canderson

Our history is the same as yours. Long time X cruisers, never Edge class, just now moving to Dawn for our first SS cruise. What caused you to 'jump ship'?

"Included" means there's no extra charge if you choose to indulge -- it's included in the fare. "Free" would be a misnomer since you're paying for it in the fare whether you're drinking it or not! TANSTAAFL

Used to use a great tailor there on the 1st floor below the Kimberly Hotel. Wonder if he's still there? Used to get custom work shirts at good prices from Tyrwhitt in the U.K. via mail order from time to time, but fabric selections for custom have dwindled to just 2.

Am sure I can generate a perfect full Windsor faster than anyone I know can do the same with a bow tie. The latter always seems to require a bit of tweaking to get real perfection... well, according to my wife, anyway, who insists on doing the tweaking!

But not for an event starting before 6pm, right? 😁

Not a euphemism... it's the name of the 'brand' that does these charters. Far more than pineapples - these are clothing optional (in many ship areas) cruises, complete with designated "Play Areas" (???) We've been docked next to RCL ships twice where the folks on their balconies were being a bit less discreet than the charter rules require!

Ever heard of a "Bliss" cruise? They'll occasionally charter an RCG ship.

Well then. Bummer for a first time SS cruiser like me, who understands what the word implies, to find out that Kaiseki isn't at all ... well ... actually kaiseki. Done half decently, a true kaiseki meal would have been worth the upcharge. They ain't cheap in Japan. Actually feeling a bit peeved that they appropriated the name without delivering the associated product. On par with calling a restaurant aboard La Creperie de Silversea and serving IHOP pancakes.

Hope they weren't wearing rented shoes...

Which Las Vegas rules? 😏 https://vegasadvantage.com/las-vegas-blackjack-guide/ Mostly wondering if 6:5 or 3:2 payouts, or does it depend upon table stakes or time of day?

How many decks? Calculating ... er ... inquiring minds want to know. 😏

Wondering how they'll manage that experience given the layouts I've seen of the restaurant (?) Or is it all prepped un-traditionally behind the scenes? Guess I'd never thought to ask, but your statement about teppanyaki brought this immediately to mind... Kaiseki isn't just a name of a shipboard restaurant, it's more properly an entire meal style of its own in Japan, much like teppanyaki that you mention is a style of Japanese both cooking and presentation. Have I been wrong in my assumption that Kaiseki serves meals in the kaiseki style? To oversimplify it, imagine a tasting menu at the French Laundry done Japanese style.

Let us know which ship and itineraries for the 2 legs, too, please.

Can't beat genetics, I guess!

Indeed. Different for all three styles of dress. Where's Bates when you need him? No white tie attire in my closet, so need to worry over the medals there. If I'm ever invited to a State dinner, a bespoke tailor might be the only choice in this part of the world unless one is willing to search for something 'vintage', but finding the bits and pieces to go along with it would be near impossible. The words "bibbed shirt" would draw nothing but blank faces in any clothier in Colorado (though I do own one, but with a contemporary collar - so I'd be out of luck there, too). Is Darcy still doing business in the UK, I wonder?

As this will be our first encounter with Blacklane (we normally work with Eight Black Cars here in the Denver area) ... When it comes to communications on the day of travel, are we talking to Blacklane or the local agency they front for? Don't relish the idea of a go-between if the logistics start to go sideways.

Just listen to your valets advice. He'll keep it all straight for you!

Yes, saw above from @A Tucson Guy that there was a Facebook comment from her.

😏 Their product is made from "rock wool". Think of fiberglass made from minerals other than silica. It's a superior product in several respects.

Interesting. Looks like they got gobbled up a couple of years ago by OC as you say, now operating as a subsidiary. Well, then! Terry .. do we short OC? 🤔 Nah, too small a piece of the whole. I just hope all of this can be resolved both safely and expeditiously.

We seem to be talking at crossed purposes. The challenge in the post to which I responded didn't address the casual venues where wearing a tie has no relevance to the discussion as far as I could tell. I certainly never suggested anyone need wear one where unnecessary. ???

Where's Terry? Should we be taking short positions on Paroc??? 😏 Just kidding. It's huge, but it's privately held.

Has someone suggested otherwise?

It's a reflection of what has already occurred on other lines (e.g. Celebrity), even in their venue on par with La Dame. Remember my note that I'd be sad to see another line go "least common denominator". I'll grant there's a bit of sophistry employed with that 'slippery slope' argument, but we've watched it play out in exactly that way on a line we used to sail with often. I really believe that there's enough diversity in cruise 'style' preferences that every line doesn't have to try to be all things to all people. Cunard continues to do well, but it's nice to have a smaller ship alternative for other itineraries. A line with smaller ships that finds middle ground between Cunard and the mass market lines suits us well, and I would think suits enough others to continue to make a good business of it.

More like we get 'worked up' over the fact that some folks think their idea of a vacation is what matters, no matter the preferences of the line or customers who choose that line over others. It's not just a dress code issue, either, though that's one of the more visible ways that attitude is often reflected in practice on some lines, no matter the line's preferences. In this and other ways, I'd be sad if yet another cruise line goes the way of the "least common denominator", leaving yet less choices for the varied tastes of the cruising public. We find often people posting at CC who don't even believe a single venue aboard ship should ever be reserved for 'better attire' dining if it means their group has to give up their matching baseball hats and sweatshirts for one evening. I'd be interested to hear a more direct reply to my belief that the line has every right to attempt to differentiate their product by whatever means they choose to capture whatever part of the cruising market they choose, and that one ought to respect that choice when booking with them.