Baltic weather = Clothing confusion

[Jane110]

We're leaving in two weeks for our cruise to the Baltics and thought I had most of my clothes packing sorted out in my head.

But now I'm reading about the weather, which might be around 50 degree's in Scandinavia during the day. So now instead of cotton pants with a twin sweater set for daytime, I'm planning on packing heavier weight sweaters.... but still cotton.... as well as blazers and loafers instead of sandals.

But what do I do about evening attire in the dining room? The evening temps. outside could be 45 degree's - I hope the ship has the heat on and not the a/c! For the most formal evenings, I'll now plan on bringing black gowns instead of the summery looking pastels.

What do I wear for the informal nights? I have a black silk georgette evening skirt that I usually wear with a little black boot (just above the ankle). Will this look silly in June? In looking at my shoe collection, I realize that other than daytime loafers, I really don't like shoes......I like sandals and boots and have hardly any dressy shoes (yeah, 3 pairs of wintery blacks in suede and velvet!)

It's looking like my best option is to wear dressy seasonless pants with different tops and buy a pair of black pumps in case it's too cold for sandals. I guess a dressy angora sweater w/ beads is out of the question too?

This is turing into a packing nightmare with both my winter and my summer evening clothes all looking out of season!

Suggestions?

[Lois R]

Hi Jane, I have a good friend who lives in Sweden...I met her when she came here before sailing on Zenith earlier this year[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Would you like me to email her and maybe you 2 can contact each other? I am sure she would be glad to give you some tips!

Your own suggestions sound really good though.

She is a wonderful friend, but she will admit, her fashions are a bit more simple than what you would wear....I don't mean that as a negative, she would say it is a true statement.

Let me know If you want me to contact her though!! We went to St Augustine while she was visiting and had a great time [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]!!

Have a good Sunday[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Lois

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[kitty9]

Your summer clothes won't look out of season when on the ship--the pastels will look fantastic. I wear pastels when cruising in the winter months in warm climates. It will be June, and it's summer, so your summer stuff will be just fine regardless of the temperatures. Sorry, I can't picture ankle boots paired with a dressy georgette skirt---sounds a little strange to me. Women wear sandals in the evening all year long, so it won't make a difference for evening on the ship. Don't worry about the outside temps while on your cruise. The ship will have appropriate temperatures on board.

Darcie

[Linda CruiseDiva]

Last year I nearly died from the heat in Stockholm! They had a very hot summer... 90 degrees during the day and quite humid. It was the exact opposite of my previous trip there when it was chilly (same time of year, in June).

Your best bet for Baltic cruising is "layering"--wear layers of clothing that can be removed (or added to) as the weather dictates. A lightweight windbreaker for daytime is a good idea, also a folding umbrella.

For evenings on board, just dress as you planned for a June cruise. They will adjust the interior temperature for comfort. I always wear sandals with dressy outfits, no matter what the season.

Linda
CruiseDiva

[Jane110]

Thanks all for the suggestions. Yes, I'll leave the ankle boots at home.

The daytime clothing hasn't been hard to figure out, it's all about layering as Linda said. It wastank-top and sandal weather here in NYC, but it's turned chilly now. Yesterday I wore a long sleeved cot shirt w/ a tee underneath and then a bulky cotton knit sweater thrown over my shoulders and loafers w/ socks. That's what I'll plan on wearing during the daytime in the Baltic/Scandinavain countries, with the addition of a rainjacket & umbrella.

Thanks for the eveningwear suggestions. I guess I will bring the sandals for the gowns, but I think I"ll stick w/ black. If the weather is like NY weather is now, I'd never put on a pastel dress to go to dinner tonight. Although the calendar says almost June, it just wouldn't "feel" right. Who knows....once I srat packing it may get tossed in "just in case"!

Lois, many thanks for your offer of contacting your friend in Sweden. I really appreciate it. I guess I have it kind of sorted out by now...it's called, "just pack everything!"
With all the extra sweaters and jackets I'm going to end up with an extra suitcase! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

Kitty9 - My ankle boots with georgette skirt (or my velvet & lace skirts) look fantastic. I get many compliments. I wear the combo in NY and Paris (where I bought them). My husband adores the look and says I look very "Rive Gauche" (Left Bank) when I dress that way. Doesn't look weird at all. Though it really is a city look and not a cruise look so the boots will stay home.

Thanks all!

Jane (weight training to get ready to lift all those suitcases!)

[This message was edited by Jane110 on 05-31-04 at 12:51 PM.]

[Lois R]

Hi Jane[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] glad you seem to have everything sorted out...did you want me to email Sweden for you?...not sure if the answer was a yes or not [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

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[Jane110]

Lois,

Sorry I was vague. Yes sure, but if and only if it's easy, email your friend in Sweden. Maybe she could shed some light for me.

Thanks,
Jane

[Lois R]

Hi Jane[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] no problem! I just sent her an email...now, they are 5 or 6 hours ahead of us so she probably won't read her mail until later this evening (for us)..actually it might be tomorrow!
I told her the title of your post, etc, etc...
Her screen name is Northbound. Keep an eye out and I will as well[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img].

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

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[Jane110]

Ahhhhhh, Northbound!

I've been reading her posts in the Baltic section. She's been giving us all wonderful and helpful information about Stockholm, train schedules, etc.

Everyone there is so grateful to her for all her efforts. You should have a look at the Baltic section on the Ports section of the boards.

I didn't ask her clothing questions. She's been so helpful about transportation questions, I didn't want to bug her.

Small world! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Jane

[Lois R]

Hi Jane[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] received an email from Northbound!

She said she would be glad and try to help with clothing tips!

Keep an eye out [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:
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[north-bound]

Hi Jane,

As Lois has already told you I haven’t got much fashion sense, a new experience for me to post on this board [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]. But I do know about weather in the Baltic region. And from what I read here you have got most of it sorted out.

The important thing, as you already aware, is to come prepared for everything (well not really, forget snow and ice). One week ago the temperature was 38 and it was raining. Today it is still rather cool, but a sunny day means I have been wearing pants and a cotton top outdoors. People were enjoying the day eating outside in the restaurants and parks were crowded. So it changes quickly and nobody can say what it will be two weeks from now.

Generally, it is not very hot in June. Evenings are cool, and as soon as the sun disappears it gets cool too. And some days it may rain. But as soon as the sun comes out it will usually turn warm and nice. We do get tank-top and sandals weather in Stockholm too. You have got it right with layering. That way you can take items on or off as things change. And most likely there will be days when you need the socks and loafers as well as the sweater and jacket.

I guess there will be a lot of city sightseeing on this cruise. Personally I never wear jeans or shorts in the city, it doesn’t seem right to me. We tend to dress up a bit in European cities. However, I see a lot of people wear anything nowadays. But I have a feeling you have no intention to dress down anyway.

As for what to wear onboard I can’t say, I have never been on a Baltic cruise. But the pastels sound nice for June to me. The indoors temperatures ought to be the same as on other cruises. But I hope you will also want to get out in evening to take a look at our summer night, and then you will need something warm to put on. In June it is never dark here, not even at midnight.

I only have one thought on the items you think of bringing and that is the cotton sweater. I would personally prefer a wool sweater for two reasons. It is warmer, and remains warm even if it gets a little damp. And it is not as heavy, so it is easier to carry it around.

There is little I have said here that you didn’t already know, so it is probably not much help. But I hope it at least confirms your own ideas.

[Lois R]

NB[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Hi!!! So glad you stopped in to see us [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]!

And Jane already told me how much you always help on the Ports of Call Board...which I know how nice you are in person anyway [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img].

And of course you tips are helpful [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]!!!

See you later in the Lounge [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

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[north-bound]

Yes, see you later Lois.

I have to think of a new game, but I don't know where to go. Well, I will find something.

[Jane110]

Hi North-Bound,

Yet again, you're a valuable wealth of information. Thank you, thank you!

You bring up a good point about taking wool sweaters instead of cotton. I guess it's just a mindset that once May hits, the wool sweaters get cleaned and packed away for the season. But I do have some nice medium weight cable knit pullovers in both cashmere and merino that might be perfect. And you're certainly right about them weighing less than my cotton ones. Ok, wools get to go on vacation!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I guess there will be a lot of city sightseeing on this cruise. Personally I never wear jeans or shorts in the city, it doesn’t seem right to me. We tend to dress up a bit in European cities. However, I see a lot of people wear anything nowadays. But I have a feeling you have no intention to dress down anyway.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You're right about that! In any of the parts of Europe I've travelled to, I'm never taken as a tourist...until of course, I speak.
I'm fashionable at home and don't buy "ugly tourist clothes" to travel in. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I've never owned a backpack and really don't like them, but with all the layering and walking around all day, it might the time to invest in one.

As much as I'd like to stroll the streets to enjoy the midnight sun, we'll be back on board every night by 6:00PM to set sail for the next port. It's one of the big drawbacks of cruising. However, we will have a balcony to enjoy the view as well as some of the local "nectar" [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]

Again, many thanks for your input.

Jane

[Lois R]

Hi Jane[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img], I have a backpack...its not "Big and Bulky"...its great when I cruise...it is made by "The Sak"..but its not their "regular weave".
It is quilted...very light weight, fits comfortably on my back and holds more than you would think [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Again, it is not a "BIG THING".
It is really in the "medium" range. Personally, I love it[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]. It is a beigy/taupe color..goes with everything!

I have taken it on my all 3 of my Celebrity Cruises and its going with me to Bermuda in September as well!
Just thought you might like the style, weight and color too!
Hope this helps[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img].

Next up...HORIZON Sept 18th to Bermuda!

See My Century and Mercury Pictures at:
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[Jane110]

Hi Lois,

I'm only aware of the the "regular weave" Sak things. We have a Sak Store here in NY that I can probably get to before the cruise (we leave in 12 days).

I've bought so many Longchamp backpacks for others in Paris because they're so much cheaper there, I can't believe I might buy one for myself here at the higher prices. Duh!!! Or I may just wait until I hit the duty free shops at the airport - but then that could mean I wind up with one in an ugly color!

Of course, I can always buy a Prada one to match my shoes and sandals. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Though that's probably a waste of money since who knows if I'll use it again more than a couple of times.

I hate to buy things I don't really like out of necessity! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]

Thanks for the suggestion.

Jane

[MoonBaby]

I justed booked a Baltic Cruise for Aug 13, 05, and now I am worried about the weather. What will the weather be like mid to late Aug?:confused: Would have rather have done the late June cruise, same ports, but I have a committment I can't get out of. :( I wanted to see the White Nights!