Thejuggler

This thread probably needs moving the France ports section. You are correct Le Verdon is 'difficult', I'd say boring so seeking out an alternative is a good idea. For such queries Google maps is great for providing all details for the train service between the two towns. Book tickets via SNCF site. €23 return before any applicable discounts. Ten minute walk to station, 45 minutes train, 15 minute walk to Pauillac centre.

Why are people so quick to use the word 'scam'? Its not a scam. P&O rely on information from the attraction. The company haven't set out to deliberately get money off passengers under false pretences knowing they can't honour the promise but will subsequently keep any money paid. It may not be possible to do the trip, if it isn't you get a refund. If you have bought attraction tickets based on the advert above you need to raise it with P&O, as you have done. Posting it a scam as fact potentially puts the post on the wrong side of a fine legal line.

It is always a gamble taking cruises to Norway in May as trips to mountainous areas may be cancelled due to snow. My parents visited second week of May many years ago and suffered the same issue, Many attractions close down in winter and they can't reopen until staff can get to them. This can't happen if roads are blocked with snow as Norway only clears important routes over the winter period.

Easiest and cost effective way to get to the port is by train. Direct service from Rome Termini station, takes about 45 minutes. There are also plenty of hotels in the area. A few years ago we stayed at the Massimo D'Azeglio. 5 minutes walk from rail station, bus station and metro services.

Considering Apex in early to mid September from UK to Iceland. We did a similar trip a few years ago on Eclipse in August and it was great. However there are back to back sea days at the time of year when its getting colder. Looking at plans and reviews Apex looks to be more of a summer climate ship with lots of outdoor areas and bars, but does not appear to have any large indoor areas such as the Eclipse crows nest where you can sit on inclement days and watch the world go by. The front areas are the spa and gym on Apex, neither of which interest us. We avoid Princess and P&O Grand class ships for this very reason. Sitting in a busy coffee bar or buffet with a side view doesn't appeal. I'd welcome any insight into where and how you spend sea days outside of spa and gym areas if it is less than 10 degrees C and raining.

Due to potential strike action which may result in trains being cancelled and refund of tickets costs, use an official train operating company website and not an agent with a large marketing budget that charges fees.

As its only for charging an EU 2 pin with USB ports will do the job. You just need to decide which USB types you need. This should do: https://www.amazon.com/European-VINTAR-Foldable-International-Essentials/dp/B0BY1VWM9J/ref=sr_1_7

I wouldn't be fearful of the train, its old, rattly stock, but that's the fun!

Depends what you are looking at. Popular smaller independents may well require a booking, especially at weekends. However most venues don't have an issue with you cancelling if plans change. Popular restaurants will fill the seats.

We cruise for destinations, but the ever increasing size of ships doesn't appeal. It is therefore highly unlikely P&O would be chosen by us above all other providers.

If I wanted a day trip to Berlin I wouldn't start from Rostock! We did morning in Warnemunde and then an afternoon trip on the Molli train along the coast. Very pleasant and we had a great young guide who explained what the area and life were like when it was part of East Germany (something most on the tour had forgotten about). The only downside was the tour arrived back 20 minutes before our set dining time.

Call direct, as anything above 8 can be dealt with as group booking.

Sounds like the system worked. We had passengers in the queue who were tight for flights departing around 11am (we were in the queue at about 10am), but airport staff were very good at calling out destinations and prioritising passengers with tight connections.

We did pre clearance for a NYC holiday in August 2022 and compared to the arduous process which is US customs in NYC (which can take hours) it was fantastic and a choice I'd make again. We flew to Newark NJ from Leeds via Dublin and the following is the process at the time. As soon as you enter Dublin airport terminal you will be directed to pre clearance. Lots of staff around showing you where to go. As there are many US flights within a few hours you will be in a queue of hundreds, but it flows quite quickly. You eventually reach an escalator with a US customs officer at the top who scans boarding cards. Once you descend the escalator you are on virtual US soil and under US jurisdiction and border force laws. You then join another queue for formal US entry approval. Passport, ESTA checked, photo and fingerprints taken. Whilst in the queue the staff will call for passengers on the earlier flights so they don't miss them. Following this you go through the usual airport security scanning. You are then airside in the terminal. The whole process is very efficient and takes 60-90 minutes. At Newark from leaving the aircraft to picking up luggage and getting our taxi was 30 minutes. Had we not had to wait for luggage it would have been about 5 minutes.

As long as its near a metro station getting to sites won't be a problem. If you are struggling to find somewhere I can recommend the Hotel Exe Cristal Palace, north of Placa Catalunya in L' Eixample, the heart of the upmarket shopping area and 5 minutes walk from Las Ramblas. Its on a quieter cross street so no traffic noise disturbance. Passeig de Gracia Metro station a short walk.