John Bull

Diff'rent folks, diff'rent experiences 😏 We stayed and eaten at P.I. Dover Central just the once. Good value and perfectly satisfactory for our needs. We've found Beefeaters to be variable, no good ones handy for us altho we've been known to be tempted by the occasional good-value promo. Yes, I had considered mentioning in my post "expect the clientele to be mainly folk who are travelling". And I'm pretty sure the same applies to Beefeater Dover. So now I mention it, but only - as I said - for the first evening. Then the OP can get local opinions for the rest of their stay. TripAdvisor means a lot of side searches to rule out cafes etc, to find menus & prices, and difficult or time-consuming for those without transport to figure how convenient they are. And for visitors from foreign lands it's difficult to differentiate between local hostelries and corporate national chains like Table-Table and Beefeater. We know our local favourites, and when travelling we rarely bother with T/A. But now you've goaded me 😄 into digging into T/A Dover. Their third-rated (the top two are Asian restaurants), and also highly-rated on Google, the White Horse pub is quite convenient in the town just off the main through-road and sensibly-priced. No website but almost-certainly not a chain pub and more likely to have a local clientele. JB 🙂 No commission was earned for this post 😏

We had similar difficulties figuring the transport to Briksdal (including the very limited, un-bookable and reportedly over-subscribed local bus - particularly for the return to Olden 😮) and also for figuring the distance / terrain from the road to the viewpoint, So we gave up on the idea. At Loen we happened upon a boat trip on Loen Lake (it goes by a couple of other names too) to Kjenndal Glacier. I didn't notice the name of the operator, but the details are the same as Olden Adventures - including the lakeside coffee & waffles 🙂. It starts with a short bus ride to the lake from either Olden or Loen, then cruise the length of the lake (about ?30? minutes) to a jetty & restaurant at the far end. Half of the group then goes directly by van 5 minutes up a narrow track to the glacier viewpoint for a stop of about 20 minutes while the other half enjoy their coffee & waffles (& anything else that they care to buy) at the restaurant, then vice-versa. Then boat & bus back to Olden or Loen. An excellent day all-round, we thoroughly recommend. https://www.oldencruise.com/loen-lake-and-kjenndal-glacier/ JB 🙂

No worries - I'm bored today 😀 The problem with storage at LHR is that you need to get from and back to the airport via either complicated public transport or expensive taxi. Hopefully a Londoner can suggest the different ways - they'll probably need to know your LHR terminal, I think there's a direct bus from T5. JB 🙂

This from an internet search, not personal knowledge.: King & Queen Gift Shop, 2 Castle Hill, Windsor, just a few yards from the castle entrance. Opening times are quoted as variously 9am or 9.30am to 5pm or 6pm. It's a 5 minute walk from Windsor & Eton Central train station (trains to London Paddington via a change at Slough, I don't know how easy or difficult the change at Slough with luggage). Or a 15 minute walk from Windsor & Eton Riverside station (direct trains to London Waterloo). There's a taxi rank at that station. https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ Fare £12,80 from Central, £8.50 from Riverside, journey timer about 45 minutes & service half-hourly from either. Best choice of station may depend on your central London hotel location. https://maps.app.goo.gl/FoT5tkUKWy7EE6kA6 I could find no direct contact details for the gift shop. Storage there is booked via a national intermediary https://usebounce.com/s/location/bd46f9b1-54f1-455c-8247-35ec6bdd2f93?backpacks=0&bags=3&query=Windsor SL4%2C UK It quotes £4.30 per bag, but adds a £1.65 per bag fee = £5.95 per bag. It also says no walk-ins accepted (that's probably to protect their fees 🙄 but it's up to you whether you want to take the risk). Payment with booking but promises a refund if cancelled at least an hour before check-in. (back to your card or vouchers, so be careful if/when you apply for a refund) From Heathrow to Windsor is awkward by public transport - even more awkward with luggage. IMHO it's best to book a taxi for the 10 mile / 20 minute drive - last time I heard a taxi pre-booked with a Windsor-based operator was around £30-£35 for a sedan. Alternatively there will be cabs on the rank at your Heathrow terminal, obviously more expensive but I don't know the rates. JB 🙂

A local who's not been around on Cruise Critic for a year or more is @PhilbeachTraveller That may have alerted his e-mail. Hi Phil, hope all is well with you. Can you help out? We've passed through Dover quite a few times heading for France, but we're not locals. There will certainly be a local scene, but since you'll be there for a few days your best bet is to ask around when you're there. For your first evening try the Table-Table restaurant/pub attached to Premier Inn on Marine Parade. Nice atmosphere, decent menu, good food, sensible prices. Here's a local music venue https://www.thebookinghall.com/ Now you know as much about the local music scene as I do 😏 JB 🙂

Sint Maarten. If you go to Maho beach, privately-run vans take folk there from the port. Be sure to be there sometime between 11am & 2pm when the big jets arrive over the beach at Princess Juliana airport. The beach itself is "OK" but not the best on the island. Yes, Philipsburg is compact & attractive, with a good beach. Large-capacity ferries run between the cruise port and the centre of the beach in Philipsburg. Lots of bars with beachfront sunbeds etc. Try "Big Bastaards Bar" - Canadian IIRC, with a warm welcome & a bucket of cold beers. Good beach furniture, good snacks and good wifi, Safe swimming. So a van to Maho, then back to explore Philipsburg town & beach-time, then the ferry back to the ship would make a good day. An alternative - or an add-on - is to cross over to Marigot on the French side of the island (no border). Basseterre. Excellent precinct of cruiseport shops, bars, etc., clean & safe. Totally touristic,, but I don't recall much of interest in the town. Lots of vans offer clockwise circum-navigations of varying lengths at varying but inexpensive rates, most give the option of finishing with time at a beach - Frigate Bay is popular, though a little grubby compared to Philipsburg. Romney Manor is an interesting little diversion which most vans take for a 20 minute break, But none that I know include Brimstone Fort. Twice on different occasions I asked taxi drivers if they'd take us up to Brimstone Fort, twice they declined without even mentioning a price, altho' googlemaps & photos give the impression that it's a good metalled road. I wish you better luck. Roadtown & the Baths of Virgin Gorda. Yes, a very pleasant boat ride, formations of huge rounded boulders at one end of the beach on Virgin Gorda. Take great care with junior - it's easy for even small waves to sweep a youngster against a boulder resulting in tears. This is a ship's excursion, yes? The ferry is cheaper, but if there's a problem you have no Plan B other than swimming to the next port!! An alternative staying on Tortola is a pleasant van ride to Cane Garden Beach. Clean, safe. St John's Antigua St John's is crowded, traffic-jammed, and scruffy. Not unsafe, but not pleasant. I suggest you negotiate a shared van to Shirley Heights (brilliant) and Nelson's Dockyard. If you want to go into Nelson's Dockyard it's worth an hour or more - some vans don't stop for a break there, some (well, one in particular 😡) say they will but don't, some do. Make sure that you and sharers all agree on whether you want at least an hour there or not. Back via Fig Tree Drive (actually they're bananas) and the west coast with a beach stop. Antigua is best on your itinerary for colonial history. We've not been to Charlotte Amalie. For different reasons I don't rate the towns of Basseterre or St John's - Philipsburg is the best for a local feel of the town. All just MHO as always JB 🙂

I'm struggling to understand why in respect of those ports experienced cruisers like @donaldsc and @MBP&O2/O, and in respect of Florence experienced cruisers like @navybankerteacher, and @wcook, are so dismissive of port-of-call visits. Hopefully others will chime in more positively. Or go to the Italian forum linked by @CruiserBruce to see how many thousands of others have visited Rome or Florence in a single port-of-call day. Yes, if a cruise starts or finishes in Rome (Civi) and you can spare the time & cost, do as we & thousands of others do and tag on a few hotel days to give yourselves much more time in a city worthy of several days and more. But if it's a single port-of-call day, what would you suggest - hang around all day in a bar on the pretty basic waterfront of Civitavecchia ? Or mooch around the shops of boring Livorno ? We've stayed a few days at Lucca on a road trip, very pleasant walled city but not iconic like Florence. It's the sort of place I'd recommend to those who've visited Florence and are looking for somewhere different Added to an interesting day, a short visit to either Rome or Florence will allow a visitor to decide whether a "proper" return visit is worthwhile. And both are usually ports on western Mediterranean cruises so the opportunity of a second port-of-call visit. Even for someone based in the UK (yes, flights are cheap but add parking, hotel, etc etc) visiting those places when a ship visits makes total sense to me. Just MHO as always 😏 I have my tin hat at the ready 😂 JB 🙂

The port website is https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/ Depending on your sailing date, Sky Princess sails out of - Ocean Cruise Terminal (berth 46), about a 15 minute level walk or a short taxi hop from H.I. (BTW ship mooring bollards, which are usually painted black, are painted yellow at the berth opposite, berth 44, which you'll see from the other side of the ship - it's to denote the berth from which Titanic sailed) - or Queen Elizabeth 11 Cruise Terminal (berth 38/39). This is beyond Ocean Terminal, about 1 1/2 miles mile from H.I. It's deep in the docks and only a painted line separates the sidewalk from heavy docks traffic so a short taxi ride is strongly recommended - book a taxi the evening before, H.I. staff can help. You get an unobstructed view all the way up (and perhaps down) Southampton Water In the morning you should be able to see ships in both berths from upper floors at the front of H.I. Southampton coach station is a simple 10 - 15 minute level walk, all on sidewalks & with traffic lights to assist pedestrians across the one major road. Or take a taxi to H.I from the rank at the coach station - it's a small rank but taxis swing by there frequently. https://maps.app.goo.gl/5kb8L2yWqVbXbQ656 JB 🙂

We've done both by train. Rome. Before you cruise, buy Colosseum tickets (they're a 3-venue ticket for Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill) from the official website. I think it's https://www.coopculture.it/en/products/ticket-colosseum-forum-and-palatine-_24h/ but so many different websites claim to be "official" 🙄. That one is the cheapest and no bull💩 about beat-the-lines, guides etc. Perhaps others can confirm or otherwise. This will avoid the ticket queue on-site, but there's no avoiding the fast-moving security queue. Also buy on-line such tickets as you want for places like the Sistine Chapel Free port shuttle from ship to port gate. Payable (pennies) shuttle from gate to Civi station. Note down the return times of the trains from Termini and Ostiense and San Pietro stations. Buy return tickets for the regional train to Rome, I think the current fare is €15. If there's a queue at the ticket office buy from the station news-stand, same price. Tickets aren't dated, validate them in a machine on the platform. There aren't (weren't) validation machines on the train so we had squeaky-bums that there'd be a ticket inspector, which would have meant a fat fine. The trains are heavily-subscribed, everyone manages to get on but there's a probability that you'll be standing all the way. If you want to first visit the Vatican, get off the train at San Pietro station. It's a 15 minute walk to the Vatican. If you first want to visit the Colosseum - this is what we did .... Get off at Ostiense station. Follow the signs to the adjoining Piramide Metro station and take the blue line metro in the direction of Conca D'Ora or Rebibbia. The Colosseum is the second stop. NB Your train ticket also gives you unlimited use of the metro and local buses. The entrance to the Forum (included in your Colosseum tickets) is across the road from the Colosseum. Altho Palatine Hill is also included you won't have time for it unless you skip everything else. Walk thro the Forum toward the back of the big white Vittorio Emaneuele 11 monument topped with black horses & angels ("the Wedding Cake"). There's a Forum exit here, but not an entrance. Walk to the front of the monument (where you'll understand its nickname) and head for the Trevi Fountain. At this point figure whether you'll have time to visit the Spanish Steps - you probably won't, so head for the Pantheon. The line for the Pantheon moves quickly, it's one big circular hall. Then to the Piazza Navona (often street entertainers). Now decide whether you want to bus or to taxi or 20-minute walk to the Vatican. Then 15 minute walk to San Pietro station for the train back to Civi. If you first visit the Vatican you can do this in reverse, except that you have to walk down the road beside the Forum to its entrance by the Colosseum. It's a busy day, we did it without panic but planned it carefully and kept an eye on the clock. Don't plan to use the last possible train back to Civi. Aim for the second or even the third-last possible train, to allow for any mistakes. If you return from Termini station you might get a seat o the train (NB trains to Civi don't leave from the main station concourse, so give yourselves an extra 10 minutes) If you return from Ostiense station you probably won't get a seat. If you return from Sa Pietro station you certainly won't get a seat. So do expect to be standing on the train. ............................................................................ Florence We did it by train, Most difficult part is port to Livorno Centrale station, waaaay too far to walk. We were lucky to get a shared taxi, the alternative is ship's shuttle to the town centre then local bus to the station - shuttle driver can point you in the right direction for the local bus. Direct train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella - the station is conveniently right on the edge of the old city centre. Most folk would prefer to spend all their time in Florence, but we don't worry too much about inside visits, so we caught an early train back & stopped off at Pisa - a break in the journey is permitted in the train tickets. 15-20 minute walk to the Field of Miracles, spent 20 to 30 minutes there then any local train back to Livorno. No sharers at the station so the taxi fare back to the ship was (?) €25 (?) There are independent tour options by road ......................................................................... We're great fans of hop-on buses elsewhere, but not Rome or Florence - both have very limited routes and a waste of time & money JB 🙂

@YVRteacher We know Weymouth & Portland & the surrounding are quite well, but we've never ported there. In the past, cruisers have mentioned the ship's shuttle buses for the 10-15 minute drive from Portland port to Weymouth have been charged - I guess it would be around $10 - $15. But the port website says its a free service provided by the port, and en-route those same buses drop & pick up at Portland Castle (for those meeting pre-booked taxis & private tours, and for those who want to visit Portland Castle and/or the D-Day museum) .https://www.portland-port.co.uk/welcome+to+portland+port These maps show the detail https://www.portland-port.co.uk/public/files/2023 CRUISE/Map_Portland%26Weymouth Shuttle_Jun23_EN compressed.pdf Instead of Weymouth or elsewhere, Portland Castle and the D-Day museum (both quite small) are fine for a lazy half-day, or head back early from Weymouth & drop in to one or the other. Weymouth is a great base for UK holidaymakers spending a week or more there, usually by car & exploring the area. The town is very pleasant & interesting, with a harbour, lots of pubs & cafes & restaurants & eat-in or eat-out fish-and-chip shops in the maze of little streets, a promenade, & one of the biggest & best sandy beaches on England's south coast (and favourite for those who create sand-sculptures) Plenty in Weymouth to amuse you for the day, but nothing iconic. Lots of places worthy of a tour - to the west 18-mile-long Chesil Beach (as the shuttle bus crosses to the mainland you'll see it on the left disappearing into the distance), Abbotsbury Swannery, the Jurassic coast, West Bay and Bridport, mebbe as far as the fossil-hunters' village of Lyme Regis. - 8 miles north of Weymouth (by half-hourly train or by road) the market town of Dorchester and surrounding villages on the Dorset Downs & in the valleys - to the east, along the coast to Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, the abandoned village of Tyneham (when open - it's a tank firing range), Kimmeridge cliffs & bay (more fossil-hunters), Corfe Castle ruins (sacked during the English Civil War). North of there Bovington Tank Museum ( regarded as the world's finest) - and Monkey World for those who want to split their group between the two. (You ain't gonna fit all these places into one day, but several can be combined on a tour) If there's time at the end of a tour, get the driver to take you to the top of Portland Bill for a panoramic view. 15 minutes round-trip plus 5 to 10 minute photo-stop But tours aren't available on-spec, you need to book. A number of tour recommendations on the Great Britain forum by typing "Portland" into the search box on that page & clicking onto the spyglass beside that box. JB 😀

If you're anxious to make the long trip to Berlin, DIY by train is OK. But you'll arrive in Berlin without transportation Because you're only there for one trunkated day, travel from site to site by ho-ho bus, local buses, U-Bahn or S-Bahn will take great chunks out of your time. And by taxi needs a pretty well thought-out itinerary to make efficient use of your time & money and squeaky-bum time if occasionally there's no taxis to be seen when you need one. So yes, I agree I you need to book a tour (or car + driver if you're confident enough to be your volunteer group guide) to meet you at the station in Berlin, drive the sights & the stops, and drop you back at the station in time for the second-to-last suitable train back to Warnemunde My opinion on visiting Berlin from Warnemunde (and Paris from Le Havre and Luxor from Safaga and a dozen other similar long treks) has always been to put the place on the back-burner and give it the time it warrants at some future date. But if the prospects of a future visit are low or nil, then go for it!! JB 🙂

Sorry, had done a quick google Always Airports reviews - didn't notice that Mr Google had added other operators 🙄 https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g3214233-d17781576-Reviews-Always_Airports-Stubbington_Fareham_Hampshire_England.html and 11 Google reviews on their website https://www.alwaysairports.co.uk/ JB 🙂 Always Airports Stubbington Grn, Fareham Write a review 5.0 11 reviews Reviews aren't verified. Sort by Most relevant Newest Highest Lowest Debbie Bransom 6 reviews·14 photos a year ago Having used Smiths Airport Taxis for 22 years, was nervous at how things would work with Always Airport Taxis but have found them to be nothing but the ultimate professionals. I love the confirmation email detailing my booking, ability to …More Like Response from the ownera year ago Hi Debbie, thank you for your kind and truthful words. We are truly delighted that we exceeded your expectations. …More Mr G Fearon 3 reviews a year ago Fantastic stress free experience.We were updated regularly through email and text. Our driver Simon was very personable, good humoured and helpful. He brought us to and from Gatwick, using the backroads to avoid traffic conditions and got us there in plenty and stress free. We will definitely use this company again. 1 Valerie Abbott 2 reviews a year ago Used Always Airports for our return trip to Gatwick we were a group of seven adults and would definitely use this service in the future if needed lovely driver called Dave very helpful on time very reasonable prices excellent service 1 Response from the ownera year ago Thank you for your kind words and recommendation. Always pleasing to know our drivers are doing a good job. tracey russell 18 reviews·12 photos 2 years ago Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Value Overall great service. The car was extremely comfortable, pick up was on time, there was water in the car and all very reasonably priced. Would definitely recommend. Like Response from the ownera year ago Thank you Tracey, your views are very kind, However this is what I expect from our team over the years. Your custom and onward recommendations most welcome. We hope to see you again soon. …More Mike P Local Guide·512 reviews·251 photos a year ago Great communications, good clean smart comfortable cars. Like Response from the ownera year ago Thank you for your kind review Mike. Debra Phillips Local Guide·41 reviews·76 photos 2 years ago Excellent service, definitely will be using them again. Like Response from the ownera year ago Thanks Debra, lovely to get your honest views. We hope to see you soon …More Justin Harris Local Guide·65 reviews·214 photos a year ago Easy booking and fuss free transfer to the airport. Like Response from the ownera year ago Thank you for taking the time to review our service. It is always good to hear what our clients think. John Lawrence-jones 13 reviews 8 years ago Brilliant service! Nice drivers clean cars. 1 Response from the ownera year ago John, if we can be of further service, we'll be glad to see you Sharon Colesell 3 reviews a year ago Fran Green 4 reviews·3 photos 3 years ago Response from the ownera year ago Thanks for everything, we hope you had a tremendous experience Kelly Hutfield 8 reviews 5 years ago Response from the ownera year ago Thanks Kelly, great that your experience was so positive

Weymouth train station is a 15 - 20 minute walk from the shuttle drop-point. Half-hourly service, no need to specify a train time, journey time 35 - 45 mins e/w, day-return fare £18.30 (two one-way tickets cost a lot more). https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ JB 🙂

I don't know them, but another local operator (actually only a few miles from me). Good reviews on all sites 🙂 JB 🙂

We found KL very disappointing - we found little other than the Petronas Towers - and even they have been surpassed by even more extraordinary skyscrapers elsewhere in the world. We rate it worth no more than a single day. Been to Bali a couple of times - well-worthwhile, and not just for a beach break. All in reach of each-other in the south of the island.......... Ubud is a series of closely-knit villages, each with their own speciality craft - woodworking, stone, paintings, etc. And a monkey sanctuary where you can walk amongst them. Pura Luhur Uluwatu is a temple high on a cliff with a sunset show of traditional fire-dance etc in an open semi-circular amphitheatre with the sea in the background. Pura Tanah Lot is a unique temple on a little islet. Both of those temples are on the west coast. https://indonesia.tripcanvas.co/bali/bali-sea-temples/ Toward the east coast, in Semarang, a lot of interesting old buildings like Klungkung Royal Palace. Or up-country in the middle of the island Mt Batur. Plenty on Bali to fill your time, and all good value JB 🙂