Thanks Tony, I completely lost track when the last 10 countries were admitted!

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 8:40 pm Post subject: venice cruise 24/4/05
Very Happy Hi Luci
sharing - or so i'm told. these guys at rise will promise anything to get you off the phone. I wasn't sure I was even booked until I got my confirmation & flight times today. I checked your list and see that I make 4, not a lot for a cruise in two weeks time.
Hot news is that the promotion made the final show for BBC watchdog, this coming Tuesday. I spoke to a researcher today. It should be worth watching!!

Hi I found this in confirmed cruises and thought I would post it here for STEVE1209.
Great that someone else has got a confirmed cruise, although it's a share.
Cost?
I shall be watching Watchdog. Wonder if they will include the ASA ruling.

dizzy

Thanks Cruiser,
Sorry to be a pain, but do you mean consume what they buy when ashore and bring back, or what they buy whilst actually on board?

If l bought a bottle of ouzo in Greece to take home for a present, would it be confiscated because l didn't drink it? If so, then the only chance of some Duty Free would be on the way home, coming through Venice airport. Tell me this isn't true, please.

Joan.

If you buy ouzo in Greece, on land, you will be buying duty paid so as long as you have you receipt you can bring back as much as you like.[think booze cruise to France as an example] You may not be able to have it in your cabin as some shipmake you drink their booze on board.

Also you won't get duty free at Venice cos we are all in the E U now. Ain't life grand!!

If anybody has followed this entire thread and it's predecessor, then skip this post as I've written this before - but now that ladies are about to cruise - and for new followers of HT - I thought it worth repeating:

I don't wear high heels on cruise ships. They (i.e. the ships) aren't 100% stable whilst on the move (and in bad weather, even in port), they sway a tiny bit and wearing heels can make you feel unsteady. You can usually tell first-time cruisers because they brought their best shoes along for the formal nights. I've got a pair of reasonably acceptable flatties which I keep for cruising. Even if this is the only cruise you plan to be on, you may be able to find flatties that will do for evening gear and can then be used for semi-special occasions like an evening out.

Fay

Thanks for that MEEEEEYYYY, I had not seen it on the previous thread, so must have missed it. This really helps to focus the mind for footwear.

Dizzy

I don't wear high heels on cruise ships

Thanks for the top tip Meeeeyyyy.................I was going to take a couple of pairs just in case!! (By my experience, you could probably borrow a pair from one of the crew.....or even some of the Captains!!!!)

So Watchdog are still on the case............I would suggest that anybody who has not received a cruise confirmation would be well advised to get an email off to them quickly so they can get a better idea of the numbers involved.

I notice that the ASA complaint figures were not very high.........with 40,000 original applicants, it appears the complainants only just made a Three-figure number.

That doesn`t look so bad to the casual observer, does it?

Thanks for the info Fay - I hadn't thought about shoes and was just going to take the usual dozen pairs. What a lovely excuse to go and buy some elegant semi-flatties
Re Duty Free - I say thank goodness for Tunis!

Daily Mail carries an advert today from a well known company for a 'Cruise Sale' offering 7 night cruises on the Melody for £399 in May and £449 for June - October. The itinerary looks familiar.

No problems bringing drink on to MSC ships and drinking it in your cabin so feel free to buy any duty paid stuff,(or duty free if you happen to be visiting a DF port!) whether you drink it on the cruise or not!

hello ,
Sorry goose and big dave didnt give it a thought.
Tony what a mine of info you are. i ve been meaning to say so for ages but just keep forgetting ive found out such a lot from your hints and posts.
thanks fay for the tip about shoes too i hadn't given it a thought. seriously i hope the ship doesnt roll too much i havent cruised before and would hate to have to have an injection. i got a bit motion sick in india from the driving and poor roads and it took 24 hours afteran injection to put me right. i cant spare a day out of seven to be ill help
ann

Thanks Maureen,
I wonder if Venice has one of those airport shops where you can buy stuff? In Spain you can spend the last of your euros before leaving for home, in theirs. Also, as l have never been to Italy l don't know if the price of tobacco and alochol is cheaper than the U.K.

Magsy,
Shoes on ships. Mmmmm. How about kitten heels?
There is no substitute for a raised ankle.

Joan.

Joan, it was Meeewwwwyyyy who gave the excellent tip about flat shoes and I absolutely agree with her! Personally, I will be taking one pair of heels which go with everything so that I don't look odd on formal evenings!
Hope you got your computer problem sorted!
There is a thread about buying booze and ciggies abroad. Certainly they are both cheaper in the countries we visit although which country they are cheaper in I have no idea!

Thanks for that information Fay, I hadn't given that a thought ( shoes) and must have missed it on the old thread. At least I won't be packing obsolete items - well, not too many, I hope.

Totally agree about the shoes - when i went on the spirit last year i took comfy flatish sandles for the days off ship, and a pair of low heel smarter ones for the eves, there are some great glitzy flip flop style ones about at the mo too. Dont forget a pair of trainers if you want to use the sports facilities or gym. I took an old pair of trainers and left them there(threw them out!)

I tend to live in flatties as am 5 foot 10

Alison

If any one is inclined to sea sickness and does not want an injection, for which you have to pay, a Stugeron as soon as the ship starts to rock. Works for me (and that was in the Atlantic). A nurse recommended it. Same nurse was seasick in the cinema watching the "Titanic"!

As far shoes on board are concerned, I always wear shoes with an enclosed heel if they are not flat. Nowadays, I restrict the number of shoes I carry as they weigh heavy. Can't even get away with taking them in hand luggage these days. I have had my hand luggage weighed at Bournemouth and Luton.

Thank you for the link to View Trip. I found my details including the name of the travel company although not specific details of the cruise.

Maureen H.

Tony W - glad you're taking high heels, do post a photo of them when you get back.

Back to shoes - I should have been clear about why I don't take heels - it's not their height that's a problem but the width of the base, as I need to feel steady and if my foot rocks on a narrow heel then I don't. So I wouldn't take kitten heels, Auntie Joan.

Annj - the ship doesn't rock much, though in VERY bad weather it can be a problem. Reception has an endless stock of tablets (free), and they tell you when to take them. I've only ever taken one, and I found it excellent. I can't remember the name, ships get the very best because they want us all to enjoy ourselves - being seasick means we'll have bad memories and won't want to risk their ship again. Modern ships (and refurbished ones too) have excellent stabilizers, and ship roll is at a minimum - just enough to feel we're actually moving. I wouldn't worry about it - I used to be seasick on long journeys in the family car as a child, and always took Kwells; and the motion in cruising is nothing by comparison.

The number of complaints to the ASA isn't necessarily significant, many people don't bother complaining to toothless organizations - and the ASA etc know it. So they probably multiply the number by 10 and then have a better picture of what's going on.

Back to shoes: Many ladies wear smart flat sandals on formal nights as it's usually warm enough on the ship itself (though not necessarily if you want to spend time on deck). I don't wear sandals in the evening in case I may feel like a spell in the disco or ballroom, as I can do without bruised toes.

Fay

I don't wear high heels either -

it dosn't go with the kilt somehow.

LL

LL - can't you buy tartan shoes

Fay