Planes and boats and cars and trains...

If you watch the news regularly like I do, you will have seen all the bits and pieces on crashes, engine problems, etc. If I think too much about them, I might never go on another flight, but when you think again, there are hundreds and thousands of people in the air at any time of the day or night, and so the odds of anything happening are really quite minimal.
As we did on our last overseas trip, we have chosen to pay a bit more and do the Premium Economy thing. It just gives you a little more room to spread out, and there are usually only 32(?) people in the section. If I thought I might get stuck in the middle seat of a row of five, in economy, then I wouldn't go!

You also hear from time to time of people being upgraded to a different class. It has never happened to us, but please, by all means, try me! 
I'll take a trip in Business Class anytime, just to see how the wealthy people live!

Our flight with JAL includes a hotel stopover at Narita, so we'll have a small taste of Japan on the way over. We only get most of the first night, and a bit of the next morning, but it might be enough to see if we ever wanted to go back and have a better look.
We've had confirmation of the booking number for our big cruise to Norway, so I went on-line and entered our personal details so they have all the information they need. It just makes it a little easier later on. We have a balcony cabin on the port side of the ship (is port, the left??), BUT they have indicated there are four (4) Formal Nights, which we just don't do. 
Apart from anything else, we would have to carry "good frocks" all the way 'round the world and the UK, just to use it at the end of the holiday. I prefer my days and nights to be casual, and not have to wear a collar and tie at any time! We'll have some nicer gear for other occasions, but forget formal!!!

When we get to Oban, for the small cruise around the Island of Mull, and to Fingal's Cave, we can leave the car in a secure lockup with a local business for the week, and just come back and pick it up after we disembark. It will cost $60 for the week, (about $9 a day), but good to know it will be safe somewhere.

We will also have taken the car with us on the ferries across to Lewis/Harris, and for the benefit of anyone hiring cars for the UK, Hertz are one of the only car hire companies to cover you for taking their cars on ferries. They also let you pick up the car in one location, and then return it to another location, which is very handy.


Trains are another favourite, but we are not sure yet whether or not we can fit a little trip into the itinerary, we'll have to check....