Some cruise ship passengers seem to like being upset: Instead of enjoying their cruises, they focus on everything around them and take offense at what other people do.
That's easy to do on a cruise because some people are always going to be acting in a way that others don't approve of. Visit any cruise ship pool and you will find people wearing bathing suits that might offend sensitive people.
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That could be women wearing skimpy thongs and revealing tops or men wearing Speedos who are, perhaps, not in tip-top physical condition.
If you want to be outraged about what others are exposing, it's not hard to find examples to send you over the edge.
The same thing happens in the various sit-down restaurants on board. Cruise lines have dress codes, but on Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships those codes are rarely enforced.
It's impossible to know how someone wearing a hat, flip-flops or shorts affects your meal, but some cruisers get up in arms over what other people are wearing. That's a challenge they constantly push to the cruise lines as they ask for the dress codes to be enforced.
That's an impossible situation for Carnival or Royal Caribbean because sending someone away from a restaurant over a dress code violation creates an angry customer.
In another situation, however, the easily offended passenger seems to be ignoring all warnings and putting themselves in a place to be offended. And Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald took a bold stand against it.
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Image source: Carnival Corporation.
Carnival's Heald tries to do the right thing
Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald seems to have endless patience.
He spends most days answering questions online, and while he is a beloved figure, some people just aren't very nice.
Heald puts up with insults about his appearance and people who are furious about minor things he can't possibly control. He operates under the idea that the customer is always right, but he has to be honest that sometimes, they just aren't.
Currently, Heald has been sailing on Mardi Gras with his wife and daughter. He has posted multiple videos from the ship, many of them praising crew members.
His latest video, however, could be considered a warning, or maybe a plea. Mostly, it's Heald trying to keep passengers from putting themselves in a situation where they're going to be angry and offended.
It's a warning that's likely to go unheeded, but Heald has done his best to deliver it.
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Carnival warns passengers away
Heald's latest video, posted on Aug. 16, showed the outside and interior of the Punchliner's Comedy Club.
"It's 7 o'clock in the morning here, so the Punchliner's Comedy Club is empty," he wrote. "I've come in here to make one of the videos I've made before and I make no apologies for doing that because it is very important that I do."
Heald went on to explain why he was visiting the comedy club.
"Because every week, every single week, in the hundreds of questions that I answer I always have somebody who writes and is not happy with the material the comedians use," he said "Doesn't like the fact that an R-rated show is R-Rated."
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Carnival makes quite clear on its daily schedule, the Fun Times, which shows are 18-plus and will have R-rated material. Heald said he understands and respects that not all shows are for everyone, but he also expressed some frustration.
"The one thing that does drive me crazy, and this isn't about me, it's on behalf of my friends the comedians ... and that is, if you think you're going to be offended, if you're not 100% certain that you're going to enjoy the show, don't sit in the front row," he said.
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Instead, he offered some advice.
"Sit in the back, near the door, and then if you are not happy you can go off and find something that does make you happy," he added.
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