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I can't speak to QM2, but on QV earlier this year, early in the morning (think 6-8AM) the pool was relatively quiet, so more 'serious' swimming was feasible (as opposed to floating around). However, as mentioned below, the pools are very short (much shorter than it looks from the photos), so swimming laps was quite difficult - more time spent turning than swimming. I saw one brilliant individual with a leash - one end around their waist, the other end around something on the edge of the pool - so they were able to swim 'in place'. I'm planning to find one before my next cruise to try out.

Make this YOUR vacation. Enjoy the run-up as much as the cruise, if that's your style. (It's mine.) Plan as much, or as little, as you want. Pre-plan everything, fly by the seat of your pants, or somewhere in between, depending on what brings you joy. I like to plan out the days leading up to, and the days after, the cruise, but leave the on-board experience relatively open. (But most of my cruises have a lot of sea days, which require less planning overall than port-intensive cruises.) Figure out what you need to make this an enjoyable trip, and line those pieces up early. If you know that you want to go for dinner at a specific specialty restaurant one night, book that as early as possible. And bring your flexibility. Ports get missed, excursions get cancelled, menus change, restaurants close unexpectedly, something gets messed up on the ship, but if you're flexible, you can still make the trip wonderful for yourself.

My parents frequently drink white port & tonic in the summer - because port is so much lower in alcohol than gin, it makes for a more 'drinkable' cocktail.

For boarding, I usually pare it down to a minimal tote-style purse (but I'm also not generally doing hot weather cruises, so I'm not going and jumping into the pool as soon as I'm on board). I keep meds, jewelry, electronics (phone, ebook, tablet if brought, earbuds, and appropriate chargers), and my knitting. Plus paperwork, of course. For flying, I usually have a few more things tucked in there, as well as having a carry-on suitcase with clothes, etc.

Oh, I'm aware, but living somewhere where I effectively have to fly to cruise, airfare is a big part of my cruising budget.

I'm paying almost as much (about $300 CAD difference) for my flights for my next Transatlantic (Toronto-FLL, then UK-Toronto) as I am for a balcony cabin on a 2-week cruise. And if I wasn't getting the airfare through the cruise line, I'd be paying almost 50% more.

I ate in my room because I was trying to minimize my potential exposure to covid before getting on a ship for 2+ weeks. (I'll be doing the same thing next March.)

I stayed at the Hyatt on 17th earlier this year, and it was lovely. I arrived VERY early (just before noon, when all of the previous night's people were checking out and waiting for port shuttles, and I think there were 4 ships in that day, so it was VERY busy), and the desk very happily stored my luggage so that I could go out and do my running around. I'm a walker/public transit rider, so my idea of what is walkable might be a bit skewed, but the Publix was easily accessible, there's a CVS on the corner (turn left on 17th off the street the Hyatt is on), and a Starbucks in one of the strip malls across 17th. The breakfast was quite busy, but I got my food and took it back to my room.

I've just booked the HUB Marylebone for my 2-night stay in London next March (I feel most at home in London in Marylebone, so the fact that there was one there is perfect for me.) I didn't even realise that this was an option! (I've stayed in a YOTEL, which is a similar concept, from what I can see, and it was perfectly reasonable.)

I've not flown Copa, but my colleague loves them. (His wife is Colombian, so they fly down there a couple of times a year, and always fly Copa from Toronto.)

I stayed at the Hyatt Place off 17th earlier this year, and it was lovely, but with a per-night charge of twice what Holiday Inn Express is charging for next year's one-night stay, I couldn't justify it.

If you plan to visit more than one of the 'Historic Royal Palaces' (Tower of London, Hampton Court, Banqueting House, Kensington, Kew are all in/around London), it's worth it to purchase a membership to HRP - you get free entry, and can just walk in, rather than having to wait in line.

I've sailed 3 times on QM2, and once on QV (plus twice on HAL's Zuiderdam, which is ostensibly the same ship design as QV), and I have to say that QV is definitely my favourite ship. QM2 holds a special place in my heart, with her quirks and odd little passages that go nowhere, the absolutely glorious Carinthia Lounge (although the recent trend of doing trivia in there morning and afternoon does reduce my appreciation of that space), and the magnificent spaces. She was also the first ship I was ever on. Zuiderdam, while being ostensibly the same ship design (Vista class) as QV, can't hold a candle to my beloved Vicky. I think the best way to describe it is that QV looks out to the sea, while Z wants all of the attention directed inwards, onto the ship. The lounges and bars and public spaces on QV all have vast windows that aren't curtained (there's a strange passageway on Z from the main lobby back to the MDR that goes past what used to be Lincoln Centre Stage, and it's as if you're in a hotel - there's no sense that you're on a ship at all.) Plus, as mentioned above, she's a happy ship. The crew all seem to be happy to be on board, and, at least in my experience, make an effort to get to know you.

I wish I could, but if I don't wear something to shield my upper thighs from the dreaded thigh rub, I end up being unable to walk due to chafing. (Quite literally unable to walk. Before I learned the joys of thigh society shorts (which I honestly forget I'm wearing most of the time), I would get home in the summer and my entire inner upper thigh would look like raw ground meat.)

The Matador soap pouches are miraculous! I use one for my body wash bar for the pool, and it dries, doesn't get gross, and doesn't leave my toiletry kit damp.

I've been wearing them for a few years, and they're wonderful. Because of the shape of my thighs, I like the 9" lengths to avoid ride-up. I also wear the Torrid legging-shorts, but they're heavier cotton, and while they're comfortable, they are definitely warmer.

Just realised I forgot to finish my thought - I wouldn't carry the leather unless it's waterproof/you're not worried about it getting wet and bleeding colour, and the Vera Bradley may also be non-waterproof (the last VB bag that I had was almost 20 years ago, and they may have changed, but at the time, they were just quilted cotton, and not waterproof at all.) You definitely want something with a closed top/something that you can carry close to your body.

I can't speak to Barcelona, but you could get quite a bit of rain in London in November. (Or you could have gorgeous sunny days - when I was there in November '22, I arrived in the middle of a monsoon-style storm (flooding in the streets, and chilly) and 3 days later was eating lunch in a park in my shirtsleeves.)

That makes perfect sense to me. My partner has significantly better fashion sense than I do, so I generally ask them to 'check' my outfits, especially for fancier occasions.

Ethique sells purple bar shampoo and conditioner. I haven't used them myself, but I've been really happy with their other products.

For lightweight bike short type shorts, I highly recommend Thigh Society, especially their 'cooling' model. They're thin, very lightweight, and don't make you feel hotter.

I've got a 14 night transatlantic (end of QV's South America circumnavigation next year) and it has 3 gala nights.

I always print my boarding pass and luggage tags as close to departure as possible, in case of Surprise!Upgrades (I was upgraded from an oceanview to a balcony on my last Cunard voyage, 2 days before departure), so if your luggage tags aren't printable yet, give it a few days! My to-do on embarkation day on QM2 is as follows: - check the cabin for setup (make sure the bed is right) - check table assignment for dinner (if possible - last voyage I didn't receive a card with my dining information, went to the maitre'd in the Britannia, but was told I had to return when the dining room opened for dinner to find out what time & what table I was on.) - Unpack - get those fancy clothes hung up so that the wrinkles can fall out! - Avoid the elevators as much as possible - Lunch at the Golden Lion (if available)

What day of the week is your disembarkation? Traffic around London can be wild, and what should normally be a 'just over an hour' drive could take significantly longer if you get caught in traffic. I also wouldn't rely on the ship's transfer for the 12.15 flight, as transfers can be delayed as they wait for people who are poking their way off the ship.

They say that the Stevie is packable, although you want to stuff the crown to pack it, so it should be ok!