jsn55

Layers are your friend. For example, I'd pack: tank top, short-sleeve shirt, long-sleeved shirt, cardigan, windbreaker, raincoat. I've become addicted to shirts with pockets, as well as colorful scarves. I don't pack any prints, all solid colors. A warm scarf and earmuffs, maybe gloves. We cruised Alaska in June and it was HOT, so we didn't need any of that stuff, but you gotta be prepared. I use two basic colors, beige and black plus one bright . I take only black pants and shoes. You'll want shorts or capris, I wear black walking shoes on the plane, pack a pair of trainers, sandals good enough for evenings, and footwear to slip on to wear on the ship, even tho I go barefoot most of the time. For dinner, I pack black silk pants, black tunic top and several scarves with pretty earrings to match. I have weightless black velvet slippers. Everything has to go together, be hand-washable and need no ironing. If you have room, you can add some pieces that you love to wear. I would be comfortable with 5 'outfits' to build on. And remember, as long as you look 'presentable', nobody really notices what you're wearing. Sounds like a wonderful, relaxing itinerary with lots to look forward to.

This must feel like a true miracle! I see gizmos of all kinds for sale and always wonder how they could possibly work.

Other peoples' small creatures can be quite entertaining and enjoyable. But usually they're completely over-shadowed by the brats. The experience can be particularly grueling in a ship's environment. It's a shame.

We had exactly the same experience with Avalon ... except we had taken several river cruises prior to the Rhine/Mosel trip. Avalon's a class act for sure.

You can get them from many catalogues, I recall seeing them in Magellan's, Eddie Bauer, Blair. My very lightweight vest seems like it's pure cotton, but it never wrinkles, a nice neutral ivory color ... pretty sure I got it from Haband, probably for under $50.

Small ships are our favorites, since we started out on Grand Circle Amsterdam to Vienna. Didn't even know what a river cruise was ... but I ran the numbers and the cruise was a better value than the independent road trips we had always done. Grand Circle spoiled us, they really are good at this stuff, we loved having 'program directors' ... we learned so much. The first few ocean cruises were in the '80s, connected to business, and I don't even remember which cruiselines. We just made plane reservations, packed, and had a great time.

I was out walking on 'the track' one morning, RCL I think. A group of 5 or 6 women came toward me, just yakking away. They took up the whole track, and I stepped aside. Around we went, same thing happened again, the smallest woman and loudest yapper brushed by my shoulder. The third time, I just held my ground and she ran right into me. That took care of that.

Simple answer ... they don't care. People keep booking cruises, so why should Princess spend any money on fixing the app? I'm finding it quite comical to see people continuing to booking Princess cruises, then complaining about the app... like this is some kind of 'news'. Either people don't do any research, so they don't know about this medallion fiasco, or they have credits to use maybe? I'd rather sail with a cruiseline that has an interest in making me happy with my cruise.

I'm absolutely convinced of this! I'm a horse person, and we eat dirt from the time we can reach a horse's nose to pet him. Had dinner with two horsie friends a while ago; one 55, one 65, I'm 77. We were each raised in the country, with clean air, fresh food, local meats and plenty of dirt. And we're all three remarkably healthy. Whether it's the lack of pollution or the ingested dirt, I'll take it! I feel sorry for the kids of today, who are growing up with no natural immunity.

I find this whole topic quite perplexing. I occasionally develop a 'cold' after flying; congestion, coughing, feeling miserable for a few days ... that's been true for years. So why is everyone all a-twitter about 'having covid'? Are there other symptoms that make covid worse than the common cold? Are there medications that make you feel better faster if you have covid? I can't imagine not travelling because I might catch a cold. Oddly, I've never 'caught a cold' on my way to a trip, only on the way home. I'm 'old' but very healthy and just don't see what difference it makes if I have a cold virus or the covid virus. Either way, I stay away from others and don't have any physical contact with anyone, even my dog.

I created some templates for packing years ago. I just update one for what kind of trip I'm taking and print it out. Include everything you can think of ... line out anything that doesn't apply to the trip you're working on. You'd want at least 3 weather-based lists for cruising ... hot, cold, medium. I travel in beige and black plus one bright color; everything has to go with everything else. My list is what makes packing for a trip fun instead of tedious ... I don't have to think beyond 'which color short-sleeve shirt' to pack.

Yup, we occasionally travel with a bottle of wine in a checked bag if we know we're going to get to our hotel too late to get a drink, much less a meal. (Cheese, crackers and an apple are packed for that.) I use bubble wrap but follow Stolly's practice. Never had an issue. I sometimes have to laugh at the 'stuff' one can purchase to do the job of something that you can get for free.

We do the same, always have except probably 40 years ago when we didn't know any better. We spend the night at a local hotel, usually where I have status, check in early, dump our luggage and go sightseeing. Depends on what we've been doing during the cruise, sometimes we just lay around reading books all day and find a nice place for dinner. We fly home the next day. Once you start eliminating stress from your travels, you'll never go back to 'normal'.

I think that the bad apples bank on the idea that people will sign up for their excursions online because it's 'easy'. Simple to put up a slick website, anyone can do it. So they don't have to try very hard. Or they just don't try at all, leaving the customer high and dry. Once the tour is over, the pax is gone and these scofflaws just move on to the next lazy customer. So do your research, it's so worth it.

Most people aren't interested in anything strenuous on a river cruise. Pax are often broken up into slow, normal and hikers for the shore excursions. Many excursions run in the morning, leaving the afternoon open for pax to plan. Read the descriptions on Avalon's published itineraries, it should be quite clear.

Yeah, like leChateau Frontenac. We taxi'd over from our hotel to do a little sightseeing ... walking on that huge promenade. Wind was really howling. We lasted about 6 minutes then veered to the Frontenac for a wonderful $150 lunch. No regrets. If I lived an hour from Quebec I'd be there every month!

Canvas "tennis shoes" would fill the bill, yes? For use on dry land, just wear socks.

I've never booked a cruise without knowing all the details of the total cost. Who would do that? And he's already made the final payment? Your brother may be getting jived by the 'promoter'. If he contracted the Parkinson's before he booked the cruise, he will probably be out of luck filing an insurance claim. Someone needs to read that policy, I hope he didn't buy it from the promoter. It makes logical sense to add that 2nd person now, then your brother just doesn't show up for the cruise because he's too ill to travel. But logic is often not what governs cruiselines. He must deal through the promoter to make whatever changes he wishes. I have absolutely no faith in third-party booking services, regardless of what they call themselves. This is a real shame.

Too bad the inseam is 27". ... I need 34" inseam. They look just perfect, especially all the pockets.

These pants look great. Wish they came with a normal waistband and skinnier legs.

This is GREAT! Talk about .haviing a choice' when you travel!

No idea where I got them ... probably some discount store like Marshall's. Probably meant to be slippers, since they're weightless, but not flimsy. They're black velvet, so no point trying to take a photo. They have closed-toes, open back, pancake heel ... the style called slides or mules I think. They have a little spray of jet beading across the vamp. Since I spend most of my time on a cruiseship barefoot, they've lasted a good long time just being worn to dinner. Visit the slipper section of every discount store you encounter and you will eventually find something similar. The other solution is ballet flats from Isotoner, also weightless and tuckable into your bag. On cruises, I like to 'change for dinner' even if we're just doing the buffet, so the slippers make a nice transition into evening.

Ugly shoes ... when I got my first pair of 'orthopedic shoes" after a knee replacement, I thought "OMG, I'll never wear these in public". They're huge, they're heavy, they're ... well I wouldn't want to say ugly and hurt their feelings. Hah! Total comfort all day long. When my new knee was 6 months old, I toured Marksburg Schloss, one of the toughest walks there is. I lost all vanity about shoes after that trip.

GREAT recommendations! I'll go see if Lulu has any 34" inseams. Thanks for posting.

Many of "we'all" have never been fishing. I realized when I was little that fishing would never be interesting ... and ice fishing exists just so the men can get away from the wife and kids in winter. I remember every late winter some idiots would fall into a lake through ice too weak to support them. The volunteer fire department would mobilize to try to save them, or drag the lake in the spring looking for bodies. Ugh. Anything to do with fishing is the height of idiocy in my book. Fortunately, I also found out what lutefisk actually was at a young age. Swedish meatballs were about as far as we got at my house.