Random thoughts about our British Isles cruise

[Ceegeefl]

I read that it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Gatwick airport from Greenwich. Does that sound correct? We will be using a Viking transfer and our flight is scheduled to leave around 12:15 PM on a Saturday in late June.

 

[Mrs Miggins]

26 minutes ago, Ceegeefl said:

I read that it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Gatwick airport from Greenwich. Does that sound correct? We will be using a Viking transfer and our flight is scheduled to leave around 12:15 PM on a Saturday in late June.

 

Absolutely right - depending on traffic between 50 minutes to one hour and fifteen minutes,

[Mrs Miggins]

2 hours ago, Island2Dweller said:

43 minutes from Greenwich to Heathrow???  At 3am on a Sunday morning perhaps, not a chance of achieving that at any other time.

If you are flying to Dublin, go from City (airport code LCY), which is almost within touching distance of Greenwich.  (About four to five miles in reality).  You'll see the airport as you sail up river to the mooring. 

To London City I would leave between 30 minutes to 45 minutes depending on the Blackwall Tunnel traffic.  You have to cross the Thames as the airport is on the other side of the Thames.

I agree that Greenwich to Heathrow is impossible at 43 minutes unless you are on a Motor Bike with quiet roads in the middle of the night.

[Peregrina651]

3 minutes ago, Mrs Miggins said:

unless you are on a Motor Bike with quiet roads in the middle of the night.

 

Yes, but the road won't be quiet -- the motor bike will take care of that! 😁

[janetcbl]

3 hours ago, Mrs Miggins said:

To London City I would leave between 30 minutes to 45 minutes depending on the Blackwall Tunnel traffic.  You have to cross the Thames as the airport is on the other side of the Thames.

I agree that Greenwich to Heathrow is impossible at 43 minutes unless you are on a Motor Bike with quiet roads in the middle of the night.

Took us an hour and a half to get from LHR to Greenwich, with a great driver in very heavy traffic.

[Island2Dweller]

"I read that it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to get to Gatwick airport from Greenwich"

That's a reasonable average but it is not guaranteed, especially if you are trying to do it in weekday rush hour.

Greenwich to Gatwick is incredibly easy by train, with just one change (often a same platform change) at London Bridge.Fare is £9.50 (£17.50 weekday rush hour) if using bank card or phone as your payment device - costs more if you buy a paper ticket.

[Mrs Miggins]

I agree train is a good alternative - but it rather depends on how much luggage is being carried/wheeled.   Might be worth hopping on the DLR from Cutty Sark to Greenwich Mainline station.  One stop only - frequent trains - shorter walk.

However I see that the original poster is in fact using a Viking transfer.

[Brookspw70]

Thank you for this. Studying as we are planning to book. 

[Peregrina651]

Just got home. Loved it. Here is a list of CC threads that I gathered (and shared with our roll call) while planning the trip. Happy reading.

 

For the May 9, 2023 sailing: Onboard Neptune now - British Isles Explorer

 

April 19, 2024 BIE: Semi-LIVE from Venus British Isles Explorer 4/19 with Churchill Pre-extension

 

May 9, 2024 BIE: LIVE: British Isle Explorer - May 9, 2024 - Neptune

 

For the photos of Icelandair and KEF airport, Bergen: Almost live Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes, July 28th 2023

 

For Bergen: Saturn's Iceland and Norway's Arctic Explorer-July 19-August 2 LIVEish

 

 

GENERAL

 

BIE Cruise Questions - Ports, London extension

Random thoughts about our British Isles cruise

British Isles Explorer Cruise excursions 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2862566-viking-british-isles-cruise-tips-for-others-going-on-this-cruise/page/6/#comment-64571383

British Isles Explorer Past Cruisers - Questions

British Isles Explorer Cruise

Favorite British Isles Explorer port souvenirs

Live thread: Onboard Neptune now - British Isles Explorer

See especially posts #132 and 136

British Isles Explorer 2023 - terrific video diary!

"Churchill's Britain": pre-excursion on BIE cruise

Advice on British Isles Explorer excursions

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2984274-county-wicklow-excursions-on-bie-cruise/

[Peregrina651]

On 3/16/2023 at 1:19 PM, Mrs Miggins said:

I agree train is a good alternative - but it rather depends on how much luggage is being carried/wheeled.   Might be worth hopping on the DLR from Cutty Sark to Greenwich Mainline station.  One stop only - frequent trains - shorter walk.

However I see that the original poster is in fact using a Viking transfer.

 

We used public transit to get from our hotel to get to the ship. We used both City Mapper and TfL apps to chose the best routing. One transfer was important for us but we should have made a priority of "no steps" even if it meant another transfer.

[Brookspw70]

Any concerns with much wave motion on this cruise? Considering PV3 4016 and that is my only concern. 

[Peregrina651]

9 minutes ago, Brookspw70 said:

Any concerns with much wave motion on this cruise? Considering PV3 4016 and that is my only concern. 

 

You can never predict motion issues for any cruise on any ship at anytime of the year at any point on the globe. Anyone who tells you, "We had no problems on our cruise, you'll be fine" should be be ignored.

 

The closer you are to the water and the closer you are to the middle of the ship, the less motion is felt. Choosing a cabin is a compromise between the motion you can tolerate and cabin amenities you want, when you can't predict what motion issues might be encountered. Or as the ancestors were fond of saying, "like buying a pig in a poke."

 

If you are concerned about motion, no matter which cabin you choose, come prepared for motion sickness.