Harters

Now resolved - mainly suggestions made on the Tripadvisor forum and a bit of Googling.

My previous cruises have all been to other European destinations. It's never occurred to me to tip on excursions. Maybe there's a different expectation in Asia.

Travelodge can be a decent bet, particularly on price. But, equally they can be disappointing, particularly with older properties. I used to stay in the one in Brentford for several days at a stretch when I was researching at the National Archives. It was OK, but then Premier did some price adjusting, which brought it much closer, so I transferred to there as it was generally more comfortable. Stayed in the Travelodge in Llandudno about 18 months back and it was very basic and in need of some hefty refurbishment. Then, on the other hand, I stayed in the one in Hexham. That had only been open a fortnight and was one of their new, more upmarket, builds. Pleasant enough stay for a couple of nights, while we were exploring Hadrians Wall (didnt get to see the famous tree at Sycamore Gap and obviously now never will).

That was the situation then. The soldiers came on board to do their checks, etc, rather than folk having to disembark It was 25 years back, so everything could have changed, although I doubt it.

I doubt there's a way. I think you are going to need to make a choice. Travel on your UK passport and pay what's expected to be a small sum for the Estias. Or travel on your other passport and save a few quid. I think "mix and match" probably causes more hassle than just using one passport.

I have the same view as Steve, whether eating on a cruise ship or any land based trip away from my home area.

There's no reason to think they would be. Those other countries have not been involved, or at risk, in previous escalations of the conflict. It's obviously a commonsense move for the ship to depart early and let's hope that no-one has been hurt if they were on excursions. It already looks as though this will follow the usual pattern of the conflict over the decades. On this occasion, an incursion into Israeli by resistance fighters from the Gaza enclave, followed by air strikes by the Israeli airforce

Fully. It all used to be so straightforward.

Happened to us, years ago, in Israel. We had no intention of getting off but the soldiers (?) required us to show them our passports.

My nephew has both British & Spanish nationality/passports. Whilst he usually travels on holiday with his British passport, he would use his Spanish one to take advantage of "free movement of labour", within the Schengen area as & when needed. I think (but am not positive) that your TA is wrong. If you are a British citizen, then I believe the embassy would offer assistance. It is your citizenship, not the passport you may have travelled on, that is the important thing. But taking your UK passport as well would be useful evidence.

I appreciate the OP's difficulty. As we've got older, our list of pre-existing conditions just gets longer. It includes prostate cancer which has returned after radiotherapy treatment and is now just being monitored without further treatment. We had a period when we couldnt get insurance at all, due to an undiagnosed condition but, once a diagnosis was reached, All-Clear offered cover. It's an annual policy, for European travel including cruises. Annual cost is just short of £1400. We've just extended the cover to include for the six days we'll be in America and the Caribbean as part of a transatlantic cruise. That has added another £1300 onto the policy (for the six months remaining on it).

I'm generally relaxed about what people wear on cruises. I'm happy with O's policy which basically echoes the policy of land based restaurants that I go to. I wear chinos and polos (occasionally a buttoned short-sleeved shirt). I wouldnt cruise on ships that have a more formal dress code - just as I don't go to restaurants which have a "jacket required" policy (mercifully, that has all but died out here)

And London (Southampton).

I thought that when I'd referred to the cruise being from and to Barca, with both dockings at the WRC, it was pretty implicit (few cruises having two separate stops at the same port, mid-cruise). But I'm happy to reconfirm these were for embarking and disembarking. 😀

In June , we were on Nautica from/to Barca. It docked both times at the World Trade Centre terminal.

We'll be staying at the Plymouth on 21st Street for a couple of nights, pre-cruise, and are looking for places to eat, within easy walking distance. First night, somewhere quick and casual that doesn't require reservations, as we'll be arriving from a transatlantic flight and just need "something to eat" before sleep. Second night, somewhere nice but still casual (not looking for high end dining). Breakfast suggestions also appreciated. No constraints, as such, on cuisine or budget. TIA John

When we first started cruising, back in the 1990s, it was time when dining was at fixed sittings, at the same table. It meant you could be stuck with folk you wouldnt choose to be with (sniffers and soup slurpers - I'm looking at you). It was actually a significant reason (along with formal dress codes) why we stopped cruising. Since we resumed cruising, in 2018, it's been with Oceania which has open dining, so we always dine at a two-top at whatever time we fancy that evening. So, the ideal time we spend eating is pretty much within our control (service in the restaurant permitting). And, as at home or land based restaurant, time will depend on our mood of the day - sometimes we linger and chat, others we don't so much.

For general trips to the capital, we always stay at Premier Inn Euston. It's across the road from the actual Euston station so easy to get about as several Underground lines pass through there.

It's main use is as a single bed for a third person (child?). Having spent many evenings in such rooms, I can confirm it is not at all comfortable to use as a couch. I find it more comfortable to watch TV to use the upright chair at the desk.

Premier Inn is our largest hotel chain and is the one I look for whenever I'm travelling round the country. Always reliable and well priced. I've stayed at County Hall a couple of times (when I was researching at the Imperial War Museum). It, and the Waterloo hotel, are only a few minutes stroll apart. Like the Island2Dweller, I have no need of a hair dryer but am almost certain that all rooms have them (fixed to the wall near the mirror). I've only stayed in a Premier Plus room once and the only significant difference I recall is that it had a comfy chair (not usually a feature of Premier). Plus is a new development for the chain so won't be available at all hotels The availability of air-con will depend on the individual hotel. Some constructions have sealed windows, so have air-con. Others have openable windows and won't have air-con. Can't recall the situation at County Hall but my guess is that the nature of the building will mean it has sealed windows.

We actually take three cards when we're away. I carry one, my companion in life the other two (not in the same place). We've become much more aware since we became victims.

I'm reminded of my sister in law who went on holiday to Spain with a friend. They were renting a villa and the owner required payment in cash on arrival. So, she was carrying a large amount of Euros. While they were loading their luggage into the rental car, they had put their handbags in the trolley. While their backs were turned, one of the handbags was stolen. Fortunately, it was the friends bag which contained only minimal amounts. Apparently thefts were common and the cops went to search the nearby toilets where, as they expected, they found the bag - cash gone but passport still there (so no need for a day spent at the consulate trying to get a replacement). Of course, it is just as easy to lose a credit card to pickpockets as it is cash. We've been a victim twice - once in Paris (where cash, passports and flight tickets were stolen) and the second in Tenerife (where we only lost a couple of hundred Euros.)

I've sort of had second thoughts about this. Our last two cruises (and a forthcoming one) have been with Oceania. The overwhelming majority of its cruisers are American and, unsurprisingly, the food is very much geared to their tastes, whether in the MDR or speciality restaurants. In fact, on their newest ship, Vista, there is a speciality restaurant "where savory American classics come to life with a modern twist". So, I suppose I'm already experiencing an entirely different ethnic eating experience for the duration of the cruise.

So pleased that you enjoyed it. Making food recommendations is always a tricky business so good to know when one pays off. I have a theory about choice of fish. It tends to be a regional thing - cod being popular in the south and haddock in the north. That's not exclusive - I live in a northern cod area. But my theory is that, if you can identify what fish area you are in, then order the other one. That should mean that the fish is going to have been fried to order, rather than batch fried and kept warm in the steamer

😀 My usual time at home is 8.30 - 9.00. 6 is the middle of the night and I'm not keen to be up then, not least as I'm on holiday.