Phil, You can be a gentleman and go first to be ready to help Aslemma just in case!

And I will be behind ready to give a shove if she won`t jump off!

(Camera in one hand, of course!!_

Put me down for the chairlift........I`ll be on holiday with nothing to prove!

Aslemma, you are all sorted! Two perfect gentlemen, one to shove and one to catch and paparazzi behind the bushes!

hummmmmm have we expanded from 4/7 notice board to the main thread? wont luci be pleased!

Get back where you belong you lot!!

luci

dont worry luci............... you have a week off next week!!!!!

I'll try not to fall off the chairlift - I once fell off a camel though in Australia.

OMG!

Sorry all, I didn`t realise we were in the main DE thread where the grown-ups are!

Back to the creche for us then peeps.

Tony

You know you are only posting to show us you have 5 stars

Congratulations Tony, I hadn't realised - I'm surprised it took you so long now you can play with the big people.

Congratulations Tony, a big boy at last! Now of course you have to act responsibly!

HY all. well I have been and gone and am back again. WoW it was great.I I started my journey staying at the Bushel and Sack Hotel in Dunmow, where nothing was too much trouble, they have very reasonable parking , and free pick up and drops, they also do a packed lunch on request. my evening meal there was superb langostini and scallops with a salad Yum um. I arrived at the airport looking for my cabin mate, and I found her straight away. she actually asked me if my name was ..... and then said, are you a drinker? god forbid said I Oh she re[plied are you chapel. nooooooo lolololol told her I liked the odd one and all was well. We were then approached by a blonde lady who asked my roomate what her name was and said she would see us at Trviso. we thought she was from ther D.E. or Rise. but no just anopther one of us. we soon met another, and MSC had put on a lovely limousine to transprt the four of us to Venice from Trviso., The ship is lovely mirrors everywhere, and the staff were all excellent. The food was super. and .loads of it. we livened up the piano bar with a spot of cabaret one night, and got everyone dancing in what was formerly a sedate place.We four went out together each day and had a ,lot of laughs. We would have liked to wander around Venice , but had no time, although took photos alond the way out to sea. We did not do any of the tours, but had no problems either walking into town or in the case of Istanbul had a cab and got ripped off ending up in a very expensiver jewellery shop instead of the Bazaar. it also cost us 10 Euros. and should have been no more than 5.Beware phone cards in Greece cannot be used in Turkey, also to use the internet or ship telephone almost five Euros .phone cards in greece were 4 Euros, and I am not sure what they were in Istanbul but freely available on a sqaure near the blue mosque. Tabacco was cheapest at Katacolon, and Istanbul.In Kudasi we had a lot of hassle with shopkeepers, but were buying bags . as you do ,and jewllery.Dubrovnik was a pretty place but the goods seemed to expensive there and a bag I purchased had made in China on it and was plastic , cost 27 Euros. it was extremely hot there We found the people rather surly in Dubrovnik (money grabbing) As we left Dubrovnik we spotted a sjoal of Dolphins and attempted to take piccies. At the Gala evening we had a very good menu including Lobster Duck in Honey Sauce Champagene. there was food all day every day. free towels, which one was allowed to take off the ship to the beach. shower caps, shower gel and shampoo was replace as we used it. and a hairdrier as well as a good wall safe in our cabin .Our final evening there was a huge buffet at midnioght with carvings made from foiod, as well as ice carvings . I have never seen such a sight in my life, it was amazing. When we arrived back at Trviso we had to wait for the limo, but it turned up, and our Flight home was uneventful, but on landing the four of us had a ten mile hike through Standsted airport with very heavy luggage, Beware customs at Venice, make sure you go through nothing to declare or they will have all your bags open. unless you have things to declare of course.On our return one of pour little group had family aiting and the three remaining of us went to the Hilton, It was very expensive cooked breakfast 17.50.and I was not impressed with the carpet in the main drag it was grubby and seemed to smell of feet. my room however was O.K. but out of the two hotels The Bushel and Sack at Dunmow was much better and friendlier with my meal costing 10.95, The young man who drove the mini bus even went down the shop for me. I would not have had that at the Hilton. Well folkies here's to a great week . we finished off with a formal photo on the boat, which I am sure will bring back very happy memories for all four of us.

Thanks for your review Fleeohy it sounds great, I especially appreciated it as I have not managed to read Magsy's or any other reviews. It is great to hear so many of you have had wonderful holidays. It makes me believe that maybe those of us waiting until 2006 really might go. I have not heard from any of the other '06 lot for ages I hope they haven't given up Any of you keeping up with the forum please post and let me know I am not alone. Carol R

Welcome back Floeeohy

Glad you had a good time.

Only 89 days to go for me (not that I'm counting or anything)

Welcome home Flooeeehy. So pleased you had a great time!

Hang on in there Carol, your turn will come!

We can see you aren't counting Jennie!!!!!

Yippee I have found everyones reviews at lasst and they are fantastic I will read them over and over again until 2006. thanks to all of you

Carol R

I see you were on the Opera and that it had a safe. I have read that the Melody does not have safes. What should we do with our money, passports, etc.

Hi Lesley

When we have been anywhere that doesn't have a safe, we usually lock any valuables in our suitcase and haven't had any problems.

luci

Hello floeeohy,

Thanks for your review. It all sounds great!. What a bonus to have a limo transfer! Talk about arriving in style! I'll take note of your good advice regarding phone cards, shopping and Turkish taxis.

It must have been wonderful to see the dolphins near Dubrovnik. Was that from the tender or from the ship?

2 months and a week or so until i follow in your footsteps!

Craig.