Headland Hotel
Just my 2 cents on the Headland. Don't discount spending at least your first few months at the hotel, it's convenient and easy and on the social side of things the friends you can expect to make will be friends for life.
We all tore it up with freighter guys, command trainees and of course other Second Officers for about 4 months. The bar is open most hours at Dakotas, you've got the pool, gym, snooker table, squash courts, food court, study area and CBT rooms etc etc.
Just enjoy it!
Regards,
Cronus