50th Anniversary for Carnival
50th Wedding Anniversary for Warren & Carol
50 Nights of Cruising
With life slowly getting back to normal from the pandemic, we were thrilled to return to cruising in November 2021. Moving into 2022 we had two years previously, booked a cruise on Carnival Mardi Gras, their newest and largest ship.
While on that cruise we received an email that offered some great rates on future cruises, so we booked a couple of more cruises for later in the year. That’s when an idea popped into my mind. Over the years, Carol has dismissed most of the thoughts that pop into my head, but this is one she agreed was a good idea.
The year of 2022 had significance for Carol and I. In April we celebrated 50 years of marriage (yes we got married when we were 5 and 7 years old). This year also marked the 50th anniversary of Carnival Cruise Line. So my first, somewhat demented thought was, could we do 50 cruises? I quickly ruled that out for many reasons…time and of course, money.
But…would it be possible to do 50 nights of cruising? Still ambitious, but possible. With some great pricing we booked Mardi Gras again for February. For this Mardi Gras cruise we were in a Cove Balcony for the first time. This is the lowest balcony level available on ships and closest to the water. Carol had been reluctant to try this in the past but now loves the location. We will experience a cove balcony again on the Vista in 2023. March was booked on the Liberty. We scored a great price for a suite on Liberty, so couldn’t pass that up.
April was a cruise that included our second grandson, Ethan. He had just celebrated his 18th birthday and would be graduating from high school in June, so we took him for a week on the Pride during spring break as his graduation gift. Of course he enjoyed the cruise itself, but we also treated him to a dolphin encounter and a visit to Mayan ruins. And what teenage boy doesn’t want a photo to prove that he’s been to Hell and back? Ethan has always enjoyed good food, so cruising fit in fine for him to enjoy some great food, on ship as well as our favorite restaurant at Cozumel.
During the hot days of summer we took a break from cruising but were ready to cruise again in September on the Sunshine out of Charleston, SC. We had November booked for a back to back on Carnival Freedom. A back to back (B2B) is when you stay on the ship for two consecutive sailings. This was a 5 day followed by a 4 day trip. I always say that getting off the ship at the end of a cruise is the only bad thing about cruising. It was nice, in a somewhat wicked way, to see all passengers get off the ship but about a dozen of us that stayed on board to continue the fun. Actually you are escorted off the ship for a quick run through Customs, then back on for a celebratory drink before the new guest arrival. We even met a couple who lived in a town about 15 miles from where I grew up. Turns out the husband plays golf with an old classmate of mine. Small world! Our final cruise of the year was booked for December 26 on Liberty. One crew member who was from South Africa, came up to me and said, “I remember you from the Freedom last month”. She had just transferred over to Liberty the week before. If I didn’t check my driver’s license, I’d forget my own name.
But with these cruises that we had done and scheduled, it still left us with a shortage of 7 days for my goal of 50 for the year. When booking a cruise there are many options in arranging your reservations. Travel agents can make all the arrangements, you can book yourself on a cruise line’s online site or our preference is to do a little combination. We research and then contact our Carnival PVP (Personal Vacation Planner) Josh Waitzman to advise and finalize things. Josh is a former cruise director, so he knows the ins and outs, is familiar with our preferred cabin styles and often finds things we’ve not seen on the website.
I contacted him in September and told him we were looking for 7 nights. Gave him the dates we could not go due to commitments and that our ideal situation would be another trip on Mardi Gras in an extended balcony category. Yes, I dream big, but what the heck! Within 30 minutes he called and said, “How about Mardi Gras October 22, deck 9 extended balcony”? I asked how he was able to find that when I saw nothing for that date. He said, “That’s why you have me”. Once again Josh pulled a rabbit out of the hat.
So that cruise along with those past and future during the year would give us our 50 nights of cruising in 2022 and by end of December would complete our 50/50/50 year. It’s been a fun year of cruising memories.
While on the Mardi Gras in October, I was wearing a new pair of deck shoes. A crew member pointed out that they were “Carnival Blue” in color. I remembered that this brand also had some in red, Carnivals other corporate color. So I ordered a pair and wore one of each color while on board. 
The crew seemed to really enjoy my fashion statement. One mentioned that I had my “port and starboard” (left and right side) shoes that I could switch out each day.
Now a few details about some of our journeys. We have sailed on some of the smaller ships to their largest. Loved them all for different reasons. On any ship, you will do a lot of walking. Obviously a bit more on the larger ships since things are spread out more, but it all depends on where you spend your time.
Throughout the year, Covid restrictions have become more relaxed. In January and February everyone, passengers and crew, were wearing mask most of the time. By spring things had relaxed a little for the passengers. Come summer some of the vaccination requirements had soften. By fall, even the crew could go without their mask if they wished. During the mask wearing times I talked about the “Smiling Eyes of Carnival” because you mask covered much of their faces. I would ask the crew to allow me to photograph their smiling eyes. I then created these posters with some of their faces placed around the Carnival Pins we receive on each ship. Thankfully now most of them are no longer wearing mask and it’s making life so much better for them.
I’ve always been amazed at how well the staff remember your name and things about you. They truly go beyond the call of duty to try and make sure you’re having a fun vacation. A perfect example was a young man and woman who were the Attendants for Loft 19 on the Mardi Gras. This is an area that has cabanas and is a private area for guests who book a special class of suite, pay an extra fee or in our case were blessed to receive it as a gift. Jeffery and Christine are both from the Philippines and are full of fun and joy. I even suggested to Christine that she should meet my oldest grandson and if things work out she would get a wonderful grandfather in the deal. She did suggest I bring him on a future cruise and he is in complete agreement.
On our second Mardi Gras cruise in February, we reached the Platinum category with Carnival. This means we have accumulated a total of 70 cruise nights with Carnival. I told Jeffery and Christine that was as close as an American could get to knighthood and I teased that I needed a coronation. Well they did just that. They told me later in the week to be sure to come up to Loft 19 on our final sea day. When I arrived they had created certificates that stated I was now “Sir Warren of Platinum”, a home made crown was placed on my head and they used a Carnival towel and placed around my neck for a cape. I was blown away by their efforts and attention. These are now among my most treasured items. Here is a portion of the video I made. To view, click on this link: Coronation .
We stayed in touch through Facebook and messenger over the months, including during the three months they were back in the Philippines during their break. I knew they were back to their duties for the October Mardi Gras cruise but did not tell them we would be sailing with them again. After getting settled in our cabin, I made my way to Loft 19. At first I didn’t see anyone but soon Christine come around a corner. Upon seeing me she screamed “WARREN” and came running over. After catching up on a few things she got on her radio to Jeffery and told him that the Hotel Manager needed to have a talk with him. She had me hide behind a corner and when he arrived I turned around and he was surprised to see me. It was a fun filled week seeing these young friends again.
We always have great room attendants, but this one on Mardi Gras seemed to have something extra about her. Mary Rose, also from the Philippines, made sure all our room needs were met before we knew what was needed. She would always take a few moments from her busy schedule to greet us and ask about our day and if we needed anything. After a few days she said we made her think of her parents and asked if she could call us “Mom and Dad”. Yep, there were a few misty eyes all around.
It’s easy to imagine the more public things about a cruise. The food, entertainment, drinks, ports of call and fun things throughout the day. But the little things from the crew are what make all the big things possible. They work long hours for months on end, sometimes putting up with rude people but always keeping a smile on their faces. On one cruise I was walking down a hall when a crew member pointed to my feet, having noticed a shoe lace was untied. She immediately reached down and tied it saying, “I don’t want you to have a fall and ruin your vacation”. We have talked with staff who have worked for many years on cruise ships and they talk about how they love their jobs in spite of being away from family for many months at a time. Several crew members tell us they started their careers on other cruise lines but find Carnival to be the best for them. They say it’s the FUN SHIP for them too.
Carnival arranged for me to have an interview with Mardi Gras Cruise Director Kendall Fire during our October cruise. It was fun to hear her story and thoughts on cruising. Born and raised near Fort Worth, Texas, her parents took her on her first cruise at age 7 and she cruised yearly with her family on birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions. As she finished her education it became clear that she could make a living doing something she loved.
She started with Carnival as an intern for three months, then back to finish collage that year. Following graduation she spent the next 48 weeks working on Carnival’s Fun Squad in various capacities. Her promotion to Cruise Director was on Carnival Breeze, which is my favorite ship. She now is Cruise Director on Carnival’s flagship, Mardi Gras. Click on this link for some insight to the life of a Cruise Director and our Interview.
When on the Pride in April, a member of the Art Auction group, Park West, came up to me and said, “I know you”. He remembered me from several years ago, my particular art interest and after a moment, remembered my name. Again, impressing me with how they do this. Then on our November B2B, he had become the head auctioneer on that ship. I told Dax that one of us was stalking the other.
We have just finished our December Cruise that completed our 50/50/50 year. Next year will see us travel to Alaska for a cruise on the Luminosa, and two 8 day cruises into the southern Caribbean area on Celebration, Carnivals newest XL class ship and the Vista. I don’t think 2023 will find us sailing as much as we did in 2022, but i’m sure there will be more cruise goals to meet. We do have scheduled a Panama Canal cruise in 2024 and hope to do an Atlantic Ocean crossing at some point. Or as our children likes to say, “We are spending their inheritance, one cruise at a time”. Fortunately, they support us with our love of cruising and even wonder if we will retire and live on a ship full time. We assure them that we still need a little time on Terra Firma and of course there are the grandchildren that still need to be spoiled.
It’s also been fun to introduce cruising to friends who have joined us on a few and will join us on some of the ones upcoming. Also meeting new people on the ships who enjoy time on the sea. Several who we stay in touch with through the year and hope to meet again on future voyages.
For our readers who may have an interest, we would love to have you join us on an upcoming cruise or are happy to answer any questions about the Fun Ships and what you can expect when choosing a cruise for a future vacation.
