Mum2Mercury

You want to be sold on Alaska? Sorry, I'm not your girl. Until about a year ago I wanted to do an Alaskan cruise, and I decided "It's time" and sat down to plan it. Specifics that turned me against the Alaskan cruise: - I live on the East Coast, so the flight would be long and expensive. Realistically, we're only going to Alaska once, so I want to "do it all" on one trip. (Okay, I know we won't "do it all", but you know what I mean -- I don't want to come away with regrets.) - As I looked at excursions, I saw things I wanted to do and things I wouldn't mind doing -- but a number of the things I wanted to do and see were inland /not accessible on a cruise. - I looked into the idea of arriving a week or so early and/or staying a week or so later, but that didn't seem to work out; for example, if we sailed from Seward, Alaska, Denali National Park is a six hour drive. (I would be super disappointed to travel all the way across the continental US and fail to see Denali.) - The excursions are quite expensive. The activities that interest us seem to be less expensive if you plan them on your own. After genuinely trying to plan an Alaskan cruise, I decided it's not for us. Instead, we are going to do a one-way Alaskan TRAIN TRIP. We'll make stops here and there, and we'll take day-trips from the train track; this'll allow us to decide how long we want to stay in various areas. This is going to be more effort, but the trip plans are falling into place and seem more "us". I do buy into what one poster said: Go before the glaciers melt.

Only a few people on this thread have anything stuck in their craw. They're just being quite vocal about it. First, if you're actually reading what I've said, I haven't taken a strong side on this, so I'm hardly trying to be an "arbiter of social etiquette". Second, why would jeans be smelly and tattered, whereas the shorts would be top-quality? True, pants are not "dressing up" in any way. The worst I've seen was a group of women wearing thongs under mesh pants on our last cruise (paired with bikini tops). I think most people would agree that was pretty far out of bounds for decency; if it'd been on the pool deck it might've been acceptable. Modesty aside, it wasn't even remotely attractive. I have not observed either of these mismatches. I have seen teenagers in hoodies while their parents were dressed nicely. False.

Here's what my daughter, who is a nurse, says about knees and hips: If you don't take care of your feet and ankles, your knees will go. If your knees go, your hips will be next. If your hips go, your mobility will be affected and -- once lost -- mobility is very hard to regain.

Yeah, I like it when they bring the drug dogs through the high school. Port Canaveral is our favorite port, but we haven't been in the right place at the right time to encounter the dogs.

I think all ships have an outdoor promenade deck. We enjoy them, particularly when we sail in an indoor cabin. We find these decks a nice, quiet place to sit and relax. They're shady and quieter than other areas of the ship.

I've seen enough people in the dining room in both traditional and MTD to recognize that this picture isn't typical of how people dress for dinner. No tallying necessary.

Good for you -- you'll find things you'll find things you'll like. I know that heels are lovely, but you are more than your footwear. As you focus on things other than heels, you're going to find a whole lot of things between your go-to heels and clunky granny shoes. I'll argue with one word in your comment. You don't just want comfort -- you NEED comfort. This is a health choice. You wouldn't argue if the doctor said you need a medicine or procedure. This is no different. By the way, we're the same age.

I'm 4'11" and I understand your love of heels! So elegant and flattering to the leg. However, after 40 I developed Plantar Fasciitis. It may not've been as immediate and shocking as your accident, but it's limited my footwear just as much. I had to give away so many nice shoes; fortunately my two daughters wear my same shoe size; my loss was their gain. First, remember that you're your own worst critic. You're pointing out your shortcomings, but it's likely that others don't notice them nearly as much as you yourself do. Still, here are a couple thoughts: - I don't see being short as a shortcoming. I like my height! I'm adorable, and I bet you are too! - Do you like wearing maxi skirts? I know, I know, you'll have to hem them -- that's your and my cross to bear with every item of clothing, but you could have a pair of Nikes under a maxi skirt and no one would know. - Have you tried wedges? They'll give you a bit a more height but also more support than those lovely heels to which you've become accustomed. Wedges are my go-to now -- I have slip-on wedges, ankle-strap wedges, low wedges and higher wedges. Go try some on at the store. - Since you're learning what shoes you can wear, bring them home and wear them around on the carpet for a couple hours before you decide you're keeping them. You don't always "figure it out" in 5 minutes walking up and down a store aisle. - Consider that even if your days in 4-5" heels are gone, you might be able to manage a 1-2" heel. They aren't all granny-looking! Another poster shared some lovely black and gold low-heel sandals. Personally, I think those look great. They're on the delicate side, which might balance against your self-proclaimed "thick legs". - I'm guessing, but I suspect you should avoid shoes with an ankle strap. With thick legs, that'll probably divide your leg and exacerbate this problem. - Finally, don't push yourself and wear things you know are bad for you -- especially now while you're still healing. It'll only injure you further, and you'll pay for it as you age. Once you're fully healed, you might be able to wear heels to church or a wedding or a dinner date -- you know, places where you'll just walk in and then sit down. But for now, I suggest that you pack up the heels you know you shouldn't wear and put them in the attic. Don't let them sit in your closet reminding you of what you can't have -- focus instead on what you can have. I can say something similar: When I first developed my Plantar Fasciitis problems, I went through allllll the drug store inserts -- none of them worked. I also didn't understand what I needed -- I needed support in the right places, not cushioning. Finally I got serious and went to a Podiatrist, who made me custom orthopedic inserts. I only have one pair, and they slip into loafers, tennis shoes or boots, and they are sooooo comfortable. I loved them from the first moment. I can wear sandals or dressy shoes with very specific details, but I will never be without a pair of these inserts for my everyday shoes. They weren't expensive either: I paid the co-pay for a specialist doctor, and insurance paid the rest.

Something we did in hotels when our kids were toddlers: - Lay a pool noodle on the edge of the bed under the fitted sheet. This creates a "bump" that the toddler won't accidentally roll over. Alternately, roll up a bunch of towels and use them the same way. - Related: We also used to bring glow sticks (buy them at the dollar store) for the kids to have in their beds away from home. They make just enough light that the child feels comfortable /even enough to light the way to the bathroom -- but not enough to keep everyone awake. Toddlers are exhausting! Looking back, I wonder how I did it. I expect my grandson'll have the same fun experience ... all the fun of a cruise ship AND two sets of grandparents doting on him?

We'll be cruising with our will-be-then three-year old grandson next year. I expect nothing but success! Here are a few things his parents are doing to make sure everyone has fun: - His parents organized this family cruise, and they'll have two sets of grandparents to call upon, which means they'll be able to have some time to themselves. - We all decided to wait until after he turns three. He will be able to go to the kids' club rather than just the babysitting area. - His mom only allows him to wear swimsuits in red, orange or yellow -- she wants him to be VISIBLE in the pool. Most kids' swimsuits are blue and blend into the water. - His parents are keeping their shore excursion plans simple -- he can handle beach days. They will have other cruises in the future, when he will be more capable. - He's getting the Fisher Price Little People Cruise Ship for Christmas, and through play his parents will work with him on concepts like "We will share a cabin, and you will sleep on the sofa bed -- so fun!" and "We will use our best manners in the dining room." - I am making him a homemade coloring book. It'll have pages about "We'll drive a long, long way to Florida. You'll pack your favorite quiet toys for the ride." and "We'll have a fun, fun day at the beach. Draw a sandcastle on this page." I used to make these coloring books for my kids when they were small (for a dentist visit, for a camping trip), and they always behaved better when I did this -- it helped them understand what would happen /how I expected them to behave. - Is your three-year old potty trained? He can't go in the pool if he's not. - I'd suggest you choose a ship that has a toddler splash area. They look super fun.

Are you arguing that a man in nice jeans or khakis cannot relax? Seriously, a decent argument for shorts can be made, but most of the petulant protestations on this thread are more childish and nonsensical than logical.

I think most people recognize that the evening meal is more of "an event". Ridiculous comparison. This picture shows up frequently on this website. While I don't doubt it's a genuine picture, it's only a small sliver of that evening's guests entering the MDR -- and it's not a good representation of how the average cruiser dresses on "formal night". What I've seen lately on most nights in the MDR: - The majority of men wear nice jeans or khakis with a button-down or polo shirt. A smattering of adult men wear shorts. - The majority of women wear sundresses or dressy pants and tops. Formal nights are definitely less casual than in past years, but here's what's average: - Tuxedos are gone. - About 30% of guests dress up ... men in suits, ladies in cocktail dresses, some of them long. - The majority of guests look just like they do on other nights ... jeans, khakis, sundresses. - A few people ignore social norms and wear shorts to "formal night", but they are mostly teenagers. They have already rebranded it, but I can't remember exactly what they're calling it. It's still called "formal night" on this (and other) websites, but we're not really right to use that term. I'd bet they have an understanding of social norms and a willingness to live up to expectations; dressing for their surroundings is one small example of that mindset. My father grew up in Central America. All his life he wore long pants and guayaberas. You're arguing only wealthy people can wear pants? Or that people who wear pants are pretending to be wealthy? Truthfully, I suspect everyone on these boards is wealthy. If you can afford to cruise -- even if only every couple years -- you are more wealthy than most people living today. I agree that luggage has become more complicated with costs for checked bags, but this isn't really a good excuse for not dressing for dinner. Since dinner is only 1-2 hours each evening, you could wear a single pair of pants every night for a week.

100%. We can throw out ideas, but your mom should absolutely follow her doctor's instructions! Physical therapists are worth their weight in gold! Two comments: - If you've never had any experience with PT, it tends to work like this: The PT comes to your house 1-2 Xs each week and leaves you with "homework". At each visit they assess your improvement and tweak your exercises. - My mom had a great experience with PT after her hip replacement. She did her "homework" every morning and every afternoon, and -- as a result -- her recovery was more speedy than expected. Even the things you'd think were simple were hard for her, and she had to take Tylenol before each workout, but she says the effort was worthwhile. Excellent advice. I know you can "order a scooter to the port" -- not from the cruise line itself, but from a company near the port. When we last sailed, we saw them lining up the scooters for pick-up. Remind her that she can still work out her upper body. Most people on this site genuinely want to share information and help one another.

We did a last-minute cruise recently, and -- although we strongly prefer My Time -- we were forced to take Traditional Dining. It was okay, but here are a couple notes on our experience: - Although I had emailed and requested a 2-top (received no response), we were assigned to a large table. - Upon boarding the ship we checked the dining room and saw we were assigned to a large table. We asked the Head Waiter (who was on hand for just this type of request) for a change, and he granted it immediately. The 2-top we were given was not in a great location, but we were pleased enough. - This experience definitely reinforced our preference for My Time. With Traditional, we had to be ready at a specific time (whereas they're more flexible with My Time), and each evening we were part of a large group waiting outside for the doors to be opened. We like the flexibility of My Time. Yes, you'll make it without difficulty. If you're ever "cutting it too close", you can skip dessert (and go to the Windjammer later) or you can ask for your dessert "to go".

I've seen the drug dogs come through the high school many times. The best dog we have in our county is an old, mangy-looking German Shepherd -- looks like he's on death's doorway. Poor boy'd look like he didn't have the energy to drag himself back to the front door. But when he gets a whiff of drugs -- WOW, he turns into a different dog! He's alert, he's on it, his intention is crystal clear. You can tell he loves his job /loves pleasing his handler. So, yes, those dogs have an excellent sense of smell. I don't think the article said they found something outside the ship. Maybe other articles exist or the poster has additional information? I've never been to Bermuda, and I didn't know this. I don't really see why they want to expend the manpower to search a ship randomly. Well, not effectively. I mean, in this case, the man had the drugs in his cabin. I've never seen a drug dog at the embarkation port. Has anyone else?

Yes, you'll see men wearing shorts in the MDR for dinner; however, they will be in the minority ... cruises have become more casual, but most men will wear nice jeans or khakis to dinner (with polos or collared shirts). Do talk to your grandsons about the difference between nice, presentable shorts vs. athletic shorts. I'd also say this is an opportunity to talk to them about dressing for the occasion. They're approaching adulthood, and that lesson could be valuable to them. Boys don't always "catch on" to social norms.

You got your answer above, but don't forget to add 18% gratuity ... add 18% for a single can of soda, add 18% for a package, add 18% for any purchase. That really adds up. If you think you'll want just a couple sodas, consider bringing a couple in your carry-on. That's perfectly allowable. Yep, ours is the same ... maybe we're on the same cruise? Hasn't moved a single penny since we booked.

Some of those were quite nice ... and none of the dreaded "little black dresses" in sight. I do the "order a couple things with the intent of returning" thing too. It's especially easy now that you can return Amazon purchases to Kohl's. And Kohl's gives you a coupon for the next time you shop in their store. I didn't know they were still online. Yes, we lost Pier One and Steinmart too. I didn't think Steinmart was any great loss, but I do miss Pier One. I always make "buying used" my first stop. It's such a sensible option.

We have a small camping fan that folds flat (to about the size of a book). It runs on batteries, and it's great for keeping air moving in an inside room. I'm guessing menopause.

Drive down the road and look at the HUGE BUILDINGS owned by insurance companies. They win most of the time. Oops -- sorry, Dan. So I should've said you're wearing your big boy boxers? But "he" and "I" are pronouns. We've done a couple train trips, and we've enjoyed them. A few notes, though I only know about the regular seats (not sleeping cabins): - Amtrak seats are larger /more comfortable than airplane seats, and everyone gets an electrical outlet. - Every car has two "double seats" -- I think they're all the way at the back -- with two seats facing one another (instead of all facing forward). Those seats'd allow for more leg room -- could be ideal for a person with a cast. I wonder if a call ahead could reserve those larger seats? - Each car has a spot at the front for large luggage storage, and you'll have a rack above your head that'll hold a backpack for your in-transit needs. - Bring your own food. The food in the cafe car is expensive (for what it is) and not very good. The cafe car sells hot /cold drinks, and each car has a water filler at the front. - The bathrooms aren't always pleasant ... pack Clorox wipes. - The train is only slightly faster than traveling by covered wagon. I was going to say the same thing. Likely your mom's miserable right now, so it's not the time to make the decision.

I was going to say the same thing. She has a month before the trip. I'd assume she'll have time to get over the initial pain and swelling, and she'll have become accustomed to getting around with the cast by cruise time. If she goes with lowered expectations, I'd say GO. Plus the air fare. All the more reason she should try her best to go! It'd be really sad to miss a big family trip, and this means she'd have plenty of family to push her wheelchair, bring her this-or-that from the buffet, and generally make her trip easier. This isn't the same as her husband alone helping her! Yes, this above all! The OP seems to be wearing her big girl panties. She's looking for options, not whining.

Hot tub?

This is good news. Let's tell the truth: Slicing a head of iceberg into wedges and calling it salad is pretty lame anywhere. I had the Caesar salad recently and was disappointed; it was clearly out of a bag and kinda old. I eat out-of-the-bag at home on a regular basis (but never old), but I expect more on a cruise. Stuffing is stale bread! It's essentially free. In all honesty, dessert has never been Royal's specialty. This makes sense: 1. Grilled chicken breast is easy 2. Grilled chicken breast is economical 3. Practically everyone likes grilled chicken breast How's the Lobster Mac?

We were on Explorer recently: - Yes, the clothesline is small /in the shower. - No USB ports in the room (we were in an interior). Two outlets above the desk ... plenty for us.

Yes, the cost to sail on a mega-ship or a new ship is substantially higher than the cost to sail on an older mid-sized ship. Call me cynical, but I don't believe that "one left" business. It's a method of creating urgency in the buyer. I saw LOTS of empty beach beds at Coco Cay. Yes, Fear of Missing Out is a real thing, especially among younger cruisers. Another connected "fear" is not making their vacation "special". That is, just taking the cruise isn't enough -- they feel that if they don't have specialty dining, an upgraded room, whatever else, their experience will be too basic. I think that's why some people are willing to pay thousands for a beach bed (located near free loungers) or pay hundreds per person for a few slides.