Hi Magsy,
Were the words "booked" and "cruise" actually used in the same sentence? All l am trying to say is, were they claiming that 800 people had taken up the offer? In the t&cs the offer included the "unlikely event" bit, so maybe they are counting the people who have taken up other options. There may just possibly be that number who decided that half a loaf was better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick; therefore they would be classed as satisfied applicants.
I hope Colin and Chris aren't wasting their time searching for other £10 cruisers on board, dont you?

Tony, the quote I know is "The rain it raineth every day upon the just and unjust fella, but more upon the just because the unjust has the just's umbrella". Sorry Luci, I know it's but I just couldn't resist.

good morning every one.A realy wet day.and i am fuming after alive heron taking my fish.some so and so has taken my plasiic heron.why do people behave like this Anyway enough of that i didnt see watchdog but good to hear they are still following it.Nice to hear a couple more cruises on the cards.this site is wonderful for allthe help and info it gives not least the humour have a good day carol

I thought Watchdog was just a piece of showbiz with not enough real content. Instead of stopping outside the DE offices and yelling through a megaphone, couldn't they have at least knocked on their door???? Or won't they give interviews?? If not, shouldn't we have been told?????

At least Watchdog is off the air till September, so one less thing to fume about. I agree with those of you who say it's good to see the subject aired, as the DE will thus know we aren't going to drop things and they'll have to cough up sooner or later - and ending this fiasco asap will do their image less damage in the long run. But I still wish Watchdog would go back to the old format, all consumer-based and no theatricals.

Fay

First of all I am in complete agreement with Fay on the Watchdog presentation - forget the amdram and get on with consumer problems, althouth thankfully this program had less nonsense that the last one!

Joan, what was actually said was that 800 people have got cruises either this year or next or have accepted alternative holidays and that several thousand more have opted for vouchers.

Perhaps what I said before about the people who do actually have confrmed cruises being HT members isn't so far off the mark!

The closing words of the broadcast said that MKM have taken on extra staff and that every reader who wants to take up this offer will be satisfied.

Hi all, have been away for a while but on Sat. Rocky booked myself and my partner on the Lirica 18th June. I am so relieved. Rocky gave us lots of options, so there must be lots more of us being booked up. Rocky was great, we took lots of his time up, and he was so helpfull.

Good luck to all still waiting, my brother is too.

Rosie

Hi Rosie,
That's terrific, well done! There are 2 other people on this cruise so far!

Well done rosieprice

The good news trickling out of this forum shows that the numbers of firm cruises are steadily mounting up, so this may be an opportune moment to announce that my Back Garden Cruise is officially cancelled. Main reasons are:-

1. I can't find a solicitor willing to accept my T&Cs, mainly the one that stipulates that what I say is LAW regardless of what they've been taught. I thought I'd found a firm in New Zealand who were willing to do just that, but I've been let down. They e-mailed me to say they were based in a town called Takenforaride, which I couldn't find on any map. I decided to fly out to track them down, and when I asked the local travel agent about transfers from an international airport in NZ to their town, they couldn't find it either. So it appears I've been taken for a ride. Thankfully, I didn't send the requested £10,000 deposit to their numbered bank account, so I'm not out of pocket. And, with no solicitors, I simply can't go ahead with my Back Garden Cruise offer. I'm sure you're all looking forward to Phil's return, when his Balcony Cruises will doubtless be up and running once again, to compensate for all the bitter disappointment and anguish my would-be customers will be feeling.

2. When my neighbours objected to my delightful blue grass installed especially for the delectation of my Passengers, I arranged for 2 jobcentre people to replace the superior weeds they'd dug up. Unfortunately, their work was less than satisfactory, and my current weeds are nowhere near as asthetically pleasing as the original ones were. I can't offer my would-be customers inferior weeds now, can I???? Problems, problems.....

3. I can't sue the jobcentre for sending 2 workers who were on Community Service either (they stole one of the steps I has installed in order to enable my Passengers to see over the fences on both sides of my Back Garden and enjoy the particularly exotic weeds in both neighbouring gardens), as I have no reason to claim compensation for the suffering of my Passengers when there won't be any.

May I take this opportunity of apologizing most sincerely to EVERYONE (and I do mean EVERYONE) who was so looking forward to a vastly superior cruising experience on the good ship Much Better Intent in my Back Garden? I do realize it's no real compensation, but as a goodwill gesture I'll substitute vouchers. True, these are totally worthless and useless, but at least I mean well. At least, that's what I'd LIKE you to think.......

Yours most sincerely, humbly, contrite and lots more

Fay's (former) Intrepid Enterprises Anonymous

p.s. for anybody totally bemused by all this rubbish, I'm afraid you'll have to read back pages of this thread. Oh, and don't have nightmares.........

Fay,
It is not good enough. I am reporting you to the ASA, TSA, BBC (Watchdog), *K* (to make them feel better) , RSPCA (speak to Tony about my cat), and ABTA - Abolishment of Back garden Travel Association.
Alli

I'm really delighted that more people are now getting genuine offers of cruises but we must all keep up the pressure on the DE, who are ultimately to blame for the fiasco. It was they who advertised the cruise and signed up with the companies concerned so they must hold their hands up and sort it out, even if it cuts into their profits. This forum has been absolutely invaluable in providing information and keeping everyone's spirits up. I pity the all the people who are still waiting for a cruise, but even more I pity those who haven't found this site.

Hi everyone, especially those waiting for DVD players from the DE offer, we got ours today!

Meeeeyyyy I am afraid that you will not get away with this so easily, we want compensation and we want it now. I think we ought to hire a coach turn up at the bottom of your garden and shout at the back of your house. If you have a river running at the bottom of it even better, we can stand on the boat and shout at you from there. Now where have i seen that done???????

Well done for getting the DVD player Magsy, maybe they figured that they had better not mess with you.

dizzy

By pure coincidence, Taxi-Cruises Intergallactic have also gone bosoms-up this very morning.

All deposits have disappeared into the ether (my pet name for the Swiss Bank account) and all contact points have been encrypted so don`t even think abaout it!

The little-known "End of the World is nigh" cruise is still a grim reality, however.

To all those who are getting new allocations & confirmations... WELL DONE!

I still have a cabin to myself if there is someone wanting to push for a cruise this year(male would be best, but less fun!) who is brave/daft enough to share with me on 4/7/05!!!

I smoke, seldom stop talking and have a wicked sense of humour, so don`t sign up unless you are sure you can take it!

Tony

Hi All,

Well done to all those who have contributed to this forum which has helped many battle their way through to a cruise...did this really all start last year with a cry of ' Eayup a cruise for a tenner! Can't believe that , must be a catch!' from my wife. ( She has a way with words).
I wonder if we should put our names down for a Lunar Shuttle trip next year with Beeny Beeny Bean Company's Free offer with only 1400000 tokens. Anyway I digress ( sorry, go off topic) . I wonder how many of us have friends and aquaintances, like mine, who are of the grey vote category and are completely computer illiterate, therefore have no means of accessing a great site like this and have taken the Vouchers not knowing how to get help.

I'm taking my DJ to the dry cleaners ready for the Armonia cruise tomorrow , so I hope the ship doesn't sail without me. After all It's costing more than £10 to clean my suit!

Good luck all.

Owen

Hi Owen, yes, better get the DJ cleaned now, only a month to go, and then only a month after that your wife goes!
To those who don't own a DJ, buy a bow tie!

It does seem a little strange that more people haven't found this forum given that so many homes now have PCs. The members of the Cruise forum represent a very small percentage of the 40,000 applicants, but boy do we have a loud voice!

Hello! Houston calling! Well Seabrook to be precise.

Had good flight. Am in hotel at mo and they have free internet. Am gonna be able to upload pictures (when have some and if get time/can afford to on ship) but posting diary is gonna be a pain as havnt brought my laptop so will leave that till I get back.

I feel I owe Rise an apology for being so cynical! I am here hurrah!!!!

Off to Kemah boardwalk tomorrow and NASA on Friday. Gonna rest tonight after long day travelling.

Really hot and humid here. Great sunshine. Comical accents! Seen a couple of cowboys!

TTFN Ali

Hi Alii,
Great news that you have arrived safe and sound and loving it by the sounds of things!
Allii, You are the 4th Cruiser! If you have had the opportunity to catch up on the Watchdog news you will understand what I mean!
Have a wonderful time, I'm sure you will!

Yeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Watch them cowboys. are they wearing their Stetsons, are there any saloons. Alii it's great to hear from you and that you have arrived safely. Don't for get the suntan lotion before the cruise. Will be reading your posts avidly.