T-2

I'm noticing a lot of coats, does the ship feel more crowded than your leg through the Canaries if the pool deck is less in use, is the flowrider more deserted? Can't tell if it got warm enough to take the coats off or if just some are hardier Europeans who are comfortable with the cold? LOVE the goats!!

I am absolutely thrilled you are willing to post about this trip, we have almost the same itinerary and although there is one other thread, everyone aboard has their own experiences and I appreciate your sharing about both the ship and the ports. Especially from a warm homeland viewpoint! We're not as hardy as our European counterparts 😁 How is it so far, what you might have ended up being glad you packed and what did you maybe end up wishing you had brought? Does it tend to rain all day when they show these forecasts or is it more a morning or late afternoon thing? Thanks so much for sharing!

That makes a lot of sense in thinking what was being helpfully suggested, that the device was a bit hard to hear with but if you used headphones, you were able to hear much more clearly. I just couldn't tell if maybe it helped drown out the surrounding din of crowds or if the device itself was easier to hear with, as long as you had the aid of headphones as they probably lead a hard life with so many tourists. I have never used them with my phone so if I was going to buy 4 sets, I wanted to be sure they would connect, but at the same time, only one of our phones is going to have the overseas service plan to work in England. I'm guessing I will only need one setup if its not actually connecting to a handheld device. Grateful to know the standard single plug is the norm in London as it is in the US.

We are still 3 weeks out and I have erred to wanting to chose our entry times and bought timed tickets for a slew of things and some plays, I am amazed at how many were already running out of choice times, as I did Winston War Museum last night & barely got our 9:30 preferred time for early July. I had done the sites most in demand over the last few weeks. Windsor, Tower, plays, the Abbey, etc.... London is very busy. I have a question I am hoping someone can help with, several of our bookings include audio guides or have audio guides for rent, there are 4 of us. I have also seen many suggest bringing your own headsets to use with those included or rental audios- if coming from the US- what are we looking for, any audio plug would work, just a conventional single plug, earbuds or over the ear because maybe there is a lot of chatter all around with things so busy. Something that plugs into a handheld device or is the person plugging into the information plaques in various rooms, but then you are tethered? Trying to envision what the audio guides are like to use- Bath, Windsor, museums, the Tower of London, Abbey, etc. Any hints on how to be prepared or if it is a specific UK type plug in? Super Appreciate any help.

I'm hoping someone else might remember that detail, we did not have any small children, just a teen, so I am not remembering if there was also a dead bolt. I do remember realizing that a small child could not get out into the hallway without a parent being aware as the doors would be too heavy for a young child to open. If there is a deadbolt you would have to be sure everyone was in for the night before doing it but honestly I was just impressed with the security of it and don't remember if I used a deadbolt, maybe someone else who went more recently? Its a huge ship so we knew it would be a long walk to the elevators, worked off those meals! We only had to wait for another elevator rarely, not nearly as often as we did on the other class ships, Oasis class is still our fav but honestly I can't wait to sail on more ICON class as well, great for families.

We had connecting rooms with the foyer, fantastic concept, incredibly innovative. We also saw a couple others in our hallway who used this foyer to keep their stroller in on one side rather than taking up room within the cabin. Either cabin could access the foyer door and you could keep the doors to each cabin open or your could close them as you wished. Be sure to let the room steward show you how they operate, there is a button that will activate it automatically if you are inside heading out, rather than trying to push them open, as the doors closest to the hallway are heavier. Absolutely one of my many favorite things about the ICON. Plus the Elevators!!! Shows!!

I was checking every other day, some people may not have been as persistant but we have a cruise before we stay in London, so for us, I really wanted to get this booked before we flew over. Maybe some people are just checking weekly, it did get discouraging. Thanks for making it not so lonesome :0)

Our tickets just came as a pdf, nothing about showing them on the phone but we do both- as a back up in case either the phone is stolen or can't get a signal. Maybe your tickets had some add ons so they preferred them on the phone rather than a lot of paperwork to carry for tours, books, commemorative coin. souvenirs. We decided to wait until we can see them to chose which ones to buy. I couldn't believe the selection! And that timer to purchase ticking off my 15 minutes. Just really glad you were able to get the date you wanted and when I saw your post, I knew I wasn't the only one helplessly searching. And perhaps others will now know summer dates past June 30th are up!

New dates are now available, I have been haunting the ticket purchase page as well because we needed them for the first week of July and I was finally able to get them today, until now they had limited it to June. Hopefully the date you needed is up there now too.

I really enjoyed those renderings, they're amazing. Not to print out and carry around, but being able to envision the layout is really pretty cool. I have a new appreciation for the genius it takes in setting up a station, just blows the mind. I spent some time enjoying some of the interchanges we will use the most over the 8 days we will be there. I know there have been some changes, doesn't matter, they're great to see for someone who struggles with a sense of direction. I know google maps is not going to be of any help below the surface 😄 but I believe I now remember that even stairwells had a signage lists on them indicating the platform belows destinations, and a good flashback image of stairs, sometimes a lot of stairs. It's going to be awesome. And if we get turned around at times, sometimes we've had our best accidental discoveries that way. Thanks Always for all the help you give!

You guessed right, we have bought tickets but didn't know the other would have been the better destination. I have already paid for them but had based the choice on reading that the Windsor & Eton Riverside should be avoided because it was then a steep hill up to Windsor Castle. At least this will help someone else avoid my mistake, I would have much rathered the direct train.

markeb- I want to say thank you on two counts- One that you explained it so well that it makes perfect sense to me and Two, that you were able to understand the question I struggled to even present in the first place - I was wishing they had 3D renderings of the stations and now I can envision it just fine- cannot thank you enough- I feel like we'll be fine and not just losing time wandering.

We were last in London some 20 years ago and my memory is failing me on reading these underground Tube maps, I'm hoping you won't mind adding a bit of info. When you look at a map it will sometimes shows a location like Waterloo with a white circle on Bakerloo, , then another white circle next to it might be for Jubilee, then the next 2 white circles might be for Northern or Waterloo & City, are these stations stacked on top of each other or are they connected by corridors without having to go out to street level? Trying to guess how you approximate how much time it might take going from one line to another. I hope that makes sense what I am trying to understand. Second part to the question please- does the tube station ever connect when there is a train station with the same name or do you need to know to go up to the surface to transfer to the train line- like to get from Waterloo to Windsor we change for the Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Rd, do we go above ground to do that? Maybe this will all seem more obvious once I am there 😄

We did the group lesson for our grandson and for him it worked out perfect. It seemed that kids who were good with a skateboard could pretty much self teach, he was pretty good on the boogie board tricks (criss cross with the sit spin both directions) BUT he did not ever skateboard and at 6' lanky he was not well suited to self learn. There were 8 in his class, the success rate was impressive, all 8 were able to do the standup part because as mentioned, in the class you get to hold only a rope plus he wasn't a big heavy guy, he's maybe 135 pounds, so the staff was able to stand out in the water next to him with an arm out just to let him get that first balance, after that he didn't need that, and the 2nd time up he was able to let go of the rope and just stay up about 90 seconds. So for a first timer I think its the step to getting there. Everyone gets 2 equal turns. Ours was on the last sea day and he still had to learn the self load onto the board, he was about 50/50 on that, but since it has been a while we are doing it on our upcoming cruise. We were so impressed with the teaching staff, they were able to get everyone up and surfing, but the skill does take practice and we do not have one where we live. The smiles on him were worth every penny for us. But there are a lot of kids who master it without the class. We have not run into their adding any extra classes, the flowrider is one of the busiest attractions on the ship. Hope this helps for anyone wondering.

We did the Everglades excursion at the end of our Icon voyage so the luggage traveled with us. In retrospect I wish I had looked to see if the bags could have been sent on ahead to the airport, we had a 5:15 flight out of Ft. Lauderdale and if you fly Alaska Airlines they do not open the counters until 3:30, we were dropped off at the airport just a bit past 1pm and it was a LONG time standing in that line. I wish I had thought to see if they offered the luggage service to Ft. Lauderdale and hopefully someone else did use it and will post. I know they had it for the Miami airport, just not sure on Ft. Lauderdale but it might have also been an option since it's fairly close. We filled an entire bus for the excursion and it took 2 more buses for all the passengers who opted to take it and be dropped off at the Miami airport.

Maybe someone would be willing to ask their room steward if its labeled when they change the sheets. I have tried several mattresses as my back suffers from a compressed disk, to avoid surgery I do physical therapy before getting into bed and on getting out of it. Not once during our week on the Icon did I need to do that, first day home, back to P.T. Wish I'd realized the magic of that mattress while I was onboard. I just thought after 2 years, it was finally improving- it was the mattress. You weren't imagining things.

We recieved our email link to the pictures on the same day we disembarked off the Odyssey on the 30th, hopefully yours are waiting for you.

I must have over read the steps, thanks for clarifying. I thought since they had to confirm his age from either his passport or birth certificate (with the parent being with him), that I had to go to one of their special TfL stations and that after they verified his age, then any staff at the station could take his Oyster card and set it for the Young Visitor Discount. I don't know what we travelers would do without kind people like you and JB!

JB's directions on buying the train tickets were amazing, it did take just a little time but everything was absolutely straight forward, no problems using my U.S. address or c.c., and I can pick up the tickets at the station, they give you a confirmation number. This advice was so worth while, as he said, same day tickets can run about £35 each way. I am at 2 months advance and I was able to buy Four tickets outbound for a total of about £47 for the 3 adults and 1 tween (11-15 yr olds are half price of adult fare). Added with the return and taxes it was only £120 for Four round trip tickets vs potentially £245 had I bought them on the day of. In dollars that's about $152 vs $315. Don't let booking train travel intimidate you, his help is unbelieveable! Thank You JB & Cotswald Eagle!!!

That's also a great idea for anyone who could use google/apply pay. For us the Young Visitor Discount on his Oyster card is perfect, and lets him have his own card since none of us link our phones to banking.

Piccadilly Circus has a very convenient TfL only a few stops away on the Bakerloo line- Perfect!

I hoped to include John Bulls message about taking the train to Bath but I will have to settle for just a Huge Thank You for your help to my question above in post 211. I can't wait to give the ticket purchases a try tomorrow, it's late in my time zone, but fingers crossed, with all that helpful info- I am anxious to give it a try. We're only about 8 weeks out, so I know I won't see the cheapest price- I missed that window. But maybe even 2 months is still a bit of an advanced ticket. BTW- I loved your helpful thread 'Clocks'. Over a decade ago we had a ride transfer to the Paris airport for our 9am flight, they were going to pick us up at 5:30am- imagine my shock when they called from the lobby wondering where we were- now we are Always on time- it was only 4:30 in the morning, the last of our group just out of the shower for the long transatlantic flight home and they're ready to leave without us right that minute. We made it downstairs in 5 minutes just mortified. While clocks had changed to spring ahead back in the U.S. weeks ago- apparently they change in Europe much later. You have saved a lot of people some very embarrassing moments or missed rides. Thank you from all of us and making planning our trips to England easier.

Thank you beyond words for clarifying that, I thought it was something I needed to purchase before we arrived in England since I got the 2 products mixed as one. I know so many others who read this thread down the road will appreciate immensely your sharing this. I had not stumbled on anything about it, but the tube is such a time saver as you move about London, that I know its going to be well worth its small cost. We're coming in by rail from Southampton post cruise & are staying near the Waterloo station so I'll see where a visitor centre is nearby- thanks so much for heading off my misconception and that the photocard is not the same thing. Thank you again for all your help!

Globaliser- that was astounding, I had no idea there was such a thing as a Young Visitor Discount and for different age groups. Your link even contained a video walkthrough of the process. Since we will be there for 8 days it seems especially worthwhile and solves the problem of a 14 year old junior high boy not having his own credit card. He would always be with the adults but saves having to keep track of yet another credit card. This is perfect, Cannot Thank You Enough!

I read that London is moving away from the Oyster card, we are 3 adults who can do the credit card scan to pass through the turnstiles, I assume you then use the same card to exit so that it knows how much to charge you. But how do you handle a 14 yr old, we do not have a credit card for him to use, but guessing he cannot tap/scan through using his moms same card at the same time? If your card gets cranky about being used abroad, can you still buy the Oyster card and just load cash on it, I know you don't get your deposit back, but as a backup, visiting in July, super thanks. We'd really hoping not use the phone for apple pay or android.