Chris - so glad you had such a wonderful time. I think one of the aims of the DE offer may have been to attract a new market, as they know we'll be hooked and want more - plus we'll tell friends and family and they'll want to try it too. It's certainly worked so far, 3 happy cruisers and no doubt more to follow.

Andy - have a GREAT time, as I'm sure you will.



Fay

Something I keep meaning to post, but brain cell count isn't what it used to be (that's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!!!!!):

Shortly after the Melody's refit was completed and it started cruising again, I searched various sites to find out whether the refit had upgraded it from 2.5* to 3*, and I couldn't find any such upgrade. I wondered whether that was because the sites I'd searched hadn't got wind of any change or there simply wasn't one. Has anybody heard anything

Fay

Hi Fay,
I am wondering where the 2.5* rating came from! I was certainly quoted this rating by Rise but have never actually seen it published anywhere! In Cruising magazine, she is certainly rated as 3* as she is on many cruise operators sites.

I have never read anything on MSC site about Melody's rating but they have published a piece about the big four all retaining their 4* rating. Perhaps the PSA may have more information.

Magsy - I can't remember all the sites I searched, but VacationsToGo still quoted the Melody as 2.5* and they're the most reliable I've found to date - they seem to know everything about everything in the cruise industry. I haven't checked it lately, as the last time I looked there was plenty of time to change it if they were going to. But thanks for the info - reassuring to know......

Here's where gentlemen skip to the next post!

First-time lady cruisers may be interested in the latest line of Capri trousers, £3.50, Primark. They're available in stone and beige, mid-calf length, 100% polyester and VERY lightweight - perfect for hot weather. The legs are wide enough to roll up and wear as shorts when the sun gets hotter, but they also have drawstrings so if you're (say) on an excursion and it gets windy or the sun goes down, you won't get cold. This is my absolutely fave cruising material and style, and works OK for back home too. They have cheaper ones at £3, but they're not so stylish.

If you practise rolling them up at home, you'll soon get the best depth of material so the roll won't look bulky or untidy when you wear them as shorts. I don't tumble dry them - I take them out after the spin cycle, fold them for a couple of mins and bang the creases out, then hang them up - they dry in no time, and you'd never know I hadn't ironed them.

One of the advantages of buying cruising clothes at Primark is that you can leave them there if you want new ones next time - cabin crew will be SO grateful for them, and male ones will send them back home where doubtless years of hard wear will be got from them.

Fay

An email just recieved is quoting the Melody as £399 inside cabin. Its getting cheaper and cheaper. Surely the ships can't be full if they are reducing the price therefore Rise should step in and snap them up at the cheaper prices.

Good tip Fay! I had actually forgotten that I possess several pairs of these, so something else to add to the list! This type of thing is very handy to have and of course being non iron are perfect. I hadn't actually thought of using them as shorts!

Vacations to go certainly still rates Melody as 2.5*

hi everybody, hope u all well. Fay any idea what size these trousers/pants/shorts wotever go up too. Not got a Primark here so would mean a forty mile round trip for me to find they not got my size ...thanx patricia63

hi all
nice to hear that we have some new cruisers.
the next ones are due to sail shortly too. Things are looking up!!!!!
wallecan and explorer so pleased that you enjoyed yourselves,so far we have 100% satisfaction i just cant wait formine but still got 10+weeks to go
hope all the latest to sail enjoy themselves and will sent back good reports too
ann

Hi All,
This is my last posting before I set sail on the Opera, I fly from Manchester to Venice at 8.30 tomorrow morning and the ship departs at 16.00. Hope my trip is as good as the HT cruisers who have already been.
Will post a report when I return.
Tony R

have a fabulous time!!!!!!!!!

Hi Tone,

You're on the first regular Opera sailing as she has just returned from the Caribbean and she sailed the western end of the Med last year. As such i am sure there will be loads of questions when you return! I look forward to hearing your report, as i am doing the same trip, also with two nights in Venice, later in the year.

Have a great time. Craig.

Hi Tone,

I hope you have a really super cruise. I am sure l speak for Elaine & Eileen too, as we are going on the 4th. June and shall need to pick your brains till you head hurts when you return.

Enjoy!!!

Joan.

Have a great time Tone. Even though I am going on the Lirica they all seem very similar, so when you get back we will all be asking loads of questions. Hope the weather will be warm. Which places do you visit on your cruise. Hope you enjoy yourself. Hear from you when you get back.

May B

Remembered to get the E111 to-day as I am going to Menorca. I had to buy a black pen to fill it in. The pens I use are the ones that come from such firms as Capital One when they try to get you to have a card but they are always blue ink. I had to fill in a second form which is the one I kept. She actually filled the second one in for me as I had just had my nails done. The clerk said I would be sent the new card in September. I think she meant this year.

Have a lovely cruise, Tone.

Maureen H

great to hear Chris and Colin had a great time.look forward to seeing some pics.
Meeeeyyy i am going to dash to primark monday and look at the capris .sounds a good buy.thanks for the tip .
time for bed.carol

Magsy thanks for that fantastic review of the Lirica. It really got me excited, just wish they had'nt sent my confirmation documents to Exeter. I noticed that R*** took the money from my account on the same day they booked me in, so am very hopefull.
Rosie

Patricia63 - I don't know what size Primark's clothes go up to, but I don't think it would help you even if I did, because some of their branches seem to keep different stock to others. I have 3 branches within a few miles, all in areas I often go to, and sometimes I see something in one of them and think ''I'll get that at ..... branch when I've got more time'' - only to find they don't stock it. I think your best bet is to phone them first.

Carol - that applies to you too, especially if you live any distance from Primark. Mind you, I often pop into Primark just to see what's new, as some of their stuff is really stylish and it's cheap enough to put away for a few years. You're almost bound to see something you'll love wearing on your cruise, and for next to nothing too.

Good luck both of you!!!!!

Fay

RE: Melody. The VacationsToGo website showed that it was last refurbished in 2001, so I e-mailed them asking if its latest refurbishment a few months ago would affect its star rating of 2.5. They contacted MSC who told them that it hasn't been refurbished since 2001, their latest ship to be refurbished was the Opera in 2004. They (VTG) also said refurbishment doesn't necessarily affect star rating.

Who told us it had been refurbished? R***??????

The plot thickens........

Fay

morning all
my nearest primark is bristol so perhaps next week I will go on a shopping expedition, not that my cruise is till oct: perhaps they will have some of their summer things left in the sales at the end of the summer. weather wet and horrible here (devizes, wiltshire) so gardening is off and housework is a non starter, I think I will have a few of phils ding dongs and surf the net for the afternoon. vivien