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Boarding for the first time and immediately feeling as though I had come home. Having the same feeling every time I've boarded her since. Doing laundry in my ball gown on gala night (very few people want to do laundry on gala night, as it turns out, which makes it a very convenient time to sneak in a load.) (And now I'm curious - what does French Toast mean in the UK?)

Yarns Untangled still have a few skeins, so I'll have to swing by and take a look!

That is absolutely stunning! I've done one of Boo's shawls, but it wasn't something I could travel while knitting (beading, so much beading...) My usual travel projects are a pair or two of socks, and some sort of shawl project. The trip in January is also going to involve a baby blanket, I think (Cradle Me by Anne Hanson, which is my Go-To baby blanket). I also take along a blackwork embroidery project - the current project is Peppermint Purple's SAL, which takes up next to no space, can be done in-hand with a small hoop, and because it's weekly blocks, is relatively easy to stitch in small chunks.

The only 'things' that I still take are magnetic hooks - I once took an over-the-door shoe organizer thing, but I found it was more trouble than it was worth (not used for shoes, but for organizing makeup and knitting and paper and all of the other little bits and pieces that accumulate.) I do take electronics - phone, ereader, tablet, portable battery, and two different sets of earbuds - one noise cancelling, and the other bone conduction - since I listen to audiobooks and podcasts while knitting. This requires a set of charging cables and a USB plug (ideally with 4 ports.) I will frequently have snacks that I take on board, but they're not generally for consumption on board - I have a few favourite shops in the various ports that I sail from, and will pick up bits and pieces to bring home. And of course, the knitting, which is my largest (space-wise) 'unnecessary take along.' Two projects at least, occasionally three, depending on the length of the trip.

I'm not a carry-on only girl, but I do generally mange with a single checked bag and a carry-on. I wear a US22-24 dress size, which also increases the volume of the clothes I take, and means that I can't go without a bra, so I'm in the bring multiple bras camp. (I can get away with wearing a bra for two days (with a day to air out in between, but I don't like going much more than that.) I use packing cubes, compression bags, and if I'm going to be away longer than a week, plan to do laundry (either in-sink or in the launderette.) I do take formal wear, because I cruise Cunard, where a major part of the cruise for me is dressing for dinner every night. However, other than a couple of dresses, I will try to mix and match - take a single skirt and a couple of tops, for instance, for the 'smart' evenings, and reserve the space for the dresses for gala nights. I also take at least 3 pairs of shoes - walking shoes/boots (usually Blundstones), a pair of comfortable dressier daytime shoes that can double for smart evenings, and at least one pair of Fancy Shoes (tm) for evening wear. I'm in the process of planning my packing list for a 16 day Panama Canal full transit in January (Florida to San Francisco, so lots of different weather.) I think I'm looking at 5 pairs of shoes - Blundstones, Keens sandals, and 2 or 3 pairs of dress shoes (two of which double as daytime if I'm wearing tights.)

But, but, but! How were they supposed to know? It's only mentioned a dozen times on the website, and included on my.cunard in a couple of different places (dress code on calendar, what to pack, probably at least one other location...) (Tongue (hopefully) obviously firmly in cheek.)

I'm in my mid-40s, so I suspect they're sending it to everyone, not just those "of a certain age". (Don't tell me I'm of a certain age!)

I'm booked on QV in January (segment of WC), and just received an email reminding passengers to advise Cunard in advance if they might need assistance in the case of an emergency (such as an evacuation chair or one-to-one assistance, even if you're travelling with a companion.) They mention a questionnaire on my.cunard (although the URL included in the email goes to a 502 - Bad Gateway, so Cunard IT gonna Cunard IT, I guess.)

I also got both of mine on Friday at Rexall. Thankfully no full-body reactions, but some impressive bruising where I got the flu jab.

I'd also throw in a toque or some sort of warm hat that covers your ears. You can stay surprisingly warm with fewer layers if your head stays warm.

You can get flat pak soap bags on Amazon (Matador is the brand that started them, I think, but I've got an off-brand from Amazon that works just fine.) They're magic - they allow the soap to dry, but don't leak or make a mess. I use one at the pool, as it allows me to use my bar bodywash and then tuck it back into my toiletry kit without worrying about it making everything messy or the bar dissolving from being put away wet.

I've got my flu & covid boosters scheduled for Friday afternoon, because I then don't have anything on the docket until Sunday afternoon, so if I fall over, all I'm losing is some time.

Even on themed nights, the majority of passengers don't follow the theme beyond a vague suggestion, if that (especially for flapper & masquerade). You'll be in a sea of elegant formal wear, just not colour coded/themed. It's somewhat easier to follow the theme for red & gold or black & white, but it's certainly not mandatory. For Masquerade in particular, the majority of people who do observe the theme only do so in the Queen's Room after dinner (at least from what I've seen).

I doubt they would put Grills or Club cabins on Deck 8, as all of those balconies are obstructed by the lifeboats - I can't imagine that people would pay a premium for Grills/Club only to have their view be primarily bright orange.

Our weather is so messed up right now - we're up over 20C today (high 60s/low 70s F), but are down to about 6C by Sunday (low 40s F). Nothing below freezing during the day at least for the next week, just frost warnings overnight a few nights. And kids won't need to be wearing their costumes over snowsuits on Tuesday.

QV Jan 22-Feb 8 (16 night World Voyage segment FLL-SFO) 23 Jan: Red & Gold 28 Jan: Gala Evening (no theme) 1 Feb: Masquerade 4 Feb: Gala Evening (no theme)

You're making me miss London. It's been almost a year since I was there, and will probably be another year before I get back. It's such a great city.

I admit that I have a what to wear and when spreadsheet for planning purposes, but it generally gets tossed once I'm on board.

I'm a Queen Anne girlie myself. I picked up a tin of Albion last time, but I haven't opened it yet. Last fall, I landed in London at 7AM Sunday morning, took myself to the Wolseley for breakfast, went to Westminster Abbey for service, then back to F&M for tea and biscuits, then treated myself to afternoon tea upstairs before going to my flat and collapsing. The exhaustion meant that I spent entirely too much on tea, but it was worth it.

I'm now on my second fill of BIAB overlays, and my nails are consistently longer than they've ever been, although I have had them filed down somewhat each fill - because I spend so much time typing (and I am a fast/touch typer), super long nails don't work for me. I don't judge people who have long nails, I just don't understand how they work - my life is just not long-nail friendly.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I think I brought home a kilo of Fortnum tea last fall, plus various nibbles. I'm not a marmalade person, so I'll leave all of that for you. What's your favourite Fortnum tea blend?

Seconding the checking the weather before you go, but much will depend on how you deal with cold/damp. I tend to run warm, so I was able to comfortably eat lunch in a park in my shirtsleeves in London last November, while folks around me were wearing sweaters and fleeces. I can't recommend the QM2 TA experience enough - I've done it three times, and will be booking a fourth when I'm on QV in January.

I tend toward maximalism in my packing. For my last number of cruises (3 TAs, one including an extra week in London beforehand, 1 7-day to Alaska, and 1 7-day CA/NE) I take a 25" checked bag plus a 45L backpack that can either be carry on or checked, depending on how many checked bags are included in my fare. For the TA with the week in London beforehand, I checked the 45L backpack and had a laptop bag and a tote-style purse to carry on, as I was working in London and needed to take laptop + work materials. I'm doing a Cunard 16-day Panama Canal full transit in January (FLL - SFO) that I'm suspecting I'm going to need a second full sized suitcase, potentially along with the 45L backpack. Between multiple weather types (Florida & Caribbean through to rainy & chilly San Francisco in February), needing to dress for dinner (including multiple gala nights), and my addiction to shoes, I suspect I'm going to need the space. (Even though I will likely do at least a couple of loads of laundry while on board for daily wear items.)

All of the items listed above - muster drill, drop off hand luggage, unpack, check dinner reservations as necessary. I also tend to find a lounge to have my one alcoholic beverage of the cruise - on QM2, this is in the Commodore's Club. I walk the ship - if it's a new ship, finding 'my' places, if it's a ship I've been on before, it's re-acquainting myself with 'my' places (again on QM2, this is the Carinthia Lounge.) I might walk the promenade deck. I then always change for dinner. Especially if I've been running around on embarkation day, I frequently feel kinda grubby, and it's nice to have a quick rinse off and change into something fresh for dinner.

When I was on Zuiderdam in early September, the only live music was the Billboard Onboard (dueling pianos), the band in Rolling Stone Lounge, and a solo guitarist who was doing contemporary (Dylan, etc.) a couple of times in the main theatre. No classical music at all. The former Lincoln Center Stage area was completely unused - it sat empty the entire week. Even Cunard, who don't have a "formal" classical music program, generally have a pianist who does classical recitals, a string quartet, frequently a harpist, plus the band/orchestra for the Queen's Room, and the rock band for the club. There is live music all over the ship, at multiple times a day.