John Bull

That's not the Premier Inn near the cruise terminals, it's on the opposite side of the city centre in New Street. With luggage you'll need a short taxi hop - should cost no more than £10. But an easy & pleasant walk from there across a park to the city centre. Alternatively Maynard's News & Food (Londis), in my post #6, is more convenient. And a 10-minute downhill walk to the station for frequent trains to the airport - follow this route https://maps.app.goo.gl/kgb8ygGR127DiM7b6 to be on the right platform Another option, though with moderately-limited time, is train to the airport (10 mins, about £5 single), either store or check-in your luggage there, then any train in the same direction to Winchester 10 minutes, £7 return. Winchester station is a 15 minute walk from the cathedral & compact city centre. Train back to the airport. JB 🙂

I don't know, but they're a private company so not hidebound by regulation timetables. But rather than rely on probabilities, the best bet is to e-mail them and ask. Quote your date, arrival & sailaway times, and your ship's name (more likely with a big ship than with a tiddler) Other choices will include ship's "Bruges on your own" transfer (drops at the same place as the Cruise Express) or ship's shuttle for the 2 - 3 miles to Blankenberge station for the hourly direct train (12 minutes, under €10 return) Bruges station and the bus drop point are both an easy 15-20min walk to the cobbled centre. JB 🙂

We have no cruise-line loyalty, we sail on itinerary, price and value-for-money (which too many folk equate to "cheap" but means that we'll buy something at twice the price if it's twice as good. To use @Lee Jones Jnr's analogy, we don't compare Mercedes with Kia - so we don't consider cruise lines like Cunard, Oceania, Seabourn, Azamara, Celebrity or even Ambassador to be P&O competition because of the price differences This has been out experience..... Nearest equivalent is probably Princess, a former subsidiary of P&O, though more stylish and a little more expensive - and with some Brit touches. RCI and MSC sailing out of Southampton are competition, especially for those with kids, RCI tending to be a little more expensive and MSC usually significantly less expensive but with higher on-board costs. RCI crew very friendly and interactive (to the point of being-in-your-face, which you may like or dislike). MSC crew, like P&O crew, are more reserved than most cruise lines. Both have more glitzy ships, MSC in particular have the most modern & stylish ships in the business, far better than many of the more expensive cruise lines. But we wouldn't sail MSC or Costa except from the UK. Marella (a TUI cruise line) is in the same price bracket as P&O after allowing for the included alc & non-alc. drinks, and like P&O ship's currency is sterling and no daily charges. Very British clientele, very friendly passengers & crew. And often unusual itineraries like Columbia, Cuba and until recent conflicts the Red Sea. Second-hand ships but much more modern than some of the rust-buckets they used to sail. Fred Olsen has some tired but well-maintained ships. Small & friendly, none of the whistles & bells friendly atmosphere, most passengers are recently-retireds, prices compete with P&O. We don't feel that we're ready yet for Fred Olsen, but that day will come and we';; be happy to give them a try. P&O can't be beaten for a Caribbean fly-cruise (or I'm told Mediterranean fly-cruises) on either convenience or value-for money - P&O charter aircraft for direct flights from a number of UK airports. Seamless transfers - direct from aircraft to transfer bus to the port without even entering the airport terminal, none of the usual grief of immigration, security, baggage carousel or customs. You check in your luggage at your UK airport & won't see it again until it appears at your cabin door. And on the last day the freedom of the ship incl dining, bars, pools, etc (but not your cabin) until your return transfer bus is called - that's important because west-to-east flights are overnight, so when you disembark a US ship in Florida at about 9am you're stuck with your bags all day. Fred Olsen have a very few similar Caribbean fly-cruises, Marella (TUI) have quite a few - transfers aren't quite as smooth because aircraft passengers are a mix of cruisers and resort-bound TUI holidaymakers. All just MHO as always - and different horses for different courses JB 🙂

We stayed in Ravello for a few days on a road-trip. Beautiful, quiet (can't be sure about that in daytime), and truly glorious views from much higher up than the coast road. Sorrento we found "pleasant", but - dare I say it - rather bland. That said, you know it & like it - so go by your own thoughts rather than mine. Your cruise tenders into Positano, so need to caution you that "Positano" on bus tours means no more than a photo-stop on the high coast road overlooking the place 😟 You'd need a tour of some sort - can be done by local bus but you start with a bracing (😏) uphill walk to the coast road where you catch the hourly bus to Amalfi, then a reasonably-frequent bus up to Ravello - and that might be pretty time-consuming. Since you've not been there, I think Capri your best choice. There are inexpensive little ferries which run between Positano & Capri (they actually start their route in Salerno), or your ship might offer a tender service to Capri. I agree with the others that on Capri itself is the way to spend the day. From near the harbour you can take the funicular up to the town - behind the town there are spectacular vertical views down to the sea. We never got to Anacapri, where there's a chairlft. Hint. Leave your credit card in your cabin safe & take your partner's card to Capri. When you stop for a coffee or a beer you'll thank me for this little piece of advice 😏🤣 JB 🙂

You'll need transport to the end of the road near the glacier, it's about 14 miles. There's a local bus, but the service is infrequent and there's only one return bus that suits most cruise passengers - it can't be booked in advance so it's a big risk. Best to take a "tour" which is actually just a two-way transfer but its a guarantee that there'll be seat to take you back to Olden. Trollcars from the bus turnaround spot seem to book-out early, so the cancelled ship tour has done you no favours 🙁. But if you're tolerably fit and enjoy walking that shouldn't be a problem. JB 🙂

Agreed, but I've only seen one previous mention of a boat service from Oia back to Skala (the ships' tender pier) - probably the same mention that you've seen. So it's well worth digging a lot deeper JB 🙂

Some cruise lines offer a tour-transfer from ship to LHR (or central London) via a stop at Stonehenge. The only independently-operated coach tour-transfers that I'm aware of from Southampton cruise terminals to LHR (or into London for those taking a few post-cruise days) are by International Friends, a long-established & trusted coach tour operator. They service all but the smallest cruise ships arriving in Southampton and are well-received on Cruise Critic. They offer - Stonehenge-only for those who need to be at LHR at 1.30 to 2pm, - Salisbury + Stonehenge + Windsor for those who need to be at LHR by 4.30 - 5pm, - Bath & Windsor for those who need to be at LHR by 5 - 5.30pm - Cotswolds villages for those who need to be at LHR by 4.45 to 5.15pm https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/shore-excursions-and-cruise-transfers.html#tour-tab2 If you choose one which includes Stonehenge it is important to book your Stonehenge admission with your tour - Stonehenge operates restricted numbers and pay-at-the-gate can be significantly delayed or even declined at busy times. Tickets issued by coach operators (this includes ship-sponsored coaches and the Stonehenge ho-ho) permit entry at any time. (Their simple direct cruise terminal to LHR transfers are no better value than most ship-sponsored transfers, and for 2+ passengers a private transfer using one of a number of taxi operators is actually cheaper.) JB 🙂

In many ways - including some of the management - Ambassador is the phoenix of Cruise & Maritime. Two-for-one but at higher prices was a sales ploy of Cruise & Maritime. C & M was a budget line using very old ships, good value if you accepted their limitations, Ambassador's net prices are higher than even the mainstream lines but their ships altho not new are much better than C&M and altho we've not sailed with them apparently the standards are much higher and match the higher prices. For couples the mental arithmetic of two-for-one is very easy JB 🙂

I've seen them recommended by CC members who've used them. JB 🙂

Best to rent a car. Bayeux - is closer to the American sights but car rental may involve a taxi ride from the station. Caen - has a number of rental agencies close to the station, but it means a little city driving. You'll need a sat-nav or navigation tablet. If you're planning to take 2 or 3 days, Caen is as convenient as Bayeux - head first to Ste Mere Eglise, overnite somewhere near Omaha Beach, and make Pegasus Bridge your last stop, As @CruiserBruce says, language isn't a big problem, there's plenty of written & some audio in English, knowledgeable English-speaking staff at the sights, and a good proportion of the locals speak English. Many menus are in English too. I've spread my suggested route over two days, here's a suggestion for the first day https://maps.app.goo.gl/DKWASWR8PMhtGE496 From Caen or Bayeux to Ste Mere Eglise on the N 13 divided highway. Taken by US airborne forces, good Airborne museum, worth up to an hour. From Ste M/E little lanes direct to the coast (put Hameau Mottet into your navigation tablet as a navigation point) then turn right (the sea on your left) along Utah beach (its pretty featureless) to the D-Day Landing Museum (worth an hour and more). You'll see the USN Monument close to the museum. On the way to Sainte Marie du Mont pass the Dick Winters monument and take the next right (signed Audoville La Hubert) opposite a crucifix monument. In a couple of hundred yards turn left by the Easy Company Memorial - it's a narrow car's-width lane, Brecourt Manor is part of the farming complex on your left, no signage. That from google streetview - I've not driven down there. Put La Cambe into your sat-nav, return to the crucifix monument & then right to continue on the road from Utah and through Ste Marie du Mont to re-join the N13 divided highway heading back towards Bayeux. I've included the German Cemetery at La Cambe. You'll see it alongside the N 13, but it's worth the little diversion signed at the next roundabout (traffic island in American-speak?) to spend ten minutes there - the comparison with the American Cemetery is stark Now to Pointe Du Hoc, worth 30 minutes plus. Then to Omaha. If you book your overnight accommodation in the Omaha Beach area, you can then explore in any time you've got left that day, and the rest before you take to the road next morning (you probably won't manage the American Cemetery until the morning) It's late & I've got a couple of busy days ahead of me, second day to follow - but you'll have to adjust it to suit your time-schedule JB 🙂

So the heathen culinary practices of Brum have reached the lakes & forests of Ontario. Oh dear !! 😏 😂😂😂 But, @SUESEABE I agree about mushy peas. And @Senga, yes I also agree with mayo - on fries, but not on chunky British chips. I wonder whether they have similar conversations in https://www.cordonbleu.edu/home/en 🤔 JB 🙂

............. as long as you like mayo on your "French fries" 😏. In the same vein, in British "fish & chip shop" chips ( not what you call "potato chips" but a much fatter version of the fries that you get in the US or Belgium) you choose whether to add salt & vinegar - but in Birmingham they come ready-doused in curry sauce unless you remember to say "no curry sauce please". I rarely visit Birmingham - and always forget.😧 JB 🙂

Ashore you'll need a pac-a-mac or light waterproof cape or somesuch that you can very easily carry in a handbag or pocket. It rarely rains for long periods, and we've only once ever experienced a full day of rain & overcast skies in the Caribbean. But from time to time you may get caught in a short sharp shower - not cold, actually quite refreshing, and 5 to 10 minutes after it's stopped everything including roads & sidewalks will be bone-dry again. Aboard the ship, in the evenings some folk find the aircon in public rooms like the dining room & theatre a little too cold. so take a pashmina or cardigan or similar. Folk on Princess(one of our favourite lines) tend to make a bit of an effort in the evenings - long pants & collared or polo-neck shirts, no sports shirts or baseball caps for the gents, and smart/casual skirts or pants for the ladies. Not a rule, certainly for most nights, just the way that folk fit in. Don't know Nassau, the rest of the itinerary is good, and varied. Have a good one JB 🙂

As per the response from @CruiserBruce the most reliable sources are the websites of the ports eg https://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/Live_Information/Shipping_Movements_and_Cruise_Ship_Schedule/Cruise_Ship_Schedule/ If you need total accuracy those are the sites to check. But some are difficult to find, and if you don't mind the occasional error, such as a ship being missed from a list, generic sites like those suggested above will do the job. The one I use is https://www.whatsinport.com/ mainly because of the other port information in there like maps, places of interest etc JB 🙂

There are two complications 1. Cabotage Laws. These are the EU and UK equivalents of the US Passenger Vessel Services Act, but not identical to those laws. They control who provides passenger travel within a country (I don't know if this treats the EU or the Schengen area or neither as a "country") and are designed to protect ferry and long-distance bus services. Brexit may not have made any difference, these may be Schengen rules rather than EU rules. I drove continental coach tours for many years, on a couple of occasions I had passengers who were taken ill and had to stay behind in continental Europe, and clearly there are dispensations for such occasions, but I never had any passenger choosing to do that. Complicated, and I don't know the ins & outs. But there are plenty of examples of folk on UK > EU > UK cruises who have disembarked, with permission, at Le Havre on the day before cruise-end in Southampton in order to spend time in Paris and fly home to the US or Aus or wherever from Paris 2. Permission of the cruise line is required, and best to do that in advance, you can't simply inform them of your decision. I know that Princess have allowed those Le Havre disembarkations, have charged a relatively small admin fee, and required them to disembark in the morning together with their luggage. I have heard of other cruise lines which have allowed that same disembarkation, tho' I don't recall any names. But NCL don't allow that disembarkation - there have been plenty of examples of that, and I've heard of the same NCL refusals elsewhere in the world. I guess the first thing to do is to ask the permission of the cruise line. If they refuse they might specify the appropriate Cabotage law. Or tell the passenger in question to do so - that sounds like the easiest way to stop your brain from frying 😏 JB 🙂