Every family has its own holiday traditions.
For many Americans that means doing different things to celebrate Christmas. Some put out milk and cookies for Santa Claus, while others write him letters or visit his avatar at the mall to share their holiday wish list.
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Some families' traditions involve decorating their homes; others are all about the tree. Some people don't consider the Christmas season in progress till they bake cookies, while others kick things off with a mug of egg nog.
Cruise lines also honor the season, by decorating ships, bringing Santa Claus on some sailings, offering seasonal treats, and serving special meals on Christmas Eve and the big night itself.
Carnival Cruise Line fully embraces Christmas, but Brand Ambassador John Heald, a man who spends his whole day helping people, says there's one Christmas tradition he won't help with.
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Image source: John Heald/Facebook
Carnival Cruise Line won't help with one big tradition
In a very long Facebook post, Heald shared many of the different ways he has helped people over the past few days.
"Now, many of you, I think, realize that I try to help as many people as I can in many different ways," he said. "Yesterday, for example, I arranged for a chap who runs a rural water plant to meet the engineer on the Carnival Jubilee who is responsible for the water treatment on the ship.
"Then I had a lady who had asked if her son, who is going to 'boot camp' soon, could say a few words at the Veterans gathering on the Carnival Miracle, which again I was able to arrange."
Heald, however, explained that he had areas where he could not help passengers.
"Please, can I let all mums and dads know there is one thing I cannot do, and since I had the first request for this yesterday, I thought I should mention it now. I cannot, I really cannot arrange tricks and jokes for your Elf of the Sodding Shelf," he wrote.
He offered a bit of an explanation for people who are not aware of this particular holiday tradition.
"For those of you who do not know what the Elf thing is all about, let me try and explain," Heald posted.
"The 'magical' elf basically puts your sleeping children under surveillance like a CIA spy. Or a Cruise Critic member. The elf will then find a new sleeping place from where you put it before the child goes to sleep and will often be doing something naughty."
Heald explains why Carnival can't help with the Elf on a Shelf
Heald shared a note he recently received.
Message: Need your suggestions for our cruise and our Elf on a Shelf. Our elf's name is Snickerdoodle and he has been coming to our house for 6 years now. My oldest is almost 14 is still totally into finding Snickerdoodle along with his 7 year old brother. Both kids TOTALLY love him.
We are leaving a week from Saturday for a 7-night cruise to the W Caribbean on the -------. Can you arrange the for the cabin attendant to put Snickerdoodle in funny places in the room and do crazy stuff each night. We have early dinner so this will need to be done by 10 p.m. latest.
Can the captain get involved as well. The boys would find it unbelievable if Snickerdoodle could be filmed “driving the ship.’ My husband will bring it to the captain on the bridge on the ship. They would think this is awesome. What details do you need from us John?
The brand ambassador was kind in denying the request despite the passenger's rather bold ask.
"Thank you, and of course, I realize that so many children around the world love their Elf," he wrote. "However, I really can't ask the very busy cabin attendant to add to his or her workload by coming up with different ideas every night.
"I would suggest that perhaps on one night, one night only, you ask the cabin attendant to have Snickerdoodle placed on the bed with a towel animal (or in the jaws of one), and I am sure that would be just fine."
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Heald made clear that the cruise line cannot accommodate Elf on Shelf requests.
"I know that if I don’t say no here that I will be inundated with Elf requests, so I hope everyone understands," he explained.
"As for driving the ship – ummmm, no, I really can’t ask the captain to do this. He is a wonderful chap but also a very serious man with a serious job.
"If you see him at the elegant night, then please take a photo with your family and Snickerdoodle, and I know he will be more than happy to do this."
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