Luv2travel81

Hello Ladies,

I would not worry about a thing. I don't like wearing a dress or skirt. I think the last time I did so was about 20 something years ago. Yet I have never felt out of place in any formal affair. Get a pair of basic black dressy slacks, and some sort of glittery top, and you will blend in quite nicely. We've only taken one cruise before and are going in our 2nd in August, but we really enjoyed our two formal nights during our first cruise. Dressing up just makes one feel so special.

We celebrated our 25th anniversary (we met in kindergarden:D ) last year with a pretty fancy party, and I struggled slightly over that one, cause my hon did not want me to wear black (it's my favorite dressy color). She was adamant about it, so I ended up with a beautiful ivory blouse and short tailored blazer, along with ivory dressy slacks (an outfit similar to 2rowboats). BTW 2rowboats, you both look very nice in that picture. That's exactly the way my better half and I would dress.

Just remember the most important thing is having a beautiful time together. Life is so capricious. One never knows what awaits you, so just enjoy. Maritza and I have had a beautiful life for the past 25 (well now almost 26 years), and our celebration in May was the best day among many wonderful days filled with great memories. In October of last year she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily it was caught in the very early stages, and she's almost done with the radiation treatment, but it does put everything into perspective. So ladies, don't sweat the small stuff, and just have a blast in your respective vacations.;)

Hello everyone,

It's been nice reading this thread. It seems as if most of you cruise on this side of the world. Question: What was the best cruise you ever went on, and why? Up until now we have traveled quite a bit, but not by water, but by land. My other half is sold on the idea of cruising. I like to savor the feel of a particular country, city, town, yet I'm not quite sure you can do so in an 6 to 8 hour stop in one place. Our cruise to Scandanavia and Russia in August may provide an answer to that. We are actually going on that cruise because I asked my better half to choose any trip she wanted for her 50th birthday, and that was it. Although I must say, I am looking forward to it.

J & T, we have stayed at the Marriott in SJ. It's a good hotel with pretty good restaurants around it. Friends of ours have an apartment in one of the condos right in front of the hotel. As usual the breakfast is pretty expensive in the hotel, but there is a small french cafe, accross the street and to the left of the hotel which serves a good, but pretty cheap breakfast. I can't quite remember the name, but I'll ask my friends and let you know.

Also, we had dinner with some friends at a restaurant within a 5 minute walk of the hotel last new years eve which was very good. I can get the name for that also. What I do know because Maritza and I have been there many a time is an open gay bar by the beach which is also about a 5 minute walk from the hotel. The bar is located at the Atlantic Beach hotel at Vendig street, just off Ashford Avenue (main street in front of the hotel). We always go there to have a drink, or meet up with friends. It's pretty cool! You sit under the palm trees, with the sound of the ocean, and holding your honey's hand. I think you ladies will enjoy it.

As far as gay clubs, there are a few in SJ (our friends favorite joke is: What separates a straight Puerto Rican man from a gay Puerto Rican man? The answer has gone down from 3 drinks to 1). The only problem we have encountered is that if you don't have a car (which is also difficult to park), you have to hail a cab, and it's not always that easy at the time you leave a club. I would certainly advice against trying that unless you have made arrangements beforehand. The last time we went clubbing, our friends who live in the island took us. It was a small womans club, but we had a ball.

Anyhow, sorry that my messages are so long, but I am pretty verbose.

Ladies, I wish you all a very nice weekend. Hasta la vista!!!

Maria

Hello everybody,

Been really busy, and have not had a chance to come back to this thread, but here I am again, like a bad penny.

You all sound like such nice people, it would be pretty cool to cruise one day with you all. We would love to eventually do a South American cruise which stops in Brazil and Argentina, among other places. We have not touched that continent yet, but have heard great things from some of our friends, who love to travel too. Unfortunately, most don't do cruising. They actually kid around that they will cruise, when they're too old to do anything else. I don't quite agree, but I would not want to do a cruise in Europe to places I have not been to yet. There's just too much to do and see, and a few hours, or even a day in each port would frustrate us both. Nevermind that the food is so outstanding. We decided to do Scandanavia and Russia because Scandanavia is not an area we will probably go for a week's vacation, and Russia is not a place you actually envision on going for a vacation, but with a 2 day port stay, well then it becomes interesting. Also that area is not known for their culinary excellence.

Jay & T we're in Edison, NJ. It makes for an easier commute into the City every day. We would love to move to Red Bank, but not until we retire. The commute feels long enough as it is. Now with the civil union here, we would we would return to New York, although I still consider myself a native New Yorker. Where down the shore are you?

By the way, I'm not quite sure what was said to you about leaving out of SJ, but we left out of there and it was fine. We know SJ pretty good, so feel free to ask me any questions. If you're doing an overnight before or after the cruise, and you get a chance,go to the Parrot Club, I would recommend that you go. It's a really nice, though a bit loud restaurant that has jazz and great nouveau Puerto Rican cuisine.

Ladies that is all (as if I didn't say enough) for now, with just one more tiny recommendation. Go see the movie "Notes on a Scandal". It is absolutely terrific. Hope to hear from you soon. ;)

Maria & Maritza

Hello Ladies,

My sweetheart and I have only been on one cruise (Adventure of the Seas-South Caribbean), but are booked for a Baltic Cruise on August of this year. We are really excited about our upcoming cruise. Although we usually like to travel independently and on land, we are finding cruising more and more attractive. We are truly in love with Europe, so we try to go there as often as possible.

Let me introduce us. We are 52 and 49 years old, and live in New Jersey (although I grew up in New York). We both work in New York, and communte every day. Traveling has become a passion for us both, so on our daily commute to and from work, we enjoy discussing our upcoming adventure, or the one we want to do next year. We love exploring new places, so our August trip to Scandinavia and Russia is just up our alley. If we could choose a place to live in it would be Italy. Simply love the country.

We have considered an Olivia cruise, but in the early years they chartered really old and awful ships, at ridiculous prices, so we were somewhat turned us off. Now that the ships are much better we would seriouosly consider going on one of their cruises. We have no problem with going on a straight cruise, if the itinerary is right, the ship is good and the price is right.

J and T congrats on your upcoming marriage. I see you're from New Jersey, whereabouts? By the way, Adventure of the Seas is a really comfortable ship. Although it holds 3,000 or so people, we never felt crowded. The fitness center was very nice, and we put it to good use (did not want to feel too guilty what with all the food we were eating). The food was ok, not terrific, but not awful either, although the service at the main dinning room was really great. We did not see any obvious gay couples, but then again we were really not looking, since we took my mom and stepdad as a present for mothers day, and spent most of our time with them. The room was a nice size. We had a really good time in the ship.

This is a nice thread. Let's keep it going. ;)