Morgans

You will be spoilt for choice - dozens of places to eat . There is a pleasant public beach right in the town. The old town has some very pleasant restaurants where you will have a decent choice of wines.

If you mean the Citadel in Ajaccio, then I believe it is closed to the public as it belongs to the French Army. You can walk around it however and there is a nice viewpoint. There are several Citadels in Corsica.

If you want an interesting visit, then Napoleon's former home is worth seeing.

Just a reminder that the Ocean Liners Exhibition has started at the V & A Museum. From the museum's website it looks to be extremely interesting........£18 entry.

We plan to fit this in ASAP !

Is there a huge difference between cabin prices for balconies/windows? It can get very chilly and very wet which could make the balcony a waste of money - also what time of the year? We went in August one year and it poured down every day........but it can also be beautiful So it's tricky to advise. Certainly make sure you have at least a large window !

We have stayed in both areas and If budget is important, you will be absolutely fine in Mestre. It's quite a pleasant little area and you will still have lots of time to see Venice and go sightseeing. You will still be able to see Venice in the evening if you wish but bear in mind that Venice 'closes' down early at night anyway. Our hotel in Mestre had an exceptionally excellent restaurant - certainly as good (and possibly better) than in the centre at half the cost. You will be fine in Mestre.

That's the one - (was a Jury's & now a Hilton & some of the signage at the airport still uses the name Jury's ) but a pretty decent hotel for an overnight stay and not far from the terminal.

Good point about travelling to Southampton the same night .....hadn't thought of that option!

Because of your fairly late arrival I would stay at an airport hotel. The Hilton Garden Inn is very close to Terminal 2 and is we found it very comfortable when we stayed there last year. We took the Hoppa to it and you get dropped off at the front door. (I know some people aren't fans of the Hoppa service but we have always found it perfectly ok.) You can then get straight off to Southampton the following day from the coach station.

You can check in on line and also print out your boarding pass (or down load it to phone) between 30 days and upto 2 hrs before flight. This will save a lot of time.

The monorail connection between the terminals is very quick - only a matter of a few minutes.

Assuming your flight is on time you should be ok. As post above, check baggage regulations for sizes/weights etc.

BTW - Madeira is gorgeous! (Ensure you go upto Monte via the Cable Car.)

Echo the posts above - book your tickets early. Seeing a play there is a brilliant experience.

Regarding the tour, they are very good and to be recommended but you will be shown a lot of what you will see anyway if you end up attending a play ie the Stage & surrounds, the seating etc etc. Behind the scenes, there is also an exhibition of the History of the building, Tudor life & times and some of the costumes used in many of the productions. It's possible you may also see members of the cast if there are any rehearsals ongoing. Plus you get a guide who is usually very knowledgable and entertaining.

If you haven't booked accommodation, there is a Holiday Inn Express nearby and also a Club Quarters hotel across the Millennium Bridge. Both are very near & walkable (few minutes)to the Globe if you don't want to spend time travelling the morning after you arrive. Club Quarters is a very pleasant hotel and has standard rooms as well as some that are larger & have a "kitchenette " so you can do a little self catering if you prefer. Also is excellently situated for Tube, buses and HoHo.

Well, not really. Nothing wrong with staying there, but proximity to City Airport is not a particular reason to do so.

 

To get to Tower Gateway from City Airport you need to change at Canning Town. Jump on the Jubilee line there and you'll be at Westminster as quick as taking the DLR to Tower Gateway.

 

 

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I was thinking of OP jumping in a taxi or Car Service - approx 20 mins from City Airport to Tower Hotel - easy Peasy.

Any luck yet ?

I would stay in Southampton with a day (or two) trips to London - much easier. The Historic Dockyard at Portsmouth is superb and not to be missed. Southampton is a very pleasant base with hotel prices much cheaper than London. Recommend The Pig in the Wall, Premier Inn Westquay or the Holiday Inn. (I think I am correct in saying that P Inn have offers at the moment.)

If you're flying into City airport you are near the Tower of London so it might make sense to stay near there. The Tower Hotel is very nice and very well positioned, as is the Grange Tower and Hilton Doubletree.

Of the two you mentioned, the Royal Horseguards is in a nicer area.

P & O and Cunard both depart from Southampton and are excellent. Their Baltic cruises are very well regarded.

Thank you for the link - now I know. To Europeans, this is a type of white sauce rather than a 'gravy.'

I have never seen crispy fried chicken on World Cruise segments - but if you're in the Grills you could always request. Could you tell me what is "White Country Gravy."

Not sure which is Princess & P&O (A or B) I wouldnt think that there would be many children on board as schools won't have broken up for the summer holidays then. Also the cruises which mainly attract families with children tend to be the Mediterranean ones.

Oslo - you can take the small ferry (from very near where the ship docks) over the fjord to Bygdoy where the Folk Museum and the Viking Ship Museum are situated. The Folk Museum is extremely interesting- houses from years and years ago and a Stave Church. Lots of things to see & do. From there walk to the Viking Ship museum and return the way you have come, back to the ship on the little ferry(pay on board.) it's a good chance to see some extremely interesting sights and also a very upmarket area of the city with some mega priced, beautiful houses. A lovely trip.

You will also be docked very near the City Hall which is worth popping into and seeing where the Nobel prizes are given out. There was an exhibition of the Sami people when we were there which was worth seeing.

Oslo is a lovely city (not at all like described by Jo Nesbo in his books!) - one of our favourite ports but it can be eye wateringly expensive. You will love it.

It is marked on the ones I'm looking at but in tiny sideways writing- near the East Bar on Sky Deck. It is very high up. We have eaten there and it was very good indeed so we can recommend it. We had a central table but I am almost certain there are window seats. The East Bar is a lovely venue for pre/post drinks.

Starting in Dublin and finishing in Amsterdam is a bit awkward too. Classed as a British Isles cruise but not a great deal of Britain in it.

Glad you enjoyed your time in the UK - have thoroughly enjoyed reading about your experiences here. Durham is my home area originally and I am very proud of it so particularly enjoyed reading your write up. (Bill Bryson, the writer is a great fan of the city too and he has connections with the University & the Cathedral. )

Many thanks for your review - like your trip - it must have taken a while to complete.

Lots to do in Marseille- some beautiful things to buy too. Recommend trip over to the Chateau d'If. Go for it!

If anyone is interested in Roman artefacts, we recommend a visit to the Museum of London at the Barbican - they have some fascinating articles and displays there - much more up close and accessible than at the British Museum. Would also recommend the Guildhall Museum as above.

Noise from the engines or generally loud passenger noise ? - hard surfaces?

But remember it's not just cruise ship numbers- Athens and Greece get packed with weekenders from Europe and package holiday makers throughout most of the year - it tends to quieten down at the end of October.

Piraeus port is one of the biggest in Europe with cruise ships and ferries from all over Europe. Athens can get very difficult in the height of the summer but it should be quietening down slightly by October but will still be busy.