Jennie L,

I should be very careful about giving your personal details to the Passport Office via their Web Site.

It's up to you - but you have no guarantee that your details are secure and cannot be used by someone else.

Hi

What a surprise! Although I don't travel for another 8 months, I received more booking details from R*** Travel today, giving the name of the hotel I shall be staying in, prior to the cruise, and also flight numbers with British Airways.

I have sent emails to both the hotel and BA, so that I can see my name as definite bookings, and I await their replies.

It makes it so exciting and so real.... how am earth am I going to wait that long!

I do hope another HT user gets booked on my cruise too, soon. That would be great.

Love Andy's Kay

Hi

Just something that is puzzling me, and I am wondering if others who have received Booking Confimation letters, have the same thing on their letters.

At the top next to 'Destination' on both my letters, it says 'Telluride, CO'. Why? All the other details are quite normally filled in, so that is a bit of a mystery.

If anyone can enlighten me, I would be most grateful.

Thanks

Andy's Kay

Andy's Kay

Are you sure you are destined for a cruise?

Telluride, Colorado is a ski resort!

Yes I know that now.

Perhaps there is a Russian link to R*** Travel, and I am booked on a cruiseski! Could it be that the Russian airline Aeroflot has a subsidiary cruise company? Notaflot?

I just hope your transfer costs are included - it's a long way to the nearest coast.

Hi Andyskay, thought that I had better check my destination. One can miss these things. It definately says Milan.
Hope the spelling is ok as Juro's Wine tanker has visited (crafty daughter got herself a glass too).
Dizzy

Hi Tony,

Am l suffering from false memory, or has duty free stuff become a no-no now that we are all loved up with the European Union?

I seem to remember not being allowed to buy any duty free items from Ringway last September when l went to Spain, although the chocolate is much more expensive there than in the pound shops.
Joan.

The full adjudication from the ASA can be seen on their web site http://www.asa.org.uk. I have just been looking at it. It's very long and both the Express and MKN have been given a hard time but I don't think it helps those of us who haven't got our cruises. Perhaps we can continue complaining to the ASA. The adjudication would help anyone taking legal action.

I doubt that the Express will mention this in their paper, they didn't even respond to the ASA

Josie

Hi Josie, thanks for that information. I must admit that I am a simple soul- what happens now? Are the companies involved monitored by the ASA for further infringements, or is the ASA reliant on potential more complaints generating from the cruise offer before taking any action? What action can be taken and how are companies penalised? ( told you I was simple )

Elaine xx

Just had a look @ the ASA report MKM got slated

here is a direct link to the report http://www.asa.org.uk./asa/adjudications/Adjudication+Details.htm?Adjudication_id=39579

It does make good reading

hope you enjoy

Hi
What exactly is the point of the ASA? Do they just accept the response from whoever they are investigating, or do you think they would ask for proof of what they are saying?

I am surprised that because the Daily Express did not respond to the ASA they seem to have got off scot-free. This seems to be a very bad case of double standards on behalf of the Express. They are always very eager to have a go at other people via their newspaper, but when they are criticised they just clam up.

Just check the ASA, M** response belongs in the last few pages. (garden cruises etc)
Daily Express didn't even respond!!

ASA just told them to

The Authority told MKM to ensure in future that they had adequate resources for administering promotions and that they conducted promotions promptly and efficiently.

All complaints are going to be contacted by M**

Peter

raych,

what exactly is the point of the ASA?

I've just looked at their web page and their remit is to keep advertising standards as high as possible.

That appears to be it!

I suppose if you wish to investigate a company's good standing, by checking ASA's rulings, you could pick up potential problems, but who does that before booking a holiday, or buying a car or whatever?

I haven't managed to read the ASA report yet but I have read the Express - not a word about it! There was however a large spread on the FVF player offer, with pictures of the warehouse stuffed with DVD's which they have started send out! Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Fiction.

dizzy

Lesleyfb -what a dreadful experience. I'm so sorry for you. I'm sure it's no consolation to you, but I had a wonderful cruise on the Costa Tropicale - one I'll never forget.

MEH - I've never cruised with Cunard, thanks for the info.

Allisu - the ASA is just for advertising standards - Trading Standards are the ones for faulty goods and services. If you want to check a company before you part with your cash, ''Which'' magazine (and the Consumer Association, which is behind it) are the people to turn to. They keep back numbers in libraries, and also do regular indices so you can find what you're looking for easily, even if the last survey on that was published months ago.

smokey (Carol) - I've put you on my list of applicants for my Back Garden Cruise as a ''definite possible likely maybe''.

Update on my Back Garden Cruise (here's where sane people skip to the next post): The blue grass has now been replaced by superior quality weeds, by 2 people sent by the local jobcentre. Unfortunately, they were both on Community Service. Devout followers of this thread will doubtless recall that I had installed brand new steps on both sides of my Garden, to enable Passengers to see clearly over both fences and thus enjoy the luxurious weeds in both gardens. When I checked the quality of work of the jobcentre people, it became obvious one of the steps had gone missing. I shall have to buy a ladder to replace it, which will of course add to the cost of the Cruise.

You will be pleased to know I intend suing the jobcentre. But first I have to find a new solicitor. Local ones won't accept my T&Cs, so I have advertised on the Internet. I will naturally keep you informed of my progress.

Fay's Intrepid Enterprises Anonymous

The ASA is pretty toothless, even when there has been a clear breach of their standards. Non response from the DE is typical of the gutter press - I wonder what would have happened if MKM had not responded as well?

I hope the Daily Mail will pick up on it as part of their mutual hate campaign. Anyone have an email address for a Mail editor to whom they can forward a link.

Makes you realise again just how lucky those who have got anything out of this fiasco have been.

As a very lucky, but determined, one this is my last posting before I am off on Friday. Colin (The Explorer) hope to see you on the flight - you have my seat no.

:sun