The Alitalia dispruptions were caused by strike action because of proposed staff cuts, 2700 jobs I believe. Sgr Berlusconi stepped in and said the cuts were not acceptable. This resulted in the resignation of the CEO.
A new man has been appointed by Sgr Berlusconi and has said the cuts will not happen.
Alitalia is 62% state owned so unlikely to cease trading.
Hope this helps allay some fears!

maggsy ,how do you do it?a hint of trouble with attalia and you come up with facts to settle every one down.i see tony c.got a cruise on ammonia for £10 how did he get that when we have all paid more to go on that ship and opera etc.i wish it was a fair playing field.i love phils rantings it takes a bit of working out but i am getting there.long may he stay on the balcony and the bells.i wish some one else had oprea on may 7 i am envious of all the meeting up on melody.it will be great to see pictures when people are back.a face to the names.who is the nrxt one away?cheers everyone.carol

Hi Smokey,
Like you, I love to hear Phil's musings from the balcony!

Congratulations on getting your cruise TonyC! Great to hear of another success.

I was told I had to pay over £100 to upgrade to The Armonia or The Opera. I wouldn't do it on principle so well done to Tony if he got it for £10.

Maureen H

Hi Tonyc
Well done getting Armonia for £10, did they just offer you that or did you have to argue, and have you had to pay your own flights or hotel?

Hi Luci, Van etc

Ever so many thanks for allowing us to go so far , I think the humour in many of our long rants has kept us all going. If you'd stopped them before they really took off, this forum would have lost some of its appeal - I look forward to my daily laughs, and wonder what effect the Bells, Juro's wine tanker, etc will have on some of the posts. Just goes to show that sometimes rules should be bent just a little for the common good.



Fay

Hi all, I know you weren't trying to worry those of us flying Alitalia Elaine; it is only by everyone adding their two pennorth that we can sort out whether we have reason to worry or not. Like Magsy says, Alitalia is largely state owned so I'm not anticipting any trouble there, though I do admit I will be keeping all my fingers crossed until we are actually on board the ship.
I would like to add that this site and the people on it, both posters and mods, has managed to keep me sane, but perhaps that would be the wrong word. If things do go pear-shaped in the end I may ask Phil if I can join his balcony cruise, though I should like to take my own single malt, as Bells isn't really my tipple.

Good morning from the Balcony Cruise sialing into a glourious day

Luci,Van
What did happen yesterday, from around 10am till 5.30 no H.T. I nearly did have heart failure. Your efforts are so valued, I think you should apply for a lottery grant, from the National Heritage fund.

Please don't do it again,

I do miss reading the news and the gossop, lets hope after the last cruiser has been cruised we can keep a thread going, even if it is just remonisances (well it's spelt like that I think) Had a drop last night, Film was rubbish, what I saw of it, as I fell asleep. Number 3 thinks I am insufrable "you always fall asleep, I don't know why you bothered to invite you to come" neither did I, unless it was she needed a driver (Old sinick that I am)

Magsey is right about Attalia I have a mates son who works for them at Heathrow and he was in fear of his job.

Anyway Luci and Van PLEASE please keep up the good work and even if you have to dig trenches keep the site open.

Hi Phil

Yes the site was down yesterday afternoon. I don't know the reason, but it's usually a server problem outwith our control.

luci

but it's usually a server problem

Know what you mean Luci, it`s such a problem getting the staff these days!!

.....only the other day I had to sack my Butler and three of the serving wenches from my Wiltshire mansion. All three girls pregnant....it was the Butler "wot dunnit!"!

Any room on that balcony for another cruiser Phil?

I don't know where your balcony cruise took you last night , Phil. You said you woke up to a"glorious morning". It was pouring with rain here in the "sunny south".

Maureen H

And here in Central Scotland too!

Good Evening form the Balcony Cruise 'Good Intent'

You must realise Maureen H The sun always shines on the rightous,

It did attempt to rain this afternoon, whilst I was out, but a look skywards, and the clouds rolled back. mind you it was a bit chilly out. but who can complain about our winters

I see the server has deleted some of the emoticons
Ah well Sorry Luci Off Topic

Well done to Tony C as well the others for the percerveriance shown, 'we will over come, we will over come, we will over come' come on join in second verse coming up '........................... I must get a song sheet for you lot' the 10/10 cruise will win the Christmas song contest easily

Bue for now

Phil Morris

Oh no, the Christmas word and I haven't even been on my cruise yet!

hi all,
good for you tony c. i m jealous that it cost you so little how did you do it!
at least there are still cruises this year so i hope it will give the cruiseless some hope.
Magsy where did you get that avatar i dont remember seeing that one.
we are sailing... we are sailing.... well we are sailing soon....
i think i ll join phil on the balcony
annj

I too was admiring your Avatar Magsy. So appropriate and uplifting.

Dizzy

ps Dizzy's Med (Medway) diary for last weeks cruise is just being proof read before I post it......................

Thank you to all those admiring my new avatar! I got it from http://www.heathersanimations.com. I hope it is prophetic!

Hi Magsy

Can you post in the Help and Assistance forum and ask Van to host your avatar please? At the moment it is stealing bandwidth from another site!

Thanks.

luci

Sorry Lucy, I wasn't aware that I was doing anything wrong!