canadjineh

Hubby and I always take sturdy hikers (wear on plane because they're fairly heavy and take up a lot of space.)  We do like to actually do trails and clambering over rocks on our trips, so we've never been sorry about that choice.  We never take trainers/runners/sneakers (whatever one calls them in your area) because we find they are the least useful shoe for us, not dressy enough to do double duty like good supportive walking shoes.  Hubby takes lace up dressy leather mocs like below that can also work with chinos and sport coat.  And sandals on a warm climate cruise.

I like to take a flat with arch support that can look a bit dressy too:  like this (but lighter summer colours in hot climates)

Revlon & Sally Hansen seem to stay the longest for me without chipping.  Most of the time I do my own.  Toenail polish can last 3 weeks with touch ups at the cuticle end as they grow.  Fingernails only one week.  Except for washing dishes exclusively in rubber gloves, my hands get a lot of use/abuse, lol.  They are the one thing that shows my age 👵.  Veiny and bony, but no age spots as I had them lasered and always wear sunscreen on them.  

I haven't yet come to the point where I'd consider getting the backs of them plumped a bit with fillers.  Yep, it's a thing... just not mine.

Larimar is kind of a traditional jewellery purchase in the Caribbean, comes in all sorts of price points.  Italian gold is pretty nice if you are in the Med, but never cheap. 

https://www.jewelryshoppingguide.com/larimar-gemstone-guide/  Other gemstone (semi and precious) tips on this site too. 

I do agree though that it's best if you can assess the value and confirm if the jewelry you want is the genuine article. 

Or, if you have enough money and you don't care, the reverse is true: buy what speaks to you and makes you happy and don't bother to have it verified by a gemologist when you return if you aren't concerned about the value as an investment.

As a little tip, for those people that tend to drip stuff on their fronts or laps, a little travel packet of baby wipes works to remove a lot of different drips even after they've dried (nothing with mustard or turmeric in it though) and without that manky smell that Tide pens have.  Also good for a quick pit/crotch refresher when out doing activities in steamy port cities.  The good thing is you also don't need to fit those or any travel packs of antibac or disinfecting wipes into your TSA liquids baggie even though they are wet. 

Hubby tends to lean toward "Take everything, because we might need it" clothing packing, so I help by making suggestions about multi-use shirt/pant combos.  We usually go for a few weeks at a time (cruise is only a small part of the vacation), and do quite varied activities from hiking on serious trails/rock scrambling to very dressed up suit & tie/dressy dress dinners.  We even managed to pack a light wool 2 pc suit and a couple dress shirts and ties in his backpack when we travelled in the Philippines and did caving and hiking through the UNESCO rice paddies and up volcanoes and city travel for 3 weeks.  Those packs were right at the 70 lb limit though, lol.  Fabrics make a lot of difference - finding something that stays fresh with your body chemistry, and easily hangs out wrinkles, or washes/dries quickly.  Folding clothes in dry-cleaning bags when you put them in your suitcase also helps keep things from wrinkling badly.

True, Hoyaheel, just sharing a bit about our particular relationship, in no way disparaging anyone else's choices.  And yes, I agree, bribery (mainly pie in DH's case, which is fairly cheap for bribery), lol. 

"Husband" just sounds so polite and distant to me, lol.  In type I call him hubby, but technically it's "sweetie-pie" or "babe-a-la." 🌹  We are headed out on a cruise in just over 2 weeks for our 38th anniversary.  We both have health issues that randomly knock us down and the partner picks up whatever slack at home and that works fine.  He always does the vacuuming because I find it too tough.  He has his quirks (don't we all), I surely didn't marry him for his wardrobe either, and I was used to men who know how to dress (my family is Italian 😎.)  I am the one who does all the planning and purchasing of travel with input on what he is interested in seeing, because I actually find the prep and planning almost more fun than the trip itself.  

About a week before, we pull out the suitcases and decide what's going into them.  There's a bit of casual discussion before that time, but nothing too serious.  DH has only gained 2 inches in his waist in the past 40 years so no issues for fit in his wardrobe, me, on the other hand.... a different story - there are a few different choices depending on whether I'm at my 'fighting weight' or heavier from inflammation and swelling (auto-immune disease.)  I do tend to make suggestions so we can pare back on our packing, as he's not too great at mix-and-match and multi-use of pieces in the wardrobe.  He's sort of a 'cover all eventualities' kinda guy.  "Take it all because... what if you need it?"  I've also travelled internationally a lot more than he has, ever since I was a little girl in the late 60's, so I'm used to packing pieces that do double or triple duty.

1 minute ago, RSF Cruiser said:

They dive for tips. There isn't a restaurant with a view of the divers - you stand on the malecon to watch.

Suggestions for a fair tip?  

@Marken Is he easy to find on El Medano Beach?  I have this worry that we will be wandering around looking for him and miss our scheduled flight time.  I know, a bit anxiety ridden 😨

If you are with Scotiabank (Canada) they are part of the Global ATM Alliance and you can bank without fees at partner bank ATM's in over 40 different countries (+44,000 ATM's.)  You can just debit your account as normal and exchange is quite favorable.  We use our debit cards on the Visa system, still protected from illegal use/skimming.

https://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/personal/ways-to-bank/manage-accounts/global-atm-alliance.html

Hubby often gets UTI's due to bladder surgeries he's had.  Usually there is a doctor who speaks English well and can do a test or at least check you out first.  We had this happen on Isla Mujeres (I know, wrong coast, lol) and had no problem getting a scrip and an effective antibiotic for a decent price.  We were not on a cruise but were land based for two weeks in a little local hotel. I might be more suspect of some countries in Africa or out of the way places in Asia, but really Mexico is not as backward and 'third world' as many people think, the locals in these places need doctors & prescriptions too, and we just asked at our hotel who they trusted.  

Slightly off topic but if you do ever stay land based in Cabo area, rent a car and drive yourself out to Cabo Pulmo.  Ahhhmazing!  Also if you do get a car, El Chorro and Santa Rita Hot springs (cascading hot falls into the river, with little pools dammed up with rocks) - great places to go via the little town of Santiago.  About 90 minutes from Cabo with some bumpy dirt road.  Very private and quiet, we only saw one other couple hiking along the river, and bizarrely,  they were from a town just 45 minutes away from where we live.  Serendipity, lol.  An older gentleman mans the gate at El Chorro and there is a small entrance fee in pesos only - he gives you a little coated paper bracelet.  No real facilities except in Santiago. 

Do they dive for tips or is there an 'entry fee' or drinks minimum (a bar or restaurant there?)

The fish heel is actually fairly stable, more like a double kitten heel because of the two base points where the 'fins' touch.  Almost like a mini wedge with one point under heel of foot, one under mid-foot and of course the main forefoot.

Personally, we aren't worrying about COVID-19 since our cruise is Mexican Riviera - might be different if we were travelling in Asia.  If you are just in the Caribbean I wouldn't fuss much either.  We usually take along an extra few days (4 or 5) of our prescription meds, and hubby takes a scrip from our doc for antibiotic he often needs for a recurring infection.  Let's face it, cruise ships only really go to places that are easy and often cheaper to get medications from.  Unless you are taking one of those cruises up the Amazon to small villages, I don't think you need to get 'over-prepared.'  The world is actually a small place and technology makes it easy to get what you need almost anywhere.

55+ seems to be the age for Seniors, I've seen a few discounts on different lines, but it usually turns out that other specials on offer are better/cheaper than the 'senior rate.'  Never seen it offered on Spa/Specialty Dining/Drinks Package/Excursions.  The cruise lines know where they really make their money and it's not on the cabins themselves, so no skin off their nose if they offer 'special' rates for seniors in cabins.  They just assume they will make up any shortfall on the extras.  It doesn't hurt to tick the 55+ box though, and sometimes there are deals for Canadian cruisers or if you are from a particular state, or a teacher, or police/emerg. services/ first responder, or in the military. 

I'm for sure taking this pair:  They are just so fun.

I'm in the middle of Next in Fashion too.  I'm not sure why the 'Dragon Princesses' won a couple of those challenges.  Seems to me that they are just overfond of neon sacks with lots of drawstrings.  I did find their pink dress for the red carpet amazing.  I would have loved to wear that.

On 2/9/2020 at 9:02 AM, lindsay0526 said:

(Plus, I have a very narrow foot and these had terrible reviews because of how narrow, but they were perfect on my foot) 👍

 

https://www.amazon.com/Carlos-Santana-Womens-Sandal-Leopard/dp/B07KC6SMQM/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=Carlos+amara+sandal&qid=1581267622&sr=8-8

Lindsay, we have the same width foot I think, I had a pair of Carlos Santana purple croc print leather pumps with an amazing heel height that fit like a dream, but now with arthritis in an ankle and metatarsals I no longer have the stability on tall spikes.  It's mainly wedges and block heels for me.  BTW, here's a great CC forum thread you guys might like:  Join the Shoe Divas, and get more ideas for cute shoes for the cruise, whatever height you like.  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2273245-shoe-divas-club/

That looks seriously awesome, @Marken.  We are on a MR cruise for our 38th anniversary and this would be great, too bad we'd have to go separately though.  I might contact him anyhow, just because I love flying of any sort.

Maybe it's the "I wish I knew before..." how cheap it could be, 😉 thread.

I like these Hawaiian inspired cruise outfits.  The one on the right also kind of reminds me of a sari without the long sash.

Hi, the OP's photo looked a lot like Sketchers Rumblers or Beverlees

Very cute and comfortable and quite dressy looking, my friend has a pair in a sparkly pinky beige colour - sort of light nude but with shine.

Hi everyone!  It's been a while since the shoe divas were posting here.... where is everyone?  Or have we just run out of shoe money? lol

I have another cruise coming up - March 7/2020 on the Oosterdam - Mexican Riviera.  It's our 38th anniversary and I'm in the midst of getting some pudge off (I've been lax and inattentive to my food plan for a little while now).  Not sure what I'm taking clothes-wise yet (depends on whether I'm back into my favorites) but we are away for a week in San Diego before the cruise, so I can wear some fancier duds than if I was just going to a foreign tropical country.  Once I've got things figured out I'll post some wardrobe pix along with my shoe choices. 

10 minutes ago, drsel said:

Norwegian becomes cheaper than Costa!
Norwegian Jade now is the cheapest cruise available at 33 dollars a day from Singapore to Dubai on Feb 27th
Be careful about paying much more than 33 dollars a day

20 days at $545.  I wonder why 😷

On 1/13/2020 at 3:20 PM, Kamlhj said:

My urologist and therapist suggested that I also give up cruising since I suffer from paruresis and certain cruise situations could prove damaging, but I love cruising probably more than anything else, plus those situations are extremely unlikely, so I'll continue to cruise. Of course, a simple catheter would do the trick, but doctors are reluctant to proscribe them. Btw, I only got sick after my last cruise.

Don't let this setback stop you from living as full a life as possible.  My husband still works full time in a physically demanding job and we enjoy travel a lot, although we are no longer able to do backpacking trips travelling on 'chicken buses' to small villages in less developed countries.

My husband must self-catheterize twice a day and we still travel quite a bit.  He also has to take along enough alcohol for sterilization, disposable gloves, a supply of sealed sterile catheters, and protective underwear for any trips where we can't access pharmacies or drugstores to buy same.  (Old bike accident and urethral damage causing bladder damage)  You don't need a doctor to prescribe a catheter (maybe you are talking about an in-dwelling cath?) - you can buy them from legitimate drugstores/pharmacies and online medical supply stores.  He could learn how to self-cath at a community health care clinic where they teach him how to do it, then practice in his own bathroom til he gets more comfortable with the procedure.  At least that's how they do it here in Canada, don't see why it would be different in the US (except for a clinic visit cost, I suppose.)