t60

Dance shoes are a good suggestion as most of them have suede soles which stop you slipping, but they won't be any good to wear out on pavements. If you use ebay and search under latin and ballroom dance shoes you'll have a huge selection. You need to watch the sizing if they are made in China tho and probably go up a size, but a lot of the sellers show you how to measure your feet. The prices are very reasonable I bought a new pair for my dance class last week for £9 including postage ie about 14$ and they ship all over the world. Dance shoes are very lightweight and flexible

Sandy in Spain

O'vee got a pair of flat black strappy sandals with some diamante bling on themwhich makes them quite dressy ( they're everywhere in Spain at the moment) or what about a pair of flats dressed up with some stick on jewels or fancy clip ear rings to decorate (i've done this on sandals before). Google shoe clips then check the image tab

Sandy in Spain

I'd like them for waedrobe shelves but will stick with cubes and folders for packing. I would imagine shipping cost to Uk and Europe would be prohibitive

Sandy in Spain

Can you just use the ironing facilities, either in the laundry room or sending out?

Sandy in Spain

snip.... Machines were fine, but both me and some other passengers got stains on items from the iron/ironing board. At least I had heard about the probs, so did not risk ironing any good items. One iron/ironing board was worse than the other, but both were very iffy.

What ship were you on?

Sandy in Spain

I have a list and when we return from one cruise, some of the stuff goes into the hand luggage ready for the next cruise (no matter how far in advance) It may be nly simple things like plug adaptor, safety pins, sharpie etc. The clothes list is checked for anything that wasn't worn and a new list started ready for the next time.

Sandy in Spain

The terminal building has free wifi and just outside is a bar that. The barman will give you the password, the bar one is much quicker as there's less people using it

Thanks for the info. Is the bar the one on the right as you leave the terminal?

Sandy in Spain

We have a carryon each. We always have to fly to our destination. Packed are a change of clothes each and all valuable items eg camera, electronics, jewellery, medications etc

Sandy in Spain

snip... But because I can't slip them on the bra strap as its attached and I don't really want to sew them to the dress I'm thinking of tacking or pinning right to the bra. That way my bra strap will never peek out!! I also found a beautiful scarf for wrap. Do you think that'll work?

[ATTACH]357322[/ATTACH]

If I'm reading this correctly, the new matching straps will be attached to your bra and not the dress....if that is the case I can't see how they will keep the top of the dress in place, and if you're thinking of pinning the bra and new strap to the top of the dress bodice (front and back) I don't think that would be very successful or 'safe'. Much bettter to sew directly to the dress

Sandy in Spain

There will be a plane full of people obviously all arriving together. If like other cruises you have your photo taken and then given cruise card, afterwhich you have to joing a Looong queue up the gangway to board and perhaps have hand luggage screened again. I was a bit concerned about standing out in the sun queuing for quite a while. We have disembarked at Barbados quite a few times and had to be bussed from the ship to the terminal, presumably we'll be bussed from terminal to ship?

Sandy in Spain

Our Fred charter flight arrives in Grantley Adams airport and I've been told luggage is whisked away to the ship...we don't have to deal with it. Is that correct?

But do we as passengers have to go throgh passport control, immigration and customs before getting on a coach to be taken to the port?

What happens when we get to the port terminal please, how/when do we get out cards etc, will we have time to look at the shops and florists in the terminal, once we board the ship can we get off again before sailing?

Is there free internet at the cruise terminal, I know there is/was last time we were at the airport?

Your answers and experiences would be very helpful, thank you

Sandy in Spain

snip... It's strapless is the only drawback. What do you think with this wrap? I can wear with bra this way. ..snip!

Is there any way you could add straps ie perhaps plaite the bottom of the dress and turning that into straps even if it means having the matching material on the top and a plain material underneath next to your skin. I had to do this with a dress where I made the strap in a plain material and then added a narrower piece of material cut from the bottom of the dress and just invisibly handsewn over the top, sounds more complicated than it actually was, I think straps of some sort may look more finished than wearing a wrap. Just anothether thought perhaps you could adapt some diamante bra straps or even a cheapie long pearl necklace from a market to make dress straps...just some quick thoughts

Sandy in Spain

We are on the Amazon adventure cruise next year.

Are there money exchange facilities on board to change either US$, Euros or GBP to Reais?

I know that if we arrange a private tour along the Amazon, they will usually take US$, so that's not a problem, but can any one give me a clue of how much local currency we might need for general purchases, eg water, a few local souvenirs, taxis etc really just those small things we wouldn't use a credit card for?

We have been to Brazil before but staying in Hotels and visiting places like Rio and Salvador is a bit different.

Sandy in Spain

Just recieved a note, flying Fred Olsen charter with Thomas Cook, Gatwick to Barbados for our Amazon Cruise in Feb 2016.

From what I've been reading recently I'm not looking forward to that.

Presumably meals and snacks are included on the plane, how about drinks such as wine and extra tea, coffee, soft drinks etc.....it's been years since we've been on a charter.

Fred already told us we can't choose our seats!

Sandy in Spain

I'd like to find a small eg 500ml or 1/2 litre insulated leak proof water/drinks container/mug/bottle, so far have had no luck..any ideas recommendations please.

Thanx

Sandy in Spain

snip... and if you look up the type of item you want (I.e. Ring, necklace, etc) and put: free shipping, auction and what your max price is in the parameters you can get some amazing looking jewelry for next to nothing. ....snip.

When I look for a bit of sparkle onebay it comes up with loads of stuff and I just can't be bothered to go thro it all.

How/where do you add the other parameters of free shipping, your max price etc?

I must admit when I have ordered stuff it sometimes never arrives or if clothing it only fits a barbie doll size despite what the advertised sizing says

Sandy in Spain

My last cruise and the present cruise, the roll calls have been and are virtually non existent. Last one was South America and Trans Atlantic, while th current one is an Amazon cruise, probably with mainly UK people who are not always amenable to to American style activities slot pulls etc (yeuk) before that when we cruised with a mainly Canadian or American contingent the roll calls have been very active and full of useful information. People find good private tours at a better rate than those on offer by the ships and the meet and greets are good to get to know others on the cruise

Sandy in Spain

New pair of womens high heeled evening shoes under the bed on MSC Lirica. Also found a diamond tennis bracelet in a Princess theatre which I handed into Customer relations, later got a call from them to say it had been collected

Sandy in Spain

We are visiting these ports Feb 2016, as usual the cruise line has a few excursions but we hate it when about 5 of 6 coaches descend en masse and so try to do private excursions if possible. Does any one have any recommendations for these Ports of call please. Santarem, Boca da Valeria, and of course Manaus wehre we will be overnight. We were looking at the cruise offering of an overnight in a Jungle Lodge Ariau, but the more recent reviews have not been favourable (bed bugs etc)

Ant suggestions, recomendations would be appreciated

Sandy in Spain

Nice casual comfy shoe, but for me would also look around for something else a bit more forma, but then it also depends on what formal clothes you're wearing as well. Long flowy palazzo pants or short cocktail dress.......

Sandy in Spain

I haven't got a recommendation but I found this for Manaus amazontraveldotbiz or google best amazon tours

HTH

We're sailing the Amazon in Feb 2016 on Braemar

Sandy in Spain

I always bring a WiFi decoder. It basically pulls in signals from a great distance. That coffee shop in port that has free WiFi if you buy something, I can use that WiFi on the ship sans password. Its pretty much free WiFi on-board on port days. Kinda like a rum-runner for WiFi

:eek:

This seems like a good idea

Sandy in Spain

Wouldn't "Beam me up" be just great :)

Sandy in Spain

Are you doing HAL Maasdam in Feb 2016? We have two roll calls going, Jan round trip from Ft Lauderdale & Rio / Ft Lauderdale.

Allan

No sorry, we on the Braemar 4 Feb, there's only me and OH plus 1 other onour roll call, so I will be popping ove to have a look at yours in case I can glean any information, hope you don't mind.

We did Rio to Fortaleza and then t/a back to spain in March/ April this year. Just love South America

Sandy in Spain

Have a lovely time, we have to wait until Feb2016. Wold love to hear how you get on and what tours you did. We're hoping to stay a night in one of the jungle lodges by Manaus. Also what you ended up taking using and not using, wearing,not wearing, etc

Enjoy

Sandy in Spain