I don't wear shorts very often - cut offs, yes, but I think I can get away with strappy tops and trainers! If I can't there will be nobody there to tell me so it won't really matter! I am sure, as mentioned, our children would soon let us know if we looked inappropriate!! It was just the shock of being perceived as a 'pensioner' !!
Alli

Hi all, don't know if it has been mentioned before or not and i don't know if i should be putting this here or somewhere else (sorry Luci if i got it wrong) but anybody flying into Treviso airport for the venice cruises, there is a coach service to venice and then from where the coach terminates there is a free shuttle to the passenger terminal.

First link is fro the coach company http://www.atvo.it/eng/airport.php?var=t The bus terminates at P.le Roma, which as I understand is about 2 mins from the port. This link will show the details of the free shuttle http://www.vtp.it/pages/navi/crociera.jsp?nomeInfo=O&iconaInfo=ico-operatori&idm=XFKR6578K1FM95B2V9Z5HK0E2X3TGF4N

It seems quite easy and quite cheap about £5 return.

Hoepe this helps

Colin

I think I read somewhere that the MSC ships berth at the docks in Mestre which is on the mainland next to the causeway across to Venice Island rather than the docks on Venice itself. If the bus which Explorer mentions stops at Piazzale Roma, passengers would need to get a taxi back onto the mainland to get to the Mestre docks. It's only a mile or so and directly opposite the docks on Venice.

Andy

Allisu

Was the woman who bumped into you a pensioner in shorts and strappy top? If so, maybe she was talking about herself!

Went into the city to-day for some retail therapy (and a good meal). I looked out of the window in M&S. There was a view over the docks. Not a cruise ship in sight - only a container ship which was probably filling up with Jaguar cars. Even the Queens won't be back for about a month and then they will both be in together. Looks like we shall have to put up with the back garden cruise. At least it sounds fun and there's no flying involved.

Maureen H

I spoke to someone at MSC a while ago and was told that their ships dock at Tronchetto which is Venice and not Mestre. Of course anyone arranging their own transport should confirm this for themselves!

I also spoke to someone at MSC and they told me Tronchetto as well. Where the bus terminates there is a free shuttle to the cruise passenger terminal.

Incidentley, the coach from Treviso airport stops at Mestre as well.

Colin

Hi Maureen,

No, she was in her 30s and if she hadn't been with a Vinnie Jones look-a-like I would have said something!

I went on a cruise today. I went on our little ferry across the Great Ouse. I had to share my accommodation but as it cost a lot less than £10 I didn't mind. The food was fantastic - a piece of chocolate and the scenery was to die for - the Del Monte Factory! But I did see a seal and some cormerants so will book this cruise again!

Alli

Not got round to booking my hotel in Venice yet as want to find out where the cruise will depart from, dont want to have to drag case too far!

Alison

Carol - OK, you may take only ONE of my passengers, and as requested I'll vet them first. You'll get the tallest, as I'm not in favour of passengers who take too much weed space and I won't be inviting him again when I devise my next schedule. Good luck with the paperwork - let us know what happens......

Allisu - you're as young as you feel - I'm 21 next year (not). And as for free ferries, for anybody in the vicinity there really IS one (and this time I'm not joking) - the Woolwich Ferry takes you across the Thames, you don't have to share (now it's back to the madness!) and food isn't provided (true!).

Magsy - I agree with you on the subject of skimpy clothes being worn by women of all ages on cruise ships, though that's not allowed in the restaurant in the evening - at least, not on any ship I've been on.

Fay

Apologies if the MSC ships go from Tronchetto. It was the magwa.co.uk site that made me think they went from Mestre as the descriptions that she lists make it appear that they went from Mestre. But that was last year....

Andy

Magsy,

I think Freddy must have had a preminition about this offer

just thought the lyrics in the song seemed to fit in quite well with all of the fun we have been having

How about ''I saw three ships go sailing by, sailing by, sailing by. I saw three ships go sailing by, on Christmas Day in the morning''. Or have I mis-interpreted the lyrics

Fay

p.s. Just noticed that this post is No. 1066 of the thread. Significant????

hi everyone,
im 52 and you know the saying "if you ve got it flaunt it" well.................... I cetainly havent. I'll still be dressing according to the weather. there wont be too much flesh showing though and if i do wear shorts i'll probably settle for cut offs. i promise all you 03/07 cruisers.
what dates are available on the garden cruises id love to join only if there,s no work involved.i cant stand creepy crawlies.(insect kind)
ann

Hi Ann

Nice of you to show interest in my Back Garden Cruise. Unfortunately, I cannot specify dates yet, due to having been let down by my original suppliers - I am about to take them to court and close down their entire website. I shall let you know when firm dates are available, via this thread. Due to various circumstances beyond my control, e.g. hurricanes in the Caribbean, termites and woodworm eating away at my database's innards, etc etc (in other words, Force Majeure), it now seems firm dates won't be available until at least 2006.

Any similarities to situations previously outlined on this (and the previous) thread are pure co-incidence.

Meanwhile, do feel free to submit your bank details (see my original Offer) for me to verify. This suggestion does NOT imply either an allocation or a confirmation. Should you be offered a definite date, I shall do my utmost to ensure your area of weeds has no creepy crawlies of any kind. Does anybody know of a totally reliable weedkiller that won't also kill Ann

Fay's Enterprises

Hi All

I have just received a letter and report from the ASA after my complaint to them about this whole fiasco. They will be publishing their report on their website http://www.asa.org.uk from 6th April but they ask for the report they sent to me to be "treated as confidential" until publication on this date.
They had numerous complaints about "The Offer" and I hope that without breaking any confidentiality I can say the complaints against the newspaper and travel company were upheld.
I don't think this will help those who don't have a cruise yet but it is great to hear that we are being taken seriously.

please may i thank you for keeping us up to date on the situation , makes a nice change from some other companies(no names mentioned)

Thanks for that information Scarlet. Lets hope is bodes well for those who haven't yet got their cruises!

Thanks for updating us on re your complaint to the ASA Scarlet. As you say, it's reassuring to be taken seriously. I have made a note to check the website next Wednesday.

luci

Today at work I found out that someone I work with quite often also has applied for the Express Offer (on a 2 for 1 basis) and they had no idea that I had also done so (as a single applicant) and had been successful.

They received a phone call some weeks ago offering them 2 for 1 place on a Med cruise for £1000!!

They refused, but took no further action - just decided that the offer had been too good to be true, and they half expected it not to reach fruition.

I just wonder how many more people have just given up like this?

They didn't know about HT site or Watchdog etc. and hadn't thought about Trading Standards or Advertising Standards.

The number of tenacious and determined applicants must be dwindling now but maybe the ASA's ruling will inspire some of them to take up the battle again!!

I do hope so......

Alli