Kmangel

I have a back to back cruise booked for next summer, the first leaving from Amsterdam and the second leaving from Rotterdam. I hope the Amsterdam cruise is changed to leaving out of Rotterdam.

I know what you mean having to have that first cup of Joe before anything else. Just not at 5:30 a.m.! I have had a carafe of coffee brought to our cabin in the morning. It wasn't at 5:30 a.m. though. Perhaps closer to 6:00 a.m. Sometimes, though, just because it is requested at a certain time it doesn't always come at that time. So a kettle with some instant coffee might suit you better if it is a necessity that you drink coffee that early in the morning.

Thank goodness! It is always in the back of my mind that Covid is still out there. Glad Robert is feeling better and can resume enjoying his cruise!

We stayed at Premier Inn at the airport. We enjoyed the restaurant there for dinner and breakfast. Then we took the National Express bus to Southhampton. No muss no fuss. We booked our seats on the bus on line but there were several unoccupied seats going to Southampton. I wouldn’t chance it though as on the return trip back to Heathrow there were no empty seats. So glad we had reserved seats both coming and going to Southampton.

I am enjoying your cruise report. My husband and I are booked on an Iceland cruise next summer in July out of Rotterdam on the Silhouette. Lots of good info to help me make our plans. Thanks!

We just took the return bus to London Heathrow from Southampton. I had reserved the 11:45 bus. We were dropped off at the bus station a couple hours early from the port by taxi and there was a long line. We stood no chance getting on an earlier bus. We stood for over an hour before we were able to get inside the waiting area, but still had to stand since all the seats were occupied. Finally our bus came and we were boarded. No way could we have bought a seat ticket at the station so I am glad we had pre booked seats. Coming from London Heathrow to Southampton we booked seats also, but not on the day we sailed out of Southampton. We stayed three nights in Southampton pre cruise. There were loads of seats still available on the Heathrow bus going to Southampton, but I think it was because no ships were leaving Southampton that day. I therefore advise to always prebook tickets for the National Express bus, to and from Southampton. If seats are available for an earlier bus, one may board then, but otherwise you might find yourself unable to board at all or much later than desired.

I always put a magnetic hanging on the outside of my cabin door to help me identify my door from all the others. One time one of my magnetic pieces found its way onto a door down the hallway from my cabin. At least the person put it on their door so I was able to take it back to where it belonged!

I search for images on my computer that I print off and laminate. You can search graduation images and add some personal info (name, etc.).

On one cruise there was a white board on the outside of the door with a quote and dry erase marker attached. People would identify the person who is quoted and write it on the white board.

I have ordered it pre Covid and gotten it. Singapore Sling was one of my very first drinks ever.

We were in the UK with 50 pound notes and nobody accepted them! So paying by card is the way to go!

We just carried our wine in a glass to dinner when we brought our wine on board. No way were we going to pay the corkage fee!

For those who want to do hand washing in their stateroom, here is an item that looks like it would simplify the task. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N68XF0O/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_6?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 I've hand washed clothing in my cabin before and the sinks in the bathrooms are not very big. I end up making a mess of water sloshing all over the floor when trying to wash in the tiny sinks.