rhiannon84

The main thing I'd say about combatting jetlag is get outside, early! The UK tends to be far more grey and overcast (even in summer) than the US, so you don't get that hit of daylight to help adjust without actively seeking out the sun.

Markeb’s suggestions are really good, especially to consider a HoHo bus or river cruise as a relaxed way to get your bearings. If it’s not already installed on your phone, you need to download Google Maps from the Apple or Android store. Then when you click on your initial (e.g. R in a red circle for me) it brings up the Settings. Offline Maps is one of those, and you just zoom in/out of the area you want. Pick the whole of central London, it uses hardly any memory and will auto delete after a year or two anyway. London is also enormous and packed with stuff, so I’d suggest ‘saving’ any bars, restaurants, landmarks you like the look of, in a Saved List, now. And share it with your travel companions. Then you can wander about a bit, and have a rough idea of a decent place to eat/drink without needing to use data or having to make a decision on the spot. I did that in NYC which was a lifesaver for cognitive overload!! theres a good blog with instructions on both Saved Lists and Offline Maps here https://www.theunconventionalroute.com/google-maps-saved-places/

I thought that was the few cabins reserved for guest entertainment? I'm sure I've seen a previous thread about those ones

Yes Leonidas is great generic gift chocolate, but it’s Mary or Pierre Marcolini for the really good stuff you keep to yourself! I don’t know RCCL’s European policy, but most cruise lines which ban taking alcohol onboard on US/Caribbean cruises allow it in Europe. So do check if that’s the case for your cruise

I can try and answer the waffle question - in general in Belgium, the best place to get one is from a metro station, small kiosk or waffle van! They’re the most authentic and most likely to be hot and freshly made. Bruges doesn’t have a metro system, but the same principle applies. I suggest the Liege version (hot, sticky with caramelised nuggets of sugar) over the Brussels version (light and flat, often stuffed with fruit or topped with cream). In Flemish that’s a Luiksewafel, in French its gaufre liegeois. You might have to do quite a bit of googling to find somewhere offering beer flights, other than Le Trappiste (which has lots on tap). Lots of Belgian beer is very strong (can be 10% abv plus) and made for drinking slowly. Also, the proper stuff is far more likely to be in bottles than on tap which complicates it further. (Thinking back, I don’t think I ever saw beer flights advertised in Brussels in the 7 years I lived there). Many of the Trappist beers come in multiple strengths (Chimay, Duvel) and have complementary cheese brands (Rochefort, Grimbergen), so consider popping into a supermarket on the way back to the ship to make a selection for a curated balcony tasting?!

There's also iced water available in the gym. The tap water is drinkable, but nicer for having been left to settle in the bottle lid-off for a while, and then put in the fridge

A universal power adapter should be fine. Something like this https://www.currys.co.uk/products/logik-lvisit20-worldwide-to-uk-travel-adapter-10200473.html Be careful if you choose to buy from Amazon - make sure it’s a legit supplier!

Premier Inn is a good UK-only chain (you can only book direct) and has many hotels in and around central London. https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/home.html County Hall is a good location for example, and is fairly close to your 1000 limit. I don’t know about non-walking tours, but regardless, the step-free Tube map might be your friend! https://content.tfl.gov.uk/step-free-tube-guide-map.pdf https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessibility/

As Globaliser said, Pret will do you if you just want a sandwich, something very quick and simple. Otherwise lots of excellent pubs nearby - Two Chairmen and Red Lion are famous for their parliamentary histories (and gossip) The Phoenix near Victoria was always good for an express set lunch. Strutton Ground has a great food market and small independent cafes - there’s a great fish & chip shop but be prepared to queue if it’s a weekday lunchtime.

To build on Pushpit's point, yes the UK has higher insurance requirements. For example, booking Bristol-Venice, had to tick twice or three times that yes I had insurance already, no I didn't need to buy additional. Same airline booking my one way Barcelona-Bristol flight, no questions at all!

We did a great boat tour, from Nerano to Amalfi and Positano. Lots of time in Amalfi to walk around and have lunch, and time to swim and have a drink in Positano. https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/sorrento-l391/amalfi-and-positano-full-day-shared-tour-t284922/?ranking_uuid=dc189fcf-35b8-4fd8-96d2-0e6f99dcdca0 We were collected from outside our hotel in Sorrento for the 45mins drive to Nerano, and back. The provider is the local boat cooperative, so may do something similar from Amalfi.

Choose Bruges, or Ghent, or anywhere on the coast over Brussels, especially if just for one day. Brussels is the polar opposite of Paris - great to live in, terrible for tourists!

Orla56, see if your cruise line is offering a shuttle service. When we visited Valencia, the shuttle was to Arts & Sciences anyway. It’s a pleasant area to walk around (flat and comfortable) with museums and shady park areas. You won’t see all of Valencia by going there, but a taxi to the old centre was very cheap (less than 10 euro) if you decide to go further.

One thing to add to the other recommendations above, Lisbon has one of the largest aquariums in Europe https://www.oceanario.pt/en which is a very child-friendly excursion to do.

I would take the ferry or a boat tour for this. You get absolutely fantastic views of the cliff-perched houses and towns, whereas the roads are busy and wind around interminable corners - not good for anyone with even a little bit of fear or travel sickness! We did a very good tour from Nerano. Picked up in Sorrento by minibus, then small boat along the coast, and bus back to Sorrento. https://www.getyourguide.com/sorrento-l391/amalfi-and-positano-full-day-shared-tour-t284922/?ranking_uuid=3da20b79-55a5-41f0-a2f2-06d475c34b3c

Yes, Will Wagstaff does the Island Wildlife Tours http://www.islandwildlifetours.co.uk If you’re there in high season (summer, Easter holidays) usually one of the boats in the Scilly cooperative https://www.scillyboating.co.uk will also be doing a wildlife tour. However the departure time might not fit with your tendering in (the tours can be before the usual c. 10am first boat) and may be fully booked. Best place to check what’s usually offered is their Facebook page

Yes. There may very occasionally still be times where you swipe & sign, but that’s usually because the card chip reader isn’t working. Contactless payment is increasingly common, but there’s still limits on how much you can pay before a PIN is required. if you have a smartphone, consider getting Apple Wallet or similar. Also, both countries use the Euro, so take some cash as well. https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/chip-pin-cards

Mary is excellent, and I’d also recommend Pierre Marcolini (which you can now get outside Belgium). You can buy fantastic chocolate bars from the supermarkets, bakeries, and corner shops - Côte d’Or and Dolfin are particularly good. Don’t waste your money buying these brands from tourist shops, splurge on Mary or Pierre Marcolini instead!

Or the other way round, using the cruise to recuperate!!

If you’re flexible on types of holiday, have you thought about a cruise/small yacht holiday for Greece, and then a land tour for Italy, maybe ending in Spain? You could fly into Athens, do a week cruising around Greek islands with someone like Azamara who do Greek-intensive cruises. Fly Athens to Rome, and hire a car to drive around Italy for a week seeing all the inland sights that are hard to reach from a cruise ship. Finally, if you have time and energy, take the ferry over from Italy to e.g. Barcelona and use the trains for a couple of the big cities before flying home!

Both the Dutch and Belgian train operators offer assistance with travelling, and you can book help from the Belgian operators for international trains. Have a look at these sites and see if you think that will help - you can also contact them to ask any specific questions about your routes https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/traveling-with-a-disability/ns-travel-assistance.html https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/travel-info/prepare-for-your-journey/assistance-reduced-mobility However, Ine's suggestion about taking a coach with Flixbus might be better if there’s direct links

Hi peachquilter, check out Man In Seat 61 for train advice. https://www.seat61.com/european-train-travel-with-special-needs.htm I think you may be assuming trains are similar to those in the US with a big step? That’s very rare in the UK/Europe, where it’s usually flat from the platform, or the station attendants have a ramp for the smaller steps. Also, people travel by train with luggage all the time - and are conditioned to help out those who find it a bit harder! The train should be a pleasant experience, save your taxis for getting round the towns and cities which have cobblestones or uneven paving (e.g. Bruges)

https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/rail-fares-and-tickets/fares-info/dart-and-short-hop-zone

There's a lovely little 'beach' just over the road from the cruise port in Ibiza - Platja de S'illa Grossa.It's flat rocks into deep clear water that's a natural pool. No facilities but literally minutes from the ship - so you can fit in a beach and city day walking around Ibiza town. https://maps.app.goo.gl/bCQijUhc7Db4Gdeo8 ignore Google saying it's 25 minutes walk - it sends you down the one-way road like a car instead of crossing the carpark 🤷‍♀️ Ibiza has lots of excellent beaches, Playa de Talamanca is probably the closest traditional beach - 25 minutes walk Not so sure about Mallorca

Are you thinking of flixbus? Trieste airport lists all the transport options available https://triesteairport.it/en/autobus/