I agree with you Tony about the Fillipinos working for little money but even so, I have found them to be unfailingly pleasant and courteous and very hardworking. I have been watching some cruise stuff on Sky Travel and some cruise lines pay waiters $3 a day!

Ps the MASTA website (where they have the cruise factsheet) was given to me by my G.P. I had looked at the .gov health advice for travellers site and it said speak to G.P. They said contact MASTA for info.

http://www.masta.org/

They have up to date, in depth info and health briefs are updated daily. In Belize and Honduras, the malaria is not chloroquine resistant.

I am a first time cruiser. I have heard mentioned something about a "singles" gathering. Is this a uaually a one off thing?

Ali

I believe it is quite standard for cruise lines to have a singles gathering. I have always understood this to mean single travellers rather than marital state!

Magsy, Yes I had hoped that might be the case!

It is compulsory for all DE travellers to attend the singles gathering. There you will be 'matched' up with a full-fare paying traveller who will dislike you instantly as paid so little. You will be allocated another 'single' to share your accommodation with - for a payment of £10. On arrival at your destination all DE travellers will be separated from the masses and given jobs in order to pay for their passage.

There will be no hiding - pretending to be a line dancer or an Elvis look-a-like will not be acceptable.

Joking aside, I don't think anyone HAS to go to anything they don't want to!
Alli

If it's free drinks Allisu, I'm going!

free drinks? sounds alright to me

Count me in then! I'm sure everyone on HT will jump at that....we have probably kept Tesco and Sainsbury going - the amount we've drunk already!!

Spoke to my friend Caroline last night. She should have been on the 12th March cruise to Libya etc. She has spent a lot of time tel. various people and has now been sent the famous vouchers, which she says are 'not bad' [??!!??] She says she will show them to me when next we meet so I'll reserve judgement untill then. Still no word from R*** and it must now be over 6 weeks. I've lost track and lost hope.
Looking forward to reports from the Caribbean next month. Seems very quite on this forum lately. Lots of members who have their cruises are no longer keeping in touch. Perhaps they just read and don't post so as not to seem to be 'rubbing it in ' for those of us havenots. I'm pleased for all who have been sucessful, just wish I knew what I did wrong.

Good Afternoon froma VERY sunny Balcony Cruise
It is honest, very sunny indeed

Fay; why no sun for the last 6 months I'd think one must live in a cave not to have had any - I just got back from Weston Super Mare - lovely on the beach today - made a fantasic sand castle, moat and all
took Grandchildren for the day out. have you seen the cost of Ice Cream, and the kids don't like to share these days do they, I mean a big 50p ice cream is too much for a 8 year old, I did remember today his age - young un very upset as "Charlie older now" Try explaining to a 4 yer old how the age diffrence has not changed between her and her brother - just cause he has a birthday. It tired me out.

The reciepe by Tukumb0 is fantastic and I will try it, but I must print it off first, as I don't have time to cook it before I go. Thanks a lot.

Aslemma with referance to the Bells was as good a substitue as any - but my favorate is the 'black one' or to give it's proper title Poit Dhubh at £39 a bottle I'd have been bankrupt. if I'd have drunk so many bottles (can you imagine what the coven would have done - all their inheritance gone - ye Gods my life would not have been worth 1 repee

(i got carried away) some wish I would be I know

To get back on topic before the wrath of H.T. falls, It is very good to read of the good news for Amanda, Wellcan and Explorer, you may pay extra as I did but it is still a bargain - and you won't feel so guilty as you tuck into the lobster and jelly eels

Any way it is nice to hear some good news keep up the pressure and sprits, whatever the brand.

Byeeee for now

Phil Morris

Good Afternoon Yet again from the balcony

Forget to mention got $1.83 to the pound today at First Choice $740 = £403

As echange rate on boats is worse than C it may pay (no pun intended) to get some exchange now.

Best of Luck
P.M.

Hi Maureen, don't give up hope. We have three successes this week, The Explorer, TonyC and Amandajrx! There are obviously still cruises out there so hang on in there!

hi,
well phil you re only 57 so you ve got plenty of years left to drink away the covens inheritance! at least you have made an early start.....
come on you cruiseless dont give up hope **** are still getting some people a cruise so keep on trying
ann

also if us cheapies are being matched up i bags the one in the deluxe balcony suite(no not phil cos im not on his cruise )

Maureen Words from the sage of the balcony,
Have a day in W.S.M. and spend £2.73 on a bucket, sticks of flags Ice cream and tea, for ones self, that will make you cry

You have done no wrong love, just hang on in there, your cruise will come, I can feel it in my I did not

Come onto the balcony cruise if you like, I'm vacating it on Friday, for a month the only condition is no sobrity is allow ed. You also have to keep the chior in check, do you have a good ear or a good sense of justice, when you need to shot 'em.

Take care

P.M.

Hi Magsy, My recipe came from the cook book that my wife co-wrote. What we do each week is open the book at any page and that is our special for the week, what we have at our age is a two bedroom flat, one door to lock and go, sorry we dont do take-away.

Good idea Tukomb0 but I may have trouble persuading my husband to cook what I open the page at!

wallecan and explorer i hope you have a fab time and come back with lots of stories and pics.tukumbo your recipe sounds great.can we all come round?where can the cook book be obtained?phil your balcony ramblings are a positve delight..the highlight of my day.maggsy what afind the ..the ship on the ocean.its hard finding any thing some one else hasnt got i do like seeing them .If its a free drinks session for singles i ll be there i will probably be orange juice and coffee especialy for us D.E TROUBLE MAKERSwe will be segrgated..oh well if i have joined the red hat society by then i will be dressed in purple with a red hat and be outrageous.....time for a glass of wine. cheers every body.hope you all get easter eggs.carol

Re-singles get togethers on board. I only go for the free drinks. The problem with an Italian ship such as Melody is will anyone else speak English?

Wallecan - It's not so bad being with Americans. When I left the QE2 in Los Angeles, I went home for a week with some rich Americans I had met the previous year. I had a great week in sunny San Diego in January.

Maureen - Sorry to hear you are still waiting for your cruise. Have you contacted the DE?

Maureen H

Hi Wallecam, I bought a digital camera last year and it has given me hours of pleasure. The camera make is FUJIFILM model no FinePIX A210, it came with all connections to download and print pictures, batteries are rechargeable and cradle is supplied to charge batts while in camera. it is 3.2 mega pixels,it also came with case and two picture cards 16mb and 64mb these give you space for hundreds of pictures, also zoom lens, to many things you can do to name,but hope I could help. The cost was £149-50. Tukumb0.