u/BooBooKittyFX

I'm currently working as a Data Analyst and had been thinking about transitioning into Data Engineering. Then, out of the blue, my employer approached me and asked if I would like to switch into a DE role, with me working in a hybrid role and learning on the job (all good, except we currently don't have any internal Data Engineers for me to work alongside).

Anyway, in my quest to get a head start I have come across these Level 5 apprenticeships, funded by the government's Growth and Skills Levy, which is great as my employer is cheap and so am I.

Has anyone actually done one of these apprenticeships and how was it? I have been looking at a couple of training providers - LearnTech, Corndel, QA, and iO-Sphere. Where were you at when you started the course - already knowledgeable or a noob like me? I have spoken to a few of the training providers and they've been a bit vague on my fit for the apprenticeship, I guess they get paid regardless of if I'm successful or if I flunk out. I want real-life reviews not curated blurbs on a website.

I keep thinking that it's a brilliant idea, and then the next minute I'm overwhelmed with doubt - I'm in my 40s and I kinda fell into the data world and I have no idea if these courses would be too technically advanced for me since I would be coming at it as a relative beginner. The training runs from 16 - 21 months, meaning the biggest commitment I would make outside of my degree, which was 20 years ago and in an absolutely unrelated topic - I had dreams once.

I'm looking for some real life reviews of the UK sailings out of Southampton. I am itching to book a cruise, partially because life keeps throwing turds at us and I need some magic, but also because I'd like to finally get to Gold status - over 40 nights onboard and still only Silver!

Anyway, I'm in the UK and the European season is well underway, so I'm thinking of booking a 3-nighter out of Southampton. The only thing that is putting me off is the comments and conjecture I have read about previous sailings. In 2023 we did the WBTA and there were a lot of things being said and some comments by Cast Members, and there was definitely a bit of an atmosphere onboard. It seems not much has changed - a vlog I watched of the exact same cruise that we plan on booking from the Fantasy last year said it was the worst cruise they had ever taken (Southampton to Belgium), all because of the behaviour of the other cruisers. Things I have read include fighting with other cruisers and Cast Members, sneaking extra booze onboard and drinking it on deck and leaving cans/bottles everywhere, kids running amok including running on tables during dinner service, pushing and shoving, rudeness, and a general sense of entitlement.

Now, I don't want to tar all my fellow countrymen with the same brush, but I know that Brits abroad tend to have a bit of a reputation, hence why we usually sail outside the UK or away from it, and outside school holidays. Has anyone got any experience of what these UK cruises are like? Is it as bad as it seems, or am I only seeing the negatives because that's what people like to share more than the positives?

Afternoon,

Does anyone have any thoughts/inklings/insider info on when this might set sail? I've done the usual tricks to try and get a rough idea of the sealing dates, but have come up short.

Rumours are that the release of this cruise for booking is imminent, and I'm thinking about booking depending on when it embarks - i.e. if it's outside UK school holidays (half term, which is usually late October), then I'll probably book.

I love the Transatlantic sailings, and have done a couple in the past on the Magic and the Dream. Selfishly, I liked it better when these cruises were kind of under the radar and never sailed near capacity.