Thejuggler

On ships with two freedom restaurants getting the table you want shouldn't involve a long wait. When Ventura had one getting a table for two meant either going very early or very late or having a very lengthy wait.

Grand Princess has two and we had no problem getting a table for 2-3. If one was busy they sent you to the other restaurant.

We have used the tram, but we have also waited ages for a tram and not managed to get on.

They aren't very regular so you need to find a stop near the end of a line and be patient.

Be aware that if a tram is busy the driver will pick up locals over tourists.

Hello Jansen, we are on the same flight!!!

 

Just thought of my own questions...

 

Does anyone know how long the flight is from Manchester to Genoa??

 

Also, if we land at 9:10 am are we taken straight to the ship? From what time can we board? Will we be able to get lunch on the ship?

 

Cheers

If the flight leaves at 6 and arrives at 9.10 local thats 2 hours 10 min.

We are also in Leeds and its about 230 miles. Same distance as Leeds to Cardiff which is a regular trip for me.

We have only done an on the day trip once. We left about 6.30am and passed the P&O coach near Barnsley!

At 10.30am we were at Rownhams Services killing time and this was without doing break neck speeds.

The coach turned up about 2pm!

July is also holiday time for all chidren who took exams and those who go to private school, which generally finish the last Friday of July.

It is also a popular time for people with younger children as everyone knows nothing happens in primary school in July other than sports day and Canaries and Med are child friendly destinations.

Best time for an in term holiday is mid September, or choose a cruise to northen ports as they are less popular with families.

Try LV, always been helpful and you can put all medical issues in their quote system.

The time to buy insurance is 30 seconds after you book a holiday, not shortly before you go.

Yes I want to go up the Belem Tower and climb the Monument. The ship's tour only stops there for about 45mins so I thought that wouldn't be nearly enough time!

If you are doing it DIY be aware the two sights are a 15-20 minute walk from each other.

Don't get too excited about canapes. A small square of bread with Primula piped through a star nozzel isn't exactly haut cuisine!

Good plan. Any in particular you would recommend?

None which will be on your route. There are plenty of Premier Inns around Reading, Basingstoke, Andover etc. We have never had a bad experience in one. All have the tripadvisor review links.

Motorway links to Southampton from any of them are excellent and all are no more than an hour or so away from the port. If you get caught in M25 traffic in the evening before its more comforting to know you only have to drive to say Reading to a hotel than all the way to Southampton.

A friend's first cruise was a 14 night summer Caribbean trip with RCI. During the first week a hurricane crossed where they were due to go in the second, leaving a deep swell.

As a result they ended up doing the same ports twice, but did get a substantial discount on a subsequent booking.

I wouldn't worry about getting too close. On departure day you have plenty of time from breakfast to get to the port.

We look at hotels about an hour away, it gives us a much wider choice so we find the cheapest and it also reduces the travel time the night before, handy if you have younger children.

In the past we have stayed in Cirencester, Didcot and Banbury. From Norfolk you have all the M4 corridor to consider.

Train fares very much depend on when they are booked. If you choose a July date now you will pay top prices, wait until May and the cheaper fares will be available.

It may actually be cheaper to go via London as Virgin East and West coast have more services, more seats to fill so more cheaper fares per service.

Having lifts on different call buttons is not unique to Britannia. It generally happens where different lifts serve different decks.

Having lifts on different call buttons is not unique to Britannia.

Lisbon and Funchal both offer more than enough to fill a day. Lisbon is far too big to try and do everything in one visit.

Funchal is a smaller town, but it is worth getting out to see more of Madeira, even for just half a day - lots of independent options including a local taxi- as it is stunning.

Its done on a first come first served basis. You will be called in groups, which group you are in depends on the letter on the card you will be handed when you enter the check in area.

As they are adjacent to the main staircase it will probably be the crew staircase area.

Tea, coffee and water is available in the buffet 24/7, free of charge. The water from cabin taps is potable, but as it is desalinised seawater it doesn't taste like home tapwater.

We also prefer the ABP parking system Celebrity use at Southampton. Your car stays where you park it - no need to queue for valet parking. Vans are in the car park to pick up your luggage, you walk to the terminal.

There's also no need to queue to pick your key up when you disembark then spend more time trying to find your vehicle!

We have cruised with P&O and Princess with a Pullman bed in use. On both lines they will still make up a double underneath the Pullman, it just means you have to use the ladder at the end of the Pullman rather than the side and it then blocks the end of the double bed.

In reality if the third/4th person are agile enough they don't need a ladder. Stand on the lower bed and pull yourself up.

Major cruise lines ex UK are still trying to keep to £100 a night per person for inside cabins, Next years cruises are still at this level.

This has been the figure for at least 7 years. If basic price isn't rising something else has to fill the gap.

We also did the Celebrity trip to Iceland and Norway and it was the best cruise we have done. Eclipse is large, but there is plenty of public space, lots of quiet corners and a great crowsnest bar. Anytime dining worked really well and they seat you in the same area so you get to know your waiters.

On board talks to fill seadays were excellent, the Australian 'Patrick Moore' who gave talks about the destinations, how they were formed, what natural features to see etc. Senior crew also did presentations about how the ship and company operates. The navigator talk was brilliant and we saw the Captain almost every day and had a chat.

The only downside was the presence of Bobby Davro who opened his 'act' with a deeply offensive and racist joke more suited to Bernard Manning than an audience from all corners of the globe.

We only went to one specialist restaurant, Qsine, where you order from ipads, but we quickly realised most of the dishes were rehashed buffet food! Service was very slow and after we complained they dropped all charges, including the wine. The buffet is however top notch with world food at different stations. It is more a food court than a buffet. Wine is quite expensive, but you can order the bar house wine in restaurants which is excellent value.

Our daughter went to the kids club, but she isn't really a club person so can't say how good it was. There is a small amusement arcade and table tennis for children. They also do animation classes, egg drop competitions etc all good for children to get involved in.

I'm currently price watching Baltic trips with Princess and Celebrity, but I would much prefer to go with Celebrity.

This will be our first ever cruise and I dont own a suit, so I need to buy one. I shall be buying a charcoal coloured suit as it will be more suitable for other occasions, and I will pack a black tie. If I'm the only bloke wearing a non black suit then I honestly couldn't care less.

I'd recommend a Black bow tie and dress shirt, not a normal black tie, unless you want to look like a funeral director.

A few years ago my parents went the second week of May and trips in the inner Fjord area to higher ground, especially Gerainger had to be curtailed as the roads had not been cleared of snow. It was very cold and snowing.

The second half of the week as they came further south to Stavanger they were in shorts and T shirts!

Celebrity charge £109 for bus and DIY trip. I can't imagine P&O will be much cheaper.

My error its $109. 10 hour day. 5 hour round trip and 5 hours in Paris.