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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

There should be a link to them on the same page you printed your setsail pass from. If not, don't worry, you can get them at the port too. Simon

I believe it was Oscar Wilde who said “the English and the Americans are a common people, separated only by their language “! This title is perfectly innocent over here…personally, I think you’ve all got dirty minds!!😜 Simon

You know us Brits…well known for the ‘double entendres’!😁 Simon

Thought so...thanks for the quick answer. Simon

As D+, I get 2 days free internet per cruise. Do these two days have to be consecutive, or can they be, say, the 2nd and 5th day? I think you can have them one day at a time, but just want to check. Simon

Thanks for a great review…looking forward to our 3 weeks on Oasis in April. Thanks also (and fla) for comments on tips. Simon

Hi, been following along as we are on Oasis in April and have 4 days in Miami prior. We are from the UK and have a totally different tip system to the US, so just need a bit of advice. Whilst we sometimes get a service charge, we would not normally tip if there is one...do you tip extra, or is it bad not to? (because 20% is a hell of a chunk!)(and thats presumably on top of the 6% sales tax which gets added on after rather than included in the 'advertised' price...weird system!) Thanks for an interesting 'live' thread. Simon

Didn't know that...thanks for the tip as we are going to Tesco tomorrow to get our money for our April trip. Simon

TransAtlantics are usually around 10 days with a day in port, usually at Funchal in Madeira, so that breaks it up a bit, but if you like sea days they are fine. We have only done one transPacific from Sydney to LA. The first half was great, as apart from the first 2 days from Sydney to NZ, we more or less did a port day followed by a sea day. After we left Tahiti though we had 4 days up to Hawaii (and one of these we had twice as we crossed the international date line) and then 4 days from Hawaii to LA. As this was a 29 day cruise, the last 10 days definately made it a cruise 'of two halves'! Simon

There will be plenty of taxis there...its about £20-£25 and takes about 20 mins. Simon

Just one side note on dining. We have been on Anthem a few times (last summer was latest) and we have never eaten in the MDR because the Windjammer is brilliant and the best in the fleet (IMHO!!). The choice is brilliant and you can have any food combination you want and plenty of it!! Don't be afraid to try...you may be pleasently surprised! Simon

Either that or she's sunk!!

Probably in cold storage waiting for Portside BBQ to be built! Simon

Thanks Dan. I start getting it from tree pollen over here any time now (oh joy!), so I’ll definitely be bringing my meds! Simon

Thanks for that TT. Like I said, I’ll bring my meds ‘just in case’. Arriving in Houston in 8 weeks and really looking forward to it! Simon

Bit of an odd question, but here goes! We are doing a bit of a road trip round south Texas (bounded by Houston, Galveston, Austin & Waco) in April before our cruise. I suffer from hayfever which is mainly caused by oil seed rape (Canola in the US) and just wanted to know if Canola is grown in that sort of area. I'll probably bring my hayfever medication 'just in case', but as they say, forewarned is forearmed! Simon

There is no way I’d aim for a 0700 train (and I know the way to the station!). Realistically 0800 is the earliest I’d go for, but even that could be tight. Simon

Wonders will never cease!!😁 Simon PS I'm semi retired now too JB...sold the truck 2 weeks ago!

Ah-ha! That changes things a bit. I'd still go for the train, but definately decide on a time and book early...you'll see the prices below. You should easily be able to get a train by 0800, so thats the first one I'll show. The latest day I could book is Thursday 18th April (12 weeks ahead), so think seriously about doing this. Walk up fare this morning (any train) £52 Thurs 18th April dep 0800 arr 0926 £23.50 0815 0951 £52 0830 0953 £20.90 0900 1024 £16.10 then every 30 mins 0930 1049 £14.50 So the later you leave it, the cheaper it is. Having said that, the first 2 or 3 trains could be quite crowded as essentially this is a commuter route. If it works in with your timings, I'd be inclined to for the 0930 train as it gives you a bit of wiggle room, but its up to you. Note : if you pre book you MUST go on that train. Simon

As it’s a Sunday I don’t think the station will be busy. Also the trains will be running to a Sunday timetable…possibly half as many trains as a work day, but at least one or two an hour as this is a mainline route…I can check that later. As to buying tickets at the station, this is not a problem, but you will be paying a fair bit more. I think the walk up fare is around £40. I’ll look into it tomorrow and let you know. Simon

True…I assumed they meant from LHR rather than central London, in which case train would be a better option. Simon

National Express is by far the best option. There is no viable train service, a car service will cost you an arm and a leg. If you do go with Nat. Express, don't forget to pay the extra £5 so you can change your booking at the airport in case you are delayed...there is a Nat. Express office in each terminal at LHR if you need to do this. Simon

We have been on ships for the last two Christmases. Xmas '22 we were on Ventura for a 5 week cruise to the Caribbean. Food had not been good from the off and lots of people were complaining. I was dying to meet the Exec Chef so I could tell him how to cook a roast potato!! Anyway, Xmas dinner was OK, except for main course (2 slices turkey, 1 'roast' potato that was more like a big boiled potato, 2 (count them!) 2 brussels sprouts, half a carrot, one pile of brown stuff that I think was stuffing, another pile of brown stuff(?) and something that looked like half a fish finger that I couldn't identify!!) and then we had dessert. I had a trio of chocolate desserts (fine), someone had Xmas pud (which they said was fine) and someone opted for sherry trifle as "I haven't had that in years". What turned up was 2 digestive biscuits with 3 strawberries and some whipped cream. We said to the waiter "whats this" and he said it was the chefs deconstructed sherry trifle (with no jelly, custard, sherry or trifle!!) So this Xmas '23 we went on Iona...lightning couldn't strike twice, could it? All meals were fine...except Xmas! First, you were asked 2 months before what sitting you would like (5.30 or 8.30). Despite asking for 5.30, we got 8.30, but as some people would have booked speciality restaurants, we asked to be changed, which we did. So 5.30 in Horizon buffet, which was set up as a MDR...tablecloths, waiter service etc and 4 bottles of wine on a table for 4(2 red, 2 white) which was a surprise!...a bottle each (and boy, did we need it!). The meal was much the same as the year before and service was desperately slow (table next to us had finished their main course before we even got ours!) Now what gets me, is why do they have to bugger up Xmas day dinner in this way. Why not just make it a Celebration night with one of the options being turkey dinner? They know how to do this...if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it. So in conclusion, I'd say, the cruise as such will be fine, but don't hold out too much hope on Xmas day dinner. Simon