neeuqdrazil

Much depends on the airline(s) involved. Whether you're able to do it without exiting/re-entering security depends on whether you're arriving & departing from the same terminal - you should be able to get your answers from the Toronto Pearson website, though. 

Oh, and just as a caution - the US isn't considered 'International' at Pearson - it's called Transborder. If you're looking at International arrivals, you won't be getting the correct information.  

21 hours ago, TwoTravelingtheWorld said:

We are programmed for Fort Lauderdale to Southhampton in March 2025. I’m interested in hearing thoughts on the weather conditions. Will we be able to use the balcony?

Thanks!

Come join the roll call! 

2 hours ago, SilkySal said:

Hubby and I will be boarding the Radiance next week from Vancouver to La, and on through the Panama Canal to Tampa. He refuses to take long sleeve shirts but will have a light weight jacket plus slacks for dinner. I'm thinking I should pack a few long sleeve blouses for a few days until we sail farther south. I intend to wear long jeans, long sleeve shirt, and light jacket on the plane. Still packing plenty of shorts, capris and short sleeve tops to wear when south of LA. Does this sound like a good plan? Hate to drag a winter coat along. Thanks all!

It's currently mid-60s F in Vancouver, and the weather could go in any direction between now and then - looks like next Wednesday the forecast is for 70F. Much depends on how you deal with heat/cold. I run hot, so I'm less likely to take long sleeves and jackets for temps in that range, although I always bring a couple of cardigans to deal with temperature fluctuations. 

5 hours ago, Nitemare said:

Boston gets it's Christmas Tree from Halifax every year in appreciation by the Nova Scotians of how the city helped them recover from the explosion

A number of doctors and nurses departed by train within a day or so from Boston to head to Halifax to assist, despite the blizzard, destruction of train tracks by the blast, and a lack of supplies. 

There's a relatively well-known story in Canada about the rail employee who wired up the line to stop trains approaching Halifax, likely saving hundreds of lives, at the cost of his own. 

20 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

It was not until a visit to the Maritime Museum in Halifax, a couple of years ago, that we learned about the Halifax Explosion.  A major disaster, and I believe it took place very near to where cruise ship passengers typically visit.

Are there any markers, or other clues that would help us identify the scope of the disaster?  

I find it curious that everyone knows about the Titanic, and so few know about this.  I want to know more!

There's a good book called Curse of the Narrows that covers the Explosion, the events leading up to it, the explosion itself, and the aftermath. 

The explosion itself happened further up the harbour from where cruise ships dock, basically in between the two current bridges if you look at a map of the city, while the cruise ships dock further 'down', closer to the ocean. But Halifax isn't very big, so everything is pretty close.    

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18868921-curse-of-the-narrows

The UK is introducing a requirement for electronic travel authorizations for all visitors from countries that do not require a visa to enter the UK, including Canada and the US. 

Canadians can apply after 27 November, and will require the ETA prior to entering the UK starting on 8 January 2025. 

The ETA lasts up to 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner, is good for multiple entries, and costs £10. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-expand-digital-travel-to-more-visitors

I always carry larger purses, which I carry my knitting, ereader, phone, notebook & pen, and various other odds and ends in. 

My current rotation includes a Tom Bihn Swift (both the regular size and the mini, which are less dressy), a Coach 'hobo' style bag, and a LaFlore Doquentin. The LaFlore bags would be something to look into - they're made from cork, have brass hardware, and are both very useful and relatively dressy. 

I typically have one alcoholic drink per voyage (either a glass of wine with a special dinner, or a cocktail), and otherwise go for the soft drinks package, because I like my diet pepsi (prefer coke, but you drink what they've got) and soda water after noon. 

I've never felt uncomfortable ordering only non-alcoholic beverages in any of the bars or lounges, and never felt any pressure from the staff. 

21 hours ago, RinnyBess said:

Very possibly 🙂 

 

I was thinking open seating would allow me to meet more people and give me the flexibility to have solo dinners sometimes. 

 

I am looking forward to learning what the gala night themes will be. I plan to go all out!

The gala nights can be well observed, although I will caution that 'Masquerade' doesn't mean costume. (I remember one gent wearing a Tarzan get-up for Masquerade night during one unforgettable TA.) 

I've both observed (wearing a red dress with gold accessories for Red & Gold, and a fancy ball gown for Masquerade) and not (never could find an appropriate 20s style dress for Roaring 20s.)  They've also started (?) doing non-themed gala nights. My last Cunard voyage (which was a 15-night Panama Canal on QV) had 4 gala nights, 2 themed (Masquerade and Red & Gold), and 2 un-themed. 

The grudging and disrespectful likely mostly comes from having to deal with tourists who get angry that their USD isn't accepted, or is only accepted at par, instead of recognizing that the vendor is doing you a favour by accepting your foreign cash. 

Dealing with USD cash as a small business can be quite the hassle when trying to deal with taxes and balancing the books, because you've got a different amount in the till than the books say you do.

Would you expect every business in Florida to cheerfully accept Canadian currency? (Florida chosen because, while it's not on the border, there are a lot of Canadians down there every year.) 

On 9/4/2024 at 2:46 PM, RinnyBess said:

I'm planning my first solo trip for my 40th in July 2025 on the QM2 after about 4 days in London before embarkation. I love traveling, but i tend to prefer to have my own space and explore at my own pace and don't necessarily want to have to compromise with someone else. I'm also a bit of a crazy planner specifically around travel and accommodations. I like watching video reviews and look at so many pictures before and after I make my reservations. I'm not traveling for another 10.5 months and yet I already have a list of the different experiences I want to do (e.g. classes, special meals/teas, etc.) plus a really detailed budget and calendar of events. I think a big part of the fun for me is the planning. It also means that everything is well set so that I can just enjoy my trip (obviously I understand things can and will change, but it's nice to have a foundation). I will gladly take any tips from solo travelers, especially if you've done so on Cunard or QM2!

Are we the same person? I am very much the same in terms of early-and-often planning, and my first cruise was a solo TA on QM2 back in 2018. 

My next cruise is a solo TA on QV in March 2025, from Fort Lauderdale to Southampton, after she finishes her circumnavigation of South America next winter. I'm then spending a whirlwind 48 hours in London before flying home to go back to work the next morning.  

On Cunard, they offer both fixed and open dining. I'm a fan of fixed dining - you have the same table every night, the same staff, and they get to know you. I've done both solo table for 2 and larger tables, and enjoyed both, for different reasons. 

Specifically for Cunard, embrace the dress code and dress for dinner - there's something truly magical about walking through a ship where almost everyone is dressed nicely. Even on the 'smart casual' nights, it's still an experience. But take a wrap or shawl - the MDR can be quite chilly, and if you go for a walk on the deck, it can be breezy and cold after the sun goes down. 

Explore the ship early during your week on board - I've been on her for TAs three times now, and I'm STILL finding new corners every time. The Carinthia Lounge has really nice little breakfast and lunch plates available, but not everyone realises they're there, and the couches are cozy and good for reading or crafting. (The last time I was on board, though, they were doing multiple trivia quizzes daily in the CL, which made it less conducive for quiet reading.) 

On 9/4/2024 at 11:23 AM, ldubs said:

 

Yes, not uncommon for one person to say best time ever and someone else on the same cruise says "never again".

 

There is one particular ship from one of the cruise lines we prefer that is subject to a lot of negative comments on these forums.  We enjoyed that ship immensely and would look forward to going again.  I sometimes wonder if these things take on a life of their own on the forums.    

In one of the cruise line forums I frequent, there's a common saying that there must be two ships with the same name doing the same cruises because of the differences in experiences between people on the same voyage. 

17 hours ago, marktwothousand said:

So, I’m taking the 8:30 London train on a Friday, luckily my MSC cruise officially departs at 6, so even if I had major issues, I likely wouldn’t need to worry about being a bit late, anyone know what the latest check in time is for a 6 PM sailing out of Southampton?

 

I am over in Canada and just heard about this awful circumstance from this week in which about 20 PAX missed their cruise because of a failed train. 
 

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-city-via-rail-passengers-out-thousands-of-dollars-after-missed-cruise-ship-departures-due-to-delay-1.7023634

 

Usually final checkin is ~90 minutes before sailaway. 

One advantage to the UK is that the distances are a LOT shorter, the trains, particularly between London and the Southwest, are commuter trains, and most importantly, the train tracks aren't owned by the freight carriers as they are in Canada. 

21 hours ago, NJ&Ozzie said:

is taxi price cheaper than avanti shuttle prices?

It depends how many are travelling. For a solo, the shuttle is better value. For more than that, it starts to become cheaper to take a cab. 

I was on board for just over 2 weeks in late January/early February, in a Britannia balcony cabin, and didn't notice anything looking tired or find the service anything but impeccable. 

There was some rust on my balcony, but that's to be expected on any ship.

Like King Amo, I did notice the dehumidifiers going in the passageway on deck 2 leading back to the Britannia restaurant, but I saw the same thing in the same place on Zuiderdam (which is also a Vista class ship) both times I've been on her, so I suspect that this may be an issue with the ship design, rather than with QV. 

If you're talking about the Hyatt Place on 10th near 17th, I got a cab from the airport. Quick, easy, and affordable. (Just make sure you go to the actual taxi stand, and don't get sucked in by the touts who come at you as you exit the airport.) 

We all have different needs and opinions and wants. 

Some people are perfectly happy taking one or two pairs of shoes on a Cunard voyage. 

Others want a different pair of shoes for each evening, plus a few options for daytime. 

Many of us fall in the middle, potentially skewing one way or another. 

No one's decision on how many pairs of shoes to take impacts on anyone else, other than possibly their travelling companions. 

Do what makes you happy. If that's a single pair to wear for the entire trip, awesome. If that's two pairs per day, and an extra for Sunday, fantastic. 

Let's be kind to each other, please? 

15 hours ago, latebuyer said:

Thanks Sue, are you booking online or through a holland america cruise consultant? When i book online, it tends to say guarantee only.

It may depend on the fare class you're purchasing. I've just done a couple of test bookings as a solo, in both oceanview and balcony cabins, and some say that that only option is a guarantee, and others give me the option to select my own cabin.  

I'm a fan of Keens sandals. They're not particularly femme, but they have some models that are less 'hiking sandals' and more 'everyday sandals'. (But then again, I'm not terribly fashionable, so YMMV.)

I wear them all the time, and I don't find them to get slippy at all. 

Maybe do an overall ice blue (possibly with shimmer), with a silver accent nail? 

18 hours ago, travelloverontario said:

I am also curious as to how I will eat my meals.(or where )

Will I eat by myself in MDR? Currently I have the first 3 nights booked at a private table. I initially booked a shared table, but I have read that takes much longer to be served, and I don't know if I want to sit with all couples. I thought I would at least dine alone for a night or 2... then see if I meet some friendly cruisemates onboard that I can dine with.

 

Or... will I prefer the speed of the buffet? Or low key pool bbq? Or room service? 

 

I have no idea what it may look like for me or what I will enjoy more.

 

What have you all done?

I've done a mix of all of the above. 

Generally, as a solo traveller, cruise lines will try to seat you with other solos, or a mix, if you're on fixed dining. (And don't forget that you can always discreetly go talk to the maitre'd and ask to be moved to a different table if, after the first night, you're not enjoying the company.) 

The two times I've done fixed shared table dining (as a solo cruiser), it's been with a good mix of people - usually friends travelling together, or other solos, occasionally with a couple mixed in for good measure. (These were on 8-tops.) 

Other times, I've done a table for 2 on my own, but I found that I was less likely to make the effort to get dressed (I sail on Cunard, where there is an evening dress code) if there weren't people waiting for me to join them. 

The above is all for dinner. For breakfast/lunch, I usually eat on my own, either in the buffet or in the MDR (with the occasional room service breakfast as a treat), with my book. That gives me the right level of social interaction. 

1 hour ago, clo said:

Do you have to have a 'doctor's excuse' to bring those things on board. If you can't bring on a coffee maker....

If it's a non-heated humidifier (so, using ultrasonic vibration to create the mist, rather than a heating element, which is what usually seems to be banned), I would hope that it would be allowed, even without a doctor's note. You can get tiny ones that are smaller than a travel coffee cup. 

On 8/16/2024 at 6:24 PM, mrgabriel said:

I've never heard of this company and TBH, I don't order clothes online and try to support local stores - so I'm a lot biased against online-only retailers. It is definitely a case of buyer beware these days! Hopefully your information on eShakti will save someone disappointment. 

 

As a plus-sized gal, I'm relatively limited in in-person shopping options, especially for dressier clothes, so online (especially a vendor like this that did custom measurement clothing) is often my only option. 

I'd love to be able to shop locally more, but the pickings are often very slim. 

7 hours ago, jsn55 said:

What a shame.  I've developed some 'life rules' over the years.  Such as: don't buy a timeshare, don't purchase anything through FaceBook, don't order stuff from a faceless internet site.  And for sure don't sell your house and give your money to a company/ship that's going to be your permanent home.  Don't be a sucker, P.T. Barnum was right.  

They were previously very well run - I had successfully ordered 4 or 5 times from them in the past, as had many friends, hence why I chose to order from them again, and why I'm spreading the info, because there are a lot of positive reviews out there from a few years ago. 

Seconding taking the Silver Line - I did this last fall, and it was easy and fast (although depending on where you get off, you have to pay close attention to the station names on the walls, since the Silver Line runs underground.)