Hi Guys

Thought i'd log on and see how the promotion is going. Saw on watchdog that people are still waiting. Seems like such a long time ago I had my Caribbean cruise (April). Hang on in there anyone who has not got their cruise, and don't settle for less than advertised. It's definately worth the wait

Ali x

Well thanks for the info, which confirmed my guesses and what I'd gleaned from reading the last 6 months of posts here, regarding stars and points.

Thanks for the info on that cruise itinerary too.

I phoned the DE this lunchtime and left a message on the Marketing answerphone/voicemail. I'm now waiting for a call back offering me a cruise...
No call back during the afternoon. I guess they're busy...

Steve.

are you trying to me phil, "jethro" how about john travolta.
vivien

By the way, I also asked in my message why I hadn't got the letter others have had about the DE taking over "managing" (if thats the right word) the promotion.
It's possible some people have been "lost" off the list of people waiting for a cruise, I'll bet the admin was a shambles.
I still have all correspondance received from R***, the stamped and dated receipts for the Special Delivery letters I sent, and even original pages from the DE giving all the details and Ts and Cs so I have plenty of proof I qualified.

How many people got that DE letter back around May/June/July, and how many didn't?

Steve.

Well I did, Steve and that was in May. My cruise was 25th July.

Hi dolphin999,
Like you I am still waiting to hear from the DE having had a letter in the summer thanking me for my patience. I should have been cruising the Caribbean right now. I think that the DE could easily afford to charter a ship, even if it cost £10 million. I read in the Daily Mail last week that its owner took £46 million in salary and pension in 2003 and £53 million last year so not short of a bob or two.

Not quite like me, Maureen...my point was that I never got any letter from the DE in the summer. Last I heard was from R*** when they phoned me way back in the Spring to tell me my cruise place for 5th Nov was cancelled unless I'd pay £799 to upgrade my accommodation.

Steve.

Good Morning from the Balcony

I have put the sun lamp on this morning for the first time, the lounger will follow shortly

I will soon be sailing the West Indies en-route to Panama, (on the Balcony Cruise), then the balmy south seas, Ah !!!! I can hear the maidens of Tihiti, even as I sit here, Some Maiden it was Maggy from down stairs come for an egg for her Clives breakfast. (I was almost carried away there)

dolphin999,
You are not alone mate, I had no letter from anyone - thats why I took a risky trip, (after first making sure my jabs were up to date) a trip to the outter reaches of Timperley, and the mud hut of R*** or M*M being an ex merchant seaman, I knew the value of the cruise and was prepaired to pay more, £150 more !!! I never had a letter of confirmation or anything until about 2 weeks before I was due to sail. On the point of upgrades, although I have no beef about paying what I did, the fact of the matter is that at least 1 person from our illustorious lot paid far less than me and had an upgraded cabin, whereas another person, whom we met on board and had never heard of H.T. paid £60 for an upgrade and she stayed in the bowels but got a bath instead of a shower . (Which she found difficult to use) I was told I would get a cabin with an opening window and veranda, in reality I got a 'dogged' porthole and ??? But the company I found myself amongst was wonderful and they were very tolerant of me and my resitrictiions.

For the total price of £175, plus about £60 in phone calls, Rail fare to Manchester (about £50) it was a wonderful experiance for (£285) and met some real nice people.

So hang on in there dolphin999 and any one else who is yet awaiting their cruise.

Bye for now, must check the photos as Vivien's Son wants to see what his Mum got up to, with her latin toy boy

Bye Bye

Phil

hang on in there would be cruisers, as phil said we had a great time met some lovely people. (some nicer than others let off the hook for a bit longer phil). must practice my dancing. vivien

You are right Vivien it was definitely worth all the hassle and I think its vital not to give in and let the DE get away with it

hi everyone,there certainly seems a lot of verbal activity on the site.i would just add hang on in ,keep badgering every one ,enlist your local radio,thats how i got mine it wasnt southamerica as first allocated but i thoroughly enjoyed my med. trip and although it would have been great to have it for £10 i still think it was good value at £150..
if enoufg of you keep on at watchdog you may gethelp there.
we are all rooting foryou.
dont give up!!!!!!!!!!!
carol

Hi Steve,
I did not receive a letter from the Express during the summer. Maybe I am one of those "lost" souls! Like you I have copied all the paperwork.
I also was not informed that the 5th November cruise was off-I found that out by reading posts on the HT site!
Mary

Hi everyone it is nice to see some new users welcome to you, I have not given up but as the days go by without a word from the D.E I can feel my enthusiasm waning. I am sure more people have given up than are still hanging in there and that the DE is hoping that the numbers will keep on reducing daily. I did have the 'be patient 'letter but only in reponse to my letter enquiring if I was still on their list as qualifying for a cruise which I do but they did not answer my question I think I will start nagging again the red sea in January or February would be good or the Canaries. keep up the good fight all the non cruisers, Carol R

Good Evening from the Balcony

A couple or so pages ago someone, who I can not remember, had a Red Sea booking with Thompsons for 2006 and they were going on about the [possability of visiting Petra, has that fallen through - as I don't seem to read any more about it ?

You are right CarolR we who have had our cruise should keep helping those who are still waiting - after all what will it cost us, that it haxs not already cost - just another tanker of Red and a weeks production from Perth/Glasgow

Just checked the photo gallery, no pictures, it must the sight of Vivien, Chris63 with Jean,Joan and Rumrat doing the salsa (the outfits left little to the imagination)

bye for now

phi l

Phil how can you be so cruel tantalising us poor forlorn uncruised with promises of amazing sights and wonders in your photos and nothing appears I don.t think I can go on being patient much longer if it wasn't for a decent supply of the red stuff and the odd ding dong I think I would have snapped. take care on the balcony in the rain. Carol

It was I, Phil! Well not me exactly, but a friend of mine who is going on a Red Sea Cruise in January. However, I don't think she has got a cnfirmation yet! I will check and let everyone know.

tantalising us poor forlorn uncruised

Is that like "The Great Unwashed" then Carol??

We can only give encouragement at the moment but soon we may be able to join the protest march and bring the flask of sweet tea to wash down the banana and strawberry jam butties!

Good Evening from the balcony

Oh Good TonyW

we may be able to join the protest march and bring the flask of sweet tea to wash down the banana and strawberry jam butties!

I do still hav emy 'Micheal Foot' Donkey Jacket from my CND days will it be like Aldermaston ?? mind you Banana and Strawberry Jam butties all in one I think I'd rather watch Tessa o'shea limbo dancing Sorry

night night
London tomorrow (ot the D.E.)

Phil

will it be like Aldermaston ??

A little bit Phil..............except this time we won`t smell so bad and as far as I know the DE do not have a Nuclear capability!

Beginning to wonder if they have a capability at all.