spudicusrex

Athleta does not appear to enjoy dressing hips, thighs or boobs. Everything I've tried on from them in the past few years has been tight in one or more of those areas (even when large in other areas). Lands End usually fits me great - and I love the tunic rash guards they've offered. So - try try try until you find a brand that works for your body;)

I was looking at those tunic rash guards from Land's End. I'm glad to hear you like them!

Rash guard it is! I wasn't considering the UV protection aspect. That makes it a no-brainer.

Thanks for the input!

I'm leaving for a Caribbean cruise next week. :) We are planning on snorkeling in two of the ports, nothing too rigorous though since this will be my first time. But because it is my first time, I'm wondering whether a standard two piece swimsuit is ok. I've worn my current suit hanging on the beach and splashing around a bit in the pool but by no means is it suitable for beach volleyball or rigorous activities. How active is snorkeling? Should I get a different top? I don't want the ladies popping out. :eek: Can anyone who has gone snorkeling chime in?

I have very little experience with beaches/water sports, so I have no idea what to wear. I also don't want to buy anything new unless I absolutely have to.

My biggest problem when packing is What If and Just in Case. I'm trying to pack light and I usually end up with 2 or 3 plastic bags full of this stuff....band aids, liquid bandage, stretchy elbow and knee braces, moleskin, extra toothbrush, small flashlight, and on and on. I usually never use anything or at most one or two things....but What If I need something else. Anyone else have the What If blues? How do you handle this?

I used to be the same way. I was a terrible over-packer out of a fear of not having something that I may need. The best thing that happened to me was flying to Europe for a two week trip and having the airline misplace my luggage for a few days. I got to the hotel in London with nothing but the clothes on my back and a few things in my carry-on (knitting, kindle, earplugs, etc...). It was basically the worst case scenario that I had been trying to avoid my whole life.

I ended up running to a store nearby and buying a pair of pants, a couple of tops, underwear, and toiletries. I was out about $100 and an hour of my day. That was it! It was nowhere near the disaster I envisioned it. I realized then that not having something really wasn't that big of a deal. If I could make it without essentials, I could totally do without the extras. When my luggage arrived, I even had a laugh about how much stuff I packed and ended up emptying a few things out before heading to our next city.

When I pack now, with each item I want to put in my bag, I ask myself "What is the worst case scenario if you don't pack this?" If it would be a big deal not to have it, then I pack it. If not, it stays home. It certainly won't work for everyone, but that's how I stopped packing the what-if items.

Thank you both!

Does anyone know what time the rooms are generally ready on embarkation day? I'm sailing this November on the Summit and trying to plan transportation. I don't want to get to the ship before the rooms are open. In case it matters, I have no status and I am in a plain old veranda room.

Thanks!

Interesting read. I'm looking forward to my next opportunity to suffer jet lag :)

Resources include:

 

 

 

Ketchikan birding suggestions: http://www.alaska.org/destination/ketchikan/birding

 

 

 

 

 

The Juneau Audubon Society has an excellent website which includes birding lists for several ports, including Ketchikan: http://www.juneau-audubon-society.org

 

 

 

 

 

The Anchorage Audubon Society is very active, and they love to "talk birds" with visitors to our state. They also have a number of field trips during the summer. Details are on their website, under "Field Trips:" http://www.anchorageaudubon.org

Thanks! I've seen these websites and found the bird lists. There aren't any trips that line up with when I will be visiting.

Rent a car. Head up to Clover Pass, stop at Totem Bight- walk down to the shore lines. Ward Lake-

 

Would be easy to drive and stop frequently. Then go south to Herring Cove- a lot of private property however.

You just made my day! Ward Lake is exactly the type of place I was looking for. I'll definitely do Totem Bight and walk the trail at Ward Lake but I'm not sure I'll have time for Herring Cove. Bird watching can be a very slow endeavor :)

Thanks a lot!

I will be in port in Ketchikan early September from 6:00am to 1:30pm. I really want to spend my time there birding.

Does anyone have any experience with any particular locations or guides? I'm ok with renting a car.

Thanks in advance!

Thanks everyone! There's a lot of great information to pull from here. I appreciate the input.

We had a 7:30pm flight out of Miami last September after we returned on the NCL Sky. We used dayuse-hotels.com and booked the Cadet Hotel for the day. We had the room from 9am - 5pm for $79. We grabbed breakfast on the ship then took a cab to the hotel.

The hotel was only a few blocks walk from the beach and a couple of blocks from the bus stop where caught the bus to the airport. I highly recommend it! It was nice having a place to shower and nap before the flight.

100 days in Spa passes will go on sale.

Buy yourself a Spa pass - not just for the Spa - ie sauna, steamroom, thallosotherapy pool - but for the fact there are showers etc all in there and its so easy to "get ready for the evening" in the changing rooms there.

3 adults in a cabin - Id put that Spa pass on my priority list.

 

I am just back from an Alaskan cruise with Celebrity - it was an amazing experience.

My one "don't miss" is to book the Catamaran excursion (It will be losted as Tracey Arm Fjord) - worth every penny!

Have a fabulous cruise - and how wonderful to have two great parents who are sharing this special time with you :D

Fantastic idea! I was already debating the spa pass. This definitely seals it.

If your parents are early to bed and early to rise but you are a night owl who likes to sleep in, plan out ahead how you are all going to deal with that.

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that it's actually the opposite. I'm sure I'll be in bed well before them :)

Thanks for the other tips!

I (34) am sailing to Alaska with my parents (both 61) in August. When they booked the perk was 3rd person free so they asked me to come along. I am very fortunate to be enjoying a free Alaska cruise!

This will be my first time sailing three adults in a cabin. My parents aren't worried about the space but this is a trip of a lifetime for them and I don't want to inconvenience them too much. Does anyone have any tips for maximizing space and comfort?

It looks like $300 per person.

https://www.ncl.com/faq#onboard-expenses

They aren't "price matching" in the sense I think you are talking about. Sometime when an airline opens a new route, or has a sale, other airlines will lower their fares (usually temporarily), to not lose business to the other carrier.

 

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/08/72-hour-sale-southwest-fares-fall-below-100-round-trip-with-a-catch.html

Gotcha. I appreciate the clarification.

Just wanted everyone to know that SW is having a fare sale and American is also matching.

Can you elaborate on this? I've never heard of airlines price matching. Thanks!

For the sake of closure, I thought I'd let you all know that I've decided on the D3300 with the kit 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses. I'm going to play with those over the next few months to see what I like before committing to anything else.

Again, the help is much appreciated. I've learned more about cameras over the last couple of weeks than I ever thought I would! I'm excited to get started.

Thank you all for the reassurance, information, and the link to the article!

Now I'll also start saving for that birding lens :)

As the title says, I am looking to purchase my first DSLR. I'm excited but also a bit overwhelmed. I've read through a lot of the threads here on the topic but still have some questions I'm hoping you will all be kind enough to answer.

Details:

1. I currently own a Nikon Coolpix p510. It's 5 years old and the zoom is starting to act up so it's time for a replacement. I like it a lot but I want a take my photography up a level with photos that are sharper.

2. My pictures generally consist of scenery and wildlife that I take while hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

3. Needs: Short term - I am going on a couple of cruises later this year (Alaska and Caribbean) and will mostly be taking outdoor photos of scenery, wildlife, and my family. Long term - I am a birdwatcher and would like to eventually get a lens that will allow some good bird photos. That lens is not in the budget for the initial purchase but I'd love some suggestions.

4. I want to keep it under $700 for the camera and whatever lens I will need for the pictures I like to take while hiking, camping, and while in alaska, to the extent that is feasible.

5. Right now, I'm looking at the Nikon D3300. It comes with a 18-55mm lens, 55-200mm lens, 55-300mm lens, or some combination thereof.

It sounds like kit lenses are generally looked down on. I was hoping to buy a camera body and then buy lenses separate but I can't find this camera on it's own. Since it looks like I'd be stuck with at least the 18-55mm lens, do you think this kit lens is something that I will eventually grow out of but is OK as a starter, or do you think I should get a better lens right from the beginning? I'd rather save a few more months and increase my budget to get a camera I will love versus buying something that will just frustrate me for a while before I replace it.

Thoughts?

NatalieWood -

Fair enough. I do pack this way in summer as well, I just rely more on active/performance type clothes so that I can wash them easily in a hotel or ship's sink and they dry very quickly.

That said, I'm always cold so I layer even in the summer. I just looked back at my last summer vacation pictures and I'm wearing a cardigan or long-sleeved shirt in every picture. LOL.

Yes:

Limit your color palette. Everything must coordinate with everything else so you can mix and match.

 

Take things in wash and wear fabrics you can rinse in sink and hang to dry. Tide makes 1-use sink washing packets that come 3 to a packet (look in the travel toiletry section at Bed Bath and Beyond)

 

Limit yourself to 2 pair of shoes. Wear the heavier pair on flight day, pack the other pair.

 

Take only the toiletries that absolutely essential. Ex. you don't need separate moisturizers for day and night, even if you use different ones at home. You can by choosing one of them for a couple of weeks.

 

Don't bother to pack any just-in-case OTC meds. I assure you that you can find anything you might need at a pharmacy in Europe. People over there get headaches, diarrhea, allergies, indigestion and colds too!

This. 100%. I was able to pack for a 10 night trip around Europe in the winter using these techniques. I picked three colors and made sure every top went with 1) every other top (for layering purposes), and 2) every bottom.

I also now have a fun story about buying cold medicine in a pharmacy in Berlin with nothing but my 9th grade german and a lot of hand gestures :)

We had a 7:30pm flight out of Miami last September after we returned on the NCL Sky. We booked the Cadet Hotel for the day. We had the room from 9am - 5pm for $79. We grabbed breakfast on the ship then took a cab to the hotel.

The hotel was only a few blocks walk from the beach and a couple of blocks from the bus stop where caught the bus to the airport. I highly recommend it! It was nice having a place to shower and nap before the flight.

For what it's worth, I did this very thing a few months ago. First, I called to ask if it was possible and was told it would be no problem with no additional cost (the cruise price had gone up). Then when I was ready to do it, I called back and got a different person. It was still no problem and they did not reprice my cruise.