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Carnival Cruise
By Samantha Brown on June 9, 2008 9:57 PM | Permalink | 27 Comments
Day One
The Carnival Cruise show will be a full hour, but we only have four days to shoot it, which is usually the time we need to shoot a half-hour of ... so it's a pretty busy schedule. Great thing about being on a cruise is you can fit a lot more into a show, seeing that everything is a 10-minute walk away as opposed to an hour's drive. In travel production, stamina and momentum are key, and nothing can kill that more than long drives to destinations or even a long lunch. So, even though the shoot schedule looks challenging on paper, we're all able to get into a zone. Of course this is great for everyone except Allan on camera, who might actually enjoy putting the 40-pound camera down for a spell. Another wonderful thing about shooting on a cruise is the plethora of bathrooms. After my last travels in China and Latin America, the thought of being no more than 50 feet away from a clean bathroom is just bliss. So I'm sure you're thinking, "She gets to go on a cruise with pools, spas, bars, food and partying, and this is what makes her happy?" Yep, pretty much.
On this show, I am reunited with soundman David Gaffney, whom I had the pleasure of working with a few years back. He didn't have as much pleasure working with me, though. One of the scenes we were shooting together involved a golf simulator. He and the cameraman put themselves against the screen facing me to get a front shot of my swing. I am a terrible golfer, as anyone who has watched the shows knows, so when I put the ball on the tee, I just thought I would swing and miss it as I always have. But this time, I didn't miss. This time, my swing was Tiger Woods perfect, and I whacked that ball hard. It missed Dave's face by only a few inches. The computer clocked my ball at 85 mph. Dave stood there stunned, the small impression of the ball still visible against the foam mat. At first I was so totally elated with my first-ever perfect swing in the six years of doing the show, that it didn't dawn on me what I'd done. I was only supposed to pretend to hit the ball because two men were standing just 10 feet away in its path. It was a good laugh, and of course, golf ball jokes abounded the rest of the shoot. I thought about randomly sending Dave a golf ball in the mail with no return address or note. He would know who it was from.
Day Two
After a few days on board, I must say I am very impressed with the entire staff of the ship. Crew members are the hardest-working people in the travel industry. They work excruciatingly long hours and have to adapt to every type of cruise passenger -- from kids, tweens, teens, to 20-somethings, yuppies and baby boomers. All have different expectations on a cruise, and I am really impressed by the quality of the staff as they set about to make everyone's cruise an enjoyable experience. I didn't get to make it to the crew bar, which was a big disappointment. For anyone shooting on a cruise ship, that becomes the goal: to get into the crew bar, which is down in the depths of the ship and a place where civilians are strictly forbidden. Most of the crew want you there because, technically, we are working on the ship as well, but the invitation must come from an officer. I just wanted to go so I could buy a drink for everyone who had helped us out so much.
Day Three
Our excursion is dune buggying. Mostly driving on the one main paved loop road of Cozumel to a beach on the east coast, 45 minutes away, to do a small lap of sand about the circumference of a roller rink. My visions of doing doughnuts in the sand and actually riding the dunes were dashed (I guess it was technically one dune, and it's not called dune buggying). But the scenery is beautiful, and it sure is nice to not only get off the ship, but to drive a stick and have some fun. After being out in the intense heat from 10 to 2, we have a small break to eat some lunch at a very nice spot. A man named Jaime, who is the spitting image of Kenny Rogers, greets us. He has an aura about him that is at once commanding and pacifying. He makes sure we are all doing well. He gets us our Cokes and gives us an area to put our equipment. When I ask where the ladies room is, he answers with such care and concern that I make it all right. It's a beautiful part of Cozumel called Punta Morena.
The beach is just glorious, and I thought if I were to do this again, I would hire a taxi from the ship and come here for the day. Jaime informs me that a taxi round-trip would be 30 dollars.
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I'm so excited!!! I work for a production company and I dvr you every day for my lunch hour in the lounge. Yesterday I took a look around and noticed all of the editors, male and female, have started watching your shows with me. Today after your commmercial they were like, "you're recording that right?"...before they made fun of my Sammy B obsession (strong word-it's really not that scary) but now they've all jumped on the band wagon. It's usually very hard watching tv with a bunch of film geeks. (myself included) We ruin everything with our, "oh that camera angle sucked" comments. But we stay surprisingly quiet during yours. Hard to believe it's a one camera show. Anyway, thanks for giving us something decent to watch together.
As a travel major, I aspire to be Samantha Brown. If it were up to me to pick the guest speaker at my graduation (even if it is a few years away) I would pick Samantha. I love flipping to the travel channel and seeing what exciting new place she's going to explore that day. Even if it's a re-run, I love seeing the places she's been to. If it were me doing all these trips, I'd be broke, but to be making money to explore what the world has to offer is amazing! p.s. the commercials on the travel channel are really funny . . . they crack me up every time! keep doing what you're doing Sam - call me next time you go some where!
Just finished watching the Carnival weekend show. I love Samantha Brown but this show was a let down compared to the Royal Caribbean shows. First the ship itself is 12 years old and I noticed that Carnival did not show much of the ship itself and what they did show looked like a neon tube. Very tacky but that is Carnival. Too much time spent on the midnight buffet and food in general. Give me a Royal Caribbean show anytime. So much more to see. Loved the Cozumel part of the show. Very nice and I actually laughed out loud at the comment about the horse. Good one Sam. Can't wait for your new show to start. I will be watching and also looking for Samantha aboard her next cruise ship.
So I'm sure you're thinking, "She gets to go on a cruise with pools, spas, bars, food and partying, and this is what makes her happy?" Yep, pretty much. I have no issue with this, of course. Good to have you back, SB! Intl Doc
i love your show, when will you go to lebanon.
I have watched every episode Samantha Brown has ever done and some episodes multiple times. Passport to Europe was my favorite but they're all great. I envy Samantha and have wanted a job traveling the world all my life. I would love to be able to do it with her sense of humor and great style. Heck, I'd love to do it with her. Wouldn't she just be the greatest travel buddy ever?! What an incredible personality. Can't wait to see all the new episodes.
I watched Samantha Brown's Carnival weekend show last night and thought it was "terrific" !...Samantha brings such life, fun and detail into all of her travel adventures !...I've never been on a cruise before and I really enjoyed her Carnival weekend show and all of the activities that are available to do upon these ships look like so much fun :)...I used to live up in Tampa and lived in an area called Harbour Island which is located about a mile or two from where Samantha boarded her cruise ship to Mexico :)..I remember waving to the cruise ships as they used to go past if I were out for a walk, etc.. I'm so delighted that Samantha has a new weekend getaway series and really look forward to watching her new weekend adventures ! Thanks for a terrific new series Samantha !...Suzanne
Lots of discussion on the show going on over at Cruise Critic.com, on both the Carnival board and the RCCL board. I get a feeling the intent of the weekend cruise show is getting miscontrued, and compared unfavorably to the RCCL shows, whichs showed the ship as the feature of those. Those wanting to get to know or see Carnival or the experience itself, felt shorted. I personally wanted to the the transformation of the ship with the water park, as I haven't been on this class of ship in over ten years. I got what I wanted, but was hoping for more.
Sam, I've loved all your shows. My husband had cancer for almost 5 years before passing at the young age of 53. During those years we watched all your shows...often from the comfort of our bedroom. Since he passed, I still watch all the time and I am so glad to see you on with a new show. Looking forward to it. As a passionate and frequent traveler I have always gotten ideas for destinations from your show. I certainly hope that you do a show about the Oasis of the Seas when RCL launches the ship in the fall of 2009. I know I plan to be one of the first onboard!
i took an trip to bernuad from boston in 2004 on Norweigen Cruiselines and it was the best tripe ever.I loved the freestyle crusing whne you can eat dinner at your convience not the crusielines.I also liked the fact you could book your shore excursions online before yu went and they had your tickets in your room for you when yu checked in.I played an round of golf at St Georges Countryclub then took an carriage ride around St Georges and finally an harborlite trip to Hamilton.They have an big street fair every wednesday where the locals sll their merchandise.I want to someday go back to bermuda or even better perhaps go somewhere in the carribean i have talked to several people who have been there and they all say the same thing-its an once in an lifetime experience
Hi Samantha, I adore your show. It's clean and you're so fun and personable. It's nice to watch a show that focuses on the actual travel and not have a dirty camera man that's always zoomed in on the bikini content! I get so sick of that! Your show is delightful and family oriented. We love it. Also, I'd like advice from you, please? I am on my way to N.Y. to audition for a comedy sketch club myself. My friends all say that I love to talk and I need to have a career based around laughing and talking w/ people. I also have a degree in T.V. Prod. How did you go from Comedy Sketch to Television so successfully? I am the same age as yourself and am having problems getting started. Thanks for being such a clean, all american moral inspiration! You're a breath of fresh air to watch, not like most television. Tks. Good Luck w/ the new show. We'll all be watching eagerly. M-
I enjoyed watching the show. I went on a cruise just a little over a year ago. I didn't go on a Carnival Cruise. I went on the Queen Mary 2. That was the first time for me on a cruise, and I am looking forward to going on many more. I am going to try Carnival next.
I can't wait to watch the show! I missed the premiere because I was at orientation. But I've set it to record for later! :) I couldn't imagine doing a 4-day cruise! A week is never enough for me! I hope you had some time to relax by the pool with your busy schedule. Cozumel is absolutely beautiful. I've been there 4 times and I always do something different. If you get a chance some day, you do a bike ride (3 miles) to a gorgeous snorkeling spot. It was an excursion organized by the ship (Carnival Glory). I am very very jealous of you (once again) as I have not been on a cruise or seen the turquoise Caribbean waters since December of 2004.
Great job as usual. Just love your style and easy going way.You must be a trip (sorry for the pun) to hang out with. Looking forward to more of the same on up-coming shows. Take care. Nunesy
i'm a girl from china. I can also watch "passport to Europe" on China's Tv program. I love it very much. you're really a charming girl!!
i cant believe all you people here and out in the "real" world practically worship samantha brown and her super-smug litle attitude about all of her travels. i know what you're thinking, im jelous right? well yes i am. i just wish since she has been blessed with this job that she would not be so smug and modest about it. id like to take her down a peg or two... she should at least give a shout out at the end of her show for being so lucky.
Gee John, you sound a bit smug yourself to sit in judgement on a successful, popular travel show host. I wonder why you don't host your own show? And doesn't your keyboard have a shift key?
Smug?...She always commments on how lucky she is to have the job she does. We watch Samantha Brown BECAUSE of her humility and down to earth approach to her job. We in the "real" world like her because she IS so real.
Samantha, I was a theatrical stage master electrician before I broke my leg 18 months ago. I spent 85 days in the hospital, 2 surgeries, metal plate, necrosis, hospital infections, kidney failure and pain. I am still on crutches. My best escape was the TV and your show as many times a day as I could fo find you to take my mind out of that isolation room. I am a fan and follow your shows still. Thank you.
I am glad you had a great time on the Carnival Inspiration. My family enjoyed the crew and food last December Great Job,Keep it up!
will you do a show on how the cruise ships are ruining Cozumel's reefs?
samatha,
when are you going to put your (3) cruises on to a dvd.i would watch it all the time. just a thought.
I was on the carnival cruise freedom this Feb. I was happy to see you there. when will this adventure air.
thanks kathy
I just saw the show and it is very beautiful there. My fiance and I are planning on going there for our honeyoon, even tho we have been there before. I just have a question, what were the names of those Tequilas? I am a tequila drinking kind of man, please let me know. Also, we want to take the cruise this time around.
Hey Sam! I haven't got to see this episode, but i'm 100% sure its an awesome one. I loved your other 2 cruises too, so cool!
Hi Samantha. I love watching all your shows. I'm hoping to be able to travel to all the beautiful places you have! I have a non-travel related question: You were wearing a pair of pink and white maryjane shoes when you were in Cozumel, driving the dune-buggy. Can you tell what brand they are? I loved them and they looked incredibly comfortable. Thank you for your time. Happy travels!!!
Who knows where to download XRumer 5.0 Palladium?
Help, please. All recommend this program to effectively advertise on the Internet, this is the best program!