wendyp247

Thanks for the update. It seems we'll most likely be ok for our August 14 flight, our return in September will be questionable.  We will not worry about return flight at this point. Just very happy to make it our on August 14. 

Do you think the arguments and the  decision will be drug out to August 2? 

Currently BA is in court arguing their appeal of the courts decision. I spent a sleepless night last night not know yet if my flight will be canceled.  I am hoping for the best, and have looked at alternate flights but can't proceed until a strike is called. 

Anyone hear about any updates on possible BA pilot strike ? When do you think  they'll go on strike if they do strike? I know by UK law they have to give 14 days notice. I have planned back to back cruises from Southampton. My current flight is scheduled on August 14, , yes I do have insurance that will  cover the strike,  but I have  planned this over a year ago. I am not concerned about my return flight at this time , just trying to make it to Southampton.I'll worry about return flight after my cruises.  

Thanks for your input, I have been distracted , I am supposed to fly out on British Airways and now there maybe a pilots strike. I am trying to find out  my alternatives  if there is a strike so I can get on my cruise to Iceland. 

I just read British Airways pilots may go on strike. We are scheduled to fly BA on August 14. What are your thought about the strike, do you think it will happen?  The news is also talking about the London airports going on strike.  Will Gatwick be involved in that strike. Yes, we have travel insurance but I’m not sure if it covers pilots strikes . 🤔

I  just read British Airways pilots may go on strike. We are scheduled to fly BA on August 14. What are your thought about the strike, do you think it will happen?  The news is also talking about the London airports going on strike.  Will Gatwick be involved in that strike. Yes, we have travel insurance but I’m not sure if it covers pilots strikes . 🤔

Going to Reykjavik on a cruise.Only 1 full day there. Which would you choose for a tour ,either Golden Circle or South Coast and Why. TIA

Thanks JB, we will plan to take the 9 am coach as recommend by you.  The train that day is 44  GBP  compared to the coach fare of  5GBP. I appreciate your help.

We will plan to take National  Express from London Victoria at 9 am on a Sunday, is that adequate time to get to Southampton , and then take a taxi to pier?  I’m reading about congested roads and that 2 1/2 is not realistic  for travel time. For those from the area,  do you think 9 am coach allow enough time to get to ship or should we take the 8 am coach  ? Thanks for your advice. I live in Orlando and understand congested roads and highways . 

I have them booked later this year. They are dropping us  off at  Sagrada Famila after the tour so we can take a guided tour inside. They seem very accommodating

. 

On 5/18/2019 at 2:36 PM, wheezedr said:

Agree with JB that the National Express bus is a wonderful option. We just took a cab to Victoria coach so no real difficulty.  Met another couple on the bus so we shared a Taxi van from Southampton bus terminal to the ship.  Aid £5 each for the bus.

What time did you leave London and what time did you arrive in Southampton ./We are booking the bus to Southampton,  Was it easy to find your bus. I am booking the   extended leg  room on the bus, is it worth the extra money? 

I read a lot of not so favorable reviews on National Express . We’ll be traveling from Central London, Victoria Station  to Southampton on day of cruise(Sunday).  Looking for advise  if should we take National Express or hire a private car .  What are pros and cons. Planning on taking the 9:00am bus to Southampton Thanks

Can  anyone who has taken International Friends with a stop at Stonehenge personally  recommend it or say don't take it and why. Trying to decide to  take International Friends or just take National Express to Southampton

, it will be on a Sunday in August. 

Thanks for the correction I wouldn’t want to mislead anyone 

Yes I am arriving at at Gatwick 

On 6/26/2019 at 11:29 AM, EllieinNJ said:

Before I start I have asked this question on Trip Advisor and got plenty of different answers.  I originally planned on taking the 48 hr. Hop On Hop Off bus that included a Thames River cruise and some walking tours and getting on and off where I liked.  Most reviews said that the traffic was so bad it was faster to walk and also the lines at the different stops were so very long.  So now I had to do some quick research and come up with a three day plan before my cruise on Aug. 29th.

 

DAY 1 Arrive Heathrow 9:20am.  Take National Express bus to Victoria Coach Sta.  Walk to my hotel, Best Western Buckingham Palace Road.  After settling in, walk or take tube or local bus to either V&A museum or Harods.  Then walk through Hyde Park to Marble Arch and then walk to Selfridges.  Take tube or local bus (NOT WALK) back to Victoria.  Too ambitious?

 

DAY 2 Walk or take bus to Westminster Bridge, walk across to take a Megabus tour (2 hours) near the Eye.  Then take either fast clipper or Thames river cruise to Greenwich.  Do Cutty Sark boat and possibly Emerites Air Tram.  Take Light Rail back to Victoria and walk back to hotel.  Too ambitious?

 

Day 3 Walk to Buckingham Palace to see changing of the Guard.  Then on to Churchill War Rooms.  Then on to Trafalgar Square and possibly Covent Gardens.  Take tube or bus back to hotel.  Too ambitious?

 

Day 4 Walk to Victoria Coach Sta. to take National Express bus to Southampton.

 

Some said not to do anything indoors on arrival day so can just do walking and/or tube.  Many said the tubes are very hot and no A/C but others said the local buses were slow because of traffic.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

We are doing something similar that you have proposed.  After some research on Trip Advisor, we  are going to take a train to Victoria Station rather than  National Express.  It was strongly suggested on Trip Advisor by locals not to take the bus to Victoria Station because  the traffic is awful . They said it's more cramped and after a long flight we'll  appreciate the train ride more, There's no need to take the Express train as it's not much faster and not worth the extra $$. We are are leaning towards taking an all day tour on Evans Tour that encompasses all the main highlights the day after arrival.  We'll be tired  so this way  all we have to do is show up at the meeting point. Our  tickets for the various places will be purchased and we  don't have to worry about getting lost and wasting our time. It includes a cruise on Thames .This goes against trip advisors recommendations, but sounds like a plan for us. The second full day we are there, we are going to wing it, go to Harrods, and see some things  that we saw on the tour that we'd like to see up close and personal. 

Then next day we are taking International Friends to Southampton with a stop at Stonehenge. They  have pick up at hotel which is a plus. I hope your enjoy your trip 

Thanks this is a big help. I think we will try the HO HO in Dublin. 

Can anyone recommend a tour of the City of Dublin, that isn't on the HO HO bus. I was told  you'll sit a lot in traffic on the HO HO bus. TIA 

I am new to NCL, I tried booking  Specialty dining, which is one of my perks  but everything for a party of 2 is booked except for 9-9:30 slots. There is availability for parties of 4. Any suggestions on booking my reservations? Cruise is in September Thanks 

90 minutes is National Exress’s estimate for trip. What’s your estimate? I live in Orlando and understand awful traffic with Disney and the major construction on I-4 

Where are you  located in Orlando?  

27 minutes ago, ducklite said:

As an FYI, your hotel will not likely be ready when you arrive--if you are on the non-stop MCO to LGW, taking mass transit you'll arrive at your hotel about noon or so, perhaps a bit earlier depending on the lines for immigration.

 

Are you staying in Kensington or South Kensington?

 

Do you actually want to tour Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, and Parliment or just see them from the outside outside?  What days of the week and month will you be in London?  

 

I wouldn't just blow off your arrival day.  Drop your bags, have some lunch, and then take a walk to the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.  There's a pub that we like called the Greyhound around the corner from Whole Foods on Young St.  We also enjoy the Hereford Arms Pub on Gloucester St. a couple of blocks south of Cromwell Road.

 

Let me know if you actually want to tour all of those other places (I don't think time will permit, and depending on when you are visiting, there might no be tours on offer for Buckingham Palace and Parliment.)

 

 

Just now, wendyp247 said:

Thanks for your quick reply. We are staying at Holiday Inn London - Kensington Wrights Lane Kensington London GB W8 5SP, which I believe is South Kensington. The only thing that is a must is  to tour is Tower of London and I want skip the line tickets for that. We'll be in London August  arriving on Thursday to Gatwick and leaving Sunday. Since we aren't in a hurry to get to hotel, we are thinking of taking the National Express to Victoria Station and then cab to hotel. The train is only 30 minutes faster and more money.  WE were going to explore around our hotel that afternoon. I think the Victoria and Albert Museum isn't too far from our hotel. We were thinking of Victoria and Albert Museum also. We have been to Natural History Museums elsewhere and would like to see more thing pertinent to England. 

Just now, wendyp247 said:

 

Thanks for your quick reply. We are staying at Holiday Inn London - Kensington Wrights Lane Kensington London GB W8 5SP, which I believe is South Kensington. The only thing that is a must is  to tour is Tower of London and I want skip the line tickets for that. We'll be in London August  arriving on Thursday to Gatwick and leaving Sunday. Since we aren't in a hurry to get to hotel, we are thinking of taking the National Express to Victoria Station and then cab to hotel. The train is only 30 minutes faster and more money.  WE were going to explore around our hotel that afternoon. I think the Victoria and Albert Museum isn't too far from our hotel. We were thinking of Victoria and Albert Museum also. We have been to Natural History Museums elsewhere and would like to see more thing pertinent to England.