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Famed Carnival cruise director Matt Mitcham to take reader questions

Sept. 07, 2020
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3 min read
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Famed Carnival cruise director Matt Mitcham to take reader questions
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One of the most popular cruise directors in the history of Carnival Cruise Line will be taking reader questions here at The Points Guy this week.

London-based Matt Mitcham, who announced on Aug. 26 in a Facebook post he was retiring from the line, is taking part in TPG's Ask the Expert series on Instagram.

We'll be posting an initial Instagram story with Mitcham later today on Monday, Sept. 7 on our Instagram account, and cruise fans who have a question about cruising for him will be able to leave it there. Questions can be submitted through the question sticker on the Instagram story or by sending us a direct message.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's new cruise newsletter.

Mitcham will be back on our Instagram account later in the week with answers to questions. Just be warned that, given the high volume of questions we expect, it's unlikely he'll be able to answer all of them.

Mitcham has been one of Carnival's star cruise directors for years, and he has a huge following among cruise fans. His Facebook account, where he posts regularly, has more than 100,000 followers -- a significant number for a cruise industry personality. He's big on Instagram, too.

Matt Mitcham
Matt Mitcham has been one of Carnival's most popular cruise directors. (Photo courtesy of Matt Mitcham)

Up until the day he announced his retirement, Mitcham had been scheduled to become the cruise director of Carnival's new flagship, Mardi Gras, when it debuts in February.

Currently under construction at a shipyard in Turku, Finland, Mardi Gras will be one of the biggest cruise ships in the world when it arrives -- so big, it'll famously have room for a roller coaster on its top deck, a cruise industry first.

Mitcham has served as cruise director on several Carnival ships including Carnival Vista and Carnival Breeze. Known for his six-pack abs, shirtless selfies and effervescent personality, he was recently profiled in People magazine as the "hunky cruise director."

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He was named the cruise world's best cruise director in 2019 by the cruise industry's leading magazine, Porthole.

"I am a whirlwind of emotions, from ecstatic to excited to sad to happy to nervous," Mitcham said when announcing his retirement on Facebook. He didn't say what he would do next.

"We've done a lot of talking over the past few months, and it's definitely time for me to move on to my next adventure," Mitcham said.

The Facebook video of Mitcham announcing his retirement has been watched by more than 164,000 people. Nearly 3,000 fans have left comments.

Planning a cruise for the coming year? These stories will help:

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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