Hi,

My hubby was one of the lucky ones to have just come home from his £10 cruise - , well worth the "worry" of continual trying to ring up and check details ( without much luck there )- he was a cancelled "lybia", had to go thro the promises of call backs that never happened etc , eventually got an offer - stuck ot for a £10 - when the confirmation arrived - worries over mispelt names , having to arrange overnight stays etc, wrong flights stated on confirmation - but in the end it was "wonderful"- "treated like royalty" in his words, and he has now been bitten by the bug and would love to go again on a cruise ( perhaps treat me for our 25th next year? ).

Try not to get bogged down with it all - I know its hard when you don't appear to be getting anywhere - but you have to keep in mind that your efforts should be rewarded and will work out in the end - that must be something worth trying for.

Good luck!

morning cruisers
what great reviews being posted, I know it's wishing my life away but I just can't wait for oct: to come. vivien

Vivien...............October?!!!

I`m hyperactive about July 4th........you must be climbing the walls!!
(Mind you, I`m like a big kid when it comes to waiting for anything!!)

Alsacienne,

Thanks for the ideas........hopefully it will not come to that but if it does, most people will drag themselves to Genoa by their teeth not to miss the cruise after all we have been through to get it!!

Sorry to be the bringer of doom and gloom again, but if anyone did miss the Ship because of strikes (or any other reason), don`t forget the T&C`s which state that the full price of the cruise is payable if "for any reason" you do not sail!

That would be a double whammy wouldn`t it? No cruise and a bill for £700 plus.

You don`t think Rise have shares in Alitalia by any chance??

Good Morning all,

I am so pleased Mr GKendal enjoyed the cruise and perhaps you can persuade him to write a review. Now that he has the cruise bug, I don't think you will have any difficulty persuading him that a cruise would be a great 25th Anniversary trip, and then there would be 2 cruise addicts!

Vivien, the one little bright spot is that when we have all returned, you still have yours to look forward to! I for one will be envious then (but only in a nice way!)

Tony, please don't go there! Perhaps insurance being compulsory is a good thing and here's hoping it covers us for this kind of eventuality!

With reference to the disappearing posters I am hoping that most of them like me are waiting until July to start shouting for their 2006 cruise. having chosen that option. I imagine that like me they are enjoying all the humour and information on the forum and waiting for the promised cruise allocation between July and September this year. Knowing all the difficulties we will then be preparing to fight for our cruise confirmations helped by all the information and links you 2006 cruisers have provided. Please don't desert us until all of us have been on our cruises and posted our reviews.

Thanks to all of you and I will be thinking of you on your departure date

Carol

Sorry I meant to say you 2005 cruisers not 2006.
carol

Dont worry Carol, we won't desert you and hopefully many of us will have cruised and will be reporting back on the ships so that you can make an informed choice if and when you are given one!

Just realised that didn't sound right! I mean IF you are given a choice WHEN you are contacted with your allocation!

I had a phone call from an old friend the other day and in the course of conversation I mentioned the cruise. Apparently she had also applied and is now supposed to be going in 2006. I pointed her in the direction of HT so doubtless she will be looking in sometime. As it happens she has quite a full 2005, so she is happy to have something to look forward to next year.

Getting all excited now seeing that most of the cruisers have been upgraded to lot better cabins

only 109 days to the 12th of September cruise (not that I'm counting the days or anything):glynis

great to see that the early cruisers are starting to post their reviews

All we need now is loads more photo's

Just to let everyone be aware of the situation about contacting MSC - even when you receive all your final documents, they will not speak to you if you telephone!

That just leaves our trusty TA to help with any last minute problems!

I was told to phone my travel agent and then she asked who it was........
my plaintive wail of, "but it's ----" did not sway her resolve not to speak to me so I hung up feeling quite ill at the thought of what was to come ........hours of trying, non-returned calls etc.

I did not even have the proper contact details with me (at work) and just tried the number which is in very tiny print at bottom of confirmation.

Lo and behold, the phone was answered first time and I spoke to someone (pity I'm not allowed to give a name) who has been extremely helpful who phoned me back twice and is sending an e-mail when he gets written confirmation from MSC.

I have been verbally advised it will be ok and nothing was said about me changing the flight when I explained that the information about pre-planned strikes was on FCO web page and there was nobody to contact due to weekend/bank holiday. He seemed to appreciate the fact that it was quite a worrying scenario and could end up with missed cruise departure and that I had to do something there and then.

Regarding insurance - I spoke to claims department. As mentioned yesterday, the fact that the information is published in advance, negates any possible claim. How far in advance is unclear. I wonder what would happen if it was just a few hours

Well hopefully that's me sorted - quite a lot of extra expense though - flight 'penalties' (a lot!), hotel accommodation (reasonable), extra car parking costs (!), and taxis (ask Tony !).

Not quite the £10 cruise that I had last week........but at least I'm going.........well, I'd do anything :yikes(more or less! ) at this stage to get into my 'mini suite'

Hi Allisu,
I am so pleased that it looks like everything is sorted, or nearly! I am sure all will be ok with your transfer!
Well done!

Luci

Would it be possible to list all the airport hotels that people have recommended? Many thanks.

Which airport hotels do you mean Lesley? I think we have recommendations for UK ones in the General Help and Enquiries forum.

luci

I have just been sent a copy of emails between **** and MSC.

My new tickets, for changed transfers, have been sent.

I even have a personal message from this very nice person at **** saying "enjoy your cruise"

Allisu you deserve a raft of stars, you have been brilliant & focused.
Now a large G&T is due at the very least and chill, at least for the next couple of hours.
It's also nice to post something positive, about those who shall remain nameless.

Decided to e-mail R*** on the HT link tday. Had the auto response that I will be contacted within 21 days. We'll see.

Nice one Alli,

Good to hear that the telephone number on the documents actually has a body on the end of it instead of the recorded message.

Lets hope now that it is a mini-suite you are getting and not a mini-sweet...........perhaps they mean a jelly-tot on your bunk to take away the nasty taste of paying extra!!

(Laughing at the joke, not you paying extra by the way)

Thanks everyone!

Dizzy - I have a campari soda on the go - getting in cruise mode

Tony - or it could be a typo and really be a mini suite(d) stranger sharing my cabin!

Maureen - as I had such a successful response telephoning, have you thought about trying that again? Maybe they haven't much to do at the moment with everything in limbo.

Alli