Thejuggler

I'd be surprised if an excursion which mentions the castle doesn't include entry. Do Carnival have excursion details on their website? However if there is an option for an 'on your own tour', which is probably no more than a bus to the centre, check out the price of castle entry tickets as it may be cheaper to DIY anyway. Most buses drop off by the castle, but its easy enough to find. Big stone building on top of the lump of volcanic rock!

I would start with the insurance offered by Viking and the company which underwrites it. Also if applicable check your home insurance for limits on how long the property can be vacant for.

So you changed the cover of the policy, significantly reducing risk and you think you were ripped off by P&O recommended insurer? Not sure those dots can be joined.

The devil will be in the detail which is lacking in the original post. What type of insurance for a start? "first year of inception" sounds very specific to a particular kind of insurance. If the person has retired to Turkey they will need Turkish health insurance and as a new resident a 12 month exclusion period for claims may well be standard.

18 months out, even though its a school holiday cruise, I suspect its a P&O booking system matter, not that all 4 person cabins are fully booked. Super deluxe cabins sleep 4 and they are available, but P&O may be 'drip feeding' multi occupancy availability or 'fluid pricing' reasons.

A friend was a check in agent for Jet2 a few years ago and she let us know that anyone booked with children is automatically pre allocated seats together so you won't be split up. This is borne out for us, having done at least a dozen Jet2 flights as a family of three and always having a row for three, despite never pre booking.

From pre booking options for my non cruise Jet2 flight in a few weeks its £11 or £11.50 for a typical airline tray meal (15 different dishes which amazed me ) and they include a tea, coffee or water. Sandwiches or pizza 'twist' (?) about £5.

Smaller adult only ships are always more expensive. However P&O are spending significant sums advertising cruises from £86 a night (less than 15 years ago) which is all about 'bargain' pricing.

With ever larger ships and limited rail services a day its not surprising the trips now sell out quickly. The up and down trip is cheaper to DIY, but if Norway in a Nutshell trip is still offered its a great full day excursion.

P&O have never had details of excursions until a cruise is booked, however Celebrity do have a good overview of what may be offered at each port.

Stock graphic which hasn't been reviewed or proof read for some time.

Unfortunately another example of how car ownership costs are ever increasing. A couple of years ago a taxi to our local airport for a 7 mile trip was £12-£15 each way, its now about £25. Thinking £50 was expensive I checked out airport parking for 4 nights. It's £50 for the first 24 hours and , £35 each subsequent day, so over £150 to park the car.

As above, what is on offer? I suspect the lure of the Loch Ness monster will be popular and looking at one cruise company 5 of 7 trips include it (having been to Scotland many times its a place I am happy to avoid, there are nicer far less touristy lochs!). Invergordon is very well located to see plenty more and a private smaller bus tour may be a better option. I'd look for a trip heading west towards the Torridon ranges (including if possible Loch Maree which is stunning), or one which takes you to the many distilleries either in Speyside where they are around every corner, or ones around Invergordon, Dalmore and Glenmorangie being two.

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.