Whatever you decide I would NEVER recommend anybody fly with Zoom - not even my worst enemy. It's the worst flight I have ever been on. The staff were ignorant and rude, there was enough space between my knees and the seat infront to just slide an envelope between the gap and the food was awful. I have certainly learned that, no matter how cheap the holiday, it's worth paying that little bit extra for the flight. Bon Voyage!

Vancouver is 8hrs behind UK time so you need a few days to get over your jetlag. Vancouver is a beautiful city and well worth spending a few days there anyway so don't travel on the same day.

Your brave, most of us wouldn't trust an airline to be on time for a hop across the channel, never mind the Atlantic Ocean.

You need time to get through immigration etc plus to get to the ship and if the flight was delayed. Do Thomas Cook not offer a stay over the night before you join the ship a lot less stressful, or can the travel agent who booked the cruise arrange one for you.