Caribbean-Cruising Fashonista

[deladela]

My DH just asks what color dress I am wearing so he can pick out a shirt to match or at least get as close as possible.

He tried on his suits ad Tux yesterday so that I could get them in the cruise closet so that they will be ready to pack.

Outside of that-----not really.

Although he is getting better, if he had his way he'd just roll it all in a ball and throw it in the suitcase and head out the door for the plane.:eek:

Now he will let me get him into the placing mode about a week before we leave for the cruise. (Probably so that I will quit nagging him about it.):p

I am usually in charge of packing the suitcases and getting things ready, which is fine that way I know he will be dressed half way decent. ie: not in his holy ol' shorts and super spotted, stained, shirts.

Why are the holy, stained things always their favorites?!?!?

I asked DH about packing last week and he said "Aren't you gonna take care of that?" So I guess I get to pack for him. He might not like what I pack, but he'll probably look better! Mine would also roll it in a ball and throw it in a suitcase!

[deladela]

I had ordered a couple of swimsuits about 2 weeks ago for this cruise, but was starting to think I wasn't going to get them in time...they came today!:D Now I just hope my sandals get here...

[STARFISH*4]

a pedicure and manicure just before your cruises?.

 

i always get the pedicure since my toes are exposed pretty much the whole cruise-another 2 weeks this time.

 

my cruise is in Dec too:)

[deladela]

Okay fashionistas...how many swimsuits is too many?

How many pairs of shoes? Do flip flops count?

[ailmarsh]

Def a pedicure n manicure! It will depend on current state of both extremities whether I get them before or on board;-) Oh, and eyebrows! And this time I'm going for an eyelash tint precruise :-)

When talking 'totals' flip flops DON'T count & I don't understand the phrase "too many shoes" ;-)

Swimsuits? Well depends on destination, sun bathing, swimming etc but I'm taking 5 for 18 day trip.... I'll swim everyday & one 'cossie' is just for sunbathing. Another strapless one doubles as a 'body' under a long strapless evening dress! Smooths out and holds up ;-))

Off to practise sunbathing & daydreaming ........ The joy of being retired!

Aileen

[ailmarsh]

Oh, and Deladela, I always pack! DH has offered but I'm a total control freak when it comes to packing ..... I lay out his stuff, get him to check that I have everything he wants ( which usual means him saying 'whatever' ). However, he is in charge of all things electronic; chargers, adaptors, camera etc :-)

[deladela]

Oh, and Deladela, I always pack! DH has offered but I'm a total control freak when it comes to packing ..... I lay out his stuff, get him to check that I have everything he wants ( which usual means him saying 'whatever' ). However, he is in charge of all things electronic; chargers, adaptors, camera etc :-)

Glad to hear there's no such thing as "too many shoes"...although if flipflops don't count, I think I only have 6 pairs going!

Your packing plan sounds great. I would be more than willing to do the clothes if DH would do the electronics, but I will end up doing that, too. He'll make sure he has his own ipod and phone, but I will have to make sure I have mine plus all the things we both use. Oh well...it allows me to be a control freak! ;)

[indiana71]

We love our DH's dearly...Having said that, it seems most of them don't spend time planning what to wear - never mind packing to a fashionista's specifications:o!

My DH has 18 pairs of shorts - but wears 4, maybe 5 ALL THE TIME! If his "favorite pair" is in the laundry, I point out all the others laid neatly in the dresser drawers. He doesn't care.

However, when preparing for a cruise, he can be talked into taking more than the 4 that are various shades of tan...

I put his dinner outfits together and he has final approval. Thank goodness, we're usually in agreement.

Packing: That's all me. And like some of you, I'm a control freak when the suitcases are open and empty. My checklists and pen are ready and I know wrinkles will be kept to a minimum.

HOW MANY SWIMSUITS??

ailmarsh: Your 5 swimsuits for 18 days is totally reasonable. I LOVE this: Another strapless one doubles as a 'body' under a long strapless evening dress! Smooths out and holds up ;-))

What a great idea:)! Who needs to pack shapewear when a swimsuit does the job so well!! Thank you for that great tip (another one added to my "Great Tips" list.)

TOO MANY SHOES?????

Like you, ailmarsh, I'm not understanding the phrase, "too many shoes"...My shoe bag holds 16 pairs. On an 11-night cruise I have used all but 1 pocket. For me, FlipFlops don't count because I have 1 pair and wear them only to the pool or on the beach.

And since we're talking about DH and what they take: mine takes water shoes, Docksiders in brown and black and wears man-sandals during the day.

[ailmarsh]

Indiana71,

Glad you like my idea........ just remember to 'pay a visit' last thing before dressing ;-)

[STARFISH*4]

i am not a swimsuit person, but i will take a least one maybe 2 since i do have 2 full beach days this cruise.

 

i am not really a shoe person either but on a cruise i need alot of options so least a dozen planned so far-as my feet change with swelling and such and never know what i will be able to get into--so lots of flip-flop styles go with me.

 

this cruise i cant pick from hubbys normal 'cruise wear' as he has lost 40 lbs so he's got a lot of new stuff for this cruise--i am so HAPPY for him, but it has made this cruise harder to get ready for--clothes wise.

he has become a lot more opinionated on what he wants to take too and

takes extras because he says he wants "other options" too!

[deladela]

Started packing yesterday and realized very quickly that 2 suitcases(1 for DH, 1 for myself) is not going to cut it!:eek: I might be able to make 3 work. Being gone for 18 days requires a lot of clothing...and shoes...and everything else it takes for us girls to look our best! Plus I have to pack costumes since we will be in South Beach for halloween. I still have to make some final cuts on outfits so I will let you all know how the packing goes.

[indiana71]

STARFISH*4: Losing weight brings about all sorts of changes. Speaking from my own experience - 30 years ago I lost 30 pounds and became much more aware of how clothes fit.

40 pounds makes such a noticeable difference so congratulations to your DH!

Enjoy your beach days! Those of us who are pulling out sweaters and fuzzy slippers are envious:cool:!

deladela: There is no such thing as "overpacking"...but there are many non-fashionistas who don't know what they will wear, and decide to take everything and use valuable onboard time trying on outfits.

As long as you have outfits planned, the number of suitcases are valid.:)

[TNGALOHA]

deladela: There is no such thing as "overpacking"...but there are many non-fashionistas who don't know what they will wear, and decide to take everything and use valuable onboard time trying on outfits.

As long as you have outfits planned, the number of suitcases are valid.:)

 

 

I sooooooo agree. I have been trying to do a test run with the clothes for evening and the shoes and bags into suitcases to see if the 4 planned are going to cut it.

Of course with going over Christmas we have to have our Christmas tree and decorations so I have been trying to get them in too. It actually looks like I might make it with the these and the carry-ons. Good thing that the carry-ons ride on the top of the bigger suitcases for wheeling from the shuttle to the ticket counter and then from baggage claim to the rental car at the end.

I am soooo ready for this cruise. This has been the month from H*!!. I will be so glad when it ends.

[indiana71]

TNGALOHA: I love that you're taking Christmas decor with you! What a fun idea!!

QUESTION: Does anyone else cruising over a holiday, take decorations from home?? (Even if you aren't cruising over a holiday soon, would you take decor?)

Minneapolis is the next trip on our schedule...no palm trees and white sand...but family is there and that's a very good thing:)! I'll let you know if there are any bargains/great cruise finds there.

[STARFISH*4]

QUESTION: Does anyone else cruising over a holiday, take decorations from home?? (Even if you aren't cruising over a holiday soon, would you take decor?)

 

.

 

we cruise first two weeks in December and havent taken the Christmas decor (no room....lol...) plus the ships are decorated enough for me and dont do the door decor-just a little silk-lei type for the door handle so i can spot my cabin down the hall.....lol...

[TNGALOHA]

We always decorate the cabin for Christmas. I have a 12in. Christmas tree that has gone on 3 Christmas cruises so far and will be with us again this year. This year we are adding a 32 in. tree with it too. The are both fibre optic so I don't have to take a lot of lights. Altho we still have lights tht we put around the Balcony doors and above the bed.

The little tree my son got for u in Santa Marta Columbia in '06 when we were doing a family cruise on MSC. He bought one for each of our cabins which started the Christmas decorating on the ship.

Since my birthday usually lands while we are cruising we also have birthday decor mixed it.

I have a wreath that I made of yarn that we put peppermints candies and candy canes on and leave a little note saying to take one of the candies. We usually don't have any left by the end of the cruise.

For our Valentines cruises I have hearts and garland that I decorate the door with and then I have valentines decorations that I use inside.

For Tom's birthday we decorate the balcony and the cabin door.

One year for our anniversary I laid red silk rose petals all over the room and then made a trail of them down the hall to the casino where Tom was at and had him follow the trail back to the cabin where I had a tray of strawberries and Champagne waiting for him on the balcony.

I will try to post a picture of our cabin door from the last cruise. It started out simple but by the time we both celebrated our birthdays and Christmas and our anniversay the poor door was pretty full.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know that the pictures inside the cabin weren't very good, I'm sorry but that camera for some reason all the pictures we took with it came out that way. Hence why he got a new one for Christmas.

Edited October 14, 2011 by TNGALOHA

[TNGALOHA]

Just wanted to post this for ya'll to see. This was had major planning and work to pull off. I made all of the Grandsons shirts and we had to take a couple of crusies just to get the guys shirts so that they would match.:rolleyes:

My granddaughters dress I had to add the bling and color to it so that our little fashionista would wear it. These pictures were from our cruise in Dec. '09.

 

This is a picture of our Granddaughter when she was the flowergirl for our vow renewal.

 

 

 

Our oldest daughter

 

our DIL, DD,DGD, and our SIL

Tom and I

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of our grandchildren that were with us on the cruise.

 

This was one of the best cruises I think I have ever been on. It was so much fun and the Grandkids still talk about it all the time.

[indiana71]

We're back from Minneapolis and the shopping was...not very fruitful.

My DDL and I went to a town called Excelsior. A couple of streets with fun shops and restaurants. The consignment shop was interesting but had nothing cruise-worthy...could be because winters are long and cold there and natives are looking for heavy sweaters, etc.

Radio Road is a clothing/accessory store at the MNPLS/St P Airport (there's one in Pittsburgh, too). I sometimes find a nice item there but not this time. But across the hall, (costume) jewelry was on sale and I got 2 pairs of earrings and 2 necklaces that go directly to the cruise room:).

TNGALOHA: I LOVE your photos! How much fun you must have with a holiday-decorated stateroom.

A family cruise would be a perfect vacation. We're working on trying to convince ours to commit to cruising summer of 2013.

QUESTION: When you cruise over Christmas, do you take special holiday clothes/dresses?

Edited October 19, 2011 by indiana71

[TNGALOHA]

I always wear a long red gown for Christmas eve and a short red dress for Christmas day or vice versa depending on the dress for the evening.

Christmas eve day and Christmas day I always wear Christmas style earrings and necklaces.

As you can tell I am abig Christmas person. Must ahev something to do with the fact tha my birthday is just before Christmas and it never really was celebrated much as a kid because of Christmas. So now I really make up for it!!!!!!:D

 

 

Indiana, sorry to hear that your shopping trip wasn't very fruitful. that is always a bummer.

[NewFloater]

Just reading some of the comments on Crusie Critic concerning shorts in the dining room. I can appreciate folks who want to be comfortable and wear what they want. I do draw the line in the main dining room. Look around. These dining rooms are beautiful. I really don't want to see Bubba in blue jean shorts and a suggestive t-shirt when I eat. That's what the pool deck and the many food stations are for. Show a little pride. What next ? Tank tops because they are comfortable ?

[Happy ks]

Our first Christmas cruise we took decorations for the cabin (just lights and a tiny tree). We didn't want to bother packing it and the cabin attendant took it, he was delighted to have it, surprising since I always thought they didn't have space for stuff.

 

The next 2 Christmas cruises we didn't take anything, it just seemed like one more thing I could cross off the packing list and not miss.

 

I can see taking as many bathing suits as you want, they pack up so small, but I draw the line at shoes, no more than 5 pair including the flip flops. My packing has pared down over the years as I just got tired of organizing all that stuff, hauling, reorganizing and repacking. Now I use the laundry/dry cleaning and don't care if someone sees me in the same clothes on Sunday that I wore last Monday. If they have a problem with it I consider it their problem, not mine. I do try to take quality pieces to mix and match, quality trumps quantity any day.

 

My husband is fastideous about his clothing. The only shirt he owns with any holes in it is his yard work T shirt. If things get stained or torn, he throws it out right away.

[indiana71]

NewFloater: I agree! Dining rooms are beautiful and any restaurant that has real linens and formally-dressed waitstaff should be shown respect by dressing as suggested by the cruise line.

Happy ks: I'm so wanting to go on a holiday cruise now:)! Between decorations for the stateroom and wearing red (but still tropical) would be so much fun!!

Did you all see the stats on Unpacking VS Not Unpacking??

Over 90% of the respondents DO unpack! Yay!! It takes me about an hour to completely unpack - but saves so-o-o much time for every outfit change.

Even for our trip to Minneapolis, I packed pants and skirts on their hangers. A couple minutes saved here and there...

[5326jan]

NewFloater: I agree! Dining rooms are beautiful and any restaurant that has real linens and formally-dressed waitstaff should be shown respect by dressing as suggested by the cruise line.

Happy ks: I'm so wanting to go on a holiday cruise now:)! Between decorations for the stateroom and wearing red (but still tropical) would be so much fun!!

Did you all see the stats on Unpacking VS Not Unpacking??

Over 90% of the respondents DO unpack! Yay!! It takes me about an hour to completely unpack - but saves so-o-o much time for every outfit change.

Even for our trip to Minneapolis, I packed pants and skirts on their hangers. A couple minutes saved here and there...

 

 

Indiana, where was the info on packing and unpacking? Thanks!:)

[STARFISH*4]

 

 

 

Over 90% of the respondents DO unpack! Yay!! It takes me about an hour to completely unpack - but saves so-o-o much time for every outfit change.

.

 

use to take awhile unpacking but since i have been packing our evening clothes on hangers with dry-cleaner bags and our day clothes in the 2.5 gallon zip locks, along with pretty much everything in the ziplock baggies (various sizes) it goes very quickly now.

[TNGALOHA]

I always unpack and put things in drawers and hang things up, even when we are just going for an overnight.

I can't stand living out of a suitcase.

I think a lot of it stems from having been married to a military man for so many years and we would move every 1 1/2 - 2 years.

That meant living in hotels for 30-90 days and with him still being a DOD employee we still move alot.

Putting our things in the closet and drawers make me feel like I actually belong and that it is my new home away from home.

 

I usually have our dress clothes on hangers and our everyday clothes are folded shirt with pants or shorts and socks in between them, that way I just pull the outfit out and put in drawer.

But for this cruise I saw a travel pack that works like an envelope and you put your outfits in that and then fold the sides over each other and pack in the suitcase.

Well I got creative this week and made some and they work fabulous.

In fact in mine I have 18 t-shirts and 5 dressier shirts in one of these.

They measure 20 inches X 15inches when folded.

In the other one I put 8 pairs of cargo shorts and 4 pairs of dressy capris.

I made all 4 of them the same size and I am able to get all of Toms t-shirts and shorts in one. That is 18 t-shirts and 8 pairs of shorts, and he isn't a small man. Size 3XLT shirts and 46 shorts.

So that will leave us an extra one for our swimwear and pj's and odds and ends that we want to put in it.

So now when I get to the ship I will just open a drawer place the pack in it and unvelcro the top and I am set to go. Quick and easy peasy as they say. :p

I figure with the hanging of our dress clothes and the packets we should be unpacked in about 10 min. It will take longer to unpack the Christmas decor.:D