodding o’clock. But in this case Mr. Wideawake had revealed bugger all which meant that I was facing this guest not having a clue what was going to happen.
I arrived at the desk and the lobby was already busy with people entering the main lounge to be stickered and escort on their Naples excursions. The guest services purser person pointed to Mr. Wideawake who seeing me, rose from the couch and walked toward me. I extended my hand as I always do when meeting someone and I received a firm handshake back from a slight almost frail looking man in his late 60′s. I motioned for him to sit down again and so the discussion began. This was his 28th cruise he told me but his first ever with Carnival and in a very polite, non-aggressive kind of way he spent the next 20 minutes telling me everything he hated about my Carnival Magic which apart from his cabin steward and Ken the maitre d was……well……….. everything. I won’t bother boring you or wasting the end of my typing finger telling you about what was wrong because quite literally it was ……..well……….everything…
Now once I had listened to him berate my ship I asked him who all his other cruises had been on and was expecting to hear the words “of the seas” or his mention of a large X. But I was wrong. This chap had cruised on Renaissance, the Island Princess and recently Seabourn and Silversea. This was the largest ship he had ever been on and his first mega-liner. So obviously hearing this I had to ask why he choose Carnival and I will tell you why this single traveler from a place called “The Villages” in Florida had decided to go from the small ultra luxury ships and sail on (in his mind at least) the not so Carnival Magic.
Until I asked “why” and having heard his list of previous cruises, I had already made my mind up that Carnival wasn’t for him. Sometimes certain people feel comfortable doing, driving, sailing on and wearing different things. I mean, would The Pope ever be found playing Zombie House of Evil Bastards on his Playstationxbox? Would Megan Fox turn up for the Oscars wearing clothes from JC Penney? Can you imagine me as a cruise director on Cunard doing the bedtime story? People tend to know what suits them…..and what doesn’t.
So, there I was thinking all of the above and listening to Mr. Wideawake’s tales from his Seabourn and Silversea and Princess cruises and how he did not like the food here, the entertainment, the decor and the guests and so it was time to ask the obvious question……..why Carnival? Simple he said, “My travel agent had sent me details of the European cruise and the price was excellent so I thought why not?”
Now as much as I was glad that he was there I couldn’t understand why his travel agent knowing his past history would have sent him from the country inn-style, few hundred passenger Seabourn ships to the Carnival Magic. But then I thought maybe there is another side to this because suddenly the words he had used came back to me. “The price was excellent.” This is when I began to realise that I had been too quick to sum this chap up and that even though he wore expensive clothes and was dripping in Rolex, he had looked to Carnival’s price and found something very appealing.
However, I felt sorry for him because he was definitely a fish out of water and there was something else. Now I have never sailed on Seabourn or Silversea but I have been on the Island Princess all be it just for a day. But during that day I discovered a ship that is like a five-star country inn. It’s small and quaint and naturally the few hundred passengers all talk to each other. There are only maybe 2 or 3 lounges and it’s where the entire ship congregates for drinks, dancing and conversation. So you see while we may not have been Mr. Wideawake’s cup of tea I think there may have been something else…………maybe………he was just lonely……..either that or he was simply one miserable moaning old sod.
Well you may remember that toward the end of last cruise the staff played a National Animal Planetographic-type documentary which apart from other things included a lion ripping the head off a gazelle and two zebras having some rumpy pumpy. Well, while I agreed that we shouldn’t have been playing it I didn’t think it was that a big deal. However, one man did because the moment he landed back in the good old USA he sat down and wrote directly to our President and CEO Gerry Cahill suggesting the lions leave Gary the Gazelle and feed on my fat arse instead.
Honestly, I had to talk to a senior beard today who told me that this guest wants me fired because of this. Fired! Yes it was wrong and as a comment said in the blog that I wrote about this mistake “Would you like Kye to see this kind of thing?”…….well no, probably not now, she’s too young but the man who wanted my job had sons of 8 and 11.
I mean, its nature…..where is he telling his kids baby animals come from, Wal-Mart? Sorry but this has really gotten me all pissed off. The fact that I should have to explain this to a senior beard is ridiculous. I didn’t schedule it and I didn’t see the footage because…….oh I don’t know ……….I have been bringing out a brand new cruise ship. I am sorry that he was upset to want my job because of a two humping zebras………..honestly………what a load of bollocks.
Even now I am probably upsetting some folks with my talk of rumpy pumpy…….any rumpy pumpy not just animal rumpy pumpy, of course. Obviously I have to make light of this because I can’t write about rumpy pumpy. Because I am a man. Heidi is home so I have no recent reference point and if to be honest, I am not exactly gifted in that department. For years I thought the Kama Sutra was an Indian restaurant. Heidi knows am I not romantic and her biggest fantasy in the bedroom involves discovering that I have picked my underpants up off the floor. Me writing about rumpy pumpy on this blog would be like asking a vegan to review Carnival Magic’s steakhouse.
While men are ready, willing and able, a woman’s biggest fantasy in the bedroom involves discovering that her husband has picked his underpants up off the floor. Now, when I was a lad I remember that me and my mate ugly Alan as spotty 15 year olds, head to the local library back home and visit the erotic book section. Now back then there were no guidelines, no parental guidance and we were able to read somewhat naughty books. If you don’t know what erotic fiction is I guess its best described as a book you can read with just one…….never mind. But this was though back in the early eighties and erotic fiction was different back then. It didn’t involve being spanked with a table tennis bat by a 6 foot Latvian in thigh high leather boots.
Nope……..this was a little more subtle. These days it would be as arousing as the Norwegian
Epic but back then it was all me and Alan had. And so we would sit in the corner of Southend on Sea Public library reading passages from Lady Chatterly’s Lover and other historical erotic fiction of that era. “His mighty sword pierced her secret chamber.” As Alan and I began to mature we began our search for our own secret chamber in which to put our mighty sword ……… or in Alan’s case his Swiss army knife.
We had loads of code words for this and one of them was of course rumpy pumpy which so often graces the pages of this blog thingy. We also used; hanky panky, slap and tickle, nookie, bonking, and the girls we liked were muffin and crumpet. Calling the girls these names along with the fact that we were both ugly, spotty and had no money meant that it was many, many years before we got to put our swords anywhere near a secret chamber.
And to be honest when we were 15 I doubt had we been presented with the opportunity we would have known what to do with it anyway. I know in North America kids are taught about rumpy pumpy at an early age but it was a little bit different when I was at school. I remember when I was 14 or 15 we were shown something called Where Babies Come From. It featured a laughing couple chasing each other around a bed with a peacock feather before doing the deed. Seriously……… when were you last chased around a bed with a peacock feather? This is the sodding problem with us British. We turn anything involving sex into an episode of Benny Hill.
We can’t expect kids to be mature about this stuff if we behave like tittering schoolboys. I hope these days British schools have caught up with their American cousins and have stopped making rumpy pumpy fun and stick to the ugly, biological facts. With any luck it’ll put my daughter off ever doing “it” until she is 42…………….. And I am dead.
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.
Andrea Haskins (Duck Duck Girl),
I sure hope you send this to every cruise board, paper and tabloid all over the world. That way the whole wide world will know your a -ucking Idiot.
BIG Ed
Couldn’t have said it better my ucking self.
RE Andrea Haskins (Duck Duck Girl):
Another Cruise Critc member demanding everything and anything.
I’m sure not suprised.
Perfectly put, Big Ed! I couldn’t agree more!
Good point Big Ed!
Once again very well put Ed. Thank god we don’t have to wait for this one to say please or thank you, we’d be here all month long!
John,
RE: Andrea Haskins (Duck Duck Girl) – I’m sure there will be a million comments about this one, but, is it possible to permanently ban someone from Carnival for life for being selfish and stupid? If not, could you make an exception in this case?
John-
I just want to thank you for all the hard work you do. While my “wife” Paula Clausi has been reading your blog for some time, I have just picked it up. I give you credit…a ton of credit…in how you answer these posts.
Some of these people are juste pompus a&$es and down right stuck up…rude SOB’s.
I have seen people “demand a table for two” or been irate because “we missed a port” due to a medical emergency. I mean really…these people need to get a grip.
Again, I thank you for what you do and I must say I fell bad that you have to deal with such low class personnel on a regular basis. I can’t wait to sail this Monday on the Imagination and in August on the Legend…and you know what…if something goes ary it will be OK because I am on vacation..in the sea…having a blast.
All the best.
Scott
Your reply to A.J.C. was classic John – loved it, and am still laughing. Thanks for all the laughs you bring to my days…..and everything else you do to help CCL cruisers.
Nancy
Hello from Texas. I just want to say thank you for all the rude people that don’t. I can’t imagine DEMANDING a table, a gift and worst of all, a refund for missing a port due to a medical emergency. Who the hell do these people think they are?! I really dislike arrogant people who think they are entitled to $–T!
For the record: You DID respond to the person who was pissed off about the medical evacuation/missed port. Your response this time was pretty damn close to how it was the first time. Maybe she should go back and read instead of spouting off again. It just showed her ignorance….twice!!!!
I’m done ranting now. Thanks again, John. I think you are awesome and can’t wait to cruise with you again.
John, I am so disgusted with the posters that somehow seem to believe that members of the crew are so much beneath them that they should not be seen in passenger areas unless they’re working, should never board the ship in the same area as passengers, and are somehow less deserving of emergency treatment. As I’ve posted on the blog before, I have a son studying for his license as a ship’s engineering officer. The idea that he would be less entitled to proper medical care because of his crew status is particularly galling to me. To Andrea: there are many times when it is not possible to use helicopter evacuation of a sick person. If Nassau is that important to you, take a flight.
And speaking of son…We’ve been thinking of trying to book a cruise for next summer when he’d be able to join us. (That is, if he wants to spend his vacation on a ship.
) The new Glory cruise from Boston might just be the plan for us. It’s driving distance and I’ve never been to Boston. Can’t wait for the rest of the announcements about 2012….
Ms. Andrea Haskins and Mr. AJC, please email me, hostmach@cruisecritic.com I would like to know what cruises you intend to take over the next several years as I will make every effort to avoid sailing with pompus, self serving, self important jackasses like you.
Thanks so much.
All the best.
Host Mach
Host Mach…if you do find out when those folks might be cruising next, maybe you could post warnings for the rest of us. I too would prefer never to share decks with them!!! I’d like to think these kind of people are just trolls looking for a reaction, but sadly, I think they are serious. I know the good folks far outnumber the nitwits, but it’s still frustrating to know those rude, pompous nitwits are out there.
I wonder if Andrea would have felt the same way had she or her boyfriend required medical attention?? Good grief!! ITS A VACATION!! ENJOY IT!! Yep, things are going to go wrong…your on a ship in the middle of no where. That is something everyone has to consider when even thinking of taking a cruise. The health and will being of all HUMAN BEINGS is much more important than seeing Nassau!!
I second that motion.
Well said, Host Mach, well said!
Thank you Host Mach. Well said, VERY well said.
That was rude Mach. I know you have better manners. Let it slide.
If that’s what it takes to weed out the bad apples on CC well done Mach.
Now if we could only get a certain Faith to weed out their bad apples the world would be better off.
BIG Ed
Perhaps rude but it was honest.
John is my friend. I would do the same for you or any of my other friends.
All the best.
Host Mach
Well John there was so much in your blog today that struck a nerve with me It’s hard to decide where to start . First I guess I would like to know if you have every been to Eastern Canada ? If not lot me know when you are coming and hopefully Heidi & Kye are with you so I can show you some great places . If I couldn’t make you a home cooked meal (because of time ) I would love to take you to a nice restaraunt for a meal you & your family would enjoy because here in Nova Scotia we are friendly welcomely people . Our family would love to have your family for supper or lunch or any meal . Ok next I have to say if there was anyone who needed help on the cruise anybody with with a boat able to get to your crew member would be there to help out . Yeah sure i would be a little down about missing a port , but then release I could do things on the ship I didn’t think I would have time to do because I was going on shore , I’d be OK .
Ok I have to ask isn’t it Boston that we give a tree to at Christmas time every year for thier great great support after the Halifax Explosion , so how fitting that they are sailing here in the best season next to Fall that we have to offer . Well as a hockey mom of 2 boys winter is great here although just not cruising weather .
As far as Rumpy Pumpy goes I was never shown any videos of someone being chased around the room with a peacock feather buit hey maybe it’s my age lol .
I’m sure there will be things that I didn’t expect to happen or out of order slightly but i will just pour a glass of wine and be glad I’m cruising the Mediterranean .
I just have to say one more thing that no matter where in the world you are if you wait on some one in public you better be kind and friendly because they might wait on you in thier country some day
John, you must be one of the most compassionate people on this earth, for how else could you respond to Andrea Haskins in such a polite way. What else can be said about this person other than being a self centered, non compassionate human.
As for the port, I cruise to be on the ship and the ports are just another part of the adventure. Would it be your fault if you get to port and there is a torrential hail storm and everything is closed, oh yes it would be.
Thank You for all you do, I have had the great opportunity to cruise with you once on my 10 cruises (Splendor, Halloween before it ‘broke’) and look forward to seeing you again on the Magic Sept 4th.
Fred & Wilma !
your comment desearves a STANDING OVATION!
Well said Host Mach. Thank you.
2 thumbs up to Host Mach!
Mach, I would like to know also, but for a different reason. I want to go on the same cruises with either of them and make sure it is as “pleasant” as it can be. LOL
Mach,
Love it! It never ceased to amaze me the rudeness and self serving attitude of some people today.
John,
Love today’s comments (even the subtle ones)…
Your friend from Texas,
Larry Meador
So, after all that rambling about rumpy pumpy did you hook the old guy up?
John,
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed todays blog. The lack of manners used when folks write makes me cringe at times with the demands and all with no please and thank you. While I am sure that the purpose of the blog is to inform readers – there comes a point when I wish you would answer most in a manner similar to how your response to AJC was handled. Can you ask the folks that preview these to start kicking back the rude and obnoxious (for the most part) and only throw them in occasionally? I realize that I am only one voice in the wilderness… but enough already! But it is your blog ….. and you do it so well!
Bahaha Thanks for the jokes as always John! Needed some good HUMOR today
People like Andrea & AJC make me thankful that I have a brain and know how to treat people with RESPECT! Keep up the good work!
Hi John Once again you know just how to answer these very rude people.I think you have a lot of class.I think people who ask for things without a please or a thankyou are just rude and people who threaten to go to other sites to say nasty things are cowards and both are very selfish.You do Carnival proud.Sandy
Love the blog. Look forward to it. I just can’t believe that some of these letters are real, such as Andrea Haskins above. Are these people for real? I know you can’t ignore them but I do enjoy the way you tell them to “bugger off” in your subtle ways.
Hoping to meet you on the Carnival Breeze next June. Hoping….
ahhh naples, when we got off the carnival freedom in naples and started to cross that street charlie almost got hit! then we saw so many of those motorcycles with two people on them, we even saw one couple making out on one while riding down the road! only in naples! but boy did we have a good cannoli there!
smiles, bee
xoxo
Once again John, I don’t know how you do it. I would have been fired the first week because you are way more tactful that I’ll ever be. I feel sorry for Mr. Wideawake, he sounds like a fish out of water. I, myself, am worried about sailing on the Magic because I honestly prefer the smaller ships but because it is coming “home” to Texas I will sail on her at least once. Hope your Friday is a good one!
Andrea Haskins,
I hope that on you next cruise your are stricken with a medical emergency. The kind that has you in severe pain. The kind of pain that only gets worse without shoreside medical care. And then, I hope that the medical staff says “You’ll just have to deal with it for the next day or so because we wouldnt want to inconvenience any of the guest.”
John,
I’ve never posted on here. Like many others, I started reading your blog-thingy when that one ship caught on fire. I think you are hilarious! And the patience you have when dealing with rude people is absolutely incredible. I am really amazed how nasty people can be, and how demanding! How many times have I read people demanding their ship on a stick and not mentioning the word “please”? Disgusting.
You are a saint!
On that note, your rant about rumpy-pumpy was fabulous. I agree. We are all too comfortable with guns, shooting, crime, etc, and too nervous about nature, rumpy-pumpy and *gasp* nudity!
Thanks for the laughs.
Emma
My first and only (so far!!) cruise was last year on the Carnival Glory, and I loved it. I was tickled to see that it will be coming to my hometown of Sydney, NS, on its new run out of Boston. I like to think it followed me home.
You know the rule: If it follows you home, you get to keep it!
John, back when I was growing up, and I am only a few years younger than you, we had very little to watch and most of what was on Sunday was animal shows like Mutual of Omaha’s WIld Kingdom and other nature based shows. They showed lions hunting, wild mustang stallions mating with the mares, baby wildebeast being born on the season migration….I was the same age as that man’s son, 7-11 or so, but my parents still allowed us to watch it. This man who wanted you fired because you showed it ought to ask his kids how many violent video games he has played, violent tv shows/movies he has seem, and how many family programs where characters jump in and out of each others beds on a weekly basis?
Mr. Wideawake–he should tell all of that to his travel agent and make sure the agent sends him on the luxury lines…..imagine what his thought would have been if the agent sent him on the Monster Malls of the Sea with close to 7000 passengers….
Hello from Texas. I just want to say thank you for all the rude people that don’t. I can’t imagine DEMANDING a table, a gift and worst of all, a refund for missing a port due to a medical emergency. Who the hell do these people think they are?! I really dislike arrogant people who think they are entitled to $–T!
For the record: You DID respond to the person who was pissed off about the medical evacuation/missed port. Your response this time was pretty damn close to how it was the first time. Maybe she should go back and read instead of spouting off again. It just showed her ignorance….twice!!!!
I’m done ranting now. Thanks again, John. I think you are awesome and can’t wait to cruise with you again.
Big Ed and everyone else! I couldn’t have said it any better! To the young lady that was mad about missing a port. If it had been your mother or another loved one, would you be acting like such an ass? To the gentlman that was whining about the Liberty, Please by all means go on another line because this 51 year old non partying adult loves Carnival and has been on the Carnival Liberty 3 times and has had some of the best service. Oh, and I’m also blind and was given the same respect I showed others. I’m not kidding John. These nasty people seemed to think they are the center of the world! John, I loved the blog today. Thanks again for being loveable you!
@Host Mach – please forward the email to me as well
John – you do what you do because you love what you do and we love you for it. Ignore the naysayers.
As to the gentleman who was obviously on the wrong ship, his travel agent should have known better…shame on her or him.
Hi John,
This is for Andrea aka Dumb Duck Girl.
Andrea, I have a feeling that you are a racist, since you begrudge a crew member being taken to a medical facility and because of that you missed your port. I guess a crew members life is not worthy enough to save and you getting to your port was more important. I wonder what your reaction would have been if it was a passenger. Also you said that they could have taken him by helicopter, well I talked to a friend of mine who is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and he said that most of the time they like to send the helicopters as a first choice since it gets the sick person to a facility faster, BUT, he also said that if they can’t send a helicopter for one reason or another, then the ship has to get that person to the closest facility that they can. I think you are a selfish self centered person who only thinks about what you want instead of a life of someone else. So what if they were a crew member, they are still a human being and should be treated the same way you or I would want to be treated. I am going to say a special prayer for you, I am going to ask God to help you learn compassion for all God’s children and that includes ALL of Carnival’s crew members. I don’t think it will help, but I am an optimistic person.
Hi John,
Loved your response to A.J.C.
I am quoting you, “I need an answer to my question. Are you paid to write this blog by Carnival? If so how can there be a disclaimer that it’s your blog and not Carnival’s blog!!!!!!!!!” If you had taken the time to look on the RED BAR AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG you WOULD HAVE NEVER HAD TO ask about a disclaimer because John has always had a disclaimer on his blog since day one. Another thing, didn’t your parents raise you to say Please or Thank you when you are asking someone to do something for you, I guess not, because you would have shown those manners when you rudely asked John to get you a table for 2. It is people like you that I wish John would say “NO” to your requests, but being the kind person he is, he will do it anyway. Now Mr. A.J.C. I will be watching this blog to see if you thank John for getting you that table for 2, but for some reason my gut is telling don’t count on it, because it is not in your vocabulary.
Wow, I didn’t know that you had total control of the universe, congrats on that.
For you to have to explain a mistake on the big screen is crazy, and for someone to demand you be fired is ridiculous.
It’s your fault it rained in Dubrovnik on rain mama too, I wished these people would pull the stick out of the butts and remember they are on vacation.
Last I looked, it wasn’t a full moon tonight. What is the matter with some people? Stupid people! I am glad to know that Carnival will take care of a crew member over the objection of others. It reassures me that they would give me the same concern should I ever need it.
Kathy, don’t worry. I was on the Dream in Sept. 2010 and April 2011. No smell!
A.J. C. are you nuts? You start by insulting John and the cruiseline and then ask for a favor?
John, disregard my request for the reservation at the Chef’s table. I got my reservation confirmation today by emailing the steakhouse. Hang in there and keep being you. Despite the negative mail, know that most here support who you are and what you do. Cheers!
Leslie: he didn’t ASK!
Andrea Haskins (Duck Duck Moron)
The mere suggestion that a crewmember’s life is any less important than a passenger’s life proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that you are less than human.
The mere suggestion that your “hissy fit” on Cruise Critic, the newspaper or anywhere else is going to affect Carnival’s bookings in any way proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are in idiot.
So since you are a non=human idiot…you have bigger issues than missing one port.
Get a heart and a brain before opening your mouth next time.
Linda
Good answer Linda. I could not have said it better myself.
Hey Linda,
Don’t sugarcoat your response……….tell her how you REALLY feel. LOL
We need to come up with some questions that can be asked by a Carnival staff member just before you board the ship.
If you answer any of them with stupid responses………..you are classified as a “BUS RIDER” ( as you so eloquent call them) and are denied to embark.
This would save all of us a lot anguish and John a lot of heartache and unecessary grief in dealing with these low lifes.
I think it’s time to thin the herd of these malcontents and move on.
Smooth sailing everyone,
Canuck Cruiser
Dear John,
My husband and I returned last Saturday (May 21st) from a 6 night cruise on the Freedom. It was our 25th anniversary and our first time to leave our son who is 22 and severly disabled. We were so impressed with everything on the ship from the cleanliness to the friendliness of all of the crew members.
After torrential rains for the past 6 weeks in Kentucky we were looking forward to just some dry weather and boy was it delivered. 82 to 85 and sunny for the entire cruise. We made it home on Saturday night and less then 2 minutes after walking in the door we were hit with a pour down. Welcome home! But the break was great and just what we needed. The food was excellent and the lady who waited on us in the Chic Dining room was outstanding. Her name (not sure of spelling) was Chardonette but she said to call her Chardonay. This young woman really helped make a memorable experience for us during our week. We also had the opportunity to dine in the Sun King Steakhouse and that was an experience. Excellent service and wonderful food!
After watching the interaction with the crew and a few of the passangers who had disabilities, my husband and I feel really great on being able to plan a future cruise and take our son with us.
To Carnival, we say thank you for the trip of a lifetime.
Karen Baker
WOW where to begin:
- Dear Duck Duck Girl’s relatives: Take my advice and find the closet AFLAC affiliation and take out a policy on MS. Duck Duck and list yourself as the beneficiary. KARMA is going to strike her finely feathered self centered waddling arse and you want to be able to jump on that fat cash!
- Dear Dessire: I’m in the JOHN IS AWESOME category if you are keeping score.
- Dear AJC: Don’t you love hypothetical situations. Personally I think they are GREAT!
- Dear Big Ed: Please include me on your email list! oh and btw it wasn’t rude at all.
- Dear John: You are amazing and quite a gentleman. Continue being who you are and I hope that one day my DH and myself can meet ya.
HBarnes
Ive been following your blog since James Cusick the purser from PandO recomended that it was fun last year.He was right! It is!
Now for my query……..we enjoy Pand O Cruises, however, we travelled with my 19 year old daughter last year, and it was a little staid for her.Because of work commitments she wishes to holiday with us at the end of this year, so we are looking for something to suit her tastes, where she will at least have a few under 50s to talk to and dance with!Are there places on the boat that are not wall to wall party?As a 20 year old will she be able to have a drink, or at least wine with dinner? Can she have a room on her own, or will she need to share being an under 21? (as a bar manager herself, shes used to being independant.N.c.l is out for us as she has to share our room…bit of a shock as she lives away from home!)
Thanks John if you could recomend a ship that may suit….or not if you feel you may kill me!
ooops should have gone in to ask John! Sorry cant work out how to move it!……….perhaps if any one who has cruised with Carnival could help! Cheers
Great news on Boston which is a 22 mile drive for us. But we are already headed to British Isles on Princess. Hopefully, Carnival still keeps a home port in Boston for 2013.
John (Please Reply),
You are killing me with these delicious sounding menu selections. These are clearly a departure from my much beloved typical Carnival menu’s (gotta have my hay and straw!!!)
Are these menu’s going to be used only during the European sailing season? I hope not, my 1st opportunity to sail on the Carnival Magic will be in March on BC5.
If they are specific to the european sailings, then I guess sister and I will just have to go ahead with our plans to go back to the Med when the Carnival Breeze comes out and hope that we can enjoy some of these new and exciting meals.
I know what you mean about the traffic in Napels. We took a private excursion when there on the Carnival Freedom and the drive back from Pompeii was one of the most frightening experiences that I’ve ever had.
I was barely able to calm myself enough to have dinner that evening…..but being a fluffy girl……I somehow managed ;-}
My selections from tonights menu would be Langostino cocktail, Steamed Duck Pot Stickers, Zuppa di Pesce Cioppino and Tiramisu
Thanks for always getting my day started off with a laugh……but it’s time for me to go get some breakfast…sure do wish it was eggs benedict on a Carnival ship……but that will have to wait for 155 more days.
Well John, your so called Mr Wideawake guy has a lot to be desired. VILLAGES, how aware we are of them. You see, we live one mile from there. The majority of the village people think they do no wrong, they think they can control everyone and everything around them. They break all the laws around here and try and get out of paying what they break. Pass the buck on everything, wife can contest to that while working in the store in the villages. They think they are above everyone else. Not with us that don`t live in the Villages, we don`t give in to them one bit, just give it back to them harder whenever we can, and we love it.
John:
Wow… you are so good, at what you do to put up with the remarks you do.. I guess the worst being the crew mwmbers life… as I know they are family, Carnival family and you take care of your family, I would have been shocked to hear you had not turned around, its what you do you take care of your family, just like you do your guests on board across the fleet… shame on her and may she one day not need help and know one respond !! Get a life and open your eyes its realy not all about you !!!!
Thanks John for setting her straight and being an amazing man….
Always a fan,
Cheria
John Please Reply:
Seems people just love to complain. So I also will complain.
We sailed on the Magic May 10th. And it was fantastic, everyone was fantastic, with exception of internet (SLOOOOOOOOW). Ports were fantastic, Debarkation (my worst part of trip normally) was fantastic. My only real complaint is that the RED FROG cuban style shirts were not for sale, can you make a beard wake up and smell the profits, I would love to buy one of these shirts (FROG was favorite meeting place for 12 days).
By the way this blog also is fantastic and piss-off to the negative whiny people. If their previous experience was so bad, why do they cruise with carnival again and beg like lost puppies for a biscuit.
Happy to be cruising with Carnival
Keysfishfinder
re: Andrea Haskins (dum dum girl or something):
1. a week with no response – give me a break
2. JOHN – how’s the crewperson? I hope he/she is ok.
Aloha John,
Reading through the blogs, (which are, as always, VERY well done and entertaining) and saw the mention in the ents schedule of Hank McGauley, a comedian. I’m so glad to see Hank is still out there and entertaining people. Many moons ago, when I was the CD on the late, lamented, and extremely tiny Dolphin IV, Hank was one of my regular comedians. He is a VERY funny man, and I’m sure the guests will really enjoy him. Also, I think Carnival also uses Carl Faulkenberry, and he is one of my all time favorites….I just wish we could get him over at Princess. Hope all is well…I send you aloha from Hawai’i
Dave Soreff
(ex-Lifeboat Party)
Hi John.
Just a quick note to let you know that we love you and are so grateful for the daily laughs and all you do for CCL guests.
That is all.
Ok – this may be a small point, but I am so impressed by it… CCL took the effort to spell my hometown “Saint John” properly, and even spelling the river “St. John” properly. NOBODY gets that right. EVER. So thank you CCL. I may never cruise another line again
John, just to let you know, I love your blog, love your comments and all about you, and…..”climbing wall of the seas”? – hahaha love you.
As to AJC – you should be excused from dining in the Dining room and just use lido deck – no offence to anyone, but at least he will be IN CHARGE of getting table for two.
John,
I work in “The Villages” Florida. It is a 60,000 plus retirement community. Without grouping all of the villagers into one bucket, I have to tell you that there are a GREAT many of them that have the “something” for nothing mentality. It is very difficult to deal with on a daily basis so please take the gentleman’s criticism with a grain of salt.
Love Carnival and also your blog!!!
John please reply~ My mother and I went on our first cruise last Feb. 26,2011. My father was unable to go with us. We had a wonderful time. I had been chatting in Carnival’s forum, and was lucky enough to meet a few people through our roll call thread. We were able to dine with them on the Elation, and we all got together a few times to talk. One of the frequent cruisers name is Sam (nickname SUKU) on Carnival’s forum. He and his wife Rose were just on the Magic cruise with you, and they have been on over 33 Carnival cruises. Sam is of Indian descent, and has jet black hair. I am hoping you can figure out who I am talking about. I think you probably remember him, because his kindness is unforgettable. He is planning a farewell to Mobile cruise on the Elation on October 15, 2011, and there is a group of us going from the Carnival forum. Sam started a thread in the Elation forum on Carnival’s forum called “Gecko’s Deep South Friends” , and we are all able to keep in touch with each other there. Sam is the glue that holds our little group together. I am so happy I got the honor of meeting him on our cruise, and cannot wait to see him and Rose again in October on the Elation. I had written to you about asking if you could do something special for my parents 43rd wedding anniversary on our cruise. It will be the Monday, Oct. 17, 2011 on our 7 day cruise on the Elation. Sam has contacted the Maitre d’ (Vinod) I think about getting a table for all of us to eat together each night, and I am planning on buying a cake for Monday, Oct. 17th for us all to eat in the MDR. Sam surprised me yesterday in our thread in the forum. He and Rose want to throw a party for my parents at Carlos and Charlie’s in Cozumel on that Monday. Sam and Rose are from Tuscaloosa, AL. Luckily they did not have damage from the tornadoes, but his town was destroyed. I know for days after the tornadoes Sam was out volunteering and helping others in his town. He was going door to door handing out water and supplies, and doing anything that was asked of him from his volunteer center. Another one of the members of our little group is from northern AL, and we did not hear from her for days after the tornadoes. Sam was planning on taking a drive up north to try to find her. He had her address, but luckily the day before he planned to go looking for her she got power back on, and was able to contact us. The reason I am writing this is I would LOVE to surprise Sam and Rose somehow. Sometimes in life we get the honor of meeting someone very special, and Sam is one of these people. He helps and gives to others without asking anything in return. I would just LOVE to surprise him somehow. I know most of the crew knows Sam by name. If there is anything you can think of I could do to really surprise Sam and Rose I would love any suggestions or help. He has done so much for all the people in our little group, and I would just love to do something special for him and Rose. My name is Lisa Setefano, and my parents, Jill and Ken Wright, are both in the same cabin as I. V6 on the Elation, Oct. 15, 2011 booking number 629DN9. My email is lsetefano@cox.net. I would love your help or ideas to try and make this a special cruise for Sam and Rose. Shhhh! don’t tell him if you happen to see him before I do. He cruises a lot, and you may run into him before me. LOL
Hello John
I first discovered your blog when you wrote about the Carnival Splendor fire and have been captivated since! Keep up the good work and pay no attention to those whose lives revolve around criticism.
My wife and I are sailing on the Carnival Triumph out of New Orleans on 10 September.
Our cabin number is 6273. I must use oxygen and this bothers some people. If at all possible could you arrange for a table for 2 close to a window where we will be rather secluded? Would prefer early seating.
I know you are extremely busy and if this doesn’t happen I understand!
Thanks in advance!
Flint
John, wanted to say how thrilled my wife and I are that Carnival is going to cruise from Boston starting next year. We live close to the Boston area and have been wanting to cruise to Canada. We sailed on the Glory with you for Bloggers Cruise 4 and you might remember me asking you when Carnival would be sailing from Boston as I had taken a survey that carnival had sent me asking for my opinion. Hats off to the Beards for listening.
I just posted to your facebook page and it has disappeared. My quetion is I heard that on the carnival triumph elevators not working hot tubs not working pools not working is this true. I am cruising on June 25, 2011.