Is the sea too cold for a dip in Dubai?
Q I’m planning a trip soon to Dubai. What might the sea temperature be, and will it be OK to swim? Also, what electrical adapters might I need in the Atlantis, The Palm hotel?
Jerry Pollentine, via email
A The average sea temperature will be 22.4C this month, says seatemperature.org, which is about as low as it goes. Without a wetsuit, anything above 18C is all right for most people. The rooms come with UK plugs and USB sockets for charging phones, so you won’t need any adapters.
Q This spring I am planning a trip to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, in the USA, followed by a visit to a friend in London, Ontario, in Canada. Is there a ferry from Cleveland to Ontario across Lake Erie or do I have to travel by other means?
J. B. Owen, via email
A Sadly, there’s no ferry. The quickest way to go, taking about eight hours and costing from £75, is by Amtrak train to Toledo in Ohio (amtrak.com), Greyhound bus from Toledo to Detroit in Michigan (greyhound. com), and Megabus from Detroit to London (ca.megabus.com). See rome2rio.com for more options.
Q We booked a P&O cruise to Hamburg and Bruges, via Zeebrugge. We were very disappointed when told we would not dock at Zeebrugge due to adverse weather, though there were just a few white caps. We have been told no compensation is due. Is this standard?
Geoff Simpson, Crawley, West Sussex
A Yes. Cruise ships reserve the right to alter itineraries at short notice if safety could be compromised by weather. This is why cruise travel insurance which covers missed ports is recommended. See ‘Best cruise insurance 2024’ at which.co.uk.
Q We booked a Crystal Ski family holiday via the travel agent Iglu Ski, but some of our luggage went astray when flying out. It turned up five days later, meaning one of our group wasn’t able to ski for four days. Who can we pursue for compensation?
Kevin Wakeford, via email
A Try the airline, although it will cover only the cost of bare essentials such as toiletries and underwear, and check if your travel insurers offer delayed baggage cover – though this may be minimal too. On ski trips, it is advised to wear ski jackets/fleeces on flights and to carry gloves, goggles and salopettes in hand luggage to avoid this scenario.
Q Can you help with cheap flights to Singapore? I am a senior citizen and finding this difficult to establish. Also, do you have any travel insurance advice? Cecilia Swinburne, via email
A British Airways has return flights from Heathrow from £677 (ba.com). For insurance, try Saga, which has no upper age limit and covers many pre-existing medical conditions (saga.co.uk) or try allcleartravel.co.uk/seniors.
Q My wife and I are taking a cruise from Tenerife to Malta in March, flying back on March 28. Our passports were issued on October 9, 2014, and expire on July 9, 2025. Will they be valid? John Gates, via email
A Yes, as you will be travelling within ten years of your passports’ issue date and returning with more than three months left before they expire, thus complying with EU rules.
Q We would like to cruise round the British Isles but my partner doesn’t have a passport. Will this be OK?
Brenda Wise, Dartford, Kent
A In theory, yes. But before booking anything, check with the cruise operator.
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