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The advantage of booking through the cruise line is that you board the train at the dock, instead of having to walk into town to the depot. (Not that it's super far.) This tends to be more useful for morning departures, as if you're on the afternoon departure, you're likely to already be in town.

I believe that they are considered separate types - Obstructed, Sheltered, then Balcony, at least based on fares.

I'm on M236, and I'm hoping that the extra OBC email is sitting in my TA's inbox (as she's on vacation right now.) If not, it's not a huge deal, as I've already got bunches from initial booking.

Spanx are the modern classic, but I find them really uncomfortable - they're 'control top' nylons on steroids. Rago make classic shapewear (girdles, waist cinchers, etc.), but you may not want something that intense, either. If it's a dress that you'll be wearing, you may find a slip with some control your most comfortable option (I'm plus size, and have a Torrid shapewear slip that I plan to use for just this purpose.)

I flew through Detroit to Cape Town (Toronto-Detroit-Amsterdam-Cape Town) a number of years ago, and while I didn't deal with the outside of security, it was a pleasant experience within the airport. Speaking of flights, I just received notification that my Westjet flight to London UK in November has been cancelled (apparently Westjet don't fly to the UK after the end of October?), so now I get to try to find a new flight (flying in a week early to spend some time in London prior to getting on board the QM2 to come back across the Atlantic.)

My understanding has been that if you have NOT had a booster, your second dose needs to have been within 270 days of disembarkation, but once you've had a booster, you're good indefinitely (no 270 day limit.)

I travelled once with a theft-deterrent bag, and it's lived in my closet ever since. My go-to bag, both at home and while travelling, is the Tom Bihn Swift. As a knitter, I try to avoid zippers on my bags, and this one checks all of my boxes. It is on the heavy side, but I find that it's comfortable enough that I don't mind.

Fluevog do ship, and their website has very good sizing notes (how a given size fits.) Also, once you've found a 'family' you like, the other shoes in that family will likely fit much the same way. I've only purchased Irregular Choice in store in London, and one pair from Modcloth online (who only occasionally have ICs in stock.)

I have oily eyes, and regular mascara smudges something fierce on me, but tubing mascaras (my go-to is Blinc) don't smudge or run at all, and to remove, you just need warm water and some friction.

I wear heels on cruises, often both day and evening, and usually can't decide which shoes to bring, so end up bringing too many. My current daytime shoes are a pair of black Fluevog Malibrans, while my evening heels rotate between pairs from Irregular Choice and Fluevog (interesting shoes are My Thing.)

As others have said, don't worry about the themes. If you really want to, I've done a black ball skirt and white dress shirt (think Sharon Stone at the Oscars all those years ago) with some success.

Halifax is a lovely city, and there is so much to do. The waterfront boardwalk is delightful to stroll along, the Pier 21 museum (the immigration museum) comes highly recommended, and if you walk 'up' two blocks to Barrington St., there are a number of small independent shops and restaurants and cafes. The Superstore on the map above is the supermarket, and there is a liquor store right next to it, from what I recall (although it's been a number of years since I was in Halifax.) If you're a beer drinker, the Alexander Keith's brewery is just along Lower Water street from the dock. The boardwalk also has a number of benches and spots to sit and take in the views.

My last cruise I took 3 pairs, but wasn't sensible - the third pair I only wore once (very high heels). Next cruise will have probably 3 or 4 pairs - - Hiking shoes - Fancy low heels with strap #1 - Everyday low heels with strap #2 And then, depending on whether my preferred shoe store in London has anything that I can't live without, I'll either take a fourth pair, or buy a fourth pair while in London prior to the cruise.

I'll be on the Soton-NYC leg of that voyage, and am also quite interested in who our guest speakers will be.

I start making lists weeks (read, months) before the trip, but usually start actually putting things in bags up to a week prior to departure, starting with the miscellaneous stuff (travel toiletries, knitting projects that I'm not working on prior to departure, etc.), and putting things on lists and/or in the suitcase as that week progresses, and then the day or two prior to departure putting the rest of the clothes into the suitcases, after running a last load of laundry if necessary (which it usually is.) But yes, I'm a list fiend, and have already got my lists started for my TA in November. I plan outfits, figure out tech and knitting and other miscellaneous bits, figure out what I'm going to wear when (roughly).

Both of my TAs were earlier in the year (mid April and early May respectively), but as I recall, indoor temperatures were comfortable with either short sleeves or long sleeves - no need for heavy sweaters/jumpers, although a light cardigan/shrug/pullover wouldn't go amiss, especially in the theatres - I seem to recall that they were always kept on the chilly side. No need for true hot weather clothes on board (although you will want something light for NYC - based on the weather we're having just north already, it's likely to be scorching.)

I just did a solo to Alaska on HAL (Zuiderdam out of Vancouver on 27 April), and it was FABULOUS. My partner is Not Interested In Cruising (tm), so if I'm going to go, I'm going on my own. @NYCatlady, enjoy your solo TA! I've done 2 solo TAs (on Cunard QM2), and adored both of them, and am booked for a third in November (although it's actually my fifth booked.)

I haven't sailed TA since COVID, but prior to that, I adored sailing TA solo. (First TA post-COVID will be in November.) My first TA I ate by myself (fixed time dining), and only ended up eating in the MDR a few times. The second time, I was seated at a table for 6, and had a delightful table of folks, and ended up eating in the MDR every night. I'm an introvert, so am quite happy finding a corner of the Carinthia Lounge to sit and knit or read, attending the Insights talks, and taking my book to meals. (This is actually *why* I cruise - an entire week where I can do exactly what I want, when I want, and don't have to have a conversation with anyone unless I want to.)

The Canada Line to the airport (public transit) is really easy, but it's not quite as convenient as it looks. Despite there being an entrance into the station right outside the cruise terminal, you can't use that one to access the Canada Line (which is the line that goes to the airport.) It's a couple of (short) blocks walk to the main entrance. I took the train, and it was simple, but I'm also a regular public transit user at home, which might make a difference.

It's likely not Cunard dictating this, but the Canadian Gvt. I'd recommend doing the PCR test 72 hrs before (before you fly). This was what I did prior to flying to Vancouver to embark HAL Zuiderdam to Alaska last week. The PCR testing within 72 hours has been consistent throughout, but the timing for Rapid Antigen Tests (what I think are called Lateral Flow Tests in the UK) has bounced between 24 hours, 48 hours, and 2 days over the last few months.