gumshoe958

You did the right thing. Was this less than 28 days ago? Because if so, for a 90 minute delay you should be entitled to claim a full refund under the Delay Repay scheme. You claim it online from the train company whose train was cancelled (maybe CrossCountry in your case?), NOT the one you booked with (LNER).

There’s the free Coral Way trolley which stops on Biscayne Blvd right outside Bayside, though it’s about a 5 minute walk to the terminal from the closest port stop.

Only if you buy The Key.

No, on some ships the MDR now does only brunch on sea days, not separate breakfast and lunch.

Sensible choice. Clapham Junction is an extremely busy commuter station (always used to be the busiest in Britain by number of trains) and isn’t ideal for cruisers dragging large bags. Trains only stop for a few seconds so it’s always a mad rush to get on, and there’s no guarantee of good seats - or even any seats if it’s busy and the train is full when it leaves Waterloo. At Waterloo you should have plenty of time to board, find seats, store your bags and relax. And good news about the tickets!

Age is just a number, it’s all about attitude. Virgin is very much aimed at the young at heart, unlike certain lines which can feel like floating nursing homes with activities to match. If you like good food, slightly risqué entertainment and an upbeat vibe you’ll love it.

Advance tickets can only be used to travel to and from the specified stations on the specified train. So if you were caught joining a train at Clapham Junction with an Advance ticket from Waterloo to Southampton, you’d be in trouble. Now the chances of anyone noticing are slim so YMMV on whether it’s worth the risk. But it’s not without risk, and being caught can have serious consequences.

Yes, it is confusing! There is an alternative route from Victoria to Southampton, using Southern trains (not Southwestern). But it’s much slower - nearly 3 hours - and does indeed involve changing trains en route. Another option is to take a Southern train from Victoria to Clapham Junction (about 5-10 mins) and pick up the Southwestern train from Waterloo to Southampton there. But I don’t think you’ll ever be offered a cheap Advance ticket for that particular route as it involves two different train companies. So if you want to use the train it would be easiest to book an Advance ticket for the direct train from Waterloo (not Victoria) to Southampton, and take a cab, Uber or an 11 or 211 bus from your hotel to Waterloo. But given where you’re staying you might also consider the direct National Express coach to Southampton from Victoria Coach Station, less than 5 minutes walk from your hotel. The coaches at 8:30 and 10:00 on August 6th are currently only £5.20 per person. You won’t find a better bargain than that!

Annoyingly, there is no direct tube between Victoria & Waterloo. You have to change trains. I would just jump in a cab or get an Uber, particularly if you’ll have luggage. As @Thejugglersays, keep checking for Advance tickets to Southampton. They should go on sale soon. You are indeed seeing the full walk-up fare.

It depends on the ship and how many categories of inside & oceanview cabins there are but in my experience, from the cheapest inside you’re unlikely to be offered much higher than an ocean view balcony.

Short cruises, repetitive itineraries and high prices is now Royal’s MO globally. We all hate it, but it seems to be working.

Royal’s probably not the line for you then!

While that is certainly true for many of Royal’s in-house production shows and headliners, you can’t possibly think the Broadway, Aqua and Ice shows are slight variations on the same theme? Love them or hate them, they’re high quality productions and are, for me, what sets Royal apart from other lines. I agree Virgin’s entertainment is refreshingly different, but there are only so many times I can sit through Dual Reality.

Why odd? Boy George has just finished a run in Moulin Rouge on Broadway so feels pretty relevant right now.

Yes. All the big airlines with transatlantic service at Heathrow have multiple daily flights so keep their check-in desks open all day. But how early they let you drop bags may depend on their individual policy, your class of travel and your status with them so it’s best to check with them. That said, I concur with the advice above to check out International Friends for a longer tour which would be a far more pleasant way to kill time than waiting around Heathrow for hours.

Yes, the standard fleetwide Chops menu includes a 6oz and 9oz filet.

On Icon only, yes.

If he’d resigned, Royal would have released a much longer and warmer statement paying tribute to his many achievements. But they didn’t, and anyone with even a basic knowledge of corporate PR will confirm that tells you all you need to know.

I fear the days of live orchestras and full Broadway shows with 20+ cast members are numbered. Much cheaper to have a few singers and dancers performing to prerecorded tracks like on most other cruise lines. Most people won’t care or notice the difference but it’s another sad reflection of the direction Liberty’s taking Royal in.

Fairly obviously not his choice to leave. I hope this doesn’t mean big cuts to entertainment. It’s a big USP for Royal.

Oh, easily. In fact you’d probably be fine with the 9:45 if you’re off the ship reasonably early. It’s only a 5-10 minute cab ride.

No, National Express doesn’t have the reputation Greyhound has! Buses are modern, clean and comfortable and your fellow passengers are likely to be mainly tourists and university students. Southampton coach station is quite small but has a little cafe and bathrooms. Nothing to worry about safety-wise. At Heathrow the coach will drop you at the central bus station from where it’s about a 5 minute walk to T2, underground (but there are elevators and moving walkways to help). Why is the cruise line shuttle so expensive? Well you’re paying for convenience but essentially it’s a captive market that’s there to be exploited!

It depends on how many of you there are. Right now an Uber from Paddington to Heathrow is just under £40 but obviously that’s the same for 1 person as it is for 4. And of course the price does vary. The Elizabeth line is £12.20 each and the tube is £5.60. A cab/Uber is obviously easiest and the most comfortable. But depending where in London you’re starting from, the train can be faster. For a 5.15pm flight I’d aim to be at Heathrow by about 3.00, and probably allow about an hour to get there.

Boarding typically starts between 1 and 2pm. The flip side is you can stay on board (and in your cabin) until around 10.30am on the last day.

If you’re among the first off the ship and carrying your own luggage you should be fine with a 9am train. In fact you’d probably make an 8.30am, but best not to rush. Port to station is only 5-10 minutes by cab.