Meryll83's SBP/Citrico's/Morocco PJ - Update: Trip Report now underway!!

[meryll83]

I don't think in this instance you can ask for too much as nothing has gone wrong on your holiday they've just made booking errors and the cost of the phone calls etc so perhaps you could ask for tickets to Seaworld or something like that

Well I shall wait and see if they get back to me and if they offer me anything, it's hard to decide what's fair compensation really isn't it, when it's not a definite figures as such?


On a completely different, and much brighter note, we went to see John Barrowman in concert last night and it was fab! I've never heard someone sing so perfectly live before! And now I get to look forward to him virtually taking over BBC1 every Saturday night Love that man!

Sorry, that was completely unrelated to weddingness - but I can solve that. We're thinking of using his version of Your Song for our first dance. It's actually the version that Ewan McGregor lovestruc him too!) does in Moulin Rouge, but we were concerned about all the very loud operaticified bits in his version, but John Barrowman's new album has this 'Ewan' version that we love, but without the opera dude bawling over it (sorry for my lack of precision on musical terms here!)

There we go, I get away with being off topic now, right?

 

[GlobalDiva]

Well I shall wait and see if they get back to me and if they offer me anything, it's hard to decide what's fair compensation really isn't it, when it's not a definite figures as such?


On a completely different, and much brighter note, we went to see John Barrowman in concert last night and it was fab! I've never heard someone sing so perfectly live before! And now I get to look forward to him virtually taking over BBC1 every Saturday night Love that man!

Sorry, that was completely unrelated to weddingness - but I can solve that. We're thinking of using his version of Your Song for our first dance. It's actually the version that Ewan McGregor lovestruc him too!) does in Moulin Rouge, but we were concerned about all the very loud operaticified bits in his version, but John Barrowman's new album has this 'Ewan' version that we love, but without the opera dude bawling over it (sorry for my lack of precision on musical terms here!)

There we go, I get away with being off topic now, right?

I LOVE John Barrowman too! I'm a huge Torchwood fan, but alas, I live in the US and we get our episodes about 2 or 3 weeks behind their original air date in the UK, but I suppose that's not that bad.

His voice is lovely! What concert did you attend?

 

[meryll83]

I LOVE John Barrowman too! I'm a huge Torchwood fan, but alas, I live in the US and we get our episodes about 2 or 3 weeks behind their original air date in the UK, but I suppose that's not that bad.

His voice is lovely! What concert did you attend?

We went to see him in Nottingham, which was a bit of a shame as it turned out, we nearly went to see him in Gateshead, and his support act there was Ben who was in Any Dream Will Do, and is now playing Link in Hairspray in the West End, and I grew up with Ben in my local theatre group, so it would have been awesome to see him perform in John's show!
(Don't know if you guys in the US will have seen or heard of Any Dream Will Do, it was basically a reality TV show last year where they were hunting to find a guy to play the lead in Joseph in the West End. Ben actually came 3rd, but then landed himself the part in Hairspray, which fits him to a tee! They hunted for a Maria for the Sound of Music the year before, and currently are looking for an Oliver and a Nancy to star in Oliver - and JB has been a judge in each of these shows, so I can get my Saturday night fix! He's also just starting a new TV show this week called The Kid's Are Alright, of course Torchwood, and I belive he's set to be in the new series of Doctor Who again at some point, so I'm loving Saturday night TV at the moment!)

 

[PrincessSarah19]

On a completely different, and much brighter note, we went to see John Barrowman in concert last night and it was fab! I've never heard someone sing so perfectly live before! And now I get to look forward to him virtually taking over BBC1 every Saturday night Love that man

Sorry to go completely OT here! Just a long time lurker! lol

We saw JB in Cardiff on Monday - oh he was so amazing! And Connie Fisher (Maria) was his guest act!!!

We now return you to your PJ

 

[meryll83]

Sorry to go completely OT here! Just a long time lurker! lol

We saw JB in Cardiff on Monday - oh he was so amazing! And Connie Fisher (Maria) was his guest act!!!

We now return you to your PJ

He really was fab wasn't he?

Do you live in Cardiff then - lucky girl, he has a home there and a home in London doesn't he?

Ok - yes, back to my PJ

Not that I really have anything to share....

Oooooh yes I do - the school half term dates have finally been officially released, and much to our relief the half term is the week we though it was going to be, so we have booked the correct week (going out the week before the hols)! Can you imagine if it was the wrong week and I had to call Virgin and get them to move everything on our 3 bookings I probably would have been on the phone for about 5 hours just trying to explain what we wanted!

Si's mum finally found the dates out from the council, and I heard Si on the phone last night telling her my mum was now coming and that 6 of us are already booked.
After I finished rehearsals last night, I noticed I had a missed call from his mum, so I wonder if she was calling for any further info before she gets booked, hope so! I was teasing Simon the other day by saying all 'my side' of people attending are already booked, where's his? Ok, so technically there are some joint friends that aren't booked yet, but they were people I became friends with through Simon, so I suppose their technically 'his'.

I've booked Beaute Speciale in for our guesstimated wedding date and MK photoshoot date, so now we all get to look beautiful

Still haven't had an invoice from our Scarborough venue, I'll give them another week before I email them again though.
And I might go ahead and contact our registry office regarding getting someone to perform our ceremony here.
They've told me that because they are not a religious association they cannot perform a blessing, but they can do a vow renewal. I asked them if they had any scripts they could send me, as I was a bit concerned what the wording would be like, as it seems a bit crazy to be having a vow renewal after 3 weeks of marriage to me, but if it's wording in the right way I'm sure it'll be fine.
However, they told me they couldn't send me anything until we've put down our £50 deposit - meanies!!

My bridesmaid dress order has been updated to say that the dresses are expected to reach the companies New York office on the 27th May - one day after my brithday! - and then will be shipped straight to me.
My ring should arrive in the shop in the next 2 weeks, Si still hasn't picked his, think we'll have to schedule him a day to go and look for one. He still hasn't looked at suits at all yet either. I know there's plenty time yet and we're way ahead in the planning process anyway, but we both agreed the more we can budget for and sort out early the better!

 

[Chilly]

How far ahead can you book the MK photoshoot then if you've booked that already?

 

[meryll83]

How far ahead can you book the MK photoshoot then if you've booked that already?

I've just booked Beaute Speciale for the date we are hoping for, not the actual MK shoot.
That can't be booked in until contracting the wedding date.....

Sorry if I was unclear, but it's Friday!! (blame everything on that!)

 

[PrincessSarah19]

He really was fab wasn't he?

Do you live in Cardiff then - lucky girl, he has a home there and a home in London doesn't he?

He was out of this world amazing!
I'm at university in Cardiff so I'm always on the lookout for those BBC cameras filming Torchwood or Dr Who lol
Yeah, he's got a home in London and one in Cardiff!

 

[Beep]

Hi Meryll,

Keep on with Virgin - they will sort it all out. If you have to, once everything has been sorted, call again and get someone different to confirm the details. I'm sure a lot of these people tell you they have sorted things out when they haven't just to get you off the phone. If you start with someone new and ask them to confirm the details you will know that they have done what you wanted. Hopefully!

I heard from Randy today. We have extended our photo package with him to include POR after lunch and he will be joining us for lunch as a guest. Don't gert spending that deposit money!!

 

[meryll83]

Hi Meryll,

Keep on with Virgin - they will sort it all out. If you have to, once everything has been sorted, call again and get someone different to confirm the details. I'm sure a lot of these people tell you they have sorted things out when they haven't just to get you off the phone. If you start with someone new and ask them to confirm the details you will know that they have done what you wanted. Hopefully!

I heard from Randy today. We have extended our photo package with him to include POR after lunch and he will be joining us for lunch as a guest. Don't gert spending that deposit money!!

I've not heard anything as yet from Virgin, but I think they have a couple of weeks to respond don't they?
I think once (if) I sort out with them if they are going to offer us any compensation for our troubles, then I will ring and check with a newbie that everything is booked in correctly, transfers, tickets, dining plan etc.
Did I explain that my mum's booking shows 'half board' instead of disney dining plan' - apparently they had to get round their system this way as there is no accommodation booked on my mum's, it's on my dad's booking - they've told me she has the plan too, but it concerns me! Don't want to get to check in to find we have problems and not be able to get hold of anyone at Virgin due to the time difference! To be fair, I'd be annoyed if I had to try and contact them in the first place, it should all be booked correctly shouldn't it?, but I think I'll worry about this now until check-in if the invoice still has to say half board!!

Randy has taken his deposit money out now, so that's good (if money coming out of your account can be classed as good ) and our at home reception have apologised regarding the invoice as their admin person is still ill, but that I can send the deposit in before the invoice if I want. Think I might wait it out until the invoice arrives still though....

 

[Chilly]

I'm sure Virgin will sort out everything in the end.

 

[meryll83]

I'm sure Virgin will sort out everything in the end.

I just got a standard letter today saying that they would send a full response within 28 days of receipt of my original letter..........

 

[meryll83]

Excuse the quality of the image, my camera obviously wasn't made for taking pictures of jewellry!!

Still haven't had a letter (other than the standard one above) from Virgin yet, but I did notice that they have taken a £25 goodwill gesture off my dad's booking alone when I checked the bookings online the other day.
However, for some reason, before they did this, they felt it necessary tot ake the price match of the park ticket but increase the flying club discount (but actually leaving us £2.70 worse off!!).

Why can't they just leave the darn booking alone?!! They've left mine and my mum's as they are.....

Ah well, we'll wait and see what their letter says when it arrives....

I also got an email update on 30th March saying my bridesmaids dresses had arrived into the New York office (weren't scheduled to arrive til May 27th!) and they're on the way to me now

That's all for now folks!

 

[meryll83]

I just got a standard letter today saying that they would send a full response within 28 days of receipt of my original letter..........

Hmmm, I'm not at home so I can't check what date I sent my letter, but I'm sure 28 days must be up by now. What am I supposed to do now, grass them up to ABTA?............

 

[Chilly]

You posted on here on the 8th April that you'd sent the letter so if they got it on the 10th then tomorrow is 28 days.

 

[orangetiggs]

i would call them

 

[meryll83]

You posted on here on the 8th April that you'd sent the letter so if they got it on the 10th then tomorrow is 28 days.

Of course, I didn't think to look on here! Doh!

i would call them

Call Virgin?

I was hoping for a letter so that I would have a point of contact to go to rather than just phoning them blind as it were.

Do you think if I ask for the complaints department I'll get any joy??

 

[figmentfan814]

Just thought I would pop over to see what I missed while I was gone. How exciting to get your ring in already. We didn't get mine in our hands until a few weeks before the wedding, so you are way ahead of us

 

[Chilly]

I'd give it till Monday then ring and ask to speak to the complaints department.

 

[meryll83]

Just thought I would pop over to see what I missed while I was gone. How exciting to get your ring in already. We didn't get mine in our hands until a few weeks before the wedding, so you are way ahead of us

Thanks for stopping by!
I know, I'm uber ahead with everything, still plenty to do though
Have you been to Hawaii yet, or is that still coming up?

I'd give it till Monday then ring and ask to speak to the complaints department.

I wonder whether to write to them again, with the additional problems I had the following day after my original letter, and then say as you haven't replied within the allocated number of days, I now have no option but to go to ABTA.
Do you think that will get a hurried / better response out of them?