Ok first of all an apology for keeping you waiting.

To recap, I was offerred the infamous Libya cruise and it was subsequently cancelled. Heard the phone message several times and wrote in twice.

My second letter told them (in November) that I would initiate court action on 21st January should no reply be received. At that time I thought it would be the county court but it turned out to be cheaper to do it online. (See earlier post).
In January I filed a claim for £1000 being the approximate cost of a June cruise including £400 single supplement. There was a number of offers on at that time and I did not want the claim to be disputed on the grounds it was greedy or oppurtunistic.

The papers were served on Express Newspapers Limited and they had 14 days to respond otherwise judgement could be found in my favour. Two days before the deadline they filed acknowledgement of serving of the claim. This gave them 30 days more to file a defence (hence the delay).

They used this time to write to me and offer me one of 7 cruises for this year. The letter arrived on my birthday yesterday so it was good timing.

The cruises are as follows:-

Itinery 1

Colourful Coasts on Thomson Celebration

24/03/06
31/03/06
07/04/06
21/04/06 - all spaces gone

Itinery 2

Red Sea Magic on Thomson Spirit

23/03/06
30/03/06
06/04/06
20/04/06

Itinery 3

Rivieras on Island Star

13/05/06
07/10/06

Itinery 4

Explorer on Island Star

20/05/06
14/10/06

Itinery 5

Spirit on Island Star

28/10/06

Itinery 6

Discovery on Island Escape

16/05/06
10/10/06
31/01/06

Itinery 7

Spirit on Island Escape

23/05/06 - all spaces gone
17/10/05 - all spaces gone

The Thomson cruises have the option of pre-purchasing a drinks package for £99 but not on the Island cruises.

Fuel surcharge payable of £35 and in the last 5 minutes I have just received my booking reference.

Although the letter invites you to upgrade or take someone else, the helpful lady at the agency (one of only 4 dealing with DE readers) didn't ask.

I have been given a restricted view outside cabin on golden deck which is the third deck down.

I regard this as a satisfactory conclusion though:-

(1) Luton airport was not available due to change to winter timetable on week I booked. Gatwick was available and as this is on the same Rail Line to me I took this alternative.

(2) Libya was in June yet no June cruises are offered

(3) I still had to pay £80 court costs.

Many congratulations, I am delighted for you and it just proves persistence can pay off. Although the final cost was certainly more than the £10 originally stated it is still a good result and I'm sure it will give encouragement to all others who remain in limbo.

Congratulations on getting your cruise booked and thank you very much for the very detailed reply. I'm sure our members will find it helpful.

luci

happy birthday bedsdriver,what a great birthday present!!!!!!!which cruise have you chosen?i am sure there will now be a flurry of activity now you will have given encouragement to all those on this site waiting for their cruise.
welldone carol

My first dates were unavailable for my chosen cruise but I got later dates - its Spirit Cruise on the Island Star leaving Palma on 28th October 2006 (Flying from Gatwick)

Well done Bedsdriver, I am sure you will find it was worth the effort! Another person got a cruise yeaterday so things are looking up (posted in Whos Going Where) 3 cruises this week! Roll on the rest!

Excellent result Bedsdriver.

DE must be concerned about being able to defend a properly constructed court case. If they get just one judgement against them it will create a precedent for all those waiting and do them a lot of damage both financially and reputationally.

I will wait two weeks to give them a final chance to write with an offer. Failing that I will commence similar action and ensure that details are published here and elsewhere.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Chris.

Hi

Its a looooooooooooong time since I posted but yesterday I finally got my cruise. Dicovery on the Island Escape on 16th May. All I have paid is the £35 fuel charge so I have decided to take my hibby at a cost of £300. That I think is a bargain saying originally it was £1144 for additional person.

Is there any one still wwaiting as my son has not yet received his cruise & I am hoping that everyone will get one & that he has not been forgotten.

I have been told that they are being allocated in batches. Does anyone know if this is correct?

Happy cruising to everyone. Is anyone else on the same as me?

Jude

congratulations judita.sounds as if you have done well.
it all sounds more promosing. good luck every one else caro;

Congratulations Judita! Delighted to hear your news.

I have added you to the Who's Going Where topic.

luci

ooh, well done bedsdriver and judita. It's good to hear that cruises are being booked again, although not before time.

Let's hope that there will be sustained activity now, to book all the other outstanding cruises.

Elaine xx

Well done to you both. Let's hope it will now be a case of "thick and fast they come at last, and more and more and more".

Hope you all get the good cruise message now.
Very pleased to welcome you to the band of 'un-DE-feated' cruisers.
Long may the happy band grow

AbroadScots:

'un-DE-feated' cruisers

Very good

Congratulations to those newly booked. My fingers are crossed that the rest will hear shortly. Keep the pressure on!

Brilliant news!! It just goes to show that they realise thast they have got 2 honour their promises!! If everyone does the same as bedsdriver then I am sure all will get a cruise

hi judita
Did they just contact you and offer the cruise, or have you kept writing and phoning? If so who did you address your letters to?

Hi Raych

No I had given up contacting them , I thought it was a waste of time then on Tuesday I got a letter with the options & prices. Couldn't believe it. I was lucky though as when I rang there was only 10 spaces left and they said if I didn't choose when to go & all the cabins went then I would miss out as it was a case of you were given one chance and if you were too late then it was too bad, so I just picked one there & then.
Have you heard anything yet? my son hasn't , but fingers crossed.

Jude

Hi,

Just to let you know that I am still waiting for a court date as I also went through the small claims court claiming for the cost of an equivalnet cruise, plus the cost of my time dealing with the matter. I did have someone from the cruise shop chasing me to accept a cruise, but it wasn't an equivalent, and had the £35 fuel surcharge, which wouldn't have been an issue if the cruise had been offered at the correct time. I'm keen to get it to court as I think the bad press (and I have a contact with the Daily Mail) will highlight what a fiasco this has been. Will keep you posted.

I'm off skiing now to cope with the pressure of not going on a cruise!!

Does anyone have one of the original front covers promoting the offer with Judith Chalmers beaming out at us. It would be usful to show it in court.

All the best

Marcus

Wallecan's avatar shows the front cover of the DE so you may want to make contact by pm.
Does that mean if you are phoned with an offer you have to decide immediately? I think that is very unfair after keeping everyone waiting for so long. Some of us will have to check that we can take time off work etc. I was thinking of taking my husband but I'd have to give him time to decide whether he wants to come with me or not, because of work commitments.
How do they decide who to contact?
Is it alphabetical, or by the cruises you were originally given? Any ideas?
I only ask as I am always way down the list alphabetically and my cruise was for Nov when many were for May/June.