I've managed to see all the photos - but had to keep going back each time (press back button). To get started just click on photos and then the sub headings and then go back each time to get a different sub heading. I hope this helps!

How wonderful to hear (and see) all about Alii's cruise. Me too envy the puter skills used - I've only just managed to to put an icon on my desktop!! Are you joshing me Phil about Gerry and the Pacemakers????

thanks allisu, managed to see them all doing it your way how fab are they!!!!!!

Hi All, Back from my cruise on the Opera, have just one word to say "FANTASTIC" will let you have all the details when I come back down to earth.
ps: 7 other DE cruisers on board.
Tony R

Welcome back Tone, we will wait for your jet lag to pass eagerly.



Dizzy

Hi Tony

Welcome back to another happy cruiser - all great reports up to now, so things are looking good for the rest of us!


How did you find the other 7 DE cruisers? Did you all meet up accidentally or were you seated together for meals or something?

Looking forward to hearing more once you've recovered.....

If they ever get their tickets our first cruisers for MAY will be off next weekend:-07.05.05:
Venice - Bari - Katakolon - Kusadasi - Istanbul - At Sea - Dubrovnik - Venice (MSC Opera)

Smokey - £159
Phillips406 (Gill) (Sharing)

Total - 2

09.05.05:
Genoa - Naples - Malta - Tunis - Ibiza - St Tropez - Genoa (MSC Melody)

Anthony Haines - £10
Atwales (Ian) - £10
Roundabout's Mum - £10
Trooncryer - £10
CunardQueen (Myles) - £10
Buster (Paul) - £10
Scarlet - £70
Scarlet's friend Martyn

Total - 8



Fingers, arms, toes & eyes all crossed.

Dizzy

Welcome home Tony,

Sounds as if we have only to arrive on board safely, and the rest is taken care of. I am so happy for you. It was worth the upgrade l assume?

Four weeks for us, and from what you say, the three of us may not have exclusivity. Hope the weather wasn't too good, otherwise you will feel jolly depressed when you have to face the rain in the morning.

Joan XX

welcome back tone .as the next person to go on opera i will be interested in what you have to report.any hints on the shore trips will be welcome as well.a bonus you have returnrd to lovely weather here.carol

Hi,

Good advice about the use of e.mail on ships..

We have just had a week on the Thomson Spirit and the cost was £3 per minute.

On shore in Tenerife I found a cyber cafe, the cost being 30 minutes for 1€.

LL

Hi All, coming back down to earth now, so here's a brief run down on my cruise on the Opera. The whole cruise went very smoothly. the Opera is a beautiful ship and the service was exellent. I had a double cabin with bathroom with shower. cabins were cleaned and towels were changed twice a day, satelite tv with one English channel and film channels, info ect. mini bar and safe (hiden behind dressing table mirror).
A daily program is posted to your cabin with info on excursions ect. and also if that evening is formal or casual. there are three formal nights, the captains cocktail party and the farwell gala were great nights.
The entertainment was good and the shows were quite spectacular.
I only went on one excursion to Olympia the rest of the time I shared a taxi with some of the other Brits, time in port is quite short so you need to plan before you go ashore.
The food on board was a very high standard with seven coarses in the evening.
I met some of the other DE cruisers at the single cruisers cocktail party one had like me upgraded the others had gone on the two for one offer who happened to be in the bar, four of us became great friends and spent much of our time together, they even talked me into playing bingo for the first time which I won 160 euros(helped with the bar bill).
The English are very much in the minority mostly Italians, Spanish, French, ect. of all ages but this made it all the more interesting.
Not everything is perfect the check in at Venice was very slow and the shows were somtimes late starting, but these are minor things.
The highlights for me were Istanbul the grand bazzar and Dubrovnik but dont miss the Buffet Magnifique on Gala Night(take your camera).
On the whole this was a wonderful holiday that exceeded my expectations and was worth all the hassel, I will post my photo's as soon as I get myself together and help with any queries anyone has.
To all those going on the Opera you are in for a treat.
Tony R

Hi Tony,

With you being the first 'Operatic' I have been very keen to hear how you got on. It sounds like you had a fabulous time and MSC did you proud! I can't wait for my cruise now.

I have a few questions for you (you are going to regret being the first!) but was wondering if you had a roll call, rather than using the main forum for the more specific things?

Craig.

ood Evening from the Balcony Cruise

Tony R what are you doing attemting to sink the Balcony Cruise befroe we ahve set sail :bawl

it was good to hear of your wonderful trip, :hyper:hyper:hyper well done reports like yours gives others hope, if there are any still awaiting the magic call (are there many with no cruise date - or are we all catedered for now)

I can live in hope

Phil Morris

Welcome home Tone, glad you had a terrific time!

Wow, THREE formal nights! Cat among the pigeons time!!!!

I'm just sooooooo excited . Can't believe that I'm actually going on a proper , pucker cruise as well as Malaysia and Canada this year.. Usually when I get back from my "big" annual hol am feelings deflated and wondering how I'll get through the rest of the year. But not 2005. The prospect of my September cruise will keep me upbeat and still dieting long after I can back from Malaysia. So sorry for those who are still waiting but I really can't help but crow after reading Tony's account.

Transferred from a separate topic

chrisa
One Star Member

Joined: 07 Oct 2004
Posts: 21
Location: London
44 HTPoints

Posted: Sun May 01, 2005 2:43 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I dont think im going on my cruise anymore as i accepted those bloody vouchers...

i havent been here in a while.

my question is, is there anyone else who has accepted those vouchers and are still somehow going on a cruise, or is it all out of the question for me?

any advice will be appreciated. i have spoken to watchdog a little while back, they said they would be in touch if they want more information.

Hi Phil,
Yes, I'm afraid there are still a lot of people without cruises and I know we are all rooting for them! I am sure however they will fully understand our excitement when people who have been successful return from a cruise reporting great things - it is making it seem to more real to us after the struggles we all went through - it is actually happening!

Very good luck to all those still looking for confirmed cruises!

One thing i'd like to know from those that have already had their cruise.

What do the passengers tend to wear on the formal night's

I don't own a proper suit or dinner jacket and don't want to have to go out and spend loads of money for just 3 night's worth of wear out of a jacket if I can get away with it.

Tone,thanks for your info,i am getting excited i am glad you met some other D,E it means gill and i might.i do hope that there will be a spate of people hearing they have got a cruise after the hol. after al they appear to becutting prices so lets hope we get a rush of new people getting lucky.
carol