Thejuggler

Probably time to do a quick calculation at what a cruise cost 25 years ago and what it costs now. We first cruised 15 years ago, and did 8/9 over ten years, but not done one for about 4 years. I started looking for this year and noticed that in all that time prices have barely changed. This either means P&O have suffered no inflation, or they have become more 'efficient'. i.e. paying even less or reducing service levels. If I wanted the service of P&O from 25 years ago I wouldn't be looking at P&O and accept it would cost more.

As P & O don't overinflate the prices of their drinks like US lines (by a factor of at least 2) you need to do your sums to see if the drinks package is good value for money. I don't think it is.

Some ships merely approach Funchal, see the fireworks then leave.

My visit to Rotterdam was in the late 80s. Not much I remember apart from the Cube Houses. If nothing appeals The Hague isn't far away and Scheveningen has a decent beach.

Suit and tie to get into the restaurant. Jacket and tie off as soon as you sit down. Get changed after dinner.

Not a surprise. The blocking high over the UK means the low pressure systems are off the Bay of Biscay and moving to land off Portugal and into southern France. Lisbon has had some horrendous rainfall, with devastating floods.

E-visa was only made available again on Monday this week, 5 December. Two weeks ago a visit was required.

This is now out of date as the e-visa system is once again open to UK residents. It will still be painful to complete, but at least you don't need to visit a consulate!

Oman should be no more than a stamp in your passport. India you will all need a visa, but I'd take advice from the cruise company on how it is done. Getting an Indian visa for an individual has always been a challenge of patience, at the moment the online e-visa system isn't open to UK residents which means even more diffculties. Cruise companies may however have different arrangements.

No need to go anywhere near central London if going by rail. Direct train Southampton to Reading. Elizabeth service to Heathrow.

The market has expanded and there is a wider offer, but as 600-800 passenger ships still exist I'm not sure there has been much of a change since the mid 90s if that is what is preferred.

As you are under medical investigation it will be seen as an unacceptable risk for the insurer. You may be in for an ENT investigation, but something far more serious could be found which has nothing to do with ENT resulting in a cancellation.

Large ships = more affordable pricing

Main luggage so I'm not carrying it far. To protect it stick the bottle down the leg of a pair of trousers, roll the trousers and place it in the middle of the case. I've done this for years on flights and never had a bottle break.

If its sold out it does not necessarily mean it is full to capacity. How cramped it feels is more down to ship design than number of passengers. How much space per passenger when at capacity being one measure. Ventura and Azura are considered very poorly designed in terms of public spaces and passenger flow, so they feel cramped - space per passenger 31. Celebrity Eclipse is larger, but we always found a quiet spot. It has a space per passenger of 36. Iona figure is 29. Lots of cabins, not much public space.

No different to what happens when entering the US from UK. We entered US over summer in Dublin and there was a queue of hundreds of people and we expected it to take hours. It took just 45 minutes for passport and security x ray scanning. Everyone had passport, ESTA, fingerprints and facial recognition done, we then had to go through security. The reason it was was quick was due to it being properly managed with about 25 border staff on duty doing the checking. As regards cruising we have on occasion had to take passports and had them checked and stamped by EU country border staff. Last one was Germany 5 years ago.

Sounds like a sensible plan. Heathrow Express is much quicker than the tube and only £5.50 each way if booked in advance. https://www.heathrowexpress.com/tickets-and-offers/tickets-offers

No issues with a pushchair. I've not been on Britannia, but on other ships I have been on there is a walkway at the rear of the theatre where you can watch the show from.

Once a toddler is part of the trip you need maximum flexibility and work around routine. Our daughter was a similar age on our first cruise on Ventura (admittedly 13/14 years ago) and we tried the night nursery once, but the rules were the child had to be asleep and if they woke up and didn't settle within a few minutes you were buzzed to collect them. We managed about half an hour before we were buzzed and never bothered again! It was a long way to collect her, she was in a real state having woken in a strange room with strangers which lead to a disturbed dinner for us. It was far easier to get her settled in the cabin, put her in her pushchair and take her with us to dinner and shows and more often than not she just slept through everything.

From ESTA site. How does Cuba’s designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism impact my travel to the United States using my approved ESTA? If a traveler is found to have visited a country designated as State Sponsor of Terrorism, the traveler is no longer eligible to participate in the Visa Wavier Program and must apply for a visa to enter the United States.

And is it an 'honesty box' situation. If you have a new passport which is now blank of stamps would the US know if you have been to Cuba if you don't reveal it when applying for an ESTA?

Applied for my daughter's first adult passport in May as we had booked a holiday in August. It was back within a couple of weeks.

10 days is a decent length of stay. Plenty to do as listed by others and if the weather is good I would suggest a visit to nearby Porto Santo. You can take a ferry for a long day trip, or take the short flight. Hire a car as you can drive all the roads in half a day and it has a long stretch of beach for something different,

Never been on Azura, but have been on Ventura and Grand Princess. One of the shortcomings of Grand class ship design is the lack of a crows nest bar and no obvious alternative of a large public room with a view where you can watch the world go by.

Easy to DIY. Walk to cable car from port, about 15 minute stroll alongbthe prom. Cable car to Monte, pay for toboggan, walk back to port. Taxi from the toboggan run to the town centre can be a big rip off, so be aware if you take one. Agree the price first.