Judith,

You certainly missed out free air tickets to the USA ('free' probably means 'free plus taxes and seasonal supplements, 45 days' notice required on booking, you'll be flying at 2am at one days' notice!).

Hi Magsy

You are right .. that is an old adage - with the emphasis on the word "old". Things have changed and no news from Timperley could mean anything but good news. Phil went to Timperley mountain to try and talk to the slippery one (the terror of Timperley). No-one has been known to have gone there and come back to tell the tale. At a distance the slipery one tries all sorts of tricks and diversions to make people become quiet. Lots of people have experienced this and other than feeling bad after the confrontation have survived. Closer in the slippery one is probably more physical and I fear Phil may have got too close. God bless his soul if things have gone badly wrong. Phil if you are out there for heaven's sake, please speak to us.

SA

Like brownviking have been following this site over the past few weeks but so far have only posted details re being "offered a cruise but no confirmation", this is my first journey into this unknown territory! The phone lines have obviously been busy today I too received a call this afternoon in response to an e mail sent 22 days ago. Have established that I have been put back on the list for a cruise in 2006 after returning the unwanted vouchers which were sent after I was told the June 11th allocation I had been given was over subscribed. Have been told to expect further written details in the next two months and a telephone call sometime before September. Not sure if I should be delighted/elated/excited that I have received a call (and only after 22 days!) and appear to be back in the running for a £10 cruise or disappointed and dejected that I did not get a more positive response - no fixed dates or alternative offers. H.

i am sure i have read somewhere on the site that other people have been to timperley and never heard from again... very worrying, i did think he was being very brave
so not WHEN but IF we hear from him again
maybe thats how they are going to get extra money for the cruises-----ransom note may appear tomorrow
kate

.......Or Phil could return from the mountain with the 10 alternatives carved into a stone tablet.......it`s happened before!

That was from a cruise offer several Thousand years ago but the similarity is frightening:

Now.....we know of only one (William) who has been on a cruise.
Then....there was only one recorded (Noah)..and he ended up with a bunch of animals!!

If Phil looks back when leaving Timperley & Gomorrogh then he too could be turned into a pillar of Salt. (Known as a monumental error!)

Greetings from the twighlight zone.

I got the phone call today, I was promised yesterday it would come today, so I have checked my availability, and started dreaming about sunshine, and cruises.
but
no more cruises on offer. got the same options
£10 to share with a stranger...no whilst I am sure most strangers are perfectly nice cabin partners, why do i just know I would be allocated some mad martha (no offence to any marthas out there )
I could upgrade for £500
Self catering hol in Spain or Portugal
A long haul flight
Cash, in the post now

However when pushed abou the cash, I would only get £150....why is everyone else being offered £175 /£200 (or are they running out of money now )

No way can I have a cruise, (not on my own) not this year, probably not next

What now?

I didnt accept anything, am being rung back tomorrow

How I envy William,, been there and got the T-shirt, and the tan, and now has the happy memories that the rest of us should have to look forward to

I was originally told no more cruises and was offered the vouchers. I told them I was not interested in anything except a £10 cruise. After weeks of pestering I was given a cruise in Oct 05. Looking at the list of fellow travellers maybe I should have taken the vouchers Only joking folk, I am really looking forward to meeting you all on board
If you are still waiting for that elusive call, and I waited for many, hold out and make it clear what you expect, and do not get pressured into accepting or paying for something that does not suit.

AMANDJRX

I feel so sorry,for all those members out there,still waiting for there cruises.
I feel so lucky that i have been on mine.It was a holiday of a lifetime.No way could i have afforded such a cruise.
Soon i hope you will all get the cruises you have saved up for,and deserve.
William.

Thank you William

It is the fact that I have read all about your trip on here, that has kept my belief that I too may one day be as lucky.

I, like everyone on here, am soooooooo pleased your cruise was all you hoped for. And we know there are many others on here who know when they are going.

I did sense from the person I spoke to today a real desire to get me to accept one of the offers, and if he quoted me the terms and conditions once, he quoted me them half a dozen times.

I wait to see what tomorrow brings...although to be honest...I'm not sure what I expect it to bring. Dogleap, I tried holding out, I was on the phone for over an hour going over the options, and my reasons for not accepting them. I asked directly whether anyone else would be offered a cruise in a cabin on their own this year for £10 and was told No. So I'm not sure what else to do. At least I know for definate not to accept £150

Alas, poor Phil has gone perhaps never to return
He faced up to the Timperley challenge and seems to have paid the price
Maybe it was an upgrade too far
Indeed the ultimate sacrifice.
I didn't get my promised call back but the mini cruise on the Union Canal under the balmy scottish sun was indeed a tonic.
The dog was not great with the parachute jump from the viaduct to reach Asda but things could have been worse.
Seems like many of us got phone calls from Rise/Express around the time of the WatchDog programme and are now getting our call backs offering us different opportunities.
It's great to have this site to be able to find out what is happening and many thanks to our hosts and to all the people who write in and of course lost boy Phil who gave his all.
America ?
Is this a new offer ?
Cripes, will have to be at my sharpest when the phone call comes
The gin has to go back in the cleaning cupboard
Judith

Hi Brownviking
I applied for 2 cruises, I have 1 booked on MSC Armonia July. Re the 2nd cruise I have been told by Express marketing execs and in letter from director of Rise that I can have 2, but on phone told they would prefer me to wait until they have a few more 1st cruises booked until they book my second. I was offered flights in 2005 to US etc tax included. I am holding out for cruise,although I do feel quite uneasy about 2006 now being quoted Sept to Dec as with the amount of cruises still to be booked it would seem difficult to fit them all in 3 mths judging by how difficult it has been to allocated so few of us into a whole year, and the offer is for a single cabin.

The cleaning issue may be a man/boy thing. The sons don't know that the cupboard under the sink filled with a front row of cleaning stuff has a row of bottles and other contraband behind the Persil despite being students and able to sniff out drink from two miles. The cleaning products have two uses- the sight of them fills boys/students with horror and repulsion so they investigate no further and the smell of the products mask the smell of the drink. Chocolate and car keys can also be hidden there.

Hi Judith, I nearly fell off my chair I loved your ploy, but unfortunately i have trained my lot to use all that stuff under the sink, so will have to resort to other methods.
Seems to me that your method is being employed by they who must be obeyed.

Dizzy

Hi Everyone,

I, like Luci think that Phil is not due to travel his Road To Damascus until Wednesday morning. Am l missing the point? Sorry if l'm being a little tardy by not recognising dramatic irony when l read it, but there does seem to be more than a tongue in cheek sense of sincerity in the messages of concern for his well being

I live just a few miles down the road from his intended destination, and a mercy dash to the site equipped with a flask of the Scottish Wine, if it were needed, would be, well, lets call it an act of Christian charity. However Timperley is an old fashioned, peace loving area where Good Samaritans teem and flourish. Northern hospitality is not an urban myth. He'll be "right as rain up 'ere" Think on!

I shall have a good thought for a successful outcome for you Phil.

Night night all

Joan A.

Aunty Joan,

The tongue is firmly in the cheek!
Perhaps the hospitalty will be so good that Phil will accept a week in Timperley "all expenses paid" in lieue of the cruise!

How much booze can £200 buy for a week on the lash? Probably cheaper for them to send him to South America!

I don't know if this is allowed but 'what the heck'

I've had an e-mail from Gillett Cruises who are flogging deals on MSC Cruises at reduced rates.

"Dear Cruiser,

Check out the amazing offers below with MSC.

Mediterranean Shipping Cruises are Italy's largest privately owned cruise line, committed to ensuring that traditional high standards live on.

Their current fleet comprises of seven ships. The MSC Opera, the second of their newbuilds was launched in June 2004, MSC Lirica in May 2003, the newly acquired MSC Armonia and MSC Sinfonia, together with the MSC Melody, MSC Rhapsody and MSC Monterey form MSC's largest cruising programme - ever!

You'll be assured of a very warm and personal Italian welcome!

Call our Cruise Hotline on 01204 695521 or e-mail us at sales@gillett-cruises.co.uk

Below are some excellent deals which start from March and sail through the Spring and Summer months up to November - book now!!

20th March - MSC Sinfonia - 7 nights - Genoa Roundtrip from £449, outside cabins from £599 and balcony cabins £899

27th March, 3rd, 10th, 17th and 24th April - MSC Sinfona - 7 nights - Genoa Roundtrip from £599, outside cabins from £699 and balcony cabins £899

Sinfonia then departs Genoa every Sunday through to October prices from just £599!!

17th April - MSC Armonia - 7 nights - Venice Roundtrip from £449, outside cabins from £599 and balcony cabins from £899

Armonia then departs Venice every Sunday until October prices from just £599!!

26th March (Easter) MSC Melody - 11 nights - Genoa Roundtrip from £599, outside cabins from £749

6th and 17th April - MSC Melody - 11 nights - Black Sea from £599, outside from £749

28th April - MSC Melody - 11 nights - Black Sea - from £649, outside cabins from £799

Meloday then departs every Monday on a 7 night Genoa Roundtrip cruise, prices from just £499

26th and 30th April and every Saturday until October - MSC Opera - 7 nights - Venice Roundtrip from £599, outside cabins from £749 and balcony cabins from £999

21st and 28th May - MSC Lirica - 7 nights - Genoa Roundtrip from £649, outside cabins from £799 and balcony cabins from £999

Lirica then departs Genoa every Saturday until November from just £599!!

6th May - MSC Monterey - 11 nights - Genoa Roundtrip (Spain & North Africa) from £549

17th May - MSC Monterey - 11 nights - Genoa Roundtrip (Black Sea) from £599

28th May - MSC Monterey - 11 nighs - Genoa Roundtrip (Iberian Peninsula) from £599

Monterey then has various other 11 night itineraries from just £599!!

Call now on 01204 695521

Price and cabins are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. E&OE. ccc 1.5%"

So there seems to be plenty of cabins available on all their ships, and for this year.

HI All,
The above post reiterates info i received direct from MSC. who have posted me some fliers with similar prices. It also confirms that there are still plenty of cruises left for this year dosent it. I wonder if R*** can only have so many. it may be a good idea for someone to ask this question and get an answer as to why if this is the case!!!
i too am under the impression that phil is at that place today.Did no one give him their phone no. I wish i d have asked him for his. the wait is nerve racking I wish i could hear something as i wont be back on the computer till tomorrow evening by which time i ll be nerve wrecked
Also i still cant access the photos thanks peter and luci for the tips. im giving up for now
hope some good news is forthcoming .
annj

Availability did not appear to be an issue. I had a massive choice of dates if I had wanted to share, but if you want a cabin on your own, then forget it. Seems they have the cabins but are trying to half their costs by getting us to share

I keep telling them I am willing to share but they won't even give me a price for my husband/lover/boss/cat/dog or even goldfish!!!
I am that desperate for a cruise I will share with Freddie Kruger !!!

don't share with me Maureen, I snore.
Day 23 no call back from Rise
Will have to phone myself
No sign of Phil ?