gumshoe958

Starbucks opens far earlier than 11. I’m not sure exactly when but I think it’s around 6.30. Maybe you just looked at the opening times for embarkation day? As you point out though, you can’t use vouchers there.

You are correct. Reservations for next month should open up any day now, if they’re not already.

Yes, and even then it’s subject to availability (ie not guaranteed).

It’s an older crowd on Jewel with entertainment targeted accordingly - just a nightly theatre show, a small cinema and the standard live musicians. No dedicated comedy club. Far fewer casual eateries than on Carnival - there’s no equivalent to Guy’s burgers, Blue Iguana, the BBQ place or the pasta bar, although I think Royal’s buffets are better. If you like smaller, older, more traditional ships you’ll be fine but if you prefer bigger ships with lots going on you may find Jewel a bit dull and old-fashioned.

Zeebrugge and La Spezia being two.

Not a chance. This one is nowhere near sold out and the CEO who signed it off is long gone.

I bet they do. Guaranteed big tips for just doing their job.

Not if you’re sailing solo. If you’re solo it’s 2 and 3 respectively.

Option 1 may take a bit longer but it’ll probably be a lot cheaper.

It will indeed be very busy. You’ll certainly have time to walk the Royal Mile (with Holyrood at one end and the castle at the other) and take in some free Fringe street entertainment en route. But whether that’ll leave you enough time to do the Royal Yacht justice is debatable - although on the plus side it’s very close to Newhaven so convenient for your ship.

Only those in the know would use the Deck 3 cabin corridor as a rat run as the Queens Room/G32 end is semi hidden behind a corner with a solid door that gives it the appearance of a crew-only area. Of course there are those in the know but in my experience not enough to cause a problem!

If they had, I suspect the answer would have been “don’t”. Royal should stick to what they know. You don’t see McDonalds experimenting with fine dining. This feels like a vanity project for Michael Bayley before he retires.

I assume the WC was Michael Bayley’s baby and he got the blessing of Richard Fain. Now Fain’s gone, Liberty’s in charge and they can’t sell it out, I’m guessing it’s being seen internally as a big mistake that won’t be repeated. If anything this should have been a Celebrity thing, not a Royal one.

Yes, as long as you disembark promptly (before 8am). Southampton to Heathrow is roughly 90 minutes by car if there’s no traffic, more if it’s busy.

The National Express coach to/from Heathrow is the easier option, particularly with luggage. The current hourly direct train between Gatwick and Southampton may end next year, to be replaced with a half hourly service involving a change of trains en route, which would mean a longer journey and extra hassle.

Not always ahead of time, no. But I was looking at the current sailings for each ship, which I’d expect to be correct. Probably.

I just looked at the current Symphony itinerary on the app, and brunch is the only option on all four sea days. On Jewel and Anthem though, breakfast and lunch are still separate. So maybe it’s just an Oasis class thing. For now.

They don’t make it easy but it can be done. At least it can on Symphony - I assume it’s the same on Wonder. There are videos on YouTube showing how to do it.

Presumably the thinking is that people want a lie-in on sea days and are happy to eat later. Rather like weekends at hotels where the breakfast rush is later than on weekdays. But I imagine the real reason is that offering one meal service is cheaper than two.

I wonder if @andreasfcb may be from Germany where debt is still widely regarded as shameful and credit cards are not very popular (although it’s slowly changing). In fact the German word for debt, ‘schuld’, also means guilt. Cash is still king there.

Definitely a cautionary tale, and a good reminder that it’s always sensible to note down the port agent’s number so you can let them know if there’s a problem. That could have ended very badly if they hadn’t been able to contact you. But good on you for doing your own thing. Ignore the inevitable “that’s why we only take ship tours” comments. Life’s too short to be ripped off for dull, sanitised bus tours.

Yes, it’s now a hybrid brunch menu on sea days served (on the current Odyssey sailing at least) between 8:30 and noon. The full, separate breakfast & lunch selections are still available in the Windjammer.

This company is often recommended: https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk But I don’t know whether any of their tours will get you to LHR in time for a 4pm flight, you’ll have to check.

Jump in a cab outside the terminal, it shouldn’t take more than 5-10 minutes. You should book the National Express in advance as they can and do sell out. Should be cheaper as well.

That should be fine as long as you’re off the ship fairly promptly. A taxi or private car transfer should take between 90 minutes and 2 hours. Or the cheaper alternative is the hourly train from Southampton Central which takes just over 2 hours with one simple transfer en route.