Good Afternoon Yet again

With regards the trip to London, and the Daily Express Offices count me in I think it is a good idea - I suspect for all the shouting that the press do about each other there is a clan deal on telling tales about each other - after all they all thought fatee Maxweel was a fine figure of a man and an upstanding fleet street propritor - and stated so one the news of his drowning (??) it was only afterwards that they all condemded him. So a trip to the offices is a very good idea.

byeeeeee for now
drunk

Has anyone had any luck with Watchdog? I have just looked at their site and the topic appears to be finished as far as they are concerned as the last update is April.

As someone else said, if those without a cruise, protest, I think those of us who have been lucky should try to support them in some way. It is certainly a very unfair situation.

How about this for an offer (non holiday) The Daily Mail is offering 8 different Royal Doulton glasses if you collect 50 tokens!!

Maureen H

How about this for an offer (non holiday) The Daily Mail is offering 8 different Royal Doulton glasses if you collect 50 tokens!!

I'll pass on those I think though the crockery they've just done is lovely - I helped my daughter to collect and she now has 12 place settings.
Incidentally I've had several of the Mail's offers and never been disappointed yet.

I agree Aslemma I have three pairs of designer sunglasses thanks to the Daily Mail but unfortunately no cruise to wear them on. I feel if more people contacted the Watchdog programme they might feature the subject again. After all they have been off air for the summer so April is really not that long ago in programme terms. I think a sit in, protest march or blockade is the only way to play this. Come on Mikey get sorting we are all behind you and raring to go. Where is Magsy?? we need her knowledge and wisdom at a time like this. keep smiling Carol R

Good Evening from the Balcony

Feel a bit more cheerful, than earlier - the Red finally kicked in, either that or it was the row with number 2 (she found an empty bottle of Red) well what does she expect if she goes into her Dads bedroom when he is out, and it being so early in the morning - she never even attempted to make the bed lazy lot, my lot all they do is moan.


Just had a talk with Vivian it seems the strike by Alitalia is on the day we leave, Is it a ploy by Rise perhaps they have a deal to sell extra airline tickets Sceptic that I am

But what would happen if we all turned up at Heathrow on the departure date to learn of the lmpending strike (when is Lightening strike, Lightening ? It can not be lightening if you have prior knowledge of it, can it)

Would we loss our cruise or would we legally have to be :-
a) compensated
b) flown out with another airline
c) If delayed by a day would Rise/MKM?Alitalia have to get us to the cruise
d)or would MSC pick us up at the airport and rush us to the cruise liner

As we know of the potential of a strike and we encure extra expence by re- booking a flight and have to stay a night in Milan can we claim back our expences - if so from whom ?

If only Magsey was here

When is the wine tanker and Juro due back a bottle does not hold enough

Byeeeeee for now

Gaging

Phil

good Evening (Yet again)

Just a note to say that whilst I was away my confirmation came through Grade 8 outside cabin

Byeeee for now

Phil

Hi Phil,

Strikes - we were in exactly the same situation on 18th July.

I think you'll find that you may be on your own - no help from anyone.

R*** said it was not their responsibility and informed us that we could not claim off our insurance if we missed the cruise. Msc were very understanding but could not help us as R*** did not book the flight through MSC. Alitalia said they would only know 24 - 48 hours in advance if our flight was going to be cancelled and then they would endeavour to get us out when possible after our original departure time. They would not transfer us to an earlier flight if our flight was due to be cancelled just in case our flight eventually went ahead.. Not a lot of help to us. Alitalia wanted £250 each to change our tickets to the previous day!!!!!

R*** said that the only way to guarantee getting the cruise was to buy cheap return Ryanair tickets and stay in an hotel overnight . We decided to buy return tickets just in case.

The strike did go ahead on 18th July but fortunately our flight was not affected.

Good luck

Jean

Alitalia wanted £250 each to change our tickets to the previous day!!!!!

R*** said that the only way to guarantee getting the cruise was to buy cheap return Ryanair tickets and stay in an hotel overnight . We decided to buy return tickets just in case.

I only paid £35 to change my flight plus £45 upgrade. It depends on how far in advance you re-book. If you do decide to take this option it's best to ask for a flight to Linate rather than Malpensa as it is only a short taxi ride into Milan. Malpensa is about an hour away.

You don't need to tell Rise any of this. Just make sure MSC know which Milan airport you are arriving at (to coincide with one of the flights on the day) so coach can pick you up.

If you do decide to use another airline, such as Ryanir direct to Genoa, you must buy a return ticket as Alitalia will not allow you on the return flight if you didn't use the 'out' ticket! The Ryanair flight home leaves before the Melody docks so you would need a night in Genoa.

Lots of options to think about!

Alli

Hi peeps I'm back and exhausted . Had the best time ever and can reliably assure others who have yet to go that they are in for a wonderful experience. Too tired now to give full details but will say hi to Martin,Sue and their boys (hope you got back to Swansea safe and sound)and also the lovely Jackie. Met a lot of DE cruisers and discovered huge differences in prices paid. Also spoke with Craig when I was disembarking and he about embark in Venice...boy, was he excited. Wine tanker went with me but supplies now officially restored and special delivery (two tankers) on their way to Bristol but Phil, you will have to pay the bridge toll when they come back to me
DUnfortunately, daughter in hospital some 70 miles away -(relatively staight forward operation on Friday but not making recovery as quickly as had been hoped for)- so I won't be around much this week. Will give review when time permits...also haven't had time to read back over all the posts but, again, will do so when time permits.
Finally, am pleased to say have acheived celebrity status by being spotted as "juro" from HT by two total strangers on cruise. Needless to say they only stayed strangers for a very short while !!!

Welcome back Juro. So glad you had a lovely time but those of us who had gone before just knew that you would. We look forward to your review when you get a chance - it was heroic of you to call in tonight as you must be exhausted.

Sorry to hear about your daughter and hope she is soon back home and fully recovered. It is a nightmare when they are quite a long way away and you want to be with them. Give her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Go to bed now girl - tomorrow is another day.

Hi Alli Thanks for your info I remember following your journey did the Alitalia strike go ahead on your day

Hi Jean M Did you go by Ryanair if so which airport did you fly to I have found return ryanair flights to genoa from Stanstead but wouldnt have time to get to the airport to book in at 9.15am as we dont get back to Genoa till 9.00am . The only Milan fligt by Ryanair is to Milan Orio Al Serio I havnt got time to find out where that is now will have to look again later.
Grandson calling have to put my Nanny hat on now.

Regards Chris

You poor things having eventually got your cruise in sight you now have to worry about Alitalia strikes and the possibility of not getting to Genoa before the ship sails I really do feel for you and wish I could help in some way. Where is Magsy you could do with her help now I hope she is alright.
I am sure it will turn out alright, please don't get too stressed Phil. Juro is on hand with the wine tanker Carol R

Hi Juro

Glad you returned safely to S Wales as we the 4 whales did to Swansea

Hi Everyone,

It must be very worrying to have a strike in the offing - but remember, most don't materialise. However, in Italy, you need to think that strikes can occur at any time.

The official position, within Europe, is that, in the event of a strike, responsibility for re-arranging the flight rests with the tour operator. If your outbound flight cannot be re-arranged, you are entitled to an alternative holiday or (if you've paid for a significant part of the trip) you can cancel and receive a full refund - which isn't going to do you much good on a Rise cruise.

Do make sure that you read the small print on your travel insurance policy - avoid ones that don't cover you for strikes. Unfortunately, some airlines are now classifying strikes as 'force majeure' to avoid having to compensate passengers whose flights are cancelled due to strikes.

Hello Pauline,

My cruise offer requires you to leave port and set sail on the Ocean! You are not allowed to be ill.

Just because you've collected a load of coupons doesn't guarantee you a trip. And you are not entitled to a refund of the money you've spent just because I've changed the rules and cancelled the need for coupons. If you read the T&Cs they state clearly that they can be changed without notice (rule 25a, section 1.12, subsection iii).

So there!

Trisantona/Carol:

I think the US trip is from the BT Broadband promotion. In the Spring, MKM appeared to be offering it to those who complained about not having received cruises. It was certainly offered to me as one of a number of 'extra' options. But it's not as good a deal as a cruise (and the mystery is: how do they manage to give the flights to DE readers when BT customers fail to get them?).

Hello, Phil,

If the Coven stops you drinking wine, why not go for the ding-dong, instead?

In an article on why red wine is good for you, I read that you don't get the same benefits from the French ones - so, perhaps it's worth checking the label!

However, on Saturday night I met some people who had been enjoying some nice little pills which they didn't get at the chemists. They said that the pills had rotted away their minds - so that they couldn't remember things. Isn't that the solution to the Rise problem?

I'm sorry that my long message was so confusing: must have been my excitement at getting back to HT (and the balcony stories) after several months' absence. Is there anything I can clarify? Or can the ding-dong resolve everything?

Cruiser

you now have to worry about Alitalia strikes and the possibility of not getting to Genoa before the ship sails. Where is Magsy you could do with her help now I hope she is alright.

As Magsy wasn't inconvenienced by possibility of strikes I don't think she could advise on this one!

I understand she has run away with a nice man she met on her cruise

Chris:

did the Alitalia strike go ahead on your day

Thankfully not - but I stuck to my alternative arrangements as I had re-booked flight and stayed overnight in Milan then took train to Genoa.

I think Jean booked with Ryanair to Nice. There is a coach I think from Nice to Genoa but again may involve an overnight stay to coincide with ship's departure.

Crusiser:

responsibility for re-arranging the flight rests with the tour operator.

Our flights have been booked separately from cruise, some with BA, some Alitalia and some smaller airlines too. Even if an alternative flight is arranged you would miss the boat (literally!) and end up chasing to Naples to catch up.
Alli

Glad you had a great time, Juroand hope your daughter progresses well.

I am pleased you returned the tanker so that I can toast the England cricket team with red wine. There's a good excuse for you, Phil!

Maureen H.