Hi Everyone
I haven't written in for a while, but have been following the forum daily to keep up with any news and of course the good humoured, zany banter!
Out of the blue another researcher from Watchdog phoned me up to ask me details of what I actually ended up paying for my Express Cruise. I told her that although the cruise was the promised £10, I had had to pay £80 gratuities up front, and another £60 for the overnight stay in a hotel in Houston, before the Cruise's depature from Galveston the following day.
When I received the written Booking Conformation from R***, it did not show these as separate payments, instead it said 'Western caribbean cruise Package' £150. The hotel payment and gratuities were not mentioned anywhere.
The resarcher also wanted to know exactly when I was booked to go on my cruise, and asked me if I knew of anyone who had actually been already. Naturally, I referred her to this site. It seems that Watchdog are still being inundated with complaints about either no cruise at all, or about extra payments being asked at random.
At least they are still interested in our cause, so those without cruises yet, can still hope.
I will keep you all informed if I have any more news for you.
Andy's Kay
PS Can't wait to hear how the next two cruisers get on... so exciting.
I am also wondering why they are so anxious to get the passport numbers. I can just about understand it when they book a cruise as they can then identify you but I am never asked for it in the High Street or booking a holiday online. It is my problem if I don't have one and can't go. But why is it needed for a database that does not seem to link into any of their other databases?
Hi Kay,
It's good to know Watchdog are still on the case - although if they happen to read certain pages of this thread they may wonder if we have all been sent completley bonkers.
Perhaps they will investigate, along with the additional seemingly random costs being charged, the cost of professional help for us to overcome our trauma!
It's good to know Watchdog are still on the case - although if they happen to read certain pages of this thread they may wonder if we have all been sent completley bonkers.
Perhaps they will investigate, along with the additional seemingly random costs being charged, the cost of professional help for us to overcome our trauma!
Hi Dogleap,
This may be a requirement for MSC. Their booking form has a box for Passport Number on it, and DOB too. May be something to do with security which can't be a bad thing!
This may be a requirement for MSC. Their booking form has a box for Passport Number on it, and DOB too. May be something to do with security which can't be a bad thing!
Thanks Magsy, makes me feel a bit more confident that all will come together and I will actually step onboard in October
It's ok, I did warn the Watchdog researcher that when she found the Daily Express forum on this site, we had all entered a fantasy world whilst waiting for our cruises to be confirmed!
no one from msc hs contacted me i only have the confirmation formfrom rise t said i would get paper work about 10 days prior tp going .is that right ?is that what our latest people going have had?its good watchdog are still showing interest its frustratinghearing different scenarios of costs,i know a lot of us are still getting a bargain cruise but not as the original offer stated.still it must be really hard for all the others waiting to get something.i hope we get more goodnews from them soon.sun is shining,my fish are still hiding still traumatised from the heron. carol 
Hi all,
Looks like the real subject is starting to warm up again....and about time too!
(Sorry for not replying to kind offer of colour-coordinated HT string vest, but opened a bottle of wine, sniffed the cork and don`t remember much after that! Totally out of character.....must be that Phil-style posting I made having an adverse affect upon me!)
Good to hear that Watchdog are still on the case though.
Tony
Looks like the real subject is starting to warm up again....and about time too!
(Sorry for not replying to kind offer of colour-coordinated HT string vest, but opened a bottle of wine, sniffed the cork and don`t remember much after that! Totally out of character.....must be that Phil-style posting I made having an adverse affect upon me!)
Good to hear that Watchdog are still on the case though.
Tony
rise t said i would get paper work about 10 days prior tp going .is that right ?is that what our latest people going have had?i
If you mean tickets etc, I had them about 2-3 weeks ago now and I go in a week. Didnt have any prior correspondence from them. Think stating you will be getting them within 10 days is a common thing (heard that before on a package holiday). William had his 3 weeks prior I think.
Go away for a few days and have six pages to read!
Stephen (my son) had another call from R*** yesterday. The person who was dealing with his application has left, so he's starting again. They seem to go through staff pretty quick. I wonder why?
Anyway he told them he was prepared to share and was told only cruises left, even for sharing, were in April, May and June. They are going to see what they can find and phone him back
Peter
Stephen (my son) had another call from R*** yesterday. The person who was dealing with his application has left, so he's starting again. They seem to go through staff pretty quick. I wonder why?
Anyway he told them he was prepared to share and was told only cruises left, even for sharing, were in April, May and June. They are going to see what they can find and phone him back
Peter
I too am glad to hear that Watchdog is still interested. Like others I am delighted to have a cruise booked, but miffed about the discrepancy in charges. Two others on my cruise have paid £10, whereas I have been charged an extra £50 for the same category of cabin, travelling out on the same flight with the same transfers. 
Tht ASA adjudication was available to the media yesterday for publication tomorrow - possibly the reason for re-kindling Watchdog's interest.
I am unaware of any mention within the pages of the DE of its cruise promotion,either during the hurricane season disruption(!) or since things started going pear-shaped earlier this year.
I trust the DE will now feel obliged to print some comments and reassurance to its readers on the disintegration of the banner headline stunt (extension to 2006 is nowhere in writing, shared cabins were specifically not part of the deal, etc. etc.) for the benefit of those in limbo land who do not wish to contribute to the " natural fall-out rate".
I do apologise for being a "wrong type of reader" but I was drawn into applying for a £10 cruise in blissful ignorance of my status as such, by the blandishments of TV advertising and Judith Chalmers sincerity.
If anyone still reads the Express will they please let us know of anything relevant that they print tomorrow?
I am unaware of any mention within the pages of the DE of its cruise promotion,either during the hurricane season disruption(!) or since things started going pear-shaped earlier this year.
I trust the DE will now feel obliged to print some comments and reassurance to its readers on the disintegration of the banner headline stunt (extension to 2006 is nowhere in writing, shared cabins were specifically not part of the deal, etc. etc.) for the benefit of those in limbo land who do not wish to contribute to the " natural fall-out rate".
I do apologise for being a "wrong type of reader" but I was drawn into applying for a £10 cruise in blissful ignorance of my status as such, by the blandishments of TV advertising and Judith Chalmers sincerity.
If anyone still reads the Express will they please let us know of anything relevant that they print tomorrow?
Alii - I'd definitely apply for a similar offer again - at least, I would at this stage. If the cruise turns out to be a disaster, I wouldn't want a repeat of it.
Kay's Andy (or is it Andy's Kay??? Or both??????) - I've read earlier posts about people being asked to pay for tips up front. I've never seen that before either in brochures or while actually cruising. I don't know why R*** do it, but you must certainly try to get written confirmation that you've paid for tips - to show the crew on board that you're no meanie, and so that they can contact R*** and get their tips (assuming they weren't forwarded, of course).
Fay
Kay's Andy (or is it Andy's Kay??? Or both??????) - I've read earlier posts about people being asked to pay for tips up front. I've never seen that before either in brochures or while actually cruising. I don't know why R*** do it, but you must certainly try to get written confirmation that you've paid for tips - to show the crew on board that you're no meanie, and so that they can contact R*** and get their tips (assuming they weren't forwarded, of course).
Fay
Oh dear! Does that mean a bit of extra profit for the DE tomorrow as we all rush out to buy a copy to see what they have to say? 
Yes, I'll be one of them of course, it should make interesting reading 
Yes, I'll be one of them of course, it should make interesting reading
Hi All,
We still get the Express so no need to rush out and buy a copy! (We forgot to cancel it after the end of the DVD promotion!)
Would I apply for a similar offer? Absolutely! Would I have applied if it had been pitched at £100 - Yes indeed!
Can we give people accepting sharing our support please? It isn't ideal but it seems to be the only option available right now!
Please do not panic about the possibility of a telephone call asking for your passport number. I believe this is a requirement for MSC because there is a box for inserting the number on their application form.
Quite what has happened to my own passport number I don't know. It was on my original form and I was asked for it again when I received my cruise confirmation - still, perhaps they aren't going to telephone me at all!
We still get the Express so no need to rush out and buy a copy! (We forgot to cancel it after the end of the DVD promotion!)
Would I apply for a similar offer? Absolutely! Would I have applied if it had been pitched at £100 - Yes indeed!
Can we give people accepting sharing our support please? It isn't ideal but it seems to be the only option available right now!
Please do not panic about the possibility of a telephone call asking for your passport number. I believe this is a requirement for MSC because there is a box for inserting the number on their application form.
Quite what has happened to my own passport number I don't know. It was on my original form and I was asked for it again when I received my cruise confirmation - still, perhaps they aren't going to telephone me at all!
Thanks for everyone who posted re the passport renewal query. I shall certainly give it a whirl on line.
I only wish I did still look like my passport photo!!!
I only wish I did still look like my passport photo!!!
More news from abroad!
Hi Margaret
The internet here is very slow, almost like a Rise Cruise,
Never mind the Sun the monsoon has now begun I spent all yesterday up to my waist digging out a culvert so that the people could sleep in dry tents, all the NGO are here and are still giving out toilet rolls, which no-one uses except for tourists.
Next week I move on to the East coast which is far worse re damage and NO relief at all because they are Tamils,
I am unable to find HT at all as I have forgotten my pass word and ID could you please send Luci or Van an pm asking then to email my details, Keep up the fight for the cruises and give my regards to all.
The Balcony Cruise sunlamp worked. It stop me getting so burnt this time. Competition to the Balcony Cruise - there can be none with such cheap ding dong.
Bye for now
Phil
Two others on my cruise have paid £10, whereas I have been charged an extra £50 for the same category of cabin, travelling out on the same flight with the same transfers.
Hi Asleema, We have also paid more than our fellow travellers and we were the first booked for that date. When I summon up enough energy for the next round, I shall be invoicing DE/R*** for the excess that we have been charged.
Dizzy
The DVD players are due to be sent out around 24th May so we will just have to wait and see! Only the first 100,000 opened at random will be lucky!
Nice to see Phil has found a cheap supply of ding dong! He will need it by the sounds of things.
I wonder why no aid is going to the Tamils? Doesn't seem right to me!
PS I did receive my new laptop computer which has a DVD player/rewriter in it so we are now a modern family! Problem is we don't actually have any DVD's!
Nice to see Phil has found a cheap supply of ding dong! He will need it by the sounds of things.
I wonder why no aid is going to the Tamils? Doesn't seem right to me!
PS I did receive my new laptop computer which has a DVD player/rewriter in it so we are now a modern family! Problem is we don't actually have any DVD's!
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