Catchum

Ok as a not American I'll stick to my wine with dinner and a night cap and risk the judgemental looks. Enjoy your hot dogs.

No idea who Joey Chestnut, is but how about I drink my wine and subsidise those who eat meat and desserts. Or how about I don't worry about what anyone else on the ship wants to eat or drink and just enjoy my holiday.

We were very surprised room service was included when we started sailing princess and have only used it once or twice a cruise. My DH likes coffee, merlot, fruit, cookies and sandwiches in the room but I have never charged him for fetching them so no change for us.

I believe the lines you mention are much more expensive and include alchol - you can't opt out if you don't drink. Maybe Cunard or celebrity would be better options.

On our last cruise out of Southampton, a different Indian dish was on the princess favorites section of the menu in the MDR every night - along with fish and chips. I didn't realised they changed so am still kicking myself for missing out on my butter chicken.

Thank you, we will do that. Not really worried as have never gone hungry on a ship but nice to have options.

next cruise is in about 6 weeks Island Princess - we booked late and I can't make dining reservations for two before 8.20 which is really late for us. Can we make reservations on board for a time that suites us? If so when and where? - I know we can just turn up without reservations and get shared table - or go when the first show starts to usually get a two topper. Don't mind being at a different table or even dining room.

Great location, great staff, comfortable bed and good shower. The rooms are small with no draws or closets we left our big bags in the car and just took overnight bags inside We will be back there in September so would totally recommend for one night.

Have cash in hand before leaving car or you won't get the chance. Honestly not expected.

At the risk of lowering the tone of the discussion can I mention Weatherspoons. They are a chain of pubs which serve good beer at excellent prices. Not fancy but good beer at excellent prices. Certainly Portland, Cobh and Edinburgh have them. Please don't miss Edinburgh it is a city like no other you can catch the bus or train to the city easily. Portland is super easy you have to be bussed off the dock to the town, Weymouth which is a great seaside town. Dublin get of the ship walk to the station get the train to dublin and get yourselves to the Guinness brewery. Google - insert name - cruise port and you will be down the rabbit hole with the rest of us.

Agreed if you have a biometric us passport and no children under the age of 12 it is seamless. Except Heathrow is a huge place and it is often a long long long walk to get to passport control. Customs is a walk through and bags are a lottery but 45mins to 1hour to be on your way is not unrealistic.

We always stay at the Moxy using Marriott points. It is a good location to get an evening meal, parking at the nearby mall is reasonable and they now give a free drink on arrival- will report back on Thursday! There are always loads of people waiting for their taxi to the cruise port in reception so I'm sure it is not a problem. I would say it is a little above premier inn and the like.

Edinburgh is a small city easily walkable - unless you decide to go up to Arthur's seat which left us puffing - they also have trams if you need a ride. Last time we stayed at the Marriott Courtyard on points. there were issues as it was very soon after travel restrictions were lifted, but I would stay there again. It is a beautiful city and safe IMHO the castle is the must do lots of other things depending on what floats your boat.

I would take the train to Portsmouth historic docks. You could easily spend two days there and not see everything. Mary Rose (Henry VIII flagship) HMS victory (Nelson), harbour cruises to see modern warships in for servicing. Southampton is not really a tourist place though they do have an ikea!

No idea what you mean by Brits dressing to excess on Formal nights - I have just packed for our next UK cruise and have only packed one tiara (yes seriously). Honestly, wear what you are happy with within the minimum dress code, and I guarantee the only person who may remember what you wore with be you and possibly your traveling companion. Actually I struggle to remember what I wore yesterday.

It is more about luggage limits cruising out of Southampton lots of dressy clothes for me. Cruising out of LA a couple of nice summer dresses.

We also booked ahead - simply amazing to be in the presence of something so beautiful over 1000 years old. Also the library with the original Guinness harp is so cool.

If there are two of you in the cabin the total is effectively combined - I usually order the drinks so it looks like DH is teetotal and I'm alcoholic. We enjoy wine a lot when we cruise and even with doubles from Vines have yet to hit our limit though we may have come close once or twice.

We did the Dart last year without pre ordering very very easy to get tickets from the machines.

Only two rules in life 1. Be kind 2. Be splendid

As do postage stamps bank notes and coins. It will be many years before they are replaced. My local post box still has GR on it and works just fine.

If you are sailing from Southampton there are many ATMs in the city for pounds in Gurnsey similar for euros. Google maps are your friend. Most london airport ATMs have a choice of euros or pounds. The exchange rate may mot be the best but you are not dealing with huge transactions so you may loose a few cents on the dollar always choose the continue without conversion/pay in local currency button at ATMs or any other card reader reader whilst abroad.

No one on the cruise who lives in Europe will have a medallion beforehand. They have never been shipped here as far as I am aware. When you check in someone will ask you to wait a moment whilst they get your medallions out of a box. I am usually still putting away paperwork when they come back.

Living in Europe I have never had a medallion shipped only (available to US addresses). Have always picked up at the port, it literally adds 2 minutes to check in, some one goes to a box pulls out your medallion and hands it over to you.

never say never- we did TA from Barcelona to NYC leaving on 8th December 2022, spent a week cruising around Spain and Portugal then had a beautiful calm crossing. We took a more southerly route then originally planned did Madeira rather than Azores it was lovely and warm until we arrived in Florida!