jsn55

I'm giggling ... a perfect accent for this dress would be a 'fascinator-type'. The thing you specifically don't want! Not one that clips on the side of your head with weird stuff shooting off in all directions, but something feminine and understated.

Now that I see the dress, I don't like the hat with it. A more 'lightweight' hat would do you better I think. I think a hat to enhance this gorgeous dress might be quite a challenge!

My only addition is that we were on an Alaska cruise in early June and it was HOT. We had to buy t-shirts. So everybody's right ... layers!

I think it's perfect for your described event. My only reservation would be the incredible numbers of shades of navy blue ... you'd want to be sure the hat color complements the dress color. What color is your coat?

This is exactly the point. These people are rude, period. Nothing can excuse that, and cruiselines need to move these people on if they're too dumb to figure it out. There have to be hundreds of places to gather and do whatever you want to do on a cruiseship.

One UK location I'm interested in is the UK pronounciation of Southampton, the port. I've been told both ways. SOUTH-am-ton or South HAMP-ton. Which is correct in the UK?

Yup, I doubt that people who 'travel full time' have any money worries. If you're 27, you can travel around the world for months on a shoestring, but most of us 'more mature' folks would find that not so enjoyable.

I would LOVE to read what people have to say about this ... I've always found it a fascinating idea. But just can't wrap my head around how life would be living on cruise ships and hotels. But I can't imagine how people live in the huge apartment buildings of Manhattan either. Look forward to some good posts on this subject.

Rent a furnished apartment, make your own meals and wait it out.

This kind of restriction is really maddening, bordering on outrageous. I wonder if NCL is reacting to some horrible negative experience in the past or if they just can't be bothered.

I hope you're back up to speed after such an awful adventure. It's great to know that the insurance functioned as it's supposed to ... how long did the claims take to process?

I see it as a matter of basic courtesy and consideration. The buffet is for dining; if the ship doesn't have enough seating for everyone, pax can be considerate to people who are hungry. How hard can it be to find a nice spot for a group to use for several hours?

A 50th Anniversary YEAR! Clever, I'm happy for you both. I'd not be buying any 'evening gown' for a cruise ... too foo-foo and usually only worn once. I'd use the money for a nice piece of jewelry. I'm with 'the girls' above, but I do black silk pants and tunic top with all those accessories. They raised a good point about color ... if black isn't her best color, by all means make another choice. Congratulations, and have a wonderful year!

Other than good credit card travel insurance, buying from a broker specialist is always best ... their only goal is to recommend the correct policy for you on a specific trip.

Aw, what a freakin' shame. I know what you're saying ... when you feel like you could stop traffic in a gown, the world's a wonderful place. I've always made my own evening gowns, a simple halter top backless full-length dress and a wrap in a gorgeous fabric. I'm too tall to just go buy a gown, and I wouldn't spend that kind of money on something to wear anyway. I'd suggest you try again ... but we both know that probably wouldn't work. Do you have a photo from that glorious night?

Why were your claims denied? Buying insurance of any kind without reading the policy is problematic.

This is about the only way to catch people smoking anything on a balcony. People should report smokers and ships should send officers ... why wait until some idiot starts a fire?

Ah, the sails! One of the joys of our cruise was just floating so quietly down the Nile in a regular river ship; this must have been awesome indeed.

There's no answer, as long as you purchase insurance from a reputable source. And you read everything three times very carefully. It's all in how the claim forms are completed. I just got a very large check from the travel insurance built into my Chase Sapphire Reserve CC for a cancelled cruise. After a few weeks, they asked me for exactly one more useless item, so I know the forms were completed perfectly. They just sat on it. And that is, of course, their job. They can drag out the process by asking for one thing at a time over months ... they can do nothing and then deny the claim ... or they can do nothing and pay the claim. At the six-month point, I pitched a polite fit and had my reimbursement in a matter of days. Had I not been embroiled in a personal disaster, I probably would have got this all wrapped up in three months.

This photo is hilarious. I thought I was the most meticulous packer in the world, but I'm nothing compared to you. Love all those little bags just the right size. "Being sick" anytime is something that fills me with dread. To prove your point, in October I could tell that I was developing a cold the second day after the 10-hour flight. I gobbled Vitamin C, drank gallons of water, read/slept for 48 hours ... and beat the cold to death before I boarded my cruise. Had I not had a bunch of Vitamin C pills with me, I would have had to waste precious rest time trying to find some from an airport hotel.

What does Virgin Voyages call their Cruise Director? Someone is responsible for the raves for the entertainment.

Four countries with four currencies!?! A puzzle. You're right ... cash for tipping is about all you'll need. But I'd want some cash available in case I needed a taxi or whatever. I'll stick my neck out here and say that I think American dollars will be fine, at least for the SEs booked through Viking. Why not check with the private SE operators?

Yup, the breakfast paper tradition has always been acceptable. How nice today that family members can just bring a tablet to breakfast and not have to bother with the pesky papers themselves.

I agree with you ... but just because we don't find it understandable doesn't mean that lots of pax think it's great fun. I must admit that some door decor is so lame it makes me feel sorry for the occupants. But the point is that people ENJOY doing it, nothing else.

It's my understanding that NCL has banned door decorations; I don't recall any on a recent Epic cruise. Read the fine print on NCL's website as it pertains to your ship. I can see them being lax about it over the holidays, tho.