Billish

Correct.

With current flight disruptions, I think 2 days is extremely sensible. Flight cancellations are ubiquitous, and trying to find another flight is not easy.

Or, use the TV in your room. Super easy.

So, testing three days before a cruise is just theatre. Do away with it. But, testing immediately before boarding is undoubtedly the best option. However, I don't see the cruise lines reverting back to that protocol.

But the IC is down 10 decks or so, and has less choice than the buffet, so not an option for breakfast for my DW.

Yes, I totally agree. However, we normally have breakfast, lunch, and snacks from the buffet, so we did seem to be spending a lot of time walking to the buffet and back. And, sometimes I would bring my wife pastries etc from the buffet for her breakfast if she felt like eating on the balcony, so that would require me walking to the buffet and back twice. Once to bring breakfast for her, and then again for my cooked breakfast.

So, basically, a squall !

https://www.princess.com/html/global/disclaimers/crew-appreciation/ In black and white from Princess.

I'm not disagreeing with you, and I would always fly in at least one day early, especially if it was a TA flight. I just think we might be frightening the OP a bit ! If they are flying on a direct flight to LHR, arriving at 7 am, there is a fair amount of lee way. But, as you pointed out about the high temperatures, "s**t" hapoens.

No shower for three consecutive days ! At least the MDR was almost empty, so personal hygiene was not an issue. The ship arrived 12 hours late due to the adverse weather conditions.

Good advice. The issues at LHR are also being seen at other European airports as well.

Up a massive 2% in the UK today, so not even a bounce !

Although Norwegian have already declared that most of their European cruises will not require tests, as of August 1st.

During the force 10 I referred to earlier, you physically could not have a shower, due to movement of the ship !

To be fair, I doubt that the same 40c heat will still be here in September. Well, depending on the timing and day of the week, about 90 minutes, so not too bad. I agree, but this is a flight booked through Princess, and therefore it is possible that the ship will delay departure, depending on the number of pax involved.

I agree, I quite like to feel a bit of motion, although when we sailed from Lisbon back to Southampton in a force 10 for three days, I was quite pleased to be mid-ships !

Where is the first port of call ? And what is your eta into LHR? Normally you woukd be put on the next available flight to the first port, but with the current flight chaos, that could be two or three days later.

Not a criticism or anything like that, but I am intrigued by why you want to be as far forward as possible. The last time we had a forward cabin, we must have walked miles to the buffet and back. Good exercise I know, but I personally would not choose a forward balcony again.

Have you had any further response from Princess/P&O as to how you and your aunt were treated ?

Our living room hit 38c yesterday afternoon. Not looking forward to today !

Also worth pointing out that on some cruise lines, eg Princess, the autotips are pooled amongst the fleet, not just the individual ship. Increasing the autotip will therefore have only a miniscule impact on crew remmuneration.

Blue Mosque is open, but with a great deal of scaffolding about.

With potentially 1000 people using the wifi in the terminal, you are going to struggle !

For those of you who still use Fahrenheit, the magic 100!

The people in the bar have probably been up since 2 a.m., so really they are just having the equivalent of a lunchtime pint ! And a full "English" washed down with a pint is a great way to start your holiday !