Peter, I will contact my friend, ask her to join HT and post her details in the Roll Call

I keep sending e-mails and letters and the D E do not even have the courtesy to reply to me I was offered a cruise to the Carib and then SA neither of which materialized and now ....nothing! If anyone is thinking of doing a protest march, plese count me in. I'll park my zimmer frame round the back, glue on my wig, plug in the hearing aid and even wear my false teeth - since by the time I get my cruise I think I'll be using all of those things
Seriously What must I do to get a reply

Are you prepared to share? If you are, then do what I did, which was to find someone from the confirmed cruise thread and then ask them if they would be willing to share. I then rang R*** and they had no option but to arrange a share. pm me if you want to know more.

Unfortunately it looks as if Phil's photos may have been lost as he may have been uploading them while the Upload album was being removed temporarily from the site.

I have pm'd Phil and asked if he can upload them again.

luci

Thank goodness for that I don't think I can bear the strain of waiting I am off sick at the moment and was hoping the sight of Phil and his antics would help relieve the pain

Hello All,

I thought I would look up the site again - good job I did as someone I met on the Melody had sent me a PM.

I am sorry to hear that people are still waiting for their cruises. Had a week in Magalluf with the family. The best part of the place was the beach. At least, in October, the 18-30 hotel opposite was occupied by pensioners.

Enjoy your balcony cruise to Panama, Phil. I am off on 18th December to the Med, New York, Panama Canal and LA. No balcony though - only an inside single cabin!

Maureen H

Andylou. Thanks for message. Yes, I was prepared to share and gave them the name of a friend but they would only do it if I paid an extra £100 'arrangement' fee It was beyond their computer's ability to find the friend's name and put us together I could do a 'random' share and I'd even agree to that at this stage of the game!
I'm into e-mnailing the director every three days at present. Eventually he'll get fed up and answer. What happened to 'good manners'

Which company (and director) are you emailing, Rise or the Express? I would have thought trying to contact the former is a lost cause, as the Express have supposedly taken over the running of this farce. But, as you say, a simple reply from anyone would have been appreciated.

I think it just shows the contempt that the so called organisers have for the people who have saved their tokens, made numerous phone calls and emails, and posted letters trying to get their "£10 Cruise for all our Readers". A publicity disaster for the Daily Express

I e-mailed a Roland Agamb who I believe is a director. I have written to a S. M.(full name removed). Is there another director I should try? I've e-mailed again tody. I'm trying to keep the e-mails reaonably light as I feel going very heavy will antagonise them The problem is, they're probably on their all expenses paid cruise around the world themselves
I'll write again today to Stan and e-mail Roland.

So it is the Express you are trying to contact. All I can say is keep trying the people you mention. Also get in touch with Watchdog as they are still taking an interest in the case.

Hi Mai, I contacted Stan and I think it was him who authorised my 'Share.' It is true, they were initially reluctant to let me share, but they had little choice once I had found someone who then phoned in and gave permission for me to share with her. By this stage, I think I had lost the will to live and decided to pay extra. The Cruise I went on required an overnight stay in Milan so I thought it wastoo good an opportunity to miss as the full cost would have been over £800. I didn't regret it either as I had a great time. The person I spoke to at Rise was Kerry Ann and she was absolutely brilliant. She did everything she said she would ie phoning etc. I had been less than impressed with other members of staff, but she was great. So good luck and hang on in there

I phoned the D.E. today and was transferred to a recorded message that was very negative in tone - using the term "not in the foreseeable future" a couple of times in speaking about the possibility of any developments on this matter.
When I held on at the end, as it said to do if I wanted to speak to anyone, it said "Transferring you to....switchboard"...then after a couple of seconds the message repeated!
I heard it through 4 times, no chance of "cruise waiters" getting to "bother" any actual people there with phone calls...

Spoke to Rebecca there later but she just insisted I had to send in copies of all previous correspondance, at my expense, of course.

Couldn't provide ANY info, find out if I'm on their list, explain why I haven't had any communication from the D.E. since they "took over", or put my details on their list.

The whole tone seems very negative to me, I don't think there's any interest or incentive at the D.E. in satisfying all those waiting.

Steve.

I got a letter from the ASA in the mail today regarding my complaint about the offer, which described their "action" (sorry to misuse that word) on this and gave a copy of the adjudications.

This must be the most toothless and worthless body I've ever come across.

Time and time again R*** T***** run these shameful so-called "promotions" and time and time again the ASA pronounces "complaints upheld" and gently and politely suggests the perpetrator does a little better next time.

What a waste of time and resources the ASA is. (Just my opinion, of course, ASA lawyers).

Steve.

Hi!
I thought R T had the contract taken away from them and the D.E. were handling the matter themselves. How did I miss the about-turn?
I wrote and e-mailed today and I'll just have to keep on plugging away. My friend was on the list for April but she hasn't contacted me that she is going so I'll have to try contacting her. I think she's given up
I wonder if they'll have room to park my zimmer frame, which I shall surely be using by the time I get my cruise?

Good Evening from the Balcony Cruise, Just docked after a fantasic couple of days

Well 2 days in Cardiff, what a wondefful job that they have done around Cardiff bay, pity the little (bay) train station could not be given the once over.

On the train from London (work it out) I overheard a conversation between two women telling a fellow travel compainion about the fantastic time that they had on the Daily Express Cruise, (as the two who had had the cruise only got on the train at Swindon, and met their companion at Bath when she boarded the train, and I got off in Bristol, I did not have time to interject or ask questions. - but it amazing what one can over hear in Coach A (the quite coach - no mobile phones or music machines) One of the few things First Group have done to improve the service, at a price.

Hang on in there mai as along with dolphin and cava ? (sorry I forgot the rest of the handle ) you will overcome the Express as they have far more to lose than you.

Perhaps we should collectively (as a group) buy some shares in either Express Newspapers of one of the rivals then raise the issue at a AGM You can picture the look of horrior, just an idea.

Bye for now

I will attempt to upload the pictures this evening - you can tell what a sad life I have, (Sat night and I'm on a machine) what a geek

Phil

Phil

Great to see some of your photos, Phil. Just another 490 to go
They can be found here

Mai you are right, Rise/MKM are no longer dealing with the promotion, but they are still are involved till all the people who have BOOKED and paid for their cruises have gone and come back.
Just London cabby, who should be enjoying his Carribean cruise and Andy's Kay who will be going December 3rd.

Peter

I spoke to my friend today and she didn't go on the cruise she was booked for in April, she's still here. She is going away, she's moving I wonder if the express will use that as an excuse to erase her from the list Thanks for the words of encouragement. The photos were lovely, I'm drooling.

Good Morning from a very sunny Balcony

Glad you like the photo's peter a & mai I'llbet you wish you had legs like mine (I'm nearest the camera in photo 4 - Vivien in the one nearest the camera holding her hat on and the other holding on to the hat is Jean - well she had been with the captain)

Off to the car-boot, never know what you can pick up these days - no latin lovers though 'eh Jean.
I lost your email address can you pm me
bye for now
Phil

Just had chance to lokk at the photos.............very good and....erm.......`comprehensive`!!

Did you have time for any cruising in between taking photos??

Looks like you all had a super time together.

ps In the "Best way to see Naples" picture, did you mean the bus or the police car???..............Is there a story to tell??