First Night and Last Night Dining Questions

[Golfette]

We're sailing in December from San Diego to Mexican Riviera. I hate to ask any question regarding dress, but what is usual dress for the 1st night & last night. Bear in mind, we are leaving from a fairly cold San Diego to a tropical climate & coming home to the same cold weather.

On the last night, do you have to have your bags packed & out in the hall the night before - or ...? Would appreciate your comments.

[hammybee]

First and last night will be casual. I will leave the definition of casual to your best judgement.

On the evening before/early AM of disembarkation, you may leave your luggage outside your cabin door, by midnight -2:00 AM, as instructed, once onboard. Or, you may choose to roll your own luggage off, if you prefer.

[cdkempton]

We cruised out of San Diego a couple of years ago for the Christmas cruise to Sea of Cortez. I had dressed a bit too warm for San Diego. Yes, it was a bit cool in the morning but by the time we boarded (around 10.30) and had to wait for our room it got very warm. Since we boarded early we were able to shower & change for dinner. (casual). On the last night on board you can have your bags packed and outside your door between 12 & 2 a.m. unless you are going to walk them off yourself. Most people wear to dinner what they'll be wearing the next day. San Diego is usually a beautiful climate and as long as you have a light jacket, you can pretty much wear anything. Just don't forget to keep your carry-on with you with all your important things. ;)
Have a wonderful cruise!

[hammybee]

Golfette,
I am chuckling here about your description of your cold weather in December. We have good friends on Balboa Island who will, in the next several weeks, put their grill away, for the winter. It's all relative.

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

On any cruise (although not set in stone though) the first night is 'casual' (HAL's recomended dress code is called 'Smart Casual', as it were) since 'they' figure you do not want to stain your formals with 'tears of joy' (plus the logistics of travel, the 'anticipation factor' and delivery and unpacking of luggage can be an issue(s).

On the last night, again it's casual because they figure the 'tears of sadness' will again stain your formal wear (plus the logistics of travel, packing dirty 'unmentionables' and moving luggage about on the final night are, indeed, issues).

Hope this helps.

Have no 'tears'. Have a Great Cruise!

Bon Voyage and Good Health!
Bob:)

[eh2zed]

Both nights are Casual. You should have time on your first day to unpack and change before dinner if you wish. On the last night again you will have time after dinner to do your final packing leaving out clothes you need for travelling home.

[MissWindyCity]

Golfette,
I am chuckling here about your description of your cold weather in December. We have good friends on Balboa Island who will, in the next several weeks, put their grill away, for the winter. It's all relative.

hammy...I was laughing thinking the same thing! The thought of someone describing San Diego as cold is a stitch! I will be coming from Chicago to San Diego and then Mexican Cruise in February. San Diego will feel like a heatwave after being in a Blizzard! :D

[Krazy Kruizers]

We grill all winter!! -- even during a snow storm.

But like others - we dress casually. Knowing that we don;t have to put luggage out until late in the evening, we don;t wear for dinner what we are going to wear off the ship the next day.

[bicker]

And of course, up here, we're already getting ready to breake out the igloo-making tools.

[sail7seas]

:D We're also in Massachusetts and Saturday was over 90 degrees. You may be building igloos..... we were running the a/c. ;) Of course, today certainly has a touch of fall in the air. Yesterday was awful, torrential rain for Veendam's visit. I felt bad we didn't provide them with a 'prettier day'.

[lstrong]

We look forward to having you here in San Diego! December can be very warm here - as kids we often went swimming on Christmas. Traditionally, December is sunny and warm during the day, but cool at night. A light jacket would be perfect. Wishing you a wonderful cruise, Laurie

[Golfette]

Hammybee, Miss Windy City and all you Easterners out there - you are SO right. I'm laughing myself at my California idea of cold weather.:) Only excuse I have is that I am a native Californian, very thin & cold most of the time - even in 70 degree weather. Thanks for all your responses. BTW it is in the 90's here & warm - even for me.

[hammybee]

It's sunny and about 65 in the greater Chicagoland area today, and it feels goooood. I am sending it your way, Sail, KK and Bicker.

[kakalina]

As Native Zonies we find San Diego weather quite cool in the fall and winter. :)

[Lynne Myrna]

It's sunny and about 65 in the greater Chicagoland area today, and it feels goooood. I am sending it your way, Sail, KK and Bicker.

O.K. hammy......it's time you changed your Holmdal profile......you are confusing the population:) LOL!!!!!!!

[bicker]

:D We're also in Massachusetts and Saturday was over 90 degrees. Just wait.... our six month winter is coming.

[ger_77]

leaving from a fairly cold San Diego to a tropical climate & coming home to the same cold weather.

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Oh my gosh Golfette, I'm having to pick myself up off the floor for that one! Let's see what the current temp is in San Diego . . .72 degrees. Right now in the "frozen tundra" it is 39 degrees and we have the possibility of snow flurries overnight. We've covered all of our plants in the yard so they don't freeze and we can enjoy them for a while longer.

In answer to your question, dress in layers; maybe a camisole, shirt & cardigan that you can add or remove as you feel comfortable. Enjoy your cruise!

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)
Gerry

[Golfette]

Gerry, in retrospect, I know my comment about San Diego being "cold" in December is hilarious. What I want to know now, is how you people who live in such cold climates & have to deal with snow for months at a time deal with it? I can't even imagine it (hothouse flower that I am):) .

[hammybee]

Gerry, in retrospect, I know my comment about San Diego being "cold" in December is hilarious. What I want to know now, is how you people who live in such cold climates & have to deal with snow for months at a time deal with it? I can't even imagine it (hothouse flower that I am):) .

Golfette, there is something magical to 4 distict seasons. I still get excited by the first few snowfalls, every year. Ask me about snow, come February, March and occasionally even April and I am done with the magic.

[Cruising-along]

Gerry, in retrospect, I know my comment about San Diego being "cold" in December is hilarious. What I want to know now, is how you people who live in such cold climates & have to deal with snow for months at a time deal with it? I can't even imagine it (hothouse flower that I am):) .

Golfette, I understood what you meant when you said "cold" ;) We lived in San Diego for 5 years and *comparatively* it CAN feel "cold" in December (compared to the rest of the year!) Of course it isn't as cold as some other parts of the country in December :eek: But I remember feeling cold in Dec-Feb after living there 5 years :)
I do agree with Hammy and love the 4 distinct seasons too.

[ger_77]

What I want to know now, is how you people who live in such cold climates & have to deal with snow for months at a time deal with it?

There's an advantage to living in a colder climate over living in a hot climate. (I'm sure you're rolling your eyes at that statement.) When it gets cold, you can always put on another layer of clothing. When you are hot and you strip down, once you're down to your skin and it's still hot, what do you do? We can always throw on another sweater or bunny hug and put a jacket over that and go outside for a walk if we want. Thinsulate is a great invention, it reduces the big bulky jackets that we wore for so many years. You get used to the snow, but it helps to take a cruise in February to make the winter seem a little shorter!

When we travel from the "frozen tundra" for a cruise, I usually wear a pair of khaki slacks, a cami, shirt and blazer. The pieces allow me to take off or add layers as my body temp changes in airports or on the plane. I'm usually cold, so I also bring along a little polar fleece blanket in my carry-on that I wrap around me in flight and I sleep like a baby.

I hope you have a great cruise!

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)
Gerry

[WillieF]

Gerry, in retrospect, I know my comment about San Diego being "cold" in December is hilarious. What I want to know now, is how you people who live in such cold climates & have to deal with snow for months at a time deal with it? I can't even imagine it (hothouse flower that I am):) .

Golfette - Canada, like the US A, stretches from East to West and temperatures vary greatly, from a.m. to p.m. on any given day - we've learned to always dress in layers!

Temperatures in Saskatchewan and Ontario can be as different as chalk and cheese! Really no different to what you experience in the US of A.

This year, in parts of Ontario, temperatures were comparable to those in the hot spots of California!

I''ve lived, for short spells, in the Provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan and BC the latter is tempting but I truly hate wet, little sun weather. Beautiful as each Province is, they are not to my liking!

I'll take Ontario any day! I'm not sure about the further East Provinces, never lived there but they too have big variations.

Like you, we adjust to the place we call '"HOME" .

[WillieF]

Gerry, in retrospect, I know my comment about San Diego being "cold" in December is hilarious. What I want to know now, is how you people who live in such cold climates & have to deal with snow for months at a time deal with it? I can't even imagine it (hothouse flower that I am):) .

Golfette - Canada, like the US A, stretches from East to West and temperatures vary greatly, from a.m. to p.m. on any given day - we've learned to always dress in layers!

Temperatures in Saskatchewan and Ontario can be as different as chalk and cheese! Really no different to what you experience in the US of A.

This year, in parts of Ontario, temperatures were comparable to those in the hot spots of California!

I''ve lived, for short spells, in the Provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan and BC the latter is tempting but I truly hate wet, little sun weather. Beautiful as each Province is, they are not to my liking!

I'll take Ontario any day! I'm not sure about the further East Provinces, never lived there but they too have big variations.

Like you, we adjust to the place we call '"HOME" .

[Golfette]

What interesting replies. Being a native Californian, I always wonder how people in other parts of the country live etc.

WillieF, I never thought of Canada that way, but of course, you're right. We've been to British Columbia & Montreal/Quebec and in my mind it's always cold - but incredibly beautiful.

Ger77 - I see your perspective. True, when it's HOT here, it's HOT.
I should have thought of layering, since I do it all the time as a golfer in the winter, but my layering is of clothes that can be wadded up and put in the limited space of my golf bag as I walk. Since 95% of my clothes are golf clothes, I can see I've got to start yet another clothes shopping list.

Happy sailing all and thanks for your insight.:)

[PaperSniper4]

.... what is usual dress for the 1st night & last night. ...

For the first night don't be offended or surprised what you might see! Sometimes luggage is lost you know. Those poor souls don't have too many options, especially if they didn't take a carry-on on board the aircraft.:eek: