Canuker

If my ship docks at the Brooklyn cruise terminal, about how long before that docking time will we pass under the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge, please?

DRO stands for Director of Restaurant Operations. Mr. Nicola Furlan is above the Maitres d'Hotel

Voyager1964, thank you for your detailed review. May I ask, can you share where you enjoy snorkeling in Curaçao, please - and why?

I'm sure this question has been addressed but I can't find anything specific. We are on the ship 24-08-10. Which of the 3 MDRs offer fixed time dining, please? We much prefer a large table, making friends and discovering their stories and to kick the day's activities around with them. We will plump for the late shift supper. Seems they all offer the same menu, so any one will do, as long as it has big (about 8 people) table seating.. Thanks for your input. Canuker

Talkorpi: thank you for all your wonderful, up-to-the-minute information and tips and views. Greatly appreciated. I know you're going to be busy with many things then, but if you could post your debarkation day Patter, it would 'complete the set', as it were. Best, Canuker (EP, 2024-08-10)

We're new to booking this ship. Looking at the deck plans, I don't see a forward-facing observation lounge. Am I not looking hard enough? There appears to be an outdoor forward-facing area on deck 19? Thanks, Canuker

This looks to be just what we're looking for. Thank you to all who have shared this. Can anyone state whether day visitors have access to snorkel gear and to bicycles. If so, I'm guessing there'll be an extra fee?

Let 'er rip, talkorpi. Looking forward to your posts while aboard. And should we not hear from you, we'll know you're having way too much fun! More interested in the ship and what it offers, than the ports of call. Happy sailing, Canuker.

Sailing the Caribbean, we really don't want to pack loads of formal wear that will see little light of day. Can I get away with darkish slacks and lightweight jacket? Or even no jacket at all, just a formal shirt & tie? Cocktail dress OK for the ladies? If so, we might just get away with not having to schlep checked baggage at all...

If you expect to make this journey (about 30 miles or 50 km.) plan very carefully. A 5 mile stretch of the M25, between junctions 10 and 11 is set to close in both directions on five weekends between now and September 2024. The first closure will be from 9pm Friday March 15 to 6am Monday March 18. Other closures are TBD. This notoriously crowded stretch of motorway (highway) is going to get a lot worse, with diversions through rural roads. Best suggestion: avoid this whole area, between Wisley (junction 10) and the intersection with the A3 (junction 11). You have been warned!

Southern Railway, who operates this very handy - and inexpensive - service is making changes. There is good news and bad news. First the bad news. The hourly direct service between Southampton Central station (10 minutes tops by taxi from the ship) and Gatwick Airport, then on to London Victoria station is to cease. This is a shame since, for cruisers with baggage it is a very handy service, with Gatwick station directly under the airport concourse. The good news is that the rail journey is still possible, but with a single, straight forward change, which might even shorten the overall journey time. Take the Brighton train (this service is doubled to 2 per hour). Change to another 30-minute service (Portsmouth Harbour to Victoria) at Havant station, where both services use the same platform (either direction). Expect a wait at Havant of about 18 minutes between trains - time to grab a coffee. From Southampton, Havant is about 40 minutes; Havant to Gatwick is about 70 minutes. another 35 minutes if going on to London Victoria. Both Southampton Central and Gatwick Airport stations have elevators. Service may vary somewhat on Sundays and holidays. Note: there is no straightforward rail service between Southampton and Heathrow. Better to use the direct bus service, which leaves/arrives at the bus terminal near Southampton Central station.

The organizer of our on board slot pull has alerted us to the possibility of suffering (I'm guessing) withholding tax, of 15%, payable to the IRS should we hit the big time. We will be in international waters at the time. To any tax experts out there (I'd prefer facts rather than opinions, please): 1. Does this sound both reasonable and required? 2. Does it apply to participants who are not resident in the USA? 3. Who, on board, assumes custody of the 15% and responsibility to remit it? Thanks, Canuker

River cruise.

The app for our cruise shows the 'officers' soirée' at 8:00 pm in the Grand Foyer. It also shows it finishing at 8:15 pm. There is no second event shown, so the invite covers all passengers. For 15 minutes. to those who have attended similar events recently, does this sound reasonable / typical, please? Or could there be a mistake in the app's wording?