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On 4/11/2024 at 9:14 AM, TheBandit said:

Anything? Ok, here we go:

 

What… is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

African or European?

You would be really unlucky not to make it.

Simon

18 hours ago, John Bull said:

Remember, clocks go forward one hour at 2am on sunday.

So we get an hour's less rain 

 

JB 🙂

If you are missing the rain, campaign for the re-introduction of the Julian calendar and you can have another 13 days!!😁⛈️

Simon

We don't do speciality dining, but MDR was fine and Horizon buffet pretty good. Our revelation was The Quays. Great for a snack (especially lunchtimeish), or have two portions for a bigger meal...they do a great breakfast too.

As others have said Flam railway is great, but sells out quick. If you are going to Gerainger, do the trip to Mt. Dalsnibba..much cheaper on your own than through the ship https://www.geirangerfjord.no/bus-tour-to-mt-dalsnibba

Whats hair??!!😁

Simon

My only point to add is, don't forget the two cruises are totally seperate as far as RCI are concerned, so on the last night of your first cruise, check your bill to make sure its correct...it does not carry over to the next cruise.

As said, in the US, you have to get off the ship to go through Homeland. In Europe you usually just stay on the ship, get your new card given to you (sometimes on the last night), so you can go and explore if you want. In Barcelona, you used to get a card so you could jump the security line to get back on board...don't know if they still do. Also in Barcelona, there is a duty free shop after security, so you could buy a bottle or two and take it on the ship, as they don't have the scanners set up on the ship...just saying!

Simon

1 hour ago, bjlbbk said:

For Oasis - April 14th - A sea day was added and Falmouth, Jamaica was moved to Day 5 (Jamaica was originally scheduled for Day 6).

I was hoping we'd get a alternate port, but looks like another sea day. Just what we want as we are doing the b2b TransAtlantic with 10 sea days!

Simon

Hi Capt

Yes, I’m aware of the trolleys…we are planning to use them too.

thanks 

Simon

1 hour ago, Cienfuegos said:

In at least some prior occasions where the MetroMover was closed, buses were provided for the route.  I don't know if that will be the case this time.

I saw that…hopefully if it’s closed when we are there, there will be buses🤞

Simon

Thanks for the links. I found most of those, but I found a couple of local newspaper websites that seemed to infer that the Inner loop was being closed for some time. I take it that hasn't happened yet, so hopefully we'll be OK.

Simon

7 minutes ago, SNemeth said:

Is a tablet of soap the same thing as a bar of soap or a different product that is carried on European cruises?  I haven't heard it called a tablet before and always find the differences in the English language very interesting.  

It’s the same thing. I thought about putting ‘bar of soap’, but for some reason I thought the term ‘tablet’ was used in the US. Also the soap is usually round, so it doesn’t look like a bar…more confusion!!!

Simon

Thanks for the reply 

Simon

Bit of an odd one...can you still get tablets of soap from the room stewards on the Oasis if you don't want to use the squirty stuff in the bottles on the wall?

Just asking, as we were on P&O at Xmas and they've stopped supplying tablets of soap.

Simon

We did it to kill time in 2018. Tour left Cape Liberty about 0930, went round the city and had one stop by the WTC to look at the pools for about 45 mins. Got dropped at Newark about 2pm. Its as good a way as any to kill time if you have a lateish flight.

Simon

Found a couple of articles online that seem to contradict each other about the Inner loop being closed this spring. I'm really not sure if its open or not, though I believe the whole system is currently being upgraded. Can someone please tell me what is really going on (hopefully a local!) as we are planning to use it during our 4 days in Miami before our cruise on 14th April.

Thanks

Simon

58 minutes ago, Island2Dweller said:

  Additionally,  there is nothing to see at the start,  unless you are interested in a vast cavalacade of trucks getting onto ferries...

It used to be a living for some of us!!! Even more fun when the French blockaded Calais so you queued for the tunnel instead...ah, happy days!

Simon

No USB's, no UK 3 pin sockets, so bring a couple of travel adaptors and USB adaptors. Couple of outlets in a little 'pod' on the desk, others under the bed (have a hunt for them!). The UK plug in the bathroom is a shaver socket 2 pin.

Simon

10 minutes ago, DennysDad said:

I love a "Free Internet quickie"!

6 minutes ago, Harrisonkid said:

Quickies can be expensive 🤑

See post #17!

Simon

Fastest is technically helicopter! However, I'm assuming you haven't got megabucks, so I'd recommend the National Express coach. https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

If you are arriving at City or Horizon cruise terminal, you could walk it to the coach station in 15 mins, otherwise its a quick cab ride. Coaches to LHR will drop you at T5, T4 or the Central Bus station which serves T2&3. Usually the same coach goes to all 3 stops. Cost is around £15-£20 (but can be cheaper) and the trip takes around 2 1/2 hrs. Book as soon as you can, as lots of cruisers use this service (I've just done a dummy booking to check prices in October(!), so if you are travelling this year, go for it!).

Simon

If you go into Google Maps or Google Earth and search for "Southampton Coach station" it will show you exactly where it is on Harbour Parade. Zoom out a bit and you will see loads of hotels in the area.

Simon

5 hours ago, travelbuds said:

Curious why Elizabeth line picked over Heathrow Express from Paddington to LHR? Thanks.

Basically ‘cos it’s cheaper. Although the advance booking price is £15 (so about the same) the ‘walk up’ price is £25, so nearly double. As they say “you pays your money and makes your choice “.

Simon

Your plan Southampton to London is  as good a plan as any. However, your hotel is just up the road from Paddington station, so I would say a better plan to LHR is cab to the station and then Elizabeth line train to LHR (about £13ea). A bit more expensive than the coach, but a lot quicker. If you are worried about getting on and off trains, don't forget our stations have raised platforms, so you are more or less are on the same level as the doors.

Simon

They are normally a bit cheaper if you book ahead and it will also guarantee you a seat. The only thing it might be worth doing, is to pay the extra (£5 I think) that allows you to change your ticket to a later service if you happen to get held up (eg late arrival, queues in immigration etc). If this happens, there are National Express offices in all the terminals.

Simon

1 hour ago, travelbuds said:

The train seems to be mentioned many times in these posts involving transportation between London and Southampton. Wondering why coach or bus travel such as National Express is not mentioned. Just curious as I will be staying at the Southampton Holiday Inn after arriving at Heathrow earlier in the day. Thanks.

The best way from London (the place) to Southampton is the train. However, if you are coming direct from Heathrow to Southampton, the best way is the National Express coach (as we have mentioned many times!). If you are staying at the HI at Herbert Walker Ave, you can walk from Southampton coach station to the HI in 10 mins.

Simon

9 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

 

Because there are no booking incentives or discounts for consecutive cruises you can sometimes find that a particular cabin type is a good deal for one and a terrible rate for the next.  I've sometimes had a balcony then moved to an interior then into a suite.  I shop deals and I won't pay outrageous fares just to keep the same cabin.

 

 

True..we did one cruise where we swapped from a balcony to a junior suite as it was much cheaper for some odd reason.

Simon

No incentives except (usually) lunch on turnaround day. Book the same cabin for all 3 if you can. If you do, tell your steward not to worry about doing the full turnaround day clean on your cabin...do it the next day...they'll appreciate it.

If you have got to change cabin, ask your steward to leave yours until last on turnround day. Similarly, go and find your new steward and ask them to do your new cabin first so you can move. You can either move yourself (staff will lend you a  hotel trolley to help) or staff will do it for you.

Although cabins won't be available until 1pm or so, as  a consecutive cruiser, you can go to your cabin when you like...stairwell doors are shut, not locked.

You will get a letter advising you of arrangements for your cruise eg when you get your new card, if you have to get off, what to do if you want to go ashore etc.

Most important..check your account! It will not roll over, so check for errors on the last night of each cruise as you would normally.

Best of all...watch everyone else get off whilst you stay on!!😁

Simon