Finally booked! Norwegian Fjords out of Southampton. Gimme all your international travel tips!

[Mountaineer0313]

Finally booked our Norwegian Fjords cruise. Travelers are myself and my husband, ages 41 and 36. We'll be sailing July 5th from Southampton on Anthem of the Seas, which we have sailed on previously to New England.

Now, my post isn't really anything to do with the actual cruise. We've never been to Europe. So I would love all your European traveling tips, especially specific to London and surrounding areas. What to do, where to go, eat, shop, see, etc. Best area to stay in. Where to go outside of London. Favorite international travel credit card to use to avoid international fees, etc. Just whatever random info you can think of would be super appreciated.

[CruiserBruce]

I would start by reading the board, for all the hotel, transport and touring tips that are already here for the taking.

[John Bull]

Flying into which London airport?

 

Spending how long in London?

 

A round-trip on a ho-ho bus gives you a good over-view

https://www.tootbus.com/en/london/home?

or https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-bus-tours?

 

But use The Tube (London's extensive metro system) for visiting specific places because its waaaay quicker than the ho-hos.

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf

Use this map only for your travel underground - find a tube station near you, figure the best tube station/s for where you want to go (literature & websites of attractions tell you the nearest tube station) then use the tube map to navigate to that station.

Don't bother to print this map off, it's on all London maps and at stations.

If you're in London for more than just a day get a London Oyster Travel Card

https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do

 

Bear in mind that unless you pay heavily for a private transfer, or take a tour-transfer, you'll be travelling to Southampton - by frequent direct trains from Waterloo station (and a much slower hourly direct train from Victoria train station) to Southampton central station, or by National Express bus from Victoria coach station direct to Southampton coach station. Trains are waaaaay cheaper if you book in advance - advance tickets available from about 10 weeks out, Nat Express bus is cheap anyway but book in advance to ensure your seats.

Travelling from London to Southampton on the morning of sailing day is perfectly normal.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/shore-excursions-and-cruise-transfers.html

 

Best London areas to lodge without paying mega-bucks IMHO are

 

- the Waterloo//County Hall area. Close to the river, with pleasant & interesting  walks down-river to places like Shakespeare's Globe & Tate Modern.

And a walk across Westminster Bridge to the Houses of Parliament (Big Ben etc), Westminster Abbey, then up Whitehall (Churchill's War Rooms just off Whitehall), past Downing Street (Prime Minister's home),  Horseguards Parade, the former Scotland Yard and Whitehall Theatre to Trafalgar Square & Admiralty Arch then if you've still got energy thro Admiralty Arch and down The Mall to Queen Victoria's monument and Buckingham Palace.

All of which happens to be the route for the coronation of King Charles 111 tomorrow. 

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-05-04/where-to-watch-the-kings-coronation-procession-route-map-and-timings

 

- or Victoria. Broader range of hotels large & small, generally cheaper, close to Buckingham Palace, not quite so convenient but still walkable to Big Ben etc in about 20 minutes.

 

- or, cheaper, outside of central London, places like Earls Court or Hammersmith or Camden Town - or even further to very pleasant Greenwich or Woolwich or Harrow or Epping.

But each day will start & finish with a ride on the Tube, so make sure your lodgings are near a tube station.  I

 

n fact, near a Tube station applies to any lodging  in London.

 

Lots of very useful info about hotels, attractions & logistics at 

https://www.londontoolkit.com/

 

Norway

Sip the beer slowly

Not because it's strong.

Not because it's well worth savouring.

But because Norway is expensive, and beer is about £8 a pint.

But the views of the fjords are wonderful and free.

 

A reminder:

Flying into which London airport?

Spending how long in London?

 

JB 🙂 

 

[fishman620]

5 hours ago, John Bull said:

Flying into which London airport?

 

Spending how long in London?

 

A round-trip on a ho-ho bus gives you a good over-view

https://www.tootbus.com/en/london/home?

or https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-bus-tours?

 

But use The Tube (London's extensive metro system) for visiting specific places because its waaaay quicker than the ho-hos.

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf

Use this map only for your travel underground - find a tube station near you, figure the best tube station/s for where you want to go (literature & websites of attractions tell you the nearest tube station) then use the tube map to navigate to that station.

Don't bother to print this map off, it's on all London maps and at stations.

If you're in London for more than just a day get a London Oyster Travel Card

https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do

 

Bear in mind that unless you pay heavily for a private transfer, or take a tour-transfer, you'll be travelling to Southampton - by frequent direct trains from Waterloo station (and a much slower hourly direct train from Victoria train station) to Southampton central station, or by National Express bus from Victoria coach station direct to Southampton coach station. Trains are waaaaay cheaper if you book in advance - advance tickets available from about 10 weeks out, Nat Express bus is cheap anyway but book in advance to ensure your seats.

Travelling from London to Southampton on the morning of sailing day is perfectly normal.

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

https://www.nationalexpress.com/en

https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/shore-excursions-and-cruise-transfers.html

 

Best London areas to lodge without paying mega-bucks IMHO are

 

- the Waterloo//County Hall area. Close to the river, with pleasant & interesting  walks down-river to places like Shakespeare's Globe & Tate Modern.

And a walk across Westminster Bridge to the Houses of Parliament (Big Ben etc), Westminster Abbey, then up Whitehall (Churchill's War Rooms just off Whitehall), past Downing Street (Prime Minister's home),  Horseguards Parade, the former Scotland Yard and Whitehall Theatre to Trafalgar Square & Admiralty Arch then if you've still got energy thro Admiralty Arch and down The Mall to Queen Victoria's monument and Buckingham Palace.

All of which happens to be the route for the coronation of King Charles 111 tomorrow. 

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-05-04/where-to-watch-the-kings-coronation-procession-route-map-and-timings

 

- or Victoria. Broader range of hotels large & small, generally cheaper, close to Buckingham Palace, not quite so convenient but still walkable to Big Ben etc in about 20 minutes.

 

- or, cheaper, outside of central London, places like Earls Court or Hammersmith or Camden Town - or even further to very pleasant Greenwich or Woolwich or Harrow or Epping.

But each day will start & finish with a ride on the Tube, so make sure your lodgings are near a tube station.  I

 

n fact, near a Tube station applies to any lodging  in London.

 

Lots of very useful info about hotels, attractions & logistics at 

https://www.londontoolkit.com/

 

Norway

Sip the beer slowly

Not because it's strong.

Not because it's well worth savouring.

But because Norway is expensive, and beer is about £8 a pint.

But the views of the fjords are wonderful and free.

 

A reminder:

Flying into which London airport?

Spending how long in London?

 

JB 🙂 

 

JB, is there room for large luggage (luggage rack) on the direct Waterloo train to Southampton?

[gumshoe958]

6 hours ago, fishman620 said:

JB, is there room for large luggage (luggage rack) on the direct Waterloo train to Southampton?

No, there is no dedicated luggage space. There are narrow overhead racks above the seats but if you have large cases you’ll need to wedge them into an empty seat next to you and hope it’s not too busy as you may be asked to move them if someone needs the seat. 
 

Shouldn’t be a problem on trains heading against the commuter flow (although since Covid commuter traffic has reduced considerably and leisure travel has boomed so even off-peak services can be unpredictably busy).

 

Edited May 6, 2023 by gumshoe958

[John Bull]

8 hours ago, fishman620 said:

JB, is there room for large luggage (luggage rack) on the direct Waterloo train to Southampton?

 

In the unlikely event that the train is full (as Gumshoe's post, morning trains heading to London are busy with commuters & those going to London on business but they're quiet heading to Southampton) there's space (not dedicated luggage space) by the doors. If you want to keep an eye on it in case anyone gets off the train with it (rare, but it happens), there are only 3 intermediate stations

 

JB 🙂 

[Lois R]

Hi, congrats on your booking🙂.....first item, make sure everyone has up to date Passports.

Your question about credit cards.......everyone has different opinions. I use a Capital One VISA....no foreign transaction fees. I have had it for quite a few years and it is my CC to travel with........

[nini]

We did a British Isles itinerary last May and loved it (Princess). We flew from Seatac to London and stayed 3 nights. Basically, all of my needed information was from this board and from my Roll Call. We do not care for the "modern" look in hotels so we booked The Rookery which also has two sister hotels. The staff was amazing. helpful, and friendly.

We used Blackberry Cars for our transfer from LHR to our hotel.

WE took the "tube" to get to places for sightseeing and also used a couple of HOHO buses.

For boarding day, we had booked the Princess transfer from Victoria Station to the port in Southampton. A cab efficiently delivered us from the hotel to Victoria Station.

 

My suggestion is to read as much as possible on this board and ask your Roll Call members about shore excursions. We are also doing a Norway and Iceland itinerary this June and have a very active Roll Call.

I suggest you book your excursions ASAP as the seem to have limited availability in those corners of the world.

Have a great time!

 

[gnome12]

Note that Norway ports come under Northern Europe. There is lots of information there. 

[CCJack]

Our cruise out of Southampton to Norway was probably our best vacation ever..   Have fun... We loved Norway.    Only drawback was the trek across the North Sea was pretty rough waters !!

 

Note that Wimbeldon starts July 3, if that is something that interests you.   Our trip must have been very similar dates as yours, as we went to day 1 of Wimbledon a couple days before our cruise....We loved that experience..

  

[Mountaineer0313]

On 5/5/2023 at 3:17 PM, John Bull said:

 

 

A reminder:

Flying into which London airport?

Spending how long in London?

 

JB 🙂 

 

 

 

Heathrow, and the cruise is Friday to Friday, I imagine we'll fly in Sunday or Monday.

[Globaliser]

On 5/5/2023 at 6:09 PM, Mountaineer0313 said:

So I would love all your European traveling tips, especially specific to London and surrounding areas.

 

Mind the gap!

[Meander Ingwa]

Best way in to London from Heathrow is the Elizabeth Line.  Lots of space and quick.  It goes further east and connects to many of the Underground lines.  It has the most space on the train and the best stations for navigation.  Best day away is Canterbury.  super easy on the train, The cathedral is magnificent.  If you want to do Stonehenge it is best to go on tour.  

 

My favorite free tip is to visit the 2 big London Cathedrals ( St Pauls the Abbey) for Evensong, usually around 530 pm.  This allows you inside the space for the service without paying a fee.  If you really want to visit and dig into the tombs monuments and details, by all means go at regular open time  ( entrance fees) , but visiting for free and to sit and listen to music and hear the service is a thing to be experienced.  These spaces were why the music was written.  No matter your spiritual persuasion , enjoy.  They will not permit you to linger and look around.  Both spaces get very crowded with tourists during open visit hours

 

The City, the old 1 square mile of the city that was inside the Roman Wall, just west of The Tower.  I visit here on Sunday morning and just ramble around through all the little streets and passages.  Stroll through Leadenhall Market ramble up to St Pauls.  During the weekday it is the international finance hub and super busy.  Though that is a bit of a thing to see as well.  See >>>  londonforfree dot net <<<  for a free walking tour pdf ( there are other walks as well

 

On Trafalgar square St Martins in the Fields often has free lunchtime concert.  It can be a bit of pot luck but you can hear some good music, sometimes by and up and coming musician.  Since it is free it is a good way to have a sit down break. SMitF has a long standing tradition of music and the Academy is world renown for the music produced under Neville Marriner.  It is across the street from the National Gallery so a good resting spot after a few hours in the galleries.

 

Many museums are free and many have a late night once a week.  You can go and enjoy with less crowds.  The VandA , The British Museum and The National  are huge and cannot be taken in one bite.  Nice things about free museums is that you can visit for an hour and see a few galleries then leave.  My favorite smaller museum is The Tate in Chelsea ( not Tate Modern on Southbank)  All British painters small and easy to take in.  Depending on your personal interests London is home to tons of museums for what ever you enjoy from toys to graphic arts to medicine and surgery.  Many of the old hospitals have little museums attached.  The free antiquities / rarity room at The British Library by Kings Cross station is is a treat.  Everything from a copy of the Magna Carta to Beatles lyrics jotted on a napkin.  If you visit the Tower of London, go early and go straight to the Crown Jewels before it get crowded.

 

A walk along the south bank from Westminster to St Pauls and dusk is a wonderful way to spend the evening

 

check out >>> london theatre dot co dot uk <<<to find out what shows are on when you are there.  London theatre is tops and you can often see some of your favorite performers there.  I would not hesitate to attend a show at the The Globe, even if Shakespeare is not your favorite 

 

Getting around London is easy so you dont have to stay right in the core.  I would suggest a hotel to stay within a couple blocks of a tube station.  Open yourself to staying east or north. Historically I have stayed just south of Kings Cross near Russell Square, but am starting to like staying near Greenwich.  Google maps is a great help for finding hotels and if you click on the little Underground roundel on the map it will show you which tube line is close and where it goes..  Be aware that many of the hotels and B&B that are in listed ( historic) buildings will not have elevators.  Request a ground floor if you dont want to be climbing up and down (with bags) 

 

The Underground map is a masterpiece and its design concept is copied the world round.  It does not, however, show you accurate distances one station to the next, particularly stations that are on different lines.  Often it is easier to exit and walk than to make a connecting transfer. Google maps makes it clearer.  My favorite underground station is Baker Street it is a feast for the eyes.  I think the physical graphics of the Underground are a real treat.  I have spent a Sunday morning just rambling the lines and getting off at stations.  For a peek search "tubemapper" on Instagram

 

An overlooked area is Little Venice and a walk along the Regents  Canal to Camden Market.  Camden is a real popular place and very crowded on the weekends but I guess that is a bit of its charm.

 

Not sure what kind of shopping you wish to do but I would encourage window shopping in the area around Fortnums including Jermyn Street, with all the famous tailors.  Fortnum is worth going inside to see the food halls and other treats.

 

Where to eat???  Again that is such a personal thing.  For a quick sandwich bite at lunchtime, Pret is ubiquitous and inexpensive.  If you are adventuresome eating then use your google map and search restaurants and then sort by cuisine.  The world lives in London and so does its food.  The area around Brixton tube station (Victoria Line) is filled with ethnic places and food carts within the Brixton Market and Brixton Village Market.  For me the best chinese food in not in Chinatown.  

 

I could go on and on.  London is my favorite world city. I first visited in 77. There are many excellent London tour leaders and historians on You Tube, Twitter and Instagram.  They can spark your interest.  With a short number of days, make a list in advance 

[Meander Ingwa]

OOoooo  as long as you are visiting Fortnums  step next door and visit Hatchards, Londons oldest bookstore (1797).  You can get a vacation book to take along on the ship