Pre-T/A Logistics ✓

Flight … bus … hotel!

All of the logistics for our pre-cruise overnight before embarking NCL Encore on 3 December are complete.

We didn't want to take more time away from our family visit. So, no pre-cruise this time. Not that we will be flying in on embarkation day. That would be way too stressful.

Instead, with our departure from İzmir set for 2 December; we will have an overnight in Southampton.

Familiarity with our destination helped speed up the required bookings … even though we won’t be flying into Heathrow as we usually do.

Rather, we will be flying SunExpress nonstop from İzmir to London Stansted Airport [STN] ... a former US base ... now the fourth largest airport in England.

Next, I moved onto getting us from Stansted to Southampton.

We always take the National Express bus service when we fly into Heathrow. So, we're going the same route from STN ... with a connection at Victoria Station in London. I booked the 3:25p departure. The good news is that airport pick-up passengers are allowed to board any bus within three hours on either side of the purchased ticket … at no extra cost. Of course, that’s on a space available basis. 🤞🏻 all will go like clockwork.

Our accommodations in Southampton are sorted out as well.

The Holiday Inn on Herbert Walker Avenue may not be the most luxurious of accommodations. But we have stayed there before and it is the closest hotel to the port. Walking distance if the weather cooperates and we feel like rolling our bags to the terminal. If not, hopping in an Uber will be easy enough.Læs mere