mployhar

A couple years back I lost my casual white jacket. (I mentioned here I'm sure) I was lucky to find a replacement the night before our cruise at a Bealls. As I'm thinking about my Sept cruise I realized I hadn't seen it. For about two weeks I thought it was gone and started looking for another. Found a swinging longer hooded jacket at Labels $hoppers. Under$15. Looked good with longer tunic tops and leggings. Then I found white jacket in my cruise room. I apparently took it off to try something on and then-just-forgot!. Happy to now have two totally different styled jackets. Both will go with me.

What a great deal! I have been on and off this thread for years and just popped back on because I was invited this week to join a friend for a Windstar cruise to the French and Italian Rivera in mid-October, which I soon learned can be a rainy time of year. So, I was on a hunt for a jacket too that would be good for traveling and water resistance as well as stylish.

It must be a good time to buy jackets, as I just found this waterproof one on ebay (retails for $295) for just $28, plus $6 for shipping:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391292994974?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648&var=660593900509&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

So it seems like these hot summer months are a good time to get a deal if you are planning ahead and getting in on some so what is left from last season's stock.

I know I haven't been on this loop for a long time, at least posting as I always like to sneak in and listen to all your wonderful ideas and conversations amidst my crazy schedule.

Anyways, the following just came through my email and I thought I would share. If you are not familiar with Jamberry nails they are a vinyl product that is adhered right to your nail and can be removed with just warmed oil...no toxins and no damaged nails! I don't sell them, but I do absolutely love them and am sharing my consultant's page here, but if any of you are consultants please chime in to let the other ladies here know how to order through you.:)

https://ellenpool.jamberry.com/product/coastal-charm#.Vb-1GbXdsY0

Peggy

I usually wear a lightweight sleeveless navy sweater with my long patterned skirt. Putting a long necklace, some drop earrings and flip-flops (all with gold or silver accents) makes for a casual, yet stylish outfit.

I thought the 15% gratuity was included in the UBP (no extra charge for it when UBP is included as a perk)? THey charge extra grat for each drink ordered? Or am I misunderstanding you? I am happy to tip and would have signed for extra tips when ordering drinks, but I didn't think it worked the way you are describing.

Sorry, I stand corrected. I was looking at the tips we added on over and above the 15% for the drinks (kind of almost assumed that you will add them though) and the tips for the waiters in the special dinning venues. Plus, we had more people to tip being in a suite (our butler, concierge, and the Haven waiter). Still added expenses that we normally don't have when not using all these perks and the suite amenities. :)

Yes, we too booked "up" on the cruise we took last week because we needed to get us and our three kids into a room and were enticed by all the "add-ons". I have to say the Haven was worth every penny we spent on the the trip...so relaxing, but BEWARE there are a lot of added expenses with all the other incentives. A 15% gratuity charge is added to EVERY drink order, plus you are expected to tip extra for all of your dinning package usage. It all adds up.

All that said, we did book our next cruise on NCL, just a balcony though, because we really had a good deal with the new incentive of the kids free (yeah the oldest will be 18 by the time we cruise next and he will have to pay his own way and book his own room now if he wants to come with us - don't feel too bad for him since he is already a certified professional welder and will be raking in the dough as soon as he turns 18 in a couple of weeks) AND the pre-paid gratuities for two of us.

Just my 2 cents to add to the discussion.

Peggy

Having just sailed Norwegian again, but for the first time getting the drink package as part of our suite deal, we found that in no way did we even come close to drinking as much as the package would have cost if we had paid for it separately...about $52 per day (which meant we would of each had to of consumed over 7 drinks a day :eek:). The corkage fee of $15/bottle is really nothing since you consider that a 15% gratuity is added to all drinks served on the ship.

The bonus side for us bringing is wine is that my husband makes and bottles his own, so really we only pay $3 per bottle to make high quality wine (compares to the $30 to $40 bottles)...and $15 for someone to open them for us. :)

We got back Saturday from our cruise and I am sorry to say that I didn't take even one photo of my outfits! :eek: Indiana, I must warn you that your plan to stay in a suite may absorb some of your fashionista urges - as it did mine. I was so relaxed on this trip that I just floated through each day...of course it was really nice to just wake up and throw on an "already put together and ironed" outfit that I didn't even have to think about, but with our room being so nice I wasn't that tempted to go out about the ship like usual OR even slip out of my plush bathrobe and into one of my outfits.

Next cruise is already booked and no suite in my future...at least not yet. But, I will keep on looking for more things to add to my cruise closet and keep following all of the wonderful advice you ladies have to offer.

Thanks all for the inspiration!

Peggy

Great finds on the jewelery! I live so close to Sam Moon here in Texas that it is hard not to over do those accessories, but it is always exciting to have something handmade and one-of-a-kind.

I hope you "suite" plan works. My DH was not very sure at first, but now that he is dreaming of all the ways he is going to enjoy the perks he is probably more excited about this cruise than I am...it does help too that we had been watching the prices and yesterday the Haven room prices dropped and we were able to upgrade for almost nothing. (Only problem I see from here on out is that we may not be able to go back to a regular cabin[emoji6])

Ooh. I never thought of bath extras. I usually pack those aroma therapy shower tablets (moreso because our shower was shared with our three kids, but in the suite they will have their own seperate bath) and essential oil scented body oil to use after going to the spa.

Hi ladies. It has been a while since I have posted here (we haven't cruised since last January and in that process we have moved from MN to TX..so, I have been a bit busy with other things). But that aside, my sister booked a cruise out of Houston leaving 2/21 (yes, in less than 12 days!:eek:) and we we just decided to join her...so I have very little time to plan my outfits and everything else for this trip. The upside of all of this is that due to late pricing, no travel costs, and lots of incentives being offered by Norwegian we booked a suite!

My biggest question is what tips do you ladies have on how best a fashionista can utilize the suite amenities?

Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

Peggy

I buy the little bottles (5 ml) to travel with. This week alone I have flew 3x with a baggie of my favorites in my purse. Not issue with TSA...on the other hand, the 4 pound block of homemade raw Jarlsberg got me stopped for some questioning.[emoji4]

My 10 year-old daughter saw the Threads ad and immediately asked me how she could try out for the show. I hope it is a success.

When will summer get here?! We were ready to turn the furnace on the other morning. I want to wear summer clothes!

Oh I so totally agree. Come February of this past year I told my husband I was not going to be able to stand another Minnesota winter...so he landed a new job in The Woodlands, Texas, we sold our hobby farm, and in three weeks we are headed to warmer weather. Maybe then I will finally have time to post the pictures of my daughter and me from our January cruise.

We will be visiting relatives tomorrow night, but plan on catching up on Friday when we get back home. Did you all see the videos they have posted on mylifetime.com? My daughter and I watched them last week. Looks like a good mix of designers.

Received an email response from Cruise Critic RE the inability to post photos and the appearance of text as I type. The answer was: "Some servers have updated and that is causing a change. The tech folks at CC are working on compatibility.

I'm using a different browser and the "old style" is back!

Now...to see if a photo will post...YAY YAY YAY!! Looks like I'm going to be leaving google for foxfire:)

 

Now that the photo is visible: This is an outfit from the December Cruise - the animal print top wouldn't normally be in the Cruise Room, but since the weather during the return trip wasn't conducive to tropical clothing - it fit the occasion.

You look really fabulous! I needed this inspiration today too in order to get myself to a place where I could pack something a bit warmer in my bag too...your outfit helped so much. It turns out that Miami is expecting a high of 63 on Wednesday when we are set to get on our ship. Oh well, at least it isn't the -16 we are leaving here in MN Tuesday morning!:eek:

Peggy

I think you changed my mind about how I am going to do my nails for our upcoming cruise. I am going to go for a tropical orange (my skin is too yellow for pinks) on my nails with some designs instead of the typical French manicure that I always tend to lean towards.

 

Thanks for the inspiration.:)

 

Peggy

We leave in 2 days to fly down to FL, so my daughter and I got our nails done today.

Here are the links to my ShutterFly page of the gel nails we got:

9 year-old daughter went with a light pink with sparkles and some flowers on her hands and then a bit deeper color of pink with sparkles on her toes.

https://fashionabletravel.shutterfly.com/pictures/17#17

I went for a festive orange on my nails and toes, and a few feathered designs on my ring fingers in blue and silver (the blue kind of matches my hair).

https://fashionabletravel.shutterfly.com/pictures/17#15

So fun! Thanks again ladies for the inspiration!

Tim Gunn's new show starts tomorrow night. I'm looking forward to it.

My 9 year-old daughter and I will be watching it also tonight. :)

We will have to catch up with the next episodes when we get back from our cruise.

Indiana,

Isn't it so hard to find a good stylist? I knew this one was a keeper when I tryed her out on a whim and she told me straight out that the style I desired wouldn't look good with my profile. People tend not to stand up to me as, I have been told it has to do with my commanding presence, but I LOVED the fact she wasn't going to let me walk out of her salon with anything less than the best, at least without my full knowledge of her expert opinion.

The one thing I did realize yesterday though about this color in my hair is that wearing black next to my face really washes me out...and almost all of the dresses I have packed for our cruise next week are black! To solve the problem, I bought some pashminas (rush shipping on ebay) last night that could be paired with my dresses and not only complement my complexion but will be great for keeping me warm, as I usually find dining cold when in a sleeveless dress.

Peggy

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So, I told my hair dresser to go to town and do anything she wanted (color and cut) as we are leaving a week from today for our cruise.:eek: Don't panic, it didn't turn out bad so that I am inquiring as to how to cover it with a hat. Actually, I always tell her to do what she wants. She has done my hair for over 10 years and is really talented...therefore I completely trust her. This time she really let loose and brought out my fun personality in my hair...and she even took a before and after picture that I thought I would share. (OK she did go a little crazy on the styling, but that only lasted til I got it wet.)

https://fashionabletravel.shutterfly.com/pictures/13

(Yes it is maroon, strawberry blond, blond, and blue!)

Peggy

Fun, bright, tropical colours, usually with a design.

 

I remember once when 6 women were standing in a tight circle waiting to board our chartered sailboat- I looked down and noticed 6 beautifully painted sets of toes and all in tropical colours. We should have taken a photo. It looked so pretty.

I think you changed my mind about how I am going to do my nails for our upcoming cruise. I am going to go for a tropical orange (my skin is too yellow for pinks) on my nails with some designs instead of the typical French manicure that I always tend to lean towards.

Thanks for the inspiration.:)

Peggy

Well I have been a lurker on this thread for a while, but since someone from the roll call of our upcoming trip asked to see what all of us ladies were wearing for dinner on the ship, I took some pictures to share and thought I would share them here too.

First, here is a picture of the 4 dresses my fashionista 9 year-old daughter is planning to bring on our 12 day cruise. (Yes, most of the day you will catch this child walking around with her sketch book, at her sewing machine, or asking to watch Project Runway)

https://fashionabletravel.shutterfly.com/pictures/11

And, here are the 4 dresses I have decided upon to pull out of the closet for myself as my dressier dresses.

https://fashionabletravel.shutterfly.com/pictures/10

So glad to connect with like-minded cruisers who like to dress up while on-board.

Peggy