Cruisinwithagoodbook

Have y'all seen this?

 

US woman from the Diamond Princess Cruise admits on national TV her & her husband lied about not having Coronavirus symptoms and flew to Omaha

I have a questions about these packages as well.

 

I notice that the 2 device package says, "Couples Package - this package is perfect for two people." but it also says the price is "per adult"

So if the 2 device package is $26.58 and it covers both of us, great!

If it is $26.58 per adult, then that's $53.16 per day and it would be better to get each of us the 1 device plan for $15.99 each.

I assume it's really for two people and not per adult, right? It's just confusing the way they say it.

Hi, everyone was so helpful with my mascara and hair dilemma, so I was hoping for some input on a dress question. My wishlist is along the lines of an lbd. I would like to find it on Amazon because I have a prime account, and I am running out of time. My budget is $100. Or less. To be more specific, size 12 to 14, and I am a woman of a certain age. Thanks!

 

How about this one?

http://www.amazon.com/Kasper-Womens-Sleeve-Gathered-Dress/dp/B00R7CGG9I/ref=pd_sim_sbs_193_7?ie=UTF8&refRID=00BVG4PS4AKW4JNDY5B0

 

 

When I did a search on Amazon of your size and the color black under evening wear (Prime Eligible), everything that came up is really short lengths. I don't do that short, so I checked the "wear to work" and there are several very nice tasteful dresses there.

 

Here's the LINK to the search.

 

If you like shorter, just switch categories to evening wear and see what's there. There seem to be quite a few choices.

Here's what I have gathered about people who don't like cruising:

 

- they have never actually gone on a cruise but make assumptions that are based on past experiences like "I went on a small fishing boat and got sea sick"...

Speaking of assumptions... I'm sure you don't mean to be offensive, but this post is a bit insulting to those of us who might not be completely enamored with cruising.

 

I have been on one Viking River Cruise (it was good) and one Carnival Ocean cruise to the Caribbean (awful, so thankfully only three days). I do get sea sick, but did not on the ocean cruise. On the river cruise I experienced a few moments of woozyness when I'd look at shore, but nothing I needed medicine for if I'd just look away. I've gotten VERY seasick on small boats in the past, so I plan for that.

 

- they are ex-husbands or wives

Nope. I've been married 27 years to the same man.

 

- they are people who don't like to socialize

You might have me on this one. I'd say I enjoy socializing with small groups of people who are nice and calm. I didn't not enjoy the large groups of rowdy kids and teens who congregated in the pool area and common areas of the Carnival Cruise ship we were on... and it was particularly irritating to me that we had to go through those crowds to get to our room several times. At some times of day it was worse than others, but I just don't like crowds period. So that was not pleasant.

 

You'll probably tell me that I could have picked a room elsewhere (true, but it was a last minute gift cruise, and my first, so I let the cruise decide), and that I could have picked a different cruise (also true, but I was excited about seeing Chichen Itza, so I thought this would be a good opportunity).

 

- they are people who are generally negative in most aspects of life and make up excuses for not liking cruising (too many photographers, cabins are too small, etc.

LOL I'm not a negative person by nature. I'm generally happy go lucky. I didn't worry over photographers, small cabins, or even the noise. If it's negative to not like crowds, I'll own that. :)

 

- they are people who have a favorite vacation style and aren't at all adventurous or accommodating to their spouse (only go fishing, only go to this one resort, etc.)

We travel everywhere, and usually try everything at least once... although my back is beginning to tell me to stop trying certain things.

 

What I love about vacationing is seeing things (history, art, and architecture particularly) and experiencing a different culture. This is the part of cruising that doesn't seem the best match for me.

 

Snowskier, you are not alone. We are heading to Antarctica next year and are planning on an African safari in 2017.

 

My husband and I have been on two cruises with Azamara. We loved the small ship, the wonderful crew and the great food. We did not love the short times in ports (and we did have some overnights) and we did not like coming back to 'our North American home' every night.

That's it EXACTLY!! On our Viking River Cruise I felt a little bit more immersed in the culture because the crew was European and shared their experiences, plus they brought people on board for demonstrations and things to help you know more about the culture, so that was good... but still, every time we had to get back on that ship I felt a sense of sadness that we weren't getting to spend the night in the town and get to be with the people there.

 

We love independent travel and have decided that, except for expedition type cruises or short scenic boat trips, we will not cruise again until we are older and cannot get around well enough on our own.

We have a cruise to the Mediterranean planned (which is why I'm on CC) but this might end up being our plan as well. I can see us taking a cruise to Alaska, maybe, but I can't see doing a lot of touring this way, especially over and over again. I'd be crazed by the monotony of a long cruise, I think. I'd much rather spend my time seeing new things. (We never go the same place twice on vacation, except to Disney World, and that only once every 5-6 years.)

 

We do not like all inclusive resorts for similar reasons. We like to experience foreign cultures.

Yes. This.

 

We are retired and do not need the stress relief of a vacation where you are waited on constantly.

I don't work, so maybe that's part of it, but my husband doesn't seem to need the constant entertainment and service so many here love.

 

Cruising is easier than the kind of travel we do. There is something to be said for having the same bed every night and not having to pack and unpack so frequently but it is not the best way to experience this huge, world of ours in all its variety.

That's it. Yes it's easier to unpack once and it's easier to travel this way when seeing Islands (which is why we picked it for the Greek Isles) but it's not the best way to really feel that you know a country.

 

When we did our little Caribbean Cruise, I was so sad when we had to leave Chichen Itza after two hours. I could have stayed there all day. It was fascinating... but the beach was part of the itinerary, so we left and sat on the beach watching the waves. That's nice, but not nearly as interesting as the history and culture we had left behind.

 

 

I agree with the many here who have said there's no one right vacation...and not enjoying cruising particularly doesn't make me a bad person... it just makes me different. I have different priorities.

 

I may change my mind in the future, but I doubt it. I hope to always enjoy culture and history more than being pampered... but we'll see. Maybe when I'm really old and unable to walk I'll love staying on the ship and just watching the waves.

I am not aware of any nicely organized chart that compares the dress codes of the different cruise lines, but you should be able to easily find the information on the cruise line's web site under an FAQ section.

Thanks.

 

I've sailed Carnival and they have one of the most relaxed dress codes. They clearly allow non-gym-related, longer shorts in the MDR. Most other cruise lines still frown on that in the MDR, but more and more, the dress code is falling under more of a "guideline" and less of a restriction. However, ships will vary with this even within a cruise line so it is best to try to discover what you can about the ship that you are sailing before you go.

Yes, I'm realizing that. I'm a planner, but I'm not really into the whole ship-experience thing, so to me it's just transportation to what I really want to see. After reading here on CC for a while I can see that there are a lot of people who really take the ship itself very seriously and I need to consider that when we plan in the future.

 

In general, I've heard that Caribbean sailings tend to be more casual...and Alaska tends to be the MOST casual...and Europe tends to be the most DRESSY. Margaret sails Princess...I'm sure she'll chime in. Where are you sailing?

We're going to the Mediterranean. My daughter has been begging for a trip to Rome and Greece ever since we studied Ancient history back in first grade. I homeschooled her. She's got her Master's Degree and is married now, so it's taken a while to get it done. This trip is her reward for graduating.

 

We're sailing on the Emerald Princess in August. We only decided on a cruise because it seemed the best way to get from Rome to Pompeii to Athens. We're much more interested in the sites we'll see on land than we are what's happening on the ship.

 

Honestly, the only reason we took the Caribbean cruise on Carnival was to see Chichen Itza. We weren't really thinking of the cruise itself. We brought books and kept trying to find quiet places away from all the people. I got really upset by the huge crowds at the pool because we couldn't get to our room without going right through the middle of them. It was awful.

 

For sure...there are easy ways of conforming to Formal Night without actually dressing totally formal. You've already experienced that on your Carnival ship. Ladies can have it easier than men in that dresses are easy to dress up and down with accessories. Usually, if there is more than one formal night...you don't have to pack completely unique outfits...many people repeat...maybe with a slight change.

My husband and son-in-law are the ones that don't want to do formal. They don't want to have to pack a jacket to wear once or twice (it's weird to me that you don't know until you get on the ship). My dd and I don't really care, so we'll just go to the buffet or whatever. As long as we get food we'll be happy. :)

 

And yes, the topic can get pretty heated here..but then, most people that would choose to participate in a message forum would be rather opinionated, otherwise there wouldn't be much posting going on. I can't believe I can say that I've cruised 3 different lines in 4 cruises in the past 13 months...but on the basis of that experience, I will say that the feeling on board is not reflected well on these boards. I think there is more understanding IRL than the discussions here would indicate.

You're right. That's what a discussion forum is like. I get that.

 

 

Our Viking River Cruise was perfect. The dress was nice but not fussy, and nobody was tacky or over dressed or too skimpy. (I'm always amazed at the things people call formal that are so skimpy looking.) The focus of the trip was on where we were going (Danube River) and what we were seeing, not so much the ship. We loved it.

 

 

My dh was on the river cruise, but has never been on an ocean cruise. My dsil has never been on either. My dd has only done that little Carnival cruise. We'll see how we feel about Princess and Ocean cruising. This may be our last or the first of many to come. Who knows. :)

I forgot to mention a conversation I had with a nice older gentlemen regarding formal nights. It seemed that he had NO IDEA that there were such things. Being the researcher that I am, I was somewhat astounded by this...how could you not find that out? But the fact was that he didn't know. There are people in the world who really don't plan. I know my DH's family is like that... I wonder sometimes how many of those that aren't dressed formally fall into this category and really and truly just don't know about formal nights.

 

I've only been on two cruises - a Viking River Cruise, and a three day Carnival Cruise. The Carnival Cruise was a gift and a last minute thing.

 

I never heard of formal nights and didn't even think of dress code. I always tend to dress fairly well - I don't leave the house in workout clothes and never wear t-shirts - so I didn't think of it. On the Carnival Cruise it was just my dd and I, and we both tend to dress up a bit (casual dresses) when we go out at night even at home, so we both had on cotton dresses on what turned out to be formal night. It was funny - we left our cabin heading for the dining room for dinner and were so shocked at all the fancy dress. I wondered what was going on. :confused: Reading this board I now realize that I probably offended people who figured I was just not following the rules. Still, nobody said anything to us and we were allowed to eat in the dining room just fine. It still never occurred to me that formal wear was mandatory.

 

Reading CC is the first time I realized this was a big thing (and WOW! at the strong opinions). We're taking a Princess cruise in August, so we've had to talk about what to do about formal nights. Our consensus is that our "smart casual" is as dressy as we want to get, so we'll just find the location on the ship where that's acceptable. I'm very glad they don't require formal wear everywhere.

 

For future cruises I'm going to have to find out what cruise lines require what level of dress. Is there a chart somewhere?

Okay, River Cruisers, we are looking forward to the Rhine Getaway on Viking at the end of July. If you have recently been on this cruise or are planning this trip, please tell me what you needed and what you took that was unnecessary. We will be doing 3 days in Amsterdam prior to the cruise and will spend the night in Zurich after the cruise, so I will have necessities for those stops as well. I want to be efficient and fashionable. Is it possible?? Thanks in advance.

 

I took a Viking Danube River Cruise a few years ago. I packed layers with nicer pants and tops, no jeans, loafers. It was my very first cruise of any kind, and I didn't even think for a minute about dress codes, but Viking turned out to not be too dressy, so I was fine. I didn't even bring a dress, and I was fine at dinner, but there were some people who dressed up more.

 

I can't remember what time of year it was right now, spring maybe, but it was nice and not too hot. It might be warmer in July, but the way I dressed (pants, undershirt, top) would have let me take off layers if necessary. Oh, and definitely bring a raincoat with a hood and an umbrella. It rained on us a couple of days and I was really glad I had mine.

 

There was nothing I can think of that I brought that I didn't need. I did have to send out some laundry after two days in a row of rain my pants were a bit of a mess, but I don't think it was very expensive, and it was definitely worth it.

 

Hope you enjoy your trip.

Crusinwithagoodbook, I love that moniker. I don't carry actual books, by my Nook goes with me on every vacation! Close enough, right?

:D Definitely!! I use the Kindle app on my iPad. No way am I carrying heavy books these days. It's so nice not having to worry about carrying heavy books, or losing one somewhere. shudder.

Katsmom1 --

 

I thought your post was pertinent and very good. I would add -- do this once and then do it again about a month later! My closet now contains 90% clothes that fit and that I love. (May have to do it a third time for the remaining 10% -- or lose 20 pounds!

 

While closet makeover is not the same as pulling an outfit together, it surely is a start.

I agree with you.

 

 

I think the next step after culling out what you don't wear and getting down to what you love, is to put bottoms and tops and jewelry and accessories together to make outfits as best you can. You know already whether a top needs black pants or brown or tan, and you know whether you have jewelry to match or not.

 

Once you make outfits and matched up things as well as possible, then it's time for a shopping list. This top needs a pair of pants or skirt, this skirt has no top, this is top and pants, but no jewelry. Then you go shopping for things that match and make you feel good. Don't buy anything that's outside your comfort zone or you won't wear it. Once I picked out a big bold necklace because it was the color I needed but every time I tried to wear it I couldn't because it made me feel so conspicuous. I'm sure it would look lovely on someone else, but I ended up replacing it with something smaller and more "me" and I didn't discover it was "me" until I started comparing what I love with what I hate to wear.

 

I'm no style icon, but I generally like my clothes and feel comfortable and put-together, even if I'm not trendy.

 

Oh, and organizing your closet helps with style, too, imho. I hang my black skirts together and then all tops that go with black behind. Then the brown skirts and then all the tops that go with brown, and then the khaki/tan skirts with their tops. The odd stuff is hung last with skirt/top together. I don't do skirts in one place, tops in another, because it's so much easier to just grab a skirt and top at once when their hung together.

 

Also my jewelry or scarves are hung on or with the top they match. I put jewelry (necklace/bracelet/and earrings on a card) in a small ziplock bag and hang in on the hanger. That way when I pull the top out, there are the accessories, ready to go.

 

 

I did a complete wardrobe overhaul last year and ended up buying a bunch of jewelry (from Charming Charlie) to match everything, so now I have so many unique outfits it's easy to pick out one and get dressed without having to go to many different places to put an outfit together.

 

Oh, and I use an app on my phone to keep track of it all. It's called "Stylebook." It was a pain getting all my clothes and accessories into it, but now that it's done I can keep up with what I wear much easier.

 

HTH

There's no way that you made anyone here mad. Seriously.

Good to know. :D

 

Welcome to CC. I understand your thoughts on my review of Allure...but, I will admit that I don't desire to open myself up to the potential backlash from sharing some of my honest opinions and observations of the ship. As funny as this sounds...this particular thread is a pretty safe place. Not many (if any?) of those involved in this discussion have sailed the Oasis class before...and I think there is interest in the topic...so I'm just sharing here in my safe place. LOL!!

I can understand that. The short time I've been on CC I've noticed quite a few snippy replies and a lot of strong opinions. I can see that it's a bit of a dangerous place.

 

This thread is an off-shoot of an even older thread that discussed "What season are you?" based on that Color Me Beautiful book. One of the members of CC developed his own methodology for identifying the characteristics of a color that make it more or less flattering...Earth is the equivalent of Autumn...described as being warm and muted colors. ANY color that is warm and muted looks good on most with Earth coloring.

 

As with anything, some colors look better on people than others...but the beginning for us Earth ladies to begin with...is the color warm and muted?

Makes sense.

 

So where in Texas are you? I went to college in San Antonio. Lived in the Mid-cities area of DFW for years. Then I lived in the Houston area for years...both in the Northwest and the Clear Lake area. I'm not fishing for specifics...just general.

 

OMG. I miss Texas. HEB is the best grocery store and has the best brands. For Christmas, I had my in-laws who still live in Texas and were driving to Georgia for the holiday go shopping at HEB and bring me a bunch of things that you can only get there. There used to be an HEB commercial of a Mom sending a care package to her son in college...full of things from HEB. I so relate to that commercial.

I'm in Cypress (NW Houston). I know what you mean about HEB. It does have some things you can't find elsewhere. Although truth be told I'm more of a Kroger girl myself because HEB pushes their own brand too much, but I do know what you mean. Still, they have a lot of good stuff at HEB and I do go there some times.

 

Right now we're all very sad here in Texas because our Beloved Blue Bell has been pulled off the shelves. :( We've all gone into deep mourning. There'll be some serious Ice Cream parties once they're back in business.

 

Thanks Ladies for letting me know that my review here is welcome reading! :D

 

I did think it was a cool review, I just was thrown by it... part of that is reading it on my iPhone the first time. I kept thinking I'd clicked on the wrong thread. :o

I'm not sure what you mean? But in any event, any and all are welcome here. We generally talk a lot about color theory, and how that translates out to cruise clothing and the like. Anita is just getting back from a trip on Allure, and we've been very curious to learn more, so she is taking us through it.

 

Do you know what season you are? It's an interesting process to go through. I don't always pick the right colors, but I try my hardest to find them because I can readily see the difference when I wear a color that's good for me. I wear they clothes, they don't wear me is a good way to express it.

 

Back in the '70s there was a fad about doing your colors. I think it was called "color me beautiful" or something like that. I'm not familiar with Earth and Fire, but it seems fairly similar to Spring, Summer, Winter, Autumn.

 

For the record I'm an Autumn, but I don't always stick to that because it's too difficult to wear earth-tones all the time. I like chocolate-brown for my neutral instead of black, but who can find a little chocolate-brown dress? lol

 

For my upcoming Mediterranean cruise I've ended up with several blue things, and I'm really not fond of the color blue. I much prefer green, but it's more difficult to find.

 

I can see why y'all started this thread on the idea of finding "Earth" (or Autumn) clothes. It's a challenge.

Enjoying your posts, Anita :)

 

Just for the record, I enjoyed the posts, but I also (being fairly new here) had the feeling as I read them that this bit deserved its own thread somewhere so that people who were interested in that type of ship could see the cool pictures.

 

I now feel from Anita's reply and your "enjoying your posts" that I stepped into something and have made y'all mad, and that was not my intention. Sorry. I'll leave you to it. :)

Nope.

 

The topic of this thread is usually centered around the posters quest to find clothes that would be defined as EARTH colored according to the color system/theory of Curt.

 

This thread is 4 years old and we have formed quite a fun little group of ladies...some of us have actually met each other IRL...and this thread is taking a tangent to discuss my experience on my recent TA crossing on the Allure. It's a tangent similar to the one the FIRE thread took when Joby (Kim) went to Africa.

 

There will be more fashion discussion as my review continues...

 

And as Laurie discusses her upcoming cruise...I believe she leaves on the 15th? And reports when she comes back...

 

And anyone and everyone else that tends to report on such things here.

 

We are approaching the end of this thread...as I think that threads are shut down at 200 pages...and so I guess I am feeling more and more like expanding our discussion here to include other topics that are interesting to our group.

 

As always...anyone is welcome to join in our conversation!

 

Gotcha. :)

nevermind

Hi "Cruising". [emoji23] Plumbers Crack! Oh how unladylike of me to laugh [emoji41]. Some of the "floor shows" are so unintentional and so hilarious just the same. I'm wicked enough to imagine a booming voice store wide: "Attention Shoppers! Avert eyes in aisle 123. Avert eyes in aisle 123. Thank you."

okay, I'll admit it. I waited till out of ear shot and snickered at the visible butt crack (which I know we all have). It's just funny to see parts that are normally covered. I guess if she had been in a bikini at the pool I would have been expecting it... But then again I tend to avoid the pool for just that reason lol.

 

I _still_ have problems finding tops to cover the collarbones; which I do solely to prevent another nasty sunburn. Years ago I made the mistake of wearing a lower cut blouse [emoji17] and looked like a molting snake for quite awhile. Sleeveless turtlenecks and I have become very good friends.

I can understand that, but I'm a bit the opposite about my neck area. I had a tumor removed from my neck a few years ago, so I don't like a collar touching that area. I just want my girls good and covered. Some things are for dh's eyes only, kwim? :)

 

Traveling to Med Countries is a lot of fun. Learned more history "live" talking with different people than ever thought possible. Tip: If your itinerary includes Greece, the Orthodox Church also requires shoulders and knees covered (same as Stateside). You already know about the Roman Catholic Church and its policies.

yes, we are going to Greece, so thank you for the heads up. I'll be sure to have my light weight sweater with me, especially if I'm sleeveless.

 

For all of the beautiful Ladies in this thread, I applaud you for being comfortable in your skin. It takes a lot of soul searching to get there. It also takes a lot of soul searching to decide just how much of your skin you want The World to see. I err on the side of The Mystery [emoji6]: Ye Olde Feminine Mystique...

 

Even a Sundress can leave a lot to the observer's imagination... Does she or doesn't she wear matching canary yellow bra & panties and slip with it?

LOL. One of the many mysteries I don't have a need to know. :D

Hello "Cruising". There's a Ladylike Movement afoot even the Pilgrim and Puritan Founding Families would approve. [emoji6]

 

Any garment of lace or gauze, unless lined, is going to provide a striking silhouette. Sometimes accidental [emoji15]. Sometimes for effect [emoji41]. In subtropic sunlight even a sturdy seersucker dress can offer a peep show worthy of any Strip.

 

On the topic of hosiery, no pantyhose on me please & thank you. For Summer formal occasions I do wear stockings with garter. A lot less heat-trapping especially under dresses with lots of drape and movement.

 

Maybe because of living in the Deep South for so many decades, I've become accustomed to searching out and finding tropical weight fabrics. I can understand how hard it is when "the hunt" begins for Ladies who've not had the experience.

 

On the topic of Sundresses, I have one in wool. UmmHmm. You read that right. W-O-O-L. It is so fine and lightweight. Exceptionally breathable and definitely not scratchy or itchy (even when sweating like a sinner at a Revival).

 

Demure Summer or Tropics wear is available. It may be more expensive than "this season's special" and it probably will outlast the rising humidity, too.

 

 

Not my rodeo. Not my bulls.

Hi, Telynau, I'm in Texas, so it's hot and humid here, so I'm used to searching for cool clothes...although I don't tend to wear dresses that much. I have become pretty good and finding modest clothing and making necessary adjustments (usually by adjusting the neckline a bit) to things to make them work for me. I don't wear hose, nor do I wear necklines up to the collarbone or anything that radical, but I don't like feeling like you get a view when I bend over either.

 

 

Speaking of that, I got a little show at Wal-Mart the other day. I was walking down an aisle and there was a teenage girl squatting down looking at something on a bottom row. As I walked by I happened to glance down and low and got the view of her thong-divided-crack clear down to the dark... :eek: Her jeans were a bit low and her shirt definitely not long enough to cover... but we all have butt cracks and I guess the plumber look is finally in style. :rolleyes: ;)

 

I just walked on while trying not to look again to see if she felt a draft as I went by. :p

Yet there is a photo of her leaving the gym in yoga capris that show the same silhouette that no one said peep about. Americans are too uptight about the body parts we all have.

LOL, It's been many years ago, but I'm pretty sure it was the British Tabloids that started the ruckus. Americans aren't any more uptight than other societies, and far less than many in this world. That's why I'm making sure to pack appropriately for places in Europe. I understand they're pretty "uptight" as you put it about how people show knees and shoulders in churches over there, and I don't know of any American churches who require that (although there may be some)... not to mention Muslim societies, but we'd better not go there. :)

 

There was nothing wrong with that photo, it showed nothing unshowable.

 

I didn't say there was anything wrong with it, did I? I'm pretty sure I didn't. I was just posting it because the thread reminded me of that story... but I will say that the thing that made it something to talk about is that seeing through a dress gives the impression of seeing something not intended to show.. It makes you feel like you've intruded on the person's privacy, kwim? Kind of like overhearing a conversation or something... plus, it was not too many years ago a "lady" kept her private things private, and showing what's under a dress was just not done. I think the tabloids pointed out that the Queen would *never*!! Shudder. I loled at that when I was a teenager, but I do get what they're saying (as far as dignity) now that I'm an adult.

I am usually more of a khakis and capris fan, but I am thinking about getting a sundress or two for a fall Caribbean cruise on Oasis of the Seas. The dress I'm looking at now is a crinkled rayon. In a dark print it wouldn't be sheer in most lights, but in bright sunlight I believe the outline of my legs would be visible.

 

I've read in various places that "no one" wears a slip anymore. Really? Is it acceptable for one's legs to show through the skirt? I was taught that was unthinkable.

 

I know many of you are sundress fans. What do you do?

 

Thanks.

 

Vicki

 

I'm a slip wearer. If a skirt isn't lined or made of denim I want a slip. Then again, I'm a modest person and would never dream of letting my girls hang out or wearing short shorts. These days modesty is a forgotten term, so I'm sure I'm in the minority.

 

As I was reading through this thread I couldn't help but remember an iconic image from many moons ago. Anybody else remember this and the headlines it made? :o

 

 

I've got several maxi dresses for our upcoming Mediterranean trip, and I plan to wear a loose comfortable slip unless I'm absolutely certain they can't be seen through.

 

There are a lot of body parts everybody has that I really don't want to see, or them to see on me. :D

40's here and I'll tell you why it matters to me. Armpit hair and disgusting uncared for brown and yellow toenails are GROSS. I DO NOT want to look at one's tank top with balls of deodorant hanging out of their pits during a nice meal. Sorry for the graphic but that's really the only way to drive it home...

 

Dressing nice is a way of showing respect for those around you. Take a little pride in your appearance, that's all. Dress codes exist to provide guidance so that everyone has the same understanding of expectations. I wish we didn't need them but some have proven that without rules they are incapable of holding themselves to any kind of standard.

Yes, "dressing nice" is a way of showing respect, that's true... but the question really is what does "dressing nice" mean?

 

There seem to be a lot of people here that feel that "dressing nice" = formal. That's where I disagree. I don't want to look at "balls of deodorant hanging out" or "disgusting and uncared for brown and yellow toenails" either, but does that mean people have to dress formally? That's ridiculous.

 

Disgusting and uncared for brown and yellow toenails show in high heels the same as in flip flops. That doesn't change. A person who has no self-respect and doesn't understand basic grooming isn't going to suddenly do so because the dress code requires it.

 

And like I said above, I don't want to spend my dinner time worrying that the lady in the "formal cocktail dress" is going to let the girls fall out, or bend over to pick up her napkin and show WAY more than I want to see! Dressing "nice" (by dress code standards) doesn't mean I want to see that. In fact, I find it "disrespectful" for her to make me look at that (or keep having to avoid looking at that) all through dinner.

 

I understand the idea of dressing up is fun to some people. We go to my husband's office Christmas party every year and it's a "formal" event. I'm always shocked and appalled at the indecent dress the women call "formal" so I know for sure that I prefer decent casual, thankyouverymuch.

 

So the dress code says it's okay, does that make it "respectful"?

 

So again, I'll ask the question: Do you not go out to eat at a local restaurant where you live? Can you not enjoy dinner if those around you are not dressed the way you approve?

 

I go to church every Sunday, and then go out to eat. Most of those around us in the restaurant are dressed in much more casual clothing. I still enjoy my meal... and I've never EVER seen anybody in all my 49 years of life with the "disgusting" attire you mention, but lack of modesty is rampant. I still manage to share a restaurant with them without requiring them to conform to what I think is acceptable.

 

Nobody does. That's slovenly.

 

And that's not what casual means. We go on vacation and like to be casual. We are not slovenly.

 

We have fine personal grooming habits. My husband isn't making a difficult choice between a tuxedo shirt and a white undershirt from the hamper.:rolleyes: Come on, use a bit of common sense!

Exactly. Why does the "WE MUST HAVE A DRESS CODE" crowd act like suddenly everyone is going to dress like complete slobs.

 

The only dress code I know of at most local restaurants is "no shirt, no shoes, no service" and most people are fully clothed. I've never seen the nastiness described here in McDonalds! Where are we digging up these passengers?

 

Yes, a Cruise ship is different, but a basic "fully clothed (no swimsuits)" requirement would be fine, I would think.

It's not black and white. I wouldn't show up at a wedding or event to which I am invited and/or where I will know people dressed in anything less than what would be considered appropriate.

 

There was a time when people wore suits to the movies or a baseball game. There's a reason why, today, no one would consider it disrespectful to show up at these places in jeans or shorts. Times have changed.

 

Like it or not, some cruises have gone in the same direction. People want to be comfortable, don't want to pack dress clothes, whatever, and some cruise lines have become less concerned with what some would consider an antiquated custom.

 

I respect family, friends, co-workers, etc. and do care how they think of me, and my attire in their presence on certain occasions or events would reflect that. Some dude or lady I don't know in the MDR on a cruise ship that I've paid my hard-earned money to be on and enjoy? I respect them too unless given a reason not to, but I couldn't care less what they think of how I'm dressed.

 

Great post !

I agree.

 

 

I'll admit I'm fairly new to cruising, but I'm surprised by the anger and general condescending tone I read from the "you MUST dress up" people. I do understand that they feel people should follow the rules, but I still don't understand why the way other people are dressed is that big a deal generally to their own dining experience.

 

I think about going out to eat here in Houston where I live. People dress all kinds of ways, but generally, even in the casual restaurants you won't see people in the slovenly dress described here. Some people are dressed to the nines (around prom season you'll see formally attired couples) and others are casually dressed...everyone seems to be able to co-exist and enjoy the company of their friends without being bent out of shape about how others are dressed.

 

To be honest, I'm usually more "offended" or put-off by the cleavage bearing, too-short, too-skimpy outfits (formal or not) than I would be by a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. I would not want to share a table with a lady in formal dress who was letting the girls hang out or having trouble keeping her wahoo covered. I'd be wishing I could hand her a XL t-shirt all evening. LOL

 

We are taking our first Princess cruise this summer, and we don't plan to dress formally (although we'll dress nicely every evening regardless), so on formal nights we plan to go to the buffet (or whatever else is available for no extra charge). I would never want to "offend" anyone by being dressed in a maxi with my dh in khakis and a ss shirt, so we'll just find another spot to dine. Like my husband says, "it's just food."

 

Then again, we didn't choose a cruise because we wanted the whole cruise experience. We chose it because it was going to places we want to see (Ancient Rome, Ancient Athens, etc), so our desires are probably not like most cruise experienced folks.

If it is before final payment and your price goes down you call whomever you booked with…. your TA or Princess. It is not generally a new booking. As previously mentioned if your cabin category is sold out then there is no pricing available. For ex. You paid $900 for a category BB balcony. That category is now $800. You are before final payment so call your TA or Princess (whomever you booked with) and ask for the new pricing. Keep in mind that any promotions you got with the old pricing will disappear but as the OP found out he is saving a lot more $$$ than the promos that disappeared.

 

OT: No, but you can cancel and rebook a category that is included on the lower rates. Just be sure to consider, as others have mentioned, that you may lose a deposit or other perks associated with the fare you initially booked. Do keep checking the Princess website, though, as a sold-out category can open back up as booked passengers cancel or get upgraded/upsold.

 

Thank you. That clears things up. This will be our first Princess cruise, and we're new to cruising generally, so I'm not up on any of this stuff. I booked with Princess and got no OBC or anything special, but that's okay. I'll keep my eyes open for deals if we ever cruise again.

I'm new here, so please excuse my ignorance, but I don't understand what you mean. Did you just book a new cruise cheaper than a price you saw earlier, or had you already booked a cruise and then call to get a lower price? Had you already paid for the cruise and then got a lower price? Also, who did you call for the lower price, a TA or Princess directly?

 

I see mentions of getting reduced rates, but I don't understand how... and what if your level of cabin is already sold out but they're offering lower rates on a cheaper room only... can you still request and receive a reduced rate for your cabin level?

 

TIA

Only the $56/day (with tip) packager would include bottles of sparkling H20.

 

Most likely better off just buying the H20 when you want to consume it.

 

An 11oz Perrier is about $3.05 with tip.

Definitely not paying $56 per day, particularly when I don't drink alcohol.

 

Club soda on the ukp makes a good substitute for sparkling water.

I was thinking that Club Soda would work... I know I can buy the 6 for 5 package, but what is the cost of the cans one at a time? ...and I hate to seem like a dummy, but what is "the ukp"? I'm sure it's obvious, but I'm not seeing it... nevermind. Searched and found that it stands for "Ultimate Kids Package" which has now renamed Ultimate Soda & More Package...so that's $8.05 per day... so three Perrier's per day would make it worth buying.

 

Thanks for the help, y'all!

With the Beverage Package - I like Sparkling Water with my dinner - will I be able to get the large bottle or only the small ones?

 

Large bottles are allowed (but not to be shared with people who do not have the package).

 

I've been wondering about sparkling water. That's pretty much all I drink at home, so when I travel I usually order it and then buy some for my hotel at night.

 

This is my first Princess cruise. What package should I buy if I want to drink Sparkling Water at meals and in the evenings? I guess one thing I'm wondering is how much do bottles or cans of sparkling water cost if I don't have the package? That might help me decide whether to buy the package.

 

ETA: We're flying to Rome and departing from there, so I don't know where I could buy some to bring on board, although that thought has occurred to me.

 

Thanks.

YES to a point. 60's

Smart Casual every day is enough. No tee shirts, dress shorts acceptable, no swim wear.

Perhaps a compromise, 1 free restaurant for casual, 1 for higher dress.

Also feel feel that extra pay restaurants could add a higher dress code to entice those who want to dress up to the max.

 

I agree with the above... It sounds like a great compromise to have one restaurant that's formal for those who particularly enjoy it.

 

The thing I don't understand is why those who want to dress up can't still dress up no matter what everyone else is wearing. That's what happens in a normal restaurant, right? Some are really dressed up, some aren't. Around here at prom time we'll see formally dressed couples at restaurants while the rest of us are dressed normally. These teenagers seems to be able to have fun without being bent out of shape at the way the rest of us dress.

 

Oh, and I'm in my late 40s and my husband and I dress for church weekly and for at least one formal party a year, but when we're on vacation and restricted to how much luggage we want to carry dressing formally just isn't important to us... and even if we decided we wanted to dress up, we still wouldn't care what everybody else was wearing.