hi there just been reading some of your posts, i am booked on the melody on the 12th september. i see some of you have been told you will be sharing a cabin this was never mention to me and hope it will not be the case on this ship. anybody know what the score is on this ship i would be very interested as i think i would rather cancel than spend a week in close quaters with a total stranger!

Hi Brencambs,
Some people are sharing by choice, others are sharing because it is the only way they can get a cruise now. I assume that you have your confirmation. Look at the bottom of the first page where it says Passenger(s), I think you will find it is only your name there, so no, you won't be sharing!

many thanks for your promt reply maggsy and for putting my mind at rest i would have hated it after all this time and fighting to get this cruise to have had to cancel.
thanks again
regards brendan

Hi Brencambs - nice to have someone else on board from E. Anglia.

I don't think you need worry about sharing if that wasn't part of your booking deal. I will be coming straight home again if that happens to me!!

It's good to see new users are finding this site - keep watching (and posting) - we have a quirky sense of humour due to months of uncertainty and confusion!!
Alli

hi allisue, cambridge here are you going on the same date as myself then?

Brencambs,
No sorry for misleading you! I just haven't seem many from East Anglia.
Check the 'who's going where and when' - see index page, where you can see who else may be travelling with you.
Alli

Hi all, just logged on and read through the "ups and downs" of smoking on board!!..My poor little heart has jumped in & out of my body over the last couple of pages.

What a thing to do to me,.... on my Birthday as well!!

Fay............Of course I forgive you........

Re: Throwing things overboard..........I worked on the QE2 for a few years so I was one of those saying that to you mere passengers!!! Plus, I am not a wally, contrary to the impression I may (intentionally) give at times!

It is an Italian ship and the Italians smoke in the shower.

Are these waterproof ciggies available onboard?? Put me down for 600 of `em!

Tony

Happy Birthday Tony

Brencambs,

at the moment there are 5 of us on the 12th of September.

There is you, Blackg, Nannysue, MikeC (me) and Onmyway2

Are you on the 6am from heathrow as well?

If you are you will probably see me asleep in departures for a couple of hours before check in.

Mike

Hi All
For any wondering if Gary got His tickets, he posted in his roll call thread. http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=256120&highlight=#256120

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2005 8:34 pm Post subject:
Hello everyone again,i have in front of me a blue folder wich contains a embarkation coupon, a transfer voucher ,booking confirmation, a booking reference coupon ,a deck plan, baggage tags, 2 postcards of the MSC Armonia, and most importantly my bloody cruise tickets,it looks like i will be in Venice sunday mornig for sure now,but with 3 days to go i was starting to get a bit worried i must admit,im glad it was me first to go through the ticket senario as i can tell you all now for, those of us lucky enough to have been offerd cruises we will definatly all be going,i dont think it has sunk in yet

Thats what I call cutting it close!

Peter

I agree Peter, a close call, but Gary was only booked on 6th April so I suppose it isn't bad really!

Gary will be sharing with the first non HT cruiser! Or perhaps it is an HT cruiser who simply hasn't posted!

Hi everyone,

I've come back from work to find an all singing, all dancing booking confirmation from Rise.
Well slight exageration, it's really two peices of A4 paper, but when something is as eagerly awaited as this it deserves such praise!
It confirms my flight numbers with Ryanair (only 15kg baggae allowance - aaagghhh!) and my itinery on the ship. It also states "Shared cabin", as I expected, so anyone else who is not sharing can check and hopefully won't have this written on their form!

Hello Luci, Nice to know you are still out there. You have been very lenient towards our ramblings. Is Juro still out there?

Happy Birthday, Tony. Mine's the 19th as is my youngest grandaughter's. I am probably older than you.

Re-smoking - there was an ash tray in my cabin on the QE2. It was useful for keeping earrings in. They even supplied matches. On one trip, there was an American on permanent oxygen who was to be found, every evening, sitting at the machines in the casino, chain smoking. I presume we need euros for the Casino on Melody. I noticed to-day that M&S had a better rate than Thomas Cook. Although I don't know how to smoke, I don't get anti those who do. I have a conservatory where visitors may smoke. It is centrally heated so they don't have to freeze in Winter. I even bought an ashtray!

I just caught a glimpse of the Arcadia leaving on her maiden voyage this evening . It is adults only so some of us could all have sailed on her. That would take care of 2,000. There is also a large American Aircraft Carrier anchored in the Solent. How about chartering that?

Sorry this is off topic but I would like to share something with you all. Yesterday, I was on a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. As usual. I could not sleep so I was reading the postings on this site. The printout showed that, at this time, my blood pressure reading was very good. Perhaps it was something to do with Fay and Tony's sense of humour together with Magsy's good advice. I don't know any of you but I always feel that I am communicating with friends. Unfortunately, no-one else is travelling when I am. However, I shall look forward to meeting Wallecan (Chris) and wife on the QE2.

Maureen H (Hello Maureen from Wales)

M&S give relatively good rates for Euros. And commission-free. Some of the major banks have also dropped their commission - but rates can vary up to 20%, so it's worth shopping around with a calculator.

Otherwise it may be worth withdrawing cash on arrival with a debit card.

Using a debit card for purchases also often gives good value - but it depends on your bank.

Withdrawals using a credit card are mostly a bad idea these days.

Otherwise it may be worth withdrawing cash on arrival with a debit card.

Using a debit card for purchases also often gives good value - but it depends on your bank.

Withdrawals using a credit card are mostly a bad idea these days.

The best card to use is the Nationwide Credit/Debit card, they have come tops by far in financial bulletins & Money Box on Radio4.

Hi Tony belated birthday greetings to you. Hope you got some lovely cards & presents.

Dizzy

p.s hubby smokes so he was pleased that smoking is allowed.

I called in Nationwide yesterday and asked their advice on exchange rates in Europe. I was advised to use my debit card for euros and to key in the amount in £s, the cash machine works it out, and l will get a better rate than the High Street in the U.K.
Joan.

Hi Maureen (MEH),

my blood pressure reading was very good. Perhaps it was something to do with Fay and Tony's sense of humour together with Magsy's good advice.

OMG!.........Perhaps you could get us prescribed on the NHS!

Happy belated birthday greetings Tony!! One year older - one year wiser?

I've just read Alii's diary - http://www.aliscorner.myby.co.uk/cruise ..... - rock groups - steak - sunburn!

Sounds like she's enjoying herself!!

I was advised to use my debit card for euros and to key in the amount in £s, the cash machine works it out, and l will get a better rate than the High Street in the U.K.

I bank with the Nationwide and far be it for me to disagree with their normally excellent advice, but I have to on this occasion. I have used my debit/Flex card all over Europe and you have to key in the amount you want in euros. The ATM doesn't work it out for you.

What I have found is that it will only let you take out around €250-300 in one transaction. If you need more than this you can just put in the card again. However the maximum daily withdrawal has been reduced from £500 to £300.

luci