Morisnfan

We bring Brita or similar brand water bottle with a filter inside. Great for filling up before port stops!

That's so crappy! Most of ours are personal (with our pictures) so at least nobody would want those! Too bad people can't just enjoy seeing decorations, not steal them! I'd love it if more people decorated, it's fun to see what others come up with.

We decorate the door every cruise! Something different for each day in fact. It's fun for hubby and I to spend time on it before the cruise, when it seems there are soo many days til our trip. It cheers us up, and is a creative thing we love doing together.

For our last cruise, we bought individually wrapped sanitizing wipes, and although I don't remember the ingredient, supposedly it is good for preventing noro. We got them on Amazon. There were so many, we still have enough for our upcoming cruise. These made me feel more secure, as we used them after sitting before eating, every time! I'm also a fan of sanitizing cabin surfaces with a wipe (Monk disinfectant wipes). We have been on cruises in the past with noro outbreaks, and have both escaped it's wrath! I'd rather be a little more paranoid then sorry. The brand name of the hand wipes is PDI.

I'd love to have a hand washing station on my next cruise. We wash up before heading to eat, then use the sanitizer, plus, right before eating, use our own sanitizing wipes that are good for fighting noro . Yes, a little paranoid of germiness, but every cruise I see people not washing after restroom visits, also Tasting food from their plates as they walk through a buffet line. I don't get it, so I just try to keep safe. Also I agree with the person who mentioned dirty menus, yuck!

I usually get crucified for my opinion on formal…

 

I am rather happy that I am not forced to pack formal clothes now. As I travel solo, I pack so that I am able to handle all my luggage myself on all modes of transportation I may encounter. Having to pack something that I will only wear for 2-3 hours is wasteful. I'll never cruise on Cunard (just not my thing), so I don't worry about that scenario. I don't cruise for the ship - I cruise for the ports and destinations. With that in mind, I pack for the ports and destinations. If I must sequester myself in my cabin to avoid "ruining the cruise" for others because I do not bring a prom dress, a MOD dress, or the flowy pants/sparkly top combo, I will do that. I just have no desire to "dress up" for a faux formal experience in a banquet room. On most of the cruises I have taken, people ditch the formal wear right after dinner and the ship returns to normal, so it is more a faux formal night in the MDR, not a "formal night" on the ship. I know some like to do the photo stuff - go right ahead if you enjoy that. I've seen some very nice photos of folks on formal night. I just do not have the need/desire to have a photo taken of myself.

I've done just fine with what I pack - my little black Tshirt dress and black multi-purpose flats have served me well for years in any evening setting I've gone to.

Hopefully no one here will crucify! It makes sense to be able to handle your luggage yourself. Really good point! Even though I love formal night and don't feel it's wasteful at all to bring special clothes for it, I wouldn't want anyone to feel they had to hide out just because they don't like it. I say, live and let live. I only hope they keep it an option, so I don't feel really overdressed someday.

Thank you! I figured it's just a big difference in personality, but felt it rude. I was glad so many people posted with differing opinions, as it kind of opened my eyes to differing scenarios. I feel lucky to be in California and many times able to drive to ship with no limits on packing!

Jerry, what a sweet thing to say about your wife!

Thanks for the replies/opinions everyone! We really like Princess, so will probably not go any more upscale than that. Pretty casual in regular life, so I'll just keep wearing what I like for formal nights. It's a fun change of pace for us. I hadn't thought about all the extra luggage, time etc it takes for some, so I can see why it's not for everyone.

There is NO reason to get your panties in a wad...dress formally whenever you want! Especially, if you're on a cruise with a "dress up or not" night....dress up! Go big, or go home!

Why the rude response?

I don't consider myself old, I'm 47, but maybe old fashioned. When I started cruising 15 or so years ago, and had to buy my first formal dress, I'll admit, I hated it. I'd never been to a real real event and just felt creeped out, until that first night, after seeing myself all dressed up with my guy in a tux. We've worn formal every cruise since! I've read so many posts/threads where people fight it and just won't dress, trying to get away with as casual as possible. I don't mind seeing others in casual dress at all, but I just wonder if lines will stop having fancy formal nights since it seems majority don't like it.

Cantelope, fatty meats, bbq meat (the sauce) yucky!!!

Here's a corny, but true saying that my grandmother always said. "If you want to have a good time, you have to bring one with you"

We like dressing nicer for dinner, especially formal nights. We are in our 40s. I wish so many people didn't fight even the smart casual type nights....but live and let live, I guess. If the cruise line won't enforce what they require, then it's not for me to say or ridicule anyone.

Yep, tan =damage! Use that sun protection, please! I'll admit I hate to be so pale on a cruise, so I get a spray tan or so self tanner. This also lessens the look of leg veins, which I have. Be safe everyone!

Its a cruise. Relax. Your turn will come.

I agree! Why is everyone in such a huge rush on a cruise? Didn't we all leave that stuff behind for however many days we are onboard?

Maybe I'm weird, but I love Ice Milk!

Beach is awesome! I also just smelled the new Philosophy fragrance, Sea of Love. Very sand/water smelling, not sweet at all.

Seems weird to me for anyone to be carrying around a phone during a cruise! So much fun to just be unavailable .

Everyone's ideas are different I guess, but we like to get there super early, even if we must wait awhile. We figure, we are paying for the day, why not get on board asap! First day of a cruise is so exciting, for me at least!

I'm sad your osso bucco agnolotti came out cold. We loved it. In fact, hubby and I play a post cruise game of "what did you like the best" ? In the food category, this was my fav!!!!!!

Hubby and I just tried the AIP on the Star. It was awesome not having to worry so much over every drink decision. I felt so spoiled as I ordered bottled or sparkling water with meals, and fresh squeezed oj in mornings, neither of which we ever ordered previously. We had triple cappuccinos each morning, and a two or three cocktails plus wines with dinner. We added our totals up and figured out we saved over 90 bucks each, by using the package. We loved it! I hope the OP had a good experience too!

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Wow! Sounds so fun!!! Thanks for posting all the details. Hubby and I are getting this package for the first time in 6 days on the Star. Can't wait!

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I'm lactose intolerant, so the dessert cakes were some of the best I've had on the Emerald. They were so good that my non-lactose intolerant family even wanted them.

 

Only disappointment was finding out it was from a mix instead of a recipe. I was told it was the only way to ensure that it was lactose free.

Hubby and I are both lactose intolerant too, but we discovered lactaid pills that allow us to eat dairy, within reasonable amounts, with none of the usual Ill affects or discomfort. That being said, I'll definitely be looking for dessert cakes you mentioned.

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I keep trying different types of natural deo. Unfortunately, I started getting eczema under arms. On non work days, I use aveeno eczema lotion as a deodorant. Strange enough, it works. Work days, I have to use antiperspirant, no matter what. I work in a very warm spa and provide lots of treatments and am close to clients all day, so can't take a chance on stinkiness. I was using ban unscented but as usual, it stopped working and also made me itch. My latest try is dove spray. I was surprised they came out with a spray but it's new so I figure why not. It's ok but unfortunately it has scent, which always ends up smelling a little on me. But it's better than nothing. At least no itch. On upcoming cruise, I might try an anti itch powder, has to be better than the aluminum in anti perspirants. Has anyone tried this?

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We are planning on getting the all inclusive drink package for our upcoming cruise on the Star. Might sound silly, but I'm really excited about fresh squeezed juices. I never even knew they were offered. Where can I ask for this?

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