What is resort casual? Comments on AZ vs Cc?

[Spursgirl]

Chico's!!!

 

Chico's is great and I have bought some lovely things there. I am on their email mailing list which is really frustrating as they don't ship to the UK.

[tv24]

Back to the beginning. Phil's got it right...You go Phil!

[verne1956]

Thank you for this update! No, I won't be wearing anything you can buy at Penny's but we are stretching this vacation in several places both warm and cold so this Next cruise has about driven me batty. I always have dressy black crepe pants and appropriate blouses and bling but changing from upscale white jeans or dark denim trousers after a long day ashore can really mess up a pre-dinner martini relax before dinner date into a hurried change and arrive at dinner feeling stressed out.

 

I do remember our first cruise on the Journey was their repositioning after the first season of Bermuda sailings. Back then the men wore basically nice khakis or chinos and Tommy Bahama short sleeve button down Hawaiian style shirts and many of the ladies were also wearing TB. Oh, for TB to make the ladies silk slacks again.

 

I was checking in to see if I should pack more short sleeve tops and blouses for the Sydney to Auckland cruise. Checking weather reports for shore rarely helps once on the ship and staying near ports. Any ideas on what to expect during the days for temperatures?

 

Hi I am a local of Sydney currently we are experiencing very high temps well into high 30s Celsius and I expect that not to change we generally follow the Southern USA as far as temps go they had a hot summer with lots of bush fires we will be the same it has already started we only hit summer today.

 

I was on a cruise last year this time and although we didn't go to NZ we were in the Pacific for the whole time. I only wore my jackets on deck at night and they were only crepe never had to dress in anything but really light clothes mostly dresses for the heat.

 

I will be on the cruise after yours from Auckland back to Sydney and although I have never been to NZ before my friend has and she tells me that the weather can be cool in Sth Is even in Jan Feb so she always takes a jacket and a rain poncho. I was talking to a tour operator the other day and he said it is considered a heatwave over there if it gets to low 30s and the old adage of four season in one day is very true.

 

So for the boat light clothing but take a lightish jacket just incase but definitely jackets for NZ. In Sydney itself break out the summer wardrobe it will be mighty hot in January even if it does rain it still doesn't get cool.

[NorthernLite]

Verne, Thank you! That is the information I needed. A friend in New Zealand who has never been to Australia clued me in for there so I had that down right and he agreed about the heat wave temperature (celsius) of low 30's. I'll add another light weight top or two as we are coming in several days early to see as much of Sydney as possible. For the downtown area are there many restaurants with a jacket and tie policy for men? I was hoping he would skip the ties but if the good seafood restaurants are formal by US standards we would like to be prepared. Thanks again!

[verne1956]

I can say I know of no restaurants that would expect a coat and tie well ones you could get a booking in without a long notice and even then I doubt you would be knocked back with shirt and trousers. We are pretty casual bunch really the only times you see people in the full formal attire are in the society pages of the newspaper and thats usually at openings and balls etc.

 

I have to admit I don't eat out right in the city much but any of the Darling Harbour Rocks or Circular Quay ones are always just ranging from straight out casual to smart casual. Flip flops or throngs as we call them being the exception except for pubs although I used to work for a young couple as a nanny who both wore thongs to work in advertising my hair stood on end at the sight.

 

Where in Sydney are you staying there are so many places to eat we have a Chinatown right in the CBD in Haymarket, Darling Harbour is lined by bars cafes and restaurants as is Circular Quay. There is nereby places such as Newtown a short bus ride big variety an interesting place I was born there but it was considered ultra working class back then now its trendy and housing costs a fortune. Liechardt is up the hwy from Newtown it is the Italian capital for food.

 

Whilst in Sydney do take a harbour cruise the government ferries have them cheap they go two different direction one towards Parramatta and the Olympic village and the other towards the North past some of our most expensive realestate both giving a good perspective of Sydney. I recommended a trip to Manly instead of Bondi to some UK cruisers on my cruise it is a ferry ride really pleasant and it has both a bay and surf beach with heaps of eateries inbetween sides. It also has the old quarantine Station I have stayed the night there it is a very interesting place quite sad as all sick passengers were sent there if there ship was seen as contagious looks nice now but back a couple of centuries ago not so nice.

 

I personally come from the Southern area of the Metropolitan it is a train ride from the city to Cronulla and is near where Captain Cook discovered/claimed Australia in a place called Kurnell I walk my dogs out there almost daily as they have a dog beach on one of the bays. You'll fly out over it on your way home but the plane may be rising to high to see much of it.

 

With only a few days to look around if I had to recommend what should I do, well I would say a good walk around the Circular quay area up to the Opera House into the Botanical Garden that offers spectacular views the Art Gallery in there and it has a good range of Aboriginal Art the Museum is just a short walk from there also as is the infamous Kings Cross up the hill from the Museum but unless you like seedy give it a miss. On another day you can do Darling Harbour it was a resumed railway yard now one of our tourist sites there you will also find Chinatown and Paddys Markets at one end also to the side the Powerhouse Museum a more Modern view of Australian development and to the end of the same side but the Harbour end the Casino.

 

I would also take a trip to the Blue Mountains @ Katoomba there is a train there as well as a hop on hop off bus to the different sites it is a very lovely place called blue because at a distance the trees give a blueish tint rather then green. The south Coast is also really lovely and another train trip makes that possible to see you can go to either Wollongong or further to Kiama where a water spout blowhole is seen by tourists and me great on a good day I am thinking of retiring in this area.

 

I suppose what I am saying is that you do not have to spend a fortune on organized tours it is quite possible to see things cheaply and in the CBD mostly on foot for free. If you are the driving kind all of these places can be easily assessed with a GPS its just a matter if your hotel allows cars in there carpark for a reasonable price to guests.

[wuppis]

One of the reasons, I´ve got my DH on such a small ship, was the fact, that there is no formal attire required. (He prefers bigger ships).

 

A german cruisejournalist once wrote about Azamara and their passengers: Normally Azamara passengers are people, who have to dress properly in suits and tie in their daily life. So they enjoy dressing casual on vacation.

 

My DH is wearing chinos and nice shirts with a vest (covering his belly) in the evening, some gentlemen are wearing jackets, some with and some without ties. What ever they like.

 

I only wear pants, never a dress, but I like to combine my pants in different colors with nice shirts, some elegant some more casual.

 

Never felt underdressed and we love the athmosphere on the Journey and will be on our 3rd Journey cruise in march 2016, our 37th cruise in total.

The only thing DH hates on other cruiselines are the formal nights. I know we could go to the Buffet restaurant but we prefer the dining room for dinner.

 

And even on other cruiselines, like Celebrity they cancelled the formal night and invented casual chic.

 

The cruises where you could see most people dressed elegant for formal night were transatlantic crossings. You could see great evening gowns and tuxedos. And now: sometimes some nice cocktaildresses, only a few tuxedos, some oldfashioned evening gowns, maybe 20 years or older.

 

Things changed and also the dresscode. I think it has also to do with the weight limitation on flights and only people flying Business or First class can carry great gowns, tuxedos and dinner jackets only for 2 or 3 nights.

 

So we can pack less to stay in our weight limit.

 

Marita

Edited December 2, 2015 by wuppis

[critterchick]

Chico's!!!

 

I have half a closet devoted to Chico's! I don't bring the Travellers stuff with me any more because it's too heavy, but their latest catalog featured a couple of sparkly tops (in gold and silver) that are featherweight and go with any pants or skirt, so they will likely be my go-to tops when I feel "dressy."

 

Not sure what is wrong with dress sandals ?? Yes flip flops would be inappropiate but a lot of very stylish dress shoes have a similar appearance to so called sandals. We should not be defined by what we wear or where we shop. As long as one dresses to the occasion then that should be all that matters.

 

I think the headwaiter handled it 100% incorrectly. Perhaps he was on a power trip at the moment, but one NEVER embarasses a guest or client publicly. Ever.

 

I'm one who only cares what other people wear because I'm a people watcher and I enjoy the Glamour "dont's." (I am often one myself, I'm sure). We are light packers, so I only bring clothes where all tops go with all bottoms. I can usually fit in a long dress that's a cut above and I will be wearing it with flat sandals as I recently injured my ankle and am not going to subject it to further punishment by wearing inflexible or high heeled shoes. DH won't be carrying a sport coat or tie. If we are invited to dine with the Captain, I hope he (the Captain) can live with that.:)

[marinaro44]

I have half a closet devoted to Chico's! I don't bring the Travellers stuff with me any more because it's too heavy, but their latest catalog featured a couple of sparkly tops (in gold and silver) that are featherweight and go with any pants or skirt, so they will likely be my go-to tops when I feel "dressy."

 

 

 

I think the headwaiter handled it 100% incorrectly. Perhaps he was on a power trip at the moment, but one NEVER embarasses a guest or client publicly. Ever.

 

I'm one who only cares what other people wear because I'm a people watcher and I enjoy the Glamour "dont's." (I am often one myself, I'm sure). We are light packers, so I only bring clothes where all tops go with all bottoms. I can usually fit in a long dress that's a cut above and I will be wearing it with flat sandals as I recently injured my ankle and am not going to subject it to further punishment by wearing inflexible or high heeled shoes. DH won't be carrying a sport coat or tie. If we are invited to dine with the Captain, I hope he (the Captain) can live with that.:)

Trust me: The Captain will live with it.

 

On our last Azamara cruise several of us showed up with ties at dinner with Jose, and the first thing he said was feel free to take ties off if we'd be more comfortable. At a dinner with Carl and his wife in Aqualina, he removed his jacket when we sat down.

[graciekelli]

What if we like to dress up? Will we look out of place? Will people stare us down? If I wear a cocktail dress? or a long gown? or if DH wears a dark suit will we stick out like a sore thumb? Just checking...our first AZ cruise is coming up.

[wuppis]

No you will not look out of place.

 

If people love to dress up, they of course can do.

 

There are still people in gowns and tuxedos, because they are used to dress up on a cruise.

 

But others like us, decided not to dress up formal. It´s all on you and your DH.

 

BTW, I have to wear sandals every evening, because I´m having totally swollen feet on a cruise in warm or hot climate. Never had a negative comment about it. I´m not able to wear "normal" shoes and I´m so sad about it, because I have some pretty high heels, matching with my elegant shirts.

[graciekelli]

No you will not look out of place.

 

If people love to dress up, they of course can do.

 

There are still people in gowns and tuxedos, because they are used to dress up on a cruise.

 

But others like us, decided not to dress up formal. It´s all on you and your DH.

 

BTW, I have to wear sandals every evening, because I´m having totally swollen feet on a cruise in warm or hot climate. Never had a negative comment about it. I´m not able to wear "normal" shoes and I´m so sad about it, because I have some pretty high heels, matching with my elegant shirts.

 

That's good to know. We do like to dress up and make a date night out of it on some of the nights. I know what you mean about all the cute high heels. I can't wear the really high ones anymore either. Luckily, I can still wear the mid-ones. I'm a girly girl at heart and like everything sparkly and pretty.

[pcur]

I have half a closet devoted to Chico's! I don't bring the Travellers stuff with me any more because it's too heavy, but their latest catalog featured a couple of sparkly tops (in gold and silver) that are featherweight and go with any pants or skirt, so they will likely be my go-to tops when I feel "dressy."

 

I'm one who only cares what other people wear because I'm a people watcher and I enjoy the Glamour "dont's." (I am often one myself, I'm sure). We are light packers, so I only bring clothes where all tops go with all bottoms. I can usually fit in a long dress that's a cut above and I will be wearing it with flat sandals as I recently injured my ankle and am not going to subject it to further punishment by wearing inflexible or high heeled shoes. DH won't be carrying a sport coat or tie. If we are invited to dine with the Captain, I hope he (the Captain) can live with that.:)

 

Hi, Jean. I have been slowly collecting chiffon/georgette fabric jackets and tops. They weigh about 6 - 8oz each (you can take more!!). I wear them during the day and in the evening in hot climates. I also have several cami's in the same fabric: black, brown, two white. Paired in the evening with a chiffon jacket, it makes a nice outfit with the standard white, black, or brown pants. If you search on "chiffon jacket" on Amazon, you'll find a variety in different colors.

 

I have a pair of silver glittery slide, very low wedge, sandals that I got at Payless Shoe Source. These are my evening cruise sandals. No slipping, and they look dressy enough for formal night. I also have similar pairs in brown and black. Very simple, easy slide on in case my feet swell.

[critterchick]

Hi, Jean. I have been slowly collecting chiffon/georgette fabric jackets and tops. They weigh about 6 - 8oz each (you can take more!!). I wear them during the day and in the evening in hot climates. I also have several cami's in the same fabric: black, brown, two white. Paired in the evening with a chiffon jacket, it makes a nice outfit with the standard white, black, or brown pants. If you search on "chiffon jacket" on Amazon, you'll find a variety in different colors.

 

I have a pair of silver glittery slide, very low wedge, sandals that I got at Payless Shoe Source. These are my evening cruise sandals. No slipping, and they look dressy enough for formal night. I also have similar pairs in brown and black. Very simple, easy slide on in case my feet swell.

 

Thanks for the tips. I'm all about lightweight clothing these days - even my warm layers are lightweight - silk long johns, Polartec instead of fleece, etc.

[NorthernLite]

Verne, thanks for even more information. We'll be staying at the Marriott at Circle Quay for 4 nights before the cruise. We had already planned the Opera House and Botanical Gardens along with your famous seafood. I found a wonderful source for cute but inexpensive tops for the heat wave. Now I hope my splurge of a Tommy Bahama half zip jumper (pullover) will arrive in time. I freeze on planes and since we'll be stretching out from Vancouver to Sydney once were fed I want something comfortable too. Oh, we will be walking, taking taxis and using the ferries. I use a wheelchair now and am so happy that Australia is very accessible. I have ridden in some interesting "accessible" taxis over the last few years so seeing several actual companies and the ferries was a great relief. We also plan on visiting a zoo with a n area where we can meet some of the local wallabies and baby kangaroos. I just finished my last job for the year so am now driving back home to do up Christmas and pack. Hopefully nothing has shrunk since our last cruise. Hope to meet you on the ship!

[verne1956]

Hi NothernLite

 

Also note that the trains are also able to accommodate wheelchairs they have a ramp that the guard puts out and is usually met by the station employee to see that all go well they communicate your destination with staff. I unfortunately am doing the return cruise from Auckland back to Sydney so unless we meet on your departure at Auckland or arrange something before we will be ships passing thru the night.

 

The Zoo by the way has fabulous views of the city it is however pretty hilly but many wheelchair bound people visit so nothing you will not be able to handle my mother was recently taken there by a school group and the children pushed them around. There is a petting area with a variety of animals I know they have wallaby in there to my memory you can also walk thru the kangaroo area pretty much near the top entrance. The koala enclosure has ramps and there are showings and picture opportunities but the koala is not on you they have very sharp nails and they are known to pee at the wrong time they sit them on a teddy that is hidden in the photos. It is an all day thing mainly because of the way its set out can't rush it as it is spaced out.

 

We have some tough rules to not exclude disabled so most places can accommodate. The fish markets would be a close taxi ride but there are a lot of seafood restaurants in the city especially in Darling Harbour also Chinatown has fresh seafood tanks in many of the bigger restaurants the Asians love FRESH. I think you will enjoy your time here I love the Quay area myself I stayed one night several years ago in a room that had Harbour views of both the Opera House and the Bridge I felt just like a tourist in my own city it was very pretty at night. The Marriott is well placed hope your room has views but believe it or not a great view can be had from the train station quay side good high position for photos so many people catch the train just to get that. Unless you are able to stand it would be your husband who would be able to see that as the walls are filled in for safety.

 

I understand the flights from Canada are very long haven't been myself but do know others who have you will need your break. Just do the Quay Rocks area the first day not far to push back to the hotel if you get tired. I have done the old Syd to UK run many years ago when it took 28hrs but I was considerably younger then like almost 40yrs younger but hey just remember the first few days on the ship you can rest before NZ so push push push yourself and please excuse that pun no offense meant I mean mentally. I believe when you travel you should try to see all you can sleep later when your at home its cheaper LOL.

 

Have a great trip it sounds like you earned it.

[NorthernLite]

LOL I had read years ago about the koalas and keep trying to tell my husband but... I just hope one doesn't squirt pee all over him. We have children's zoos and goats have done the same. We are so looking forward to Sydney and then the lovely scenery of New Zealand. I have solid rear wheels on my manual chair just so we can travel to places with cobblestones and rough or hilly terrain. I know what you mean about travel as we get older. My first transatlantic flight was to Munich as a 23 year old in the Army heading for a 3 year stay. Thirty years later and many trips over the Atlantic later I am so happy we can afford the stretch out business class for this bucket list cruise. I doubt any plane takes off as empty as that first 747 where I had a row of 4 empty seats in Economy to stretch out on. I had forgotten you'll be embarking as we disembark. Are you going early for the festival time near their Independence Day? We are staying over 2 nights in Auckland overlooking the harbor to see the tall ships and enjoy the fun. And yes, I use sea days to sleep in and we try to use our Marriott points to spend extra days in between long flights so we have a 36 hour stay in Vancouver coming and going. We have that city planned on a driving trip. I will definitely push it! If nothing else I need the exercise. :)

 

Have a wonderful Holiday!

[verne1956]

No I didn't know they even had a festival until I received my invitation to the Wedding we are attending and it said book your hotel early as it is a long weekend in Auckland. I fly in just hours before the wedding on Saturday evening we will be staying very close to it in Orakei it is apparently opposite the Kelly Tarlton Aquarium. Our visit to Auckland will be short and sweet just the day leading up to getting on the ship is free I think we will just get on the hop on hop off bus to see the sights.

 

Funnily NZ has never been on my bucket list but everyone I meet who has been there has said its beautiful. If our holidays had worked out better we would have loved to see Queenstown and the Glaciers but my husbands workplace has ballot holidays and ours didn't give us time pre cruise. This is his last year of working so maybe when we retire we will go back and see that part. There is often really cheap fares to that area we could just go there for a week or so.

 

One area that is on my bucket list is Canada I would love to go up the inside passage and catch one of the fancy trains across the Rockies. Alas we will need to rob a bank to go to all the places on my bucket list and if that bank job comes my way I will definitely be going business class. Only got that opportunity once to Bali after a shocker of a trip by Garuda they made it up to us by giving us a reasonable refund plus a promise of a free upgrade if we traveled again within 12mths. Wish that could happen again as business class back then wasn't that great they have done so much improvement in that area in most airlines now I am sure you will be treated rather Queen like.

 

I know you will enjoy your trip is sounds really fantastic and with good short breaks between the different sections. Have a great Xmas try not to eat to much if those clothes were already tight to much Merry Xmas could spell a costly shopping trip pre cruise. Although those post Xmas sales do seem to call me each year HO HO HO!

[NorthernLite]

We got a great sale on a 14 day round trip cruise on HAL from Seattle up the inside passage all the way to Kodiak Island and Homer and back along the outer passage a few years back. The savings of a closed jaw round trip flight versus open jaw is amazing. We have also tried EconomyPlus on a trip to Rome several years back and while not a stretch out it sure beat old style business class and cost very little over regular Economy. That was on BritishAir. We're flying Air Canada for this cruise and actually booked round trip Sydney because even with a flight back from Auckland it was cheaper than the open jaw option. I was only "bumped" to first class once when I was on stand by and traveling in uniform back around 1985. Retirement definitely has made vacations cheaper as we have more time to plan and we start 18 months out because we need a handicapped cabin and the good ones go fast. I just did a short consulting job that I actually like so it is easy to plan around. Alaska was amazing! We were there beginning in late May and hit a very rare dry spring. I think we only had misty rain up near Homer. It also hit 80F in Anchorage. You can buy light jackets and water proof pants very inexpensively in Ketchikan. I wish I had listened because I packed my parka and all I needed was a light fleece lined windbreaker. Those cruises are cheaper now as Alaska has cut their port fees considerably. Most trains in the US and Canada offer discounts to those 62 or 65 and up. We also get cheaper national park passes and plan on going to several out west in the late spring. Wouldn't it be nice if we could reverse the world so we could have the time and savings to travel when hiking mountains is easy and we are young then go to work at 45 or 50 until we die at our desks?

 

Cruise clothes shrink so easily! LOL I always save the elastic waist things for the last part of our trips. But come mid-February I start a serious diet and exercise program. I absolutely refuse to go up another size but I am trying to be realistic about what clothes I will be able to fit back into as I continue to downsize my closets. My best buys for most things is right around our Thanksgiving the end of November. But yes, right after New Year's is great for dressier cruise clothes. I am not looking this year at all. I have plenty now if I manage to lose what I am sure I can. At a certain point even thinking about a size 8 again in this lifetime is fantasyland. Well, at least for me. At least I am fine with saving desserts for cruises and special dinners out.

 

Off to start my packing list. I really don't want to over pack on this trip. I'm going a bit more casual than I normally do but a ton more formal than anything I saw on our cruise around Hawaii on Norwegian. I don't mind casual but I could have gotten everything for both of us into the large duffel had I known they are OK with just about everything! Merry Christmas!