Shaporama

That’s ok. We lived in Washington, DC for decades (before moving to California) and have had plenty of experience with long, humid summers. My wife says she has had so many “better hair” days since moving west.

Thank you!

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply! And for putting me at ease.

We are considering cruising Auckland to Sydney on Viking in early February 2025. My wife is concerned about heat and humidity that time of year. We understand that Sydney can get uncomfortable, but much of the cruise will be along the NZ coast, across to Tasmania then Melbourne up to Sydney. What temps and humidity can we generally expect along the coast of the South Island, and also in Melbourne and in Sydney? Also, any seasonal weather hazards (e.g. cyclones) that are typical that time of year in those destinations? Thanks for any insights you can share.

Thank you!

Thanks for posting! We are off to Norway in 2 weeks (Viking Venus - Search for the Northern Lights). We are looking forward to spending several days in Tromso (some call it "the Paris of the North") and also chose to book our pre-cruise activities in Bergen rather than Oslo based on its scenic reputation and also its proximity to the fjords.

Thanks Dave! Thats helpful information. Also, I had read that condensation can be an issue when returning a camera to a warm cabin, as you had experienced. Did you take any precautions after it happened to you? Some recommend enclosing your camera in a plastic bag, or similar pouch) before returning from the outside to enable the camera's internal temperature to stablize. Andy

We are off to (we hope) view and photograph the Aurora Borealis in Norway in January, 2024 (Viking Venus cruise). I've just learned about this inexpensive (US$20) lens warmer from Haida, designed to help prevent lens fogging during cold temperatures: https://www.amazon.com/Haida-HD4635-Heater-Anti-Fog-Settings/dp/B097P8PNQS?&linkCode=sl1&tag=peta0c-20&linkId=4c0f38bd5e6dc248bcafee909a86a692&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl Has anyone used this, or something similar, with any success?

Yes, thats correct. We are reserved at the HGI connected to Terminals 2&3. I agree that dropping the bags at the hotel first would probably make more sense than hauling them into London then back out again. We can then use the Heathrow Express to and fro. Thanks!

Thank you for your suggestion Globaliser. We are returning to California via United Airlines which as you may know, operates from Terminal 2. We've booked a room at the Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow, adjacent to Terminals 2 and 3, and are hopeful that will ensure a smooth transfer on the day of our flight. While your recommendation intrigues me, I do not believe my traveling companions will go for it, and frankly, we have found the London trains to be only slightly more reliable than those here in the U.S., thus I believe we will stay with our plan to wake up at the airport.

Yes, well. . . Everyone has different tolerances for stress. I choose to awaken at the airport, have a leisurely breakfast then make my way towards my early afternoon flight, through what I know will be a security gauntlet at Heathrow (based on prior experiences). So, my original question is: can anyone recommend a private car hire to meet us dockside at Tilbury then ferry us to London? Thanks

Thanks Globabliser. We are staying overnight at Heathrow before departing the following afternoon. So we should have enough time to enjoy a day in London. Granted this is way too little time to really take advantage of so many things that London has to offer, but we've been there multiple times before and plan on returning for longer visits in the future. Thanks!

I2D, can you provide any recommendations regarding private car service from the Tilbury docks to Paddington Station? We are four of us with a commensurate amount of luggage. We are thinking of leaving the bags at the Kept Luggage counter at Paddington then siteseeing for the day before flying home to the states. Thanks!

Thank you to all for the excellent suggestions. Island2, here in the states it would often be: 1] unlikely to find a locker large enough to accommodate a big suitcase (we will have been on an almost 2 week cruise); and/or 2] foolhardy to leave your bag in such facilities. How can we assure ourselves that this would be a safe alternative?

We are thinking of doing the same thing in early February 2024. Did you manage to squeeze in a short London visit before your flight home? Our ship (Viking Venus) docks in Tilbury in the early morning. I am wondering if its doable to debark the ship at 8 am then transfer to our hotel (Hilton Garden at Terminal 2), drop our bags and take the Express train or tube into London for a days tour and meals. Also, we are responsible for our own transfers, any suggestions on the most efficient method of travel from Tilbury to Heathrow would be helpful. We would be more interested in saving time, instead of saving money. Thanks much!