maggiemou

TeachOhio.....Love the red ones and the mint wedges!!! Where did you get them??

Me too Love the mint green ones. I do wish we had a loke button so many lovely shoes.

Loving this thread as well as we can go off on our travels. We went to South America also but missed out on the Falklands due to weather but loved the penguins at Otway Bay. I ended up in hospital in Punta Arenas after I had a fall on the ship wearing TAP SHOES:) learning to tap dance.

I wrote about all this and about my shoes in a book I wrote about shoes and cruises ;) what else is there to write about?

In answer to a couple of questions, one was about my Vivienne Westwood shoes. I do not find they make my feet hot as I do no suffer from sweaty feet. I live in a hot climate (40 degrees in summer) and I have no issues with them . They are not the "jelly " type shoes that were around in the 1980's they are good quality and cost over £100 a pair. They are scented and smell of bubble gum and it never wears off even when you wash them

:)

Re getting my heels lowered. I took then to a good cobbler shoe repair man and you can have a small amount taken off depending on the slant of the shoe. I Googled how it is done first and found a man to do it and they are perfect now. Carry on with your shoe stories they are really fascinating and I am so pleased to read I am not alone when I buy two or more pairs in different colours if I love them. ;)

I bought these pewter shoes as I thought they went with many things. they did but I found then a tad too high so just had a fraction of an inch taken off . You can't tell but easier to walk in. Still only good for cruising, though ;)

The lime green ones are more sensible not that I am ever sensible where shoes are concerned.

I decided I did need them after all, they just go with everything!

 

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

They are amazing for cruising how could you ever think of not having them. :)

Love them in fact love all the shoes on this thread, such lovely shoe lovers with great taste.

:)

We need a like button on this thread as there are so many wonderful stories and fabulous shoes.

I am just catching up after a busy few weeks. I live in a hot climate so wear flat shoes as our streets are uneven here in the Eastern Med. My favourites are Vivienne Westwood Melissa pumps. Love them as they have a raised up heel inside and very comfortable, and colourful. I have ten pairs as I believe in buying the lot if they look and feel good:)

I used to wear open toe thong flip flops but not nowadays as you can fall in them and they make your feet spread so when you come to wear your gorgeous heels your feet won't fit in them:confused:

I rarely get to wear my heels on a daily basis but I carry on buying them and I take them on my cruises.

We always cruise for over four weeks at a time so I take many pairs with me.

Here are a few of my Vivienne Westwood Melissa shoes and I have them with heels as well.

Being an ephemera dealer, we call such people collectors of "out of print" brochures. There is a lively group and the brochures and other Cunard memorabilia bring decent $$ in the market place.

When my husband save brochures, I call him a hoarder and throw them out when he isn't looking. :D

Hey Maggiemou, I've just seen a good site you'll be interested at looking at on here ( CC) over on the 'Holland & America site'

 

The Shoe Diva's club !

 

Check it out, it's right up your street. ;)

Thank you Bell Boy now found it and it is certainly a thread for Maggieshoemou. ;)

Good morning Maggie Mou.

 

In the words of Ol' Blue eyes..."We have, so much in common".

 

You and JT look gorgeous and certainly know how to dress for Cunard.

 

Even more, you ain't afraid to show it.

 

Thank you, and I have to say you and your lady look very much the part and I do love the magenta dress. Stunning!.

Can you wear the heels all evening? Do you usually wear hose with them? Have seen more than a couple women carrying them on way to cabin from showroom or bar. Still think they complete the outfit if you can wear them.

I only wear hose when I wear a short length dress. If I wear a long dress I would not wear hose. Also I only started wearing hose the past year as I fell my legs are getting to old looking to be total bare so wear 5 denier very fine hose in a nude colour. I can wear my heels all evening no problem had years of practise. :)

You do need to practise walking in heels and the hardest part for me on a ship is when the carpet ends and you get a slippery tiles floor surface or a marble surface. I often think men must design the floors with no regard for ladies in heels.

When I buy a new pair of heels I wear them around the house with a pair of socks :) this breaks them in. Not a pretty sight though. :D

Well, I can be a shoe diva as I love shoes and I have so many I can't count them. :)

I usually cruise on Cunard but have recently booked a cruise on HA and it will be a first time for me. Not strictly true, as I worked on all the "Dam" ship in the early 1980's and acquired a passion for fashion and all things to do with shoes after doing a few world cruises and seeing how the ladies dressed up at that time.

Nowadays I still dress to the nines and the shoes are most important. On four recent world cruises I travelled with 40 pairs of shoes and around 30 handbags.

Earlier this year I went on a world segment and for the first time ever we had to pay €55 per kilo for excess baggage. We always pay of course as the shoes take up the most weight but this year it was well over priced (Emirates airlines) So what does a shoe addict do?

I went out and had new dresses made so I could wear them twice;) and bought a pair of Kurt Geiger pewter coloured shoes with magenta soles and 4inch heel that went with most of my clothes. Well that was the plan but as usual I could not live without my other shoes so ended up with around 20 pairs for a six week trip.

I love heels and my day shoes I wear most days at home are Vivienne Westwood Melissa flatties. The most comfortable shoes around and as I live in a hot climate they are better than wearing flip flops ( thongs) as they make your feet spread so you can't get your heels on at a later date.

Typical Maggiemou cruising shoes below. Thank you to Bell Boy for giving a link to this thread and a mention of my writings about cruising with shoes. ;)

Shoes ready for a cruise last November,

where else can you experience something like this this days ??

 

...on the Orient Express where we were a couple of weeks ago, on the London - Venice round trip, including a 2 night stay at the Cipriani.

 

The dress code was followed by 95+% of the passengers.

 

Stewart

Absolutely true BigMac. I have done the Orient Express twice and both times dressed up authentic 1920's clothes, and also formal wear for dinner. It is a number of years since I last did the journey but it was very special and I am pleased to hear you had a good time and that people do still have a dress code.

We have Cunard cruise wardrobe as we have spent many nights often on world voyages on Cunard ships so you accumulate your wardrobe over time.

We like to dress up on an evening and especially formal nights. I always wear a long dress. Usually have them made and always something colourful as I don't wear black. I do have three black and white long dresses that I bring out for black and white ball night. Like member Dreamflightpat whom I have sailed with around the world, we like our black and white ball dresses. :)

You can't ever feel too overdressed on Cunard and people who do not dress are in the minority.

Day wear you sound as if you are well sorted out and the rest, just go with the flow. I see you have just been in Israel, well I live very close to there so you will know what the weather is like in the Eastern Med and the clothes you wore there will be suitable for the rest of your Mediterranean cruise during the day.

I also take short dresses for non formal nights. I often have them made and I am in the process of having five new one made for my next Cunard cruise as it is in November so going for a different look ;)

I often go for something embellished for a bit of glam. I like the look of lace that is in at the moment.

It is pretty easy to find nice dressy clothes these days that do not break the bank, get some nice costume jewellery or the real thing and that goes down a treat as well so go for it and have a fabulous cruise.

I always find the staff onboard really like it if you make the effort to dress and they let you know they appreciate it as well by telling you so, and the maître D always escorts me to my table as they love to do it and it makes one feel special. Enjoy your time on QV.

Here we are on a formal night.

The stretch classes last around 25 to 30 mins depending on the mood of the instructor. This class is often followed by fab abs, same amount of time. Then there is a Pilates class which you pay a fee for. $ 10 if I remember. Followed by another paid class of spinning. I have been to many classes some are called body pump and more activity with kettle bells or light weights, and are all at the time of 7-0 am to 8-0am followed by the paid classes. The gym gets busy early morning also on many cruises. The people tend to be the same ones each day for the classes. They are rarely ever over attended but get there early to grab your mat and your space just in case:)

.

[COLOR="black"]ships running beautifully, they are furiously do small mainentance things around the ship, the decking along deck three has been sanded, the small surface rust spots touched up and shes looking ship shape for the rest of the year. Ill be sad to leave her, even after 4 months. Happy to stay onboard for another if I can find a sponsor.....Maggie?

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Ha ha! Roscoe if only, I wish. Another four months I would need a sponsor as well :) I will not be doing another world cruise for a some time as I felt really cruised out after we did four in as many years. We are back to doing segments or a month at sea and a few weeks on shore in some far flung place. However, if I ever get to do another I will make sure we do the same as we could compete in the dress stakes and the hair do's.:) Not to mention the shoes of course.;) Carry on cruising and a big thank you again for your fun blog. So pleased you got the most out off such a fantastic experience. Maggie x

Not nuts Roscoe, just very adventurous and love life so and grab it when you can. A good way to live!

Enjoy the rest of your WV. I felt cruised out after my last WV but never say never.

May well be on 2018 but not the full voyage. Four times in a row proved enough for me but still love to do segments. 2018 a big birthday for me so I will be there for sure. Thanks for your time and effort you put into your blogs.

It ain't over yet! Fat lady still not singing so "carry on cruising " Roscoe style. :)

Just had a fab day out with my dear friend Dennie Farmer ( QE's Godmother) love her to bits, and we did the rounds here in Cyprus, my home port doing QM2 proud.

Cheers to Cunard.

I live in Cyprus so I was there to welcome QM2 and see some cruise friends.

I spent the day showing my dear friend Dennie Farmer ( Godmother of the QE ship) around and we had a good day. Limassol not the most exciting port, but Cyprus has a lot to offer and some beautiful views and scenery, archeological sites and wall to wall sunshine. Hope guest on QM2 had a good day.

I think Roscoe should carry on cruising as I will miss his wonderful reports.:) Thanks for all the effort you have made and giving such a fun time. Not over yet, so carry on cruising!

BTW so pleased your camera was returned.

Same Italian builder that built HAL Nieuw Amsterdam built P&O Britannia.

Value for money ................??

The Nieuw Amsterdam ship now known as Thomson Spirit and been discussed on this thread was NOT built by the same shipyard that built P & O Btriannia.

The 1983 Nieuw Amsterdan was built by Chantiers de l'Atalntique in St Nazaire France.

Britannia and the 2010 Nieuw Amsterdam were both built but Fincantieri, in Monfalone Italy. We were discussing the 1983 Nieuw Amsterdam on this thread.

Oops :o

 

I got that one wrong, I think read it online but can't remember where. I wonder what they used the presidential suite and boardroom for :confused:

Holland America line as it was in 1983 when the Nieuw Amsterdam a was built along with sister ship Noordam, was not owned by Carnival. It was mainly Dutch and the passengers were Americans and Dutch . Rarely saw British person on their ships. I doubt most cruisers in the Uk in 1980 /1990's had ever heard of them as British people rarely cruised and only knew P&O or Cunard.

The Dutch Royal family traveled on the ships and Queen Beatrix was on the SS Rotterdam in 1981 on the part of the world cruise I remember she joined in Manilla. She would have stayed in the Presidential suite or many of the dignitaries that traveled on HA. Plus they attracted many wealthy, and I mean wealthy, passengers in those days. Conference room? Well, you will find one on many ships. even today. Often used for private functions or some companies do hold their conferences on ships.

NIEUW AMSTERDAM had problems with vibration from the very start of her life and HA eventually sold her only to buy her back later and she has been chartered out ever since.

Thomson Spirit is quite popular with ex -pats in Cyprus they can do a weeks cruise here from Limassol for less than it costs you to run the air con for a week. it is cheap and cheerful and many like it . As for me, I would not go on her as I prefer to go on a decent ship, not some old thing from a by- gone era and prefer to remember her glory days as a new ship.

The SS Rotterdam V is interesting as she has been beautifully restored to her former glory in the style she was built in the late 1950's. She is a floating hotel and conference centre berthed in Rotterdam harbour.

In addition i would think richard would be happy with the Thomson business model of chartering ships rather than having to find the capital to build them, after all he is a TUI shareholder.

 

The Thomson Discovery is almost a year younger than the Oriana and had a substantial interior refurbishment a few years ago.

 

Trivia question - what is special about the Thomson Spirit ?

 

Answer - when built she was called the Nieuw Amsterdam and was the flagship of the Holland America Line. She still has the presidential suite and boardroom ;)

Trivia question but wrong answer.

The Nieuw Amsterdam was never, ever, the flagship of Holland America.

That honour went to the SS Rotterdam V.

Nieuw Amsterdam entered service in 1983 and I was at the naming ceremony in St Nazaire France as I worked on Holland America Line in those days on their flagship SS Rotterdam (V) also known as The Grande Dame.

The liner, and yes she was a liner that gave Stephan Payne the ships architect of QM2 the ideas on how QM2 should look.

Nieuw Amsterdam has had a checkered history and had a few name changes over the years. She is still owned by Holland America and is chartered to Louis Cruise Line here in Cyprus where I live. Louis cruise line, in turn, leases it to Thomson.

Black & white ball is easy to do as men are already dressed in black & white for formal nights. I wear a long black/white dress.

Or you could wear a black dress and add white accessories.

Silver jewellery goes well with black and white or you could wear costume diamante .

I wear my black and white diamonds. Good excuse to dress up.

Most people do dress in black and white on that theme night and those that do not stand out like a sore thumb.

Themed balls are not just for the people who dance.

You can dress in the theme of things and not go near the ballroom.

I love to dress up at theme nights and I rarely make it to the Queens room in time to see the parade of the dresses.

It's the fun thing to do. I have dressed up a lot as we have done a few long world cruises.

However ,on shorter cruises I admit I do not always bother due to luggage restrictions.

On our recent cruise, I wore black & white on the theme night and red for Valentines Ball.

There were no other themed nights and if there had been I would have had to pass on the theme as we were flying to join the ship.

Have a good time and enjoy dressing up on Cunard.

We recently did Cape Town to Sydney 25 days. We flew Emirates to Cape Town They have a very expensive overweight allowance.55 Euro per kilo for us as we live in a Euro country. I think it is the equivalent in sterling. You are allowed 30 kilos per person and 7 kilo in hand luggage and a lady can carry on a handbag.

I am well known on forums for not travelling light, and we always have to pay access baggage. However we drew the line this time as we were staying on land based holiday as well so decided to stick to our limits.

My husband took four jackets. Plus one white tux and a white tie evening suit for formal nights.

I cut down on my shoes and I took five long dresses wearing three of them twice ( a first for me) and I wore two just the once. ( black & white ball and red for the Valentine ball)

I also took eight dresses for evening that was not formal and wore them twice ( again a new thing for me) I purchased a new pair of shoes that I could wear with more outfits Pewter colour very versatile. I still ended up with around ten pairs of shoes. ;)

Day clothes and the rest.

We were very careful not to be over weight and on the way out we were 2 kilos under. Goodness.

We bought toiletries and such in Cape Town and threw them away before our flight home .

On our return from Dubai, we threw away a jacket as my husband had bought a new one and I threw out a T-shirt as I bought a new one. One in one out policy. We got rid of any unwanted paperwork and such and we were amazed to find we were half a kilo under!!

Amazing never been known before as we spent a fortune on excess normal as we do long cruises and do not live in the UK.

So it can be done. I also took the smallest of everything even putting my face creams and such into mini pots and bought mini IPad instead of my laptop.

I took fewer undies and-and swimwear. My husband used the laundry for clean shirts and we did not miss having more luggage, in fact, it was a joy to have less to unpack

Have a great cruise and enjoy Cape Town

Same here and enjoying every moment. Always great to read a good blog and fortunately there are a few excellent folk around.

 

It's always so much more informative to have photographs as well.

 

And you have a good point on jackets MaggieMou. Your husband I know has some real crackers. You can always tell a man's character by the jacket he will wear.

That is very true and at least it gets you noticed for the right reasons. :D

Loved Roscoe's story of shopping with the Commodores wife. Can't beat having a good lady with you when it comes to shopping :) Looking forward to reading about Roscoe in Columbo, now that was the ride of my life when we were there in 2014. :)

Thanks Maggie., just did a blog on it. It was an amazing night. I had a terrific time...though I did get a little wet.

 

We have just left penang., had a great day though the weather is a little energy sapping, there was a big changeover and also another smaller one in singapore. The ship is literally singing in the South African brogue but the bars seem to be profiting from it. The next sector should be one of the more exciting.

 

regards Roscoe

Yes, Roscoe reading your wonderful blogs. I have tried to leave you feed back on Wordpress but it didn't appear. Really good and so wishing I was there to enjoy it all over again. We loved our world cruises and I am loving yours just as much. You make me smile with joy, and wow! That coat was just so amazing. Loved it! My husband likes colorful jackets that are different. Next time you are in Sydney visit Joe Bannanas shop in the Rocks. His jackets are stunning for cruises. Carry on cruising and blogging. Say Hi, to Julie from me. X

No need to sit at the same table all the time. If you are not happy with your table companions ask the maitre d for a change of table. Most guests at one table will be a mix of age groups and Nationalities.

Cunard do not put all first timers together, neither do they sit all full world cruisers together. Most world cruisers change their tables at some stage after a few segments. Even if the table is the best one you will find the company changes as guests leave the ship and new ones embark. I have done four full world cruises on Cunard so I have a good idea of how this works. Nothing is too much trouble for Cunard do just ask send and you get!

Chill out as someone suggested and look forward to your cruise.

BTW,you can take wine onboard and many people shop along the way.

You can buy stuff in supermarkets and take it on board.We know where most Walmart and Safeways are around the world. Happy cruising and enjoy the planning of this voyage.

Ihave sailed on Cunard hundreds of nights and I am not a snob. I have never met a snob on on any Cunard Ship.

I am am an Elite member of Princess also but not sailed on their ships since 2009 as we much prefer Cunard. As for P&O, I sailed on her ships a lot 30 odd years ago. After a world cruise on P& O in 2013 it was so bad it put me off the company for life.

Never ever met as many rude,rough & ready types of people in my life. Now that may sound snobby but,boy oh boy! some people were pretty rough and their swearing left me feeling ashamed for them. The shame also as they were all British! I also do not like to sail on a ship full of British. We like to meet other Nationalitues from around the world. Another reason we choose Cunard.

Take up dreamflightpats offer to meet for coffee, she us a lovely honest down to earth lady who will give you a good insight to what to expect on Cunard. I can vouch for this lady as we have sailed on the same ships at the same time.

If you are still not sure I suggest stick with what you feel is right for you. Happy cruising.