Hi Thomas, I,ll be in there on 7/8th. I'll look out for anybody hanging around the Marina! Hope to see you

Hi to all who have sailed on the Melody!!

Does the same coach pick up from Linate and Malpensa Airports, or are there 2 coaches?

Thanks a lot

Hi Whoamy

There are 2 coaches - and they will not wait if you are not there! On returning from Genoa, our coach left without 2 people and didn't wait longer than 5 minutes

Alli

Hi all

Does anybody know what time the coach leaves Linate. All my documents say is after arrival but as I am overnighting there this does not apply.

Hi dogleap

You will need to arrive at airport to coincide with flight arrival as the coach departure is subject to this (taking account also of any flight delays). I don't recall a specific time being given. Also MSC need to know you are arriving separately and will not be on the flight. You can just send email to peter@msccruises.co.uk if you have not advised them already.

Alli

Thanks allisu,

I have sent that email. I would have looked well wandering around the airport. It just shows the usefulness of this site and how helpful people are. Without it I would probably not have got this far. Thanks
Only 8 days to go, after such a long time it seems unbeleivable.

Stephen

I remember reading some time ago that we had to be back at the airport by 10.00am, make ourselves known to the MSC rep., who will be at the arrivals hall in a red coat, and the coach then leaves around 10.30 when all incoming passengers have arrived.

Brenda

Just in case anybody else needs to contact MSC the email address is peterp@msccruises.co.uk

Thanks, our posts must have crossed, I have just emailed them asking the time. I will post it when I get a reply though hopefully we will be travelling up together.

Good Evening form the Balcony

Glad to be back, I was on baby sitting duties last night - I did manage to smuggle Typhoo through 'Checkpoint Kate' but when they came home 'like a bed time cuppa Dad' was greeted with 'No Ta' result Stalins Daughter went into the kitchen and went through the kitchen bin !!! She found nothhing but then smelt the tea pot Needles to say a big argument ensued. - So I had to endure a day at the Zoo and Sunday dinner

OH ! Only 368 hours to go to take off. Does anyone else have to endure "non dairy ice cream"

Managed to get time to buy my wig today - lovely with my my waist coat I'll look a picture, it will show to what depths the coven have driven me !!!
Night night

Phil

Hi Phil,

The coven, if not you, will be pleased to hear that MSC have a large selection of herbal teas. Green tea with jasmine and peppermint were favourites. I had a large pot of mint tea delivered (free) to my cabin each evening to help settle the stomach after the large meals. The receptionist got to know me and giggled each time i placed my order after the third night . There were also plenty of decaffeinated teas, even decaffeinated Earl Grey. The best news is they were all Twinings with not one Lipton's bag to be seen .

... of course there won't be anybody there to check up on you

Non-dairy ice cream isn't so bad. Have you tried the soya stuff that comes in a black octagonal tub from Tescos? It tastes similar, but better than, Walls.

Craig.

Thank you all for your good wishes and I'm sure I, and the rest of my travelling companions will have a great time on the Melody. I'm just about to finish packing (got to get my plastic mac out of my golf bag!) I noticed on Yahoo weather that it was raining in Naples last week. Then I will have a nap and leave for the airport at about 1am in the morning. I'm meeting Terry and Colin at Costa Coffee, we are hoping it won't be too busy so we will find one another.

Thank you so much HT for this web site. I am convinced I would not be looking forward to my £10 cruise without the help of this site and the other HT members. I hope everyone else still waiting for a cruise will be sailing the high seas soon.

BYEEEE!!!!

Hi all

This website continues to provide the best info around - I had no idea you had to let MSC know that you weren't going to be on a filight into Linate and were staying overnight in Milan (desipte that not being an option of ones own choosing!). I shall drop a email as suggested.

I can't believe the excuses that continue to come from the promoters about cruises for those still waiting. You would have thought that they could have sorted something by now. It seems forever since February when I finally wore them down and they gave me a cruise. I got a bit worried when I got that recent letter saying they would contact me shortly about arranging something (and will worry even more if the tickets don't arrive!). If some kind of demonstration is arranged for those still waiting count me in. We should all stick together on this.

I'm due to sail on the 17th October - not many of us from here as far as I know though I am sure there will be other DE readers on board. Reading other cruisers accounts I now have a good idea of what to expect, but can I take this opportunity to pick some brains on a couple of points I don't remember seeing being covered?

How easy is Linate Airport to navigate as a non-Italian speaker?

Given that on-board stuff is paid for by credit card, how much do you think you need to take in Euros for spends when you go on shore - and how many Maltese Lira and Tunisian Dinars? I don't intend to spend huge amounts, especially given the fact that the baggage allowance to get stuff home is so ungenerous!

Looking forward to meeting you 17/10 cruisers soon!

Hi Jennie

Have a great time everyone

I don't think you'll need your raincoat -
http://www.holiday-weather.com/weather-napoli.html

Nice and hot and sunny

Hi ledzep

I think I may have complicated things here I'm not so sure that it's necessary if Rise booked your hotel. I was advised to do that because I changed the arrangements myself.

Alli

I only took about £200 cash in euros, as apart from snacks, drinks, the markets and odds and ends, most things ashore can be paid for by credit or debit card. I got a few more euros from an ATM in St Tropez and finished up bringing some of it back with me. ATMs are plentiful in most places so you won't have a problem.

Even non-Italian speakers like me managed to navigate the airport. Catering facilities there however leave something to be desired unless you are a McDonald's fan

Hi Ledzep,

Just to add to what Pat (Aslemma) posted, you do not need Maltese Lira as Euros are accepted. (They may give change in Lira as they did in a church souvenir shop but the bars did give Euros back)

As Pat has mentioned before, you must get Dinar in Tunis if you want them but the Souks accept Euros ok and the only thing we used them for was the train fares.......thanks to Pat being an International Dinar smuggler!!) As that was something like 50pence each, you should be OK with Euros unless you are going to bus/train around in the limited time you have ashore. Taxis will take Euros........and probably Roubles & Monopoly if you asked nicely!!!!

Don`t forget that you will need Euros for the end-of-cruise tips, which I am sure you will want to give once you have experienced the service.

I had an excess baggage charge on return and had to pay it before they would issue my boarding pass (At the Alitalia desk in Malpensa.......the opposite end of the airport, of course!) and despite having zero Italian, we managed to work it out in the end. Don`t worry too much as in the main tourist areas you can always find someone who speaks enough English to sort out the important things.

Enjoy your cruise.........I know you will once you get on board. If you are really worried about it then I am willing to take your place............... ....just a thought!!

Tony

As one who has to take a high dose of statins to lower her cholesterol, I am intrigued by the reference to "non-dairy ice cream". I hope they make it coffee flavour.

Beware, Phil, the ice cream on the Melody is great and I know I ate too much!

Maureen H.

Good Evening form the Balcony

GOOD LUCK to ALL who are off tomorrow and just remember if you get stuck in Italy just do a Basil Faulty on them :rofl :rofl

Must go I'm on baby sitting duties tonight - I've given the blighters some of "Granpa's Pop"

night night and Good Luck, Happy Wanderings on the Sea.

Phil

Finally managed to get the cruise info written up and posted on my web site

For those who have not been on their cruise it may give you some idea as to what will happen and when

for all those that have already been it may bring back some memories

Anyway the link is http://the-coulters.co.uk/Cruise/index.htm

hope it helps you and you enjoy reading it

if you want to ask me anything about the cruise we were on or have anything you would like adding to the site just click one any of the e mail links on each page

Mike