Thejuggler

Oslo. We took the metro to the Holmenkollen ski slope and museum high on the edge of the city, great views. Warnemunde. A morning on the beachfront, afternoon a trip on the Molli train and coach tour along the coast. Very interesting history as it was all once East Germany. Tallinn, wander around the old town, climb one of the church towers for views across the city. Stockholm. Vasa Museum. Get there early. Afternoon wander around the city.

Depends on timings, but usually a quick lunch then a visit to each deck to find all bars and restaurants, casino, theatre etc as its usually quieter at that time. Then to cabin, find the lifts and work out which lift bank to use on our deck to get to where we need to be on the ship. Nothing worse than finding a really good tucked away bar about 4 days in!

Another vote for the Mozarella restaurant in Sorrento. If you are pushed for time there are plenty of pizzeria cafes.

For £5 extra on the Advance fare I'd consider 1st class.

Our daughter has been on many cruises with us in school holidays, but we chose cruises which weren't as attractive to families, Fjords, Iceland, Baltics. The Med in July would be a different story, which is why we never chose them.

Don't do it. You will be charged the walk up fare plus a penalty fare. For the OP it is easier to get to Waterloo (as mentioned jump in a cab from Victoria, rather than the tube) and board a direct service rather than having to change at Clapham Junction, Its the busiest interchange in the UK and not somewhere to be hauling luggage around if you have a limited time between services.

You need to look for Advance fares. If they aren't showing yet it is still too early, the 12 weeks is a guide not a promise. Advance tickets are showing for 2nd August so they may well be available tomorrow, just keep checking. To get to Waterloo you will need to take an Underground train service from Victoria.

If it is a ship tour everything will still be coordinated. We were once 30 minutes late back whilst on a ship's tour, the ship didn't leave without us.

Celebrity are relaxed in terms of evening wear, no formal nights so wear whatever is smart and comfortable for you. However as the ships are no different to hotels and have full temperature control the inside temperature is kept constant, regardless of the external temperature.

Waldorf also has a pool, but having stayed a few years ago, it is only somewhere I'd recommend if it has had a refurbishment in the intervening years as it was very tired, County Hall seems to get suggested, but I wouldn't pay high prices to be there. South bank offers very little later in the evening. A few years ago we ate at Oxo Tower which was excellent and not far from County Hall, but leaving at 10pm the area was dead, took us ages to get a taxi and I didn't feel comfortable walking very far.

A family friend is in London every 4-6 weeks for a couple of nights. Conrad St James was generally his go to, but he now favours The Dilly, which unsurprisingly is on Piccadilly close to Piccadilly Circus and lots of attractions are within walking distance. Date will be crucial. Dilly this week is about £250-300 a night for this summer, but certain dates can see this rise dramatically, Another option is to find a slightly cheaper hotel and use the bars and restaurants at more expensive ones.

Ports visited make a huge difference as to which cruise to choose. Norway are really cracking down on the size and type of ships which can visit the dramatic inland fjords and ports such as Gerainger, Flam, Olden. These restrictions are getting tighter each year so get there while you can. I've read a few similar threads from US cruisers where they list the ports and many of the the so called 'fjord' cruises they are comparing go nowhere near the inland ports named above. Some were more a coastal cruise with a short detour into a fjord for a quick look! I've never been on Cunard, but on current ship offering P&O doesn't appeal. The new ships are just too large for what we would enjoy and the Grand Class ships (Ventura, Azura etc) no longer appeal.

As above. Look for Travelodge, Premierinn up to an hour or so from Southampton. You will get a better deal and you have plenty of time to do the final stretch. We have stayed in Cirencester and Banbury previously.

As you state the distillery is closed this year for plant upgrade, but next year tours should be available. Its close to the centre so a ship tour probably isn't necessary, just book tickets beforehand to ensure a slot. I'm disappointed its closed as we have just booked a cruise for this year which calls at Kirkwall and having been to dozens of distilleries its on my one to visit list. However plan B will be a visit to Scapa distillery instead. Highland Park have opened a shop in Kirkwall for tastings etc whilst they are closed.

From my experience babies have constant colds! Keep an eye on her now, lots of fluids, keep Calpol handy and in a couple of days all should be OK. Above is correct that a cold is a virus, but bacterial chest infections can be caused as a result and antibiotics may be needed. Pharmacy First dispensaries can administer antibiotics if it does move to an infection.

First afternoon get yourself to the hotel (with immigration, tube etc you could be 2-3 hours from landing to the hotel). Check in, then either a couple of hours nap or shower and go for a wander. Cross the bridge and you are at Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall for Downing Street etc so you can get your bearings for the day after where you can do Westminster Abbey, Churchill Rooms and possibly Buckingham Palace. Day two could be Tower of London as its is in the opposite direction in the City of London. River boat, tube or bus will get you there. Tower Bridge is adjacent and its an area you can spend a day. St Pauls, Monument, Bank of England, the Inns of Court and High Courts are all in the city as are many areas associated with Charles Dickens. HMS Belfast on the river. The Skygarden bar is well worth a visit or a meal in the restaurant if you want a over London. You need to book. You could spend every day of your stay in the British Museum and see a fraction of it, so unless you have a bulk of a day its probably not worth it, unless there is something very specific you want to see. Its about 1.5 miles walk.

Lisbon is very spread out and split into areas. Alfama (Castle and old town), Baixa de Lisboa, Bairro Alto are all in one area, but its steep! Belem (pasteis, monastery, monument to the Navigators and Belem Tower) and Almada (Santuario de Cristo Rei statue) require public transport. You need to decide what you want to see most as you can't do all of it in a day

For info any of the local taxi drivers will happily do a half day or full day tour. They all tout at the harbourside. Just turn up at a taxi rank and tell them what you want to see and they will take you. Its a few years since we did it, but €80 -150 for the car (seats up to 4) is an estimate of cost depending on half or full day tour.

We are looking for later this year and there are 3rd and 4th person offers, maybe not on P&O. Remember however a 2 year old isn't an adult so you will be quoted child prices, not 3rd person discount. You can test this by changing the booking to three adults and see the effect on price. I've had it where a 2 adults and child (at age 16 and 17) booking isn't possible, but three adults is.

Always a lottery in the US, which is why we prefer Dublin pre clearance. The US has no transit system. You arrive in the US and that's the end of your flight. You join the queue for immigration and then check in for your next flight.

I assume your tour involves a trip to a distillery, hence the timings? The downside with Edinburgh is it doesn't have a well established whisky distillery convenient for the centre. However the nearest - Glenkinchie - is only about 15 miles, about a 30 minute drive, so a taxi is an option. If not the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh does tasting tours and has a bar with almost 500 whiskies.

Depends on time of year, but if it is during summer, generally late June to early September consider student halls of residences. Prices start at about £60 per single room per night. Two weeks is however a long time to spend in London and it would be worth looking at a overnight stays in other areas of the UK.

Do you want freephone because of cost? No need. All calls over wifi are free.

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.