Who is the Hat Lady ?

[RedmondCruiser]

My wife and I now tend to go on longer cruises. On at least four of those we have run into "the hat lady". She is a deminutive lady in her 90's who loves to dance. Her wardrobe had a great many dress and hat combinations that she must have sewed herself. Who is she ?? She must be a platinum medallion holder. We talked to her briefly on boarding in Fort Lauderdale but I can't recall her name. Also a great many people on the ship seemed to know her.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Sorry - I can't remember her name either. In 2005 she sailed with us on back-to-back cruises on the Volendam. I can picture the lady and someone did mention her name but I have forgotten.

She was always dancing in the Ocean Bar before and after dinner and in the Crow's Nest -- she had a lot of energy!!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

We did get a chance to talk to her one evening and yes - she made all her own outfits - dresses and hats!!

[RuthC]

Whew! For a second there you scared me. There must be more than one HAL passenger who is called "The Hat Lady" as I ran into one on my (also long) Rotterdam cruise in '03.
However, your description of your "Hat Lady" is nothing like mine was.

Lucky you. ;)

[kakalina]

I can't remember her name either but I loved her cheeseburger hat.

[RuthC]

I can't remember her name either but I loved her cheeseburger hat.
Er, maybe we are talking about the same woman after all? :confused: But "The Hat Lady" with the cheeseburger hat isn't anywhere near age 90.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The one I am thinking of did make her own dresses - one reminded me of a Balerina type skirt - on gold - with a matching gold hat that resembled a beret'.

[hammybee]

Whew! For a second there you scared me. There must be more than one HAL passenger who is called "The Hat Lady" as I ran into one on my (also long) Rotterdam cruise in '03.
However, your description of your "Hat Lady" is nothing like mine was.

Lucky you. ;)

The minute I saw the title, I thought "oh-oh, Ruth's hat lady ......." :)

[RuthC]

KK's Hat Lady is not the same woman kakalina and I mean. That's for sure now. Norma doesn't wear gold beret's. Her "hats" (and I use the term loosely) are her "children" (her term, not mine). They have names and get a birthday party! :rolleyes:
There's the aforementioned cheeseburger, the fish (Aida), piggy, too many to remember without being drugged.

You've got a good memory, hammybee.

[michmike]

silly hats?? Now doesn't that sound juvenile *wink*

More power to her

[hammybee]

KK's Hat Lady is not the same woman kakalina and I mean. That's for sure now. Norma doesn't wear gold beret's. Her "hats" (and I use the term loosely) are her "children" (her term, not mine). They have names and get a birthday party! :rolleyes:
There's the aforementioned cheeseburger, the fish (Aida), piggy, too many to remember without being drugged.

You've got a good memory, hammybee.

A bithday party for hats................oh my stars. She may not have been the best room mate but the stories are priceless.

[RuthC]

More power to her
Mike, you didn't spend 20 nights at the same table with her. Fortuantely, longtimecruiser and her Mom took pity on me and asked me to join them for the remainder of the cruise. :) The hats were just a part of my personal episode of Twilight Zone.

[RuthC]

A bithday party for hats................oh my stars. She may not have been the best room mate but the stories are priceless.
Not "hats", hammybee. Her children. Silly poster, hats don't get birthday parties; children do, though. They all had their own chair that night---they were placed on the back of their chair so they could see everything.
Fortunately I was sitting with Adele by then, so I didn't have to endure it. But we made sure to walk out of the dining room passing right by that table so we could get a good look.

And she wasn't my roomie; Dolly was my roomie that cruise.

[michmike]

*laffin* Ruth, I feel your pain. And you're right.. funny the 1st night, but not an act I'd care to endure for 20. Was there a full moon that week??

[RuthC]

Was there a full moon that week??
It was a 33-day cruise! In that amount of time there was a chance for two full moons! :eek: Caramba!

I only remember the name of one of her "children". The fish hat she wore in the first few nights was "Aida", and yes, it had something to do with the opera and the fish's mouth. After that I stopped paying attention to the "kid's" names. :rolleyes:

[hammybee]

Not "hats", hammybee. Her children. Silly poster, hats don't get birthday parties; children do, though. They all had their own chair that night---they were placed on the back of their chair so they could see everything.
Fortunately I was sitting with Adele by then, so I didn't have to endure it. But we made sure to walk out of the dining room passing right by that table so we could get a good look.

And she wasn't my roomie; Dolly was my roomie that cruise.

It all comes back to me now. Silly me to think that the hat lady had room for a room mate, given all her children traveled with her. Dolly was a good roomie, right? She stayed out till the wee hours, if I recall.

Did Hat Lady sing Happy Birthday to her children?

[RuthC]

Dolly was a good roomie, right? She stayed out till the wee hours, if I recall.
Very right. Dolly was as good a roomie as anyone could ever hope for. As far as staying out late goes, she made me look like a wuss.
I want to grow up to be just like her. :D

Did Hat Lady sing Happy Birthday to her children?
Beats me; I'd made my escape by then. Either she sang or had the stewards do it. Either way it was strange.

[lorekauf]

I had some strange woman sitting at my table on a Panama cruise for 20 days but that one takes the cake! I suspect drugs were involved!

[tomc]

I guess I was with another Hat Lady on my cruise. Mine was rather immature, socially out of it, a pain in the arse and someone to be avoided. I did my best and, when the medallions were handed out, the HM said to me, under his breath, "I see what you mean."

[jhannah]

I guess we've missed The Hat Lady. (whew!) But I'll never forget a similarly "interesting" soul on a Princess ship once. Her child was a stuffed bear. It was always dressed just as she was. (Yes, matching outfits -- including formal night.) The bear would sit on the edge of the table at dinner. The lady would occasionally dip her fork in her plate and place it at the bear's mouth. (Picture feeding an infant.)

[grannynurse]

Jim,
That's the "bear Lady". She and her DH have both been on HAL too. Sometimes when the bear child has been naughty he doesn't get to come to dinner. He even wears a tux on formal nights. Ruth has some Bear stories too.
I haven't really heard about the hat or bear lady since late 2004, I wonder if they're still around. I have a picture of the hat lady wearing her cheeseburger child.
GN

[michmike]

Had a lady on our Westerdam cruise last Oct who had a doll she dressed In HAL outfits and carried everywhere with her.. Plus she wore a vest she had made out of the HAL bags.

But hey, some folks cart around rubber chickens in coconut bras.

[geocruiser]

Hi,

On three of our Zaandam cruises there was a woman named "Mama Lou". She also just traveled one cruise another the other. She would wear name tag of the crew on her vest. She was very nice to talk with and a fun person.

Geo

[RevNeal]

Hi,

On three of our Zaandam cruises there was a woman named "Mama Lou". She also just traveled one cruise another the other. She would wear name tag of the crew on her vest. She was very nice to talk with and a fun person.

Geo, Mama Lou actually lived on the Zaandam. She's now changed ships ... I'm not sure which ship he's living on now. She's a class act; a real pleasure to get to know. She's NOT comparable, in eccentricity, to "the Hat Lady."

[babyher]

Things like wearing crazy hats or slippers or carrying around a rubber chicken are all great fun. I would love to cruise with you folks , and have a blast.

But there is a line when you get to having waiters sing to hats , and feeding Teddy bears and punishing them for being naughty by not taking them to the dining room that is a little sad and scary.

Kind of eerie like the "Don't mention our son scene " in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

[tomc]

I had an aunt like that. We used to lock her in the attic when company came. :p

[RuthC]

Had a lady on our Westerdam cruise last Oct who had a doll she dressed In HAL outfits and carried everywhere with her.. Plus she wore a vest she had made out of the HAL bags.
Must be the same woman---she was on my '05 Voyage of the Vikings.

That makes two out of the three times I took this cruise that there's been an, shall we say "unusual", woman. Perhaps this cruise attracts them?
(oops, then what does that say about me? :o )

[tomc]

(oops, then what does that say about me?) I was on a cruise with a woman who sat in the piano bar, knew every lyric to every song ever written. I called her "The Song Lady"; she called herself RuthC.

[kakalina]

On one of our first cruises there was a sad gentleman who had a meal and wine brought to his table for two every night for his wife who wasn't there. Ever. I invited him to my table and that is when he informed me that his wife had "just stepped out". Apparently she had passed away a few years prior to his cruise per the maitre d'.

[babyher]

I was on a cruise with a woman who sat in the piano bar, knew every lyric to every song ever written. I called her "The Song Lady"; she called herself RuthC.


Was she wearing a hat shaped like a giant pillow chocolate ?

I think I know who you are talking about *LOL*

[HeatherInFlorida]

.....Norma doesn't wear gold beret's. Her "hats" (and I use the term loosely) are her "children" (her term, not mine). They have names and get a birthday party! :rolleyes:
There's the aforementioned cheeseburger, the fish (Aida), piggy, too many to remember without being drugged. ......................

Not "hats", hammybee. Her children. Silly poster, hats don't get birthday parties; children do, though. They all had their own chair that night---they were placed on the back of their chair so they could see everything.
...........................

OMG, Ruth!!!! And I thought nothing could steer me away from Traditional dining.

I take it back!!! That could really turn the tide for me and suddenly AYW dining would look really, really good:D :D !!

[geocruiser]

revneal,

She is a fine lady. I enjoyed talking to her. She and I were both fans of the on board singer Paul Tanner. He was also very good. Maybe she will be on Volendam when we sail on her in Dec.

Geo

[RevNeal]

I was on a cruise with a woman who sat in the piano bar, knew every lyric to every song ever written. I called her "The Song Lady"; she called herself RuthC.

I've met her too, Tom. She's also known as "The Chocolate Lady." She's always looking for "brown stuff" in the desert menu, and the only "Green stuff" she likes is Pistachio Ice Cream. :D She's quite a "hoot."

And, she can dance! :D

PS ... she keeps a list of every song ever written in her purse.

[RevNeal]

She is a fine lady. I enjoyed talking to her. She and I were both fans of the on board singer Paul Tanner. He was also very good. Maybe she will be on Volendam when we sail on her in Dec.

I sure hope so, too. I'd like to see her again.

[RuthC]

PS ... she keeps a list of every song ever written in her purse.
Not every song ever written. But I do have lists of songs. One of the lists goes on for about four pages---it's of songs by Gus Kahn.
Tomc's the one who sent it to me years ago!
There's some lists arranged by topic---like a list of 23 songs with "rose" in the title. Normal contents of every woman's purse, I'm sure.

And there's a few pages of lyrics in there, too. Doesn't everyone carry the lyrics to I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas with them?

[localady]

Had a lady on our Westerdam cruise last Oct who had a doll she dressed In HAL outfits and carried everywhere with her.. Plus she wore a vest she had made out of the HAL bags.

But hey, some folks cart around rubber chickens in coconut bras.

MichMike- I recall being onboard with a couple of Mariners who had made entire outfits out of the HAL bags. People really do think of "creative" things to do with their "gifts".:rolleyes: :D

[jhannah]

MichMike- I recall being onboard with a couple of Mariners who had made entire outfits out of the HAL bags. People really do think of "creative" things to do with their "gifts".:rolleyes: :D I'm waiting to see a tile vest! :eek:

[RevNeal]

Not every song ever written. But I do have lists of songs. One of the lists goes on for about four pages---it's of songs by Gus Kahn.
Tomc's the one who sent it to me years ago!
There's some lists arranged by topic---like a list of 23 songs with "rose" in the title. Normal contents of every woman's purse, I'm sure.

And there's a few pages of lyrics in there, too. Doesn't everyone carry the lyrics to I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas with them?

LOL!
http://www.minibite.com/christmas/hippo.htm

I haven't heard that in years ... or, at least, months! :D

[RevNeal]

I'm waiting to see a tile vest! :eek:

FOFLMHO ... clink clink clink clink
But, oh, that would be SO heavy!

[HeatherInFlorida]

MichMike- I recall being onboard with a couple of Mariners who had made entire outfits out of the HAL bags. People really do think of "creative" things to do with their "gifts".:rolleyes: :D

I love those! On our Prinsendam cruise a lot of people were playing shuffleboard with the vests made from the HAL bags. I wished we could buy them! Really, really cute.:)

You actually could adorn them with tiles around the hem ... great for windy weather!!!!;)

[RevNeal]

I love those! On our Prinsendam cruise a lot of people were playing shuffleboard with the vests made from the HAL bags. I wished we could buy them! Really, really cute.:)

The bags or the vests?
You CAN buy the bags ... but you have to buy a cruise to go with it!! :D
As for the vests ... well, they're not THAT difficult to make. Christopher tells me that all it would take would be a vest pattern and about 4 bags (depending upon the size of the person).

That means that each vest could be as cheap as $4000. :)

[seacats]

We didn't get bags on our last Maasdam cruise. Are they still giving them out? :rolleyes:

[RevNeal]

We didn't get bags on our last Maasdam cruise. Are they still giving them out? :rolleyes:

I seem to remember hearing that there was a shortage of bags on some ships in 2006 ... but that it was a temporary shortage in supply.

We got bags on the Ryndam in March and on the Noordam in January.

[waiting2retire]

Well, it's no wonder there was a shortage if people are buying them to make entire wardrobes out of :eek:
I will be getting my second one in a few weeks. Hmmmmm, a mini-skirt??

Bonnie

[HeatherInFlorida]

The bags or the vests?
You CAN buy the bags ... but you have to buy a cruise to go with it!! :D
As for the vests ... well, they're not THAT difficult to make. Christopher tells me that all it would take would be a vest pattern and about 4 bags (depending upon the size of the person)...........

No, no, Greg ... the vests!!!:D :D I have the bags!!! I'm not exactly a seamstress, I'm afraid, so I won't be making any vests;) . I'm a really good cook, though!!!

[RuthC]

I will be getting my second one in a few weeks. Hmmmmm, a mini-skirt??
Just don't wear it on Southwest with a low-cut top. ;)

[RedmondCruiser]

Could this be Thread Drift ??

[infohunter]

LOL!
http://www.minibite.com/christmas/hippo.htm

I haven't heard that in years ... or, at least, months! :D

I had never head that song..... GREAT! Saving it to send to my sis for the holidays. Oh the fun tidbits I get from everyone.

THANKS!!!

Hummmm wondering now about the some of the comments..... I do love to wear hats but am wondering how to pack them to bring with me.... and I do tend to be a little wierd at times.... also love to sing even when I don't know the lyrics..... can I also add that I tend to wear purple all the time???? (ROFLMAO)

[jhannah]

You CAN buy the bags ... but you have to buy a cruise to go with it!! :D Not if you buy one on ebay. Yes, people sell them there! :rolleyes:

[RevNeal]

Not if you buy one on ebay. Yes, people sell them there! :rolleyes:

My word ... I forgot about ebay!
Yes, of course ... one can buy bags there. :D