StevenStephen

I bought a waterproof lanyard that will hold my sea pass and cash with a little room for something else. I'll probably wear it on any excursion where I'll be on a catamaran or something...just so stuff stays safe and dry. I don't think I'd swim with it as it would float around me and be really irritating.

If I'm at the beach I'll often tuck things into plastic bags and bury them in the sand near my towel. Remembering to get them when I leave the beach!

Sent from my SM-N900T using Forums mobile app

That's just fine if you'd feel like a dork. I've been called worse and lived to tell. Heck, you might embrace being a dork.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Forums mobile app

I guess I'm not alone in my lanyard use...I was feeling a little put off by folks who sort of made fun of them. I just got a waterproof one for the pool (so I can keep some cash on me for tipping and such) or for on excursions to the beach.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Forums mobile app

Thanks all for the great tips. As veteran travellers, but first time cruisers we are taking our first cruise around New Zealand on Celebrity Solstice Aqua class and wondering about how people really dress for the 4 or so 'formal' nights. Tuxedos are mentioned. Love dressing up and we have all the kit but just wondering whether people really do it or whether most wear more lounge or cocktail rather than black tie.

 

Fem fashion and general smart casual not really an issue but whether Mr Suit packs 'the blacks' or even a dark suit for the cruise or takes a jacket. Happy to dress either way just hard to tell. Anyone brave enough on male sartorial ettiquette to give some advice?

My partner insists on taking a tux for at least one of the formal nights. Other than that he takes a sport coat and several pairs of slacks and dress shirts. I'm sticking to a dark suit myself.

fanny pack / bum bag call it what you want they all scream ........ 'here are my valuables in one place... feel free to rob me as I'm a stupid tourist'.......

I know there wasn't anything meant by it...but, when I read the word 'stupid' in a reply to a post I tend to get creeped out. Yep, I know, it wasn't being mean...the word just feels awkward in such a friendly environment. Just sayn'.;)

Who cares what other cruisers think. You'll never see these people again, anyway. Do what YOU want to do and have fun doing it. I use a lanyard because it is easy for me to keep up with. Off the ship I tuck it down my shirt. Sure makes it easy getting back on the ship when they just swipe it and people are behind me digging in their wallets, pouches, camera cases, etc. When I buy a drink I just tuck the receipt in the lanyard with the card until I get to my cabin.

Gosh. Thanks Emmasoma. Your response echoed what I've finally decided. I'm probably overthinking things waaay toooo much...I don't earn enough to go on cruises. This is sort of a freak chance that somebody is paying for my trip. So, I'm just trying to make sure that I've got all my bases covered as I really want this to be all it can be. I feel sort of like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory with a golden ticket.

I'll get a fun lanyard for running around the ship and to the pool...knowing I can always just take it off the lanyard for when it's less appropriate.

I know I asked for opinions...and I thank you for them. The reactions that have been tossed around...by looking new or like a tourist...amuse me a bit. I've seen what feels like hundreds of cruise vacation videos; NONE of them look native to the islands. That anyone would think that they would blend in or that they'd be safer...that's a riot. Thanks!

I guess it is hard to admit it..........but.............

 

well

 

um

 

I kinda

 

 

well

 

you know

 

 

 

....

.um

,

,

,

,use a lanyard.

..shhhhhh

 

don't tell anyone.

 

Oh, Lord...you just gave me the best laugh of the night!

This thread started out as a serious question, but I just laughed my butt off reading all the replies!

The reason I asked in the first place is that, while I've gotten better over the years, I still misplace things. I'd probably keep my lanyard under my shirt or jacket. Heck, I might just put a big "Hi, My Name Is..." on it. I don't mind if somebody thinks I'm a noobie...I will be! I've pretended I've known what I was doing for years...long enough to know that it's exhausting.

Gosh, In a few minutes I've gone from being embarrassed for asking about lanyards...to deciding that I'm going to have a wardrobe of them. A black rhinestone one for formal night (with my black suit), maybe a blue rhinestone (or orange to match my bathing suit) one for by the pool...and that waterproof thing for the excursions.

Oh, and if somebody has the GUTS to snatch that from my neck...God help them. I'm 6' 2" and one darn fast running muscle bear.:eek:

Hi there. One tip that I've often seen suggested is to get a lanyard to hold the ship sea pass. I sort of like the idea...in particular I have seen a waterproof one that would hold the pass, some cash and an ID. This sounds like a great idea for beach excursions.

Oh, and I'll admit that I've seen those sparkly rhinestone lanyards on Amazon.com. Tempting if only because they just look fun.

Thoughts?

Oh, my Lord. I really did think that fanny packs died out. I don't want to sound like a big snob (being from Pawtucket, RI makes it difficult to be a snob) but, who looks good in a fanny pack? Just pick up a tasteful cross body bag that has some sort of closure.

I travel with a nylon Tumi cross body bag that has sort of a large flap. It's easy for me to get in and out of (for grabbing my camera, wallet or bottle of water) but difficult for anyone else to reach into. Oh, and it doesn't leave my body. If you sit, just shift it around to sit in your lap.

Baggallini makes hundreds of different bags that are fantastic and look great. Heck, if you have a Marshalls or a TJ Maxx nearby just go in to the handbag section. They're all there and cheap!

I certainly don't mind people thinking I'm a tourist...if they're looking at me that hard I want them to think that there goes one well dressed tourist who looks confident, at ease and at home.

I don't know how some of you folks read all of those posts in a matter of a few days! It's taken me two weeks to get through 79 pages. I love all the ideas...and all of the fantastic energy! Your enthusiasm has caught on with me...I'm going crazy until November 30th for our trip on the Celebrity Reflections.

I, like many of you, created a nice list of things I want to take along with me (my boyfriend will choke when he sees my shopping list)...but, I'll tell you the two tips that really struck home for me:

I'll make sure to take a huge, colorful, beach towel....that way I can find my poolside chair or spot on the beach. I can only imagine a sea of white towels.

Command Hooks! Wowsers! What a fantastic idea...I can think of dozens of things to hang up and get out of the way.

Thanks to everyone who participated in these boards!

SS - I'd give you a big fat LIKE or rep if we had them here!!!

Marian, if SS is me...oh, you should have read what I was going to post. That was the deeply edited version. For about five full paragraphs I turned into my mother...not pretty, nor polite!

Smokers, nobody has mentioned this. Bring a small portable ashtray if you want to smoke on your balcony. There is nothing provided for butts and ashes and it's not nice to leave a mess for the steward to clean up.

 

(Militant non-smokers: please just don't reply...we've heard it all before.)

From a mildly-militant-non-smoker: The tone of "please just don't reply...we've heard it all before" just baffles me.

If the rules say that you can smoke on your balcony, great. But, otherwise if you're going to smoke next to me...you might have heard it all before, but you're going to hear it again.

There are times and places for everything...including smoking.

I love to read...but, like many other people, I think I'll be a little too distracted to actually read. Instead, I really like audio books.

I have a membership to audible.com and I think that Amazon Prime offers audio books. I just download them to my ipod, sit back, close my eyes and 'read'.

If you have iTunes, look for podcasts like the New Yorker fiction podcast, Escapepod or podcastle for short horror/fantasy stories. They're free and really entertaining.

I've asked my partner, an experienced cruiser, about decorated doors...he told me that you can ask the cruise line to put a little something up on the door to celebrate a special occasion. I hadn't dreamed that people did it on their own...I can't wait!

I won't go overboard but, having a little something on the door sounds like fun/charming. I won't admit that I'm even inspired to put up a little something just because it seems alot of people think it's tacky. I'll admit that I'm a little tacky...and charming as heck. :D

As (the better half) of a gay couple...I'm used to people saying worse things about me than I'm tacky and that they don't like my home decor.