Carnival: The Blog

Romance on the "Fun Ships"

Pier Paolo Scala — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:18:00 GMT

While we appreciate our loved ones all year long, Valentine’s Day is the day in which we take the time to say "I love you" to that special someone in our lives.

Over the years, I've met both guests and crew members who have met, fallen in love and gotten married - All because of Carnival Cruise Lines! If you can imagine that for every voyage, for every ship, there are at least 2,500 guests onboard, so you're bound to make great friends and possibly meet the love of your life. I remember one particular couple who met, while onboard the Carnival Elation, several years ago and came to cruise with me again for their anniversary. I've helped set up arrangements for some very nervous fiancés who want to ask the love of their lives to marry them while onboard! I've also attended weddings in various cruise ship ports of call, and even married several of these couples while in Canadian waters.

Many of our crew members are also married due to meeting while working on a Carnival ship. It's amazing how many of our close friends from opposite parts of the world, who now perhaps no longer work onboard, live in one country or another with their beautiful families. These people may not have even considered going to each other's country, but happened to meet in the middle of the ocean and liked what they saw – truly a great tale to tell the grandchildren.

I also met my wife, Chloe, while on the Tropicale in Alaska in 1997. She was a third purser at the time and I was a second officer. We had our first date in Juneau then spent many hours in Chopsticks piano bar, onboard the ship, getting to know each other. Five Valentine’s Days, and many bunches of flowers later, we got married in a beautiful lodge in Taupo, New Zealand.

So many great stories of love and romance on board, and Valentine’s Day, on a cruise ship is always an occasion to remember. First of all, you're on a cruise ship – which is pretty romantic in itself! And secondly, you get to enjoy the day with all the little luxuries available on board – champagne, chocolates, flowers and all those special extras that help to say, "I love you."

Sometimes we get so busy in our day-to-day lives that time passes without us really stopping to appreciate our loved ones. So I hope that wherever you are this Valentine’s Day, you take the time, for just a moment, to say that you care.

One more thing, I would love to know if there’s anyone out there who met their loved one while on a cruise. Drop a line on the blog and share your story. We'd really like to hear about your Carnival romance!

Expect Anything (Dreams are Limitless)

Todd Wittmer — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:35:00 GMT

Wow! It’s hard to believe we’ve been on the ship for nearly five months and everything still feels as new and exciting as when we began. I love the fact that we’ve had so many different itineraries and seen so many wonderful guests. The Dream Team has definitely remained on it toes (especially since the Capers were a bit of a challenge because for awhile there every itinerary was different; over 65 capers were created.)

I’m thrilled that I have had so many chances to see what works best in each lounge. We have had plenty of sea days giving us the opportunity to create new activities as well as perfecting those that we are known for. The team here is fantastic. One of the things I am most proud of, and cannot wait to share is the “Party in the Plaza” – Each sea day we celebrate a different decade of music and activities (50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's). We’re using the Ocean Plaza as the “central greeting hub” of the ship where you can visit day or night to find something to do. Also, we’ve introduced “Atrium Moments,” a show staring singers, musicians and break dancers. OOOhhh… and then there is the Carnival Comedy Club happening at least four nights a cruise (an amazing addition); the new laser shows that everyone loves; plus the FunHub that gives you access to social networks of your fellow guests… ah, my head is starting to spin.

What I am really trying to say, is that I am thrilled to be the Cruise Director on Carnival’s newest ship, but I couldn't do it without the help, dedication, and ideas of the entertainment team. Each cruise, we sit down and see what works and to discuss the ideas we’ve come up that will make things different or more exciting. We’ve tried murder mysteries, Charades, water aerobics, fitness walks, costume parties and language classes.

The Carnival Dream Entertainment team promises to keep you on the edge of your seat and having FUN. (That is, if you get involved, we still find some people like to sit back and observe others having a great time). Get involved, you’re on vacation and deserve to make a few memories of things you never thought you would experience or try. Our motto here is… “Expect anything, dreams are limitless!”

Shore Excursion Happy

Jaime Deitsch — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:22:00 GMT

One of the most incredible and totally fabulous perks of my job is the opportunity to experience the shore excursions offered to our guests. This way, if a guest has a question about anything regarding our “Fun Ashore” program, I can accurately answer their questions and make proper recommendations as to what they may want to experience at any given port of call. This being said, I have had the unbelievable opportunity to visit many parts of Europe, the coastline of South America, the Mexican Riviera and many locations in the Caribbean. It’s hard to choose just one favorite port-of-call, but I would have to say my top three sun-filled ports are: Barbados, Puerto Vallarta, and Half Moon Cay (Carnival’s private island). I would highly recommend visiting all three of these ports because of the consistently beautiful weather and the variety of different excursions to take part in.

Another place I love to visit is Ocho Rios, Jamaica. This was one of the regular ports I visited during my first contract on the Carnival Imagination. There is a vast selection of different excursions to take part in and one of my favorites is ‘Dolphin Cove.’ The culture and spirit of the Jamaican people are like none other I have ever encountered. They have such an incredible appreciation of their land and their care-free lifestyle. At Dolphin Cove, the staff welcomes you like family and treats you like royalty for the day. I remember my first time swimming with the dolphins at this location. After watching them do a 20 minute show, I was able to jump in the water touch the dolphins, kiss their noses, make them dance and ride along beside them. It's such an incredible photo opportunity as well as a great chance to mark this off your bucket list. Also, in the same day you can swim with the sharks (don’t worry they are trained) and the stingrays too. A staff member places a stingray on your back and it feels somewhat similar to a wet mushroom – crazy. Not only is the staff very hospitable, you also get to sample their famous jerk chicken while dancing to Jamaican music. I have very fond memories of that location and I hope, one day, we can visit it together!

Europe is WONDERFUL!

Abby Kracoff — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:47:00 GMT

Normally it’s not something you want to admit to people, but it’s true. I have the bug… and I have it bad. The fever is infectious and the side effects are highly contagious, but I hope to always have the will and the means to keep the bug in my system! I’m not talking about your ordinary flu or cold, but the burning desire to see and learn all you can about foreign places… That’s right, I have the TRAVEL bug.

So last year, when the powers that be offered me the Carnival Freedom as my next ship assignment, and again this year the Carnival Dream, both with of which had itineraries with a stint in Europe – it was a serious no-brainer; my initial thoughts (pay me to travel in Europe and visit places I haven’t been to yet) ugh, yes please!

I was pleasantly surprised by many of our ports of call, as what I had pictured in my head surely did not match the utter beauty I was faced with. This was the case with Dubrovnik, Croatia, whose ‘old town’ charm made me feel like I was part of history; and Marmaris, Turkey, where a charming seaside touristic hot spot made you feel like you were truly on a vacation getaway – not to mention the luxurious Turkish baths we indulged in. Istanbul was also a highly enjoyable escape, as the landscape is dotted with gorgeous mosques, and the Grand Bazaar is a bustling mecca of various kinds of shopping. I must admit, I succumbed to its alluring powers and joined in the haggling frenzy by purchasing three lamps I could not leave hanging in the dazzling stalls.

As it turns out, choosing just one location in Europe as my favorite is harder than one would imagine. I can boil it down to two places, which may seem obvious, but their overwhelming charm and beauty are unsurpassed. The gothic architecture and international flair of Barcelona, Spain makes it hard not to enjoy this destination. From Las Ramblas, with its varying vendors of art, flowers, live entertainment and even pets to the inventive genius of Gaudi’s creations, multiplied with the scrumptious tastes indigenous to the region, Barcelona stacks up high on the list of places I would visit again and again and again! However, it’s in stiff competition with the romantic backdrop of the winding canals and breathtaking structures that comprise Venice. I must admit that Venice has an overpowering advantage to Barcelona, in that we were lucky enough to overnight there and experience much more than we would from just a daily visit. Gondola rides, quaint outdoor restaurants, St. Mark’s Square, simply getting lost and finding amazing hole-in-the wall shops and bars, are what make Venice so amazing and a place I will never tire of longing to revisit.

All in all, if you have the opportunity to take a European cruise, I strongly recommend it. Europe is steeped in history and has so much beauty that it shouldn’t be missed, and what better way to see it all than by sailing through it on a FUN ship. J

The Epiphany

Abby Kracoff — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:15:00 GMT

When I began working for Carnival, I was a seasonal counselor – meaning, I only came on board during summer school vacations and holidays – the times when there was a high kid count. I worked like this because I was still teaching full time in Tampa. I taught all subjects to young teens (aged 11-15 years) in middle school with learning disabilities and emotional disorders. I was used to children who were highly sarcastic and extremely creative at talking their way out of school work. So needless to say, I wasn’t used to dealing with younger children, particularly the 2-5 year olds that I found myself working with weekly on Carnival ships.

Although I would grin and bare it when assigned the toddlers, I preferred the 6-14 year olds, who had the miraculous ability to articulate words, sentences and feelings. Don’t get me wrong, I found the little bundles of joy cute, cuddly and adorable; until that is, their little faces would morph into pinched up, red, teary pools. The worst part was, not knowing why, since their extensive vocabulary stopped short at “Mama.” So that’s when the dreaded drill (any child care worker can relate to this) begins:

(1) Are they thirsty or hungry?

(2) Did they leave me a “gift” in their diaper that they desperately want me to unwrap?

(3) Or, did they secretly just want to wipe their runny nose onto my freshly laundered uniform shirt?

The crying seemed like it would never cease, no matter what toy I would try to use to distract them. I found this to be exceedingly frustrating because I knew my job was to provide a fun and memorable experience for every child on board.

Ironically enough, one of my most memorable experiences turned out to be one of these jarring events. It involved a two-year-old girl on the Carnival Triumph. I recall being in the playroom on a port day afternoon with another counselor and just a few other children for free play. For reasons I still don’t know, this particular little girl began to wail. After going through “the drill” I was at a loss. What could I possibly do? I swear she had keen animalistic senses, smelled my fear, and reacted. She chased me around the playroom, arms outstretched, nose running freely and big tears rolling down her rosy cheeks. After a few laps around the arts and crafts table, the other counselor on duty was in such hysterics watching me run in terror from a two-year-old, that I stopped and began laughing at myself. We laughed so hard we were nearly crying and rolling around on the floor. Oddly enough, this entertained the little girl to the point where even she forgot why she was crying. And there it was… THE EPIPHANY… kids are kids… and although most times it is one of those essential things that needs to be done to placate an upset child, sometimes the answer is simple… JUST BE SILLY. If nothing else, it will definitely make you, as the adult, feel better. J

I have since come to truly enjoy working with the younger children. When I am home on vacation I melt when a see a toddler and wish I was back in the playroom. They made me realize that although I get older every year, and I am supposed to be serious and in charge, the best part of any day is letting lose, and acting like a kid with them. The rewarding part is when it actually pays off and you make a crying youngster smile!

The Captain's Celebration

Pier Paolo Scala — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:42:00 GMT

It's four in the afternoon and it's time to get ready for the "Captain's Celebration," which is a function that is held at the beginning of each cruise (typically on the first sea day). It takes place on the Promenade deck from five until six in the evening for our early seating dinner guests, and from seven until eight for our late seating dinner guests. Once called the "Captain's Welcome aboard Cocktail Party," it has now been renamed the "Captain's Celebration." Guests are invited to enjoy the entertainment along the Promenade deck and to meet the Captain and the senior officers of the ship.

I usually stand by the Casino Bar area, as I have found that this is a good location to be easily visible and to be available if someone wants to take a picture. The senior officers and myself always talk to many guests and answer a lot of questions such as, "Captain, if all the senior officers are here, then who's driving the ship?!" Towards the end of each party we move to the Grand Atrium where I introduce the senior officers on the atrium staircase.

Later, I enjoy dinner with some of our guests and the senior officers at the Captain's table in the Universe Dining Room. I enjoy hosting at my table, as it is a chance for me to have a great meal and conversation with different personalities - which can be quite entertaining! I have also made many new friends over the years during these dinners.

After dinner, you'll most likely see me in the Cigar Bar enjoying a fine Montecristo cigar. For me, this is a relaxing end to a busy, but rewarding evening. Some of my senior officers and staff may join me and it's a great opportunity to discuss everything from work to the results of the football game or the Formula 1 race!

If you have ever sailed on the Carnival Destiny and had a chance to be a part of our "Captain's Celebration" then I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did and I look forward to seeing you out and about.

Carnival Liberty's Captain Gianpaolo Casula Retires

Butch Begovich — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:27:00 GMT

At first meeting you may not get a sense of his deep passion and life’s commitment to the sea. But through conversation and time spent with him, I have come to respect and have deep admiration for Captain Gianpaolo Casula, a man who has committed his life to safely transporting people around the world on maritime vessels.

I have had the honor to know Captain Casula for many years now and as he nears his retirement from Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) this month (January), he will end almost 50 years of sea faring experience and 34 years with Carnival.

Inspired by his grandfather’s stories of being a commander in the Italian navy, Captain Casula attended nautical school in Rome, Italy, after which he began working as a cadet on cargo ships sailing around the world. He joined his first cruise ship in 1968 before coming to Carnival Cruise Lines in 1976. When the Captain joined Carnival we were only a company of two ships; the TSS Mardi Gras, and the TSS Carnivale. Captain Casula has seen the company grow into the largest cruise line in the world. Since 1976 he’s been master of 12 different ships in the CCL fleet.

I first met Captain Casula about four years ago when I was an acting cruise director on the Carnival Victory. At first, I didn’t find him to be very social. He was stern and unwavering in his opinions of how he wanted the ship to run. However, after spending time with him I found him to be deeply caring about the welfare of the crew, committed to the safety of our guests and to providing the best experience for everyone who sails and works with us. His perceived anti-social attitude had been misinterpreted by me because he was often pensive and observant of his surroundings and offered advice on how to improve our product to give the best experience possible to all on board. The Captain is a man that works by the book, believes in order and the rules and runs a “tight ship” which makes it no surprise that if you are sailing or working on a ‘Casula’ ship, you will be a part of the most organized and efficient running vessel in the fleet.

Recently, after being re-connected with the Captain here on the Liberty for the Captain’s final contract with CCL, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of spending a lot more time with him. He told me, when I arrived back from vacation – in a meeting in his office – that he feels everyone on board are like his children and that he carries the burden and responsibility of caring for their safety very seriously.

Captain Casula is also very unique when it comes to CCL masters, as you can often find him during days at sea and at night walking around the public areas saying hello to guests and team members, and making sure that everything is running smoothly. He is the most visible Captain I have ever had the pleasure of working with and I believe this reflects the level of service and hospitality provided by our team members because we all know that he is out there watching and observing.

“I have always enjoyed interacting with people and working on cruise ships has contributed to my social skills. I have enough stories of my years spent at sea that could fill a book,” says Captain Casula. While listening to the Captain reminisce about his life at sea, his face tells the stories of safely sailing through rough weather, rescuing people at sea and the joys of being a part of the lives of those who he has helped in times of medical need.

After his retirement this month the Captain plans on purchasing a large sailing boat and exploring the Mediterranean near his home in Castiglione Della Pescaia, Italy. He also plans to spend the colder months in Florida and California where he will act as a consultant to CCL. The Captain will have more time to spend on his hobbies which, by no surprise, are all water-based activities; including boating, fishing, and snorkeling. Even though he will not assume a role as Master of a Carnival vessel he will remain tied to the sea and to CCL. In a recent interview for Cayman Net News the Captain stated, “I’ve lived a very interesting life. If I died and came back, I’d do it all again!”

As we prepare to send off Captain Casula, we must not forget how many people’s lives he has enriched, both guests and crew members, through his passion and experience. He will be missed by many, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who have had the pleasure to work with him, sail with him, and know him.

My New Year's Resolutions for 2010

Claire Heslop — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 22:54:00 GMT

We all have resolutions so you’d think this would be easy, right? The problem I am facing is that this time I want to make resolutions that I can stick to, or that mean something more to me!

I know that some of the best ones are things like:

Giving up chocolate… YEAH RIGHT!
Giving up coffee… Why? I need it!
Giving up wine… I thought wine was good for you?
Giving up shopping… I can’t even believe I wrote that!

So I figured there has to be something beyond these regular resolutions – and after much thought I have come up with a few.

Firstly, I’m going to make a huge effort to be better at staying in contact with my friends and family. I think sometimes when we’re on a ship, we get so consumed in our day-to-day ship life - and at times it is so far removed from reality - that we forget about those true friends and those fabulous family members who always will and always have supported us from afar. I promise I haven’t forgotten you. I love you all and thank you for being amazingly supportive. Even when I forget to email! To the right, is an awesome picture of my nephew, Seb. He's 7 months old and gorgeous!

Secondly, I’m going to make a better effort at trying to learn Spanish. As you know, I’ve worked for Carnival Cruise Lines for over 10 years and it’s sad to say I only really know how to ask “for the check” and “where the bathroom is.” Don’t get me wrong, the latter is extremely beneficial, but it’s high time I kicked myself in to gear and got learning. It’s embarrassing, the amount of Spanish speaking team members we have on board and the fabulous crew training centre, which has many Spanish courses, and I still can’t even hold a broken conversation! Paul, my husband, has been learning Spanish and is doing really well; I need to catch up so we can help each other out. Apparently, the best way to learn is to be completely submersed in the language by staying in a remote village in the Spanish countryside (or somewhere similar) and just survive. Do you reckon they’ll have a Starbucks? I think I may need a different approach – Any suggestions?

Lastly, I love musicals and one of my favorites is ‘Rent.’ There is a line in the show that explains what we all should be doing in life, even though it can be very tough. I would like 2010 to be the year that I believe in these words more and more because they are perfect.

The line is:

“No day but today.”

Best wishes to all of you for 2010. Happy New Year!!

Fitting the fun of a Carnival Cruise into 30 seconds isn't easy.

Mayor of Funville — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:46:00 GMT

Don’t you sometimes wish you could slow the world down and truly savor an incredible moment? That’s when you know you’re having a good time, when you want to just stop the world and enjoy. This is the concept behind the execution of our new TV spots. The ‘Carnivalisms’ spots, as we call them, take those special Carnival moments and slow them down so you can capture every spontaneous giggle, goofy dance move and waterslide yahoo.

My job (which is a blast) is to bring the Carnival Experience to life for ‘cruise rookies,’ a.k.a. people who have never cruised before. To do so, we partner with the brilliant folks at our advertising agency – Arnold Worldwide. In this campaign, we had to come up with some unique and special Carnival moments. Then we went on the brand new (and truly beautiful) Carnival Dream to shoot those moments for a week. We also spent a few sun-filled days in The Bahamas capturing the fun to be had onshore as well. The result is three TV spots that we feel truly communicate the spontaneous shared fun of a Carnival cruise, while also showing off our newest ship, the Carnival Dream, and some of the tropical destinations we visit.

I could lie and tell you how tough TV shoots are – long days on a Carnival Ship or on the beach, technical challenges and all that stuff – but really, would you believe me? I didn’t think so. Long days aside, it was a lot of fun (and if anyone claims to have seen me in the Piano Bar or on the waterslide that week – what happens on the road stays on the road!). We even asked some of our guests and crew to be in the spots and they did an exceptional job. Look carefully and you’ll see some of your favorite Carnival Dancers and a certain well-loved Assistant Cruise Director in the dancing scene from the first spot which is titled ‘Different’. Who knows? They might have missed their calling.

As you watch ‘Different,’ pay close attention to the Dad in the spot. Doesn’t he look familiar? Does he remind you of anyone? Perhaps your dad, or your husband… or you??? If not, I’ll have to introduce you to my dad – although his dance moves aren’t quite as spectacular.

We hope you enjoy the spots and I’ll be back to introduce the next ones soon.

Fun for All. All for Fun.

An ardent lover of all things aquatic and fun, Jennifer Vandekreeke joined Carnival a year ago as Director of Advertising so she would have a good excuse to test out the waterslides in Carnival Waterworks. Prior to joining Carnival, Jennifer worked on marketing for travel and tourism brands such as The Yachts of Seabourn, Club Med and The Biltmore Hotel – none of which have great waterslides.

Giving Back - FCCA Holiday Project 2009

Butch Begovich — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:58:00 GMT

I know the holidays are over, but I have to share this with you. It’s something that’s very important to me. Ever since I was very young my parents have instilled in me the importance of giving back to my community – to help those less fortunate than I am and supporting others in their times of need. I have been very blessed to have been given opportunities in my life that have allowed me to give back to others and someday when I have children of my own, I hope to pass down the gifts of giving to them.

This past year, on the Carnival Liberty, we were given a wonderful challenge from the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA). It was to host a holiday party and gift drive for special needs children in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. After being charged with the task, our Youth Director, Sanita and I put a plan in motion to host these kids on board the Carnival Liberty during a recent call in Ocho Rios. It would not be easy, as there were 150 children assigned to come on board.

Upon our arrival in Ocho Rios, our security staff cleared all 150 children and their teachers to come aboard our ship. We hosted them in our dance club where Liberty Team members helped the children color and create their own wearable backpacks. A lot of the children had behavior and mental disorders and some of them were autistic and non-verbal, while others had down syndrome. Each of the children was assisted by a Liberty Team member to finish their art project and then we threw a huge dance party for them. Let me tell you, these kids loved to dance, but the party was interrupted by a special guest… Santa Claus! He brought a gift for every girl and boy in the room! Upon seeing Santa, the kids rushed to embrace him. Something none of us expected, but it was a really joyful moment to see 150 little faces light up with happiness. Each child got time to sit with Santa, was given a gift, and got their picture taken.

After the festivities, our Food and Beverage Manager, Junior, put on a very special holiday spread for lunch, which included lots of kid favorites; pizza, hot dogs, chicken tenders, and hamburgers. But what caught the eye of most of the children was the massive dessert table prepared by our chef, Rakesh. It was filled with every possible holiday treat imaginable. The day ended with lots of hugs and tearful goodbyes as the Liberty Team bid farewell to a truly amazing group of children, which were so grateful to have had a holiday party.

Two days later, when I was in Miami and called home to check in with my mom, she said to me, “You haven’t told me what you want for Christmas yet.“ I assured her that I already had everything that I needed for the holiday; the image of 150 smiling children. The only gift I needed had already been received.

New Year, New to Cruising - What to Expect, Straight from Your Captain

Pier Paolo Scala — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:38:00 GMT

So you've never cruised before and want to know what to expect? Well, first be prepared to see your cruise ship up close and personal. No matter if you've ever seen ships in the harbor – as you come into the port ready to board for the first time, the size of the ship strikes you as incredible. Even I'm astonished sometimes when I'm walking beside the ship, then look up and realize that I actually 'drive' that huge thing!

When you arrive at your home port, you'll drop off your luggage with the shore side porters. Then you'll be checked in by the embarkation staff and you'll receive the most important item of your cruise - your sail and sign card. Keep hold of this because you'll need it everywhere, not only for ID to re-board the ship, but also for that “Fun Ship” special (the drink with the umbrella in it) and any purchases on board. Don't forget to make sure you arrive at the port in plenty of time to board the ship. As your Captain, I want you to have a great vacation experience. Believe me; I don't like hearing that guests have arrived at the embarkation terminal just as the ship has left the pier.

Once you get on board, your ship's friendly crewmembers are there to help you get orientated. The ship has a multi-ethnic crew - from over 50 different nationalities. In no time, you'll be meeting and talking with many of them. You'll also find that our crewmembers really enjoy talking to our guests, doing their best to ensure that you have a memorable vacation. So once you've asked a few crewmembers for directions head out to the open decks and take a look down the gangway you walked in on - it looks like a small window on the side of the ship from this perspective. It's great to be outside when the ship starts to sail, take a deep breath of sea air and relax - you're finally on vacation!

There really is so much to see and do onboard that you'll need a timetable just to keep up. That’s why we give you a 'Carnival Caper' in your stateroom every evening. The 'Carnival Caper' lists the following day's activities. It's great to keep this in your pocket during the day, not only to find out what's going on and where, but also because it tells you which restaurants and buffets are open 24 hours a day.

So once you've eaten, relaxed and realized that you're finally here, it really helps to get involved in all the activities so that you can make the most of your vacation. If you're traveling with family, take a look at Camp Carnival children's programs, Circle 'C' and Club 'O2' for teens - there's something to please everyone.

The Captain's Celebration, on my ship – the Carnival Destiny, is where I get to see you all out and about on the Promenade deck. I hope you'll take a minute and say hello as you pass by me on your way to one of the many entertainment venues. Later in the evening you can see a "Las Vagas-style Revue Show" in the main show lounge.

With all of this going on, it would be easy to forget that you need to plan your days in port as well. There are some great ports of call and again, if you're new to cruising, just ask the friendly crew for some advice. The shore excursion managers are really knowledgeable on what there is to see and do, and I personally think its well worth it just to ask to see what's out there before you put your feet on dry land.

So I guess my advice to new cruisers can be summed up as follows:

Get orientated,
Get to know your crew members and fellow guests,
Get involved in everything happening onboard,
Get excited and go see the great ports,
And lastly, get busy relaxing!

I hope you have a great time, on whichever Carnival cruise you decide to take and I hope to see you onboard.

A Dream Dance

Claire Heslop — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:52:00 GMT

The house lights dim. The band fills the room with their overture. The curtain rises, and there you are on the newest stage in the Carnival fleet, with over 1400 expectant cruisers waiting to be entertained. It’s the most exhilarating feeling to know that you will take these people on a journey where they can forget about the real world and be completely consumed with a fantasy world.

My name is Claire, and I am the Dance Captain aboard the Carnival Dream. I’ve been on the Carnival team for over 10 years, and have had some amazing opportunities – especially being part of the inaugural team on the Carnival Valor in 2004, the inaugural team on the Carnival Splendor in 2008, and now, the inaugural team on the Carnival Dream. I’ve seen some amazing places and performed some fantastic shows, but most importantly I met my husband Paul on the Carnival Jubilee in 1999. We celebrated our 7^th wedding anniversary last year.

It is an absolute honor to be asked to be a part of a new build, and it is an amazing feeling to be there when the ship sails for the first time from the shipyard. Standing on deck as the Carnival Dream sailed from Monfalcone, Italy was an emotional moment. All of the Fincantieri shipyard workers, who had spent more than two years of their lives making this beautiful floating resort, stood on the pier waving their hard work goodbye. Meanwhile, the Carnival Dream team was getting ready for their work to begin. The Carnival Dream is now in full service and the guests are benefiting from all this marvelous ship has to offer.

Being a dancer on the Carnival Dream means I get to be a part of two brand new shows; “Dancin’ in the Street” and “Get Ready,” both of which are phenomenal in their own right. I also get to be a part of the re-staging of “Xtreme Country,” which is a fun show to do, especially on a stage as large as the one on the Carnival Dream. Another addition to this ship is the involvement of the acrobatic team, Fun Force, in the production show “Dancin’ in the Street,” which is receiving fantastic reviews from our guests.

When you’ve given your heart and soul to a performance and the audience rises to their feet in the finale, there truly is no better feeling.

Memorable Moments

Butch Begovich — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:44:00 GMT

I have so many positive experiences as a Cruise Director. I mean, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world that I am blessed to make a living helping people, smile, laugh, and let loose. These are daily events and although some days are tougher than others, as with all jobs, I try to live in the moment and not take for granted the gifts that I have been blessed with... sometimes that's easier said than done.

So instead, I would like to share something with you that just happened to me recently that gave me one of those “A-Ha!” moments. It really reminded me that living in the moment, and always giving 100% to my career as a Cruise Director, can really impact others.

Each week on the Carnival Liberty we host an event called, “On Deck for the Cure,” which raises money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation to support *** cancer research. Every Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm we meet on the jogging track and do a one mile, non-competitive walk to raise money for the cause. Guests sign-up before hand and are given a T-shirt and a logo wrist band for their $10 donation and participation. There is a special place in my heart for this event, as my favorite aunt, who is also my mother’s twin sister, is a *** cancer survivor. At the event, I do a short presentation thanking everyone for their donations and share some statistics. I also always find it important to recognize guests who are walking who are cancer survivors.

On one of our recent walks, I was very moved to meet a rather young woman named Yolanda. Earlier in the day, Frank, Yolanda’s husband, had written me a letter explaining her story. To summarize, it seemed that Yolanda, only in her early thirties, had been feeling ill and discovered a lump in her ***, which had been misdiagnosed by many doctors until she finally found out that she had a rare aggressive form of *** cancer. Frank told me, in great detail, how they were not sure if Yolanda would make it, but here they were a year later on a cruise vacation celebrating life.

Having found out about Yolanda’s story earlier in the day, I had not yet met her or her husband Frank until the walk later that afternoon. At that time, I was met by this beautiful woman and her husband with a smile as big as Texas and a special gratefulness and joy for life I had never seen radiating from any other human being. Frank and Yolanda were very grateful for my presence at the walk. As I began to do my presentation, for the first time in a long time, I was emotionally moved to be a part of someone else's life-journey. I had a realization that day… I, as a Cruise Director, have the opportunity to do much more than just entertain and give information – I have an opportunity to impact people’s lives in a real way.

Beyond the walk for the cure, I must strive, everyday, to do my job 100%. I must always give of myself for our guests to enjoy their hard earned vacations, and always know that there is someone like Yolanda out in the crowd who is not on just a vacation, but “living in the moment."

So thank you, Yolanda, for being a part of my journey and thank you for letting me be a part of yours.

God Bless!

Giving Back - Orphanages in Mexico (Part II)

Pier Paolo Scala — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:30:00 GMT

After the Mazatlan project, I moved to the Carnival Spirit, out of San Diego. The first time we called at Manzanillo (Mexico), I got together with a few crewmembers and explained what my intentions were; then off we went to find another orphanage where we could use our immense resources to improve the lives of others. Again, with help from the local agent, we found a place that had around 30 children ages three to 15 years old. Before our first assessment visit, I stopped at the entrance door and told all those who were with me, "What we’re going to find beyond this door is 30 kids who are happy to be where they are and with what they have. We are here to offer our love and friendship. I want you not to get involved emotionally with any of the kids because when your contract is over, and you're gone, that particular kid will suffer the due to the loss of his/her friend. So guys be strong and positive and let's show the world what we can do."

Like the Mazatlan project, Manzanillo received the same treatment. If I remember well, we managed to raise approximately $20,000 (U.S.) in about four months, which was enough to supply the orphanage with everything that is needed for a regular family house. We wanted the kids feel the same as any other kid who has a loving and caring family. Again, as in Mazatlan, we had the entire staff volunteering at the orphanage and all of the kids visited our ship on almost a monthly basis. What a treat that was.

I am glad to hear that now, three and a half years later, from the very first time we stepped in the Manzanillo orphanage, the present crew of the Carnival Spirit, continue to support our new best friends. Keep up the good work guys!!!

Finally, the Progreso orphanage project, which lasted during my almost two years on the Carnival Ecstasy, out of Galveston TX, is probably the biggest project in terms of funds raised and people involved. Before I even start talking about it, I want to take the opportunity to thank my friend, Edoardo Medina from the local tour company in Progreso, for his continuous help and support during this year-long project and Merilynn Green, a wonderful person and longtime Carnival cruiser whose generosity has no comparison.

The approach was the same, perhaps even smoother as I had gained enough experience during the previous projects. This time the challenge was bigger though because the kids were older than the previous two orphanages and in addition to the routine maintenance, the exciting shopping trips and the monthly ship's visits, we wanted to help the kids to get a better education. Unlike the other two orphanages, the one in Progreso was also a school for 60 boys. In fact, kids had regular morning lessons in two rooms used as classrooms and taught by the two priests, who are brothers, and who run the adjacent church and the orphanage compound together. It has to be said that it is far more difficult and requires more skills to run an orphanage with 60 children than it does being in charge of a cruise ship with 5,000 people on board. It is admirable to see the organizational skills of these two brothers in action.

With the help of over 50 active crewmembers who accompanied me and Edoardo weekly to the orphanage and with the donations from hundreds of guests and crew, after one year of working on this project, we had raised an astonishing $30,000 (U.S.). With this money, an extra teacher was hired to help teach the kids, their classrooms were improved and additional teaching resources were purchased. We were able to once again conduct a repair and maintenance program and provide the orphanage with essential items required for the home.

At Christmas time, we had all of the kids write their Christmas wish on a small note to Santa. We were brought to tears by what they had written - a football, a pair of jeans, a new T-shirt, a packet of sweets. Simple things were all that they wanted and we were determined to make their Christmas a special one. Every crewmember wanted to go shopping for gifts and wrap them for the children - I think there was wrapping paper spread from Deck 1 to Deck 10 for a couple of weeks! So with the help of Edoardo and the priests, all the kids came onboard for lunch, games and to watch the Christmas show performed by the dancers and singers. After the show, Santa came out and distributed gifts for each child - the looks on their faces were priceless and there was not a dry eye in the house. We all agreed that this was truly the spirit of Christmas.

A Carnival Dream Come True

Todd Wittmer — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:28:00 GMT

If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me anytime soon! Hi everyone, this is Todd Wittmer, the Cruise Director on one of the newest ships in the world, and Carnival's largest cruise ship (that feels really good to say) - the Carnival Dream. I know it’s cliché for a cruise director, or any senior officer, to say that they are on the best ship in the fleet, but I stand by those words. This ship is a “dream come true” and Carnival Cruise Lines has done itself proud.

I have been on board since the beginning of September and have seen the ship go through tremendous changes in just a few short months. I won’t even go into detail about the trip I took to see her in June when I thought to myself there is no way she’ll be ready to sail by the 18^th of September. Flash forward to present day and she is in fact sailing with just under 1400 very proud crew members and approximately 3600 excited guests. I wish you could literally feel the excitement in each key I type as I write about this amazing new ship.

The ship itself is beautiful, by far my favorite of the 13 ships I have worked on within the Carnival family. The new Ocean Plaza and Lanai are my favorite locations, as we now have a real indoor/outdoor street fair atmosphere we can add to the ship. The entertainment is spectacular, of which I am very proud to be a part of, and our motto here, on 'Dream Street,’ is to expect anything. Seriously, expect anything… from laser shows to ‘Dream Street’ parties; brand new top-rated production shows to surprise atrium shows, after a completely different main show in the theater – this ship has it all. Did I mention the waterslides in our Carnival WaterWorks Splash Park? Are you excited yet?

The guests have been great and have really helped us understand what people truly enjoy and look forward to on a vacation. After all, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for our great Carnival guests, so your opinions matter and I have heard nothing but wonderful things from the Carnival Dream experience.

Speaking of the Carnival Dream, I would be a fool not to mention the team. WOW, the start up team is hot and we are all, not only very blessed to be here, but we are very proud of this ship and our company. You can feel the amazing energy from both the guests and crew, as you walk around the ship. We are all involved in something very special.

All right – that’s enough from me. I have to get back to work on the FunHub, our new interactive gateway and the ship’s social network. When you sail on the Carnival Dream with us, make sure you log in and take one of my daily polls. They’re always a lot of fun. On a personal note, this has been one of the best moments of my life and certainly a defining moment of my Carnival career. This ship is appropriately named and I could spend the entire day telling you so many different reasons why the Carnival Dream is, in fact, a dream come true. I love what I do and I love the ship that I do it on - that certainly makes me smile and is definitely something worth dreaming about.