Thanks to all of you who replied - it was quite exciting reading answers from people I've never met and who live on the other side of the world. This is fun! I've been to the US a couple of times now and just love it - pity it's so far away! To answer a couple of questions asked - the ship is the Navigator, the date of departure from New York is (and you guys always put the dates back the wrong way which confuses me) is 09/07/05 (which would be 9 July here but is 7 September there). The cabin we've now been allocated is 716 but I don't know if they can change that at any time. Although we are lucky enough to have a balcony, it may be too cold to use it. Do you think we may be a little early to see the autumn colours? Can't have it both ways!

My son won't have a problem with the suit - he just didn't want to wear it on holidays if he didn't have to - but it's much better than having to get decked out in a tux. We Aussies are pretty casual.

Thanks once again to all of you. I've been reading lots of your comments elsewhere on the site and have taken them on board (pardon the pun)!